“Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze.” Ex. 27:1-2 (NIV) When you think about relationships, there are different levels of intimacy. Some relationships are emotionally distant and surfaced whereas some relationships have the capacity to be more consistent and feature an element of closeness. Then there are those relationships where the interaction is meaningful, transparent, and magnetic. The Encarta Dictionary defines the word intimacy as a close personal relationship; a detailed knowledge resulting from a close or long association. One of my favorite definitions of intimacy is: “in to me you see.” God desires intimacy with you. In the Old Testament, the portrait of intimacy was the formation and utilization of the Tabernacle. God made a way for His people to experience intimacy with Him through a religious relationship. As you enter the Tabernacle, the first item you encounter is the altar of burnt offering. The New Testament equivalent is the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for your sin. As you pray through the Tabernacle, spend some time at the “altar of burnt offering” to praise God for His ultimate love gift and for Jesus being willing to pay the penalty for your sin. You determine the level of intimacy with God. As you draw near to God, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). God took the initiative to provide the way for you to enjoy an intimate love relationship with Him through faith in Jesus. What are you doing with the relationship God has made available to you? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Author: Stephen Trammell
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Guard Your Heart
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Prov 4:23 (NIV) God loves you and has a plan for your life. Satan hates you and also has a plan for your life. God’s plan is for you to stay close and clean. Satan’s plan is for you to stay distant and dirty. God saved you and set you apart so that you can walk in His holiness and enjoy His abiding presence. The enemy, Satan, will not cease trying to devour your devotion to God. Guard your heart! Don’t allow Satan, sin, or selfishness to invade your heart. Blockade your heart with the truth of God’s Word and fasten the breastplate of righteousness in place. Don’t give the devil access to your heart. Post guard! You are to love God with all your heart and to preserve your heart for His rightful place as Lord! God wants you to have a pure heart and to embody pure motives. Be single-minded and render undivided loyalty to Christ. Allow Jesus to reign in your life. Invite the Holy Spirit to take full possession of your heart. Leave no room for the enemy to confiscate any fraction of real estate within your heart. Post a “no trespassing” sign at the entrance of your heart to alert the enemy that he is not welcome to occupy any portion of your heart. Your heart is the wellspring of life. In the language of the Old Testament, the heart represents the inner person, the seat of motives and actions. The heart includes the thinking process and the will. You have the capacity to obey God with all of your heart. Guard His treasure, your heart! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:17-18 (NIV) God values harmony in His family. Disunity grieves the heart of God and erodes the fellowship of God’s children. Satan cannot attack God, so he chooses to attack God’s family. One of the weapons of Satan’s warfare is disharmony. God has a solution to Satan’s pollution. Ponder the consequences of retaliation. Instead of repaying evil for evil when someone offends you, choose to be kind. Extend the love of Christ and be a shining example of what it means to continue the ministry of Jesus. “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23 NIV). Let’s do what Jesus did. Retain the pursuit of righteousness. Be attentive and do what is right in the eyes of everybody. Live a life of love, a life of moral purity, and a life of impeccable integrity. Your Christian conduct should always honor God and benefit others. Your Christian conduct should honor God both in private and in public. Your lifestyle matters. Why does it matter? How you live affects your level of intimacy with God and your influence with others. When you embrace the “I don’t care what others think” attitude, you are underestimating your role as an ambassador for Christ. Address the impediments to harmony. Do your part. Keep your side of the court clean. Serve the ball by doing everything you can to live at peace with everyone. You can’t change people, but you can control how you respond to their treatment. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Vital Link
“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 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV) Why is prayer so important in the life of a fully devoted follower of Christ? Praying is like flying, when you stop, you drop. Kneeling in prayer keeps you standing. Prayer is the avenue through which we nurture our love relationship with Christ. Prayer is to the believer what water is to a fish, what helium is to a balloon, and what fuel is to a jet engine. Without prayer, there is no power. Without prayer there is no sacred communication with the Creator of the Universe. Prayer is the currency through which you participate in the economy of God’s kingdom activity. Prayer sensitizes you to the heartbeat of God. Through prayer you come to know the heart of God and you learn to discern the voice of God. Without prayer, you cannot live the life God has for you. Before you can conduct yourself in a Christian manner, you must become a Christian. Once you become a Christian, your Christian conduct is informed by God’s Word and empowered by God’s Spirit through the vital connection called prayer. What does your prayer life look like? If the prayers you offered up in the past seven days were transcribed, what would the content be? Would your transcribed prayers be redundant? Would they be filled with passion and compassion? Prayer is a spiritual discipline that builds your spiritual muscles. Now commit to talk to God about people and talk to people about God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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God’s Grace on Father’s Day
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Cor 9:8 (NIV) How would you describe your dad? Think about his qualities. What made him special to you? How did he best communicate love to you? Recall some of your favorite memories. Perhaps your heart is moved by the warmth of the memories the two of you made together. My dad was so special. He had an exceptional sense of humor and could have you laughing in a matter of seconds. My brother and I would lean into my dad with anticipation and ask him to make funny noises with his mouth. He would have us rolling in laughter. My dad was meticulous about the yard and attentive to his appearance. He took us fishing, threw ball with us in the yard, taught us to water ski, and helped us get into motocross racing. My mom and dad were affectionate toward each other and toward us. I wish I could have hit the pause button to prevent the impending shift. Our whole world changed when my dad chose a path that led to his becoming an alcoholic. Soon after my seventh birthday, my parents divorced. The trauma induced by the severed relationship placed me on a search to alleviate the immense pain of my heart. On March 28, 1979, just one month before my tenth birthday, I was introduced to the Greatest Father and received His gift of eternal life. Have you met the Greatest Father? His love for you is unconditional and His plan for you is personal. You can have a personal intimate relationship with the One who created you. On a Personal Note: My dad lives in Louisiana, has a personal relationship with our heavenly Father, and is finishing strong. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Declaration of His Love
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Col 1:19-20 (NIV) God was pleased! His unconditional love prompted His pursuit of rescuing us from our depravity. Having all His fullness dwell in Jesus brought God pleasure. God built the ultimate love bridge by becoming like us in Christ. The incarnation is a declaration of the fantastic love of God that transcends our understanding and benefits our forever. Through Christ, God reconciled us. In our sin, we were separated and alienated from Holy God. Only the depth of God’s love could bridge the gulf of our indifference. We were hopeless, helpless, and hell bound. But God acted in history to revolutionize our eternal destiny. God decided what to do for us long before we could do anything with God or for God! How did God accomplish the reconciliation and restoration of fallen humanity? God provided the ultimate sacrifice to remove our utter sin. Jesus made peace with God on our behalf through shedding His blood on the cross. Jesus did for us that which we could not do for ourselves. We were not qualified to pay the penalty of our own sin. We were not fit to receive the full wrath of God for sin. The iniquity of us all was laid on Jesus (Is. 53:6). Have you responded to the pleasure of God in Christ? Have you received the wonderful gift of eternal life, which God was pleased to provide to you in Christ? Now invest your life in sharing the message of reconciliation and extending the ministry of reconciliation. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Give Proportionately
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Cor 9:6 (NIV) What will be different in eternity because of your life on earth today? Does it really matter how you live? Does it really matter what you give? Of course the answer is a resounding yes! It does matter how you live and it does matter what you give. Stewardship and Lordship are inseparable. Your stewardship demonstrates Lordship. When you allow Jesus to be Lord of your time, talents, and treasure, then your stewardship bears the fruit of Lordship. You choose to allocate your time based on what Jesus values, to use your talents in service to the Lord, and to give your treasure to expand the kingdom of God. God measures the gift and the condition of the heart of the giver. When you give proportionately to the Lord’s work, God sees both the portion and the proportion. God blesses you based on what you give and how you give. Measure and motive matter to God. Jesus tells about His experience of seeing a poor widow put in two very small copper coins into the temple treasury. He then told His disciples that the rich had given out of their wealth, but this poor widow, out of her poverty, put in everything–all that she had to live on (Mark 12:41-44). Jesus affirmed both her measure and her motive. Will you give proportionately? Will you consider becoming a “storehouse” tither by giving ten percent of your income to the Lord’s work through the local church? If you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly. Choose to sow generously and you will reap generously. Assess your level of giving. Evaluate the motive behind the measure. Give proportionately to honor God and to bless others. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Yes on the Altar
“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” John 6:12-13 (NIV) The lad came prepared to feed himself and perhaps share with his own family. Jesus had a much larger plan for the lad’s meal and the lad’s life. Jesus took what the little boy was willing to give and then Jesus multiplied the five loaves and two fish to feed the multitudes. I remember hearing Pastor S. M. Lockridge preach on this passage in 1987 and he said, “Jesus is the only One who can multiply two times five and get five thousand.” Jesus not only met the need, but the disciples gathered twelve baskets filled with leftovers. Just bring Jesus what you have and watch what God does with your life. God can do more with your life fully surrendered to Him in five days than you can do in five decades. Surrender to the Lordship of Christ and place your yes on the altar. Yield to His authority in your life. Over the years I have periodically taken out a legal pad and detached a sheet of paper from it. Then, I would move to the bottom of the lined paper and sign my name. Then I would pray this prayer, “Lord, I am signing my name and asking You to fill in the blanks. I am willing to do what You want me to do, go where You want me to go, and say what You want me to say. Lord, I’m Yours! Use me for Your glory!” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Leave Room for Mystery
“Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.” John 6:10-11 (NIV) Do you think the little boy who was among the crowd had any idea what Jesus was going to do through his generosity on that day? When the lad woke up that morning, do you think he had any indication that his random act of kindness would feed the multitudes and one day be read by millions via the Bible? Life is a journey filled with mystery. We don’t know exactly what today may hold even in the midst of advance planning and disciplined energy allocation. God wants us to simply walk with Him and to trust Him every step of the way in the journey of life. God has a purpose and plan for us to fulfill as we join Him in His activity. If God let you know today everything He wants to accomplish through your life on earth, you would not have the capacity to contain it. In fact, if God chose to give you a glimpse of your entire life right now, it would overwhelm you. If God had revealed to the lad on that special morning that he was going to be responsible for feeding five thousand people, the boy would have never left his home. Will you trust God with what you know and entrust your life to Him with the unknown? Leave room for mystery and watch what God does with your life. Be available for His use and seek to practice instant obedience. There are needs God wants to meet through your life. Will you be a channel of blessing? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Bloom for God’s Glory
“Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’” John 6:8-9 (NIV) What does your current situation look like? The disciples where perplexed by the challenge of feeding five thousand people. Philip had already calculated that it would take more than eight months’ wages to buy enough food for each one to just a have a bite. Ironically, Andrew found a lad who was willing to give up his lunch. With five loaves and two fish, the situation remained hopeless. How would such a small lunch go far enough to feed the masses? Bring Jesus what you have and watch what He does with your life. The little boy was willing to let go of his lunch in order to be a blessing to others. He selflessly placed the needs of others before his own. Jesus took what the boy had freely given and miraculously multiplied it to feed the multitudes. Are you willing to bloom where God has planted you? The lad was willing to be used of God in a mighty way in order to meet the practical needs of those he could have never met on his own. Bring Jesus what you have. Bloom where God has planted you. He has placed you right where you are so that you can be a blessing to those in your sphere of influence. Maximize what God has given you. Make the most of the opportunities God has placed in front of you to continue the ministry of Jesus. Bloom for God’s glory. Even if your situation is dark and difficult, rely on God’s grace to enable you to bloom where He has planted you. God can multiply your influence for His glory! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” Rev 22:12 (NIV) What motivates you to serve? Do you serve for immediate recognition or eternal reward? Who is calculating your service? Jesus is the Rewarder! As you live to please Him and serve Him, Jesus rewards you personally both now and in the life to come. As Bruce Willkinson says, “Your belief determines where you spend eternity. Your behavior determines how you will spend eternity.” Jesus rewards your obedience in serving Him. Enjoy Personal Reward for Giving: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” Prov 19:17 (NIV) “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt 6:3-4 (NIV) Enjoy Personal Reward for Praying: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt 6:6 (NIV) Enjoy Personal Reward for Fasting: “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt 6:17-18 (NIV) Your life counts. Are you willing to allow Jesus to live in you and through you today in order to serve others? Your service to God will be rewarded by God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“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.” Josh 24:15 (NIV) Who are you serving? The answer to that question changes everything. Once you decide to serve the Lord, your life becomes intentional. You begin to live on purpose. In serving Jesus, you are drawn to connect with His family. Jesus is in charge! “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Eph 1:22-23 (NIV) “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Eph 4:16 (NIV) Stability flows from the Head, Jesus, down to the members of His Body, the church. The church is connected and held together by every supporting member. The design is for the church to grow and build itself up as each member does his or her part. Serving together as a team produces organizational stability. The local church is an organism that God grows as we serve. Stability is the byproduct of a church family serving together in unity. Unity produces stability. Does that describe the church you are connected to? Are you soaking or serving? Are you a spectator or a participator? Are you a consumer or a contributor? Commit to protect the unity of the church you are connected to. Pray for unity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Practical Unity & Serving
“Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” Mark 2:3-5 (NIV) Are you carrying your corner? What if one of the men decided not to carry his corner? Would the paralytic have made it to Jesus and received healing? Jesus saw their faith and healed the paralytic. Each man was carrying his corner. When you serve through the ministry of the local church with others, God produces the practical unity to fulfill His plan. God honors the unified body of believers who are committed to being on mission with Him. Unity is a mark of spiritual maturity. Jesus exemplified unity in His relationship with our Heavenly Father and with His disciples. In His priestly prayer, Jesus prayed that we would demonstrate that same unity. “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22-23 NIV). Have you been brought to complete unity with the local expression of the Body of Christ, His Church? Is there anyone that you need to make things right with? Don’t hesitate to do the right thing in order to honor God and to bring unity to His Body. Do whatever it takes to ensure unity. Serving the one who offended you will produce practical unity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Matt 25:35-36 (NIV) As you grow you serve and as you serve you grow. In the midst of your serving, God brings others into the equation. He will bring people into your path to give you an opportunity to serve them and to meet their needs. At other times, God will bring people into your life to help meet your needs. Keep investing in the lives of others. Continue to shine His light and share His love through serving. God will add to our number. Serving produces numerical increase. God will draw people to know His love as you serve sacrificially. “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Acts 2:41 (NIV) “…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47 (NIV) Serving puts feet to your prayer life. Serving gives evidence to a watching world that you are living to benefit others. When you give your life away through selfless service, God multiplies your impact. You become a channel of God’s blessing as you build bridges to people in need. Remember, you are never more like Jesus than when you are serving. As you live out the Christ-centered life in a self-absorbed world, God will use you to bring others into the Kingdom. That’s right! Heaven’s population is multiplied by your faithfulness in serving the Living God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.” Zeph 3:9 (NIV) Serving produces spiritual growth. As you serve God by serving others you develop spiritual muscles. Spiritual growth produces serving and serving produces spiritual growth. God does not want you to stay where you are in your spiritual development. God wants you to grow spiritually and to demonstrate that spiritual growth through serving. Serving involves placing the needs of others before your own. To be other-centered is to follow the example of Jesus and to give evidence of spiritual growth. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4 NIV). Serving is a process of allowing the life of Christ to be realized through your life to others. Selfishness is an indication of spiritual immaturity. Selflessness is an indication of spiritual maturity. What will you model today, selfishness or selflessness? Will you diligently serve others today or persistently seek to be served by others? Spend a few moments right now expressing your availability to God for His use. Allow Him to have His way in your life today. Even when you don’t feel like serving others, faith it until you feel it. As you serve others, the love of Christ will flow through you like a river. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Willing to Share
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Tim 6:18-19 (NIV) There are more verses in the Bible about money than about heaven and hell combined. There are more than 2,350 verses related to the issue of stewardship. God is the owner and we are the managers. God entrusts us with the task of being good stewards of His resources. Order your life to honor God and benefit others. Do good. Be rich in good deeds. Be generous. Be willing to share with others. The activity of living to benefit others produces treasure for yourself in heaven. God rewards your faithfulness in His kingdom economy. If you want to take hold of life that is truly life, then order your life around God’s priorities. Your submission to the Lordship of Christ will be reflected in your stewardship of God’s resources. Lordship and stewardship are inseparable. If Jesus is Lord of your life then His Lordship will be evident in your allocation of resources. The world’s philosophy to money management is to earn it so that you can spend it. The average American spends $1.20 for every $1.00 he or she earns. God’s way is that you earn it, tithe it (eternal), save it (future), repay it (past), and spend it. Give God the firstfruits of your income. To tithe your income is to give 10% of your gross income (before taxes) to the Lord through the ministry of His local church. Give proportionately, consistently, and cheerfully. Assess your current financial reality. What do you earn? What do you owe? Where does your money go? Order your life to honor God and to benefit others. Take hold of the life that is truly life! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Are You Rich?
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” 1 Tim 6:17 (NIV) Would you consider yourself rich? That question is rather ambiguous unless you have a clear point of reference. If I asked you if you were rich compared to Bill Gates, you may instantly respond with “absolutely not!” So let’s expand our point of reference to the 6.78 billion people presently on the earth. I want to share a quote with you from a book I have read recently that God has used in my life. The book is entitled, Radical, by David Platt. “We are an affluent people living in an impoverished world. If we make only ten thousand dollars a year, we are wealthier than 84 percent of the world, and if we make fifty thousand dollars a year, we are wealthier than 99 percent of the world.” Now let me ask you the question, “Are you rich?” You are rich! You are blessed! In his letter to Timothy, Paul reminds us to not be arrogant and to not put our hope in wealth. Our faith is not to be in our possessions, our position, or our portfolio. Instead, we are to put our hope in God. If you are going to anchor your faith to anything, it will be futile unless you anchor your faith in the Most High God! God provides us with everything we need to live in the center of His will and to fulfill His purposes in our generation. Align your time, energy, and resources to honor God. Is God first in your life? Is your love relationship with Him your top priority? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Being Stewards
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’” Mark 12:17 (NIV) What belongs to God? Everything! God is the Creator and the owner of the entire universe and everything on the earth. As His children, we are simply managers of God’s resources. God expects us to fulfill our civil duty as citizens and pay taxes. God also expects us to fulfill our duty as kingdom citizens and bring the tithe to His storehouse. “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’” Mal 3:10 (NIV) My wife and I have had the joy of practicing biblical stewardship together as a married couple for almost twenty years. God has proven faithful to His Word! I have often been asked, “Are you supposed to tithe on your income before or after taxes?” A similar question I have been asked on several occasions is, “Do you tithe on your gross income or net income?” Both of these questions are valid. My personal conviction, based on my study of God’s Word, is that your tithe is to be based on your income before taxes are withheld. You tithe on your gross income. The biblical stewardship principles my wife and I have faithfully embraced include: giving proportionately (at least 10% of our income before taxes are withheld), giving consistently, and giving cheerfully. God is faithful. You can trust Him with your life, your future, and your income. God can make 90% of your income, with 10% given to Him, go farther than 100% of your income. God blesses obedience! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Blessed By God
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Eph 1:3 (NIV) You are God’s treasure. Can you imagine the Creator of the universe being the reason for your existence? You are not an accident. God purposed for you to be born. You were planned by God. Another reality of being in Christ is that you are blessed. If you are in Christ, then you can say, “I am blessed.” Go ahead and say it aloud! God has blessed you in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. God’s resources are unlimited. He never runs out! He never runs dry! His shelves are never empty! Our God of abundance has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ. When someone asks you today, “How are you doing?”…don’t say, “Oh, I’m doing alright.” Instead, say with conviction and confidence and assurance, “I am blessed!” Doesn’t that make you want to shout? Don’t ever forget who you are in Christ. You are a child of the King! You are blessed and highly favored by the Lord. Walk in the new identity you have in Christ. You are blessed to be a blessing to others. Regardless of your circumstances, your identity in Christ is safe and secure. Your identity is fashioned by God. You are blessed by God to be a blessing for God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Pray Strategically
