Month: February 2016

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PWTE Daily Devotion

A Canopy of Love

Fountain Valley Regional Park, Fountain, Colorado

God calls Christ followers to love each other.

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

I love how these trees lean into each other and create a tunnel of light.

God calls us to lean into each other and point to the Light. The purpose of our caring for each other in the Body of Christ is not to pat ourselves on the back and say how loving we are, rather our concern for each other points to the light of God’s love in Christ working among us.

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” 
John 13:35 New Living Translation

Fountain Valley Regional Park, Fountain, Colorado
Fountain Valley Regional Park, Fountain, Colorado

God brings us into his community that we might care for each other. We face struggles every day, and it’s difficult, if not impossible, to endure these struggles by ourselves. God wants us to lean into one another even though pain has a way of separating us from each other.

People see Jesus as a result of our genuine love. Our love is a reflection of Christ’s passion for us in his suffering and death.

We reflect the power of the cross when we lean into each other.

The world notices when people who follow Christ care for one other.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

The True Knight

Eisenach, Germany

Though we might lose battles, Christ has won the war.

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

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Romans 8:37 New International Version

I don’t know if these are lizards or dragons. I would guess the latter since they are at the base of the St. George statue in Eisenach, Germany. According to a legend, St. George slew a dragon but not before the citizens of the city – and I’m not sure what city – promised to convert to Christianity.

Eisenach, Germany
Eisenach, Germany

Now these dragons eternally spit out water.

What’s your dragon? What has the power to scare you so much that you feel resolved to your fate?

In the story of St. George, the dragon’s next victim is the king’s daughter. She is resolved to her fate until St. George intervenes.

I don’t know what your dragon is, but I know mine.

Too often we act like we are resolved to our fate, that we will never win the battle against our dragon. It is Jesus who steps in and defeats our dragon. In the battle he loses his life, but by the power of his Father he rises to life. The enemy, the dragon, even now stands defeated.

Though we might lose battles, Christ has won the war. His victory is sealed with his blood.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

The Human Element

Balloon Classic, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Redemption calls us to be good stewards of creation.

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

“So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.”
Ecclesiastes  2:24 New Living Translation

It is easy to get caught up in the sights, sounds and smells of the a hot air balloon festival and forget the human element. Each balloon carries people. Without these people the balloons will never soar.

Balloon Classic, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Balloon Classic, Colorado Springs, Colorado

There is a human element to the sights, sounds and smells of God’s creation.

I love landscape photography because of creation’s beauty. God declared all of his creation good, and in its goodness, creation is delightful. God created human creatures to enjoy his creation. We cannot forget this human element.

Enjoying the beauty of God’s creation, whether soaring above it or walking on it, is a gift from the hand of God.

For those of us who have been baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-4) there is an important dimension to our observation of creation. We see it through the eyes of redemption. Christ has redeemed us that we might no longer abuse his creation, but care for it.

I’m not promoting a political agenda but biblical stewardship of what God has declared good. As redeemed human beings, God calls us to enjoy his creation that we might be good caretakers of this precious gift.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner