Faithfulness Beyond Death ~ 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

…And by His stripes we are healed…My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities… Because He poured His soul into death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53 NKJV

This is the 4^th Servant Song in Isaiah and depicts Christ as the Suffering Servant. Take time to read the Scripture in full, savor the descriptions, hear the prophecy centuries old. In Isaiah, we learn the Messiah will come as a Suffering Servant and as King. On His first advent, Jesus enters as the servant, the One who bears the punishment for our sins. As Jesus dies, many express disappointment and disbelief that the man nailed to the cross could be the Messiah. Good Friday ends leaving His disciples broken and confused; the body of Jesus is placed in a borrowed tomb. This Sabbath day, they must physically rest from work, but they mourn for what they do not understand.

Prophecy about the Messiah coming as King continues to be unfulfilled. We are still waiting and watching. On His second advent, His Second Coming, Christ will come as King over all. His power will be astonishing, His Light will be radiant, and His judgment will be final. The time for brokenness and mourning will end for all believers. When this end comes, will you know everlasting Sabbath-Rest, will you rejoice in salvation through faith in Christ? Then our eyes shall see the infinite faithfulness of God.  

King of kings, the ancient Scriptures reveal the plan of a holy God. You gently came into the world bringing love and compassion, and left through the violence of the cross. You did this for me, but I can hardly comprehend the offering… He poured His soul into death; I can scarcely imagine the willingness… He bore the sin of many; I can barely hear the words… by His stripes we are healed. Great is Your faithfulness, then, now, and in all that is still to come!  -dho

Focus Point: Messiah will come as a Suffering Servant and as King.

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!”

Good Friday - Jesus IS 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

…they crucified Him Matthew 27:35; …they crucified Him Mark 15:25 …they crucified Him Luke 23:33; ...they crucified Him John 19:18 NKJV

The Via Dolorosa, a remnant of an ancient road in the Old City of Jerusalem once known as Decumanus Maximus, becomes crowded with Christians each year on Good Friday. People walk along this street called the Way of Suffering, following the last steps of Jesus that lead to Golgotha for crucifixion.  Among the stones, shadows of Roman soldiers with swords and whips linger in the mind. On Good Friday millions of Christians all across the world remember Jesus, reflect on His journey to the cross, recall the betrayal, the injustice, the suffering.

More than 2,000 years ago, with huge crowds of people filling the city for Passover and vendors selling their goods, Jerusalem is a city full of noise and energy. Schemes of political and religious leaders call for the crucifixion of Jesus, while the passion of Christ reveals itself in an unexpected fashion. Beaten and weary, wearing a crown of thorns, Jesus is forced to carry His own cross for crucifixion. Blinded by their lost hope of political reform and revival, the masses turn against Jesus. YET – this IS the passion of Christ; the faithfulness of God willingly embraces the suffering for the sins of all.

Lamb of God, that You would be willing to die for me redefines love. The suffering You endured for me redefines sacrifice. The injustice You experienced for me redefines compassion. Your wounds redefine me! Great is Your faithfulness. –dho

Focus Point: Jesus, reflect on His journey to the cross, recall the betrayal, the injustice, the suffering.

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!”

Maundy Thursday - Faithful Servant ~ 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

[Jesus asks His disciples] “Do you know what I have done for you…I have given you an example that you should do as I have done…a servant is not greater than his master. John 13:1-17 NASB

During Holy Week, the Last Supper paints a picture of traditions and fellowship, of humility and betrayal. These holy moments become markers for new traditions and fellowship, a way to remember the sacrifice of Christ, an opportunity to become the broken bread and poured out wine. One such holy moment comes when Divine Power appears to clash with the humble act of a servant. The disciples reject the idea that Jesus, the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, would dare to kneel before them and wash their feet. Jesus demonstrates a lesson of humility and obedience, and becomes the example of holy living.

Jesus comes with an inner Divine identity, being fully God, and takes on an outer human identity, being fully man. In His willingness to enter the world as man, Perfect Love volunteers to submit to the authority of the Father, and at the same time, reveals the Father’s heart. God’s faithfulness comes from heaven and walks among us, sacrifices everything for us. 

Faithful Servant, I struggle with the lessons of humility and obedience. The world does not find humility worthy, often mocks and demeans compassionate and unselfish acts. Goodness often pays a high price, and holiness finds little respect. Great is Your faithfulness; Jesus, teach me more about the order of holy living, about complete surrender, about true submission, about being a servant. –dho

Focus Point: God’s faithfulness comes from heaven and walks among us, sacrifices everything for 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 ~

MangroveMinistries.org

LIKE Mangrove Ministries on Facebook

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

Earthly 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

So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14 NLT

Jesus embodies the glory of the Father and evidences a spiritual glory to His followers. Along with compassion, wisdom, and love, Jesus Christ exhibits other attributes of the Father, including goodness and faithfulness. Jesus, the Son of God, enters the world bringing grace and truth. Although no one has ever seen God, not even Moses who only glimpses the glory of God, Jesus comes and lives among humanity revealing the Father.

Throughout the Old Testament, God’s earthly residence remains within the Temple, but when the Living Word becomes human and dwells among His people, the invisible God stands before the people, full of unfailing love and faithfulness. 

Holy One, Your goodness speaks with kindness, acts with humility, and loves without condemnation. Your humanity experiences weariness and grief, fellowship and friendship, betrayal and pain. Your glory teaches compassion, demonstrates healing, and encourages community. Great is Your faithfulness. Dwell within my heart! –dho

Focus Point: Jesus comes and lives among humanity revealing the Father.

 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!”

Unbending Hope ~ 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

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NASB

The sacrificial blood of Jesus rends the veil, once and for all breaks the barrier between God and humanity, and calls those who believe to boldly enter into the presence of God Almighty. In confessing that Christ redeems us through the cross, holiness allows us to grasp tightly a new hope, to embrace confidently a complete assurance that God is faithful to His promises. Grace rebirths us with unbending hope.

Perseverance marks the truly faithful. Persecution and temptation always threaten the believer, but God’s faithfulness remains unchangeable and infinite, beyond reproach, greater than anything of this world. In communion with Christ, mutuality of faith creates community, a place to encourage and to find encouragement, a place to love and to love in return, a place to trust and to be trustworthy. 

Lord, I confess my need to be loved, to feel connected, that I continue to struggle along the narrow path. Great is Your faithfulness; Your awesome wonder, Your extravagant love, Your invincible power make a new way for me to heal, for me to rest, for me to love. You bring unbending hope. – dho

Focus Point:  Grace rebirths us with unbending 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 ~

MangroveMinistries.org

LIKE Mangrove Ministries on Facebook

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

Faithfulness Calls ~ 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

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.                                    

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV

The Greek pistos for faithful indicates dependable, reliable, and trustworthy character. God is faithful, and He is calling! God “invites” or calls everyone, calls us to salvation, calls us into fellowship with Jesus, calls us into the likeness of Christ. By faith in Jesus through grace we find salvation. As God sanctifies us, or makes us holy through Jesus Christ, our personal relationship with Him grows deeper through prayer, studying the Bible, sharing within a community of believers, and taking Christ into the world. Do my commitments, thoughts, words, and deeds give evidence of holy living? God calls my whole being into holiness.

This holy calling is rooted in God’s sacred purpose for individual redemption and His unfailing compassion. God’s grace calls us to embody the humility, gentleness, and patience of Christ and to embrace each other with tolerance, love and peace. Faithfulness invites us to experience the blessed assurance of Christ, calls us into the wholeness and perfection of God. God will surely be faithful to His promises! 

Faithful Father, a holy promise invites me to Your throne of righteousness. Amazing grace covers my frail and flawed humanity. Great is Your faithfulness! Your unfailing love calls me to become more, to become whole and holy. –dho

Focus Point: God is faithful, and He is calling!

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!”