Jesus Promises - Lent 2016

Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35

                                                                                      

During this season of reflections and renewal, join me in exploring the Bread of Life. When we encounter Jesus Christ, this Living Bread feeds, satisfies, and transforms us. Come on this journey and remember this True Bread “is broken for you”. ~ Donna Oswalt

[Jesus says] “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” John 6:56 NASB

These verses in John definitely fall in the category of hard sayings. Even the disciples ask, “Who can understand it?” These metaphors of flesh and blood offend some who seek a literal implication, but actually point to the cross. For some Jews, a sacrificial Messiah would be ridiculous. Spiritual truth evades their understanding and many turn away.

Jesus says, “He who eats this bread will live forever.” Teaching about a mutual abiding, a personal unity of God with every believer comes as a new idea to the people. The lesson focuses more on faith and less on works, more about trusting and less about rules. Grace comes to humanity by way of the cross, both crucifixion and resurrection.

Jesus, the way to salvation cost You everything; still, You promise to abide with me if I abide with You. My head echoes the question asked that day, “Who can understand it?” The cross brings me Grace and teaches me to pray with purpose, “Lord, always give us this bread.”  - dho

Focus Point:  Grace comes to humanity by way of the cross, both crucifixion and resurrection.

All rights reserved; copyright 2016 by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author;  Breathing Room For My Soul (blog)~ Follow on Twitter @soulchat

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Misunderstandings - Lent 2016

Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35     

                                                                                  

During this season of reflections and renewal, join me in exploring the Bread of Life. When we encounter Jesus Christ, this Living Bread feeds, satisfies, and transforms us. Come on this journey and remember this True Bread “is broken for you”. ~ Donna Oswalt

Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” John 6:52 NASB

Misunderstandings by those who listen to Jesus cause disagreements. Thinking with reason and logic, they ask, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” When Jesus speaks about sacrificial death and eternal life, the people miss the spiritual significance. With the Passover celebration near, Jesus hopes the people will see beyond the physical components of the meal, the unleavened bread and an unblemished lamb, to see God’s promise in Him as Living Bread and Lamb of God. The concept of the personal sacrifice of Jesus escapes them because they still believe the Messiah will be a political king. Jesus reveals His true identity but the people misunderstand.

In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah proclaims God’s plan, “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts;, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:31-33) This new covenant is Christ. Some 600 years later, most of the people who witness Jesus do not understand, and 2000 years after that, people still struggle to grasp the spiritual nourishment Christ offers.

Lord, I am guilty of thinking too logically, wanting simple answers to hard questions. When thoughts exceed my understanding, it’s easy to shrug and move passed. Scripture tells us that love covers a multitude of sins. Help me realize that sometimes faith alone is required. “Lord, always give us this bread.” May my mind and heart and soul truly be nourished by True Bread. – dho

Focus Point: Jesus reveals His true identity but the people misunderstand.

All rights reserved; copyright 2016 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 ~

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Again and Forever - Lent 2016

Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35      

                                                                                 

During this season of reflections and renewal, join me in exploring the Bread of Life. When we encounter Jesus Christ, this Living Bread feeds, satisfies, and transforms us. Come on this journey and remember this True Bread “is broken for you”. ~ Donna Oswalt

“I am the living bread that came down our of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I give for the life of the world is My flesh.” John 6:51 NASB

Jesus repeats the promise of God’s divine purpose. Life forever with God comes by believing in the living bread from heaven; life forever comes through Jesus. In this verse Jesus gives a glimpse of His crucifixion, the bread also which I give for the life of the world is My flesh. Greater than the wilderness manna, Jesus becomes living bread, not temporary, not finite, but everlasting and infinite. The wilderness manna meets daily physical needs with God’s promise of faithfulness, while Living Bread completes all spiritual needs with God’s promise of everlasting life.

Jesus, willingly obedient to the Father, will soon be condemned to crucifixion by false witnesses too afraid to complete the task. Jesus, betrayed and beaten by people and politics, will be nailed to a cross by soldiers assigned to the task. Jesus, mocked and cursed and denied, will die for generations of people undeserving such love. Jesus, Son of God, the living bread, is broken to bring everlasting life to a weak and weary world.

God, Obedience can be hard for me. Hiding in the crowd I say, “Lord, always give us this bread,” but I’m not sure I really want this if it means standing up to false teachings and talking against the majority. My heart weeps at my weakness in contrast to Your willingness. Forgive me. – dho

Focus Point: Jesus, Son of God, the living bread, is broken to bring everlasting life to a weak and weary world.

All rights reserved; copyright 2016 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 ~

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Jesus Answers - Lent 2016

Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35   

                                                                                    

During this season of reflections and renewal, join me in exploring the Bread of Life. When we encounter Jesus Christ, this Living Bread feeds, satisfies, and transforms us. Come on this journey and remember this True Bread “is broken for you”. ~ Donna Oswalt

Jesus said, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over Me. You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent Me is in charge. John 6:43 The Message

Grumbling and mumbling about what Jesus tells them gets a rebuke. Much like a parent responds to bickering children, Jesus says to stop arguing, as the decision about what is true or not true belongs to God and not them. Jesus tries to explain His obedience to the Father’s plan. When God sends daily manna from heaven in the wilderness, the people complained, and now, again they complain about the way God is sending everlasting bread.

Sadly, the crowd then and the crowd now often draw the same conclusions. Sometimes God’s provision does not look like we think it should, or does not come when we want it to come. Frequently we argue that it just is not enough. We plead our case, bring our need, cry in desperation, and beg through valleys, “God give me what I want!” In obedience to the Father, Jesus identifies himself as redemptive manna, as the Bread of Life. How often do we reject God’s provision because it fails to meet expectation?

“Lord, always give us this bread.” I pray this but sometimes I don’t mean it! Sometimes I really mean, “Give me what I want!” My prayers come full of needs and desires and come empty of praise and gratitude. Open my eyes to Your daily Holy Provision. – dho

Focus Point: How often do we reject God’s provision because it fails to meet expectation?

All rights reserved; copyright 2016 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 ~

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Crowd's Unbelief - Lent 2016

Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35    

                                                                                   

During this season of reflections and renewal, join me in exploring the Bread of Life. When we encounter Jesus Christ, this Living Bread feeds, satisfies, and transforms us. Come on this journey and remember this True Bread “is broken for you”. ~ Donna Oswalt

The people began to murmur in disagreement… We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven?’ John 6:41-42 NLT

Unbelief denies even the possibility of Jesus’ divinity. Hostility towards Jesus grows even more during His last months on earth. How could this man, a carpenter from Nazareth, be the Son of God, how could he come down from heaven? Strong rejection of Jesus’ revelation spreads through this crowd. What makes believing so difficult?

Some 2,000 years later, the crowd still struggles to believe in the authenticity of Jesus’ identity. The Good News remains the same today ~ Believe in Jesus and have everlasting life! Some want proof, others want more miracles. Many simply ignore the message and create their own truths. Hostility towards Jesus grows as the days until His return shorten. Christians do not know when Jesus will come back to earth or exactly how that will look, but we do believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Living Manna from heaven for a hungry world.

Lord, there are crowds wandering, murmuring unbelief, and its people suffer great injustices. Without everlasting hope, the possibilities are few and the disappointments are many. Starving spiritually and unaware, anger and rage take control. “Lord, always give us this bread.” Help me feed this hungry world. – dho

Focus Point: Christians do not know when Jesus will come back to earth or exactly how that will look, but we do believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Living Manna from heaven for a hungry world.

All rights reserved; copyright 2016 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 ~

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3rd Sunday of Lent - Mystery of God's Infinite Love

 Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35         

                                                                              

During this season of reflections and renewal, join me in exploring the Bread of Life. When we encounter Jesus Christ, this Living Bread feeds, satisfies, and transforms us. Come on this journey and remember this True Bread “is broken for you”. ~ Donna Oswalt

When we understand the mystery that we are loved not for what we do but because of who God says we are, we are free to love others in a similar way.   Henri Nouwen

God showed how much He loved us by sending His only son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 NLT

While revelations of God’s character and redemption find expression in the Holy Scriptures, humanity struggles to find words that completely define or describe the glory of God. As one begins to recognize the splendor of God, the soul discovers the mark of God’s love permanently etched, the image of the Creator forged inside, a remnant of God’s life-giving breath. The heart overflows with emotion; the mind strives to comprehend. The mystery of God’s infinite love exceeds explanation. - dho

You Are Loved ~ Laura Story (click here for video)

God of the Heavens, You find me here, right now. My hunger for more and my dissatisfaction with less struggles to ignore Your everlasting, never ending, all-consuming love! “Lord, always give us this bread.”; You complete me! – dho

Focus Point: “Everlasting, never ending, all-consuming, You are love!” ~ Laura Story

All rights reserved; copyright 2016 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

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