A Father's Love

Submitting To The Yoke

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14 NASB

I am certain that seeking His Will is the only way, and I do find His goodness along the way ~ in every day. The ordinary calls to me this day ~ the simple calls in the quiet of the morning, the warmth of the sun, the singing of birds, the beauty of Spring's new blooms ~ and yet, in this ordinariness and simplicity, I find the Creator's fingerprints which are extraordinary ~ complex ~ intricate. He weaves it all together ~ in the waiting ~ and in the living.

The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! . . . Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin agresh each day.
. . . I will hope in Him! The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him and seek Him. Lamentaions 3:22-26 NLT

The Life Application Study Bible commentary refers to "submit to the yoke" (Lamentations 3:27) meaning the ways God teaches us. It offers these ways:
1- silent reflection on what God wants 2- repentant humility 3- self-control in the face of adversity 4- confident patience, depending on the divine Teacher to bring about loving lessons in our life

These words speak to me, give me season to pause, give me reason to reflect. How blessed I am to share His Word! ~dho

Crucified Redeemer

“The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:38-39 (NIV)

Epitimao is a Greek word meaning “to rap on the knuckles” as to reprimand and appears several times throughout Mark's text. According to Mark, the miracles of Jesus do not define Him as Messiah, rather His essential suffering and death on the cross. In the death of Jesus, His glory is revealed as Messiah, Redeemer of all, Son of God. Through these words of Mark, I begin to focus on Christ’s suffering and crucifixion, not just His glorious resurrection.

Oswald Chambers writes:
"The Cross of Christ is the revealed truth of God's judgement on sin.
. . . The Cross was the place where God and sinful man merged with a tremendous collision . . . But all the cost and pain of the collision was absorbed by the heart of God." *

Epitimao

Centuries ago, a man of God called Mark inscribed a great work.
Written in his native Greek, this first edition served as a reference
For other scribes who penned the story.
And, hence, became a polyglot classic.
Little is known about this enlightened composer of images,
The recorder of the Messianic secret.
To most, the beauty of his literary genius remains obscured by candid, woven narration.
Theologians echo, “Epitimao, for they are dull.”

It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“He was despised and rejected by men,
A man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering . . .
For he bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.”

As the Master instructed his students, he spoke of the Kingdom of God,
While his students chattered about a kingdom.
Teaching them of things to come, the Master described the betrayal, suffering, and death of the Son of Man,
While his students argued about poIitical appointments by an earthly king.
As predicted, betrayal followed by denial, became the Master’s fate.
Alone with his captors, the Master was beaten, mocked, and crucified.
At last, the beauty of his divinity was revealed,
Unveiled by a violent and cruel death.

Centuries have passed: the victorious Good News endures.
Translators polished the original Greek classic.
Yet echoes of Mark rend the air,
“Epitimao those who stand amazed in the presence of a risen Savior,
And have not stood mute at the foot of the cross.
Epitimao, for they are dull.” ~ dho


Lord ~ In my boldness to profess Your glory, I forget the pain. I hear Epitimao! In immense humility, I fall to my knees with wordless intention, but cannot truly know the depth of suffering You endured.
Reveal my sin that drives the nails into Your flesh. Reveal the Cross that breathes new life into my soul. Reveal the cost. Reveal the Love. ~ dho

* Oswald Chambers, from "My Utmost for His Highest", April 6, updated edition

New Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)


Adonai-Jehovah ~
Sovereign Lord, we know the blessings that pour from You, blessings like the sweetest wine that flows from the highest mountains, generous and gracious, extraordinary and extravagant. In You we find the Source of all goodness. With tender mercies You open our eyes to these gifts, open our ears to these promises, open our hearts to these wonders! With unlimited love You heal the pain, mend the wounds, hold the tears. With gentle grace You forgive our faults, prepare our hearts, renew our minds. Such Amazing Love and Marvelous Grace!

Yeshua, You became the Suffering Servant. You are the Glory Everlasting! Savior and Shepherd, we rest in You. Rebuild us and plant us, for Your purposes exceed our imaginations. Use our hands and feet, our minds and hearts, our strength and weakness, our hope and weariness, our love and desire ~ for we are made new in You! Precious Jesus, speak this prayer for us. Amen. dho

God . . . renew a steadfast spirit within me Psalm 51:10b (NIV)

Christmas Day!

We thank Thee, O God, for the return of the wondrous spell of this Christmas season that brings its own sweet joy into our jaded and troubled hearts. Forbid it, Lord, that we should celebrate without understanding what we celebrate, or, like our counterparts so long ago, fail to see the star or to hear the song of glorious promise. As our hearts yield to the spirit of Christmas, may we discover that it is Thy Holy Spirit who comes- not a sentiment, but a power- to remind us of the only way by which there may be peace on the earth and good will among men. May we not spend Christmas, but keep it, that we may be kept in its hope, through Him who emptied Himself in coming to us that we might be filled with peace and joy in returning to God. ~ Peter Marshall ~

Immense in mercy and with an incredible love, He embraced us. Ephesians 2:4 (MSG)

Holy Father,
This day we celebrate a new beginning, a time
of new birth for an old way of living. Christ
came to bring a New Way to this world, weary
and lost. Today, we remember and celebrate
the simple and innocent way He came to us.

We long to find the simple way, to find You
in ordinary places, in everyday faces. Help
us to put away our old way of living, complicated
by excess baggage and unnecessary burdens
we often carry around with us. Teach us a
New Way of living, restored and replenished,
redeemed and refined.

Show us beauty in the new and simple; show us
joy in the Light and Love! Take us now, this very
day, as we lay down our old way of living and offer
ourselves as living stones for You.

Holy, Holy, Holy LORD, GOD of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of Your Glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD. Hosanna in the highest.

The magnificent abundance You give our souls
exceeds all expectations! With unexplainable
acceptance of Your mysterious ways, we praise
your Holiness! For we shall tell of You and
Your Ways; tell how beauty-full You are! For
Your Glory, we shall tell this God-story, the one
You are writing on our hearts and lives.

I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of
answered prayers.* Your vows are binding
upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings
to You.** A thousand Hallelujahs, my ex voto. Amen! ~dho

* Psalm 13:6 The Message
** Psalm 56:12 NASB

The Latin 'ex voto' literally means "from the vow". An 'ex voto' is an offering made in fulfillment of a vow or promise.

Winter's Morning!

Creator,
Your morning is glorious! The sun shines in a
beautiful, clear Mississippi-blue sky. Frost
covers the ground and each blade of grass
glistens in the sunlight. You feed the birds
along the roadside; they know You will provide.
A lone crow sits and waits. He, too, will not be
disappointed. With the morning's frost, the pansies
bow in reverence to You , but even they will find
the warmth needed to endure the cold.

I see my Provider in this day. There are new
mercies in Your Glory. How my soul glistens
in your Everlasting Light! You make all things
new every day! I wait for You with anticipation!
I will not be disappointed. On my knees, I bow
before a Holy God. Lord, You are the author of all.
Write the God-story You desire in my heart,
and I will pen the words. Hear my prayer. Amen. ~dho