“Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 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 4:4-7 (ESV) Don’t miss what God is up to in your life. Don’t forget what God has done to bring you to the place where you are right now. Take note of all the difficulties God has brought you through. Recognize all the mountaintop experiences God has lavished on you in your lifetime. 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. Think through the activity of God in your life. 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. Slow down long enough to pray through those spiritual markers. You may want to list them out specifically so that you can thank God for each one. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Author: Stephen Trammell
Categories
Overcoming Obstacles
“So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,” Joshua 3:14 (ESV) Joshua came face to face with an obstacle that prevented entry into the Promised Land. He was in charge of mobilizing the children of Israel to inherit the land flowing with milk and honey. The Jordan River was the obstacle, which became an opportunity for God to do something great to reveal His glory. We serve a great God who can take any obstacle and turn it into an opportunity for us to experience His power and for us to know His provision. Everyone has a Jordan. We all encounter obstacles along the path of life on this broken planet. Living in a fallen world ensures our confrontation with obstacles. The challenge is not facing obstacles, but responding to the obstacles we face. Is it possible to turn an obstacle into an opportunity? Is it possible to navigate obstacles and be in the center of God’s will? Some of the most meaningful experiences with God are those in which you feel like you are in the fourth quarter with only a few seconds left and God comes through for you. The priest carrying the ark went ahead of the people in order to confront the obstacle. The Jordan River did not stand a chance on sabotaging God’s agenda. God will make a way when there seems to be no way. God will give you just what you need in the moment of your need. God will not leave you hanging. God will not abandon you. Identify your Jordan. What is keeping you from entering the land flowing with milk and honey? What is keeping you from operating in the center of God’s will? Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ He said, ‘But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’” Exodus 3:11-12 (ESV) What benefits were available to Moses in the desert that were unavailable to him in the palace? What could God teach Moses in the dusty desert that he could not learn in the palatial palace? I remember going through a difficult season in ministry and felt led to call one of my mentors. I shared with him that perhaps God was preparing me for my next assignment. I’ll never forget his response. He said, “Stephen, God is always preparing you for your next assignment. However, your next assignment may be right where you are.” Moses probably felt that way. He likely wondered what God could possibly be up to by allowing him to remain in the desert for forty years. God allowed Moses to experience forty years in the palace to prepare him for the forty years in the desert to prepare him for the forty years of leading the children of Israel to the Promised Land. God does not waste our desert experiences. God uses those dry times in our lives to reveal Himself in a way that we would not comprehend otherwise. He is always preparing us for our next interaction, our next appointment, our next interruption, and our next assignment. God will redeem the season you are in. Are you willing to trust God with your life? Are you willing to submit to His prompting? Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Living the Redeemed Life
“’And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?’” Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (ESV) What does the redeemed life look like in practical day-by-day living? Once a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, how does that new identity translate into daily living? God reveals His expectations for the redeemed life. Revere supremely. When you experience God’s redemption, your response to that redemption is a life of reverencing God. To revere God is to esteem Him and to give Him the rightful place He deserves in your life. Live righteously. The redeemed life results in a righteous lifestyle. Godliness replaces worldliness. Selflessness replaces selfishness. Instead of allowing the world to influence your behavior, you influence the culture with the character of Christ in you. Love completely. God loves you and demonstrated His love for you by allowing Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty of your sin. Love God completely by giving your heart to Him in full surrender. Express your love to Him in private and corporate worship. Serve passionately. Now that you have been redeemed, serve God by continuing the ministry of Jesus. Serve God by spreading the fragrance of Christ through random acts of kindness. Find a need and meet it. Obey instantly. Love what God loves and hate what God hates. “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17 ESV). Choose to obey God. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (ESV) Before you were saved, you were running to sin and running from God. Now that you are saved, you run to God and run from sin. In Christ, you experience an authentic transformation whereby your sins are removed, you are reconciled to God, and you receive the imputed righteousness of Christ. Your appetite for sin is replaced with an appetite for righteousness. You hunger and thirst for God. There are no substitutes for a vibrant love relationship with the Lord. Nothing else will ever satisfy. The orientation of your life is centered on serving the living and true God. The witness of the Thessalonian believers was widespread. Their authentic transformation reverberated throughout Macedonia and Achaia. Their contagious faith had become known everywhere. Turning to God from idols, they embodied the servitude of Christ and served the living and true God. They became an irresistible influence for the Lord. When you experience the transformation Christ provides, you embrace a life of anticipation. You wait expectantly for the return of Christ from heaven. You live in light of His resurrection and His rescue. There is no one else who can rescue you from the coming wrath. God will judge sin. Those who have rejected God’s plan of salvation will spend eternity separated from God. Rejoice! Your transformation in Christ changes your eternal destiny. Hell is not your destination. The transformation you experienced in Christ assures your ultimate destination in heaven. Jesus will come for His church prior to the Tribulation. Jesus will come with His church after the Tribulation to establish His millennial reign upon the earth. Live in light of His return! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.” 1 Thessalonians 1:8 (ESV) One of the features of a High School football game is the cheer squad. The cheerleaders seek to engage the fans in the stands in order to motivate them to cheer on the team. Regardless of the score, the cheerleaders seek to get the fans involved in the game in a positive manner. Often the cheerleaders utilize a megaphone to project their cheers and to amplify their message. God has transformed your life by His grace so that you can become a megaphone to amplify the Good News of Jesus Christ. That’s right! You are a megaphone for the Master! The message of Christ is to project from your life and from your lips. Are you encouraging people to get into the game? Are you sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with those in your sphere of influence? The church at Thessalonica became a megaphone for the Master. The Lord’s message sounded forth like a blaring trumpet and like rolling thunder. The church boldly and continually trumpeted the gospel message. Their faith in God was not a secret to be concealed, but a glorious reality to be revealed. God did not transform your life so that you could hide your Christian walk. God did not deliver you from the kingdom of darkness and place you in the kingdom of light so that you could become a silent saint. You have been saved by the grace of God to become a megaphone for the Maker of heaven and earth. Your faith in God is to be projected for others to encounter the redeeming love of Christ. Go public with your faith. Let others hear your personal testimony. Share your spiritual story and live out the gospel. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” 1 Thessalonians 1:7 (ESV) Are you a model to follow? Are you reproducing the life of Christ before a watching world? God has created you, redeemed you, and empowered you to continue the ministry of Jesus on the earth. After Jesus took the towel and basin of water, He washed the disciples’ feet. Then Jesus said to them, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (John 13:15 ESV). Jesus is our model to follow. Do what Jesus did. Put the needs of others before your own. Focus your life on fulfilling God’s agenda. Live to benefit others. Radiate Jesus’ love and extend the compassion of Christ. Guard your daily intimacy with God. Extend personal touch ministry to those in need. In his letter to his protégé, Paul reminded Timothy to “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12 ESV). God wants you to set the pace for the gospel race. Model Christ in your home. Model Christ on your campus. Model Christ in your work environment and in your church. Be a godly example for others to see Christ in you. The church at Thessalonica became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. They consistently lived out the gospel before a watching world. They influenced their culture by continuing the ministry of Jesus. Instead of allowing the culture to determine their lifestyle, they allowed the life of Jesus to be unleashed through their lives. Examine your life closely. What needs to change in your conversation and in your conduct in order to be a model to follow? How’s your thought-life? What needs to change in your private world in order to model Christ personally? Exhibit the life of character and integrity that Jesus modeled for you to follow. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Being Imitated by Others
“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,” 1 Thessalonians 1:6 (ESV) Paul, Silas, and Timothy modeled Christ before the new believers in Thessalonica to the extent that they were motivated to imitate them. The new believers imitated Paul, Silas, Timothy, and the Lord. If people imitated you, would they be imitating the Lord? Are you living in such close communion with Jesus and doing what He did, that others would notice that you are imitating Christ? As you bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, you become their spiritual parent. They look to you to see what the Christian life is supposed to look like. They imitate you as you imitate Christ. What kind of example are you portraying for others to follow? As followers of Christ, we are to live the Gospel missionally by presenting living proof of a loving God to a watching world. God wants us to be an irresistible influence for His glory. Will others come to know Christ as a result of our love relationship with Him? Does our conversation and conduct demonstrate a consistent loyalty and devotion to Christ? Be fully yielded and fully surrendered to the Lordship of Christ and allow Him to live His life through you to touch lost souls. May others welcome the message of Christ into their lives as you faithfully sow the seed of the Gospel. Imitate Christ by loving people and showing them how they can have heaven and eternal life. If others are imitating you, will they become fully devoted followers of Christ? Will their daily walk with God be infused with passion and enthusiasm? Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (ESV) Be intentional in sharing the gospel. Paul, Silas, and Timothy brought the gospel to the Thessalonians (Acts 17:1-4). The gospel came with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power (I Cor. 2:4-5). Many of the Thessalonians responded by turning to God from idols to serve the living and true God (1 Thess. 1:9). The gospel transformed their lives and influenced their culture. In Christ, we have the cure to the cancer of sin. We have been entrusted with the gospel of light that delivers people from the kingdom of darkness. God has armed us with the Good News of Jesus Christ and empowered us with the Holy Spirit to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. God still uses human instrumentality in the redemptive process. Will you be faithful to share the gospel intentionally? Paul, Silas, and Timothy lived among the Thessalonians to benefit them, to bless them, and to bring Christ to them. Instead of allowing the pagan culture to influence them, Paul, Silas, and Timothy intentionally influenced the culture by continuing the ministry of Jesus. Be a thermostat, not a thermometer. A thermostat sets the environment while a thermometer reflects the environment. God has not called us to be absorbed by the culture, but to influence the culture with the gospel. Be a spiritual thermostat for the Lord by sharing the gospel intentionally. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Moving with God
“Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.” Exodus 40:36-38 (ESV) God makes His Presence known. For the children of Israel, God revealed His Presence through the glory cloud. God would guide the Israelites by the visible manifestation of the cloud during the day and fire by night. When the cloud lifted and shifted, the Israelites moved. The Tabernacle was constructed in a way that emphasized ease of mobility. This enabled the Israelites to move when God moved. As God’s workmanship, where did Moses learn that kind of sensitivity to God’s movement? Did he learn it in the palace during his first forty years on the earth or perhaps during the second forty years of his life as a shepherd in the desert? The burning bush experience obviously made an abiding difference in his sensitivity to God’s Presence. God is always at work. Are you sensitive to His activity? You can experience God’s Presence moment by moment as you commune with Him through prayer and feed on His Word. You can experience God’s Presence as you maintain a posture of expectation and anticipation. You always find what you are looking for. If you are looking for the activity of God, you will find it. Recognition of God’s activity is proportionate to your sensitivity. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” Exodus 2:23-25 (ESV) God is passionate about His creation. His passion is consistently evidenced by His compassion in action. God saw the Israelites in their desperation and seized the opportunity to reveal Himself to them and to respond to their need. People matter to God. You can trace God’s redemptive activity throughout the entire Bible from cover to cover. He passionately pursues fallen humanity in order to bring reconciliation and restoration. God’s endless love is portrayed intimately in His patience with us and in His passion for us. We matter to Him! We experience God’s compassion in action through the salvation of our souls. The redemptive act of God in Christ on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God’s compassion. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8 ESV). We are the recipients of the bountiful compassion of God. How will we relay God’s compassion on earth? Now that we have been perpetually and eternally blessed by God’s compassion, what should our response entail? We have received God’s compassion so that we can extend God’s compassion to others. God invites us to participate with Him in His redemptive activity. Whenever you have difficulty putting compassion into action, consider the depth of compassion God has extended to you. God is not asking you to do anything He has not already done for you. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6 (ESV) You are not home, yet! God has a mission for you to fulfill before He calls you home. Don’t get so focused on your destination that you neglect the daily ministry God wants you to extend and the daily provision God wants you to experience. You were placed here by God to accomplish His will. God’s goodness will shadow you every step of the way. There isn’t a moment that goes by in which the goodness of God is not functioning in your life. His goodness follows you because God is good. God’s love will be your companion every moment for the remainder of your life on earth. There is never a love deficit when God is near. His love will inspire you and sustain you through the various terrains of life. You will dwell in God’s house for eternity. You will have a mansion in glory and enjoy unending fellowship with the Master of the universe. Heaven is your destiny. Eternity with Jesus is your reality. As you look forward to your eternal home, how many people will be there because of your influence? How many people will experience the joy of eternal life in heaven as a result of your witness on the earth? Share your salvation story with people that God brings into your sphere of influence. Be active in sharing your faith. Pray for the lost. Give financially to support missions. Go on a short-term mission trip to sow the Gospel seed. Walk across the room to serve others and to show them the love of Jesus. Continue the ministry of Jesus! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5 (ESV) God is not limited by your limitations. Your overwhelming circumstances do not overwhelm God. The challenges in your environment are not impossible for God. God can see that which you cannot see. God knows that which you do not know. God will provide nourishment and strength in the midst of your obstacles. God will provide manna when you experience the desert of the daily grind. His protective care will sustain you in battle. His grace will match the need of each moment. God will anoint your head with the oil of gladness and the oil of security. God’s power is made perfect in your weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). Your desperation for God and your dependency upon God releases His provision. As you place your faith in God’s ability to meet your needs, His provision will cause your cup to overflow. The depth of your need will never surpass the endless supply of God’s storehouse. Honor the Lord with what He has given you. Be a good steward with everything God has entrusted to you. Give thanks for His daily bread. Praise Him for bringing you this far. Acknowledge His sufficiency. Trust Him to meet your every need (Phil. 4:19). Find comfort in the fact that God knows what you need before you ask Him (Matt. 6:8). Allow the Lord to shepherd you through the life He has for you. Take a moment to write down the specific items that have weighed heavily upon your heart. What has been bothering you? What has been consuming your thoughts and your energy? Submit each item to your faithful Shepherd in prayer. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (ESV) In the Seventeenth Century, a monk named, Brother Lawrence, worked in the kitchen of the Carmelite Monastery in Paris, France. He is remembered for his daily intimacy with God in the midst of menial tasks within the confines of the monastery. Brother Lawrence learned to practice the presence of God. In one of his letters he wrote, “I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.” Whether you are occupying the kitchen of grief or delighting at the table of abundance, God is with you. His abiding presence will sustain you and comfort you as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death. God will shepherd you through the adversity and bring you to the place of peace. You will never walk alone. God is with you. While you were sleeping, God was working. Will you choose to practice the presence of God today? Regardless of your physical location or your emotional reality, you can practice God’s presence throughout the day by acknowledging His perpetual love, faithfulness, and grace. Elevate your awareness of God’s abiding presence by praying without ceasing (1Thess. 5:17). Enjoy uninterrupted communion with God. Where you go this day, God is with you. Whatever comes your way, God is with you. Practice God’s presence and feast on His continuous provision of comfort and assurance. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:2-3 (ESV) The Shepherd will restore your soul. Living in a fallen world can erode your enthusiasm and erase your energy. The constant friction of the world, the flesh, and the devil can drain your reserves. There are times in your weekly schedule when your greatest need becomes a pit stop whereby God renews your mind and recharges your strength. God will provide you with opportunities to disconnect from the demands of life in order to replenish your soul in the green pastures of His abiding presence. He will lead you beside quiet waters to allow you to catch your breath and to enable your soul to catch up to your body. Slow down and allow God to put you back together. Your loving Shepherd will guide you in paths of righteousness to bring glory to His name. God’s path is always the best option. You must choose to walk in unbroken fellowship with the Lord and to be sensitive to His prompting. Give the Lord your undivided attention. Seek Him first each morning and align your life with His agenda. God’s restoration may come at the expense of your unrealistic pace. Allow God to interrupt the flow of your routine and to help you make necessary adjustments to give Him room to work. Busyness is one of Satan’s most effective tools to keep you from focusing your energy on that which brings God the most glory. Weariness is a symptom of a life that is out of order. Learn to say “no” to good things so that you can say, “yes” to the best that God has for you. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Finding Your Shepherd
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 (ESV) God never intended for you to walk through adversity alone. Maybe you have heard someone say that God will never put more on you than you can handle. That’s not true. God will not put more on you than you can handle with His help. When you come to know Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, you find the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul (1 Pet. 2:25). The Christian life is not a solo flight. God does not launch you into the world and expect you to live the Christian life on your own. God provides refuge when you need to retreat, strength when you need to endure, and help when you need relief. Your Heavenly Father knows exactly what you need and the exact moment you need it. “‘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) God gives you His Holy Spirit at the moment of your conversion. You are inhabited by the Counselor who is the Spirit of truth. You are the walking tabernacle of God’s Presence. Your body is His temple. The Holy Spirit is your Comforter. Are you in need of help? Are you hurting, lonely, or discouraged? Share your heart with God in prayer and anticipate His response. No need to count sheep, just talk to your Shepherd. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.’” Mark 9:7 (ESV) Peter, James, and John had a mountaintop experience with Jesus on Mt. Transfiguration. They were privileged to hear the voice of God affirming His Son and our Savior, Jesus. God’s direct word to them was an imperative for them to listen to Jesus. Listening is equivalent to obeying. Thus, to listen to Jesus is to obey Him. Are you listening? We have the ability to engage in selective listening. We hear what we want to hear. We choose to tune in or to tune out. God is a God who speaks. He has revealed Himself to us through His Son and through Scripture. To know Jesus is to know God. To grow in your knowledge of Jesus is to grow in your understanding of His Word. Revelation demands a response. God expects instant obedience. “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” 1 John 2:3 (ESV) “‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!’” Psalm 46:10 (ESV) How do you know if you are really listening to God? Is your life marked by obedience to God’s Word? Obedience to God’s Word is a clear indicator of your level of listening to God. Is your life too noisy to hear from God? Is your schedule too busy to hear from God? The men and women who have been greatly used of God have ensured unhurried time alone with God each day. They intentionally carved out time to be still and simply listen for God’s voice. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (ESV) What prompted Jesus to leave the glory of Heaven in order to come to earth and be mistreated, misunderstood, and crucified? Why would Jesus leave an environment where He was worshipped and come to earth to be rejected by His creation? There’s one word to answer both questions: Love! The same sacrificial love Jesus exhibited on the cross is the kind of love that Paul affirmed in the believers in Thessalonica. This unconditional love prompted their labor in the Lord. Jesus demonstrated this labor of love on the cross between two thieves. One thief repented of his sin and received the forgiveness Jesus provided. Jesus announced to him that he would be with Him in paradise (Luke 23:43). The other thief ridiculed and rejected Jesus. However, Jesus loved both thieves unconditionally. What motivates you in your service to the Lord? Why do you do what you do? Allow the love of Jesus to be operative in your life. Find a need and meet it. Seek to demonstrate the love of Jesus through random acts of kindness. Remember the love Jesus has shown you and allow that reality to unleash unconditional love toward others. Do what Jesus did by loving the way Jesus loved. Continue the ministry of Jesus by loving people unconditionally and leading them to experience the love of Jesus eternally. You can make an everlasting impact on a person’s life by sharing the love story of God’s redemptive plan. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (ESV) You cannot work for your salvation. But once you experience salvation, you will want to work. The faith operative in your life will motivate you to do the work of God. Your faith will want to be expressed by your good deeds. Paul prayed for the church of Thessalonica and praised God for their work produced by faith. They gave evidence to genuine saving faith as they engaged in good deeds to bless others. Their work did not save them, but their salvation caused them to work consistently putting feet to their faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Heb. 11:6 (ESV) “ For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” Jas. 2:26 (ESV) God wants your good deeds to be produced by faith. As you grow in your daily love relationship with the Lord, you will have a heightened sensitivity to the activity of God. Each time you join God in His activity, you will be giving outward evidence of your inward faith in Christ. Being on mission with God requires a faith that works. Does your faith work? Is there fruit resulting from your faith? Deepen your faith by obeying what God says. Obedience is an indicator of genuine faith. As you obey, your good deeds will be fueled by faith. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8 (ESV) Is it possible to obey God and not know where you are going? God told Abraham to leave and go to a place that God would show him and Abraham went (Gen. 12:1-4). Even though he didn’t know where he was going, by faith Abraham obeyed God. He was willing to take God at His word and launch into the unknown and the unfamiliar. Sometimes God will unveil the details of your journey and at other times God will simply ask you to step out and trust Him with the details. You may not be able to see very far into the future God has for you. But, you can trust God every step of the way. Will you obey what God has already revealed to you? Obey and go based on what you know, then God will show you what’s next. Live from faith to faith. Walking with God is like walking down a trail in the woods at night with a flashlight. You can only see a few feet in front of you, but as you move forward the light illuminates a portion of the path that was not visible to you. As you walk with God, He illuminates the path He wants you to take. God will not mislead you. Walk closely to Him and listen for the echo of His whisper. Spend time in His Word and in prayer. Seek godly counsel from a person who walks in the Spirit and who cares about you and your future. God will speak through His word, through circumstances, and through other believers as you seek His next step for your life. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” Galatians 3:8-9 (ESV) The gospel begins with God. God is the Creator of life and the initiator of reconciliation. The grace of God has been poured out on us. God is the lover who persistently and consistently seeks to restore those who have fallen. God’s love is unconditional and His mercy is unleashed to redeem us. God chose to announce the gospel in advance to Abraham. God enabled Abraham to become a conduit of the blessing God has for all nations. Abraham was blessed by God to be a blessing to all people groups. As a man of faith, Abraham believed God. God blesses you with salvation so that you can be a blessing to all nations. God redeemed you so that you can join Him in bringing redemption to all people groups on our planet. God’s abundant love and forgiveness is available to all. Will you be a conduit of God’s blessing? You can pray. You can give. You can go. You can radiate God’s love through your conversation and your conduct. You can join God in His redemptive activity by seizing every opportunity God gives you to make Jesus known. Begin viewing people through the lens of the gospel. As a recipient of the gospel blessing, commit to share your salvation story with others. Let the light of God’s love shine through your life. Be willing to go wherever God wants you to go. Be willing to do whatever God wants you to do. Place your “yes” on the altar and say, “Lord, I’m yours!” Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: ‘This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.’ And he brought him outside and said, ‘Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.’ Then he said to him,’So shall your offspring be.’” Genesis 15:4-5 (ESV) Sometimes life can be foggy. You try to make sense out of what you don’t know and out of what you can’t see. You look back to review where you have been and identify the spiritual markers in your past. Being confident of God’s faithfulness, you look into the fog knowing that God is up to something. Abraham was in one of those foggy seasons where his current reality just didn’t make sense. He was past age and Sarah was barren, yet God promised to make Abraham into a great nation. In God’s perfect timing, the fog began to lift as He took Abraham outside to look up at the heavens and count the stars. Then God promised that Abraham’s offspring would be a numerous as the stars. As you walk with God, you will go through seasons of uncertainty and seasons of silence. When that happens, recapture that last thing God said to you and obey Him. Walk in the light God gives you until He shows you the next step He has for you. In God’s perfect timing, the fog will lift and you will be able to see clearly. Trust God to build the bridges that He wants you to cross and to open the doors that He wants you to walk through. Don’t be so preoccupied with the destination that you bypass the beauty of experiencing God in the journey. Discover the joy of the journey. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“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.’” Genesis 12:1 (ESV) What is keeping you from obeying God? Do you fear the unknown? Are you uncomfortable making a move without having more information? Maybe God has chosen to limit His revelation to match your obedience. Once you obey what He has already said, then He will show you the next step. “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” Gen. 12:4 (ESV) Abram took God at His word! He simply obeyed God. God told Abram to leave and go to a land that He would show him. Guess what? Abram left, as the Lord told him. He obeyed. You can never go wrong obeying God. His way is always the best way. Even when it doesn’t make sense or seem remotely logical, God’s way is the right way. If you are confused about your next step, just obey what He has already said. Start there! Identify what you are wrestling with right now? What is keeping you from taking the next step? Place that fear or frustration before the Lord in prayer and see how He helps you take the next step. You can trust God with your present circumstances and your future hopes and dreams. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’” Revelation 21:3-4 (ESV) You are not a robot. God created you with the capacity to accept His plan or to reject His plan. He made you to be relational. You can respond to God’s offer of restoration or you can choose to go your own way. God grants the freedom to accept Him or reject Him. By the power of His Holy Spirit, He comforts and convicts. He guides and He provides. However, God will allow you the freedom to choose a selfish path or a selfless path. He will alert you when you are taking a path that is not His best for you. Yet, God will allow you to maneuver in the direction of your choice. The prodigal son made a poor decision when he selfishly requested his share of the estate so that he could carelessly spend it. Yet, God allowed him to get to the pigpen level of living. It was there that the prodigal son came to his senses and made the life-giving decision to get up and go back to his father (Luke 15:17-20). Restoration awaits! How will you respond to God’s offer? Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Nurture a Creative Soul
“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” 3 John 1:2 (ESV) How’s the condition of your soul? Are you at peace? Are you living a life of balance? In order to nurture a creative soul, you have to provide space in your schedule and you have to provide pause in your pace. The Christian life is not a sprint; it is a marathon. To finish strong you must consistently nurture a creative soul. Create margin in your life. You need space to allow God to put you back together. Margin is the space between your load and your limit. Designate time in your schedule to participate in life-giving activities that replenish your soul. If you like reading, then allocate time for reading. If you enjoy walking outdoors, then carve out time for that life-giving experience. You must find what makes you come alive. You must insert those activities into your schedule that enable you to get your fire back and your passion rekindled. “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” Psalm 62:5 (ESV) “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” Psalm 94:19 (ESV) Sometimes the most spiritual activity you can employ is rest. When you rest, you allow your soul to catch up with your body. Strategically insert a pause in your pace. Stop periodically to be still before the Lord and allow Him to restore your soul and to restore the joy of His salvation. Assess your current reality to identify where you are overextended and overcommitted. If you are feeling overwhelmed and burnout in life, then something is out of order. Take the initiative to nurture a creative soul. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Nurture Physical Health
“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) You are the walking tabernacle of the Presence of God. God has chosen to take up residence in your body by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Everywhere you go, the Holy Spirit goes with you because He is living inside of you. Your body is His temple. As the temple of the Holy Spirit, how should you live? Your lifestyle should be consistent with the Person living inside of you. You are to embrace a lifestyle of holiness, righteousness, and godliness. As the temple of the Holy Spirit, you should also nurture physical health. Take care of your physical body. Eat properly, exercise regularly, and rest thoroughly. When it comes to eating properly, there are so many options and opportunities to satisfy your appetite in an unhealthy manner. It takes discipline to make wise choices when it comes to deciding what kind of food to eat. God has designed the human body to respond to physical exertion. When you exercise regularly, your body is strengthened and your energy level elevates. Honoring God with your body includes executing an intentional plan for physical fitness. God created your body to move. As you move, you benefit your physical health. You also nurture physical health through resting thoroughly. It is possible to sleep and not rest. Your body needs a daily pit stop. You honor God with your body as you allow time for your body to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate. God replenishes your mind, your emotions, and your muscles as you rest. What adjustments do you need to make to nurture physical health? Pray and ask God to empower you on this journey of honoring Him with your body. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV) Have you ever written a mission statement for your own life? Let me share a few personal mission statements I have seen. I exist to love God and to love others. I exist to know Jesus and to make Jesus known. I exist to leave the world a better place than I found it. I exist to take as many people with me to heaven as possible. God re-created you in Christ to reorient your life from selfish ambition to selfless ambition. Instead of living to benefit yourself, God empowers you to live to benefit others. When pride seeps in, your ability to serve others erodes. In humility, you consider others better than yourself. In humility, you esteem others above yourself. Are you looking to the interests of others? Have you considered how you can invest in others? God has blessed you in Christ to be a blessing to others. You have been planted right where you are by God so that you can bloom for His glory and for the benefit of those in your sphere of influence. In humility, serve them. In humility, love them the way Jesus loves you. What if you adopted the following mission statement? I exist to bring glory to God by living to benefit others. How would that impact your relationships? How would that affect your attitude about waking up each day? You would be living on purpose and on mission with God. You would begin to see your home, your neighborhood, your campus, your place of employment, and your sphere of influence as your mission field. Start today! Bring glory to God by living to benefit others! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV) Did you know that you will multiply what you model? Now that is convicting! That means that it truly does matter how you live your life. It truly matters how you conduct your daily living. Your beliefs and your behavior both matter to God and impact others. So how do you live a life of love? Imitate God! Maybe you have heard parents remark that they want you to do as they say and not as they do. Of course, you would define that behavior as hypocrisy. God wants us to live in such a way that we encourage others to do as we say and as we do. We are to strive to live in such a way that the way we live lines up with what we say. What kind of love does God want you to model? God wants you to model sincere love. God wants you to set an example for others to follow. In other words, be a model to follow. Model the kind of life that draws others to Christ. Live the kind of life that models the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What are you multiplying? You know the answer: whatever you are modeling. Model what you want to multiply. May your children and those in your sphere of influence become fully devoted followers of Christ as a result of the sincere faith and love that you are modeling before them! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Make Room for Marriage
“However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:33 (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. The husband is to love his wife as he loves himself. The wife is to respect her husband. In his book, Love and Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs identifies what he calls the Crazy Cycle: “When a husband feels disrespected, he has a natural tendency to react in ways that feel unloving to his wife. When a wife feels unloved, she has a natural tendency to react in ways that feel disrespectful to her husband.” 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! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ” 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) If you have become a child of God through faith in Jesus alone, then you are a priest before God. Your new identity in Christ has given you direct access to God. You do not need to go through a human mediator. The priesthood of every believer is the reality for those adopted into God’s forever family. As a priest before God, start your day with God. Make it your daily spiritual discipline to start your day with the One who saved you. Do as Jesus did during His earthly ministry. “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 ESV). Carve out time to start your day with your Creator. No one knows you as intimately as God does. No one loves you as intensely as God does. You are His treasure. Start your day with God by feeding on His Word, communing with Him in prayer, and receiving His daily provision. Guard your daily intimacy with the Lord. You will have to strive to protect this most important daily spiritual discipline. Many other things will tug at your time, energy, and attention. What needs to change in your daily routine in order to start your day with God? Have you found a place to have your time alone with God without interruption? Prepare for this daily spiritual discipline. Develop a plan for reading through the Bible. Try to read from the Bible each morning. Remember that if you choose to read four chapters each day, you will read through the entire Bible in one year. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell