Month: February 2016

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PWTE Daily Devotion

A Day of Praise in the Midst of Chaos

Paint Mines, Calhan, Colorado

Because of grace, we can sing praises even when our day is a mess.

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

If you’re like me, there’s no room in your calendar from the rising of the sun to its setting for anything other than what is planned. We move from appointment A to appointment B and maybe have enough time to gasp for air, swallow some water, and take a bite of some junk food in between. Life is chaotic.

Paint Mines, Calhan, Colorado
Paint Mines, Calhan, Colorado

When we arrive home after the chaos and our spouse asks us, “so, how was your day? We pause, think about the question and try to remember what we did.

Is there a better way for us to spend our day than live with no margin? The psalmist suggest that there is.

“From where the sun rises to where the sun sets,
the name of the LORD should be praised.”
Psalm 113:3 God’s Word to the Nations

I’m not suggesting that you stay home today and spend it in contemplative prayer (though that might be good for your soul). What I’m suggesting is that you think about Christ’s presence in your life throughout the craziness of the day.

One thing you can be sure of, God is think about you. If your day isn’t important to God, why would he give up his Son to be crucified for you? When seen through the cross, every day matters to God.

Let the sunset remind you of God’s presence, his nearness to you, and before you close your eyes in sleep, give praise to the God who says that you’re important.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

Created to Sing

The Wartburg, Eisenach, Germany

The Christian Community sings the song of justice and love.

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

You have to stand in awe of rooms like the Great Hall in the Wartburg. I doubt that this hall had a similar appearance at the time of Luther, yet events might have been comparable.

The Wartburg, Eisenach, Germany
The Wartburg, Eisenach, Germany

Musicians were arriving for an evening concert when we visited the Wartburg. I can imagine that a concert in this hall would sound magnificent.

Christians are musicians who play a special melody in this world that God has created.

“I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music.” 
Psalm 101:1 English Standard Version

The Christian community sings of God’s justice.

All of us want justice. We believe that someone, somewhere has harmed us, but we have also wronged others. God is perfectly just, and in his justice he declares us innocent of sin through the merits of his Son, Jesus Christ. This is melody line of the church.

The Christian community also sings of the steadfast love of God.

God’s love for broken human creatures is constant and consistent. His love never fails. Daily God pours his love on his church. Daily he feeds us. Daily he clothes us. It is this steadfast love of God that sings in harmony with his justice.

The world needs to hear the church sing in the great hall of God’s creation. May we sing as God has gifted us.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

Staying the Course

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

It’s best to stay on God’s path when facing troubles.

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

“My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.”
Psalm 17:5 English Standard Version

I’m not against straying off the path to explore new territory, but doing so can be dangerous. The biggest danger is getting lost, especially if you don’t have a map and don’t know the territory.

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

King David was in danger when he sang this prayer to God. We don’t know the circumstances or if he was referring to an event recorded for us in the narrative of his life. Whatever the situation, David’s life was threatened.

At the time of this danger, David claimed that he had kept his feet on God’s path and as a result he had not slipped.

It’s easy to stray from God’s path when we sense that our lives are in danger. Maybe we believe that God is too slow to come to our rescue. Maybe we believe that God only helps those who help themselves. Maybe we believe that God is incapable of hiding us in the shadow of his wings when we face troubles.

David knew what we know: In difficult situations it’s always best to keep our feet on the path of God’s Word. It’s not easy keeping our feet on God’s path when facing danger, but it is best.

It is Christ who fulfills David’s prayer. We know that David strayed, but Jesus never did. His feet walked the road leading to his cross. The power for us to walk on God’s path for life is a gift from the one who walked to his death and resurrection for us.

We will face dangers. In those dangerous times may we keep our feet on God’s path and trust in his power to rescue us.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner