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Thursday, February 10, 2022

Sacred Breathing

 "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!"   Psalm 150:6


If you ever have questions about how to praise God, read Psalm 150 for the 'who, what, when, where, why, and how' answers. Anytime and everywhere, our lives are to PRAISE the LORD - the One who is Creator and Comforter, filled with mystery and majesty, holiness and healing; Praises to The Giver of goodness and grace. God is Love. Praise the LORD!

Whether in corporate or private worship, Christians, both collectively and individually, should praise God. This PRAISE is not an ordinary gesture or mere flattery; rather, it is to be a creative praise that radically raves about His awesomeness, ranging from silent awe to sacred shouts. PRAISE evolves into words and music, prayers and singing, rhythmic responses celebrating God's "mighty deeds" and "excellent greatness". Musical instruments of all forms - wind, strings, percussion, dancing - create a ceaseless motion of spontaneous joy to and for the LORD of all. Praise the LORD!

We all struggle in a world saturated by disease, poverty, and injustice that stands in stark contrast to Heaven's perfect, complete, and loving promises. The Greek word for 'breath' is neshamah which means all that is living within us. Just as GOD first breathed life into mankind (Genesis 2:7), He remains the Breath of Life within each Christian. PRAISE honors the redemption through Christ, which is victory over death, but also, this holy breathing glorifies God for His constant presence in our daily struggles. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! ~dho

Thursday, February 03, 2022

Goodness and Grace

There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary--we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! Romans 5:3-5 The Message

In the middle of life, with its delights and distractions, surrounded by wonder and wilderness, the moments come and go. How often do we shout our praise in difficult times? Scripture tells us these very troubles can teach us passionate patience. Some translations use "endurance." Through the struggles we can become stronger, even hope-full. 


In alert expectancy reminds us that God's blessings, like His Faithfulness, are certain. We are to praise God in all circumstances, not for the despair or difficulty, not for the sadness or sorrow; rather, we are to praise God for His Everlasting Hope that endures troubles, that endures for eternity. We are to praise God for the countless blessings that have been and are to come. We are to praise God for the lessons of passionate patience which strengthen and renew. We are to praise God ~ for He alone is worthy of praise.

Our sacrifice of praise ~
Try to find enough containers to hold God's Goodness and Grace! ~dho  

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Infused


"And I have felt
A presence that distrubs me with a joy
Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime
Of something far more deeply interfused,
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns." - William Wordsworth

When is the last time you felt infused with God, with the Spirit of love and strength and joy? In times of uncertainty we long to find comfort and joy, peace and encouragement. Too often we look for this is the wrong places - in the world. Words from 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 in The Message express the soul's knowing of the presence of God, of His strength and grace infused into the lives of those who seek Christ.

May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus… pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you,… May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God… (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

This infusion is Grace, unmerited and unmeasured. Praying that each of you recognizes the presence of the Holy Light that infuses the soul! ~dho

Thursday, January 20, 2022

God Goes Before!

To choose life is to love the LORD your God, obey Him and stay close to Him. He is your life... Be strong and brave. Don't be afraid... don't be frightened, because the LORD your God will go with you.  He will not leave you or forget you...The LORD himself will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forget you. Don't be afraid and don't worry.  





on our knees…
We speak the Hebrew word Yahweh because it is Your covenant name, and we have study Your promises to the descendants of Abraham.  The ancient words recorded centuries before tell the story of humankind and all its frailties.  Words translated from Hebrew tell of Moses and his obedience, tell how You always went before them, preparing the way.  

We call out, LORD, because there are promises for us.  The ancient words tell a living story of love and sacrifice and redemption; they tell of a new covenant ~ Christ.  We choose life!  Now, as then, You go before us, preparing the way.

