Month: June 2017

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PWTE Daily Devotion

Couple’s Night

House Finches dominate my backyard bird feeders, though Lesser Goldfinches will make an occasional appearance.

God’s love sets us free to love as he loves us.

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

“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.”
1 John 4:11 New Living Translation

I have a playground for taking pictures. It’s my backyard. In the evening I will often pull my camera out, choose a lens, and walk out into the amazing world of my backyard. There are flowers, birds and bees to fill my memory card. Ginger and Cali often become the subjects of my pictures (as long as they’re willing to cooperate).

House Finches dominate my backyard bird feeders, though Lesser Goldfinches will make an occasional appearance.

To help me in my quest for interesting pictures are three bird feeders. My hummingbird feeder hasn’t attracted any hummingbirds yet, but the House Finches love it. In fact, House Finches love all three of my feeders. I especially look for those moments when a male and female finch attack one of the feeders at the same time.

This pair seemed to be enjoying their couple’s evening at the feeder. At times there are so many finches that they chase each other off their perches. But not on this evening. Both birds were content to feed at the same time.

Through the mercy of God’s love for us in Jesus, we don’t have to fight for our rights, privileges and honors. Instead, God sets us free to love each other as he has loved us. A friend of mine shared with me how he listened to his brother for three hours on the phone. He felt freed by God’s love to listen because his brother needed to talk. Because of the amazing sacrifice Jesus made for us, we’re free to act in ways that display his love.

We don’t need to look for these opportunities, as they will daily present themselves to us. Instead, we ought to pray for God to open our eyes…and our hearts…to these opportunities.

My gracious God, you have loved me in ways that I cannot fully comprehend. Let me see today those opportunities where I can reflect your love. And give me the courage and power to act. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO

 

 

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

It’s Not a Balancing Act

Pursuing God with everything you have.

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

“Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”
Joshua 22:5 New Living Translation

In Thailand, there are rescue preserves for elephants that have been orphaned or abused. They receive care and love and some are trained to develop skills like this one. I’m sure balancing only on front legs takes a lot of perseverance for the elephant.

There is a lot of talk today in our country about balance—prioritizing work, family, friends, self—and having a meaningful life. While many have different definitions of what work-life balance is, most agree that it’s difficult to achieve in our society today. Anxiety and fear run high and hinder our attempts. We are constantly searching for fulfillment and purpose that will coincide with happiness and peace.

But God is not really interested in our pursuit of our life’s balance. He wants our complete attention to His word. He wants our whole heart to walk in His ways and serve Him each day. He wants us to pursue Him first and foremost. Just like the elephant needed much learning and practice to acquire balance, so we need to learn from God’s word and practice His instructions. He will take care of the rest—the desires of our heart, our relationships, our work—because He dearly loves us. God wants us to fulfill the purpose He created for us in this life and also enjoy His blessings.

We are so blessed that God does not balance His love for us with other things He might be busy with during the day. He is all in for us—all the time! He proved that truth by giving us eternal life through His Son. His love is enduring and faithful! We can leave the balancing act to the elephants!

“For His unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 117:2 New Living Translation

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO

 

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

One of His

Baptized into Christ’s Life.

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

“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Romans 6:4

Paul was a wounded, flawed man.  Two failed marriages, alcoholism, running from problems in jobs and relationships…all were in his resume.  He died penniless after years of poor health.

However, as I stood in his apartment a few days after his death, his baptismal quilt told a different story.  It told the story of a man who had met Jesus through Christian friends, of a man who had repented of his sins and who had been baptized into a new life in Jesus Christ, of a man who had been reconciled with his son whom he had deserted, and of a man who had found peace with God through the blood of Jesus.

Although he had given up drinking, Paul continued to struggle until he died.  Old habits died hard. However, he never lost his faith in the forgiveness of Jesus, and the Lord, who is faithful when we are faithless, kept Paul as one of His very own, a lamb of His flock and a child of the King.

Your life may be full of sin, and sinful habits, but there is a God who can rescue you from your own destruction.  A God who sent His only Son to die upon a cross, and rise again, that you might die to sin and live to Him forever.

Yes, Paul was a flawed and sinful man, but he was baptized into the blood of Jesus, and because of Jesus, Paul is one of God’s very own for all eternity.

Paul, rest in the peace of God until we are all joined together in the great resurrection, when Jesus comes again!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO