Author: Stephen Trammell

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Jacob Transformation Wrestling with God

Walking with a Limp

“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.” Genesis 32:24-25 (ESV) As God’s workmanship, Jacob came away from the night of wrestling with a limp and a new name. You don’t come into close proximity with the living God and leave the same. God gave Jacob the name Israel, which means God prevails. Jacob was known as a deceiver, but God gave him a new name to live up to. Jacob would become the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. Have you ever wrestled with God? Who won? Wrestling is part of being God’s workmanship. Jacob, as God’s workmanship, came to know God in a new way after a night of wrestling. Just like in weight training, without resistance there is no growth. God allows us to go through seasons of uncertainty. God allows us to experience seasons of silence and yes, even seasons of suffering. We wrestle with God in those seasons. Our faith is challenged and often our prayer life is stretched. We come to know God by experience. Sometimes that experience involves pain. God is for you. He is willing to go to any length to bring you into a vibrant, intimate, and growing relationship that is personal and eternal. God will pursue you and groom you so that you will be conformed into the image of Christ. Your life matters to God. After you encounter the Living God, you may walk with a limp to remind you of His daily provision. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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God's Provision Jacob Protection

God’s Protection

“So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was and said to them, ‘I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. You know that I have served your father with all my strength, yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me.’” Genesis 31:4-7 (ESV) Jacob experienced God’s protection as he served Laban. Though Laban deceived Jacob in several ways, Jacob found comfort in God’s Presence. Jacob recognized God’s provision in the midst of the unfortunate treatment Laban inflicted. The instability of the circumstances surrounding Jacob did not penetrate the protective covering provided by God. Navigating the current of shifting loyalty from Laban’s integrity deficit, Jacob rested in the consistent provision of God. When you are treated unfairly, be encouraged by the reality of God’s protection and God’s abiding Presence in your life. Even when your circumstances create an atmosphere of uncertainty, you can anchor your faith to the rock of God’s nature and character. You can trust God to see you through. Jesus knew what it meant to be betrayed and to suffer injustice. Jesus was perfect and encountered unfair treatment by those whom God had created. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:23 (ESV) Do what Jesus did. Entrust yourself to Him who judges justly. Entrust your life to the One who has given you life and to the One who has the final say in every circumstance you face. God is worthy of your trust and worthy of your devotion. Relinquish control of your life to the One who created you for His glory. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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God's Presence Heaven Jacob

God Encounter

“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.’ And he was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’” Genesis 28:16-17 (ESV) Don’t miss God! You can be so preoccupied with your life and your plans that you neglect practicing the Presence of God. God is omnipresent. There is nowhere God is not. He is always at work around you. Unless you intentionally look to see where God is at work, you can miss Him. Detecting God’s activity requires being sensitive and observant. As Jacob placed a stone under his head and went to sleep, he had a dream in which he saw a ladder with angels ascending and descending on it. God said to him, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen 28:13-14 ESV). Upon reflection of the night’s events, Jacob realized that he had encountered God. He named the place, Bethel, which means house of God. Each time you read the Bible, you are encountering God. Whenever you choose to share your faith with someone, you will encounter God. As you seek to meet needs and continue the ministry of Jesus on the earth, you will encounter God. God reveals Himself to you as you join Him in His activity. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Abraham Isaac Legacy

Leaving a Legacy

“And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, ‘I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.’ So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.” Genesis 26:24-25 (ESV) What kind of impact will your life make on the next generation? What is going to outlive you and outlast you? What deposits are you making into the next generation? In order to leave a legacy, you must live a legacy. Abraham and Sarah lived out their faith in God before their son, Isaac. They were intentional about handing down the faith and leaving a legacy. Sarah died and was buried. Abraham died years later and was buried in the cave of Machpelah with Sarah. How did their faith impact Isaac’s life? God graciously appeared to Isaac just as He had appeared to Abraham. God affirmed Isaac with His abiding presence and promised to bless him and multiply his offspring for Abraham’s sake. Did you catch that? The blessing from God was in honor of Abraham, for Abraham’s sake. Isaac responded to this encounter of God by building an altar there and calling upon the name of the Lord. Isaac continued the faith that Abraham and Sarah had modeled before him. What kind of legacy will you leave? Will those closest to you continue in the faith because of the faith you lived out during your time on the earth? Leave a legacy by living a legacy. Worship God privately and publicly. Serve the Lord with passion and enthusiasm. Be an irresistible influence for the Lord and impact the next generation. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Abraham God's Provision Obedience

Jehovah Jireh

“And Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ He said, ‘Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.’ So they went both of them together.” Genesis 22:7-8 (ESV) Abraham demonstrated absolute loyalty and devotion to God by his willingness to sacrifice his promised son. Abraham and Sarah were beyond child bearing years. Yet, God provided the miracle of Isaac’s conception. Now God is asking Abraham to sacrifice that which was promised to him. “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.” Gen 22:13 (ESV) Is there anything in your life that takes priority over your relationship with Jesus? Are there any allurements sifting your affection away from your devotion to Christ? Do you have an Isaac in your life that you are unwilling to sacrifice? What is standing in the way of your realization of unbroken fellowship with God? What is taking the number one place of prominence in your life which is reserved for God? Whatever that item, ambition, or person is may be your Isaac. Could it be that God wants you to sacrifice that Isaac in your life to enable God to have top priority in your life? God wants first place in your daily walk. God wants to be the supreme object of your energy and affection. He not only deserves it, but He demands it. Spend a few moments taking inventory of your current priorities and identify what is preventing God from being your top priority. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Abraham Compassion Grace

God’s Grace

“And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. So she said to Abraham, ‘Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.’” Genesis 21:8-10 (ESV) Shortcuts in life can generate adverse consequences. Instead of waiting on God’s timing to produce offspring, Abraham and Sarah took a shortcut by utilizing Sarah’s servant, Hagar. “And Sarai said to Abram, ‘Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.’ And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai” (Gen 16:2 ESV). Sarah got what she wanted, but later didn’t want what she got! Abraham had to make the difficult decision to send Hagar and Ishmael on their way in order to keep marital peace with Sarah. Hagar finds herself in desperation and ready to give up her life and the life of her son, Ishmael, as they wander in the wilderness of Beersheba. She placed Ishmael under a bush anticipating his death as well as her own. Then God intervened: “Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.” Gen 21:19-21 (ESV) God’s grace always matches the desperation of our need. God has the final say even in the darkest of moments. When life gets messy, don’t hesitate to turn to the Master! God’s grace is more than enough! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Abraham Miracle Sarah

God’s Miracle

“The LORD said, ‘I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.” Genesis 18:10-11 (ESV) Is the level of your faith determined by the intensity and severity of your circumstances or by the One in whom you are placing your faith? Abraham and Sarah’s situation was desperate and seemingly impossible. Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety years old and barren. Don’t miss the blessing behind “even when.” Even when Abraham was past age and Sarah was barren, God enabled them to become parents because Abraham considered God faithful. God had already made the promise of blessing Abraham with offspring (Gen. 12:2-3). “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.” Heb. 11:11 (ESV) “Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” Heb. 11:12 (ESV) Instead of focusing on your circumstances, focus on the faithfulness of God. You can bring your burdens to the Lord with openness and transparency. You can bear your soul before the Lord as you navigate the terrain of a fallen world. God formed you and fashioned you for His glory. Your circumstances will not derail the purposes of God from being fulfilled in your life. Trust God to demonstrate His faithfulness to you. Be sensitive to God’s activity today in the midst of your circumstances. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Abraham God's Provision Obedience

God’s Provision

“Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV) Without trust, there is no authentic relationship. Relationships are built on the foundation of trust. As you know, to be trusted one must be trustworthy. Without question, God is worthy of our trust. He is holy, righteous, immutable, eternal, and perfect. God honors His Word. God keeps His promises. God has impeccable timing and matchless integrity. When God revealed Himself to Abram, the relationship of trust was demonstrated. God commanded Abram to leave his comfort zone and to embrace the unknown. God promised to bless Abram and to make Abram a blessing. At this time, Abram was seventy-five years old and he and Sarai had no children. Even though God’s promise did not make logical sense in that Sarai was well along in years and childless, Abram took God at His Word and obeyed Him. What are you doing with what God has said to you? Have you obeyed what you already know? God blesses obedience. When you obey God, you come to know God by experience. You will discover God’s will as you obey God’s will. Walk in the light God gives you and watch to see how God unveils the next step that He wants you to take. As you obey, God will show you the way. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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God's Faithfulness Job Trust

God’s Will Prevails

“Then Job answered the LORD and said:  ‘I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.’” Job 42:1-2 (ESV) The chisel of adversity and the hammer of suffering produced an informative perspective within Job to be able to declare that God can do all things. Job acknowledged the power of God and the firm reality of the prevailing purposes of God. Regardless of the trajectory of the circumstances and the momentum of the adversity, God will accomplish His plan. God allowed Job to experience a journey filled with heartache, loss, grief, and anguish. Through it all, God navigated the path for Job to come to the place of desperation which ultimately led to the place of restoration. “And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10 (ESV) “And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters.” Job 42:12-13 (ESV) “And Job died, an old man, and full of days.” Job 42:17 (ESV) What’s your story? Maybe you have gone through an avalanche of adversity or the undulation of uncertainty. What have you learned about God’s faithfulness? Have you come to experience the prevailing purposes of God? God has the final say and He is working all things together for your good and for His glory (Rom. 8:28-29). What needs restoration in your life? Where do you need to experience God’s faithfulness the most? Draw near to Him and trust Him to see you through. God is still on His throne and nothing happens to you without His permission. If God allows it, He will use it to accomplish His purposes and plan. Rest in His providence. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Creator God's Power Job

Measure of a Moment

“‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?’” Job 38:4-5 (ESV) There are times when God has to remind us that we are not God. When we fail to remember that God is the Creator and we are the created, we position ourselves for a lesson on humility. It is possible to get so busy doing life that you forget the reality of who God is and what He has done. During seasons of adversity, it is possible to become so self-absorbed that you ignore the reality of God’s abiding Presence. God had to remind Job of his personal limitations and the shortfall of his humanity. Job made some short-sighted assumptions about God that did not line up with God’s nature and character. Job was speaking from his own limited understanding about life and the origin of life. God intervened by speaking to Job and engaging him with some thought provoking questions. Just after graduating from college, I was asked to preach one of my closest friend’s funeral. He died as a result of an aggressive form of cancer at age twenty-two. God placed the following passage of Scripture on my heart to share at Jimmy’s funeral. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) Are you having a difficult time making sense out of some of the things going on in your life right now? Acknowledge God’s supremacy and His majesty. Entrust your life and your circumstances to His redemptive care. God fashioned you for His glory and He will accomplish His plan through you in the midst of your circumstances. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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God's Splendor Job Majesty

Awesome Majesty

“‘And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them. Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty.’” Job 37:21-22 (ESV) As Elihu spoke to Job, he declared the splendor and awesome majesty of God. In our humanity, we have limitations. Our Creator, God, has chosen to reveal Himself to us. In His holiness and righteousness, God made it possible for us to come into relationship with Him through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. God has made Himself knowable and imparts to us the gift of eternal life. “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV) “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 (ESV) Consider the depth of what you currently know about God as a result of your personal relationship with Him through Christ. As you calculate the level of intimacy you enjoy with God, measure the reality of what is yet to come for those of us who know Him personally. One day we will have the awesome privilege to stand before God and obtain the full extent of the salvation of our souls. We will receive our glorified body and enjoy eternal life with God in heaven. We shall be like Him and see Him as He is. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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God's Nature Job Patience

God’s Patience

“‘Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.’” Job 33:29-30 (ESV) Elihu had patiently sat and listened to Job and Job’s three friends. Elihu was young and somewhat intimidated by these men. In his listening, Elihu burned with anger as he surmised that Job was righteous in his own eyes. His anger increased by his summation of Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, yet they declared Job to be in the wrong. Then Elihu articulated profound insight into the patience of God. He affirmed that God is persistent in bringing back a man’s soul from the pit so that he may be lighted with the light of life. Consider God’s patience in your life. Take a moment to examine your life and trace the decisions you have made over the years. How many times has God rescued you from the pit of poor choices? How many times has God patiently waited for your compliance to His will? We would have no hope for knowing and doing God’s will without His abundant supply of grace and patience. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 ESV). Allow God’s patience to generate an attitude of gratitude in you as you join Him in His activity today. Enjoy being a recipient of God’s patience and seek to emulate His patience as you interact with others. Make yourself available for God’s use as He draws others to Christ through you. Be patient with others just as God has been patient with you. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Anguish Depression Job

Anguish and Affliction

“‘And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me. The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest.’” Job 30:16-17 (ESV) I don’t know how much more I can take. Have you ever said that? Have you ever felt that way? Job became weary from his arduous journey with adversity. His soul was now in anguish and his days of affliction had gained more ground. Job’s emotional stability had been capsized by the violent waves of pain. His image had been altered and his self-worth had been placed on the clearance rack. Job hit a low point. Living in a world polluted by sin and infested with our fallen condition generates an environment far from paradise. We live on a broken planet that stems from the Fall of man. The earth is cursed and humanity combats the presence of sin, sickness, and sorrow. God redeems us from our sin and re-creates us to be like Christ so that we can be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. God allows us to remain on this broken planet to join Him in restoring fallen humanity. God entrusts us with the task of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. He is our hope, our peace, and our future. God dispenses grace to match our need. When you spiral down into the depths of despair, God’s grace is distributed in proportion to your deficit. The Apostle Paul advanced through adversity by accessing the grace God supplied. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor 12:9 ESV). Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Integrity Job Righteousness

Maintain Integrity

“‘As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter, as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils, my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit. Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.’” Job 27:2-6 (ESV) Your life is like a tube of toothpaste, when squeezed, whatever is on the inside will come out. Adversity has a way of squeezing out fears, frustrations, resentment, and bitterness. By nature, we suppress those things that disappoint us or hurt us. We seek to dodge pain. Job experienced an intense season of testing that revealed what was on the inside of him. Job was honest about his disappointment and transparent about the resident bitterness within his soul. In spite of the avalanche of adversity, Job chose to maintain his integrity. He made a commitment to not speak falsehood, to not utter deceit, and to not put away his integrity. Job resolved to hold fast to his righteousness and not let it go. Everybody looks good from a distance. What do you see when you get close enough to see what is on the inside? How are you doing internally? Maintain integrity by staying close to the Lord and clean before the Lord. Surrender to the Lordship of Christ and make sure that the tongue in your mouth lines up with the tongue in your shoe. Hold fast to the righteousness of Christ. You are positionally right before God in Christ. Apply that positional righteousness through practical righteous living. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Devotion Job Omniscience

Fully Devoted

“‘But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.’” Job 23:10-12 (ESV) Job was fully devoted to God. Both in private and in public, Job was cognizant of the omniscience of God. Job recognized that God was all-knowing and all-seeing and that nothing escapes God’s attention. As a result, Job was conscientious about the paths he took, he was cautious about the decisions he made, and he was committed to the ways of God. Your decisions determine your direction and ultimately your destination. The decisions you make each day have immediate and eternal implications. Therefore, your decision-making process is vital. Are you doing life God’s way? Are you making decisions based on God’s will or based on your own personal agenda. Job did not make decisions in a vacuum. Job had a heightened awareness of God’s activity. In revering God, Job lived his life in view of God’s purpose and plan. He did not want to make a decision that would violate God’s nature and character. Job wanted to live his life consistent with God’s will. God knows the way you take. When He has tried you, will you come out as gold? Hold fast to God’s steps. Keep His way and do not deviate from His path. Do not depart from His commandments. Ask God to show you what you need to stop doing, what you need to continue doing, and what you need to start doing? Be a fully devoted follower of Christ and passionately pursue His will. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Job Perspective Redeemer

My Redeemer Lives

“‘For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!’” Job 19:25-27 (ESV) When you are going through a season of adversity the natural proclivity is to turn inward. You slide into the posture of being consumed with how you are feeling and how you are doing and drift into self-pity. Pain has the power to redirect your focus. Job unveiled his inward thoughts and the agony of his soul. He expressed his hurt and his disappointment with his current reality. Job was surrounded by three so-called friends who just didn’t get it. They were not a productive source of encouragement and comfort. Job made a decision to shift his thinking. He embraced a healthy and beneficial perspective by declaring, “For I know that my Redeemer lives.” Job acknowledged the sovereignty of God and the redeeming love of God. How desperate is your situation? What has captivated your mind and dominated your emotions? What kind of season are you in currently? Declare by faith that your Redeemer lives. Articulate the reality of God’s sovereignty and the certainty of God’s redeeming love. God is for you. God knows where you are and what you are feeling right now. Your Redeemer lives. Run from your fear, anxiety, and anguish. Deliberately run to your Redeemer. Look how far God has brought you. Calculate where you would be without His grace, His mercy, and His persistent pursuit. One day you will see God. One day you will stand before God to give an account for your life. Your Redeemer lives inside of you so that you can join Him in redeeming others. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Eternity Job Life

Brevity of Life

“‘Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.’” Job 14:1-2 (ESV) Job confronts his human condition. He acknowledges the brevity of life and the certainty of death. Job identifies the presence of pain and tribulation in this fallen world. In anguish of soul, Job considers his life and weighs the impact of his circumstances. Sometimes life seems to race by like the flash of a camera and at other times life seems to slow down and emerge at the pace of a canoe on a still pond. The common denominator is the brevity of life. In light of eternity, life on earth is so brief. It is difficult to fathom that a person’s life can be condensed to the dash between the date of one’s birth and one’s death. “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:14 (ESV) Will your dash make an eternal difference? Will you allow God to use you for His glory? You may have a few more decades of living on this earth or you may only have a few months. What will you do with the time you have left? Invest the rest of your life in that which has eternal value. Stop fretting over the things in this life that erode your peace and evaporate your passion for the Lord. Focus on the love God has for you and the love God wants you to express to a lost and dying world through you. Jesus warned us to anticipate tribulation in this world. Rejoice! Jesus has overcome the world and He lives in you. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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God's Provision Job Love

Life, Love, and Compassion

“‘You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.’” Job 10:12 (ESV) Job was in a season of desperation. He knew calamity on a first name basis. Surrounded by an inner circle of friends, Job made a profound statement about God’s provision. In the midst of severe adversity and extreme suffering, Job chose to look up even when he was completely down. Can you echo Job’s statement of faith? God has granted you life. You were God’s idea. God created you and planted you so that you can bloom for His glory. You are alive today because God has given you life. What are you doing with the life God has given you? God has lavished you with His steadfast love. You matter to God. Your value has already been established when God gave His only Son to die for you on the cross two-thousand years ago. That’s how much God loves you and values you. Don’t let the devil stick a clearance label on your life. You have already been purchased by the shed blood of Jesus and the value of your life is priceless! What sustains you? What keeps you going? God’s compassion and tender care preserve you. He is the source of your strength and the reason for your existence. God will see you through the seasons of uncertainty and will help you overcome the obstacles that seek to divert your focus. God cares about you and everything you care about. You are His treasure and He keeps your tears in a bottle. Nothing bypasses God’s awareness. He knows where you are and just what you need right now. Will you rest in His care and receive His personal touch ministry? Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Humility Job Sovereignty

Humility University

“‘Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.’” Job 9:2-3 (ESV) Have you come to grips with your finiteness? Have you discovered how big God is and how small you are? For a human being to try to grasp the awesomeness of God is like a gnat trying to grasp the awesomeness of a Boeing 747 commercial airliner. We are finite; God is infinite. We are limited; God is unlimited. Job presents a loaded question, “How can a man be in the right before God?” As Job is navigating the rugged terrain of tribulation, he is contemplating his personal identity in light of God’s holiness. Job is cognizant of his own human condition before the Lord Almighty. In humility, Job acknowledges the vastness of God within the velocity of his own personal struggle. Are you living in light of the reality of God’s nature and character? Do you embrace a posture of humility as you consider the wonder and glory of God? When you walk through a season of uncertainty or paddle through tumultuous waters, you will be drawn into contemplating the reality of your existence. You will begin to acknowledge your dependency upon God and your awareness of His holiness will be heightened. How can you be right with God? What can you do? The bad news is that you cannot be right with God based on your personal effort or personal righteousness. In and of yourself, you will always fall short of the glory of God. The good news is that Jesus has closed the gap that separates you from God. Jesus did what you could not do so that you could benefit from His atonement. In Christ, you are made right with God! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Job Perspective Sovereignty

Proper Perspective

“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.’” Job 1:20-21 (ESV) Have you ever wondered why God allows bad things to happen to good people? When you read about the life of Job and the severity of the adversity he faced, you come away feeling that life is unfair. Job was upright, blameless, turned from evil, and feared God. He had experienced tremendous familial blessing and financial blessing. Job was a godly man who had it all and then lost it all. His story is heartbreaking and his response to adversity is inspiring. Instead of being bitter, resentful, and angry, Job chose to praise God in the midst of his suffering. Job demonstrated the value of having a proper perspective when going through seasons of adversity. He acknowledged the frailty of his own humanity and the reality of God’s sovereignty. Job declared, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away, blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job chose to bless the Lord in the midst of his severe trauma, grief, and loss. Instead of magnifying what he lost, Job recognized what he had left and magnified the Lord. Job is a model to follow. You don’t want to go through what he went through. However, you can respond to adversity the way Job did by living life from God’s perspective. Ask God to help you see your circumstances from His eternal perspective. Instead of focusing on your circumstances, focus on the Creator who loves you and who will give you the grace to match what you face. In brokenness and humility, cry out to God and receive His divine enabling. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Covenant Noah Promise

Sign of the Covenant

“I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” Genesis 9:13-15 (ESV) What’s at the end of the rainbow? There’s no need to look for a pot of gold. When you get to the end of the rainbow, you will discover the ultimate Promise Keeper. God keeps His Word! God is trustworthy! The sinfulness of man had saturated the earth so God chose to saturate the earth in judgment by flooding the earth. Only Noah and his family survived due to God’s provision of the ark. Noah joined God in His activity by obeying God’s instructions to build the ark and to fill the ark. God accomplished His mission through Noah’s obedience. God produced a visible sign of His covenant relationship with us. He set the rainbow in the cloud as a demonstration of His covenant relationship. God is the ultimate Promise Keeper. God demonstrated His grace by preserving humanity and providing for the salvation of Noah’s family. God has taken the initiative to bring us into the ark of safety by grace alone through our faith in Jesus alone. Our salvation is secure in Jesus because of His completed work on the cross on our behalf. Jesus took the punishment for our sin and satisfied the justice of God. God has given us His Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14). Have you entered the ark of God’s safety by placing your faith in Jesus alone for salvation? Are you willing to invite others to come to know the Promise Keeper personally? Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Faith Salvation Seeking God

Make the Call

“And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, ‘God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.’ To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.” Genesis 4:25-26 (ESV) God pursued Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and demonstrated His love for them by providing a sacrifice for their sin. God killed an animal in order to provide garments of skins to cloth them. His redeeming love flowed in the garden to rescue Adam and Eve from their sin. A pivotal moment takes place in Scripture during the time of Adam and Eve’s son, Seth, and grandson, Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. God’s pursuit is reciprocated. People began to call on His Name. The thread of God’s redemptive activity can be traced throughout the Bible. When we move into the New Testament and walk through the Gospels to embrace the obedience of Christ on the cross, we can then rejoice in His bodily resurrection and ascension. God came to our rescue! He has made it possible for us to call on His Name! “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Romans 10:12-13 (ESV) What are you doing with the precious gift God has given you to call upon His Name? Are you maximizing the gift by pursuing Him daily and by practicing His Presence moment-by-moment? Call upon the Lord. Seek Him diligently and focus your life on His agenda. Remove distractions. Eliminate idols. Run to Jesus. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Abiding in Christ Commitment Discipline

God’s Idea

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” Genesis 1:26 (ESV) You were God’s idea. You are not a mistake; you are a masterpiece created by God and for God. So, what on earth are you here for? Why did God create you? Just look to the Bible to discover your purpose. God created you so that you could come into union with Him and continue the ministry of Jesus on the earth. God removed the barrier of sin by providing Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for sin. Turn from your sin and turn to Jesus alone for salvation. Now that you are in union with God through Christ, enjoy the abiding relationship made possible to you. Commit to spend time in God’s Word each day and unhurried time alone with God in prayer. Stay connected to Christ and allow Him to live His life in you and through you to fulfill God’s plan. Don’t bypass the relationship in order to go do something for God. Focus on the the abiding relationship you have been given with Jesus and allow Him to feature His life through you. Commit to read through the Bible in one year. If you would be willing to read God’s Word for twenty minutes each day, in one year, you will have read through the entire Bible. Make a commitment to start today. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Experiencing God Knowing God Sensitivity

Knowing God by Experience

“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” 1 John 2:3 (ESV) Is it possible to know God by experience? As Henry Blackaby says, “You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you.” God reveals Himself to you so that you can know Him personally and experience Him continually. God blesses obedience. Obedience is the outward expression of your love of God. The reward of obedience and love is that He will reveal Himself to you. Henry Blackaby affirms, “If you have an obedience problem, you have a love problem.” Your love for the Lord will be demonstrated by your obedience to the Lord. “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:21 (ESV) Obedience requires total dependence on God to work through you. Knowing God and doing His will requires His power. To complete a God-sized assignment requires God’s supernatural enabling. Will you fully rely on God to empower you to fulfill His mission? God has uniquely designed you and equipped you to fulfill His purposes upon the earth. Practice instant obedience and come to know God by experience. You will be able to testify of His faithfulness as you join God in His activity. Take a moment to assess your level of obedience? Have you obeyed what you already know to be God’s will? Walk in the light God gives you and wait for His timing before you take the next step.  Affirmation comes after obedience. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Holy Spirit Salvation

Drawing You to Himself

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:44 (ESV) Salvation is an event followed by an ongoing process. What happens before the event of salvation? Our Heavenly Father draws people to Himself. God is always at work pursuing us with His redeeming love. No one can come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ unless the Father draws that individual into the relationship. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and convinces individuals of their need for a Savior. Sin separates us from God and our only hope is for divine intervention. The bad news is that we deserve to be eternally separated from God. The Good News is that we don’t have to go to hell, we can go to heaven. The Good News is that we don’t have to live as an enemy of God, we can become a friend of God by being reconciled to Him by receiving His gift of eternal life. Think about the people in your life right now. Is there anyone who has not experienced the event of salvation? Pray that God will continue to draw them to Himself by the convicting and convincing work of the Holy Spirit. Pray that they will be responsive to the redemptive activity of God. Join God in His redemptive activity by praying for their salvation. Consider inviting them to church. Make deposits in their life through being a godly influence and by sharing the Good News of Jesus with them. Provide them with a Bible if they don’t have one. Give them a devotional book that has blessed your life. Email them or text them Bible verses that have encouraged you in your journey with God. God is drawing them to Himself. Pray for their receptivity to His activity! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Devotion Prayer

Persistence in Prayer

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV) What is your first step when a need arises in your life? We have become such an affluent society and driven by our independence. If we don’t know something, we can easily Google it. If we don’t have something, we can readily secure it by buying it now and paying for it later by leveraging our credit capacity. There are so many options before us that often distract us from the best option. God invites us into an ongoing vibrant love relationship with Himself that allows us to enjoy eternal security. We don’t have to fear eternity. We can have peace with God. In light of our eternal security, God invites us into an intimate love relationship that features unbroken communion with Him through prayer. Prayer is both a heavenly privilege and an earthly responsibility for the child of God. Our position in Christ gives us unhindered access to the Creator of the universe through the avenue of prayer. If you want to move the heart of God and live in alignment with His purposes and His plan, then embrace the communication jewel of prayer that God has formed for your benefit. Persistent prayer is the best option for doing life God’s way and enjoying the love relationship He has established. Respond to God’s invitation by learning to ask, and it will be given to you. If you want to make your prayer life come alive, pray to God through asking. Ensure that your asking lines up with God’s Word. Choose a promise to claim as you pray to God persistently through asking. Seek Him and you will find His will and His provision will be unleashed. Take the initiative through prayer to knock and watch God open the door of His fullness. Persistence in prayer paves the way to intimacy! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Forgiveness Pursuing God

Release the Past and Reclaim the Future

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:13 (ESV) What is keeping you from embracing the life God has for you? What is holding you back? Confront and release the past so that you can reclaim the future God has for you. Let go of those hurtful moments and leave the dissapointments of last year behind. There is so much more God has for you that requires your focus and your attention. Release the past so that you can reclaim the future God has orchestrated for you. Revisit 2014 so that you can confess known sin and receive God’s abundant provision of grace. Ask God to forgive you. Forgive yourself. Extend forgiveness to those who have wounded you. Ask for forgiveness from those whom you have offended. Leave no stone unturned. Uncover anything that has brought dishonor to God and enter 2015 with a fresh canvas upon which God can paint the portrait of His grace. Seek God with all of your heart. Remove competing allurements and refocus your passion on pursuing God. Eliminate idols that have accrued over time and enthrone Jesus as Lord of your life. Give Him first place in your life. Return to your first love by allowing Jesus to be your top priority. Nurture the life of Christ in you through daily surrender and by practicing His presence. You will become what you are becoming right now. To become more like Christ, elevate your love relationship with Him to the top of your energy allocation. Make room for Him. Start your day with unhurried time alone with Jesus. Read His Word and listen for the echo of His whisper. Feel His love. Accept His acceptance. Radiate His life. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell  

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Prayer Tabernacle The Altar of Burning Incense

Heartfelt Intercession

(Personal Note: Starting January 1, 2015, I will be transitioning from posting devotionals every day to posting devotional thoughts with you on a weekly basis that will continue to come to your inbox. My desire is to encourage you in your journey with God.) “You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. A cubit shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth. It shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And you shall make a molding of gold around it.…And you shall put it in front of the veil that is above the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is above the testimony, where I will meet with you.” Exodus 30:1-3, 6 (ESV) On this final day of the year, take an inventory of your life. What are you offering up to God? How are you allocating your time and your energy? Are you living to bring glory to God in all things? In the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, we have identified the Table of the Bread of the Presence and the Golden Lampstand. The next item is the Altar of Burning Incense. As you come to this feature in praying through the Tabernacle, begin to worship God and to intercede for others. Present specific requests to God and pray with passion for those God places on your heart. “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!” Ps. 141:2 (ESV) “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Heb. 13:15 (ESV) As you pray, your prayers rise like burning incense. As you live out your faith in Christ, your life becomes an aroma pleasing to God. As you offer your body to God for His glory, you are expressing worship to God. Obedience to God demonstrates your passion to please Him and to honor Him with your life and your lips. Does your conversation honor God? Does your conduct move God’s heart? May God’s smile be your goal for the New Year! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Golden Lampstand Prayer Tabernacle

Illuminate Your World

(Personal Note: Starting January 1, 2015, I will be transitioning from posting devotionals every day to posting devotional thoughts with you on a weekly basis that will continue to come to your inbox. My desire is to encourage you in your journey with God.) “You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.…You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold. It shall be made, with all these utensils, out of a talent of pure gold. And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.” Exodus 25:31, 37-40 (ESV) Have you ever driven through a neighborhood in December to behold the captivating path of luminaries? It is so moving to capture the sight of the streets outlined with paper bags illuminated with candles flickering in the night. The Golden Lampstand illuminated the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. It provided light to the table of the Bread of the Presence and the Altar of Burning Incense. The lampstand had seven oil lamps that provided light for the priest to serve. A candle consumes itself whereas an oil lamp consumes the oil. Jesus has positioned us to be His light in this dark world. The Holy Spirit is the oil that fuels our gracious illumination. You have been saved by the grace of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a luminary for the Lord. Is your neighborhood a brighter place because of your influence? Is your school or workplace different as a result of the light of Jesus shining through your life? Jesus has made you the light of the world. Don’t hide His light. Allow His light to shine through you today in the interactions you embrace as well as the interruptions you face. Is the light of Jesus shining through you? You are a luminary for the Lord. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Bread of Life Prayer Tabernacle

Your Daily Bread

(Personal Note: Starting January 1, 2015, I will be transitioning from posting devotionals every day to posting devotional thoughts with you on a weekly basis that will continue to come to your inbox. My desire is to encourage you in your journey with God.) “You shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it.…And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.” Exodus 25:23-24, 30 (ESV) Where do you go for nourishment? How do you refuel your soul after you have depleted your emotional love tank? Is there a place to receive nourishment? As we tour the Old Testament Tabernacle, we find the place for nourishment is the Table of the Bread of the Presence. It speaks of communion, fellowship, and nourishment. As clarified in the New Testament, we don’t go to a place for nourishment. Instead, we go to a person. Jesus! He is our Manna from Heaven! He is our daily bread! “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’” (John 6:35 ESV). Jesus is our source! In a moment, close your eyes and begin visualizing Jesus as the bread of life. Begin acknowledging His daily provision in your life. Think about seasons when you did not know how you would make it another day and Jesus showed up with abundant resources. Reflect on the transitions in your life where Jesus provided a way for you when there seemed to be no way. Jesus is the ultimate way-maker! He is all you need! Surrender to His tender care. He will see you through. He has already been where you are going. Spend some time in prayer acknowledging your dependency upon Jesus as the bread of your life. He is your “daily” bread. Present your fears and your frustrations to the Lord in prayer and receive nourishment for your soul. Jesus is your life! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell