Month: October 2016

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PWTE Daily Devotion

“Let Me Outta Here!”

Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah

We have been set free by Christ to fly with him.

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

“Jesus answered them,
‘I can guarantee this truth:
Whoever lives a sinful life is a slave to sin.
A slave doesn’t live in the home forever, but a son does.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be absolutely free.'”
John 8:34-36 God’s Word to the Nations

Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah
Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah

This Macaw didn’t look happy in its very large and comfortable cage at the Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, Utah. These birds are well-kept even though they live in a cage far from their Central and South American homes. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any of them when I visited Peru, though I did see relatives fly overhead every night as Amazon parrots migrated to their nighttime roost.

Macaws are known for being noisy, but no amount of noise could set this parrot free.

Its beak is strong enough to crack large nuts, but it could not break this steel rod.

This Macaw’s condition is similar to our’s. Try as we might we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. We are caged by our sin and incapable of breaking ourselves free. We might consider ourselves good people. Our friends, relatives and neighbors might consider us good people. But good is not good enough when it comes to sin’s captivating power.

All is not hopeless for this bird. It doesn’t have to stay in its captivity forever. Someone on the outside might set it free.

The same is true for us. Though we have been caged by sin, Christ has set us free. For as Jesus told the Jews who had believed in him, “If the Son sets you free, you will be absolutely free.” His death and his resurrection have set us free. Today doesn’t have to be like every other day because the door has been unlocked and we’re set free to fly with him.

Four hundred and ninety-nine years ago ninety-five theses for debate where nailed to the Schlosskirche, or, Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther had discovered that we cannot free ourselves from sin, but that God, in Christ Jesus has set us free. With this knowledge, his life radically changed. History radically changed.

Change happens when Christ sets us free.

Text and Picture Copyright Douglas P Brauner

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PWTE Daily Devotion

Dressing for Protection

God provides spiritual clothing for His children.

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

When I was in Tanzania recently visiting Compassion projects, I was surprised to see infants and toddlers wearing knit caps and sweaters and wrapped up in blankets. Being five degrees from the equator keeps it comfortable and warm throughout the year, and it averaged 85 degrees when I was there. There are changes with the seasons from dry to rainy and mild to hot, but not as cold as winter in Colorado can be.

oct-27

Tanzanian mothers dress their babies warmly in temperatures that American mothers would never think to dress their children in sweaters. But mothers everywhere in the world want their babies to feel protected no matter what the weather or environment.

God feels the same way about His children. He provides His special clothing, His word, to keep us protected in all spiritual conditions.

“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:10-17 New Living Translation

So when the seasons of battle arrive, layer on the armor of God as your protection. Then you can weather any storm.

Text and photo copyright Desiree Bustamante

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PWTE Daily Devotion

A Tiny Hand

A precious reminder of God’s love.

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

“See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!”
1 John 3:1 New Living Translation

I got off the bus in Tanzania and within a few yards I felt a tiny hand take mine. I looked down. A little boy grinned up at me. I was visiting a Compassion project at a Lutheran church near Arusha with 30 other sponsors/employees. We were there to play with the children, see the programs and help plant trees. At least 100 children were there, crowding around to meet us. In the midst of all the commotion, this little boy found me. Many of the older children knew some English, but the boy was too young. One of those children told me his name was Denis (pronounced dah-NEESE in Swahili.) He was four years old and in the Child Survival Program at the project.

oct-26We entered the church for a program and he stayed with me the whole time. He followed me when I went to help plant trees, never letting go of my hand until I needed to water the plants. I played volleyball with some older girls, and Denis waited patiently behind me until I was through, again taking my hand. When we went to visit some children’s homes, he wasn’t allowed to join me. But as soon as I returned he came up behind me and once again took my hand. He never said anything to me until later in the day, when he spoke a few words in Swahili I didn’t understand and raised his arms for me to pick him up. I held him until it was time for our group to leave the project. I found a translator who told Denis we needed to leave, I said my goodbyes, and he followed the bus down the driveway until I was out of sight. He looked sad, but never cried.

I’ve thought about him and prayed for him every day since then. I have no idea why he picked me out of all the others. Or why he never got bored and went on to something or someone else. Or what caused him to trust me to hold him at the end of the day.

But two thoughts have stayed with me:

This is what God’s love is really like. God chose us and holds our hand, never letting go until we do, yet always remaining by our side waiting for us to return to Him. He never gets bored or impatient, never moves on to something else and never leaves us behind. He loves us even though we know very little about Him.

Jesus wants our love. Children don’t have an agenda, they just want love. When Jesus said let the children come to me, I think He was upset with the disciples not only because they denied the children access to Him, but also because He dealt with so many adults who wanted something from Him, not just to BE WITH Him. The children only wanted to sit in His lap, play or get hugs. They knew real love when they saw it. Jesus craved that true affection from those children, as He does from us.

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”
1 John 4:16 New Living Translation

Lord, thanks for the reminder of how much and how deeply you love me. Help me to always know love when I see it, as I saw your love for me in Denis, and help me to give it as you give—freely and abundantly. Amen.

Text and photo copyright Desiree Bustamante