“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) If you decide to live a life of instant obedience to Jesus Christ, you will face opposition. The enemy will not rest until you are discouraged, disillusioned, and defeated. The devil is on the hunt to devour Christ followers. This is not the time to coast into neutral. The Bible teaches us to be alert. That means to stay in the ready mode. We must embrace readiness! “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.” 1 Thess 5:6 (NIV) “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Eph 6:18 (NIV) Opposition is as normal in the life of a believer as water is in the life of a fish. Jesus was never surprised by the enemy. Jesus was never unprepared to combat the enemy. Why? Because Jesus embraced readiness! Jesus chose to be alert! Are you ready for today? Have you embraced readiness? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Author: Stephen Trammell
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Opposition
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?’” Gen 3:1 (NIV) God created a perfect world that sin infected. We now live on a broken planet with broken people who are fallen and flawed. Without Divine intervention, our situation is hopeless. We have three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. The serpent, known as Lucifer or the devil, is a created being once in right relationship with God and had authority to serve God. However, Lucifer sought to “de-throne” God. 12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. Isaiah 14:12-15 (NIV) The sin of pride adversely affected Lucifer’s relationship to God. He sought to de-throne God and God responded by casting Lucifer out of heaven. Ever since that moment, the enemy has been a mission to disrupt and to contaminate all that God has made. Spend time today contemplating the presence of evil in our society. See if you can identify the source of the sinful behavior that permeates our earthly existence. Let me pray with you. “Father, we acknowledge Your authority and Your sovereignty. You are infinite and we are finite. You are perfect and we are imperfect. You are holy, pure, and undefiled. We are desperate for You. Display Your glory throughout the earth today. Make Your Name great among the nations. Help us to walk in the light You have given. We submit to You in Jesus’ Name, Amen.” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” Psalms 18:2 (NIV) Who are you relying upon? What is your faith anchored to? Where do you run when the storm comes? Where do you go when life doesn’t make sense? Can you affirm these words? The LORD is my rock. He provides my stability! The LORD is my fortress. He provides my serenity! The LORD is my deliverer. He provides my solidarity! The LORD God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He provides my safety! We are in desperate need of God’s moment by moment provision. He is still on His throne and has given us everything we need to live out His plan and fulfill His purpose. God is not limited by our limitations. God is eternal, holy, immutable, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is sovereign. His love endures forever and His mercies are new every morning. You can take refuge in Him. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
The deadliest shooting in modern United States history took place on April 16, 2007, on the campus of Virginia Tech. Thirty-two students were killed and the gunman committed suicide. Our hearts are broken and our nation grieves for the families of those affected by this tragedy. Similar feelings erupted on September 11, 2001. Confusion looms. Questions linger. Our pastor, Dr. David Fleming, shared four timely promises that we can embrace from God’s Word to help us navigate seasons of uncertainty. 1. Jesus will come to you wherever you are. 2. Jesus will walk with you through whatever. 3. Jesus will help you make sense of it all. 4. Jesus will turn your life around. Our greatest need in this moment is the comfort God provides. He is more than enough. Would you take a few moments and meditate on these two verses of Scripture? “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Cor 1:3-4 (NIV) Allow God to speak to your heart and to extend His comfort to you. Then, PACE yourself and share your heart with God. Let Him hear the authentic cries of your heart. Express your trust in Him. Be comforted and seek to comfort others. In His Care, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Most of life is ordinary. Waking up, going to school or work, and of course, eating three times a day and then sleeping characterize life. You may say it is simply doing the ordinary routines that comprise our earthly existence. Fortunately, droplets of surprise sprinkle the mundane. It may be a phone call that makes your day. Or it may be an email that touches your heart. The envelope in the mail as you open it reveals a refund you did not expect. Someone very special to you expresses love with a visit. Maybe you receive refreshing revelation as you read the Bible and it prompts you to trust in God’s timing. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deut 31:6 (NIV) Jesus will come to you, wherever you are. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you. He will never let you down. Are you willing to give Him access to your life? Are you willing to give Him the mineral rights to your fears and frustrations? Where are you? Jesus will come to you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
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Expectation
Have you ever been through a season of uncertainty? Anxious thoughts race through your mind and uneasiness permeates your emotions. You fear the unknown. Indecision imprisons you. Questions linger. That’s exactly the kind of season the Israelites experienced when they were exiled to Babylon from their homeland of Jerusalem. They were displaced, discouraged, and confused. Yet, in just the right moment, God met them at their point of need. He delivered these words through His prophet, Jeremiah: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer 29:11 (NIV) We serve an “on time” God! He is never late and He always knows exactly what you need. Therefore, you can trust Him to accomplish His perfect plan in you and through you. He knows you by name and even the hairs upon your head are numbered. Wow! He’s good! Are you ready for the final letter in our PACE acrostic? The “E” is for expectation. At this point you pray with your hands outstretched parallel to the ground (as though you are trying to fly) with the palm of your hands facing upward. Then you say, “I expect great things to happen today!” Recognize God’s sufficiency and PACE yourself each day by embracing this spiritual discipline. Lift your hands toward heaven and say, “Lord, I praise You. I accept Your acceptance of me. I surrender to Your control. I expect great things to happen today!” Now we’re on shouting ground. Live in fullness everyday! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15 (NIV) Who’s your boss? To whom are you yielding allegiance? I hope your answer is Jesus. His desire is not only to be the Savior of your life, but to also be Lord of your life. In the language of the New Testament, “Lord” means one who has control over. Thus to make Jesus Lord of your life is to yield to His control. The Lordship of Christ denotes submitting to His authority and embracing His agenda. Let’s continue to unfold our PACE acrostic. The letter “C” is for control. Include this in your daily routine: Lift your hands toward heaven and turn your palms upward and say, “I surrender to Your control.” Now it is time to practice: Lift your hands toward heaven and say, “Lord, I praise You. I accept Your acceptance of me. I surrender to Your control.” Just in case you have not turned your life over to Jesus and allowed Him to become your Savior and Lord, consider this wonderful promise from God: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”(Romans 10:9 NIV). Let’s surrender to His control and see what happens! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
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Acceptance
“God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.” Acts 15:8 (NIV) Have you accepted God’s acceptance of you? That’s step number two in order to PACE yourself for the day. Remember, you start your day off by lifting your hands toward heaven and saying, “Lord, I praise you.” Then as you keep your hands lifted you turn the palm of your hands toward each other and say, “I accept Your acceptance of me.” How did God demonstrate His acceptance of the Gentiles in the book of Acts? He demonstrated His acceptance by allowing the Holy Spirit to take up residence in them. God indwelt them by His Holy Spirit. He took the initiative through the shed blood of Jesus to make them fit for His habitation. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body“(1 Cor 6:19-20 NIV). Who made us acceptable? Jesus! What should our response be to His acceptance of us? Accepting others! “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God”(Romans 15:7 NIV). Let’s practice: Lift of your hands and say, “Lord, I praise You.” Now turn your uplifted hands toward each other and say, “I accept Your acceptance of me.” Now live in fullness everyday by accepting His acceptance of you! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.” Psalm 9:1 (NIV) How do you begin each day of your life? Do you jump right out of bed and hit the floor running or do you slowly drag yourself from beneath the sheets and gradually wake up to the approaching day? Either way, let me share with you a wonderful way to PACE yourself for each day. Let’s consider using PACE as an acrostic to get our day moving in the right direction with the Lord. The “P” stands for “Praise!” The psalmist models this attitude and action by saying, “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart.” To praise God is to give Him honor for who He is. To praise God is to acknowledge His sovereignty, His power, and His holiness. Step number one: When you awaken each morning, lift your hands toward heaven and say, “Lord, I praise You!” That’s right; as soon as your feet hit the ground lift your hands and speak it with sincerity and with passion. You may even choose to look up toward heaven as you say those precious words to our Living Lord. Each of the next three days we will unlock each letter of the word PACE to explore a simple yet captivating daily exercise to start each day off right. Now, let’s practice this first step. Lift your hands toward heaven. Now look up and say it with me, “Lord, I praise You!” He is worthy. We are blessed. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Mt. 11:28-30 (NIV) Jesus is always on time. He knows just what we need right when we need it. His invitation to join Him and to find rest in Him is the antidote to our fast pace lifestyle. As one person said, “If we don’t learn to come apart, we will come apart!” Why do we feel guilty when we slow down? Why do we gravitate toward the performance trap and end up equating productivity with spirituality? Sometimes the most spiritual move we can make is to slow down and experience the rest Jesus offers. Be sure to notice in our verse for today that there is a prerequisite to encountering His rest. We must be willing to come to Him. We must be willing to take the initiative to respond to His invitation. That just doesn’t fit our adrenaline addicted society. We tend to long for the next high or the next rush. Maybe we can just capture a few more sips of caffeinated coffee. Will that deliver what we need most? Perhaps the invitation is to come to the place of total reliance upon God. If I yoke up with Him, then I will have to be willing to go where He goes and embrace the pace He sets. Remember, His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Sounds refreshing! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
So what does the resurrection life look like? Instant obedience! Your number one priority is to obey God. Obeying God begins with surrendering to the Lordship of Christ and giving Him complete control of your life. Acknowledge your sin and separation from our Holy God and receive His provision for the forgiveness of your sin. Place your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Make obeying God the number one priority of your life. To know Him is to obey Him. “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands”(I Jn 2:3 NIV). Obedience to God is not only a mark of spiritual maturity; it is the birthmark of being born again. Obeying God is a non-negotiable. Satan’s goal is to lure you into succumbing to one of his schemes. The enemy seeks to entice you with a shortcut to obeying God’s best for your life. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”(I Pt 5:8). Don’t give the devil a foothold. In fact, don’t even give him a toehold. The resurrection life is allowing the Holy Spirit to control your thoughts, your words, and your actions in such a way that the enemy doesn’t have room to sneak in to devour. Post a “no trespassing” sign and remind the enemy that he is trespassing on your Father’s territory! Instant obedience is always the best option for living the resurrection life. Sing with me, “Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way.” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
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Priorities
What will your schedule look like today? How will your time be allocated? Just as Dave Ramsey says, “Tell your money where to go!” You must also tell your time and energy where to go. You have 86,400 seconds to allocate within the next twenty four hours. Your priorities will determine how you invest your time and energy. If you value what God values then His priorities will be reflected in your schedule. For example, after Jesus rose from the dead and revealed Himself to the disciples He offered these words: “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high”(Luke 24:49 NIV). If the disciples value what God values, then they are going to Jerusalem to await the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. Their number one priority is obeying God. Their priorities will be validated by their obedience to the command of Jesus. The good news is that 120 believers gathered in the Upper Room in Jerusalem and experienced ten days of anticipation and obedience. They were willing to value what God values. They were willing to allow God’s priorities to be their priorities. As a result, they cleared their schedule and allocated their time and energy to obey Jesus. What was the result? The day of Pentecost, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the salvation of 3,000 souls! Now let’s take a look at your life. What does your schedule say about your priorities? What do you value? Are you willing to make necessary adjustments to bring your life into alignment with what God values? Take the initiative! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
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Resurrection
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Mt. 28:6 (NIV) Are you living in the power of the resurrection? Jesus is alive! The redemptive act of God has ushered forth new life and a new beginning. God is who He says He is and does what He says He will do. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead changes everything. The darkness has turned to light. Sin and death no longer have mastery over us. Both have been defeated. Have you allowed the empty tomb to become a reality in your daily living? Are you walking in perpetual consciousness of God’s redemptive activity? There’s more to Easter than just dressing up and going to church. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead establishes our eternal destiny and enables us to proclaim His redemption story throughout the earth. Praise the Living God today for He rules and He reigns! Allow Jesus to have full access to your hurts, your habits, and your hang ups. Allow Him to bring His resurrection power to every area of your life so that you can live in fullness everyday. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
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Freedom
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 (NIV) What are you doing with the new life you have been given? As a child of God, your sin debt has been deleted, your name has been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and your adoption has been completed. Satan is defeated! Jesus reigns! Are you allowing Jesus to reign in your life? Are you living in light of your new identity in Christ? You are now free to live and express your God given potential. You are now free to share His love and shine His light. The shackles have been removed! Praise God! There is now no condemnation! The righteousness of Christ has been deposited into your account. When God sees you He sees the righteousness of Christ. The operation of the Holy Spirit has set us free from the operation of sin and death. Now we are on shouting ground! Carve out some time today to think through all that God has delivered you from. Spend a few moments praising Him for His deliverance. Bask in the reality of your relationship with our Heavenly Father. He is worthy! You are free! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
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Forgiveness
Your greatest need has been met. The greatest gift has been given. Eternity has been radically altered. Your destination is now secure! How can this be? “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:23-25 (NIV) Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross and uttered the life changing words, “It is finished!” That’s right! Our sin debt has been paid in full. Forgiveness has been provided. We can add nothing to what Jesus accomplished on the cross. We cannot work our way into salvation and we cannot do anything to earn what He purchased for us. However, we have the privilege of entrusting ourselves to Him just as He entrusted Himself to God’s plan. We have the glorious opportunity to receive the comprehensive forgiveness that He provides. What is different about your life today as a result of what Jesus did for you 2,000 years ago? What is keeping you from fully surrendering your life to His control? What is keeping you from trusting Him with your life daily and eternally? Have you received His forgiveness? You can be free! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’” Luke 23:39-41 (NIV) Death row awaits with anticipation as the guard passes by one cell after another until he comes to your cell. The consequences of your criminal behavior reach the pinnacle as you intake your final few breaths. But wait, the guard unlocks the cell door and announces that you are completely free to leave the prison grounds. You have been pardoned! You will not have to pay for your sin! Now wait a minute. How would you categorize such a transaction? Maybe there’s a word that comprehends such an act. Consider the word, grace. Perhaps mercy is not getting what we deserve and grace is getting what we do not deserve. Think about it. We do not deserve forgiveness, peace, a second chance, or love. But God gives us what we do not deserve. Jesus responded to the repentant criminal on the cross by saying, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Now that’s giving the criminal something he does not deserve. I think that when it comes to our sinful state, we are all on death row! But, God gives us what we do not deserve. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast”(Eph. 2:8-9 NIV). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 God always goes the extra mile. Just when you thought you could go no farther and had nowhere to turn, God steps in. He robes Himself in flesh and becomes like us so that we can become like Him. For thirty-three and a half years, Jesus walked upon earth to reveal the Father. At His baptism at age thirty, Jesus heard the affirming words from His heavenly Father, “This is my son, whom I love; with whom I am well pleased”(Mt. 3:17 NIV). Jesus passionately sought to fulfill the Father’s will. Think about the implications of His pursuit. It meant sacrificing His own life on the cross to bring ultimate peace into our lives. He gave His all so that we could experience all that God has to offer. Jesus was pierced, crushed, and punished so that we might experience the peace of God. He was wounded for the sake of our healing. Jesus took our place. He stepped in so that you could step up and know the One True and Living God personally and eternally. What are you doing with the peace He gives? What is keeping you from embracing His abiding peace? I am reminded of the bumper sticker that says, “No Christ, no peace! Know Christ, know peace!” Are you full of peace? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
Categories
Mercy
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” II Cor. 5:21 (NIV) Try to measure the depth of God’s mercy. When you weigh the purity of Christ’s life and the contamination of our sinfulness, the scale drastically shifts to our side. We are guilty. We stand condemned. Fortunately, God came to our rescue. Mercy came running! God made Jesus to be sin for us so that we could become righteousness. Have you received what He offers? Have you come to the place in your life of recognizing your sin and your separation from our Holy God? God initiated the process to bring you into harmony with His purpose and plan. God’s initiative demands a response. He did not make us robotic. He made us relational so that we could choose Him or refuse Him. You can be in right standing before God by placing your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. You can know the peace that passes all understanding. You can have the ultimate relationship with the One who demonstrated the ultimate portrait of mercy. God did not give us what we deserve. Would you be willing to simply praise Him right now for extending His mercy to you? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership & Pastoral Care
“But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.” Mark 15:11 (NIV) Have you ever encountered injustice? Have you ever been treated unfairly? I think we have all been there. It hurts! The scars serve as a constant reminder. In our verse today, we find a word that compels us to contemplate. It is the soothing word, “instead.” Let me take this punishment instead of you. Allow me to receive this penalty instead of you. Jesus will be flogged and crucified instead of Barabbas. The innocent man dies in his place. The guilty man goes free. Jesus receives what he doesn’t deserve while Barabbas receives what he doesn’t deserve. Jesus receives death! Barabbas receives life! Is that justice? Should the guilty go free? It depends who takes the initiative. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”(Rm. 5:8 NIV). Christ died instead of us! Yes, while we were still sinners! How can you demonstrate that kind of love? Who in your sphere of influence needs to know what “instead” looks like? Forgive instead of holding a grudge. Show acceptance instead of forging a gap. Offer help instead of ignoring the need. Appreciate Jesus instead of taking Him for granted. It’s your move! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership & Pastoral Care
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Solitude
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mk. 1:35 NIV) Can you imagine having a daily appointment with the Creator of the universe? What would you say? How would you prepare for such an important meeting? The reality is that you have that wonderful privilege of connecting with the Creator. Through the completed work of Jesus on the cross, the divine connection has been established. Can you hear me now? The challenge for us is not making the connection. God took the initiative to bring us into a vibrant love relationship with Himself. The challenge is for us to carve out unhurried time to be alone with Him. Jesus modeled the value of solitude throughout His earthly ministry. We must consciously practice solitude. Solitude becomes the environment by which we bend our ear and our will toward the echo of God’s whisper. What needs to change in your daily routine to make room for connecting with our Creator? What adjustments do you need to make in order to practice solitude? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership & Pastoral Care
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