Author: Stephen Trammell

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Christlikeness Conformity Romans

Tools God Uses

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29 (NIV) God saved you to become like Christ. Your sin has been forgiven and your eternal destiny has been secured. In Christ, you are adopted into God’s family and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Now you are in the process of becoming who you are in Christ. God predestined that you be conformed to the image of Christ. You get to participate in the process of that transformation. What are some of the tools God uses to conform us to the likeness of Christ? Sometimes God uses the hammer of adversity and the chisel of suffering to bring us into conformity with the character of Christ. Other times, God may use seasons of silence to test our faith and to prove our devotion. God allows fully yielded and fully devoted followers of Christ to come into our path to model likeness of Christ. They give us a portrait of what we can become as we mature in our faith. Assess your current reality? How is God conforming you to the likeness of Christ? Are you being responsive to His prompting? Allow God to chip off anything in your life that does not bring honor to Christ. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal any area of your life that distracts from your spiritual progress. Daily surrender to the Lordship of Christ and seek His face in prayer. Embrace the reality of God’s will. God desires that you become more and more like Christ each day. God uses various tools to conform you into the image of Christ so that you can be an effective tool for His glory on the earth. Your life matters to God. Every detail matters to Him. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Christlikeness Conformity Romans

Predestined to be Conformed

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29 (NIV) How did we make it into the family tree of Christ? We are products of the grace of God. The only way in is through the doorway of God’s grace. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV). Are you thankful that God made a way for us to know Him personally and intimately? You are in the Royal Family through the grace of God as evidenced in your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Now that you have been adopted into His family, God wants you to become like Christ. The process of sanctification follows salvation. Once you are saved, God places you on a path to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. We have the wonderful privilege of participating with God in the process of conformity. God seeks to remove anything in us that doesn’t look like Jesus. Sometimes God will use the chisel of adversity and sometimes God will use the hammer of silence. God will allow us to go through seasons of uncertainty to conform us into the likeness of Christ. Reflect for a few moments on the level of Christ-likeness that has been attained in your journey thus far. What behavior and attitudes do you exhibit currently that just don’t line up with Christ-likeness? Will you participate with God in the process of conformity? Spend time studying the life of Christ and emulating His life. You have received His imputed righteousness. Now work out what He has worked in. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Elijah God's Purpose Sovereignty

God’s Plan will Succeed

“At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: ‘O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.’” 1 Kings 18:36-37 (NIV) Elijah prayed a bold prayer and experienced the power of God. He had challenged the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah to a showdown on Mount Carmel. The prophets called on the name of Baal from morning till noon and received no response. However, Elijah had the sacrifice drenched in water and then he stepped forward to call on God. The power of God fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the soil, and the water in the trench. Elijah prayed to God in faith and experienced a demonstration of God’s power. The people saw this and fell prostrate to the ground and exclaimed, “The Lord—he is God!” This was truly a mountaintop experience that portrayed the effectiveness of praying in faith. God answers prayer! What are you currently combating? What is perplexing you? Have you considered taking that burden to the Lord in prayer? You know that God is able to consume a water-soaked sacrifice. You know that God can cause fire to fall at a moment’s notice. There’s nothing beyond God’s reach. Do you believe that God will do what He says He will do? Do you believe that God is able to deliver you through your circumstances? God is waiting for you to take Him at His Word and to entrust your life to His care. You will never face anything that God cannot handle. God will work everything together for your good and for His glory! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Discernment Encouragement Potential

Unlocking Potential

“The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” Proverbs 20:5 (NIV) God brings people into our lives to help us see and seize the potential God has placed inside of us. When you allow someone to get close enough to you so they can know you personally, it creates a unique relationship for your potential to be unleashed. God allows others to hold up a mirror before us to see what we haven’t been seeing. Think about the people God has brought into your life at specific moments to help you realize your potential. These wonderful people believed in you and saw things in you that you did not even detect. They had the ability to draw out the best in you. How refreshing to have someone love you and to believe in you! Jesus demonstrated the value of investing in others. He helped the disciples recognize their potential and then unleashed their potential in ministry. For example, Jesus believed in Matthew, the tax collector, and enabled him to become a fully devoted disciple. Jesus believed in Peter and helped him to become a vibrant leader of the New Testament church. Jesus can take a nobody and make him or her a somebody even when everybody fails to see the potential resident within. Jesus specializes in helping ordinary people do the extraordinary. Are you available to draw out the purposes of a person’s heart? Are you willing to invest in another person’s life at the level of seeing their potential and helping them seize their God-given potential? God wants to use you in bringing out the best in others. You can become a conduit of blessing in the lives of others. Ask God to show you an individual to invest in. The person may be a family member, a friend, or a co-worker. Seek to draw out the best in that person for the glory of God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Eternity Faith Finishing Strong

Hall of Faith

“All these people were still living by faith when they died.” Heb 11:13 (NIV) It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish. Commit to finish well. When you study the Hall of Faith found in Hebrews chapter eleven, you will discover great men and women who chose to finish well. They were still living by faith when they died. What are you giving your life to? Have you determined the focus of your life? Living by faith involves allowing Christ to live His life through you. Living by faith includes surrendering your life to God’s agenda. Yielding to the Lordship of Christ moment by moment validates the reality of living by faith. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV) “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV) Determine to cross the finish line of this life living by faith. Don’t let anything or anyone deter you from living a life pleasing to God. Grow in your love relationship with the Lord so that your daily walk will give evidence to a life of faith. Trusting God with the details of your life requires activating your faith. Will you submit to God’s authority? Will you obey God’s Word and embrace His way?  Finish well by demonstrating a life of instant obedience. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Faith God's Way Pleasing God

Pleasing God

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Heb 11:6 (NIV) Pleasing the Creator of the universe seems impossible. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God is holy, perfect, immutable, and eternal. God is infinite. How can finite man please God? The vital ingredient to pleasing God is faith. This type of faith is the conviction that God is who He says He is. To live a life pleasing to God, you must operate in faith. The focus of your life becomes God’s agenda. You demonstrate belief in God’s existence by fearing Him and revering Him through a lifestyle of obedience. Choose to come to God knowing that He desires intimacy with you. As a child of God, you have the distinct privilege of knowing that God rewards you as you seek Him earnestly. God rewards you with abiding peace, continual fellowship, and eternal hope. Is your life pleasing to God? Is faith operative in your conversation and your conduct? Portray your conviction about the truth of God’s nature and character. God has pursued you with His love. Respond to God’s pursuit by living a life of faith that brings pleasure to Him. Determine to please God through behavior that is consistent with His Word. Ask God to reveal those areas of your life that are out of alignment with His purpose and plan. As God brings those specific areas to your attention, choose to repent and go in a new direction. Remove those things in your life that rob your love relationship with God. Put your faith in action. Remember, without faith it is impossible to please God! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Faith Hope Trust

Eyes of Faith

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Heb 11:1 (NIV) Are you convinced that you are saved and that you will go to heaven? Are you convinced that God is who He says He is? That’s faith! Being confident of your current reality in Christ is the evidence of faith. If you have placed your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross, then you are certain of what you do not see. The Christian life often involves seeing the invisible. You are trusting that what Jesus did two thousand years ago on Calvary makes a difference in your life today and for eternity. You hope for eternal life and heaven and you are certain of that reality because of faith being operative in your life. God gives you the ability to see the unseen through the eyes of faith. When you view life through your eyes of flesh you will often miss the activity of God and the reality of His abiding presence. Viewing life through the eyes of faith is to view life from God’s perspective. Through the eyes of faith, you begin to see the unseen and God enables you to discern His activity. Your faith is anchored in God’s Word and your confidence is placed in the character of God. What are you unsure of right now? In what areas has your confidence been wavering? Your faith will be tested and your dependence upon God will not go unchallenged. Draw near to God and trust His heart during times of uncertainty. God is trustworthy. He knows where you are and He knows what is best for you, even in the midst of your immediate concerns. God will see you through. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Delays Jesus Lazarus

Dealing with Delays

“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.” John 11:5-6 (NIV) Delays are painful. We understand that God is all-knowing and that God is love, but we just don’t always fully understand God’s timing. When God doesn’t respond in the time frame that we have established, we wonder if God really cares. Delays intensify our fears and magnify the reality of our meager faith. Have you ever been between a rock and hard place and wondered if God would come through for you? Have your circumstances ever taken you to a place you never thought you would go? God allows us to go through those seasons and experience those places in order to come to know the depth of His love. God is for us. God always has our best interest in mind. Nothing happens to a child of God without His permission. If God permits it, then God will use it for your good and for His glory. Martha and Mary experienced the full impact of a delay. Their brother, Lazarus, was sick and died before Jesus got there. They knew firsthand the trauma of unmet expectations. They had seen Jesus speak life into the dead. They had seen Jesus restore sight to the blind, speech to the mute, mobility to the lame, and hearing to the deaf. Yet, Jesus did not operate according to their personal time preference. Jesus delayed. Why doesn’t God show up to resolve your dilemmas sooner? Why does God seem to delay His response to your need for divine intervention? God’s timing is perfect. He is never late. God, in His sovereignty, takes the confetti of our lives and produces a portrait of His grace. Do you trust God? Are you entrusting your life and your circumstances to His care? Are you willing to obey God in the midst of a perceived delay? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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God's Provision Romans Sovereignty

Trust God’s Heart

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV) Consider all the moving parts that are featured in one single day in your life. The complexities of life are painted upon the canvas of our existence. One constant in life is the perpetual movement of God’s working all things together for your good and His glory. You love God and you are called according to His purpose. God invited you into His redemptive story. God initiated the love relationship you enjoy with Him each day. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 (NIV) “However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.’” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV) God has designed you for His glory. In this life, you will experience seasons of uncertainty. Trust God’s heart even when you can’t trace God’s hand. The events of your life are orchestrated by God to bring you into intimate fellowship with Jesus in spite of your circumstances. You can walk in the assurance of God’s heart for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Commit Romans 8:28 to memory and pray through this wonderful promise of God. You are never more secure than when you are operating in the promises of God. Take God at His Word and trust His heart. You matter to God and your future is in His care. Is there anything you need to entrust to God’s care? Are there any burdens you are bearing? In all things God works. You can trust God’s heart. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Grace Moses Romans

Fullness of God’s Grace

“And we know…” Romans 8:28a (NIV) What do you do when your world is falling apart? Sometimes you are surprised by the circumstances of life. Living in a fallen world generates unpredictable situations that require your response. How will you respond? Remember that God is working. God is always at work in the midst of your circumstances. There is nothing beyond His reach and nothing beyond His compassion. God cares about you and everything you face in this life. Turn interruptions into opportunities to experience the fullness of God’s grace. When life catches you by surprise, you are positioned for a special encounter of God’s grace. The grace of God always matches the depth of your need. Find comfort in God’s omniscience. God is not surprised by your surprises. Before the circumstances were formulated before you, God was at work to navigate your path to be drawn close to His heart. Draw near to God and enjoy the proximity of uninhibited intimacy. God can take the mess of our lives and make a masterpiece. God can convert the trauma in our lives into something triumphant. If God allows something to come into your life, He will use it for your good and His glory. As you travel the terrain of life, rest in the assurance of God’s activity. Be affirmed of God’s Presence and His consistent release of comfort and strength. God will provide you with everything you need for doing life His way. How are you currently responding to the interruptions that come into your life? Seize the opportunity to experience the fullness of God’s grace. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Intentionality Jesus On Mission

On Your Way

“Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.” Luke 13:22 (NIV) In the final six months of His earthly ministry, Jesus stayed on mission with God. Embracing the reality of His impending sacrifice for the sins of the world and enduring the agony of the cross, Jesus continued to travel and teach. Jesus extended personal touch ministry as He remained focus on the mission of seeking and saving the lost. As Jesus did life on the dusty roads, He made room for others. We spend so much of our time on our way to the next activity or event. Think about how many times each day you find yourself on your way to fulfill a commitment or to meet a deadline. There are so many tugs on your time and attention. As you are on your way, God wants you to make the most of that transition time. Maybe you are on your way to work or on your way to school and you decide to maximize the travel time by praying for others. You could use your daily commute to quote Bible verses or to sing songs of worship and praise to God. Be creative in how you use your time when you are on your way. Instead of viewing time sitting in a doctor’s office as a waste of time, capture those moments to read God’s Word or to text message notes of encouragement to others. Allow God to use you to be a blessing even during times of transitioning from one event to another or from one meeting to another. Keep the main thing the main thing. Staying on mission with God is a perpetual discipline that requires sensitivity to God’s activity. God wants to do a work in you so that He can do a work through you. Give God room to work! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Holy Spirit Prayer Romans

