breathing room for my soul

Sunday, March 27, 2016

EASTER Sunday 2016 - Living Bread!

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

For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

Hebrews 9:24 NKJV

Christ is risen! For Christianity, celebrating Easter recognizes a new beginning, a new way of believing, a new way of living. Christ, the New Covenant, offers everlasting life through grace! Resurrection Sunday celebrates a new and final blood sacrifice, a perfect sacrifice. What before was represented as sacred bread on an altar table in the Temple is now Living Bread in the presence of God. Christ reigns in heaven and offers each of us eternal citizenship in heaven. And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. (1 Corinthians 10:17) Together, in community, we come to the table, the Lord’s Table, and share the bread and cup to remember Christ’s sacrifice, to declare our faith in Christ, to celebrate our everlasting hope, to proclaim: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

Christ Is Risen ~ Matt Maher (click here for video)

Christ is risen! Hallelujah! Lord, let my praises rise to the heights of heaven and resound into the depths of hell! My faith shouts victory over death! Forever let my prayers be full of praise for amazing grace. Bless my journey ‘up to Jerusalem’, helping me constantly seek Your will and find spiritual satisfaction in the Bread of Heaven; “Lord, always give us this bread”. AMEN! ~ dho

Focus Point: “Christ is risen from the dead; we are one with Him again! O church! Come stand in the light of God is not dead. He’s alive! He’s alive!” ~ Matt Maher

Thank you for the opportunity to share the Bread of Life with you during this Easter Season. For more devotionals throughout the year, see my blog: BreathingRoomForMySoul.com

~ Donna Oswalt

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Saturday, March 26, 2016

Holy Saturday - 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

Joseph [of Arimathea] bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. Mark 15:46 NLT

History of this day brings to mind a variety of thoughts, reactions, and rituals. Scholars say that by the Second Century, Christians begin a ‘total fast’ for 40 hours before Easter; Holy Saturday becomes a complete day of fasting. As celebrating the Lenten season becomes more of a practice among Christians in the fourth and fifth centuries, fasting continues to play a role. For many centuries since, some Christians have regarded both Holy Saturday and Resurrection Sunday as days of ‘no fasting’. Many Eastern Orthodox churches ‘lighten their fasts” somewhat during these two days. Historically, this is a day without celebrations, a day of silence, prayerful meditation, and rest. Holy Saturday is the official last day of Lent.

What is Holy Saturday? While all four gospels record the events leading up to the beginning of Holy Saturday (sundown on Friday), little is known about the next twenty-four hours. For the disciples and Jewish followers of Jesus, this is the Sabbath (and Passover), and the religious habits for this day would not change. However, fearing for their lives, the disciples are in hiding. This must have been a long day of reflection and wondering. Only twenty-four hours before, they were eating together, singing hymns, praying with Jesus. Then everything changes! Jesus is arrested and condemned, crucified and buried. Stunned and confused, with Jesus lying in a tomb, they wait in solitude with doubt and fear.

God of Mercy ~ Breathe a new word into my weary soul. Sometimes the journey makes no sense, offers no solution. I whisper I am afraid; I don’t understand! In these dark times, I feel my soul worn and frayed by the uncertainty without an end in sight. Especially now, “Lord, always give us this bread” seems to be the only prayer that nourishes my hunger for peace. – dho

Focus Point: …everything changes!

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Friday, March 25, 2016

Good Friday 2016 - Baptized by Holy Fire

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 said to His disciples] “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what He promised…in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5 NLT

After the resurrection, Jesus remains for forty days, appearing to the apostles and teaching the disciples. With a certainty of Jesus’ resurrection, their knowledge increases and a deeper understanding about the new promised power of the Holy Spirit evolves. At the end of these days, on the Mount of Olives at Bethany, Jesus ascends to heaven right in front of the remaining eleven disciples. Commissioned with making disciples of all nations, they now wait for the Holy Spirit.

Over the next days, the disciples continually meet and pray together with the other believers, “about 120”. They choose another disciple, Matthias, to replace Judas Iscariot, the betrayer. On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks (50 days) after the resurrection of Jesus, with all the believers together in one place, God sends a mighty, rushing wind comes and then “flames of fire” appear and settle on each believer. All are filled with the Holy Spirit, fulfilling prophesy (Joel 2:28-32). The church of the New Covenant begins with God’s mission to reach all people in all nations.

Spirit of the Living God ~ When I boast of achievement and accept applause or cover my face in failure and weep, You re-define me, re-align my perspective. You open my eyes to truth, to my need for redemption, to Christ who is the Bread of Life. You are Counselor and Comforter. You are the breath my soul craves! Kindle my soul with Holy Fire. “Lord, always give us this bread”. ~dho

Focus Point: The church of the New Covenant begins with God’s mission to reach all people in all nations.

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Thursday, March 24, 2016

Maundy Thursday 2016 - Bread and Wine

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

For every time you east this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until He comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:26 NLT

In a letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses the people regarding the meaning of the Lord’s Supper. Frequently in the first century church, a fellowship meal often precedes the celebration of bread and wine. Paul reiterates the purpose of coming to the table together using Jesus’ words from the Gospels: This is My body, which is given for you and This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of My blood. He reminds these believers that they are one body united in Christ. To honor Christ this way demonstrates unity within the body by remembering the new covenant given by Jesus through His death and resurrection and in proclaiming the promise that Christ will return again. Jesus echoes, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

This Holy Thursday Christians across the world will gather to remember the night Jesus hosts this memorial meal, will listen again to ancient but familiar words, will consider the cost of everlasting hope. On the night before His death and after a fellowship meal with the disciples, Jesus breaks the bread and pours the wine, says to remember His death and sacrifice for the sins of the world. Because of Jesus, our places of brokenness and suffering always find hope. Oswald Chambers frequently gives the call to believers of the body of Christ, “Be the broken bread and poured out wine.” Let us, the body of Christ united by grace, be the tangible bread and wine to others by sharing the love of Christ and His infinite hope. Jesus echoes, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

Lord ~ You are my Hope in all directions, in every circumstance; You go before me, surround me, send Your angels to protect me. Without Your brokenness there would be no wholeness; without Your sacrifice there would be no hope. You bind my broken dreams and failures, take my empty places and loneliness and bring me into Your presence. This communion renews my soul and refocuses my heart. While praying, “Lord, always give us this bread”, I am embraced by Perfect Peace. Help me be bread and wine of Jesus to others. ~ dho

Focus Point: Because of Jesus, our places of brokenness and suffering always find hope.

For more information about this ministry visit ~

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Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Joy and Wonder - 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

“Why are you frightened?” [Jesus] asked. “Why do you doubt who I am?”

Luke 24:38 NLT

As the two from Emmaus begin to tell their story of the risen Jesus appearing to them while walking on the road and how they recognize Him when He breaks the bread, suddenly Jesus appears. Everyone becomes terrified and thinks maybe this is a ghost. Jesus reassures them, tells them not to be frightened, asks them why they still doubt. In a gesture to relieve some anxiety and offer proof, Jesus says for them to look at His hands and feet. Then He asks them for something to eat? This supernatural Jesus seems beyond their comprehension.

Centuries later, without the visible and tangible body of Jesus, we are reassured by a living Jesus, invited to believe in a resurrected Jesus, asked to affirm the Lord is risen indeed. Ancient prophecies fulfilled over 2,000 years ago challenge us to believe in the Suffering Servant whose wounds on hands and feet bear our sins, to believe in the Lamb of God whose sacrifice offers us redemption, to believe in Perfect Love who calls us by name. Amazing? Yes! Beyond comprehension? Yes! The veil has been torn and the Bread of the Presence waits. Jesus is calling…do not be afraid…Trust in Me!

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord, the mystery of faith exceeds me, the mystery of such infinite love amazes me, the mystery of the cross overwhelms me. My sins are engraved on Your hands and feet. I kneel before such holiness and find the Mercy Seat transformed from a place of offering into a Grace offering for me. Wordless wonder fills me as I silently listen. With need that is beyond my own understanding, I whisper, “Lord, always give us this bread”. –dho

Focus Point: Jesus is calling…do not be afraid…Trust in Me!

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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

“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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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

Sunday, March 27, 2016

EASTER Sunday 2016 - Living Bread!

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Holy Saturday - Lent 2016

Friday, March 25, 2016

Good Friday 2016 - Baptized by Holy Fire

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Maundy Thursday 2016 - Bread and Wine

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Joy and Wonder - Lent 2016

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Leaving Jerusalem (Part 2) - Lent 2016