breathing room for my soul

Monday, March 14, 2016

Passover Meal or Not - 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 sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it,” Luke 22:8 NASB

Scholars debate whether what Christians refer to as “The Last Supper” is actually a Passover meal. From the writings of historian Josephus and other ancient texts, various commentaries suggest that the confusion can be as simple as geography. The Jews living in Galilee, Jesus’ home town, count time from sunrise to sunrise, while the Judean Jews in the southern regions which include Jerusalem count time from sunset to sunset. Christians agree that God’s sovereign purposes always prevail.

Considering tradition and time, Jesus and His disciples likely celebrate the beginning of Passover with a meal together on Thursday night. In God’s divine plan, the Jewish traditions of Jerusalem and those religious leaders arresting Jesus would celebrate Passover beginning at sunset on Friday. With this timeline, Jesus is sacrificed on the cross and dies at the same time the High Priest in the Temple sacrifices an unblemished lamb in preparation for that evening’s Passover meal. Timing always remains in the God’s control.

Holy God ~ Your ways amaze and astonish me! Providing for Your people in all ways, leaves me in awe! My lips can barely ask, “Lord, always give us this bread”. – dho

Focus Point: Christians agree that God’s sovereign purposes always prevail.

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Sunday, March 13, 2016

5th Sunday of Lent - Mystery of Christ

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

He set His face to go to Jerusalem, the Gospel says, and it was a journey from which [Jesus] seems to have known that He would both never return and return always, even unto the end of time and beyond. Frederick Buechner

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1: 1-5 NASB

Scripture describes the divine nature, the Deity of Christ in many places with one of the most familiar found in John. Christ has always been, even before the beginning of the universe. Paul preaching to the Colossians describes Christ like this, “For in [Christ] all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete.” (Colossians 9:9-10) Taking human form but never ceasing to be divine, Christ becomes a tangible and visible expression of God. There can be no substitute. Christ’s authority defeats Satan and overcomes sin, and His righteousness gives us new life, completes us. While one cannot fully understand the eternity and divinity of Christ, His willingness to physically come for humanity overwhelms the soul.

I AM ~ by Crowder (click here for video)

Lord, Your name is above all names: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace; You are King of kings and Lord of lords, Lamb of God and Light of the World. From carpenter to Chosen One, my heart beats for such divine goodness. Christ, Faithful and True, calls me, holds me, loves me! This is my resurrection song, this is my Hallelujah come! “Lord, always give us this bread”. – dho

Focus Point: “There is no end to amazing grace – I AM holding on to you…I AM HOLDING ON TO YOU – I AM!” ~ Crowder

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Saturday, March 12, 2016

Unleavened Life - 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

Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not by eating the old bread of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread of purity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:7b-8 NLT

Paul writes the church in Corinth about problems that are divisive. The example he uses is leaven. Using the symbol of unleavened bread, Paul speaks of the Israelites hurried exodus from Egypt centuries ago, as he gives direction to the present day church. At the time, this large, metropolitan city proudly boasts of its diversity and independence. Great wealth, many religions and varied morality characterize Corinth which is the capital of Greece. Along with the greatness of the city comes much corruption. Paul tries to help the church create boundaries that would deepen its spiritual roots, minimize controversy, encourage wisdom. Paul reminds the believers that Christ’s sacrifice delivers them from sin and to stop eating the old bread of wickedness and evil.

Just as Paul directs the believers in Corinth to partake of the new bread of purity and truth, today’s church also must consider itself unleavened, continuing to teach the truths of Scripture. John MacArthur says, “As the Jews who celebrate Passover do so with unleavened bread, so believers celebrate their continual Passover with unleavened lives.” Jesus Christ, the Living Bread, calls us to unleavened, holy lives.

Father, just as unleavened bread reminds Israel of Your unfailing provision and faithfulness, let my unleavened life praise You ~ for Perfect Love, for Amazing Grace, for Everlasting Hope! “Lord, always give us this bread”, True Bread for the soul. – dho

Focus Point: Jesus Christ, the Living Bread, calls us to unleavened, holy lives.

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Friday, March 11, 2016

What's in a Name? - 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

“…But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.”…This One will be our peace. Micah 5:2-5 NASB

The prophet Micah brings a message of judgement to the Israelites of the southern kingdom, a people actively pursuing evil activities. Along with his contemporary Hosea, the message moves from doom to hope. From the land of King David, the Messiah, the Anointed One, will come. “This One will be our peace.” Some 700 years later, Jesus enters the world as tiny baby born in a stable in Bethlehem, five miles south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem in Hebrew means “house of bread”.

Jesus, Greek form of the Hebrew Yeshua, means “Yahweh is salvation”. Yahweh means “He who is” or “I AM”. Jesus tells the people, “I AM the Bread of Life.” Jesus Christ bears the name of God as He enters Jerusalem, the City of Peace, as the One who will bring salvation to humanity. Passover crowds, anything but worthy, flood Jerusalem, anything but peaceful. Jesus enters the Temple, desecrated by moneychangers and merchants, and declares, “MY HOUSE SHALL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER!” The Chosen One teaches inside the temple, while the plot to kill Him grows.

Lord, ancient Greek and Hebrew words overflow with rich meanings. Prophecies fulfilled reveal God’s plan for redemption. Living Bread is born in the ‘house of bread’ mere miles south of where the Prince of Peace fulfills God’s plan in the ‘City of Peace’. Sometimes, I fail to recognize the sign posts You give or the miracles that reveal Your goodness; I don’t speak the holy words of prayer or choose the opportunities You offer that bring me into Your presence. “Lord, always give us this bread”; help me eat and taste and know the fullness of You! – dho

Focus Point: Jesus, Greek form of the Hebrew Yeshua, means “Yahweh is salvation”.

*Ephrathah means ‘fruitful’; Bethlehem, “known for her vineyards and olive orchards, was small in size but not in honor.” [MacArthur’s Study Bible notes]

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Thursday, March 10, 2016

Tears for Jerusalem - 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

As Jesus came near Jerusalem, he saw the city and cried for it,saying, “I wish you knew today what would bring you peace. But now it is hidden from you.The time is coming when your enemies will build a wall around you and will hold you in on all sides. They will destroy you and all your people, and not one stone will be left on another. All this will happen because you did not recognize the time when God came to save you.” Luke 19:41-44 NCV

Within 40 years, the tears of Jesus turn to reality. Again at Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Jews fill Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, but the Romans refuse to let them out. After months of violent fighting, in 70 AD the Romans completely demolish the entire city of Jerusalem, leveled, laid even with the ground, leaving nothing. The historian Josephus records 1.1 million died, the majority Jewish. God’s judgement for failure to recognize the Messiah waits 40 years, 40 years of many recorded warnings, 40 years of hope for repentance.

Only the Gospel of Luke tells how Jesus weeps for Jerusalem as He enters the city. By the end of this historical week, Jesus will be nailed to a Roman cross. In time, rejection of the Messiah brings its own consequences. The people’s shouts “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!” would turn to chants “Crucify him! Crucify him!” This Passover celebration marks the most important week on earth. On this Passover, the Lamb of God becomes the perfect sacrifice for all humanity, but the people do not recognize the Bread of Life.

God, how many times do I shout “Glory to God” and “Praise to the Lord” when just short time later, I deny Your provision, question Your plan, make a wrong choice. I marvel at the beauty of creation but ignore the Spirit’s whispers or pray, “Lord, always give us this bread” but complain, “it’s NOT enough!’ or celebrate the goodness of Your blessings but respond with anger at life’s circumstances. From shouting to chanting, I am the crowd who does not recognize You. Forgive me. – dho

Focus Point: On this Passover, the Lamb of God becomes the perfect sacrifice for all humanity, but the people do not recognize the Bread of Life.

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Wednesday, March 09, 2016

The Disciples' Prayer - 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

“Lord, teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1 NKJV

The twelve disciples of Jesus, those in His inner circle ask to be taught how to pray. Scholars sometimes refer to this teaching of Jesus as “the Disciples’ Prayer”. (Luke 11:1-13) The New Testament uses the Greek mathetes for ‘disciple’ or ‘learner’, most frequently referencing the twelve disciples; however, this also refers to anyone who follows Jesus, who places faith in Jesus, who desires to learn to live more like Christ. Essentially, this prayer becomes our lesson in prayer.

Our senses are dulled by media and technology; commercialism and wealth create an ever diminishing sensitivity. Living in a world that teases us with no limits and no boundaries, we lose sight of what we truly need, stop seeing creation as a gift from God, forget in whose image we are created. To pray give us daily bread defines our dependence on God who loves and generously provides the daily manna we need. When we follow Jesus, recognizing Him as the Bread of Life, we learn dependence on Him satisfies our spiritual hunger.

Lord, I am easily influenced by the world and its shiny merchandising. Forgive my shallow focus, my showy plans, my shameless denial. Let my heart learn to pray, “Lord, always give us this bread”. – dho

Focus Point: To pray give us daily bread defines our dependence on God who loves and generously provides the daily manna we need.

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A New Beginning

"This is my [new] life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details . . . God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.

And so here I am . . . writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along."
Ephesians 3:7-10, The Message

Pages

Monday, March 14, 2016

Passover Meal or Not - Lent 2016

Sunday, March 13, 2016

5th Sunday of Lent - Mystery of Christ

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Unleavened Life - Lent 2016

Friday, March 11, 2016

What's in a Name? - Lent 2016

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Tears for Jerusalem - Lent 2016

Wednesday, March 09, 2016

The Disciples' Prayer - Lent 2016