Keeps on Aligning

“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” Romans 8:27 (NIV) Your body is a house of prayer. When you became a follower of Jesus Christ, you were adopted into God’s family and your body became the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Indwelling Holy Spirit intercedes for you in alignment with God’s will. As a child of God, you can affirm that Someone is always praying in you and for you. The Holy Spirit keeps on praying and keeps on aligning your prayers with the purposes of God. God created you for His glory and He searches your heart. “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD” (Psalm 139:1-4 NIV). God knows you intimately and He intimately knows the mind of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings your needs before God. Sometimes you don’t know what to pray and sometimes you may pray about something unwisely. The Holy Spirit edits your prayers and brings them into alignment with God’s plan. Thank God for the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who intercedes to bring the purposes of God to fruition. You are not designed by God to continue the ministry of Jesus on the earth in your own strength. God has chosen to take up residence inside of you through the Person of the Holy Spirit. Your constant Companion is the loving and interceding Holy Spirit. You are never alone. Keep joining the sacred communication known as prayer. Be thankful for the intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit living inside you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Holy Spirit Prayer Romans

Keeps on Filling in the Gaps

“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Romans 8:26b (NIV) This past summer I had the privilege of serving as a chaperon for some of the fifth grade boys for our annual preteen camp. One of the highlights was free time. All the third, fourth, and fifth graders got to enjoy the zip line, the swimming pool, the water slide, the train, dodge-ball, paddle-boats, and the most amazing go-carts. Once the gate opened for my crew to get into the go-cart action, a few of my guys couldn’t reach the gas pedal. Fortunately, the attendant came to the rescue by inserting a cushion between the rider and the rear portion of the seat. The cushion filled in the gap and enabled each of my guys to enjoy the fun on the track. Then of course, I got to race them! When it comes to prayer, we experience a gap between our being finite and God being infinite. Because of our finiteness and fallibility we cannot perceive fully what God would desire. Therefore, we do not grasp fully what is appropriate in prayer. We are weak in that we do not know what to pray for, since the totality of God’s will is somewhat hidden from us. The Spirit fills this lack through the ministry of intercession. Our deficiency is compensated by His sufficiency. When we don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in ways that are beyond our human comprehension. The gap created by our humanity is filled by the intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit. He keeps on filling in the gap for us. When you pray, the Holy Spirit edits your prayers to bring your petitions before our Holy God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Obedience Parable Receptivity

The Heart God Blesses

“But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Luke 8:15 (NIV) How well do you receive God’s Word? Your level of receptivity is a direct reflection of the condition of your heart. Your heart is the soil upon which the seed, God’s Word, is sown. As you hear, read, and feed on God’s Word, the seed is sown in your heart. If you have a noble and good heart, then the seed will take root in your life and produce a harvest. It starts with your heart. Ask God to search your heart. The light of His holiness will reveal the true condition of your heart. Does your heart resemble the hard path, or the rocky ground, or the thorn infused ground? You can become calloused toward the things of God. You can become distracted by the magnetic pull of worldliness and materialism. It is possible to choke out the Word of God by the worries of this life. Purify your heart before the Lord. Remove the impurities that constrict the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life. Take the initiative to purify your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. Keep yourself from being polluted by the world. Prepare the soil of your heart to receive the seed of God’s Word. Keep your heart noble and good. Consistently intake God’s Word through hearing, reading, and feeding on God’s Word each day. Your level of receptivity will be evidenced through the level of productivity in the harvest. Move from being a hearer of the Word to being a doer of the Word. Put God’s Word into action through instant obedience. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Hearing Parable Receptivity

Levels of Receptivity

“’A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.’” Luke 8:5-8 (NIV) Have you noticed how you can read the Bible during a given season that you are in and then read the same passage of Scripture at another season of life and get something radically different from the very same passage? It has so much to do with your level of receptivity. I have noticed in my own life that when I am going through a season of brokenness, God’s Word captures my heart at a different level. If I am seeking to become more like Christ in how I treat others, reading the Gospels develops in me a new perspective on viewing others through the eyes of Christ. The condition of your heart directly affects the level of revelation that takes root in your life. When your heart resembles the hard path, the thorny ground, or the rocky ground, your level of receptivity to God’s Word diminishes exponentially. The wonderful news is that your heart can resemble good soil. Your heart can be tender and receptive to God’s Word and yield a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. Your intake of God’s Word can be beneficial, productive, and life changing if the condition of your heart is right. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Holy Spirit Prayer Romans