We whisper, Adonai, for You are Lord; You are Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  You are both hope and light. Your Spirit dwells within us. Lord, only through You can we be strong and brave. We long to firmly embrace You. The world entices us, even when we try to draw near to You. Sometimes our journey is not clear, the path uneven, our steps uncertain. When we cannot see, help us remember the ancient words, the living words: The LORD himself will go before you. You are the Promise that chooses us; You are the Love that embraces us. Lord, hear our simple prayers.  Amen.  ~ dho

Thursday, January 13, 2022

The Story Our Living Tells

Put the word into action. If you think hearing is what matters most, you are going to find you have been deceived. James 1:22 The Voice


Spiritual growth is more than asking questions, searching for answers, or finding holy guidance. Integrity exceeds head knowledge by calling for a heart response, and the standards of Christian character should reflect a lifestyle pleasing to God. Visible, outward behaviors disclose the inner character of a person, describe their true relationship with God, and distinguish authenticity of the heart. Our inner character writes the story our living tells others.


Being in fellowship with God positions the Christian to breakdown barriers and construct communities that together share the Gospel of Christ. Called to Community, The Life Jesus Wants for His People, is comprised of a myriad of Christian educators, writers, theologians, philosophers, pastors, and martyrs, some living long ago and some living now. In one chapter, German New Testament professor, Gerhard Lohfink, writes, "Where faith is really faith it cannot be shoved to the margins of life." I wonder, when does my busyness, my agenda begin to dictate my response to God? How am I keeping my faith shoved to the margins of life?


An individual faith-story must be more than the words to the Apostles Creed, the Newsboys song We Believe or Psalm 23. Faith cannot be shoved to the margins and still reflect a true, growing relationship with God, not the margins of society, not the margins of our families, not the margins of our calendars. True faith must be more than scribbled notes on the margins of our Bibles, the good intentions that skip across the margins of our thoughts, the generosity that walks passed the margins of opportunities. 


Let us take inventory of our outward behavior. What story do my actions tell others about my fellowship with God? How do I give voice to those who cannot speak for themselves? Where could my hands hold another's pain? Am I too busy to notice? Is my humility missing? The heart's most sincere desire must be to have an intimate relationship with God, and only then can we walk and act and speak with pure expressions of grace. Ethical integrity is spiritual faithfulness in a faithful God lived out loud! What does the inventory of your outward behavior reveal about your inner character?  ~dho



Thursday, January 06, 2022

Shielded and Sheltered

He will shield you with His wings. He will shelter you with His feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4 NLT


As the new year arrives, its fresh beginnings offer reflection. One observation that comes to mind is most all of us desire safety and security. God’s faithfulness provides safe shelter for His own. Whether the metaphor refers to feathers of angels or eagles and hens (see Matthew 23:37),trusting in this living God becomes a shield for the fearful, the forgotten, the desperate, the dying, the wounded, the weary. The world reeks of danger and uncertainty, but we find our refuge, our safe place in the embrace of God Almighty.

Whether the context is Moses reminding the Israelites or Jesus grieving over Jerusalem or the world churning its chaos, God longs to sit in the inner sanctuary, to have communion and fellowship with those who seek Him. So, come to a place of safety, a place of Divine Protection, a place of unfailing love. El Shaddai, You are my safe place, my port in life’s storms, my retreat from daily struggles, my shelter from Satan’s lies. Great is Your faithfulness; be my shelter. - dho

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Final Chapter

Week 52 – Book of Jeremiah

Read: Jeremiah Chapter 52



Background

Think about the book of Jeremiah as a “notebook or scrapbook of things” written by the prophet and about his ministry. Including “news clippings” that “piece together the story of his life” along with addressing the “spiritual needs of his generation” and expressing “the emotions of his suffering soul,”[1] these historical recordings tell the story of Jerusalem during one of its most chaotic times. The book of Jeremiah is more than a historical account of those current times, more importantly God’s messages give testimony to the future, both of Israel and all peoples. This is the message of hope, holy and divine in purpose.

Written in the form of narratives, poetry, laments, and prayers, these ancient words declare the power and plans of God. Expectations that come with a covenant can fail, fall apart, fold under the pressures of the carnal world. Like shiny and bright trinkets, the idols lure the people away from God, false prophets reinforce the myths. Faithful to God, Jeremiah delivers God’s truth, despite the rejection of the people. Still, hope remains. The Messianic message of the new covenant emerges in the turmoil. God’s purpose will never be defeated.

The writings of Jeremiah comprise 52 chapters, 1,364 verses, and nearly 50 years of history. Many call Jeremiah the prophet of doom, but he writes about the spiritual and cultural decline of a people who centuries before pledged to follow God and promised to keep His commandments. These holy laws, the Mosaic law, is written to protect the people and provide spiritual reconciliation with God. Agreeing to this promise (covenant), their lives are preserved and through faith and obedience comes blessings. The thread of God’s never-ending faithfulness weaves a tapestry of provision and protection, as well as righteous judgment.

Our exploring of Jeremiah includes a year of study, over 67,000 written words, and nearly 400 references. While not an exhaustive study by any means, in these chapters God’s character repeatedly reveals His continued faithfulness, love, compassion, and healing. Today, we stand far on the other side looking backward, with the New Testament written some 600 years after Jeremiah and in the 21st century, some 2,500 years later. Trying to understand these ancient times and seeking to find lessons for current times, the realization that humanity rarely changes can be disappointing. Still falling short in our faith, still seeking more in places of less, still exposing our frailties, the world remains very much the same.

Like those false prophets, we live our untruths and then believe our own rhetoric. Dressed in our finest greed and arrogance, we ignore the weak and the weary. Wrapped with our best bows, we offer token gestures of benevolence, offerings that do not require sacrifice. Tucked into our comfort and warmth, we pray that someone will help change the world for better. Perhaps there is just too much brokenness, too much injustice, too much pain in the world.

Some of my favorite words in Jeremiah come in his prayer, words that give us hope, that lead us to the answers we cannot find on our own. “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.” (32:17) With God, nothing is impossible! This message occurs throughout Scripture, from God to Abraham, the angel to Mary, Jesus to the disciples, the epistles to all. Too much brokenness, too much injustice, too much pain – this is true for you and me, but not for God. God’s grace covers all the sin and comes as “an indescribable gift” to all. And what about us who Believe? Our lives demonstrate obedience when we share the Good News, love with His compassion, walk among the weary with hope.

Jeremiah tells us there is a future for all people seeking God with their whole heart. Being a faithful servant matters most to God. Like Jeremiah, our faithfulness cannot be limited to religious activities or righteous deeds but must secure its foundation in the faithful promises of God. In Christ, we can love without perfection, have certainty without understanding, experience peace within grief. When God dwells in the hearts of His people, we have new awareness, new insight, and new hope. The Holy Spirit empowers us to see those living on the margins, to offer Bread of Life to a starving world, and to retell the stories of God’s faithfulness. 

Study

Chapter 52 gives an account of the fall of Judah, also described in 2 Kings 24:18-20 and 2 Chronicles 36:11-14. Zedekiah, the official final king of Judah, reigns as a complicated leader. His father, Josiah, brings spiritual revival, but Zedekiah wickedness rebels against Babylon despite having vowed to be be faithful to Babylon. Various historians suggest the final siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar lasted around two and a half years. Although Zedekiah flees Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar’s men find him and Nebuchadnezzar pokes our Zedekiah’s eyes, but only after he is forced to watch his sons executed. (v11) Taken to Babylon in bronze chains, Zedekiah remains in prison until his death.

Jerusalem is plundered, all the best is taken to Babylon, the best people, the best wares, the temple treasures, and all the bronze, gold, and silver works. Nebuchadnezzar burns the Temple of Yahweh, along with the royal palace, and any houses of important people. In verses 24-26, many important leaders of Jerusalem and the temple are rounded up. The number of Jews Nebuchadnezzar sends into exile (v 28-30) say, “4,600 persons in all” from Judah. This number likely only counts the men, not women and children. Recording of this event in 2 Kings 25 gives different numbers, and the true consensus is not officially known.

The final verses describe the kindness to Jehoiachin. His prison release and invitation to eat with the son and successor to king Nebuchadnezzar suggest, “God continued to show kindness to the descendants of King David, even in exile.”[2]

Reflection

“Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as He conversed with us on the road, as He opened up the Scriptures for us?” Luke 24:32 MSG

Scripture tells us about two friends, followers of Jesus, who are leaving Jerusalem on the morning of the Resurrection. Jesus begins to walk along side them, talking and teaching them. They do not recognize Jesus until after He blesses the bread, breaks it, and gives it to them. His presence kindles a fire within their hearts.

Life happens in the hurried and the slow, the random and the sure, the desperate and the joyful moments that fill our days. A pattern begins to form as we gather our experiences and passions, our talents and knowledge in trying to see the big picture. Sometimes we want a solution or need direction; sometimes we just need to rest.

Timothy Keller writes, “Build an identity that gets its significance from God.” Too often we try to connect our life-dots through accomplishments or talent or relationships. We attempt to build our own identities through culture or philosophy. We even claim the behaviors of religion, like confession, forgiveness, baptism, communion, worship, giving, prayer, but do we recognize Jesus as God-within-us? Does the presence of Jesus ignite a spiritual flame within my heart? 

Blessed Assurance, even before time began, Your beauty danced across the heavens. From the highest peaks to the deepest canyons, from the widest deserts to the strongest rivers. Your glory shines. From forever to forever, Your are Jehovah-Elohim, the Eternal Creator. 

Even before I took my first breath, Your plans for me were known. From the sweetest celebrations to the gravest sorrows, from the abundant blessings to the fiercest challenges, Your love abides. From before to after, forever be my dwelling place. Amen.


Application

Food for Thought ~

It isn’t enough for a nation to put “In God We Trust” on its currency, to mention God in its pledge to the flag, or to “tip the hat to God” by quoting the Bible in political campaign speeches. It’s righteousness, not religion, that exalts a nation. What pleases the Lord is that we “do justly… love mercy… and walk humbly with [our] God.” (Micah 6:8) – Warren Wiersbe[3]

Donna Oswalt

 

 



[1] ESV Study Bible Intro to Jeremiah

[2] Life Application Study Bible notes Jeremiah 52

[3] Be Decisive, Wiersbe, Warren, p 186-187

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Doom of Babylon

Week 51 – Book of Jeremiah

Read: Jeremiah Chapter 51



Background

Sometimes called the prophet of the new covenant, Jeremiah’s text bears great significance in the New Testament, strategically linking the Old and New Testaments. As Jesus uses the Last Supper to commission the New Covenant with, “This cup which is poured our for you is the new covenant in My blood.” (Luke 22:20) In reading Hebrews 8, Scripture concerning the new covenant quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34. “Clearly, the New Testament writers conclude that Jeremiah 31:31-34 looks forward to Christ’s work on the cross and to the creation of a faithful people of God.”[1]

Regarding the covenant between God and Israel, Jeremiah recognizes “the covenant bound Israel to God in a special relationship of love, faithfulness, and hope. But the covenant had two sides.”[2] Disobedience brings punishment and exile, while obedience brings blessing is found in various places in the OT. The new covenant would be different, would be everlasting forgiveness. In Jeremiah, the Messiah is referred to as “the coming Shepherd, righteous Branch, and a King that “shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. The God who fulfills His promises (covenants) with Abraham and Moses, and His people will make a new covenant.”[3] This new covenant would remain a constant hope for the centuries after Jeremiah. Christ fulfills this promise, and that hope continues to be the hope of humanity until the end of time. The old covenant never promised final forgiveness, as a series of sacrifices continued to be required, each year on the Day of Atonement the High Priest would make a blood sacrifice on the altar of the Holy of Holies. Christ, the Lamb of God, becomes the last and permanent blood sacrifice, rending the veil of the Holy of Holies ushering in the New Covenant.

This new covenant, a new way to be in relationship with God, comes with an internal power when the law is written on the heart, not stone tablets. The individual is transformed by God Himself. In Christianity, Christ becomes this New Covenant, this new way to have a relationship with God. What is the difference? Placing our faith in Christ is all about Grace, recognizing none will ever be able to be sin-free but anyone can be eternally forgiven. The Grace side of the covenant can never change. As for humanity, we can choose this or reject it, choose to ask Christ to come into our hearts or ignore God. This restoration truly becomes a matter of the heart, as the Holy Spirit dwells in each Believer. Grace is penned on the heart of every Believer. Foretold by Isaiah and Jeremiah, the New Covenant, initiated with Christ’s death and resurrection, becomes the Good News!!

Study

Babylon, land of idols, is refers to in chapter 51:1 as “Leb-kamai” which cryptically translates to “the heart of those rising up against Me.”[4] The agricultural process of winnowing (v2) suggests Babylon will be blown away as the worthless chaff from wheat is discarded. “Despite all the judgements that God has sent on Judah and Israel, He has not… forsaken them and will invite them to the new covenant. (31:31-34)[5] In another image, a golden cup,  Babylon is compared to a “vessel in the hand of God.”[6]

The Lord’s vengeance will stand. There will be no healing in Babylon. Wiersbe says “They had been weaving the luxurious tapestry of their power and wealth on the loom,”[7] and now God says the end is coming. Babylon will now be God’s weapon of destruction. (v 20) Again, in these verses the imagery predicts retribution for the crimes of arrogance and cruelty. Bel, Babylon’s chief idol, will be punished. Remember the dimensions of the wall surrounding Babylon? So wide several chariots side by side could race around it, prophecy says, “Even the wall of Babylon has fallen down.” (v 44) The wall is breached by Cyrus from underneath and literally falls when Alexander the Great captures the city.

These two chapters (50-51) are “copied in a separate [scroll] and sent to Babylon in a deputation headed by King Zedekiah, seven years before Nebuchadnezzar burned Jerusalem. (51:59-64) The [scroll] was to be read publicly and then, in solemn ceremony, sunk in the Euphrates, with the words, ‘so will Babylon sink to rise not more’.”[8] In the last verses we meet Seraiah the son of Neriah the scribe who is to take the scroll and read it. A royal quartermaster means that likely Seraiah accompanied the king on official duties. “A seal acquired on the antiquities market reads Belonging to Seraiah (son of) Neriah. His lineage is given as son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah (Jer 51:59). This is the same lineage as that of Baruch, Jeremiah’s secretary (32:12), indicating that Seraiah was Baruch’s brother.”[9] The ending of Babylon is specifically defined and will be fulfilled.

 

Reflection ~ Christmas is here!

When I discovered Your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear Your name. Jeremiah 15:16

The expectant waiting in Advent leads us to celebrate Christ as the Messiah, to seek Christ more every day, to know Jesus as our source of joy. In Philippians 4:4, Paul reminds, Rejoice in The Lord always, again, I will say rejoice! The world continually bombards us with crisis and chaos, disappointment and doubt, fear and fatigue. The contrast between Paul's words and our realities appear to clash. How can we rejoice when difficult circumstances prevail, when constant hardship lingers? God's word provides His wisdom, reveals His promises, offers His hope. Reading and studying the Bible teach us how to love, when to pray, and where to serve. We can only find real joy in Jesus.

In the Nativity, hope comes quietly, love comes small, joy comes easily, but with the Crucifixion, hope faints, love chooses, and joy weeps. These two events cannot be separated, the sweet and the bittersweet. The emotions born with Jesus crash into the harsh realities of the cross; the Messiah comes because the world needs Grace. With His Resurrection, Hope shouts, Love lives, and Joy reigns! Through Grace, Christ brings us abundant life. God's word instructs us, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you." [Colossians 3:16] Discover and devour God's word. Then, and only then, can we celebrate God all day, every day. 

Celebrate the Season of Giving... 

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

As Christ is reborn in you and in me, let us ask ourselves who else needs this Grace? Will you share the Gospel message of Jesus with others here or throughout the world? What can you give to honor the Prince of Peace? 

Application

At the time this prophecy comes, no one could even begin to imagine that this could happen to the Babylonian Empire, that its reign as a Supreme Power could end.

Thinking about our own country, the United States of America, we hold a similar view. Certainly, we think, nothing could end the reign of our country as a Superpower, for our political, military, economic, humanitarian, and environmental strategies exceed most any standard in the world. What do you think? Could we fall? And if so, what would likely be our downfall? How can we stay focused and not fall prey to arrogance and idolatry? Or are we closer than we know?

Donna Oswalt



[1] Shepherd’s Notes: Jeremiah and Lamentations Introduction

[2] NKJV Study Bible Jeremiah notes

[3] Ibid

[4] Walking. The Ancient Paths, Kaiser, Walter C, p 565

[5] ESV Global Study Bible Jeremiah chapter 51

[6] Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary Jeremiah chapter 51

[7] Be Decisive, Wiersbe Warren, p179

[8] Halleys Bible Handbook

[9] Archeological Study Bible, Seraiah son of Neriah,