“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” 2 Peter 3:8 (NIV) Perspective is everything. When you view life from your own perspective, the view can be incomplete. In our humanity, we may only view ten yards at a time on the football field. God sees the entire field of our lives. God is not limited by time or space. God is eternal. God was never born and God will never die. God is not decaying nor growing old. God is immutable in that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). In other words, God is. God is omnipresent. There is nowhere God is not. God is omniscient. There is nothing God does not know. Nothing ever occurs to God. Nothing catches God by surprise. Nothing happens without God’s permission. God is sovereign. He rules and He reigns. From our human perspective, a thousands years is a long time. For us, it is more than twelve times our life expectancy. God views a thousand years like a day. From God’s perspective, a day is like a thousand years. God does not operate in the confines of our human perspective. God is not limited by our finite comprehension of His eternal nature. Choose to live your life in light of eternity. Realize that there is more to this life than what you see. There is life beyond the grave. Every moment counts. Therefore, make every moment of your life count for God’s glory. View others through the reality of eternity. Live in such a way as to compel those outside of the family of faith to become followers of Jesus Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Author: Stephen Trammell
“By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:6-7 (NIV) Sin infected the earth God created. In Noah’s day, man’s wickedness had become great (Gen. 6:5). In His holiness and righteousness, God judged sin by destroying life on earth. “I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark–you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you” (Gen 6:17-19 NIV). God will not tolerate sin. Rebellion against God will not go unnoticed. God is omniscient, which means that He is all knowing. Nothing escapes the scope of God’s view. God judges sin. Just as God’s wrath was unleashed in Noah’s day with water, God’s wrath will be released to destroy the heavens and earth by fire. God demonstrated His mercy and grace in Noah’s day by providing the ark of safety for Noah and his family. Noah was righteous in God’s eyes and he was rewarded for his obedience. In the same way, God wants us to live a life of instant obedience. The ark of safety became our reality through the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. Knowing of the future destruction by fire, are you motivated to share God’s rescue plan with those who are disconnected from Christ? Are you willing to lead them to the ark of God’s salvation found in God’s grace alone through faith alone? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.” 2 Peter 3:3 (NIV) We are living in the last days. Don’t be surprised by the turbulence of the times. Those who laugh at the things of God and dismiss the activity of God will continue to increase in number. Scoffers will litter the landscape of this life as we get closer to the coming of Christ. Wickedness will increase and love will deteriorate (Mt. 24:12). The fleshly desires of the unsaved will be fertilized and fed. Understand your current reality. Where do you fit in the flow of end time events? Are you on the winning team? Have you received God’s offer of salvation in Jesus and turned your life over to Him? If you are in Christ, you are secure for eternity. However, you must be cognizant of the features of the end times. Sin will parade the property on this fallen planet. The scoffers will obey the cravings of their sin nature. Their behavior will reflect their disregard for plan of God. Be alert to the presence of sin. Be mindful of the pervasiveness of sinful conduct. Satan realizes that his time is short, so he will spare no time to unleash his assault. As the deceiver, the enemy specializes in convincing scoffers to unleash their personal rebellion against God and God’s family. If there were ever a time to get right with God, the time is now! Crucify your flesh and seek to please God with your life and your lips. Make sure that the tongue in your mouth lines up with the tongue in your shoe. Live with integrity as you surrender to the full control of the Holy Spirit in your life. Confess sin. Live above reproach. Stay close and clean. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Recall the Words
“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.” 2 Peter 3:1-2 (NIV) The Bible was written over a period of 1,400 years by forty human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament is made up of thirty-nine books and the New Testament is made up of twenty-seven books. The sixty-six books are God’s revelation to us. God has revealed Himself to us through His Word so that we can know His plan and experience His love. The common thread throughout the Bible is God’s redemptive love. God pursues us with His everlasting love. In Christ, we are reconciled to God. In his second letter, Peter writes to remind his readers of the revelation they have received from God through the holy prophets and through the apostles. The message of Christ has been conveyed. Peter reminds them in order to produce unmixed and uncontaminated thinking. In Christ, right thinking produces right behavior. Wholesome thinking involves knowing God’s will and obeying God’s will. To be unmixed in your thinking is to operate your life in alignment with God’s purpose and plan. God reveals His truth so that you can live out His truth. God’s reveals His agenda so that you can fulfill His agenda. Recall what you have learned. Recite the Bible verses you have memorized. Apply God’s truth in your daily decisions. Prepare for the future by obeying God’s Word today. Are you obeying what God has already revealed to you? Are you walking in the light God has provided? Is your thinking pure, unmixed, and uncontaminated? Where there is purity there is clarity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Being Content
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Phil 4:12 (NIV) The landscape of living in a fallen world is littered with inconsistencies, fluctuation, and instability. Selfishness and sin permeate our planet. People let us down. Deception, injustice, and greed fuel the choices made throughout the earth on a daily basis. Sound hopeless? Don’t lose heart. Paul understood the cultural current of living on a broken planet. He experienced the extremes of life including being a persecutor of the church and then becoming a preacher of the gospel. Paul knew adversity on a first name basis. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 for a snapshot of his resume of rejection, ridicule, and rigorous suffering. While incarcerated by the Roman government, Paul writes this personal love letter to the church at Philippi to remind them of his love for them and to encourage them in their faith. You may not be able to control your circumstances, but with Christ’s help, you can control how you respond to your circumstances. You may not be able to control how people treat you, but you can control how you respond to their treatment. Contentment is learned in the laboratory of life. God works through the daily grind in your life to form you and to fashion you. Don’t miss what God is seeking to do in your life in the midst of your adversity. Are you learning the secret of being content in any and every situation? What’s the secret? “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Phil 4:13 NIV). Christ Jesus is the curator of contentment! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Conduit of Grace
“Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’” Luke 13:14 (NIV) Legalism bypasses relationship. Instead of operating out of an abiding relationship with Christ, it is possible to embrace an external religion. You can gravitate toward measuring your level of spiritual maturity with the standard of outward appearance. You can be so steeped in legalism that you totally neglect the internal component that God values. Jesus had miraculously healed a woman crippled by an evil spirit for eighteen years. She immediately exhibited a straight posture and praised God. This woman had been set free. However, the synagogue ruler was indignant because Jesus healed on the Sabbath. The synagogue ruler was so steeped in legalism that he missed the wonderful life-changing work of the Lord of the Sabbath. “The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’” Luke 13:15-16 (NIV) Have you allowed legalism to rob your love relationship with Christ? God looks at your heart and wants you to operate your life from the abiding relationship that He has established for you in Christ. Walk in the freedom of God’s grace and seek to grow in the daily expression of your faith. Let others see Jesus in you. Be a conduit of grace just as God has lavished His grace on you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“’So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’” Josh 24:13 (NIV) The children of Israel drifted from God’s best and slipped into immorality. Joshua called them back into alignment with God’s will and God’s way. Joshua reviewed the spiritual markers that God had established for them. God gave Abraham many descendants and later raised up Moses and Aaron to deliver them from Egyptian bondage. God enabled them to cross the Red Sea on dry ground and to defeat the Amorites. God turned Balaam’s curse into a blessing and delivered them out of his hand. God enabled them to miraculously cross the Jordan. Joshua reminded the children of Israel of the faithfulness of God. The spiritual markers served as reminders of God’s provision. The blessings of God were clearly evident in each of the spiritual markers. Review your spiritual markers. Identify the times in your life when God made Himself known to you in a special way. You may have a spiritual marker that was formed in the midst of adversity where God reminded you of His protection over you. You may have a spiritual marker that was established as a result of God revealing His unconditional love to you through your saving relationship with Jesus. Spiritual markers are vital for the Christian life. As you review your spiritual markers, you will gain a sense of stability. Your faith is strengthened as you review the activity of God in your life. Take a moment to look back and then take a moment to look ahead. What is God asking you to give your life to? God’s faithfulness will see you through! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Crucified with Christ
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20 (NIV) You cannot live the Christian life. Keep trying! Keep seeking to measure up to God’s standard of perfection! You will always miss the mark and fall short of the standard established by God. Even on your best day, your righteousness will not be sufficient to gain entrance into heaven where God allows no sin. Paul identified his spiritual union with Christ. Though Paul did not experience the physical crucifixion with Christ, he did experience the benefits of the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Instead of Paul seeking to live the Christian life in his own strength, he lived by faith in the Son of God. Paul became a vessel through which Jesus could live His life through him. The life God had for Paul included full surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Have you come into union with Christ? Have you been crucified with Christ, died to self, and allowed Christ to live His life through you? The life you now live in your earthly body is to be lived by faith in the Son of God. Jesus loves you and gave His life for you. Jesus died in your place so that you could live in His place. You have been given a heavenly mission from God to allow Jesus to manifest His life in you and through you to a watching world. Become a fully devoted follower of Christ. Yield to His Lordship and to His leadership in your life. Submit to His authority and unleash His power. Living by faith in the Son of God releases God’s power. Christ is in you and He is the hope of glory (Col 1:27). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 (NIV) A true delight is knowing God’s will and doing God’s will. A true delight is having the peace of God in the midst of life’s storms. A true delight is having the assurance of heaven and eternal life. John Piper has affirmed, “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.” What is your primary source of satisfaction? Where do you turn to experience joy and fulfillment? Your love relationship with the Lord is the conduit through which the blessings of God flow. He is the source of life that is truly life. He fills you with an inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Pet 1:8). As you commune with the Lord and take delight in Him, He will give you the desires of your heart. When you are rightly related to God in Christ and you choose to seek Him with all of your heart, you will find that your desires are in line. As you delight in the Lord, you will not desire anything that is contrary to His will. Intimacy with the Lord heightens your sensitivity to God’s activity. Your delight becomes God’s agenda. “Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God.” Job 22:26 (NIV) “He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” Psalm 145:19 (NIV) There are countless distractions that seek to minimize your friendship with God and trivialize your daily pursuit of His Presence. Recognize that nothing will ever satisfy your soul like living in unbroken fellowship with the Lord. Take delight in Him. Feast on His Word. Solidify your pursuit by establishing a standing appointment with God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Do Not Worry
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matt 6:34 (NIV) Instead of worrying about tomorrow, focus on today. To worry is to be drawn in multiple directions. Worry causes you to feel fragmented and overwhelmed. Someone has said, “Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.” Where does worry take you? Worry takes you to an unhealthy place! God gives you the grace you need for today. God gives you the provision you need for today. Focus on today. Release the fear and anxiety related to tomorrow. Jesus made it clear that tomorrow will worry about itself and each day has enough trouble of its own. Aren’t you thankful that there are 365 days in a year, 24 hours in a day, sixty minutes in an hour, and sixty seconds in each minute? Jesus does not want us to worry about tomorrow. Don’t be anxious about the next installment of 24 hours. That’s why Jesus did not teach us to pray, “Give us this month our monthly bread.” Rather, Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Instead of worrying about tomorrow, choose to focus on what God wants to do in you and through you today. God is building you and developing you to fulfill His will for today. Don’t waste one moment today. Every moment matters to God so make every moment count for God’s glory. I remember memorizing a poem when I was sixteen that has meant so much to me over the years: “Today whatever may annoy, the word for me is joy, just simply joy. Whatever there be of sorrow, I’ll put off until tomorrow. And when tomorrow comes, it will be today, and joy again.” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Respect Your Parents
“‘Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.‘” Exodus 20:12 (NIV) As we continue exploring the Ten Commandments, we notice that the first four commandments are vertical in nature whereas the remaining six commandments are horizontal in nature. The first four commandments are “Godward,” and the remaining six are “manward.” The fifth commandment is the first commandment with a promise. Respect your parents by obeying them. In God’s covenant community, obedience and submission to parents is vital. The family unit is built on mutual trust and mutual submission. To disobey your parents is to bring chaos to the family and society. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Eph. 6:1 NIV). Respect your parents by appreciating them. Appreciating your parents brings honor to God and produces a healthy atmosphere where peace reigns. Appreciation is demonstrated by recognizing their effort & sacrifice. Your parents are doing the best they can with what they have. Your parents are sacrificing personal ambitions, time, energy, & money. Respect your parents by caring for them. Meeting their needs and serving them throughout their lifetime is a mark of spiritual maturity and an indicator of respect. “But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God” (1 Tim. 5:4 NIV). Respect your parents by providing for them and helping them to finish strong. Respect your parents by forgiving them. Perhaps you have father-wounds or mother-wounds. Don’t be imprisoned by unforgiveness. Choose to forgive your parents. Extend forgiveness to them just as God has extended forgiveness to you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Recharge and Refocus
“‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.’” Exodus 20:8-11 (NIV) How do you recharge and refocus? In the Fourth Commandment, God reveals the guardrails that prevent burnout in life and in ministry. Here a few essentials to help you embrace the Sabbath God has designed for you. Essential #1: Assess your pace. One day a safari guide instructed his group, “We are going to rest today so our souls can catch up with our bodies.” Can you relate? It is possible to have so many irons in the fire that you put the fire out. Busyness becomes a tool in the hand of the enemy to distract you from God’s best and to deplete your energy meant for accomplishing God’s will. Is your current pace sustainable? Essential #2: Build life-giving relationships and enjoy life-giving activities. Seek out relationships that add value to your life and boast your energy. Build relationships with people who bring out the best in you. Carve out time for life-giving activities. What activities replenish you? Refresh you? Renew you? Exercise consistently, eat healthy, and sleep amply. Essential #3: Disconnect in order to reconnect with God. What do you need to disconnect from? What is your plan for creating space in your schedule to allow God to put you back together emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually? Learn to practice solitude. God invites you into His rest more fully so that you can know Him more deeply in light of eternity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.” Malachi 4:2 (NIV) Revering God is a mandate from heaven. We esteem God and revere Him by living life His way. Let’s examine a few steps to revering God. Step 1: Express your love to God in worship privately and publicly. “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name’” (Matt. 6:9 NIV). Honor God’s Name as you commune with Him daily through your daily quiet time. Your private worship is a sacred time of expressing your love to God. Bring your private worship with you to the corporate experience of worship in your local church. Your public worship is a witness. Step 2: Maintain character and integrity. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27 NIV). Stay close and clean as you cling to God and His Word. Let the character of Christ be formed in you and be a person of integrity. Step 3: Align practically with who you are positionally. “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13 NIV). You are chosen, redeemed, forgiven, included, and sealed. Now work out what God has worked in. Step 4: Hate what God hates and love what God loves. Read Proverbs 6:16-19 and uncover what God hates. Revere God by investing your life in hating what God hates and loving what God loves. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Reverence God’s Name
“‘You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.’” Exodus 20:7 (NIV) God’s Name represents His nature and His character. God is holy, immutable, eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. God was never born and He will never die. God is love, compassion, mercy, grace, justice, perfection, and righteousness. When Abraham encountered God, he fell facedown (Gen. 17:1-3). When Moses encountered God, he hid his face (Ex. 3:1-6). Joshua fell facedown when he encountered God (Josh. 5:13-15). Ezekiel fell facedown when he encountered God (Ezek. 1:25-28). While in exile on the island of Patmos, John encountered the Lord and fell at His feet as though dead. The Third Commandment is a guardrail to help us maintain a right relationship with God. Our view of God is demonstrated by our thoughts, our conversation, and our conduct. The lifestyle we embrace is a direct reflection of our view of God. Reverencing God’s Name includes how we make decisions, how we treat others, and how we invest our time. Your life will either honor God or dishonor God. The choices you make dictate the direction of your life and the trajectory of your love for God. When you choose to drift from God, you are choosing to misuse the name of the Lord. When you choose to live in the flesh rather than walking in the Spirit, you misuse the name of the Lord. What will others learn about God by viewing your life? Does your life radiate reverence for God? Will others be drawn to God by your devotion and loyalty to Him? Reverence God’s Name by living up to the Name you bear. You are a child of the Living God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Eliminate Idolatry
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6 (NIV) What is an idol? Whatever you value more than God is an idol. The American idols include money, prestige, material possessions, fame, and power. We are approval addicts and admiration stations. We long to be noticed and to be affirmed to the level of becoming our own idol. We are made to worship. There is a tendency to bypass worshiping our Creator and choose instead to worship creation. God’s uniqueness requires unique devotion. The desire to fashion God in our own image produces a distorted view of God and confuses our created purpose. Moses was instructed to engage in conflict resolution as a result of Israel’s rebellion: Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt’” (Exodus 32:7-8 NIV). Eliminate idolatry! Eliminate those things you love more than God. God demands and deserves your loyalty. You demonstrate loyalty through Lordship. Who occupies the throne of your life? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 (NIV) How can the prayer of one person be powerful and effective and the prayer of another person be weak and ineffective? The power hinges on the level of righteousness. When a person is positionally in a right standing before Almighty God, the prayer is infused with power. When a person is living in sin and chooses to rebel against God, the prayer is contaminated by the poison of sin. God rewards righteous living. God is holy and expects His children to be holy (1 Peter 1:16) and to live a life of moral purity. Where there is purity, there is power! “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” Psalm 24:3-4 (NIV) “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” 1 Tim 2:8 (NIV) Do you want your prayer to be powerful and effective? Examine your life and ask God to search your heart (Ps. 139:23). God wants you to have a vibrant prayer life. What is keeping your from having that kind of prayer life? Are you clean before God? Is there any unconfessed sin in your life? Are you harboring even a fraction of bitterness or resentment? Confess the sin God reveals and surrender to the Holy Spirit’s full control of your life. Powerful and effective prayer comes through righteousness that only Christ can provide. Walk in the purity you have found in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim 2:1-4 (NIV) Revival is for believers who have become apathetic toward the things of God. Revival is designed by God to restore a believer’s passion and hunger for God and His agenda. When revival comes, it produces a byproduct known as a spiritual awakening. While revival is for believers, a spiritual awakening impacts unbelievers and brings them to the place of transformation. You can pray for a spiritual awakening to occur by praying evangelistically. You will personally be revived as you renew your passion for lost souls. As your soul consciousness is elevated, your awareness of God’s Presence and your awareness of His redemptive activity will be heightened. Pray for everyone, including national leaders and those in authority, that they may come to know the Lord personally. The only way for our nation to genuinely change is for the lost to get saved and have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Be sure to pray a prayer of thanksgiving for those who are already following Christ and leading our nation with character and integrity. This pleases God and brings Him glory. God wants everyone to be saved. He has provided the only way for men, women, boys, and girls to be born again. Jesus is the way! Can you imagine our nation fully yielded to the Lordship of Christ? Can you envision our nation passionate about pursuing God daily and living for His glory? Join me in praying for that vision to become a reality. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Put God First
“‘You shall have no other gods before me.’” Exodus 20:3 (NIV) Israel had a tendency to worship the idols of other nations, which eventually resulted in their being exiled to Assyria and Babylonia. Turning away from one’s primary object of devotion, namely God, is to worship other gods. God is a jealous God and demands undivided loyalty and devotion. God created us for Himself and does not honor our proclivity to divert our devotion. Joshua combated this tendency and boldly declared his radical devotion to the Lord, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15 NIV). In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus clarified the truth behind our perpetual dilemma, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matt. 6:24 NIV). Put God first in your finances. Honor God by tithing your income. Give ten percent, save ten percent, and then spend the remaining 80 percent in a way that blesses God and benefits others. Put God first in your schedule. Start each day with God. Spend unhurried time alone with Him in Bible reading and prayer. Grow in your love relationship by nurturing the life of Christ in you. Guard your daily intimacy with the Lord. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Put God first in your relationships. Make room in your life to build meaningful relationships with others. Make it obvious in your relationships that Jesus is your top priority. Demonstrate His Lordship in all of your relationships. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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God Initiates
“‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.’” Exodus 20:2 (NIV) Moses spent forty years in the palace, forty years in the desert, and then forty years as the deliverer of the children of Israel. God was strategically developing Moses for the special assignment of leading the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. Before delivering The Ten Commandments, God reminded them of His provision of bringing them out of the land of slavery. God graciously got them out of Egypt, now He was getting Egypt out of them. God is a God of Relationship. He initiated the love relationship we enjoy with Him. God chose to become like us so that we could become like Him. God took the initiative to develop us in Christ, as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people belonging to Him. Being adopted into His forever family did not come into fruition because of our human effort, but as a result of God’s redemptive activity. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV) “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:21 (NIV) If you ever question your value in God’s eyes, just look to the cross. God took the initiative to build the ultimate love bridge to you so that you could have harmony with Him and enjoy eternal life. When did you respond to God’s offer of salvation? When did you become a follower of Jesus Christ and a recipient of God’s unconditional love? Now take the initiative to share the gift of eternal life with others. Shine His light and share His love so that others can have the personal and eternal relationship you enjoy with Jesus. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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God Communicates
“And God spoke all these words.” Exodus 20:1 (NIV) God speaks! God communicates His plan and articulates His passion for us to know His will so that we can do His will. God reveals Himself so that we can orient our lives around His revelation. As Henry Blackaby says, “God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.” The Ten Commandments are not designed to punish us, but to protect us. They are not intended to harm, but to help. As we explore the Decalogue, we will discover that God has provided these guardrails to help us do life God’s way. Consider the Ten Commandments as boundaries that benefit and bless. The 1st four commandments are boundaries that benefit your relationship with God. The remaining six commandments are boundaries that benefit your relationship with others. You cannot have a right relationship with God without having a right relationship with others. Also, you cannot have a right relationship with others without having a right relationship with God. The Ten Commandments provide clear guidelines on how to reverence God and to respect others. Let the vertical beam on the cross represent your relationship with God. Remember, that God chose to communicate His love to you by extending His grace to you through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. In Christ, you become the recipient of God’s revealed plan of salvation. Now consider the horizontal beam of the cross and allow it to represent your relationship with others. God has reconciled you to Himself in Christ so that you can join Him in bringing others into a saving relationship with Jesus. Your relationship with others matters to God. God chose to speak into your life so that you can communicate His love to others. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Be Still
“‘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 (NIV) Knowledge is liberating. We long to know truth and we long to know the reality behind the perplexities of life. Being able to see clearly gives us security. Clarity elevates our peace and enlivens our motivation to continue down the dusty road of life. We like to know where we are going and what it will look like when we get there. The unknown has a tendency to spray confetti onto the canvas of our minds. Our thoughts become cluttered with the darkness that looms in the wake of the unknown. The unknown stunts our progress and stifles our vision. What are we to do in those seasons of uncertainty? What should our response be during those periods of unrest and ambiguity? Be still! Hit the pause button. Stop trying to figure things out. Stop trying to fix everything. Just hit the brakes and embrace the cessation of motion. We feel more productive when we are in motion. We feel more valuable when we are characterized by movement and accomplishment. Yet, God wants us to learn to be still. In order to be still we have to learn to trust. We have to trust that God will speak to us in our stillness. We have to trust that God will reveal Himself to us in our stillness. Know that He is God! We may be unclear about the immediate future, but we can anchor our faith in the reality that God is God and there is no other. God will be exalted among the nations and in the earth. Will we choose to exalt Him in our lives by being still before Him intentionally and by trusting Him completely? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (NIV) You can live your life at a distance relationally and experience the absence of meaningful relationships with others. The relational deficit will soon erode your joy and remove your smile. God made us for relationships. The shepherd and sheep relationship is very prominent in the Bible. Dependent on the shepherd’s care, the sheep learns to respond to the shepherd’s voice. There is a connection that develops through the consistent exposure to the voice of compassion and concern. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 (NIV) “For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:25 (NIV) Jesus is the Shepherd of our souls. He took on the full wrath of God for our sin. Jesus invites us into an intimate love relationship that is personal and eternal. We participate in the cultivation of that relationship once we turn from our sin and turn to Christ alone for salvation. Each day as we spend time in prayer and Bible reading, the love relationship deepens and our faith increases. Learn to recognize the voice of Truth. God speaks to us in alignment with His Word and His will. You will hear the still small voice of the Lord speaking to you as you practice His Presence throughout each day. Be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit living in you. Tune out the noise of worry and worldliness and tune in to the voice of the One who sought you and bought you with His own blood. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Mountain and Valley
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” Matt 17:1-2 (NIV) If only life was a perpetual mountaintop experience. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be on a constant spiritual high and never come down? Peter, James, and John had a once in a lifetime experience with Jesus on the top of a mountain. Jesus was transfigured before them. Peter wanted to build three shelters in order to stay on the mountaintop and live in the radiance of Jesus’ glory. Jesus used the experience to teach Peter, James, and John the necessity to come down the mountain to meet the needs of people in the valley. In other words, God surprises us with mountaintop experiences to reveal His glory so that we can go into the world to reveal God’s glory to others. Consider the terrain of your spiritual journey. Can you recall the mountaintop experiences you have had with God? Did God reveal His glory to you in those moments so that you would stay in the moment? No! God gave you those special glimpses into His nature and character so that you could go into the valley of life to connect with people in desperate need of God’s salvation. God moments can be difficult to transfer to others. Often, the God moments are for you to be encouraged and strengthened personally. The experience should motivate you to go into the world to declare the message of reconciliation to a world alienated from God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Col 3:17 (NIV) You have the power to conceal or reveal God’s glory. God reveals His glory to you as you worship Him privately and corporately. Whether you encounter God personally through private worship or in a setting with other believers, God reveals His glory. He wants you know His nature and His character. God wants you to come to know Him by experience. As God reveals Himself to you, your relationship deepens. Your understanding of God’s purposes and ways grows as you spend time with Him. What are you going to do with what God reveals to you? Are you going to conceal His glory or reveal His glory? Authentic worship is a lifestyle. It is not what you come to on Sunday morning or what you go away from on Sunday afternoon. Worship is living a life that honors God as you are doing life in this fallen world. Everything you do should be an act of worship. Even menial tasks can be used to reveal God’s glory. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1 (NIV) God will orchestrate opportunities today for you to reveal His glory to others. What will others come to know about God’s nature and character through your willingness to reveal His glory? Choose to radiate His presence and reveal His redeeming love. Offer your body as a living, holy, and pleasing sacrifice to God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Standing Firm in Trials
“Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” 1 Thess 3:7-8 (NIV) God allows trials to come into your life to reveal your faith. Whatever is on the inside of you will come out during trials. When trials come, your faith is featured in the display window of life. If doubt, bitterness, and resentment are lingering inside of you, they will seep out during the season of trials. God will purge you of anything that does not bring honor to His Name. God also uses trials to develop your faith. As you know, God does not waste the trials He allows into your life. God will develop your faith to match the assignment He has for you. The testing of your faith will develop perseverance (James 1:2-3). Spiritual muscles are built through the resistance trials produce. Without pain, there is no growth. God will convert the pain into something beneficial to accomplish His plan. Paul, Silas, and Timothy were immensely encouraged by the faith of the church of the Thessalonians. Their faith had been revealed through the trials they endured. Living out their Christian faith in a pagan culture was not without resistance. God developed their faith to match the assignment He had for them. Standing firm in the Lord was their faith response to living in an anti-Christian environment. What do the trials you are facing reveal about your faith? Are you standing firm in the Lord? You have the Holy Spirit living in you making intercession on your behalf. Jesus is at the right hand of our Father interceding for you. No need to retreat. Advance through adversity by standing firm in the Lord. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Triumph in Temptation
“For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.” 1 Thess 3:5 (NIV) Paul cared about the status of the faith of the church of the Thessalonians. He sent Timothy to encourage them in their faith and to measure their progress. Paul knew the power of the evil one to dilute passion and to diffuse spiritual power. The tempter might have tempted them to return to the lifestyle God had delivered them from. As you walk with the Lord each day, be alert to the strategy of the evil one to distract you from your passion for God’s will. The enemy will seek to divert your focus from godliness to worldliness, from selflessness to selfishness, and from eternal things to temporal things. Satan’s goal is not to get you to move twenty miles off mission. He just wants you to move an inch today. And then, tomorrow he will seek to get you to move away from God another inch. Before you know it, you will have drifted far from God and lose your passion for the things of God. “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thess 3:3 (NIV) Stand firm by anchoring your faith to the rock of God’s character. The Lord is faithful. He will not waver in the storms of life. God will not shift in the assault of Satanic attacks on your faith. The Lord will strengthen you in the midst of the battle. He will protect you from the flaming arrows of the evil one. God’s grace is more than sufficient for the temptation you encounter and the battles you fight. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.” 1 Thess 3:2-3 (NIV) Paul had a deep abiding love for the church at Thessalonica. The new believers were developing in their faith and understanding of God’s will. After a season of separation, Paul sent Timothy to reconnect with the congregation in order to strengthen and encourage them in the midst of their trials. Living out the Christian faith in the sin dominating culture of Thessalonica was not easy. The believers were persecuted for their faith in Jesus. The magnetic pull of their former lifestyle continued to pull at them. The believers were unsettled by the persistence of their trials. Timothy invested time and energy in them to strengthen their faith and to encourage their faithfulness. God does not intend for you to live the Christian life without His enablement. God has empowered you by the Person of the Holy Spirit living in you. Stand firm in your faith by surrendering to the control of the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to fuel your faith and to ignite your enthusiasm. You need Christian friends to live the life God has for you in this fallen world. Don’t fly solo! Don’t try to accomplish God’s will without the people God brings into your life to encourage you and to strengthen you. Remember, to have a friend, you need to be a friend. As you serve others, watch how God brings godly friends into your life to encourage you along the way. Take a moment to list and thank God for the Christian friends He has brought into your life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Divine Assistance
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” Heb 1:1-2 (NIV) God is a God of revelation. He unveils that which was once hidden. God passionately reveals His truth so that we can know Him and serve Him and fulfill His plan. His revelation is progressive in that God chose to reveal His general revelation through nature (Rom 1:20) and His special revelation by Jesus (John 1:14). God became like us so that we can become like Him. Our God is a God who speaks. He desires to communicate His love to His creation. Henry Blackaby, in his study, Experiencing God, taught us that God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways. The Holy Spirit enables the believer to understand and apply God’s Word. “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 (NIV) Notice how the Holy Spirit is identified as a Teacher and a Reminder. God, through the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom to appropriate His Word in our daily living. The Holy Spirit teaches us God’s Word and reminds us of what God has spoken. As you read God’s Word, ask God to give you the Spirit of wisdom so that you may know Him better. Are you growing in your knowing? Have you placed your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Journey with Jesus
“One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out.” Luke 8:22 (NIV) God will get you to the other side. His plan for you is personal. God designed you with His purpose in mind. You are not an accident. Before you were born, God knew you (Jer. 1:5). You are here at this very moment because God ordained your existence. God has a special plan for your life that includes your past, present, and future. God’s plan factors in your choices. You are not an impersonal robotic creature. You are a personal relational being with the purpose of God in your heart. God knows you by name and even the hairs upon your head are numbered (Luke 12:7). God’s plan for you is eternal. There’s more in store than what you see in the here and now. God has placed eternity in your heart to position you for eternal life (Eccl. 3:11). Your life goes beyond the grave. God’s plan for you extends beyond the immediate and includes eternal life. As you receive the gift of eternal life by faith, your forever is changed. Heaven becomes the place where you will live with God forever. The disciples responded to Jesus by getting into a boat and setting out. Jesus said, “Let’s go over to the other side.” Jesus did not say, “Let’s see if we can make it to the other side.” When Jesus is in your boat, there’s nothing to fear. Jesus will get you to the destination safely and right on time. Enjoy the journey! Trust God’s plan! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Being Content
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Phil 4:12 (NIV) The landscape of living in a fallen world is littered with inconsistencies, fluctuation, and instability. Selfishness and sin permeate our planet. People let us down. Deception, injustice, and greed fuel the choices made throughout the earth on a daily basis. Sound hopeless? Don’t lose heart. Paul understood the cultural current of living on a broken planet. He experienced the extremes of life including being a persecutor of the church and then becoming a preacher of the gospel. Paul knew adversity on a first name basis. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 for a snapshot of his resume of rejection, ridicule, and rigorous suffering. While incarcerated by the Roman government, Paul writes this personal love letter to the church at Philippi to remind them of his love for them and to encourage them in their faith. You may not be able to control your circumstances, but with Christ’s help, you can control how you respond to your circumstances. You may not be able to control how people treat you, but you can control how you respond to their treatment. Contentment is learned in the laboratory of life. God works through the daily grind in your life to form you and to fashion you. Don’t miss what God is seeking to do in your life in the midst of your adversity. Are you learning the secret of being content in any and every situation? What’s the secret? “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Phil 4:13 NIV). Christ Jesus is the curator of contentment! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell