breathing room for my soul

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Leaving Jerusalem (Part 2) - 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 Bread “is broken for you”. ~ Donna Oswalt

“The Lord is risen indeed,…” Luke 24:34 NASB

On the way to Emmaus Jesus teaches the two, Cleopas and the other, recounting the accounts of Moses, the Prophets. Jesus reminds them what the Holy Scriptures reveal about the Messiah. Coming near the village, the two invite their companion to stay for the night. As they sit down to a meal, Jesus takes the bread, blesses and breaks it, and gives it to them. Immediately their eyes are open; they know Jesus, and He vanishes. For the first time they recognize the risen Christ. In the breaking of bread they are renewed by the Living Bread, both in amazement and joy and with a new spiritual hunger.

Blackaby writing about spiritual memory and how important it is to a Christian’s faith walk says, “A spiritual marker identifies a time of decision when you clearly know that God guided you.” After Jesus vanishes, the two recall, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Acknowledging Jesus recalls the burning within their souls, the revelations of the Scriptures. This spiritual marker prompts their response. “So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Peter!” These two not only proclaim their belief in the resurrection of Jesus, but confess their previous doubt about the messages earlier that day. The presence of Jesus stirs the soul and sears the heart with a holy passion and sacred hunger that requires compelling action.

“Lord, always give us this bread”. For You mark me with a holy fire, a passion of knowing love and a desire to share this love. Sometimes I am like the father with the sick son who said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Help me not to doubt. Kindle my soul, again and again! – dho

Focus Point: The presence of Jesus stirs the soul and sears the heart with a holy passion and sacred hunger that requires compelling action.

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Monday, March 21, 2016

Leaving Jerusalem (Part 1) - 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

While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. Luke 24:15 NASB

Within a few hours after Jesus dies and is placed in a borrowed tomb, the Sabbath begins. Many of Jesus followers find their Sabbath thoughts full of disillusionment and disappointment, even fearful of being identified with Jesus. The hours drag by, the disciples wondering and weary. Even though the next morning brings exciting news, visions of angels, and messages that Jesus is alive, doubt prevails. Some slowly begin leaving Jerusalem, but two encounter Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

Jesus begins to walk with the two as they are deep into a sad, troubling conversation. Not expecting or recognizing Jesus, they tell their travel companion all that has happened to this man from Nazareth, calling him a great teacher, a prophet and miracle worker, someone respected by God and the people. Their hope, now crushed, had been that this Jesus would be the Messiah to rescue Israel. Jesus listens to their lack of understanding, their misplaced, unfulfilled hope. So often, like these two leaving Jerusalem, we walk the wrong way, doubt the messages, miss the presence of God. Nurturing our disappointments, we fail to see the bigger picture.

Bread of Heaven – Surrounded by multiple translations of the Bible’s holy, sacred writings and historical records and theological commentaries to help me understand, still, I turn and focus on my problems, my concerns, my needs. My demons may not be unbelief, but they interfere with my faith. When my hope in Jesus is replaced by doubt, when my faith in God is exchanged for power of the world, when my love for others becomes self-serving, then, I, too, am leaving Jerusalem without Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for coming after me, for walking beside me, for answering my soul’s deepest prayer, “Lord, always give us this bread”. – dho

Focus Point: Jesus listens to their lack of understanding, their misplaced, unfulfilled hope.

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Sunday, March 20, 2016

Palm Sunday 2016 - Mystery of the Cross

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

Many will follow [Christ] as far as the breaking of bread, but few will remain to drink from His passion. Thomas a’Kempis

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 NASB

The cross creates visual and emotional pictures for us. While hard to fathom the violence of crucifixion, harder to imagine is the evil from within humanity that would commit such acts. Morton Kelsey, an American Episcopal priest and psychologist, writes, “The cross is the symbol, alive and vivid, of the evil that is in us, of evil itself.” History recalls countless examples of the evil within humanity, the horrors that people inflict on each other. Most often we view the cross as empty in celebration of the risen Christ; however, the crucified Jesus on the cross, no matter how hard to face, reveals the very depth of our depravity. If we stand at the foot of this cross, we come with those who crucified Jesus; we must stand with the cowards, the self-righteous, the betrayers, stand with those who represent “civilized vices” like fear, bigotry, deceit, and indifference. In the shadow of this cross, we face our own darkness; yet, this revelation is not the end but a beginning of transformation. Christ endures unimaginable suffering so Hope can be born for all. In defeating evil, the mystery of the cross allows Perfect Love to be “pierced for our rebellion …beaten so we could be whole”. – dho

You Are More ~ Tenth Avenue North (click here for video)

Perfect Love, let the cross disturb my indifference, my selfish acts, my fear – for You suffered the everlasting effects of evil… for me. Let the cross illumine my weaknesses, my failed-attempts to love, my empty promises. In the shadow of Your cross I come face to face with my demons, no matter how I try to disguise them. Let me embrace the cost of Your suffering, especially when I pray, “Lord, always give us this bread”. - dho

Focus Point: “You are more than the choices that you’ve made; you are more than the sum of your mistakes… You’ve been remade.” ~ Tenth Avenue North

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Saturday, March 19, 2016

Come to the Table - 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

Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we partake of the one bread.

1Corinthians10:16-17 NASB

The first century church continues to celebrate sharing the bread and wine as Jesus had instructed His disciples. Paul, talking to the church in Corinth, reminds them that the church, although many people, functions as one body belonging to Christ. In coming together and sharing the bread and wine, believers celebrate the unity of the church. In verse 16, the word sharing comes from the Greek koinonia meaning “fellowship, sharing, or communion”. Coming together to fellowship and celebrate and remember Jesus creates a common unity.

Today, Christians continue to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. When the church comes to the table as the body of Christ, a common unity of purpose rekindles the soul. We share the bread and cup with others whose lives have been transformed by the Lamb of God. We remember the brokenness of the crucifixion; we remember the sacrifice of the cross. We remember the Bread of Life broken for us; the blood of Jesus shed for us. We hear the echoes of prophesy, He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, by His wounds we are healed. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

Lord, I come to the table to feast with fellow believers, to remember Your willing sacrifice, to listen for Your holy words. Together, one in Christ, we pray, “Lord, always give us this bread”. Oh, Broken Bread, Cup of Blessing, You are Amazing Grace. – dho

Focus Point: Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

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Friday, March 18, 2016

Cup of Blessing - 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

[Jesus to His disciples] Likewise He also took the cup after supper saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:20 NKJV

Four cups of wine celebrate Passover. Following the “Blessing After the Meal” comes the third cup, the cup of blessing, sometimes called the Cup of Redemption, which symbolizes the blood of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:13). When Jesus lifts the third cup, this Cup of Redemption, He says, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” With His crucifixion, Jesus becomes the true Passover Lamb, the blood sacrifice for eternal redemption. “This is My blood, shed for you.”

Establishing a New Covenant, Jesus calls the people to a new way of living. The body of Christ is a community of believers, all believing in one faith, one baptism, one Spirit. The cup symbolizes Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Prophesied by Jeremiah some 600 years before Christ travels up to Jerusalem, the Lord promises with this New Covenant, “I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts.” The cross tells a new story of redemption to the world, a story of everlasting hope, a story of grace.

Jehovah, El Shaddai, Adonai ~ ancient names, holy names… Your promises capture my needs, anticipate my fears, prepare my future. Broken bread and a cup of blessing call to me centuries after You blessed them, after You surrendered for me, after You settled my debts. “Lord, always give us this bread” and this cup of blessing to remind me of Perfect Love. – dho

Focus Point: The cross tells a new story of redemption to the world, a story of everlasting hope, a story of grace.

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Thursday, March 17, 2016

Broken Bread - 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

[Jesus to His disciples] And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22:19 NKJV

Common to Passover tradition, a blessing comes after a meal, after eating bread, a grace spoken to express gratitude for God’s constant and unchanging care. Until this night, the Passover meal involves a thanksgiving blessing of remembrance such as, “This is the bread of affliction our ancestors ate when they came from Egypt.” This night, Jesus takes the bread, gives thanks and says something new. The unleavened bread takes on a new meaning as Jesus establishes a new way of remembering. “This is My body, broken for you”.

For now, the disciples do not fully grasp the underlying meaning of Jesus’ words, do not understand the implications of the symbol, and do not recognize the offering will come within hours. Soon, Jesus will be hastily arrested, falsely accused, and brutally afflicted. This celebrated bread of affliction will be remembered as the Bread of Life, as Jesus willing allows His body to be broken for the disciples in that room, for those who arrest and beat and crucify Him, for those who do not understand, for all people ~ then and now and to come,… for you… for me.

Holy One, You call me to follow You, to share the Gospel message, to live like You! Broken Bread, this suffering for me reveals a deep love that surpasses me, surrounds me, spares me. “Lord, always give us this bread” to remind me, “This is My body, broken for you!” – dho

Focus Point: “This is My body, broken for you”.

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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

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Leaving Jerusalem (Part 2) - Lent 2016

Monday, March 21, 2016

Leaving Jerusalem (Part 1) - Lent 2016

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Palm Sunday 2016 - Mystery of the Cross

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Come to the Table - Lent 2016

Friday, March 18, 2016

Cup of Blessing - Lent 2016

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Broken Bread - Lent 2016