Month: December 2015

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

Dwelling in the Shadow of the Nativity

Jesus invites us to rest in the shadow of his grace.

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

This one figure struck me as he sits in the shadow of the stable. He appears to be a shepherd yet there are no sheep around him. He is slightly removed from the other figures and from the manger itself. No one is looking at him. He is a man in the shadows.

December 29Maybe you see yourself in the shadows. You’re not out of the picture but you’re not in it either. You’re afraid to approach the manger or to leave the stable.

No matter where you stand at the birth of Jesus, he invites you into his shadow.

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.”
Psalm 57:1 English Standard Version

David was fleeing from King Saul when he sang these words. The destruction that he faced was that of death itself. What could have separated David from God instead drew him into his shadows?

What is separating you from the shadow of God’s love? There are many forces of “destruction” that invade our lives, each of which pulls us into the shadow of the stable. If you find yourself dwelling in the shadow of the stable like this lone figure, remember the shadow of death that fell on Jesus’ cross.

In contrast to the brilliance of the host of heaven at his birth is the appalling darkness that descended on Jesus at his cross. He was devoured by the darkness of sin that you might rest in his shadow of his wings. His invitation stands. His Spirit is drawing you. Come rest in his shadow.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Categories
Reflection

What I Saw at Safeway – by David Brukiewa

Life looks different through the Father’s eyes.

I do not grocery shop. It is not that I am incapable, I just don’t do it often. Shopping becomes a treasure hunt when you don’t know where things are. Every item ends up taking forever to find. I don’t mind going in for one or two items but a whole list is not any fun. I especially dislike shopping on busy days like Black Friday, the day before Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve. The crowds make it virtually impossible to get in and out quickly, but isn’t that the point?

So on Christmas Eve Jen mentioned all she had to do and grocery shopping was one of those things. I offered to go if she made me a list. I was cheerful and having a pleasant day so I don’t know why I did such a thing. It was like my love for my wife caused me to lose my good sense and forget how much I hate shopping on Christmas Eve.

Crowd 260KBIn the parking lot, the crowds should have caused anxiety and stress, but they didn’t. I patiently looked for a parking space and allowed others to bask in the luxury of their indecision without even honking or swearing in my car. (Not that I do such things.) Once I entered the store it was apparent that it would not be a quick trip. The sheer number of shopping carts clogging the aisles, the length of the list and the number of unique items on my list would all conspire together. I was doomed right? I would end up back home with missing items, a bad attitude and a disdain for any human I interacted with on my journey.

Well, that’s how it would have gone if my unredeemed self were allowed to prevail. Instead God tapped me on the shoulder as I entered the store. Rather than multiple shopping carts blocking my path I started seeing people. There was no grand conspiracy, just other husbands, wives, grandparents and friends all at the store getting their last-minute items so they could prepare for whatever gathering or party they had planned. All these people preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ, preparing to make Christmas special for their loved ones. It was suddenly a beautiful scene.

I started running across cheerful people, we were asking each other for help, moving aside for those who seemed to be in more of a hurry, smiling at each other and wishing one another Merry Christmas. I saw love and respect. I saw the joy of people looking forward to their respective celebrations. I think I may have been looking through the Father’s eyes.

My desire to shop on Christmas Eve has not increased, but I am so thankful for the privilege God gave me of seeing with His eyes.

Copyright David Brukiewa

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untitled (425 of 461)Dave is a husband and father of three beautiful girls. He has lived in Colorado Springs since 2000 and attended Holy Cross since 2006. His passion is to see men of God draw closer to the Father and bring their families with them.

 

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

It’s about Trust

Our Good Shepherd can be trusted.

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

“All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned–everyone–to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:6 English Standard Version

People have written a great deal about the relationship between shepherds and their sheep. My dealings with sheep can be reduced to one evening of transporting a ram and two ewes to a living nativity scene at my home church in Eugene, Oregon. The sheep didn’t like me and I can’t say that I was too fond of them either.

December 28Sheep depend upon a trusting relationship with the shepherd.

The lamb in this nativity scene trustingly looks at its shepherd. We can imagined that over time they’ve developed a trusting relationship. The shepherd can be trusted to provide what the sheep need.

. The shepherd provides food, shelter and water for the lamb.

Our Good Shepherd can be trusted. God has laid on this baby our sin. He has provided for us with what we need more than anything else.

If he can be trusted to deal with our sin, then he can be trusted in all aspects of life. This trust is not dependent on our Good Shepherd giving us what we want but what we need.

Unfortunately for us, the line between what we need and what we want is blurred. There is a difference between viewing Jesus as a Shepherd who provides what we need and a Santa Claus who gives us what we want. Trust is built not on getting what we want but what we need.

That’s why this baby can be trusted.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner