Month: November 2016

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PWTE Daily Devotion

Happy Birthday!

A New Beginning

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

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”
1 Peter 1:3

I was born 62 years ago early on Thanksgiving Day.  My mom always said that I was “cold turkey”.

november-25A few weeks later, on January 2nd, 1955, I was reborn in the waters of Baptism at this baptismal font in Trinity Lutheran Church.

It is great to celebrate a birthday on Thanksgiving.  Everyone gets together, I get all my favorite foods, and I am the only one getting gifts!  I do give thanks every year that God created me in my mother’s womb and I was born into this world.

But a far greater celebration is that I have been born again by the mercy of God into a living hope through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  With no conscious effort on my part, I was brought to the waters of baptism and God pronounced me one of His children.  I can just hear Pastor Mann saying, “Stephen Erwin Nickodemus, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  And God did His work.

Or I should say, God began a new work in me.  Day by day, year after year, His Holy Spirit is working in me, remaking me into His new creation, daily giving me new hope in my Lord Jesus.  No matter how many birthdays I celebrate, God will still be my Father, granting me forgiveness and mercy daily in the sure hope of the resurrection of His Son.

My mother and father are both gone now, as well as Pastor Mann.  One day, I too will throw off this “mortal coil” and pass out of this life.  But my place in heaven is assured for me in Jesus Christ, and there I will celebrate forever in a most amazing way, the new birth God has given me.  Praise God for every birthday!  Praise God for every re-birthday!  Amen.

Text and Picture Copyright Steve Nickodemus

 

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

Giving thanks to?

Being thankful to the God who created us and loves us.

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

We walked up the dusty road to a small hut on the side of a hill. This 100 year old Maasai grandmother approached us with amazing energy and joy in her step. She took our hands in hers, thanking us many times for coming. She was genuinely warm and welcoming, truly thankful that we were there to visit her and her family.maasai-grandmother-fx

Most of us are taught to say thank you as a small child, often because it’s the polite thing to do. We don’t want to be thought of as rude and we may think less of those who don’t say it. At the Thanksgiving table some have a tradition of each family member saying what they are most thankful for that year, but the words are not directed to anyone in particular. It’s popular to pursue an attitude of gratitude as if it were some magic potion that would change our lives for the better. But giving thanks is what God wants from us as His children—giving it freely to Him—not selfishly or to the universe.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. “
1 Thessalonians 5:18 New Living Translation

“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.” Psalm 50:22 New Living Translation

That sweet grandmother, who lives in a small hut with her family and six grandchildren, poured out thankfulness from her heart. She was grateful God sent us to her. She was thankful even in the midst of her fears. She told us that she feared three things—lions, hyenas and the night. While she was afraid of lions in the night she wasn’t afraid of the Lion of Judah. She thanked Him for protection—her very life each day.

“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
Psalm 28:7 New Living Translation

Right now ask yourself what you are most thankful for in your life. Have you thanked God with a grateful, joyful heart, because He is God and He loves you?

 “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
    He made us, and we are his
    We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
    go into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
Psalm 100 New Living Translation

“And always be thankful.” Colossians 3:15b New Living Translation

Text and photo Desiree Bustamante

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

No Longer Slaves to Fear

Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah

Christ’s work of salvation frees us from fear-filled actions.

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

 “Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2 English Standard Version

There wasn’t much room for this bird to hide, but he did the best that he could. Fleeing to these leaves gave him his best chance to survive.

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

Fear often dictates our behavior. Fight or flight become our choices. Fear can motivate us to put on the boxing gloves and fight our way out of a situation, or fear can prompt us to flee and seek shelter in the bushes.

Fear often takes us to the level of self-preservation. This guy knew that as long as he remained hidden nothing bad could happen to him. However, other birds like geese are known for fighting as a way of preserving their lives. Why experience pain when you can inflict it on your enemy?

Isaiah saw no reason to flee or fight because he was enveloped in God’s salvation. Because of God’s salvation he would trust God and not be afraid, and not flee or fight his way to safety. God was his safety. The Lord God was his strength. The Lord God was his song that brought him comfort.

Isaiah’s God is the same God who is our salvation. We are encompassed with the salvation of Christ. It goes before us and it follows after us. It is Christ that we trust and Christ who quiets our fears. It is Christ who is our strength and song.

We will face times when our safety is threatened. May we be strengthen by God when facing these difficulties so that we walk in his salvation. Because of his salvation we’re no longer slaves to fear.

Text and Picture Copyright Douglas P Brauner