Keeps on Helping

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Romans 8:26a (NIV) Have you ever wondered what to say when you don’t know what to pray? Here’s some wonderful news from God’s Word. The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We are finite and have limitations that keep us from always knowing what to pray. The Spirit keeps on helping you carry the load. Living in a fallen world creates stress and distress and discouragement. You need outside help. You need the assistance the Holy Spirit provides. In this life, you combat the weaknesses found in the human condition and you combat the perpetual susceptibility to sin. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17 (NIV) The Person of the Holy Spirit living inside of you is your Counselor. The Spirit of truth lives in you and empowers you to live in victory and enables you to overcome adversity. He is your Comforter. When you are unsure of the path God wants you to take, the Holy Spirit living in you, illuminates the path. When you are hurting and feeling down, the Holy Spirit comforts you. He is your constant Companion. You are never alone. You are never without help and without hope. The Spirit of truth equips you to operate in the center of God’s will. He helps you carry the load produced during this earthly existence. Where do you feel weak? Where do you need the Spirit’s help right now? Yield fully to the Spirit’s control. Enjoy the journey God has for you by submitting to the work of the Holy Spirit living in you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Family Forgiveness Joseph

The Encore of Forgiveness

“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?’” Genesis 50:15 (NIV) Forgiveness is tested by memory. Only God has the capacity to forgive and forget. We have the capacity to forgive, but we struggle with forgetting what happened to us. Inevitably, something will trigger the memory of the pain of our past. Remember, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and Joseph experienced quite a ride before becoming second in command in Egypt. Joseph had revealed himself to his brothers. He had forgiven them in private before God, then he went public with his forgiveness and even provided for the needs of his family. Their father, Jacob, dies and it triggers the pain of the past. Joseph has already forgiven his brothers for their mistreatment, but they now fear retribution as a result of Jacob’s death. Forgiveness has an Encore. After you have forgiven the one who offended you, wounded you, neglected you, or betrayed you, something may come along and trigger the memory of the pain in your past. Though you do not have the capacity to forgive and forget, by the grace of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit, though you remember, you can choose to forgive. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 (NIV) “‘So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” Genesis 50:21 (NIV) Joseph demonstrated a depth of spiritual maturity and embraced God’s perspective on his current reality. Instead of billowing in bitterness, Joseph addressed the encore of forgiveness by reassuring his brothers and being gracious to their children. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Forgiveness Joseph Obedience

The Event of Forgiveness

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come close to me.’ When they had done so, he said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.’” Genesis 45:4-5 (NIV) Forgiveness is a process, followed by an event. The process includes the pain caused by the offense or neglect or wound. Often, the pain grows into bitterness rooted in unforgiveness. God begins to alert you to the presence of unforgiveness inside of you which produces conviction. Responding to the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, you choose to extend forgiveness in private through prayer to the one who offended you. God enables you to release the unforgiveness you have harbored in your heart. Once you have received God’s forgiveness for your unforgiveness and you have extended forgiveness in private through prayer, then you prepare to go public on your private forgiveness. This moves into the event of forgiveness. After you have spent time with God in prayer, you transition into communicating your forgiveness to the offender. Joseph experienced the process of forgiveness which prepared him for the event of forgiveness. When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers whom had sold him into slavery, he deliberately extended forgiveness to them. It was apparent that Joseph had forgiven them privately in prayer as he communed with God each day. Private forgiveness enabled Joseph to go public on his forgiveness by saying, “Come close to me.” When you extend forgiveness to others, it splashes Living Water on them and releases and refreshes you. Remember that forgiveness is immediate, once you go public, but trust takes time. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Acceptance Christ Family

Family and Acceptance

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7 (NIV) What kind of home environment did you grow up in? Was your home a safe place where love was extended unconditionally and where acceptance was granted freely? Do you recall if your home was filled with an atmosphere of trust? We exist as a family to love each other unconditionally in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. What about now? What’s your home life like? Have you nurtured an atmosphere of acceptance? When you accept God’s acceptance of you, every relationship takes on a new dimension. Drawing from what God has done in your life, you will be able to extend acceptance of others. When you accept others, it does not mean that you condone their behavior or affirm inappropriate conduct. Rather, you are demonstrating that your acceptance of them is not based upon performance. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Col 3:12-14 (NIV) Clothe yourself with the garment of God’s love and acceptance. Treat your family members the way God has so graciously treated you. God has already given us so much more than we deserve. God simply wants us to let His life flow through us to influence our home for His glory! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Family Forgiveness Pain

The Process of Forgiveness

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.” Genesis 39:1 (NIV) How do you reverse the curse? How do you bring healing to the family after the virus of unforgiveness has infected your family? It is vital that you recognize the process of forgiveness. The process begins with pain. You identify the pain related to the offense. Someone may have hurt you, neglected you, or offended you. Those closest to us can often wound us the most. At some point in the process, the pain of unforgiveness becomes greater than the pain of the original offense. God will not allow unforgiveness to reside in you without pain. Harboring unforgiveness does not align with God’s will. In the process of forgiveness, you will experience dual pain: the pain of the offense and the pain of unforgiveness. The dual pain will bring you to a place of personal conviction. You will begin to recall that you cannot have a right relationship with God if you do not have a right relationship with others. You begin recognizing that life is too short to live with a strained relationship. Then you move into compassion. God allows you to brush up against the cross and feel the love and forgiveness Jesus lavished on you. His mercy and His grace begin to grip you personally and you are overwhelmed with His unconditional love. That experience moves you into compassion. Acknowledge that you don’t deserve the forgiveness Jesus has extended to you. Let compassion flow as you confess to Jesus in private that you now choose to forgive the one who offended you. Consciously articulate in prayer to Jesus the desires of your heart. Bring honor to Jesus by extending forgiveness privately in prayer. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Forgiveness Joseph Unforgiveness

The Poison of Unforgiveness

“So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.” Genesis 37:28 (NIV) If anyone ever had reason to be infused with the bile of bitterness, it would have to be Joseph. His brothers were void of mercy and full of hatred and jealousy to the point of selling Joseph into slavery. The brothers even deceived their father, Jacob, by tearing Joseph’s coat of many colors and dipping it in blood to portray the possibility of Joseph being devoured by a ferocious animal. We would call this a genuinely dysfunctional family. The truth is that every family is dysfunctional at some level. Every family has allowed the sewage of unforgiveness to seep into their home for a season and perhaps for a reason. Unforgiveness can quickly become toxic, acidic, corrosive, and radioactive. Many families have been destroyed by the venom of unforgiveness. Salvation is an event, followed by a process. The event of your conversion took place at the moment you confessed your sin and trusted Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord. Your name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, you were adopted into God’s family, and you were filled with the Holy Spirit. Since that moment, you have been involved in the process of growing spiritually. You have been working out what God has worked in. The process continues until you go to Heaven! Forgiveness is a process, followed by an event. God does a work in you to give you understanding about the unforgiveness resident within you. I will explore this concept in tomorrow’s devotional. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Commitment Harvest Marriage

Canopy of Commitment

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV) It is a miracle that marriage works. Think about it for a moment. Six people come to the marriage altar: who she thinks she is, who he thinks she is, and who she really is, then who he thinks he is, who she thinks he is, and who he really is. The complexity of each person comes together in holy matrimony to form a bond of one flesh. We bring our baggage to the marriage altar. Our past, our hurts, and our hang-ups come with us. Our uniqueness, our personality, and our personal preferences come with us. By the grace of God, the two become one. In temptation, Satan seeks to get the two who have become one, two again. How do you finish together? What does it take to overcome obstacles and to finish together? Commitment! For marriage to navigate the night and to dodge the devil, it requires commitment. In order to triumph through trials and to overcome obstacles, it requires commitment. As my pastor and best friend, Dr. David Fleming, says, “A marriage that works is work. It’s not right to ask God to bless a marriage that you are not committed to.” Commitment is the adhesive God blesses to enable you to finish together. Don’t become weary. Keep making deposits in your spouse’s life. Keep honoring Jesus by extending the love and respect that your spouse so desperately needs. Sow seeds that God can water and at the proper time you will reap a harvest. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Love Marriage Respect

Love and Respect

“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33 (NIV) This past weekend Tonya and I participated in the Love and Respect Conference led by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs and hosted by our church family, Champion Forest Baptist Church. Dr. Emerson identified what he called the Crazy Cycle. During conflict in marriage, we tend to act in unloving and disrespectful ways. The wife has a love tank and the husband has a respect tank. When a wife doesn’t feel loved by her husband, she will by nature respond by being disrespectful towards him. When a husband doesn’t feel respected by his wife, he will by nature respond by being unloving towards her. How do you get off of the Crazy Cycle? Somebody has to go first. Because of our fallen nature, we tend to be selfish and self-centered and actually prefer that our spouse go first. The one who sees himself or herself as the most mature moves first. Now that’s convicting! Dr. Eggerichs shared with us that respect empowers a husband to energize his wife and that love empowers a wife to energize her husband. The wife is crying out for love and the husband is crying out for respect. Doing marriage God’s way involves making the move to get off of the Crazy Cycle. Go first! If you are a husband, then honor Christ by choosing to be loving towards your wife. If you are a wife, then honor Christ by choosing to be respectful towards your husband. Showing love and respect flows out of our abiding relationship with Christ. We have the capacity to love and respect because Jesus is our Source. Jesus enables us to do what He did. Love unconditionally and respect intentionally. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Body and Soul Discipline Exercise

Exalt Christ in Your Body

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20 (NIV) Last week I made a commitment to intentionally move for thirty minutes each day. My life as a pastor is by nature sedentary with hours of study, writing, and back-to-back meetings each day. I coach football and baseball in the evenings depending on the season and that helps to get me moving. The Lord has convicted me of my need to move daily. As a result, I have become intentional about going to our church’s Family Life Center in order to get on the treadmill and to spend some time in the weight room. I vary my approach by taking our dog for a brisk walk early in the mornings or playing racquetball with friends. This morning I went on an engaging mountain bike ride for an hour on nearby trails. That was fun! Your body is made to move. God rewards the movement. Your body is designed by God and for God. Christ is exalted in your body when you intentionally embrace beneficial activities. Paul demonstrated an unrelenting pursuing of exalting Christ in his body. Paul oriented his life to bring honor to Jesus both in conversation and in conduct. He chose to live in such a way as to not be ashamed to bear the name of Jesus. Is Christ being exalted in your body? What do you need to start doing in order to ensure physical health and to take care of the body God has given you? Will you join me by choosing to move thirty minutes each day? Go for a walk in your neighborhood. Join a local fitness center. Invite others to join you in the process and exalt Christ in your body. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Focus Revering God Zeal

The Real Zeal

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.” Prov 23:17 (NIV) The current of our culture is counter Christian. As you seek to live out your faith in a fallen world, you will quickly discover that walking in reverence to God and in full devotion to Jesus will place you in the minority. You may forfeit popularity in this sin-saturated culture, but you will not forfeit your position in Christ. You may not be affirmed by society for your faithfulness to God, but God will reward you because He is all knowing and takes care of His own. Don’t allow the prosperity of the wicked to distract you in this life. Don’t allow the visible affluence of the disobedient to diminish your passion for the things of God. Always be zealous for the Lord. Guard your heart and fortify your passion for God. Revere God as your Heavenly Father. Revere God as the One who created you, pursued you, rescued you, and empowers you for victorious living. Revere God for His holiness. Revere God for His nature and character. Demonstrate your devotion to God by your unwavering allegiance to His redemptive plan. What if you had less than thirty days to live? How would your loyalty be adjusted? Would your allegiance to God’s agenda expand? How differently would you channel your passion? Let’s live life for God with the intensity of our final days on the earth. God deserves our best! God deserves our reverence and our diligence! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Children Family Home

Your Family’s Future

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Prov 22:6 (NIV) God established the home for our benefit and for His glory. God’s blueprint for the home includes order. God expects the husband and father to be the spiritual leader of the home. During my upbringing, my parents divorced and as a result, my mother became the spiritual leader of our home. The spiritual leader of the home is responsible to set the spiritual temperature for the home. Thus, the spiritual leader of the home is to be the spiritual thermostat for the home. When our children are elevated to the place of setting the environment for the home, something is out of order. When parenting becomes child-centered, in that everything centers around the wants and wishes of the child, something is out of order. Excessive extra-curricular activities for our children can become space invaders. When our lives and our schedules resemble a perpetual rat race, then something is out of order. We can overload and overwhelm our home by being overextended and over-committed to too many activities. Instead of pushing your children to be involved in a myriad of activities, consider having them choose one or two. Would that simplify your family life? Would your schedule have more space or margin to do life? Who is making the tough choices in your home to keep your family in alignment with God’s economy? Who is guarding the priorities and the order ordained by God for your home? The decisions you make to create space for doing life together as a family will serve as a tangible model for your children to emulate when they become parents one day. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Discipleship Learner Spiritual Growth

Equipped and Growing

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Eph 4:11-13 (NIV) Where do you fit in this picture? God has placed equippers in your life to help you develop into a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. God has placed a systematic process within the local church to promote spiritual maturity. Are you an intentional part of the process? Take a close look at your level of participation in the life of the local church family. Are you being built up? Are you reaching unity in the faith and in the knowledge of Jesus and becoming mature? Are you attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ? What is your level of teachability? Your spiritual maturity will be proportionate to your teachability. Are you teachable as you listen to your pastor’s message? Are you teachable as you sit under the teaching of a godly small group leader? Are you teachable as you spend time alone with God in prayer and Bible reading? Make the most of the opportunities God has given you to grow spiritually. Maximize the moments you sit under anointed teaching from God’s Word. Move from hearing and reading God’s Word to applying God’s Word in daily living. Live out what God is depositing in you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Adoption Assurance Romans

Distinct Assurance

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:16 (NIV) The enemy seeks to distort our identity by infusing insecurity. When insecurity infiltrates the life of a believer, fear is produced. God rescues us by affirming the reality of our new identity in Christ. God’s affirmation is dispensed through the intentional testimony of the Spirit living in us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and He confirms His abiding Presence in us. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are clearly and securely God’s children. The distinct assurance made available to us by God was also delivered to Jesus at His baptism and His transfiguration. The Son of God was affirmed by our Heavenly Father. “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV) “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’” Matthew 17:5 (NIV) As an adopted child of God, you have the indwelling Holy Spirit as your divine resource continually offering distinct assurance to your true identity in Christ. Do you detect His affirmation of your adoption into the family of God? The Spirit of God bears witness with your spirit. Walk in the security of your new identity in Christ! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Access Identity Romans

Direct Access

“Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:14-15 (NIV) In the Old Testament, the children of Israel were led by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. God made His direction clear to them by making His Presence known to them. As children of God, we are led by the Spirit and we are given access to His Presence. Our relationship with Him is both intimate & permanent. You become a child of God by being born again. The divine transaction that takes place at the moment of your conversion replaces the spirit of fear with the Spirit of sonship. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13 (NIV) “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Ti 1:7 (NIV) One of the hallmarks of the Holy Spirit’s habitation in you is the reality of your direct access. Now that you are a child of God, you are led by the Spirit of God and you have direct access to the Presence of God. Being led by the Spirit of God demonstrates your full surrender to the Spirit’s leadership in your life. Now that you have the Spirit of sonship, enjoy unbroken fellowship with God. You are a child of the King! What will you do with the direct access you have been granted? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Calling God's Purpose Spiritual Markers

Divine Intervention

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.” 1 Timothy 1:12 (NIV) Twenty-five years ago on February 23, 1986, I was involved in a Jet Ski accident through which God called me to preach. I was sixteen years old and a junior at Bolton High School in Alexandria, Louisiana. Just moments before that life-changing experience, my dream was to be an architect and build great buildings. God reoriented my life to focus on building lives for eternity. Over these twenty-five years I have learned that God always develops your character to match His assignment. Ministry originates with God and He equips you to join Him in the redemptive process. Throughout the journey of ministry, you come to learn how to trust in God’s daily provision and to practice His Presence. God uses the terrain of the valleys and mountaintops to conform you into the image of Christ. Every interaction is a divine transaction. God is passionate in His pursuit of you and His desire for you to be on mission with Him. God delights in using broken vessels to shine His light in a broken world. I am so humbled that God would choose me to bear His Name and to share His love. God wants to use you to point people to Christ. You are His workmanship (Eph. 2:10) and He receives glory as you surrender to His agenda. I am so thankful to Christ. He has consistently given me strength, considered me faithful, and appointed me into His service. God invites you into His story. What will be different in eternity because of your life on earth today? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell