Month: December 2016

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PWTE Daily Devotion

A Volcanic Eruption of Peace

Mt. Saint Helens National Monument, Washington

Peace comes to us even as we wait.

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

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,
and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” 
Luke 2:13 King James Version

You were probably expecting a picture of baby Jesus surrounded by his mom, step dad, and stable animals instead of a picture of Mt Saint Helens. I could have provided that picture, but it’s not Christmas yet. It’s still Advent; the last day of Advent.

Mt. Saint Helens National Monument, Washington

Candles will light our sanctuaries tonight, we’ll sing Christmas carols, and greetings of, “Merry Christmas!” will fill our ears. But let’s take one more day to focus on Advent and the gift of peace. Next year we have only one day to focus on peace as the Fourth Sunday of Advent will be Christmas Eve in 2017.

So, if there’s no picture of the stable guests, why am I quoting a text from the Christmas story?

When the shepherds heard the angelic choir, they were not standing beside the manger. They were still out in the field. The words had not yet been confirmed. They did not see the baby of whom the angels sang. Yet, the shepherds were as close to worshiping the Child as Christmas Eve is to Christmas Day.

Mt Saint Helens tells us a story of peace as we wait to celebrate this baby’s birth.

Mt Saint Helens’ eruption was violent and took the lives of fifty-seven people. The ridge on which I took this picture was named after one of those people. Today the mountain is a picture of peace. Though there are still times of minor eruptions, I was not afraid to stand on the ridge where David A. Johnston spoke his last words, “Vancouver, Vancouver, this is it.”

The life we live this side of eternity gives us glimpses of peace. We live with a promise, the same promise given to the shepherds, that peace comes in this baby; peace today and eternal peace at his second coming. Though we are minutes away from celebrating the peace that is ours in this baby, may we know that because of this baby we already have peace, even in the eruptions of life.

Text and Picture Copyright Douglas P Brauner

 

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PWTE Daily Devotion

The Blessing of Peace

God’s peace is His gift to you.

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

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
John 14:27 New Living Translation

I love to find places in the mountains that feel peaceful. It rejuvenates and refreshes me when I can hang out near a lake or take a walk in the woods. It restores peace to my mind and my soul.

Sometimes I try to imagine what perfect peace is like. What is the “heavenly peace” we sing about in Christmas carols? The peace that we read that exceeds our understanding? I may never know that kind of perfect peace until our Lord returns to take me home with Him, but I am blessed that God has given me His amazing peace in extraordinary situations. My prayer for you is that you will have this peace today in all things, for His peace is the only peace worth having.

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:4-9 New Living Translation

Copyright text and photo Desiree Bustamante

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PWTE Daily Devotion

Peace Like a River

Upper North Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

This baby, born for us, is our peace.

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

“Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” 
Revelation 22:1 New Living Translation

It’s not necessarily a “peaceful” event to take pictures of waterfalls. The result might cause a calm emotion to rise within us, but walking can be treacherous on the water worn rocks.

Upper North Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

I was very careful where I stepped on the day that I took this picture of the Upper North Falls on Silver Creek. It was going to take some care and route planning to walk to the spot I’d hope to place my tripod. Though my camera gear is not expensive compared to other photographers, it’s priceless to me. I was carrying this gear on my back and I wanted to make sure it stayed dry.

For my gear to survive, I had to sacrifice my feet and walk through cold water, not taking a chance that I’d slip on the exposed rocks which were covered with a layer of moisture from the waterfall.

Peace comes at a sacrifice – not ours, but Christ’s. His precious cargo is not camera gear but people who have been enslaved to sin. He walked through the water of his own baptism that we might be saved. His baptism was not only that which he received at the Jordan River, but his baptism in blood. The baby whose birth we’re about to celebrate came to die that we might experience peace.

“I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.”

One day we will experience the “water of life” flowing from the Lamb. All we will know in that day is peace.

Text and Picture Copyright Douglas P Brauner