Month: July 2015

The Joy and Pain of a Mother’s Love

Post author By Douglas Brauner
Post date July 24, 2015

Fox Run Regional Park, Black Forest, Colorado

A mother’s love can be a picture of God’s love for us.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.”
Proverbs 23:25 New Living Translation

If you look closely at this picture you’ll see a young mom and her two children walking up the bank on the opposite side of the pond. Before heading up the hill, this mom had placed one child on a rock and held the other in her arms. With great care not to let go of the child in her arms, she took a picture of the other on the rock.

Mom’s are amazing.

I’m not saying that moms are perfect or somehow more holy than others, but many moms carry their children in their hearts until the day they die. As many of us dads know, don’t get between mom and her children. You’ll lose…every time.

Think of the pain that Jesus’ mom felt watching her son’s crucifixion. Not only did she see him brutalized by the Romans, but she witnessed her own people mocking him. She was there when he breathed his last. She took a mental picture of that event that she carried with her until her own death. That’s what mom’s do.

God’s love for us is reflected in a mother’s love. Like this mom in the picture, he takes time to dwell with us, hold our hand and maybe even take our picture.

Tags love, self-denial, struggles

PWTE Daily Devotion

Oxymoron: Thrilled to Be Buried with a View

Post author By Douglas Brauner
Post date July 23, 2015

No matter where we’re buried, God will always be with us.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

There’s probably a number of us who would love to be buried with this view. As far as graves go, it doesn’t get much better than this. Think about it: beautiful colors in the fall, snow covered rest in the winter, elk grazing on the new growth of spring vegetation and two thousand people visiting your grave in the summer.

I find it interesting that we want to be buried in places that have great views, views that won’t mean a hill of beans to us when we’re dead. Maybe we’re afraid of being forgotten when we die and we think that if we’re buried in a beautiful location people will come and visit our grave. It worked for this individual, though there’s no name on the grave marker.

The Preacher in Ecclesiastes understands the futility of death. “For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten.” Ecclesiastes 2:16 New Living Translation

Comforting words, right? Though we won’t be remembered by people, God will never forget us. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 English Standard Version

Death cannot separate us from God’s love, so, it doesn’t matter where our earthly remains are laid to rest, God will never abandon us.

Tags death, life

Uncategorized

Devotional Guide: God’s Faithfulness

Post author By Douglas Brauner
Post date July 22, 2015

VISIO DIVINA – DIVINE SEEING

HEARING God’s Word, SEEING God’s Word, PRAYING God’s Word

The term, visio divina, is Latin for “divine seeing.” The practice of the visio divina is a method of connecting God’s Word with God’s creation using visual arts.

Theme: God’s Faithfulness

"The works of his hands are faithful and just." — “The works of his hands are faithful and just.”

Scriptures: Psalm 111; Isaiah 49:1-7; John 20:19-28; 1 Corinthians 10:6-13

Suggestions for how to practice the visio divina

Place the name of God on your forehead by making the sign of the cross and saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Pause for a few moments with your eyes closed and take five to ten deep breaths.
Look at the picture and take notice of any figures, shapes, colors or textures appeal to you.
Read on of Scriptures under the picture, beginning with the Psalm. It is helpful if you use the same Scripture for a few of days (there is no hurry to finish the visio divina). Do not read the Scripture for the purpose of study, but let it speak to your heart. Take note of the emotions as well as the thoughts this passage brings to mind.
Connect the Scripture to the picture. Are there common or uncommon elements between the two? Are there godly desires that you find rising to the surface of your thoughts? What is God revealing to you about who you are, about who God is?
Now pray the Scriptures and picture using what you have discovered during this visio divina time.
Finish by saying (if you use the visio divina in the morning), “May God order and direct my day through Jesus Christ according to his word, ” or (if you use the visio divina at night), “Grant me, O God, a restful night in Jesus Christ according to your word.”
Either go about your daily routine, or lay you head on your pillow in peace.

If you like to write, you might consider journaling your thoughts when you are finished (not during) your time of meditation on God’s word.

Click on the picture to view a larger version.

God bless this journey of divine seeing.

Tags faithfulness, trust