Month: May 2016

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PWTE Daily Devotion

Rock Solid

Finding Courage in the Obstacles.

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

I walk down a trail, unsure of where it will lead me, and in the path this rock is before me.

Road 2LargeBolder-2

Looking for a way out, I find more rocks surrounding it. I’m stuck but I don’t want to turn back. Looking up I notice the giant tree rising tall from the very rock that’s hindering me. I wonder why I can’t overcome obstacles with the same capacity and boldness.  That tree not only survives being planted there but thrives in a difficult environment—withstanding lightning and wind, hail and snow, the scorching sun.

“But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path”.
Romans 9:31-33 New Living Translation

We want to be strong in the face of adversity, but it doesn’t always happen that way. The rocks we face are formidable and it takes all our effort to scale them, let alone plant our roots firmly. We want to BE the rock. But our efforts are not what God desires when we face difficulties.

“You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”
Isaiah 26:3-5 New Living Translation

Christ alone helps us overcome our troubles with victory.  He will give us courage and peace on the rocky paths when we trust Him.

Copyright photo and text Desiree Bustamante

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PWTE Daily Devotion

As If “It” Never Existed

Canon City, Colorado

Forgiveness is the power to remove sin…ALL sin.

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

“Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” 
Romans 3:23-24 New Living Translation

I’m not know for street photography, in fact, street photography makes me nervous. Don’t get me wrong, I love viewing pictures of great street photographers.  Even though they are not always pleasant to the eye, they depict the reality of the world in which we live.

Canon City, Colorado
Canon City, Colorado

So, I took an hour stroll on Main Street, Canon City, before a recent pastors conference. The city has done an amazing job of updating Main Street, yet also persevering the old character of the city.

I liked this picture until I noticed something that I didn’t want in the photo. I’m bugged by the cigarette butt in the lower left corner. You probably didn’t notice it. I didn’t either until I enlarged the pic.

There is something in our lives that ruins the picture of who God created us to be. No matter how “good” we look to others, sin has left its mark on us. Paul reminds us that “everyone has sinned.” You, me, and every human creature has fallen short of God’s standard. So, what do we do? What hope is there for us?

Photoshop has a pretty cool tool that takes care of problems like this cigarette butt called, content aware. I draw a lasso around the butt and choose content aware and magically the butt disappears looking like it never existed.

This is what God does with our sin. Through Christ he lassos our sin and eliminates it from our lives. He declares us not guilty and removes our sin. This work of God doesn’t make us perfect, but it affects the way he sees us.

The picture of your life might be filled with cigarette butts, yet God in Christ removes them all. Through faith in the One who was crucified for you, you are spectacularly clean and pure.

Picture and Text Copyright Douglas P Brauner

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PWTE Daily Devotion

Tunnel Vision

Light in a Dark Tunnel.

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

You may have heard this before: The optimist says, “There is a light at the end of the tunnel.” The pessimist replies, “With my luck it’s an oncoming train.”

But what if we can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel? What if the darkness is so overwhelming that we fear we will lose our way?Tunnel

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 New Living Translation

It’s a struggle to find faith when our world seems so dark. It may be our circumstances. It may be the struggles of a loved one. It may be a dark place in our mind that is devouring our light. We are just looking for some hope and some peace.

Be encouraged.

“As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.”
Micah 7:7 New Living Translation

He will lead us through the darkest tunnel into the Light of His Joy. There is light on the other side of any struggle or sadness or sin that is overwhelming you. Be strong and hope in the Lord. When you have no hope in your circumstances, you can put your hope in the Lord. He will uphold you.

“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 New Living Translation

Even in the darkest tunnel!

 

Copyright photo and text Desiree Bustamante