Faithful to Forgive ~ Lent 2015

God’s Faithfulness ~ Our Everlasting Hope!

LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness

You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV

During this season of reflection and renewal, join me in exploring God’s Faithfulness. Do you find strength for every circumstance in God’s Faithfulness? God IS Faithful!  God’s Faithfulness is our everlasting Hope! ~ Donna Oswalt

photo: in Germany/T.McGirr

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1 John 1:9 NASB

Multiple times in the Old Testament, passages describe God as “slow to anger and abounding in love”. A vast contrast exists between God, being in perfect righteousness, and mankind, struggling with persistent unrighteousness. In His patient, faithful goodness, God continues to reach for us, to shine His Light in the darkness of sin. In this place of longing, God waits. He waits for us.

Sadly, either ignorance or arrogance maintains the barrier between us and God, because even without confession God already knows. To confess our sins means we “agree” or “acknowledge” with God that we are imperfect, that we are unrighteous. God, faithful to forgive, is waiting. 

Lord, the world applauds wanting more, self-focused thinking, looking important. It is so easy to slip into the darkness. You are the faithful Light that constantly shines showing me the way back to You. Forgive me for listening more to the lies of the world than to You. Great is Your faithfulness. – dho

Focus Point: God, faithful to forgive, is waiting.

All rights reserved; copyright 2015 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author Breathing Room For My Soul (blog) Follow on Twitter @soulchat

For more information about this ministry visit ~

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“May you be blessed by the Lord Who loves you best!”

Sign of God's Faithfulness ~ Lent 2015

God’s Faithfulness ~ Our Everlasting Hope!

LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness

You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV

During this season of reflection and renewal, join me in exploring God’s Faithfulness. Do you find strength for every circumstance in God’s Faithfulness? God IS Faithful!  God’s Faithfulness is our everlasting Hope! ~ Donna Oswalt

photo: in Germany/T.McGirr

Therefore, the LORD Himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 NASB

Isaiah speaks this prophecy which foreshadows the Messiah some 700 years before Jesus is born. In the New Testament, Matthew1:18-23 recalls Joseph’s dream where an angel of the Lord confirms that the child growing in Mary’s womb is conceived by the Holy Spirit and will fulfill the prophecy in Isaiah. Immanuel, meaning God with us, fulfills God’s promise. Jesus enters the world, and God’s presence literally dwells alongside of humanity. Jesus, fully human and fully divine, becomes God in tangible form.

God gives the law (Ten Commandments) through Moses, but the sign of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness comes completely through Jesus Christ. While Moses speaks God’s law to the people, Jesus comes to personally fulfill the law. God yearns for an intimate relationship with us. 

Faithful Father, Promise Keeper,  grace comes through the ages with ancient revelations, comes on the lips of angels who sing of Your Glory, comes in the whispers of the Spirit; Grace comes with Immanuel, Grace comes for me. Great is Your faithfulness. -dho

Focus Point: Jesus enters the world, and God’s presence literally dwells alongside of humanity.

All rights reserved; copyright 2015 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author Breathing Room For My Soul (blog) Follow on Twitter @soulchat

For more information about this ministry visit ~

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“May you be blessed by the Lord Who loves you best!”

Mercy and Truth - Lent 2015

God’s Faithfulness ~ Our Everlasting Hope!

LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness

You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV

During this season of reflection and renewal, join me in exploring God’s Faithfulness. Do you find strength for every circumstance in God’s Faithfulness? God IS Faithful!  God’s Faithfulness is our everlasting Hope! ~ Donna Oswalt

photo: in Germany/T.McGirr

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. Psalm 25:10 NKJV

Mercy and truth can be translated “unfailing love” and “faithfulness”. In His Sovereignty, God reveals His promise, reveals the Truth, reveals the Messiah, reveals Jesus as The Way. The source of this promise comes from the LORD’s unfailing love, from His desire to unite our spirit with His Spirit. Even when disobedience interferes and distractions ignore the Spirit, God marks the path with mercy and truth.

The world comes at us full force with numerous options for personal entertainment, strong rhetoric within political parties, countless organizations to benefit humanity. Many loud voices seek to motivate, include, and sway our thoughts and commitments. While many of these opportunities can generate good, we must seek the paths of the LORD. Another Hebrew name for God, El Roi, the God who sees me, reminds us that God literally sees each person. El Roi meets us at every crossroad pointing the way of mercy and truth. 

Lord, You see my resentment, my indecision, my failure, my uncertainty. So many idols scream at me, demanding allegiance. Holy Father, great is Your faithfulness in showing me unfailing love, mercy undeserved. Help me walk Your paths daily. - dho

Focus Point: Even when disobedience interferes and distractions ignore the Spirit, God marks the path with mercy and truth.

All rights reserved; copyright 2015 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author Breathing Room For My Soul (blog) Follow on Twitter @soulchat

For more information about this ministry visit ~

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“May you be blessed by the Lord Who loves you best!”

Our Reply to God's Faithfulness ~ 1st Sunday in Lent 2015

God’s Faithfulness ~ Our Everlasting Hope!

LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness

You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV

During this season of reflection and renewal, join me in exploring God’s Faithfulness. Do you find strength for every circumstance in God’s Faithfulness? God IS Faithful!  God’s Faithfulness is our everlasting Hope! ~ Donna Oswalt

photo taken in Germany/Thomas McGirr

“When I cannot understand my Father’s leading,

And it seems to be but hard and cruel fate,

Still I can hear that gentle whisper ever pleading,

God is working, God is faithful.” A.B. Simpson

If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself. 

2 Timothy 2:13

God’s faithfulness does not depend on our faithfulness; rather our faithfulness is demonstrated by obedience to God. The Scriptures are full of people obedient to God’s leading, obedient to complete the journey to their Jerusalem. Despite their faithfulness, many never see the anticipated outcome; instead, their obedience prepares the way and plants the seeds for others. God does not always explain His reasons or ways, but His Sovereignty prevails in goodness and grace.

Blackaby writes, “You will always be one step of obedience away from the next truth God wants you to learn about Him.” God calls each of us to follow Him in faithful obedience - whether we understand or not. Often a partial belief in God limits one’s experiences with Him and can interrupt His work through that person. In Christ, we find the grace that mends our broken relationship with God, we experience the love that teaches us trust. Faith is a gift from God, and obedience writes our ‘thank-you’ note. 

Holy Father, Your goodness exceeds the boundaries of time, of imagination. When I seek the easy path or demand my way, when I see a need and look passed, when I hear Your whispers but pretend to be busy – forgive my disobedience. Christ suffered the cross in His obedience to You – for me. Let thankfulness for Your unfailing love, uncounted blessings and unknown sacrifices define my obedience. Great is Your faithfulness. – dho

 Focus Point: God does not always explain His reasons or ways, but His Sovereignty prevails in goodness and grace.

All rights reserved; copyright 2015 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author Breathing Room For My Soul (blog) Follow on Twitter @soulchat

For more information about this ministry visit ~

MangroveMinistries.org

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“May you be blessed by the Lord Who loves you best!”

Incomparable Faithfulness ~ Lent 2015

God’s Faithfulness ~ Our Everlasting Hope!

LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness

You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV

During this season of reflection and renewal, join me in exploring God’s Faithfulness. Do you find strength for every circumstance in God’s Faithfulness? God IS Faithful!  God’s Faithfulness is our everlasting Hope! ~ Donna Oswalt

O LORD God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. Psalm 89:8 NKJV

Yahweh Elohim Tsebaoth! This ancient identity in Hebrew means LORD, LORD of Hosts, God Almighty! Throughout The Message translation of the Bible, this name of God reads “God of the Angel Armies” for there is no one like Him. God reigns as the most powerful, most awesome, most faithful of all.  In the next verses (vs. 9-14), historical examples of God Almighty controlling the oceans, crushing Israel’s enemies, creating the whole world validate His power and faithfulness. “Praise the LORD forever!”

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You.” (Ps. 89:14 ESV) Ethical integrity and moral fairness for all creates the very roots of God’s authority; His unfailing love and absolute truth become grace and secures our hope. This unmatchable, divine offering invites us, you and me, to become righteous and holy, to become part of a holy priesthood. 

LORD, Grace brings Your unfailing love to me, calls me by name, invites me to stand on holy ground. Hallelujah; great is Your faithfulness! – dho

Focus Point: Ethical integrity and moral fairness for all creates the very roots of God’s authority; His unfailing love and absolute truth become grace and secures our hope.

All rights reserved; copyright 2015 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author Breathing Room For My Soul (blog) Follow on Twitter @soulchat

For more information about this ministry visit ~

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“May you be blessed by the Lord Who loves you best!”

Covenant Love ~ Lent 2015

God’s Faithfulness ~ Our Everlasting Hope!

LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness

You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV

During this season of reflection and renewal, join me in exploring God’s Faithfulness. Do you find strength for every circumstance in God’s Faithfulness? God IS Faithful!  God’s Faithfulness is our everlasting Hope! ~ Donna Oswalt

But I lavish My love on those who love Me and obey my commandments, even for a thousand generations. Exodus 20:6 NLT

Old Testament Egypt worships many gods and believes the more gods, the more blessings. While in captivity for 430 years, Egyptian practices influence the Jewish people. After leaving Egypt, they encounter many other pagan nations who practice idol worship including temple prostitution, fertility rites, and sacrificing children. God gives them specific rules about not worshiping idols but worshiping Jehovah, unchanging and faithful, who lavishes love on His people. Within the Ten Commandments, God gives guidelines for all relationships, first with Him, secondly with others.

Out of His goodness and grace, God promises to love us. The first important lessons of the Ten Commandments establish God as the only God, and warn that to value anything more importantly than God creates an idol, a substitute god. Today’s idols beg our pagan hearts to place work, money, success, and pleasure above God. Shouting for attention, campaigning for importance, hoping we choose them over God’s priorities, these substitute idols cause us to lose focus of the eternal, infinite, Sovereign God. 

Holy, Holy, Holy, God of lavish love pour over me. In the noise and chaos, I look for You. Forgive me when I offer You my leftover moments. Great is Your faithfulness - Holy and worthy of my first thoughts – my deepest reverence – my loudest praises! –dho

Focus Point: Out of His goodness and grace, God promises to love us.

All rights reserved; copyright 2015 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author Breathing Room For My Soul (blog) Follow on Twitter @soulchat

For more information about this ministry visit ~

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“May you be blessed by the Lord Who loves you best!”

Covenant Keeper ~ Lent 2015

God’s Faithfulness ~ Our Everlasting Hope!

LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness

You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV

During this season of reflection and renewal, join me in exploring God’s Faithfulness. Do you find strength for every circumstance in God’s Faithfulness? God IS Faithful!  God’s Faithfulness is our everlasting Hope! ~ Donna Oswalt

My covenant I will not break, nor alter any word that has gone out of My lips. Psalm 89:34

Psalm 89 begins by declaring the LORD’s great, everlasting love and His faithfulness and ends with praise to the LORD forever. We read about the blessings of joy, glory, strength, and security the Israelites find in walking with God and God’s promises to sustain David, blessing him with power and victory. In verse 29, God promises, “I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.” Despite humanity’s sin and disobedience, God will not break His covenant.

This ancestral lineage that is to endure forever includes Jesus Christ; the Messiah is to be the last King in David’s dynasty. In John 1:14 the promise is fulfilled when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” God is a covenant keeper!

Holy God, great is Your faithfulness, from generation to generation. Jesus became flesh, suffered for my weakness, died for my failures, and with His resurrection, grace covers my sins and offers me a robe of righteousness. Praises that my unfaithfulness cannot undo Your promises. –dho

Focus Point: Despite humanity’s sin and disobedience, God will not break His covenant.

All rights reserved; copyright 2015 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author Breathing Room For My Soul (blog) Follow on Twitter @soulchat

For more information about this ministry visit ~

MangroveMinistries.org

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“May you be blessed by the Lord Who loves you best!”

Unfailing Faithfulness ~ Lent 2015

God’s Faithfulness ~ Our Everlasting Hope!

LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness

You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV

During this season of reflection and renewal, join me in exploring God’s Faithfulness. Do you find strength for every circumstance in God’s Faithfulness? God IS Faithful!  God’s Faithfulness is our everlasting Hope! ~ Donna Oswalt

I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly. Psalm 40:10

The Bible tells the stories of many people who stand in the center of adversity but remain obedient to a faithful God. Very visible people, like Abraham, Esther, and Daniel, those in high positions like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Joseph, and Nehemiah, the Disciples of Jesus, Paul and countless first century Christians endure ridicule and persecution for choosing to live in obedience to God. In placing their present and future lives in the hands of the constant, unchanging, unfailing love of God, their testimonies reveal God’s faithfulness to those who honor Him.

Today, Christians face difficulties, endure circumstances, and suffer injustices that test our faithful obedience to God. Seasons of distress and discomfort bind us to pain and grief. Whispers from the world evoke discouragement and create doubt. Trusting God within the events that stressful, daily living brings challenges every heart’s obedience. Then and now, God goes before us and provides everything we need. God’s eternal faithfulness must be the promise we claim. 

El Shaddai, All-Sufficient One – find me on my knees, find me in my struggles. You see all my needs, see all my enemies. Let me hear only Your whispers ~ fill me, encourage me, rescue me. Great is Your faithfulness in every moment, now and always.   – dho

Focus Point: Then and now, God goes before us and provides everything we need.

All rights reserved; copyright 2015 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author Breathing Room For My Soul (blog) Follow on Twitter @soulchat

For more information about this ministry visit ~

MangroveMinistries.org

LIKE Mangrove Ministries on Facebook

“May you be blessed by the Lord Who loves you best!”

God's Faithfulness, Our weakness ~ Lent 2015

God’s Faithfulness ~ Our Everlasting Hope!

LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness

You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV

During this season of reflection and renewal, join me in exploring God’s Faithfulness. Do you find strength for every circumstance in God’s Faithfulness? God IS Faithful!  God’s Faithfulness is our everlasting Hope! ~ Donna Oswalt

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless…those who trust in the LORD will find new strength…

Isaiah 40:20-31 NLT

When you read Isaiah chapter 40, the greatness of God fills the pages, His majesty full of power, provision and presence. From creating to sustaining, God constantly reaches into the world. God desires to abide with His people and to develop an ever-deepening, intimate relationship. Trusting in God’s faithfulness gives us hope to find new strength.

In verse 25, the Holy One asks, “To whom will you compare Me? Who is My equal?” Clearly, there is only one God Almighty. Only God is more powerful than any chaos or crisis, any fear or foe. In our most ordinary moments, God reveals the beauty, offers the peace, and celebrates the joy. In our weakness, God’s faithfulness sustains and strengthens us.

God Almighty, there is NONE like You. My soul knows both weakness and weariness, but I trust You to help me find new strength. Great is Your faithfulness – to the deepest depths! – dho

Focus Point: Trusting in God’s faithfulness gives us hope to find new strength.

All rights reserved; copyright 2015 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author Breathing Room For My Soul (blog) Follow on Twitter @soulchat

For more information about this ministry visit ~

MangroveMinistries.org

LIKE Mangrove Ministries on Facebook

“May you be blessed by the Lord Who loves you best!”

Faithfulness and More ~ Lent 2015

God’s Faithfulness ~ Our Everlasting Hope!

LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness

You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV

During this season of reflection and renewal, join me in exploring God’s Faithfulness. Do you find strength for every circumstance in God’s Faithfulness? God IS Faithful!  God’s Faithfulness is our everlasting Hope! ~ Donna Oswalt

Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.  Psalm 36:5 NLT

Faithfulness, defined in the dictionary, includes characteristics of showing constant loyalty, deserving trust, keeping promises. Words like fickle or false, dishonesty or disregard cannot share space with perseverance or reliability or truth. In reading Psalm 36, the examples of a faithful God stand in sharp contrast to the heart and mind of the unfaithful, the confused, the wicked. While the corrupted heart defines rebellion, hypocrisy, bullying and vulgarity, the faithfulness of God soars higher, reaches beyond, seeks deeper with unfailing love.

God’s characteristics of unfailing love, righteousness, and justice are the foundations of His faithfulness. This holy compassion, safe shelter, and abundant provision bring us peace and rest and fulfillment. God is the unlimited source of life, our unceasing satisfaction in living, and unfailing hope for eternal life. 

Yahweh, the One whose love desires me, whose grace completes me, whose abundance overwhelms me. Great is Your faithfulness, my source of all things needed. – dho

Focus Point: God’s characteristics of unfailing love, righteousness, and justice are the foundations of His faithfulness.

All rights reserved; copyright 2015 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author Breathing Room For My Soul (blog) Follow on Twitter @soulchat

For more information about this ministry visit ~

MangroveMinistries.org

LIKE Mangrove Ministries on Facebook

“May you be blessed by the Lord Who loves you best!”