“The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.” Psalm 98:2 (NIV) You may not have the opportunity to travel to every continent on the planet, but you can touch every continent through prayer. Choose to pray strategically by employing a weekly prayer plan for the continents. Pray for Africa on Monday, Asia on Tuesday, Australia and Oceania on Wednesday, and Europe on Thursday. Pray for North America on Friday, South America on Saturday, and then pray for the church you are connected to on Sunday. Our natural proclivity is to be individualistic in our praying. We get so self-absorbed and self-centered that we bypass the joy and delight of praying for those outside of our sphere of influence. Go global with your prayer life. “’Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.’” Acts 4:12 (NIV) “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) Embrace God’s heart for the nations of the earth. God loves every people group and provides salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus. You can participate in God’s redemptive activity through the powerful avenue of prayer. Pray for the softening of the hearts of the people throughout the earth. Allocate some time each day to pray for one of the continents. Would you be willing to go on a short-term mission trip to one of the continents that you pray for? God has saved you so that you can invest your life in bringing others to Christ. It all begins with praying for those not connected to Christ. Yes! You can change the world through prayer. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Pray Continually
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) What if the content of your prayers this week were transcribed and put into book form and placed on the end table in a doctor’s office waiting room for others to read? What would your prayer life reveal to others? What would the content of your prayers reveal about your walk with God? Choose to pray specifically. Instead of articulating generic requests and ambiguous petitions, begin to pray with specificity. For example, begin pray for others to know and enjoy the personal presence of Jesus. Pray for lost people by name. Write their names down and pray specifically for these individuals to become children of God. If the whole world is under the control of the evil one, then who will rescue the perishing? Who will do spiritual battle in prayer for the lost souls on this planet? Pray evangelistically and be willing to be used of God in the process of bringing others to Christ. Jesus has given us understanding so that we can know Him personally and make Him known intentionally. Jesus is the true God! There is no other! Jesus is eternal life! Jesus is the hope of the world. Jesus has saved us so that we can continue His ministry on the earth of bringing others into His kingdom. As a kingdom citizen, you have a kingdom assignment. Pray specifically for the salvation of individuals by name. Pray expectantly by making yourself available for God’s use in His redemptive activity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Seeking God
“In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David.” 2 Chron 34:3 (NIV) What caused Josiah, at the age of sixteen, to begin to seek God? When you look at his family tree, you find that both his father, Amon, and his grandfather, Manasseh, did evil in the eyes of the Lord. It is obvious that Josiah did not receive his spiritual heritage from them. When you look into the life of his great-grandfather, Hezekiah, you find a much different portrait. “Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.” 2 Chron 29:1-2 (NIV) I wonder if Josiah was influenced by the godly life that his great-grandfather, Hezekiah, lived. Another possibility is that Josiah began to seek God when he became a daddy, at the age of sixteen, to Jehoahaz. For me personally, when I became a daddy my understanding of God’s love and my pursuit of God intensified. There’s something about seeing your own flesh and blood and embracing the awesome responsibility of parenthood that draws you to God. You recognize your dependency upon God. Regardless of your age or life stage, assess your level of thirst for God? Are you passionately seeking God daily and allowing Him to have full access to your mind, emotions, and will? Is there anything or anyone you desire more than you desire God? I have discovered in my walk with God, whatever you feed grows and whatever you starve dies. Make Jesus your top priority. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Let Jesus quench your thirst! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NIV) Knowledge is needed to take things apart. Wisdom is needed to put things back together. When your life is coming apart, you need God’s wisdom to put your life in order. Trials tend to skew our vision and stifle our passion. It is so easy to lose perspective when facing trials. Our tendency is to be captured by the immediate and bypass the future that God has in store for us. Why do we wait so long in the process to turn to God in prayer? We try to figure out circumstances on our own and frantically search for answers apart from God. Nothing comes into our lives without God’s permission. If God permits trials, then God will use those trials for our good and for His glory. If only we can embrace that reality earlier in the process of our trials. God is both the Creator and Sustainer of our lives. He knows where we are and what we are facing and where we are heading. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10 (NIV) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Prov 3:5-6 (NIV) In faith, turn to God and ask for His wisdom. Seek to gain God’s perspective on the trials you face. God knows what you don’t know and God sees what you don’t see. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11 (NIV) What are you passionate about? What are you giving your time, energy, and resources to? What gets the best of you? Your answer unveils your zeal. God placed zeal in you. Your passion is an expression of your spiritual DNA. God gives you the ability to be passionate in this life. However, it is possible to misdirect the passion God gives you. Your passion can be diverted to areas that are unhealthy or unfruitful. You can channel your passion to outlets that dishonor God or even to good things that rob God’s best for you. God’s Word teaches us to keep our spiritual fervor. Our passion in action should be vertical in nature. We are to be passionate for God. Our zeal for God and His Kingdom should never experience a deficit. As we nurture our passion for God, we are to keep our passion channeled in the paths that God provides. Are you passionate about the things of God? Does your life give evidence to the passion God desires from you? Take some time to assess your current reality. See if your passion is misdirected. Examine your life to the level of identifying the source of your passion and the expression of your passion in action. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, ‘Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, “What do these stones mean?” tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.’” Josh 4:4-7 (NIV) Don’t forget what God has done to bring you to the place where you are right now. Take note of the sacrifices others have made to protect our freedom and preserve our future. Recognize the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on the cross to provide atonement for our sin. Joshua wanted to solidify the crossing of the Jordan River as a spiritual marker for all of Israel. He wanted to ensure that future generations would know what God had done to bring about deliverance to the people of God. Joshua utilized the twelve stones, which were selected from the middle of the Jordan to serve as a memorial. Solidify your spiritual markers. When did you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? When did you follow the Lord in believer’s baptism? Where were you when God revealed Himself to you during a season of adversity? Identify some God-moments you have experienced in the journey of life. Testify of God’s faithfulness by sharing with another person. They may need the encouragement you have to offer right now. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Adding Value to Others
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10 (NIV) Be devoted. People matter to God and as followers of Jesus Christ we view others through the lens of God’s redemptive activity. Be devoted to demonstrating brotherly love to one another. You can add value to others by loving them with the same love you have graciously received from God. Be humble. Value those God has placed in your life. Treat the next person you meet at the most important person on the planet. Honor others above yourself. Humility is a constant challenge in that we are by nature selfish. To put others first is a supernatural activity empowered by the Holy Spirit living in us. It is natural to think of yourself first; it is supernatural to think of others first. Yield to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and elevate others in your life. Show them that they matter and that you value them. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 (NIV) “But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.’” Acts 9:15-16 (NIV) Ananias chose to consider Saul better than himself. God had affirmed His redemptive activity in Saul’s life and invited Ananias into the process. You could imagine the fear that gripped Ananias after hearing so many reports about Saul being a persecutor of the church. Now God was calling the persecutor of believers to become a preacher of the gospel. Seek to add value to others by viewing them through the cross. Make yourself available for God’s use and join God in His activity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Sincere Love
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 (NIV) Are you contagious in your Christianity? Your influence for Christ is propelled by sincere love. Love that is genuine, authentic, and without hypocrisy is the kind of love that makes your Christianity contagious. This kind of love originates with God and emanates from your life as you yield to His control. Choose to hate what God hates and love what God loves. Hate what is evil. Despise those things that break the heart of God. Fortify your life from poison of sin and the pollution of worldliness by hating evil and clinging to what is good. Consider those things that bring glory to God and cling to those things. Be discerning. Decipher the tactics of the enemy and embrace the way of the cross. Don’t give the devil a toehold which can become a foothold and ultimately become a stronghold in your life. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the schemes of the devil. Run from sin and run to Christ. Flee the impulses of immorality and pursue the purity of the Prince of Peace. Turn from the terrain of trespass and walk in the way of God’s Word. Allow the sincerity of God’s unconditional love permeate your life. Allow God’s love to illuminate your world and to influence the people He brings into your path. As you hate what is evil and cling to what is good, let the river of God’s love flow through you in order to bring hope and healing to a world in desperation. God loves you so much and desires that you be a channel of His love to a hurting world. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Protect Unity
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:4-5 (NIV) God’s will is for you to believe in Jesus alone for salvation and to belong to His local body of believers known as the church. When you are saved you are adopted into God’s forever family and then you choose to connect with a local church where you can grow spiritually and serve faithfully. Every member is important. In God’s economy, every member of the local body of believers matters to God. God graces you with salvation and with spiritual gifts so that you can honor God and benefit the body of Christ. In Christ, we form one body. Every member has the responsibility to protect the unity of the body. Choose to diffuse gossip and infuse an attitude of gratitude throughout the body. Gossip is when you say something behind another person’s back that you would not say to their face. Flattery is when you say something to a person’s face that you would not say behind their back. Don’t glide into the gully of gossip. Protect the unity of the church you are connected to. Believe in Jesus and demonstrate the privilege and responsibility of belonging to Christ and His local body of believers. Testify of His redeeming love in your life and protect the unity of His local church by being intentional in your conversation and conduct. Sometimes protecting unity involves confronting others who are sowing discord. God empowers you to speak the truth in love. Don’t allow the weeds of this world to grow in the garden of God’s family. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Practice Humility
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” Romans 12:3 (NIV) Our tendency is to view ourselves from a distance and to view others under a microscope. Overestimating yourself leads to pride. Underestimating yourself leads to false humility. Make an accurate assessment of your current reality by using Jesus as your standard. The highway of happiness is paved with humility. Happiness and humility go together. Jesus modeled a life of humility by submitting to the Father’s agenda and by living to benefit others. In humility, Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross to provide for the forgiveness of our sins and to reconcile us back to God. Discover the haven of humility. Admit that you don’t have it all together. Admit that you haven’t arrived. Recognize that you haven’t learned all that God wants you to learn and you haven’t completed everything God wants you to do. Make an accurate assessment of yourself before a holy God in light of His holiness. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” Romans 12:3 (NIV) “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Col 3:12 (NIV) Give up your kingdom so you can inherit God’s kingdom! Clothe yourself with humility. You cannot live the life God has for you without His supernatural enablement. His power comes to you through the doorway of humility. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Renew and Render
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV) There is an immense gravitational pull to succumb to the allurements of the world. We combat the pattern of this world, the flaming arrows of the evil one, and the cravings of the flesh. Choosing to conform to the path of worldliness dilutes our spiritual passion and distorts our spiritual focus. We will bypass God’s best for us. We will forfeit God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will. God gives us the freedom to choose our path. We do not have to travel down the lane of lust or the highway of hostility or the sidewalk of selfishness. Floating down the river of culture and allowing the current of compromise to corrode our character is not God’s will for us. God did not sacrifice His only Son in order for us to drift into sin. Renew your mind by replacing sin with Scripture, by replacing falsehood with truth, and by replacing self-centeredness with Christlikeness. Scrape off the peeling paint of improper thinking and apply the fresh paint of God’s Holy Word. Your life is too valuable to allow corrupt thinking to occupy your mind. God’s plan for your life is too important to waste another moment allowing toxic thoughts to contaminate your mind. Unload your mind! Make room for God’s Word to take full possession of your mind. Make a commitment to feed on God’s Word daily. Seek to memorize a verse each week, internalize that verse, and then align your thinking with that verse. Renew your mind and render your transformation. Let God control your thinking. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell