Author: Stephen Trammell

When Storms Come

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” Psalms 18:2 (NIV) Who are you relying upon? What is your faith anchored to? Where do you run when the storm comes? Where do you go when life doesn’t make sense? Can you affirm these words? The LORD is my rock. He provides my stability! The LORD is my fortress. He provides my serenity! The LORD is my deliverer. He provides my solidarity! The LORD God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He provides my safety! We are in desperate need of God’s moment by moment provision. He is still on His throne and has given us everything we need to live out His plan and fulfill His purpose. God is not limited by our limitations. God is eternal, holy, immutable, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is sovereign. His love endures forever and His mercies are new every morning. You can take refuge in Him. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Faith Faithfulness of God God's Provision Trust

When Storms Come

Communication Family

Family Chats (3)

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.” Prov 19:20 (NIV) Has God ever used a child to teach you a valuable lesson in life? It happened to me last night. We had a family board meeting last night at our kitchen table. In response to our pastor’s Sunday morning message, we were working through the five questions included in the sermon listening guide. Take a look at these five questions: 1. In your opinion, what are the two biggest barriers to our communication? 2. Of the five levels of communication (clichés, facts, opinions, feelings, needs), which level typically represents our communication? 3. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, how well do I listen when others are speaking? 4. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, how “understood” do I feel when we talk? 5. What is one specific thing we can do to improve the quality of our communication? I asked my ten year old son, Austin, to take the lead and march us through the 5 questions. Through our family board meeting experience, God spoke through my son Austin to show me how my Blackberry was a barrier to communication. Isn’t that interesting? The purpose behind the technology of my Blackberry is actually to enhance communication. However, the very instrument which enhances communication can become a communication barrier. God is honored when you take the time to have a family chat to discuss ways to improve communication. The experience can provide your family with the opportunity to go deeper in relationship with each other. Your family business is God’s business! Take some time to discuss these five questions with your family. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Communication Family

Family Chats (2)

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 (NIV) Have you weighed your words lately? Your words have the potential to crush or to mend. Your words have the power to destroy relationships or to restore relationships. Every word you speak matters to God. Every word you speak aloud or mutter under your breath is captured by God. “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” Eccl 5:2 (NIV) “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Eph 4:29 (NIV) Give the Lord full control of your speech. May your words be pleasing to God. When you yield to His control, your communication within the home will be a blessing to your family. Your communication outside of the home will benefit others, too. Seek to please God and to build others up with your words. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family

Family Chats (1)

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20 (NIV) Communication is vital for the home and family to operate in a way that pleases God. Relationships deepen as communication strengthens. The more effective we are in communicating understanding and communicating love within our home, the more effective our witness for Christ will be. God magnifies the witness of the family that communicates effectively within the home. Your home becomes a testimony before the Lord. When it comes to communication, how well do you listen? Are you intentional in listening empathetically and compassionately? Do you seek to understand and communicate that understanding? “Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’” 1 Sam 3:10 (NIV) “He who answers before listening–that is his folly and his shame.” Prov 18:13 (NIV) Let’s commit to be quick to listen. Remember, God has given us one mouth and two ears. What would happen if we intentionally listen twice as much as we speak? Our level of effective communication may very well increase. Thank God for the listening ears He has sprinkled throughout your life to help you along the way. People who came alongside you with a compassionate ear are worthy of your thanksgiving. Now be that kind of person in the lives of others for the glory of God. Start with your family and become a good listener. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family

Family Chats (1)

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (7)

“‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’” John 4:34 (NIV) Jesus focused His life on God’s agenda. He didn’t allow anyone or anything to distract Him from living a life pleasing to God and a life faithful to God’s work. We should employ no less focus on the family business God has blessed us with. Does your family have a mission statement? Use the following content as a guide to formulate a family mission statement. Family Mission Statement We The _________________ Family Hereby Declare That We exist as a family to please God and to bring glory, honor, and praise to His name. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17-4:1; Joshua 24:15) We exist as a family to love each other unconditionally in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. (Isaiah 32:18; Ephesians 4:29-5:2; Colossians 3:12-17; Philippians 2:1-11) We exist as a family to learn, live and model Christian values and a biblical worldview. (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Matthew 5:13-16; Acts 1:8) Signed By ________________________________ On The Day Of _________________________ Personalize this family mission statement to fit your family. Seek input from your family members so that they can be part of the process. Enjoy the fruit of your strategic thinking. Ask God to enable your family to focus on His agenda. Be a model for other families to follow for God’s glory! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (6)

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Cor 11:1 (NIV) Your home should be a place to run to, not run from. God wants your home to be an oasis. Your home should be the safest place on earth to be yourself. Trust is essential. In fact, without trust there is no relationship. Without trust, your home will not be an oasis. Relationships are built on trust. Your love relationship with Jesus is in your response to your trusting in Jesus alone for salvation. God has entrusted you with the gospel message and spiritual gifts to serve others. God has demonstrated His trust in you which makes your unbroken fellowship with God possible. In order to be trusted by others, you must be trustworthy. To create an environment of trust within your home, the members of your family must be trustworthy. Living a life of integrity elevates the level of trust within your home. “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.” 3 John 1:11 (NIV) “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” Phil 3:17 (NIV) You can be the example for other family members to follow. If you want to be encouraged, spend a few moments thanking God for the family members who have modeled Christ before you. You may even consider sending them a note or an email expressing your gratitude for their example in your life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (5)

“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

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (4)

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” Isaiah 32:18 (NIV) We exist as a family to love each other unconditionally in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. Now that statement is loaded with meaning and with life giving principles. Is your family characterized by love? Does your family consistently extend unconditional love? Love is the mark of a mature follower of Jesus Christ. If our home and family are going to bring honor to God, love must be the supreme demonstration. The unconditional love God has shown us in Christ is to be duplicated in our home. Love is also a fruit of the Spirit which is evidenced through our treatment of others. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Eph 4:29 (NIV) “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Eph 4:32 (NIV) Seize opportunities within your home this week to demonstrate the unconditional love of God. Whenever you go through seasons of not wanting to love that way, just remember how God has lavished you with His unconditional love. God is not asking us to do anything He has not already done for us in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Glory Mission Statement

Family Business (3)

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:31 (NIV) What motivates you to live the Christian life? Do you live the Christian life to get others to think highly of you or to generate words of affirmation? No, you live the Christian life to bring glory to God. The same is true for your family business. Your family exists to bring glory to God. It gets personal when you begin to assess the reason for your family’s existence. Your family does not exist to accumulate wealth and parade personal acclaim. Instead, your family exists to operate in such a fashion as to bring glory to God during every season of family life. Think about your home. Does your home bring honor to God? Is your home life a testimony to God’s faithfulness and holiness? Maybe you are the only believer in your home or maybe your entire family has known the Lord. As a unit, would you say that your family brings glory to God? Examine your home life this week and take note of ways that your family honors God. If you identify areas of your life at home that dishonor God, confess those things to God and ask for His help in bringing everything under His care. Make the smile of God the goal of your home and family! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (2)

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” 2 Cor 5:9 (NIV) Have you ever wondered what the purpose of your family is? Have you discovered why you exist? God wants your family to maintain a vertical orientation. You exist to please God. In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul reminded the church family that their goal was to please God. Are you a God pleaser? The enemy assaults the family. You have to fight for your family and you have to guard your passion to please God. You will have to combat the attempts the enemy makes to diffuse your focus on pleasing God. You have a choice to make. Joshua faced the onslaught of attacks which sought to erode the commitment to God embraced by the children of Israel. On behalf of his family, Joshua made the right choice. “‘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) Will you lead the way for your family to please God? Will you make the bold commitment to serve the Lord? Let me encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus. Stay vertical! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Family Mission Statement

Family Business (1)

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Gen 1:27 (NIV) God designed the family and God defines the family. The family business is God’s business. God created Adam and Eve in His image. God created them for His pleasure. He blessed them and commanded them to fill the earth and subdue it (Gen. 1:28). Their assignment was to love God, to love each other, and to be fruitful and increase in number. What comes to your mind when you think of the word, family? You may have warm feelings of special memories that where made in the context of a loving environment. Perhaps the concept of family for you may surface feelings that are less desirable due to neglect or fractured relationships. Think about your current reality. What does your current family scenario look like? God has a plan for you and for your family. His plan includes your need for loving relationships. God’s desire is that you know Him personally and then express His love within your family and to a lost world. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Jesus Servanthood Serving Spiritual Gifts

Serving

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15 (NIV) You are never more like Jesus than when you are serving. A few years ago, I had the privilege of spending three days with Dr. Adrian Rogers who was the pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, and is now in heaven. He walked a few of us pastors into the courtyard of Bellevue to show us the statue of Jesus bending down to wash a man’s feet. As we stood to behold the magnitude of the statue, Dr. Rogers said to us, “Men, it’s hard to look down on someone when you are washing his feet.” God has not saved you to sit, but to serve. Jesus was not obedient to death on the cross so that you could embrace a consumer mindset of wanting to be served by others. Jesus took on the full wrath of God for your sin in order to save you from your sin and to propel you into a life of serving others. Jesus is not asking us to do anything He has not already done. Jesus is not asking us to give anything He has not already given. Jesus is our model to follow. Are you doing as Jesus has done? Are you placing the needs of others before your own? Are you seizing the opportunities that God gives you to serve others? Are you serving your family? Are you serving your classmates or co-workers? Are you serving strangers? Have you washed any feet lately? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Evangelism Fishing Soul Consciousness Soulwinning

Fishing

“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” Mark 1:17 (NIV) If you aren’t fishing, you aren’t following. Jesus invites us into a love relationship with Himself that is immediate and eternal. Our relationship with Jesus is to be marked by spiritual maturity and a passion for souls. Once you have been delivered from the flames of hell and graciously positioned on the path that leads to life eternal, you will want to share the Good News with others who don’t know Christ. You will want those who are hellbound to become a new creation in Christ. When your citizenship has been transferred to heaven at conversion (Php. 3:20), you will want others to have the same gift that you have received. You will not be ashamed of the gospel for you will recognize it as the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” Prov 11:30 (NIV) “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Philem 1:6 (NIV) Watch for divine appointments ochestrated by God. The fish will be attracted by the lure of your life transformation in Christ. The glow of God on your countenance and the “Living Water” you splash as you interact with others will draw people to Christ. Let others see Jesus in you. Infuse your conversation with spiritual questions that prompt people to think about their eternal destination. There’s no lack of fish, only a lack of fishers of men, women, boys, and girls (Matt. 9:38). What will you do with the opportunities God gives you this week to make Jesus known? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Growth Spiritual Maturity

Blooming

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10 (NIV) Bloom where God has planted you. What are you waiting for? Don’t put off what God wants to do in you and through you. Don’t delay in being and portraying what God has created you for. The time is now. God wants you to shine His light and share His love right where you are. You don’t have to wait another moment. God knows where you are and what are you experiencing. God knows the spiritual condition of every person you will come in contact with this week. You have been saved by knowing Jesus. Now that you are saved, you grow by connecting with Jesus and doing life with other believers. Your salvation event is to be followed by a lifetime process of spiritual growth and development. You grow in order to bloom for God’s glory. God has strategically placed you right where you are so that you can be an irresistible influence for Christ. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matt 5:16 (NIV) “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) “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Col 1:10 (NIV) Are you growing? Are you allowing Jesus to live His life in you and through you to draw others to a saving relationship with Jesus? Will the population of heaven be increased by your life on earth? Your life matters for eternity! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Growth Sanctification Spiritual Maturity

The Greenhouse

“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” Mark 1:17 (NIV) Where there is health, there is growth. Jesus invites us into a relationship that is progressive. We move from just believing that Jesus is God’s Son and the Savior of the world to following Him as Lord. We follow Jesus in order to do what He did. Our belief determines where we will spend eternity. Our behavior determines the level of spiritual maturity we attain before going to heaven. Think about the spiritual environments you are in on a daily and weekly basis. The greenhouse for spiritual maturity is found in private devotion and small group connection. You grow spiritually as you engage in daily communion with the Lord through a daily quiet time. Reading God’s Word, meditating on God’s Word, praying, listening to God’s voice, journaling, and obeying God’s directives form a greenhouse for maturation. Are you making room for unhurried time alone with God? Are you guarding your daily intimacy with God? A healthy relationship with God and with other believers will produce growth. Are you in a small group with other believers? Are you doing life with a small group of followers of Christ? That small group is made up of vital members of your spiritual family who impact your spiritual development. The environment of small group interaction allows you the opportunity to love and be loved, to know and to be known, to care and to be cared for. Jesus modeled the value of having a small group as He did life with His disciples. What condition is your greenhouse in? Are you connecting with God daily through private devotion? Are you connecting with a small group of believers weekly in order to inspire and to experience life transformation? Nurture your relationship with Jesus and your relationships with other believers for the glory of God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Following Invitation Jesus

The Ultimate Invitation

“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” Mark 1:16-17 (NIV) Have you come to know Christ? When did that eternal transaction take place in your life? Where were you when you recognized your sinfulness and your desperate need for Jesus to come to your rescue? Conversion is the redemptive work of God in a person’s life. Your conversion is the event of being delivered from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light. Your conversion is the event of being adopted into God’s family and being filled with the Holy Spirit. As a child of God, you have received the ultimate invitation to know Jesus personally. Jesus invites you to come to Him and enjoy an abiding love relationship with Him that is eternal. Your salvation event is followed by a process of knowing Jesus more intimately. Your conversion is followed by ongoing transformation and spiritual maturation. After you have been adopted into God’s family, you walk with Jesus to work out what God has worked in (Php. 2:12). You are yoked up with Christ to fulfill God’s mission on earth. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Nature of God Options Wisdom

Consider Your Options

“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Deut 30:19-20 (NIV) God demonstrates His love and security by giving us options to consider. God does not force us to love Him. Allowing us to choose or refuse Him, God presents us with opportunities to come to know Him by experience. Every human being is on a journey of discovery. Some will ignore God’s revelation and some will choose to come to know God personally through an abiding relationship with Jesus. Life and death are set before you. You have the freedom to choose the path that leads to life or you can choose the path that leads to death. Consider your options. If you choose life, then you are choosing to orient your life in alignment with God’s agenda. If you choose death, your path will be marked by rebellion against God and His plan for your life. Choose life so that you will fulfill the purpose for which God created you. Choose life so that the next generation can examine your life and be convinced to follow in your steps on the path of life. Choose life so that you may love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Learn to listen to His voice and to practice instant obedience (John 10:27). Have you allowed Jesus to be your life? Consider your options. Now, choose life! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Prayer Praying

Praying Perpetually

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess 5:16-18 (NIV) Are you too busy to pray? Then, you are too busy. Make room for your relationship with God to be nurtured and developed through daily intimacy with God. Guard that special time and place to connect with God through Bible reading, meditating on God’s Word, and prayer. Once you leave that special time and place designed for your daily quiet time, commit to practice God’s Presence throughout the day. To pray continually or to pray without ceasing is to operate your life throughout the day cognizant of God’s activity. You can enjoy unbroken fellowship with God throughout the day as you remain in an abiding relationship with Christ. As you maintain a level of relational bonding with God through being fully surrendered to His leadership and Lordship, you will enjoy an open line of communication with God. The Holy Spirit indwelling you will be your constant Companion. You have the privilege and the honor of maintaining a perpetual awareness of God’s Presence in your life. Staying sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting moment by moment will enable you to experience the work of God in you and around you. Your heightened sensitivity to God’s activity will result in deeper intimacy with God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Prayer Prayer Closet Praying Private Prayer

Securing a Prayer Closet

“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) When you look into the rear view mirror of your life, where were you when you had the most meaningful times of prayer with the Lord? Can you identify a literal location? What was the environment like? Was it in the morning, at mid-day, in the evening, or into the night? When and where you connect with God matters. Of course, we know that God is omnipresent. There is nowhere God is not. God is everywhere all the time. Jesus solidifies the discipline of securing a location to connect with God in prayer. Why would the location matter? Can’t you connect with God in prayer from any location? Yes! God can retrieve your prayer from any location, but Jesus is affirming the value of having a special place for communion in addition to practicing God’s Presence throughout the day. Maybe you already have that special place where you meet with God to read His Word and to spend time in unbroken fellowship with God in prayer. Perhaps you have not selected that special place yet. Think about your schedule and think about a location that will enhance your daily quiet time alone with God. If you prefer solitude, then find a place that will ensure an environment of solitude. If you love the outdoors, find a place outside that helps you best connect with God. If you enjoy worship music playing softly while you commune with God, then have the music ready. Remember that God will reward you for your private time alone with Him. God desires intimacy with you and has made that level of connection available to you. What will you do with the opportunity God has given you to know Him more? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Power Prayer Praying

Praying In Power

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 (NIV) How can the prayer of one person be powerful and effective and the prayer of another person be weak and ineffective? The power hinges on the level of righteousness. When a person is positionally in a right standing before Almighty God, the prayer is infused with power. When a person is living in sin and chooses to rebel against God, the prayer is contaminated by the poison of sin. God rewards righteous living. God is holy and expects His children to be holy (1 Peter 1:16) and to live a life of moral purity. Where there is purity, there is power! “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” Psalms 24:3-4 (NIV) “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” 1 Tim 2:8 (NIV) Do you want your prayer to be powerful and effective? Examine your life and ask God to search your heart (Ps. 139:23). God wants you to have a vibrant prayer life. What is keeping your from having that kind of prayer life? Are you clean before God? Is there any unconfessed sin in your life? Are you harboring even a fraction of bitterness or resentment? Confess the sin God reveals and surrender to the Holy Spirit’s full control of your life. Walk in the purity you have found in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Intercession Prayer Praying

Praying For Others

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 (NIV) You may have been taught to not air out your dirty laundry. In other words, you may have been taught that some things are to be kept within the confines of secrecy. However, in God’s economy, confessing sin to a trusted fellow believer is healthy and demonstrates obedience to God’s Word. We are commanded to confess our sins to each other. Confide in a mature follower of Christ who cares about you and who wants to see you reach your God-given potential. That trusted friend who is yoked with you in Christ will help you experience the liberation from the bondage of sin that you are confessing. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal 6:1-2 (NIV) “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.” Col 3:12-13 (NIV) Doing life together with fellow believers who have the heart of Christ and the love of Christ will be an encouraging journey. We are to walk in such community and fellowship with other believers that confessing sin to each other and praying for each other becomes normal. Of course, the need to confess sin to others will decrease as you turn from sin and embrace the life God has for you. Pray for others with the same passion that you have when you are praying for God’s wisdom for something you are facing personally. Try to get in their skin to feel what they are feeling and to pray with compassion. Think about a safe and spiritually mature person in your life who would be the person you would go to in order to confess sin. Begin asking God who He would have you to be praying for. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Forgiveness Healing Prayer Praying Sickness

Praying In Faith

“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” James 5:15 (NIV) Did you know that even godly people who have a vibrant faith in God can go through seasons of adversity? Often these difficult seasons can strengthen your faith and also cause you to become weary. As you fight the good fight of the faith (1 Tim. 6:12), you may experience spiritual exhaustion. Battle fatigue is a potential reality for the follower of Christ. James wrote to believers who had experienced severe persecution. Their faith had been tested and many of them had become emotionally depleted and spiritually exhausted. In some cases, their spiritual weakness caused them to be unable to call on God. We need each other. God does not expect you to live the Christian life on your own. God wants you to live out your faith as you connect with your spiritual family. God adopted you into His family. Allow other believers who are spiritually strong to come alongside to help you through seasons of spiritual lethargy and warfare. The spiritually strong will offer their prayer in faith, fully trusting that God is able to do what He says (Rom. 4:21), and you will be restored. God will raise you up from a condition of spiritual weakness to a state of spiritual strength and stability. Will you invite a spiritually mature follower of Christ to offer a prayer in faith on your behalf? Don’t walk alone through the seasons of adversity. Allow your spiritual family to intercede for you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Intercession Prayer Praying

Asking For Prayer

“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14 (NIV) The Christian life is not a solo flight. God never intended for us to live out our faith in isolation. As followers of Christ, we have Jesus at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us (Rm. 8:34) and we have the Holy Spirit interceding for us with groans that words cannot express (Rm 8:26-27). God has also given us fellow believers who can stand in the gap for us in prayer. The Apostle Paul asked for the believers in the church at Ephesus to pray that he would fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel (Eph. 6:19). Paul asked the church at Colosse to pray that God would open a door for his message so that he could proclaim the mystery of Christ (Col. 4:3). Paul asked the church at Thessalonica to pray for he and his ministry partners that the message of the Lord would spread rapidly and be honored and that they would be delivered from evil and wicked men (2 Thes. 3:1-2). James affirms the need for outside prayer support for our lives. If you are experiencing spiritual weakness or even a physical illness, ask a spiritual leader to pray for you. If you are walking through a challenging situation or combating a difficult season, ask a spiritual leader to pray for you. Surround yourself with prayer warriors who will do warfare praying on your behalf. Don’t be afraid to ask for prayer support. God has placed people within your sphere of influence who can stand in the gap for you in prayer. Do you have someone praying you through? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Adversity Prayer Praying

Praying Through the Pain

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” James 5:13 (NIV) Independence is valued in our society. Being strong and self-sufficient tend to be the marks of success by the world’s standards. However, God’s economy has a much different value system. It’s not about personal strength, but reliance upon God’s strength. Self-sufficiency is replaced with dependency upon God and His provision. Success in God’s economy is marked by instant obedience and alignment with God’s plan. Part of God’s plan includes our relational connection to God through an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. The love relationship that God has made available to us in Christ is nurtured by our daily communion with God in prayer. The prayer connection flows from God to us and from us to God. God invites us into an intimate prayer connection that radiates from His heart of love and our response of awe and wonder. Imagine being able to share your heart as well as your heartaches with the God of the universe. We have that amazing privilege to bring everything to God in prayer. In Christ, we have been given access to the Creator of the universe. Are you in trouble? Are you experiencing challenging circumstances or strained relationships? Don’t delay! Take your burdens to the Lord in prayer. Empty the contents of your heart before the loving and faithful God that you have come to know by experience. God has provided you with the ultimate communication instrument called prayer. Just pray! Begin to articulate to God whatever is perplexing you and whatever is bothering you. God can handle your hurt. God can make the fog lift. Be still and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10). God’s line is never busy and yes, He can hear you now! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Eternity Glory Heaven

Cessation of Adversity

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor 4:16-18 (NIV) Adversity is not terminal, but it produces eternal results. Our current adversity is achieving for us an eternal glory. One day we will receive our glorified body. We will be delivered from this fallen world. We have been justified by God’s grace. We are being transformed into the likeness of Christ and we will be glorified. The best is yet to come. Don’t give up! Don’t throw in the towel! “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed–in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” 1 Cor 15:51-53 (NIV) “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Rev 22:3-5 (NIV) Adversity will cease and God’s peace will reign. Our battle with sin, sorrow, and sickness will end. God’s glory will be revealed and we will reign with Him forever and ever! Are you ready for Heaven? Fix your eyes on Jesus! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Adversity Fruit of the Spirit Learning Teachable

University of Adversity

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal 5:22-23 (NIV) In my journey of walking with God over the past twenty-nine years, I have discovered that God will focus on the fruit of the Spirit in your life that is most neglected. Whichever fruit of the Spirit you are least evidencing is the fruit that God will seek to develop in you through the university of adversity. I’ve taken many courses in that particular university. If you lack the fruit of the Spirit, love, then God will allow difficult people to come into your life in order to give you opportunities to develop that specific fruit of the Spirit. If you lack patience, God will allow trying circumstances to come into the domain of your daily life in order to produce patience in you. That’s why I never ask anyone to pray that God would give me patience. If you lack gentleness, God will orchestrate situations which will give you relational opportunities to develop that particular fruit of the Spirit. In all things God works for your good (Romans 8:28) and God’s goal for your life is conformity to Christ (Romans 8:29). Anything in your life that doesn’t look like Christ will be removed through God’s loving hammer and chisel of adversity. Don’t be surprised by the adversity God allows into your path. God is building you into a portrait of His grace. Christlikeness is God’s goal for your life! So how do you look? Do you look like Christ? Is there any attitude or behavior that is not Christlike? Are you drifting from God or drawing near to God? Is the fruit of the Spirit evident in your conversation and your conduct? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Adversity Serving others

Serving In Adversity

“And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’” Mark 15:39 (NIV) What was it about the final hours of Jesus’ life that made an eternal impact on the centurion who approved of the punishment Jesus endured? What were the features of Jesus’ death that convinced the centurion that Jesus was the Son of God? I wonder how many crucifixions this centurion had witnessed before he even knew Jesus existed. Perhaps the centurion had personally witnessed hundreds or thousands of these executions. There was something about the way Jesus died that changed everything for this centurion. Maybe the centurion overheard the conversation between Jesus and the thief on the cross who said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom”(Luke 23:42 NIV). Jesus responded to the thief, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”(Luke 23:43 NIV). Perhaps the centurion saw the grace of God in action as Jesus put the needs of someone else before His own. The centurion could have been standing close enough to overhear Jesus say to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son” and to the disciple whom Jesus loved, “Here is your mother”(John 19:26-27 NIV). Maybe the centurion detected the deep love that Jesus had for His mother and the compassion He extended from the cross as He made sure His mother’s needs would be met. Of all the crucifixions the centurion assisted in, perhaps he had never seen such love. Adversity creates unique opportunities to show the love of Jesus as you serve others. Jesus exemplified servitude in the midst of extreme adversity. Are you watching for opportunities to serve others while you navigate the terrain of adversity? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Adversity Growth

Growing Through Adversity

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV) Adversity is as normal in this life as the rising and setting of the sun. Living in a fallen world accentuates the instability of morality. Selfishness and sinfulness permeate the global landscape. Since the Fall of man, we have combated our three enemies: Satan, our flesh, and the world. Eliminate Satan and you still have to contend with the cravings of the sin nature and the gravitational pull of the world. Yet, all three enemies are alive and well. Jesus prayed that God would protect us from the evil one (John 15:17). The enemy is at work seeking to destroy the work of God in us and the work of God through us. In the midst of the battle, God converts what the enemy meant for evil into good (Gen. 50:20). Remember, if God allows adversity into your life, He will use it for your good and His glory. Will you grow through adversity as you go through adversity? Will you allow God to build your character and develop your faith through the assembly line of adversity? Your faith is of greater worth than gold to God. God’s goal is that your faith be proved genuine so that it may bring glory to God when Jesus Christ is revealed. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor