Author: Stephen Trammell

Categories
Joshua Memorial Day Spiritual Markers

Memorial Day & Spiritual Markers

“And Joshua said to them, ‘Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, “What do those stones mean to you?” then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.’” Joshua 4:5-7 (ESV) Don’t forget what God has done to bring you to the place where you are right now. Take note of the sacrifices others have made to protect our freedom and preserve our future. Recognize the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on the cross to provide atonement for our sin. Joshua wanted to solidify the crossing of the Jordan River as a spiritual marker for all of Israel. He wanted to ensure that future generations would know what God had done to bring about deliverance to the people of God. Joshua utilized the twelve stones, which were selected from the middle of the Jordan to serve as a memorial. Solidify your spiritual markers. When did you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? When did you follow the Lord in believer’s baptism? Where were you when God revealed Himself to you during a season of adversity? Identify some God-moments you have experienced in the journey of life. Testify of God’s faithfulness by sharing with another person. They may need the encouragement you have to offer right now. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Forgiveness Joseph Sovereignty

Trusting God’s Sovereignty

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis 50:20 (ESV) The sixty-six books of the Bible provide us with a string of pearls that demonstrates God’s redemptive activity. Long before we were born, God took the initiative to rescue us from our fallen condition. God factors in our poor choices and even the decisions others make that affect our lives. How refreshing to know that God has the final say. Your past, present, and future circumstances will never circumvent the mighty acts of God. Joseph had a life changing experience through the gateway of betrayal. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and tried to cover up their sin through deception. God elevated Joseph to Potipher’s house where he was later falsely accused by Potipher’s wife. Joseph went from the pit to the palace and then to prison. His life’s circumstances appeared to be most unfortunate. Yet, God knew right where Joseph was and what Joseph needed most. God was with Joseph and delivered him from prison to second in command over Egypt in preparation for the upcoming famine. When Joseph’s path intersected that of his brothers, he demonstrated the life giving grace of God. Instead of having them pay for their sin, Joseph forgave them and acknowledged God’s sovereignty. Have you had the ultimate life changing experience by placing your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross? Are you living out the reality of God’s transforming power? Have you experienced God’s forgiveness at the level of being able to forgive others in the same measure? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Faith Holy Spirit Peace

Accentuating God’s Peace

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 (ESV) The Holy Spirit lives in you to accentuate the experience of God’s peace. Happiness is based on happenstance. If the circumstances are just right, then happiness can result. Happiness is conditional and is rooted in the condition of the circumstances surrounding you. Peace is not connected to circumstances. Whether you are on the mountaintop or in the valley, God’s peace can be experienced completely and perpetually by the Holy Spirit living inside of you. When you come to realize that living in a fallen world and occupying a fallen planet generates unfavorable conditions at times, then you are positioned for the experience of God’s peace. The Holy Spirit accentuates the reality of God’s peace in your life regardless of your circumstances. In your darkest moments, you can know the peace of God on an intimate level because the Holy Spirit accentuates the presence of God’s peace in your life. His peace will sustain you when nothing else can. The peace God gives will help you triumph through seasons of tribulation and turbulence. God’s peace will catapult you through the storms of life and advance you through adversity. Trials will become the megaphone of God’s peace in that you will come to know the peace of God in the midst of your desperation. The Holy Spirit living inside of you will enable you to encounter God’s peace personally. Are you in need of the peace God provides? Have you been in a season of uncertainty or riding the wave of anxiety? Rest in the peace God provides through the indwelling Holy Spirit. You are inhabited by the One who accentuates the peace of God. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
God's Will Holy Spirit Illumination

Illuminating God’s Will

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-14 (ESV) The Holy Spirit lives in you to illuminate the path of God’s will. God loves you and has a plan for your life. God’s plan is for you to respond to His offer of salvation, to grow spiritually, to be spirit-filled, and to be a soul winner. The Holy Spirit lives in you to empower you to know and do God’s will. The Holy Spirit empowers you to be on mission with God so that you can continue the ministry of Jesus. What is it like to be guided into all truth? Who qualifies for such a task? God has created you to come into a personal relationship with Him through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. God redeems you and takes up permanent residence within you by the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. Your life matters to God and the direction of your life has immediate and eternal implications. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, moves in to serve as your personal guide to ensure that you stay on the path of truth. God’s will includes your awareness of His plan and your response of obedience to His plan. You cannot fulfill God’s will without the Holy Spirit living inside of you? The Holy Spirit illuminates the path God wants you to take. The Holy Spirit clarifies God’s will so that you can  bring glory to God through a life of obedience. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Counselor Holy Spirit Truth

Validating Truth

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26 (ESV) The Holy Spirit lives in you to validate the truth of God’s word. Life in our fast-paced culture can get noisy at times and you can miss the voice of Truth. Having the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, living inside of you means that His activity includes empowering you to decipher the difference between truth and falsehood. God’s word is a lamp unto your feet and a light for your path (Ps. 119:105). The Holy Spirit validates the truth of God’s word so that you can walk in step with God’s will. As a child of the Living God, you have a resident Teacher living inside of you to teach you all things. The Holy Spirit gives you wisdom and insight and illuminates God’s word and God’s will. He reminds you of the teachings of Christ and the perfect example Christ set for you to follow in His steps. Are there areas of your life where you struggle to know God’s truth? Do you combat relational challenges with difficult people and simply need to know the truth behind the challenges? Satan is a master of deception and seeks to pollute your mind with falsehood and to fertilize your mind with lies. The Holy Spirit living in you will bring clarity to the truth of God’s word. He will validate the truth that you need to live a life of surrender and obedience. The Counselor will clarify the truth of your circumstances and will empower you to experience relational harmony with others and with God. Spend some time praying for a heightened sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s validating work in your life today. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Counselor Guidance Holy Spirit

Resident Counselor

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.“ John 14:16-17 (ESV) Have you ever needed counseling? A counselor helps you unpack your current reality to bring clarity to your condition. The process doesn’t stop there. A counselor helps you navigate the terrain of life to get you to a healthy place where your personal health is vibrant, your relationships are solid, and your view of the future is bright. Sometimes you simply need someone to talk to who will understand your pain and patiently walk with you to a new level of living. The disciples were blessed to have Jesus visibly with them. After announcing His departure, Jesus promised to give them another Counselor. Of course, Jesus was speaking of the person of the Holy Spirit who comes to live inside of us at the moment of our conversion. He is the Spirit of truth who becomes our resident Counselor. Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us (Rom. 8:34) and the Holy Spirit is living inside of us interceding for us in accordance with God’s will (Rom 8:26-27). We are blessed to have the ministry of unbroken intercession as a result of our possession. The Holy Spirit puts Christ in us and puts us in Christ. Get to know the resident Counselor living inside of you! He is your constant Companion! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
God's Word Proverbs Treasure

Worth Treasuring

“My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 7:1-3 (ESV) What do you treasure? What do you keep close to your heart? You cannot pursue worldliness and godliness simultaneously. While living in the world, you can bring honor to God by keeping His words and treasuring up His commandments. Value God’s Word by keeping His commandments. The life God blesses is the life fully surrendered to God’s Word. Keep His teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers and write them on the tablet of your heart. Value God’s Word by aligning your life with God’s revelation. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) Become a student of God’s Word. Read your Bible daily and seek to connect with a small group Bible study. Grow in your understanding and application of God’s Word by sitting under anointed preaching each week. Commit to a consistent intake of God’s Word and develop your spiritual muscles. Cultivate an appetite for knowing and obeying God’s Word. Share what you are learning with others so that they can benefit from your spiritual maturation. God’s Word is worth treasuring and worth sharing. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Decisions Proverbs Wisdom

Exercise Spiritual Discernment

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27 (ESV) Have you ever peeked into the rear view mirror of life and wondered, “Why did I choose that path?” Perhaps you made a decision to go in a certain direction at a critical time in your life that catapulted you onto a path that took you places you really did not want to go. You may be living with regret even now as you revisit your moment of decision that placed you on the unhealthy path. Your daily decisions determine the direction of your life. If you don’t pick your path, a path will pick you. God wants you to walk in wisdom and to exercise spiritual discernment as you seek to operate in His will. Use Spirit infused discretion in your decision making. Ask yourself, “What is the wise thing to do?” Knowing what you know about God and His ways, make level paths for your feet. Allowing the Holy Spirit to take full possession of your life, take only ways that are firm. God has a path for you to discover and to experience personally. Sometimes the path God has for you includes delays. You may not understand why you are in a season of uncertainty, but you know that God is with you and that He will allow the fog to lift in His perfect timing. While you are waiting for God to show you the next step on this path, obey what you already know. If you are on the wrong path, make a wise decision to move in the new direction God shows you. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Discretion Proverbs Wisdom

Wisdom for the Upright

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.” Proverbs 2:6-8 (ESV) God’s way is paved with wisdom. You have unlimited options available and countless decisions to make during your earthly existence. Each day of your life is filled with choices. You have the freedom to choose your own way or to choose God’s way. You have the freedom to fulfill your personal agenda or to fulfill God’s agenda. Knowledge and understanding come from the Lord. He imparts wisdom so that you can know how to make decisions each day that honor God and benefit others. The Lord stores up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to you as you walk in integrity. God guards the paths of justice for they are consistent with His nature and character. God watches over the way of His saints. What do you do if you lack wisdom? Where do you turn when you do not know which direction to take or what decision to make? “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6 ESV). Walk in the light God gives you. Stay broken before the Lord and dependent upon His daily provision. Remain teachable as the Lord imparts His wisdom and understanding. Use discretion as inspired by God to make wise decisions. Allow time for God to affirm the direction He wants you to take. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Commitment Love Song of Solomon

Communicating Value

“Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 2 Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost its young. 3 Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.” Song of Solomon 4:1-3 (ESV) Being selfish requires no effort. Selfishness comes naturally to us. If we aren’t careful, we will operate our lives on the assumption that life revolves around us. Being self-centered and self-absorbed is the antithesis of marriage. In the marriage relationship, the husband and wife must release selfishness and embrace selflessness. Our culture is not marriage-friendly. The pace of life and the demands on our time can strain a marriage relationship. As a partner, you have to make room for marriage. You have to conscientiously and intentionally make room for the one you love. In order to have a healthy, vibrant, and growing marriage, you have to create space for the relationship. It takes time to nurture a meaningful relationship with your spouse. Busyness is the prominent enemy to intimacy. We divert our energy to parenting, to our career, to recreation, and to other things to the neglect of our marriage relationship. It is so easy to neglect the sacred union God calls us to with our spouse. We can give our best to others and give our spouse the crumbs. That’s a recipe for an unhealthy marriage. Remember, you will make room for what you value! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Glory God's Splendor Psalms

Wondrous Things

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!” Psalm 72:18-19 (ESV) Are you living for the audience of one? God alone is worthy of your worship and adoration. He alone does wondrous things. God wants you to live a life worthy of the Lord. Consider all that Jesus did to purchase your salvation and to provide for your abiding peace. Think about what Jesus did to take care of your forever. You are saved for all eternity. Heaven is your home! As you live to please God, He desires for you to bear fruit, grow in your knowledge of Him, be strengthened by His might, and perpetually and joyfully give thanks to Him. God has qualified you to participate in the inheritance of the saints. You are blessed and highly favored of the Lord. You are fruitful, you are growing, you are strengthened, and you are joyful in the Lord. As a child of the living God, you have been lavished with His unconditional love. As you trust God daily to provide the strength for Christian living, you will bring pleasure to Him. God loves you and wants you to please Him in every way. Be conscious of His abiding presence. Be alert to opportunities to bear fruit, as you stay connected to Christ. Allow the life of Christ to be evidenced through your life as you do what Jesus did to love God and to serve others. Bless His name forever. Be a conduit of filling the earth with the glory of God. Radiate the love of God! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
1 Kings Solomon Wisdom

Request Wisely

“And God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.’” 1 Kings 3:11-12 (ESV) The Lord appeared to Solomon and granted him the opportunity to request anything. Solomon acknowledged his own inadequacy and insufficiency for serving as king and chose to ask God for an understanding mind to govern the people and to discern between good and evil. God granted Solomon’s request by infusing him with unusual wisdom. God also gave Solomon what he did not ask for, namely, both riches and honor. In addition, God promised to lengthen Solomon’s days if he would walk in God’s ways and keep His statues and commandments. “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, 30 so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.” 1 Kings 4:29-30 (ESV) Solomon was placed in a special category among men. God promoted Solomon and elevated him in the eyes of the people. What is your request? What is your greatest need? Approach the throne of grace and present your requests to God. Pray in faith and claim the promises of God. God wants to lavish you with His love and He wants to empower you to do His will His way. Request wisely. Ask God to open the eyes of your heart and to illuminate the path He has for you. Practice instant obedience as you join God in His activity. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
God's Word Obedience Psalms

Store Up God’s Word

“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:10-11 (ESV) What guides your decision making process? What is your moral compass? How do you know if your decisions line up with God’s will? As you seek the Lord with all your heart, He will make His will known to you. God is a God of revelation. His desire is for you to know Him personally and to obey Him instantly. Passionately pursue God’s agenda. Focus your life on accomplishing His will. Practice moment-by-moment surrender to His Lordship and respond to His prompting. God has given you His Word. As you read and feed on the Bible, God will unveil His will. You will discover what God loves and what God hates. You will begin to discern what God has for you to join Him in. God invites you to join Him in His activity so that you can experience His love and benefit His kingdom. Choose to meditate upon God’s Word. Read through a few chapters of the Bible and slow down on the verses that speak into your life. Ask God to illuminate His Word as you read. Meditate on what you sense God is saying to you and then apply that truth in practical living. Obey what God shows you. Seek the Lord with all your heart and demonstrate obedience as you hide God’s Word in your heart. Internalize God’s Word so that you can live a life of instant obedience. Hide God’s Word in your heart and embrace a lifestyle of moral purity. God’s way is always the best way! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Orchestration

Sovereign Orchestration

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:11-12 (ESV) Has your life ever become complicated and messy? Have you traveled down a road you never thought you would view? Living in a fallen world tends to cause us to experience unexpected turns in life. Either we make poor choices or the decisions of others negatively affect us. It may be a relationship that has diverted into unhealthy patterns or personal behaviors that drift away from God’s best. The good news is that God is sovereign. He rules and He reigns. He always has the final say in any and every situation. Even when you make a disastrous move, God can orchestrate your path for your good and His glory. Notice how our Bible verse says that God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. He is God! There is nothing that is impossible with Him. He can handle your situation. He can handle your relationships. God orchestrates everything we encounter to bring about His will. Right now your current challenge may seem like an uphill climb dragging two dead elephants. God can take any difficult situation and orchestrate the details to conform to His plan. Are you willing to surrender your hurts, your frustrations, your disappointments, and your fears to God? Release them and entrust them to God’s sovereign care. He is the master conductor in the orchestra called life. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Favor

Divine Favor

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (ESV) While you were sleeping, God was working. He does not sleep. God is always at work. His work is continuous and consistent. Whatever you are facing today, God is working. Whatever you are dreading today, God is working. Whatever you are fearing today, God is working. In all things, God works! He takes the initiative. Regardless of how confusing your current circumstance may seem to you, God is at work. He takes the initiative to work for your good and His glory. In all things God works for the good of those who love Him. Do you love Him? Have you been called according to His purpose? Then you can walk in assurance today knowing that in all the things you face, in all the things you are wrestling with, in all the things that seem impossible, God works for your good. He will do what is best for you. He formed you and fashioned you and He will orchestrate all of the circumstances that surround you in order to work for your good. Now that is the favor of God! You are favored by God. You are His treasure. Trust Him. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Clarity Passion Vision

Vision

Vision enables you to see life from God’s perspective and to maximize opportunities God places before you. Vision allows you to see what God wants you to seize for His glory. God invites you into His story and gives you eyes of faith to see what the eyes of flesh fail to see. Renew your vision for joining God’s activity.  How’s your vision? Have you been captured by what captivates the heart of God? Renewing your vision and passion for life and ministry honors God and benefits others. Orient your life around God’s priorities and anticipate your vision to become clear. Cultivate a vision for your daily intimacy with the Lord. That’s your number one responsibility and your most treasured privilege! You get to determine your level of intimacy with God. Renew your vision for physical fitness and soul care. Your personal health is a vital asset to implementing vision in others areas of your life. Don’t neglect your health and your mental well being. Nurture vision for your marriage or your singleness. You should include becoming the kind of person that would be a blessing to your mate or to your future mate as God leads. Do you have a picture of what could be and what should be? Maintain a growing relationship with your children and your grandchildren. Embrace the vision to be fully present and to maximize moments for building memories and making strategic deposits. Let them stand on your shoulders! Expand your vision for your impact vocationally. View your workplace as your mission field. Commit to being a difference maker and grace dispenser. Your life matters and God has entrusted you with a career path so you can continue the ministry of Jesus. When we became followers of Jesus Christ, God adopted us into His forever family. We belong together because we belong to God’s spiritual family. God has called us to serve Him by serving together and by serving others. People matter to God and how we invest in the lives of others has eternal implications. Can you see it? Leveraging Leadership Lifters, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Comfort Suffering Testimony

Suffering as a Christian

“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” 1 Peter 4:16 (ESV) When you received the gift of eternal life, you were saved by the grace of God. Your name was written in the Lamb’s book of life and your eternal security was sealed by the Holy Spirit. Your position in Christ is that of having a right relationship with God and a right relationship with others. The sacrificial death of Christ upon the cross provided you with a new identity, in Christ, as a child of God. Receiving the benefits of salvation is a joy. However, what you may not have realized is that being a follower of Jesus Christ includes suffering. You cannot be on mission with God and give your life to fulfilling the Great Commission and live out the Great Commandment without an element of suffering. Going against the current of culture will produce a level of suffering. Combating the satanic opposition from the kingdom of darkness will generate a level of suffering. Denying yourself and crucifying the flesh in order to walk in the Spirit will spawn an encounter with suffering. Do not be ashamed if you suffer as a Christian. Maybe you work in a difficult environment where Christianity is not well received. Maybe your home is not conducive to the reality of your Christianity. Perhaps being a Christian on your campus, at work, or in your home places you in the minority. Do not be ashamed. Give praise to God that you have high honor and privilege of bearing that name. You are Christ on your campus. You are Christ at your work. You are Christ in your home. Everywhere you go, you are representing Jesus! You are continuing the ministry of Jesus on the earth by doing what He did. You wear His name and you bear His identity. Remember, you may be the only Jesus others see! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Speech Witness

When You Speak

“Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11 (ESV) Words have the power to build up or tear down. Words can inspire or discourage creativity. As a follower of Jesus Christ, your calling is to continue the ministry of Jesus on this earth. You are an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). Your conduct and your communication will indicate the health of your love relationship with Christ. When you speak, you have the opportunity to be an irresistible influence for Christ. Your speech has the potential to impart life to a person who has been searching for meaning and purpose in life. The way you interact with others can bring them into a living connection with Jesus. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter exhorts us to remember that when we speak, we are speaking the very words of God. Consider the weight of your words. The manner in which you converse with others is of vital importance. Your speech gives clear evidence of that which is in your heart (Luke 6:45). If your speech becomes toxic and demeaning, then your heart has become hard and indifferent. If your speech is gentle, considerate, and life giving, then your heart is tender and teachable. Does your daily conversation bring praise to God? As God listens to the words that come from your lips, does He smile? Let’s be conscientious about the words we speak. Our words have immense power. Maybe that’s why James says we ought to be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). When we do speak, let’s be cognizant of the privilege of speaking the very words of God. Being God’s voice in a noisy world is an awesome responsibility to behold. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Lordship Soulwinning Testimony

Prepared to Share

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV) Your submission to the Lordship of Christ determines your level of readiness to give an answer for the reason of the hope you have. When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, your passion becomes pleasing Him. Your ambition in life is to do what Jesus did. Submitted to the Lordship of Christ, your life becomes oriented to the redemptive activity of God. What is the reason for the hope you have? What was your life like before Christ became your Savior and Lord? How did you come to know Christ personally? What is different about your life now that you have an abiding love relationship with Him? Be prepared to give an answer. Be prepared to engage others in spiritual conversation. Unveil to others what Christ means to you and what He can do for them. Sadly, conversation can dilute into being superficial and temporal. What if you began to operate your life in light of eternity? What if your conversation became centered around the reality of God’s redeeming love? Give evidence to the Lordship of Christ in your life. With gentleness and respect, declare the hope you have in Christ. Speak of the mercy and grace of God you have been freely given. Allow the light of God’s love to radiate from your life and your lips. In Christ, you have the most powerful message on the planet. Are you ready to give an answer? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
God's Provision Trust

Entrusting Your Life

“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) Hurting people hurt people. Those who have been wounded often wound others. There’s something about our fallen nature that seeks revenge. When someone has inflicted pain onto us, we want them to experience the same measure of pain in return. Retribution saturates the landscape of our lives. Jesus ushered in a new way of living. Jesus demonstrated the proper response to unfair treatment and to adverse circumstances. If there were ever a person who did not deserve one fraction of mistreatment, it would be Jesus. His life was filled with compassion for others, generosity in action, and integrity both in private and in public. Jesus received unjust treatment. He was ridiculed and falsely accused, yet He did not retaliate. As He suffered, He made not threats. Jesus could have called down a legion of angels to eliminate His offenders. Instead of reacting to His assailants, Jesus responded by entrusting Himself to God. Jesus chose to entrust His life and His circumstances to the Creator of the universe. Jesus affirmed that God is the righteous and just judge. God sees the inequities of life. Sin will be judged. Penalties will be ascribed. Have you been treated unfairly? Did you choose to react or respond? Entrust your life to God. God created you for His glory. You are God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10). You have a purpose to fulfill and a light to shine in this dark world. Fallen people will continue to act like fallen people until they come into a saving relationship with Jesus. Even after conversion, a person who becomes a follower of Christ can drift into some of the old fleshly patterns that wound and inflict pain. Don’t retaliate. Respond by entrusting your life to God. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Readiness Spiritual Warfare

Readiness

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV) We are at war. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have to confront the reality of spiritual warfare. The kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness are in opposition. As children of the light, we must combat the forces of evil. God’s agenda is our agenda. God’s mission is our mission. Loyalty to Christ will produce opposition from Satan and his demonic forces. Be proactive by preparing your mind for action. Fill your mind with the Word of God and choose to claim God’s promises. God has revealed His plan and provided His spiritual armor for the spiritual battle. Prepare your mind for the warfare of combating temptation, sin, and compromise. Be self-controlled. This is no time for apathy or lethargy. Don’t drift into complacency. Submit to the control of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to bear the fruit of self-control in you. Yield to the Spirit’s prompting for perpetual victory over sin and Satan. Where have you anchored your hope? Your life in Christ is established on the basis of God’s grace. The grace that saved you is the grace that keeps you secure in the midst of opposition. God’s grace will sustain you whether you are in the valley of intense spiritual warfare or on the mountain of heavenly bliss. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Beauty Fearing God Mother's Day

On Mother’s Day

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.“ Proverbs 31:30 (ESV) Our culture places immeasurable value on beauty. Teenage girls and women combat incalculable pressure to compete with the enhanced images of celebrities frequenting social media posts. The pressure escalates as trends vacillate from month to month. What is considered a beautiful trait now may not measure up next month. Swirling in plurality, our culture redefines beauty as often as the shifting of sand upon the seashores. The Bible defines beauty in relationship to how one reveres God. From God’s perspective, beauty is an internal reality instead of an external commodity. Your authentic walk with God determines your level of beauty. External beauty is fleeting. From the moment we are born, our physical body begins to deteriorate. This shell that we live in continues to age. How we respond to God determines our inner beauty. Fearing God is the key to beauty. Fearing God means to revere Him, to adore Him, and to esteem Him. To fear God is to value what He values, to love what He loves, and to hate what He hates. Fearing God involves being perpetually aware of His holiness and purity. If your mother is still living, have you praised her for fearing the Lord? If your mother has already gone to heaven, spend some time in prayer thanking God for blessing you with a mother who feared the Lord. You are blessed to have such a rich heritage. I am so grateful to God for blessing me with a wife, mother, and mother-in-law who fear the Lord. Their lives have been a continual source of inspiration. Let’s arise and call them blessed (Prov. 31:28). Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Ambassador Imputed Righteousness Reconciliation

Express the Message

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:20-21 (ESV) Express the message; you became the righteousness of God. God took the initiative to do for you what you could not do for yourself. God built the bridge you could not build. He established the only way for you to come into a vibrant love relationship with Him. How did God make this eternal relationship possible? God made Jesus to be sin for you so that you could become righteous like Him. At the moment of your salvation, you received the imputed righteousness of Christ. God justified you through your faith in Christ. As a result of the divine transaction, your identity has shifted from that of a lost person to that of a saved person. You are now in Christ and reconciled to God. In Christ, you have been called and commissioned to share the most important message on the planet. You have been armed with the cure for the cancer of sin. The message of reconciliation that brought you into a growing relationship with Jesus is the same message you are to share with others. You are an ambassador for Christ. God has saved you and filled you with the Holy Spirit to enable you to continue the ministry of Jesus on the earth. Express the message of reconciliation. Just as you have become the righteousness of God in Christ, you can share the message of reconciliation with others. Will you allow God to use you as an ambassador for Christ? Will you continue the ministry of Jesus on this broken planet full of broken people? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Ministry Reconciliation

Extend the Ministry

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Cor 5:18-19 (ESV) Extend the ministry; you are reconciled to reconcile. The freedom we enjoy in America comes at a great price. Thousands of men and women have given their lives in service to our country to preserve our freedom. We are blessed to worship God corporately without fear of invasion. Thank God for our fallen warriors and their families. Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for our reconciliation. Jesus died to provide for the forgiveness of our sins and to remove the barrier separating us from Holy God. Jesus was obedient to death on the cross to satisfy the righteous requirements of God (Phil. 2:8). As the sinless sacrifice, Jesus provided to us heaven and eternal life. Now that you have been reconciled to God, extend the ministry of reconciliation to those disconnected from Christ. You are reconciled in order to reconcile. You have been given this life-changing ministry from God. God has empowered you to be a minister of reconciliation. Build intentional relationships with those who are disconnected from Christ. Join God in reconciling the world to Him. Your reconciliation qualifies you to partner with God in reconciling others through Christ. Extend the ministry as God gives you opportunities this week to bring others into a saving relationship with Jesus. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Miracle New Creation

Exhibit the Miracle

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Cor 5:17 (ESV) Exhibit the miracle; you are a new creation. In Christ, you are a new creation. The light of God’s love has illuminated your life and transformed your forever. You are no longer bound by the past. You are no longer a prisoner of sin. You have been purchased with the shed blood of Jesus. God has placed you in the display window of life to present to others the grace He has lavished on you. You are a living exhibit of the grace of God. You were shown mercy in order that Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience in you as an example to others (1 Tim. 1:15-16). Portray the grace you have received. Encourage others in their journey by displaying the new creation God has redeemed you to be. The new has come. In Christ, you have been re-created to bear His image and to bring forth His message of salvation. God has chosen you to exhibit the miracle you are in Christ. Don’t hide the grace God has extended you. Don’t conceal the mercy you have received. Continue to grow in your love relationship with Christ and choose to glow in this dark world. Allow the light of God’s love to radiate through the brokenness in your life. Portray the love of God by treating others the way God has graciously treated you. You are a living miracle of the gracious work of God. He has pursued you with His unfailing love and rescued you from eternal damnation. God has made you a new creation. Exhibit the miracle you are in Christ. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
2 Chronicles Repentance Solomon

Hear, Forgive, and Heal

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV) How do you return to God after you have disobeyed Him? What do you do when you miss the mark of God’s holiness and perfection? Is there hope for you after you have made a poor decision? The wonderful news is that God is good and His steadfast love endures forever. You don’t have to run from God, you can run to God. Even if you have blown it! Even if you have drifted from God! You can run from your sin and you can run to the Lord. Humble yourself before the Lord. Take pride for a ride and get real about your sin. Get real about your current condition. Embrace the reality of your humanity and the certainty of His divinity. Acknowledge your desperation for your gracious God. Don’t stay in your sin. Pray! Don’t accept the detour as your intended path. Don’t go numb and silent. Go verbal with God by engaging in meaningful communication with God. Pray and seek His face. You will seek Him and you will find Him when you seek Him with all of your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Turn from your sin and turn to the Lord. Repent! Change your mind about your sin and see your sin as God sees it. Run to God and confess your sin! How will God respond? He will hear from heaven and forgive your sin. Be restored to a right relationship with God. Experience His healing. God loves you too much to leave you in your sin. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
1 Kings Joy Temple

Joyful and Glad

“On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people.” 1 Kings 8:66 (ESV) The elders of Israel and the priests brought up the ark to the Temple and positioned it in the Most Holy Place. Solomon obeyed God and honored his earthly father, David, by building the Temple and establishing the house of prayer. Solomon prayed a prayer of blessing over the people of Israel. This magnificent moment in the story of God’s redemptive activity was filled with awe, wonder, sacrifice, and worship. After the sacred seven day celebration, Solomon sent the people away and the people went to their homes filled with joy and gladness for all the goodness that the Lord had shown them. The faithfulness of God to His people had saturated their lives and filled their journey with joy and gladness. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12 (ESV) “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (ESV) Contemplate the goodness of God in your life. Think about all that the Lord has done to see you through seasons of uncertainty and storms of adversity. Ponder the spiritual markers God has strategically placed in your journey with Him. Celebrate the faithfulness of God over each day of your life and each year of your existence. God has brought you out of Egypt and supernaturally enabled you to cross the Red Sea and the Jordan River on dry ground. God has delivered you from the bondage of Egypt and He has brought you safely into the land that flows with milk and honey. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
1 Kings Obedience Solomon

Finish

“Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.” 1 Kings 7:51 (ESV) God created you to know Him personally and to do His will intentionally. You are designed by God to complete His assignment. God invites you into His redemptive story so that you can join Him in His redemptive activity. Solomon joined God in His activity. He obeyed God’s directives and finished the house of the Lord. As you read the description of the construction process, you will notice Solomon’s careful attention to details. “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.’” John 4:34 (ESV) “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30 (ESV) “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24 (ESV) Focus your life on the task the Lord has called you to complete. Do God’s will with passion. If you don’t know God’s will, start obeying the last thing God said to you. As you obey, God will show you the way. Practice instant obedience and enjoy the journey God has for you. Trust Him to illuminate the path He wants you to take. Trust God to build the bridges He wants you to cross and to open the doors He wants you to walk through. Keep your “yes” on the altar! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
1 Kings Solomon Temple

His Name

“But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. And so I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’” 1 Kings 5:4-5 (ESV) God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle so that He could manifest His presence among the people of Israel. The tabernacle was mobile in order to allow for the children of Israel to follow the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. They would move when God moved. God later communicated with David the plans for Solomon to build the temple. Solomon followed through with the instructions he had been given and made decisions based on the wisdom God had provided. The temple was ornate and every detail pointed to the majesty of God. Through Christ, God has made your body to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. God has made you fit for His habitation. You are the walking tabernacle of God’s presence. Your body is the temple that houses the Holy Spirit. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV) What will be different about your outlook on life today knowing that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit? Ask the Lord to elevate your soul consciousness as you interact with others. Remember that the Holy Spirit goes with you everywhere you go and He knows everything you feel, think, and experience. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Encouragement Proverbs Vision

Unlimited Potential

“The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” Proverbs 20:5 (ESV) How do you view other people? Do you settle for what they see in themselves or do you see what could be and what should be in their lives? God has saved you and sanctified you so that you can help others reach their God-given potential. God has placed eternity in their hearts and He has infused them with purpose. As God brings you alongside them, you are to be a person of understanding. As a person of understanding, you have the God-given capacity to draw out the best in them. You can help those God places in your sphere of influence to reach their unlimited potential. “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.” Philippians 2:19-20 (ESV) Paul not only shared the Good News of Jesus with Timothy, he also invited Timothy to join him on his second missionary journey. Paul saw what Timothy could be and what Timothy should be and passionately drew out the best in Timothy. Paul invested in Timothy’s spiritual development. Timothy eventually became the pastor of the church at Ephesus. Think about someone in your life whom God used to draw out the best in you. Think about the person God used in your life to encourage you to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. As a person of understanding, he or she was willing to draw out the potential God has placed inside of you. Will you be a person of understanding that the Lord can use to benefit others? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell