Prayer for a new story ~

When I told you my story, You listened to me;
train me in Your deep wisdom.
Help me understand these things inside and out
so I can ponder Your miracle-wonders.
I am sad and tired;
build me up again by Your Word.
Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
grace me with Your clear revelation.
I choose the true road to Somewhere,
I post Your road signs at every curve and corner.
I grasp and cling to whatever You tell me;
Lord, don't let me make a mess of things.
I'll run the course You lay out for me
if You'll just show me how.
Psalm 119: 26-32 ( The Message, TLB, NCV, the Amplified Bible)

Maker of my soul,
Hear my story - my uncertainties and struggles and disappointments. I attempted to understand the wonder of Your Grace, but it exceeded my comprehension. I journeyed down many roads in search of personal satisfaction, but continued to miss the signs. I tried to write my own story but grew weary in my efforts.

Speak to me! I long to hear Your voice. Grace me. Lead me. Show me.
Redeemer, renew me. Let my soul find rest in the Grace that exceeds understanding. Give me a map out of the wilderness. Lead me on the righteous road to contentment. Author of all, write my story! Show me how to share this new story of faith and obedience and blessing! With praises for Everlasting Goodness, Amen. ~dho

Obedience to the Command of Jesus

In his book A Life of Obedience, Andrew Murray writes about obedience to the command of Jesus (the Great Commision) and the disciples' response:

Before, during His life on earth, they had more than once expressed their doubt about the possibility of fulfilling His commands.

But here, as quietly and simply as He speaks these divine words, they accept them . . . they go to the appointed place to wait to be equipped by their Lord with heavenly power for heaven's work of making all the nations His disciples.

. . . Within a generation, simple men, whose names we do not even know, had preached the Gospel in Antioch and Rome and the regions beyond. The command was passed on and absorbed into the heart and life, as meant for all ages and for every disciple.

Still today, we disciples of Jesus continue to share the Gospel. At the appointed place and equipped by God ~ Generation after generation stands in awe of Your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts. . . GOD is good to one and all; everything He does is suffused with grace. (Psalm 145:4,9 ~ The Message) ~ dho

A Private Audience

He stood me up on a wide-open field;
I stood there saved - surprised to be loved. 2 Samuel 22:20 The Message

God of miracle-wonders,
God of well-thought-out-plans ~
His cloud-brightness burst through a grand
comet of fireworks. Then God thundered out
of heaven; the High God gave a great shout.
I have seen You ~ the Light in my darkness.
I have felt You ~ the Power in my weakness.
I have heard You ~ the Voice in the chaos.
I celebrate You! I praise You! I rest in
the mountaintop refuge, safe.

Love Most High, in all times You are my
shield of protection! You rescue me, touch me,
heal me, lead me forward. For such love, words
search but find no escape, captives of
mediocrity. God, make my life complete as I
place all the pieces before You. Hear the
prayers of my heart. Amen. ~ dho

* Scripture from 2 Samuel 22 (The Message)

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