Month: March 2016

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PWTE Daily Devotion

All Thistles Are Created Equal!

Lookout Mountain, Colorado

Seeing people as love by God changes our perspective.

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

“My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?”
James 2:1 New Living Translation

Why are thistles beautiful in the mountains but a weed in our backyards? This thistle was so beautiful in this mountain setting that I didn’t take just one picture of this I took many pictures. In this setting the thistle was beautiful.

Lookout Mountain, Colorado
Lookout Mountain, Colorado

However, when a thistle appears in my backyard (which they do much to my frustration), I remove it before it goes to seed (hopefully). I don’t think about these thistle in the same way as I do those in the mountains.

Yet, thistles are thistles whether they grow in the mountains or my backyards. People are people no matter who they are and where they come from.

And Jesus came for everyone. His suffering is for everyone. His death is for everyone. His resurrection is for everyone.

The call of the cross is to treat all people as those for whom Jesus came, not just the people who are similar to us, or who, for some reason, like us. The next time you walk the streets of you town and pass someone on the sidewalk, say to yourself, “this is a person for whom Jesus came.”

It might just change your perspective.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

A Surprise at the Foot of the Cross

Black Forest, Colorado

Jesus is the source of life through his cross.

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

“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Galatians 6:14 English Standard Version

As I walked to this cross through virgin snow with my camera in hand, I said my usual prayer, “Lord, surprise me!” I didn’t realize that my surprise would come at the foot of the cross.

Black Forest, Colorado
Black Forest, Colorado

When I arrived at the cross I looked up and tried to find a good angle from which to take a picture, an angle that would say more than, “Oh, that’s a cross in the forest.” I bent over and took a few shots up at the cross from snow level. I stood up and zoomed in on the cross beams.

Then I saw the surprise.

There were animals tracks leading to and departing from the cross. These tracks were at a perfect angle. If you enlarge this picture you’ll see what I mean.

For Paul there is no middle ground. Everything leads to the foot of the cross and everything flows away from the cross. The cross is our death. The cross is our life.

We understand how an instrument of death brings death, but it’s hard to explain how it creates life. In and of itself the cross can’t do anything.  It is the One who hung there for you and me who is the difference maker.

My hope for you today is that you follow the animal tracks to Jesus’ cross. Then, empowered by his mercy, you walk out into the great unknown of the day with the knowledge that the risen Christ walks with you.

And while you walk out into that great unknown, why don’t you pray, “Father, surprise me.”

Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

Why Me? Why This? Why Now?

Lutheran Valley Retreat, Colorado

How do we make sense of suffering when suffering doesn’t make sense?

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

The Hayman fire was the largest forest fire in Colorado history. Lutheran Valley Retreat and Ranch stands in the middle of the devastation. Cedar Mountain affords an amazing view of this destruction, a mountain many of us have climbed before and after the fire.

Lutheran Valley Retreat, Colorado
Lutheran Valley Retreat, Colorado

There are areas where the fire took no prisoners and other areas where the forest looks like it did before this travesty. What amazes me in this picture is how the fire consumed the land all around this stand of pine trees yet they remain untouched.

Isn’t that the way suffering works? It makes no sense.

“The LORD responded to Job, ‘Will the person who finds fault with the Almighty correct him?  Will the person who argues with God answer him?’  Job answered the LORD, ‘I’m so insignificant.  How can I answer you?  I will put my hand over my mouth.'”
Job 40:1-3 English Standard Version

Doesn’t pain require a Job like response to God? Most people I know never receive an answer to the “why” questions of suffering.

In the midst of pain, God calls us to experience grace. His answer often is, “I’ll be God. You be you.  Trust me.” That answer might not satisfy us (it doesn’t have to) but it is a call to faith when faith doesn’t make sense.

For those of you who are suffering today (physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually) I don’t have answers for your suffering other than going to a cross of suffering and an empty tomb of hope and trust God.

Yes, God can be trusted even when you suffer.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner