The LIVING Word!

Throw-Back-Thursday (#TBT) popularity on social media wanes, constantly replaced by various new #’s, but it is still fun to remember. Along with its hash tags, pictures of yester-year would dance across out computer screens, mobile phones, and tablets. Frequently the hair styles and clothing reveal the era. We laugh, usually, or moan, sometimes. When I open my #TBT Bible, my name is written on the inside cover. Back in the day, unlike now, few versions of the Bible were available. "The Living Bible" broke the rules by using current vernacular, much the way we appreciate The Message today. The words and the order of the words sounded friendly, more familiar to the ear. The Living Bible with its padded green color, while popular with teenagers, did not thrill the adults. Whatever your thoughts or preferences are about various translations and transliterations of the Holy Bible, I believe God always uses His words to inspire, to convict, to reveal His Goodness and Grace.

#TBT High School, 1973

Reading today from Romans in The Living Bible, God's word tells it straight. Listen to some of the verses from Chapter 12: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves...we belong to each other, and each needs all the others. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. And further down, Don't just pretend that you love others; really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. These very valuable words remind us our connectedness in Christian community. These words are not just for #TBT!

Life is messy! We wait, longing for time to pass more quickly then hurry to what is next. Hurt and disappointment become friends we wish we didn't know. Doubt shouts! Hypocrisy mocks! But, God always sees the bigger picture, sees beyond what our minds cannot understand. Using my #TBT Bible, I find these words: Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always. (Romans 12:12) 

I did not read other translations or search commentaries, did not research Greek origins of the words or look at cross references (none in the #TBT Bible). I simply let my prayer echo His inspired words: With a grateful heart, God, I trust You are planning something good for me. In times of trouble, help me be patient. You show me how to love others, truly love them. Give me a boldness to stand on the side of good with love. Every moment of every day, my prayers rising to You, spending time with You ~ listening, resting, waiting, learning, loving. Amen! ~dho

Piece by Piece by Peace

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.  

Deuteronomy 30:20, 31:6,8 NCV

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, 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

** previously posted on this blog October/2013/DonnaOswalt

Awesome Deeds!

Connemara, County Galway, Ireland

 from Psalm 65:1, 4-8(NASB, The Message)

Silence is praise to You, [Jerusalem-dwelling] God, and also obedience. You hear the prayer in it all. . .

How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your [holy of holies].

We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.

By awesome deeds You answer us in

righteousness, O God of our salvation,

Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer

Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser,

Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash . . .

Dawn and dusk take turns calling, "Come and worship."

Earth-Tamer,

You have created infinite opportunity for my soul to praise Your holiness and majesty. You teach me perspective and humility with the greatness of simplicity.

Ocean-Pourer,

You renew my life with steams of righteousness, always leading to rivers of goodness, and oceans of more. You teach me the Source of power.

Mountain-Maker,

You let me stand in high places, knowing blessings beyond need. You teach me the wonder of holiness and glory.

Hill-Dresser,

You decorate the landscape with beauty that escapes description. You teach me the joy of details.

Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash,

You tame the turmoil inside my soul with repose. You teach me the peace of grace. I, too, come and worship at dawn and dusk and moments in between. For such Perfect Love brings me to my knees where I offer wordless soul songs of praise to You. Amen. ~ dho

Beauty in the Breaking

"I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places - firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past..." Isaiah 58:11-12 The Message

Nicole Nordeman's song The Unmaking, reminds us that within our disappointments, failures, vain efforts, difficult decisions, and circumstances beyond our understanding God meets us. She writes, God wanted to sit with me in the silence and the dust, after the wrecking ball, and put His arms around me for a while. Nordeman says God wasn't asking for a new plan of action; rather, "He asked for my vulnerability." 

God desires that we turn to Him, seek His Presence, and allow Him to comfort us! In the mess, the muck, the middle of the ruins of lost hope and broken dreams God is waiting. He always finds us in our need. Nordeman writes, the rubble is where we have to start. Listen to this beautiful song of sifting through the debris, defining an ending, seeing the hope in a new beginning. Listen to the open, sincere whispers of the heart, What happens now?...What happens next when all of you is all that's left?...This is the unmaking, beauty in the breaking...sitting in the rubble... ~dho

https://youtu.be/OCqjE8pYa_E  -[Link to “The Unmaking” by Nicole Nordeman]

Journey Notes!

 Since 2005 I have consistently kept a devotional-prayer journal. It is small enough to easily take with me and fits inside a Bible. I do not necessarily write in it every day, but most days I do. Scripture, random ideas, new words, and meanings of words often find their way to the pages. Excerpts from articles, books, or commentaries that move me are also written or attached within the pages. On the right margin I make notes of prayer requests and sometimes the pages are flagged as ongoing prayer requests come to me. This journal reminds me and gives me a place to make notes of specific needs, spiritual enrichment, and often supernatural outcomes. God is good!

There is one unique entry I always include on the first page of each notebook ~ I make a journey note of a Scripture that defines where I am spiritually when I start the notebook. I often discover this to be way the Spirit leads me during this phase of my journey with Him. Occasionally, I also write a quote or excerpt from a commentary that speaks to His Word. When the book is complete, when no more empty pages remain, I mark the front with the beginning and ending dates and begin another. Looking back I can always find a richness of God's teaching, wisdom, and leading along with a deeper understanding of my struggles, successes, and relationship with God. Sometimes, the very circumstances that brought me the most discomfort reveal my most intimate times of spiritual growth with God. 

My current journal note is this Scripture from Ecclesiastes, a favorite book of mine. Reminding me to enjoy the fruits of my labor, the goodness of God. Both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy comes from God, the giver of all good things. In the last few months I have had unexpected opportunities to travel, spend time with family, and enjoy the bounty God has provided. These moments, as they come, are to be treasured. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now!” Lord, remind me to be present in the moments, to be thankful for what You give, to enjoy the gifts You give! - dho

God’s Majesty!

The LORD looks from heaven;

He sees all the sons of men;

From His dwelling place He looks out

On all the inhabitants of the earth,

He who fashions the hearts of them all,

He who understands all their works. Psalm 33:13-15

Our soul waits for the LORD;

He is our help and our shield.
For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You. 

Psalm 33:20-22

Liberty, The Fruit of Life

 America the Beautiful, original words 1893:

"...America! America! God shed His grace on thee, 
Till selfish gain no longer stain,
The banner of the free!"

By 1911, the words changed:
"...Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine."

Let's help America keep the perspective of selfless-ness over noble success, and not let any gain rise higher than freedom and liberty. As Americans, we value liberty but struggle with its power. This liberty allows us the freedom to choose our own interests and create our personal agendas and claim our individual beliefs. With freedom comes responsibility, the responsibility to respect others with whom we differ, to respect each other as people.

In the New Testament, James writes, "So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of Liberty." For Christians, this 'law of Liberty' is the Perfect Law of Christ, faithful and true. James goes on to remind us, "For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time." As Christians, we are to be kind to others! Kindness personifies liberty. Let our kindness show others the soul-liberty we know through the grace of Christ. And on this day we celebrate America's Independence Day let our prayer be, "...God shed Your grace on me, and crown Your good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea." -dho

*Scripture James 2:12-13 (The Message)

** Previously posted on this blog dho/July 4, 2016

The Lemonade Stand

We all need some positive and uplifting thoughts and stories to remind us of God’s goodness and simple joys. It’s that time of year when kids set up homemade lemonade stands! I think, if possible, you should always stop and buy a cup of innocence and hope and entrepreneurship. The smiles they return will be pure bonus! Below you will find a sweet and not-so-usual story of my nephew’s lemonade stand. 

Designed in the spring of 2009, seven year old Thomas drew his plans for his idea. Together, Thomas and his dad built his design the summer of 2009, with Thomas doing all the painting and lettering. This Lemonade Stand served countless everyday boys and girls, moms and dads, strangers and friends, police officers and sheriffs and soldiers, and probably a few dogs. It proudly stood summer after summer on the side of the road just off Main Street in Raeford, NC and spent the winters just off ‘Me’s Road‘ (in the back yard!).

Not many can claim such distinctions, but this Lemonade Stand has been in a parade, traveled to fundraising events, appeared in several newspaper articles, and raised money for child development and a church’s new building, along with bringing awareness to Childhood Cancer and celebrating God’s healing! Even after several updates and fresh coats of varnish, sadly, its time came to an end. Immeasurable memories remain, and the ordinary days of selling lemonade will always echo a time to dream, a time to plan, a time to build, a time of simplicity, a time of purpose, a time of joy, a time of innocence, a time of moving forward… dho

Thomas, an Eagle Scout and High School Honor graduate, is now a senior at Appalachian State University. A Brain Cancer survivor since 2011, he continues to have annual Brain MRI’s (for life) at Duke, but currently he continues to be cancer free! To God be the Glory! 

** previously posted on this blog - Donna Oswalt