“And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, ‘Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.’” Judges 13:3-5 (ESV) God performed a miracle by enabling Manoah and his barren wife to have a son, Samson. To their amazement and delight, Samson grew and the Lord blessed him. He was set apart as a Nazirite to God and positioned by God to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines. Eventually Samson married a daughter of the Philistines at Timnah. This was part of God’s plan since the Philistines ruled over Israel. Samson was deceived by his father-in-law and sought revenge by setting fire to the stacked grain and standing grain as well as the olive orchards. In his rage, Samson struck down 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey. “And he was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, ‘You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’ And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkore; it is at Lehi to this day.And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.” Judges 15:18-20 (ESV) God supernaturally provided for Samson throughout his life and He will provide for you. Entrust your life to His care. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Blessing
“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.’” Numbers 6:23-26 (ESV) God has blessed you to be a blessing. Your words have the power to build others up or to tear them down. Your words can inspire or discourage. Your words can motivate or devastate. Speak words that bless those whom God places in your path. Be a blessing to others by blessing others. Aaron and his sons were instructed to bless the people of Israel. They were to deliver a word of blessing from the Lord. God imparts life and God inspires hope and bestows blessings upon His people. God affirmed His blessing, His protection, His favor, and His grace upon His people. God projected His affirmation of His enabling and His abiding peace. Think about what you need to be on mission with God. Consider the resources necessary to do God’s work God’s way in this fallen world. You cannot live the Christian life in your own strength. God never intended for you to fulfill His plan in your own power. Receive God’s blessing. Receive God’s supernatural enabling to fulfill His mission on the earth. May the Lord bless you. May the Lord keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you. May the Lord be gracious to you in your time of need. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His sustaining peace. You are not on your own. You are not operating in isolation. God is blessing you so that you can be a blessing. You are blessed to bless! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“All the people of Israel did just as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.” Exodus 12:50-51 (ESV) God keeps His word. He is the ultimate promise keeper. What God starts, He finishes! God was faithful to provide for Moses and the children of Israel throughout the process of their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. After sending the nine plagues upon Egypt, the tenth plague was the turning point for Pharaoh and for the people of Israel. God instructed Moses to have the people of Israel sacrifice a lamb for each family and to take some of the blood and put it on the doorposts and lintel of the houses in which they ate the lamb. “‘The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.’” Exodus 12:13 (ESV) The grace of God was evidenced as the He did not allow the destroyer to enter the houses of those who obeyed His command. Instead, God chose to passover their houses. The passover is a clear indication that God blesses obedience. God brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. Do not bypass the grace of God as evidenced by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. If you have not turned from your sin and turned to Jesus alone for salvation, your first step of obedience is to make that decision right now. Don’t delay! Trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Place your faith in the completed work of Christ on the cross. He shed His blood for the removal of your sins. Trust and obey and He will show you the way! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Blessed to Bless
“Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” Matthew 5:42 (ESV) As you study the life of Jesus, you will quickly discover that Jesus oriented His life around being a blessing. His entire earthly ministry was centered around benefiting others. Jesus willingly left the glory of heaven in order to come the earth to live a sinless life and die a sacrificial death to provide for our salvation. Jesus exemplified generosity, humility, and flexibility. We live in a needy world. Sickness, stress, financial instability, and strained relationships decorate the landscape of life. The reality of living in a fallen world is marked by dependence upon others to help meet practical needs. We need each other. The world needs us. Are we willing to portray the life of Christ in our current context? Will others see Jesus in us? In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described the kingdom-focused life as the life willing to give to others. Selfishness has no real estate in the Christian life. Every child of God is to employ the servitude of Christ by being selfless. Living to bless, to benefit, and to add value to others becomes the byproduct of a life yielded to the Lordship of Christ. The fruit of being blessed by God is unleashing your life to be a blessing to others. You are blessed by God to be a blessing. You are graced by God to be gracious. You are loved by God to be loving. You are forgiven by God to be forgiving. As you submit to the Lordship of Christ, you become a conduit of His blessing to enrich the lives of others. Orient your life to honor God and to be a blessing to others. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Enjoying God’s Way
“And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.” Luke 5:6-7 (ESV) God’s way is always best! You will never go wrong obeying God. He knows you and He knows what is best for you. Everything God invites you to do allows you to participate in His Kingdom activity. Simon and his fishing partners experienced a miraculous catch of fish because Simon was willing to obey Jesus. Blessing follows obedience. Simon responded to Jesus’ invitation to let down his nets for a catch in the deeper waters in the daytime. The fishermen normally fished in the shallow waters at night in that region of the Lake of Gennesaret (also known as the Sea of Galilee). However, Simon was willing to fish Jesus’ way and reap the tremendous benefits. Both boats were filled so full that they began to sink. What a picture of the abundance of God’s blessings! Doing life God’s way is always the right choice. Even when God’s directive doesn’t add up in your logical thinking, you can count on God’s way to be the best option. Can God speak through a donkey (Num. 22:30), cause an ax head to float (2 Kings 6:5-6), and provide water from a rock (Num. 20:8)? Yes, God can! Can God handle your situation? Yes, God can! Will you trust God and submit to His way? Will you seek the Lord (Isa. 55:6) and draw near to Him (Jas. 4:8)? Will you trust in the Lord (Prov. 3:5-6)? Now, walk in the light God gives you! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” Galatians 3:8-9 (ESV) The gospel begins with God. God is the Creator of life and the initiator of reconciliation. The grace of God has been poured out on us. God is the lover who persistently and consistently seeks to restore those who have fallen. God’s love is unconditional and His mercy is unleashed to redeem us. God chose to announce the gospel in advance to Abraham. God enabled Abraham to become a conduit of the blessing God has for all nations. Abraham was blessed by God to be a blessing to all people groups. As a man of faith, Abraham believed God. God blesses you with salvation so that you can be a blessing to all nations. God redeemed you so that you can join Him in bringing redemption to all people groups on our planet. God’s abundant love and forgiveness is available to all. Will you be a conduit of God’s blessing? You can pray. You can give. You can go. You can radiate God’s love through your conversation and your conduct. You can join God in His redemptive activity by seizing every opportunity God gives you to make Jesus known. Begin viewing people through the lens of the gospel. As a recipient of the gospel blessing, commit to share your salvation story with others. Let the light of God’s love shine through your life. Be willing to go wherever God wants you to go. Be willing to do whatever God wants you to do. Place your “yes” on the altar and say, “Lord, I’m yours!” Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) Did you know that we are blessed by God to be a blessing to others? We are blessed to bless. God made us into relational beings so that we can relate to Him and relate to others. God placed us here to be a blessing. Moses instructed Aaron and his sons to articulate this priestly blessing over the Israelites. Nearly two million Israelites were wandering in the wilderness and weary from the journey. They were in need of a touch from God. God was ready to put His name on them and bless them (Num. 6:27). Aaron and his sons were to be the instruments of relaying the blessing from God. Would you be willing to pray this blessing over someone? As an individual comes to mind, simply pray this blessing over him or her. For example, if you were praying for a son, you would say, “Lord, bless my son and keep him. Lord, make Your face shine upon him and be gracious to him. Lord, turn Your face toward him and give him peace.” You can bless someone in prayer in this very moment. Think about people God has brought into your life as a blessing. Consider how blessed you have been by their time, their friendship, their generosity, and their kindness. Your life has been enriched by their presence in your life. They have blessed you. Now, you can be a blessing to them by praying for them and giving God thanks for them. Life would be so empty without meaningful relationships. Who will you bless today? Remember, you are blessed to bless! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Personal Touch
“But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.” Philippians 2:25 (NIV) Find a need and meet it. Our world is full of hurt and in desperate need of compassion in action. We need each other. What if we chose to look beyond ourselves and look into the lives of others to discover how we can spread the fragrance of Christ? Epaphroditus existed to bring glory to God by extending personal touch ministry. He simply did what Jesus did and placed the needs of others before his own. Willing to risk his own life, Epaphroditus extended personal touch ministry in Paul’s life. He served Jesus by meeting practical needs in Paul’s life. The Apostle Paul’s ability to aggressively plant churches was enriched by the attentive care of Epaphroditus. As Paul was giving his life away in ministry to the lost and new believers, Epaphroditus was giving his life away in service to Paul. Look for opportunities to serve someone today. Be the hands and feet of Jesus by intentionally extending personal touch ministry to others. Ask the Lord to bring people into your path who have needs you can meet. Your level of joy will increase significantly as you place the needs of others before your own. You will begin to realize how blessed you are and how rewarding it is to find a need and meet it. Go splash some Living Water in Jesus’ Name and for the glory of God. People matter to God and He wants you to demonstrate their value by extending personal touch ministry. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, ‘Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, 5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.’” Judges 13:3-5 (ESV) God performed a miracle by enabling Manoah and his barren wife to have a son, Samson. To their amazement and delight, Samson grew and the Lord blessed him. He was set apart as a Nazirite to God and positioned by God to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines. Eventually Samson married a daughter of the Philistines at Timnah. This was part of God’s plan since the Philistines ruled over Israel. Samson was deceived by his father-in-law and sought revenge by setting fire to the stacked grain and standing grain as well as the olive orchards. In his rage, Samson struck down 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey. “And he was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, ‘You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’ 19 And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkore; it is at Lehi to this day. 20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.” Judges 15:18-20 (ESV) God supernaturally provided for Samson throughout his life and He will provide for you. Entrust your life to His care. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 94: Judges 13-15) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.’” Numbers 6:23-26 (ESV) God has blessed you to be a blessing. Your words have the power to build others up or to tear them down. Your words can inspire or discourage. Your words can motivate or devastate. Speak words that bless those whom God places in your path. Be a blessing to others by blessing others. Aaron and his sons were instructed to bless the people of Israel. They were to deliver a word of blessing from the Lord. God imparts life and God inspires hope and bestows blessings upon His people. God affirmed His blessing, His protection, His favor, and His grace upon His people. God projected His affirmation of His enabling and His abiding peace. Think about what you need to be on mission with God. Consider the resources necessary to do God’s work God’s way in this fallen world. You cannot live the Christian life in your own strength. God never intended for you to fulfill His plan in your own power. Receive God’s blessing. Receive God’s supernatural enabling to fulfill His mission on the earth. May the Lord bless you. May the Lord keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you. May the Lord be gracious to you in your time of need. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His sustaining peace. You are not on your own. You are not operating in isolation. God is blessing you so that you can be a blessing. You are blessed to bless! Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 56: Numbers 5-6) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“All the people of Israel did just as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.” Exodus 12:50-51 (ESV) God keeps His word. He is the ultimate promise keeper. What God starts, He finishes! God was faithful to provide for Moses and the children of Israel throughout the process of their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. After sending the nine plagues upon Egypt, the tenth plague was the turning point for Pharaoh and for the people of Israel. God instructed Moses to have the people of Israel sacrifice a lamb for each family and to take some of the blood and put it on the doorposts and lintel of the houses in which they ate the lamb. “‘The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.’” Exodus 12:13 (ESV) The grace of God was evidenced as the He did not allow the destroyer to enter the houses of those who obeyed His command. Instead, God chose to passover their houses. The passover is a clear indication that God blesses obedience. God brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. Do not bypass the grace of God as evidenced by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. If you have not turned from your sin and turned to Jesus alone for salvation, your first step of obedience is to make that decision right now. Don’t delay! Trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Place your faith in the completed work of Christ on the cross. He shed His blood for the removal of your sins. Trust and obey and He will show you the way! Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 33: Exodus 10-12) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Num 6:24-26 (NIV) Did you know that we are blessed by God to be a blessing to others? We are blessed to bless. God made us into relational beings so that we can relate to Him and relate to others. God placed us here to be a blessing. Moses instructed Aaron and his sons to articulate this priestly blessing over the Israelites. Nearly two million Israelites were wandering in the wilderness and weary from the journey. They were in need of a touch from God. God was ready to put His name on them and bless them (Num. 6:27). Aaron and his sons were to be the instruments of relaying the blessing from God. Would you be willing to pray this blessing over someone? As an individual comes to mind, simply pray this blessing over him or her. For example, if you were praying for an uncle, you would say, “Lord, bless my uncle and keep him. Lord, make Your face shine upon him and be gracious to him. Lord, turn Your face toward him and give him peace.” You can bless someone in prayer in this very moment. Think about people God has brought into your life as a blessing. Consider how blessed you have been by their time, their friendship, their generosity, and their kindness. Your life has been enriched by their presence in your life. They have blessed you. Now, you can be a blessing to them by praying for them and giving God thanks for them. Life would be so empty without meaningful relationships. Who will you bless today? Remember, you are blessed to bless! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Personal Touch
“But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.” Phil 2:25 (NIV) Find a need and meet it. Our world is full of hurt and in desperate need of compassion in action. We need each other. What if we chose to look beyond ourselves and look into the lives of others to discover how we can spread the fragrance of Christ? Epaphroditus existed to bring glory to God by extending personal touch ministry. He simply did what Jesus did and placed the needs of others before his own. Willing to risk his own life, Epaphroditus extended personal touch ministry in Paul’s life. He served Jesus by meeting practical needs in Paul’s life. The Apostle Paul’s ability to aggressively plant churches was enriched by the attentive care of Epaphroditus. As Paul was giving his life away in ministry to the lost and new believers, Epaphroditus was giving his life away in service to Paul. Look for opportunities to serve someone today. Be the hands and feet of Jesus by intentionally extending personal touch ministry to others. Ask the Lord to bring people into your path who have needs you can meet. Your level of joy will increase significantly as you place the needs of others before your own. You will begin to realize how blessed you are and how rewarding it is to find a need and meet it. Go splash some Living Water in Jesus’ Name and for the glory of God. People matter to God and He wants you to demonstrate their value by extending personal touch ministry. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Blessed to Bless
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matt 5:42 (NIV) As you study the life of Jesus, you will quickly discover that Jesus oriented His life around being a blessing. His entire earthly ministry was centered around benefiting others. Jesus willingly left the glory of heaven in order to come the earth to live a sinless life and die a sacrificial death to provide for our salvation. Jesus exemplified generosity, humility, and flexibility. We live in a needy world. Sickness, stress, financial instability, and strained relationships decorate the landscape of life. The reality of living in a fallen world is marked by dependence upon others to help meet practical needs. We need each other. The world needs us. Are we willing to portray the life of Christ in our current context? Will others see Jesus in us? In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described the kingdom-focused life as the life willing to give to others. Selfishness has no real estate in the Christian life. Every child of God is to employ the servitude of Christ by being selfless. Living to bless, to benefit, and to add value to others becomes the byproduct of a life yielded to the Lordship of Christ. The fruit of being blessed by God is unleashing your life to be a blessing to others. You are blessed by God to be a blessing. You are graced by God to be gracious. You are loved by God to be loving. You are forgiven by God to be forgiving. As you submit to the Lordship of Christ, you become a conduit of His blessing to enrich the lives of others. Orient your life to honor God and to be a blessing to others. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Enjoying God’s Way
“When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” Luke 5:6-7 (NIV) God’s way is always best! You will never go wrong obeying God. He knows you and He knows what is best for you. Everything God invites you to do allows you to participate in His Kingdom activity. Simon and his fishing partners experienced a miraculous catch of fish because Simon was willing to obey Jesus. Blessing follows obedience. Simon responded to Jesus’ invitation to let down his nets for a catch in the deeper waters in the daytime. The fishermen normally fished in the shallow waters at night in that region of the Lake of Gennesaret (also known as the Sea of Galilee). However, Simon was willing to fish Jesus’ way and reap the tremendous benefits. Both boats were filled so full that they began to sink. What a picture of the abundance of God’s blessings! Doing life God’s way is always the right choice. Even when God’s directive doesn’t add up in your logical thinking, you can count on God’s way to be the best option. Can God speak through a donkey (Num. 22:30), cause an axhead to float (2 Ki. 6:5-6), and provide water from a rock (Num. 20:8)? Yes, God can! Can God handle your situation? Yes, God can! Will you trust God and submit to His way? Will you seek the Lord (Is. 55:6) and draw near to Him (James 4:8)? Will you trust in the Lord (Prv. 3:5-6)? Now, walk in the light God gives you! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” Gal 3:8-9 (NIV) The gospel begins with God. God is the Creator of life and the initiator of reconciliation. The grace of God has been poured out on us. God is the lover who persistently and consistently seeks to restore those who have fallen. God’s love is unconditional and His mercy is unleashed to redeem us. God chose to announce the gospel in advance to Abraham. God enabled Abraham to become a conduit of the blessing God has for all nations. Abraham was blessed by God to be a blessing to all people groups. As a man of faith, Abraham believed God. God blesses you with salvation so that you can be a blessing to all nations. God redeemed you so that you can join Him in bringing redemption to all people groups on our planet. God’s abundant love and forgiveness is available to all. Will you be a conduit of God’s blessing? You can pray. You can give. You can go. You can radiate God’s love through your conversation and your conduct. You can join God in His redemptive activity by seizing every opportunity God gives you to make Jesus known. Begin viewing people through the lens of the gospel. As a recipient of the gospel blessing, commit to share your salvation story with others. Let the light of God’s love shine through your life. Be willing to go wherever God wants you to go. Be willing to do whatever God wants you to do. Place your “yes” on the altar and say, “Lord, I’m yours!” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Brokenness
“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalms 51:16-17 (NIV) On the final day of the year, let’s explore what moves the heart of God. You have had 365 days to allow God to use you for His glory. You have experienced the ups and downs of living in a fallen world. Each day was filled with challenges and opportunities. Each day presented you with decisions to make and answers to seek. The year may have tested your faith and strengthened your resolve. What did you learn about moving the heart of God? In the 51st Psalm, David clarifies how God desires for His children to respond to Him. Sacrifice and burnt offerings are insufficient. External religion will not move the heart of God. God delights in His children exhibiting genuine brokenness. When we come before God broken over our sin and desperate for His approval, we move His heart. God desires that we seek Him in humility and brokenness. We do not impress God with our external righteousness and religion. God examines the heart to test our motives. God is moved when we acknowledge our dependency upon Him. Have you been broken before the Lord lately? Have you had a contrite heart? David poured out his soul in anguish before God over the sin in his own life. Personal responsibility for our personal sin will be evidenced by our personal brokenness before the Lord. God’s compassion will be unleashed as you pour out your soul before Him in prayer. Pray that God will keep you broken before Him as you live in this fallen world. We need Him every minute of every hour of every day. Confess all known sin and allow God to prepare you for this New Year. Release the past and embrace the future God has for you! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Blessed to Bless
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Num 6:24-26 (NIV) Did you know that we are blessed by God to be a blessing to others? We are blessed to bless. God made us into relational beings so that we can relate to Him and relate to others. God placed us here to be a blessing. Moses instructed Aaron and his sons to articulate this priestly blessing over the Israelites. Nearly two million Israelites were wandering in the wilderness and weary from the journey. They were in need of a touch from God. God was ready to put His name on them and bless them (Num. 6:27). Aaron and his sons were to be the instruments of relaying the blessing from God. Would you be willing to pray this blessing over someone? As an individual comes to mind, simply pray this blessing over him or her. For example, if you were praying for an uncle, you would say, “Lord, bless my uncle and keep him. Lord, make Your face shine upon him and be gracious to him. Lord, turn Your face toward him and give him peace.” You can bless someone in prayer in this very moment. Think about people God has brought into your life as a blessing. Consider how blessed you have been by their time, their friendship, their generosity, and their kindness. Your life has been enriched by their presence in your life. They have blessed you. Now, you can be a blessing to them by praying for them and giving God thanks for them. Life would be so empty without meaningful relationships. Who will you bless today? Remember, you are blessed to bless! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Blessed to Bless
“I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.” Phil 4:10 (NIV) God chooses to use people to help us. The Christian life is not a solo flight. God saved us to live in union with Christ and in community with other believers. We need each other. We do better together. As a result of being adopted into God’s family, we are to communicate and collaborate as fellow followers of Christ. In Christ, we are family! Paul was imprisoned in Rome when he wrote this personal letter to the church at Philippi. He had a deep abiding love for them and wanted to encourage them in their faith. Paul identified their willingness to put their compassion into action. They sent their gifts to Paul via Epaphroditus (Php. 4:18). Paul acknowledged their gift as a fragrant offering pleasing to God. Spend a moment thanking God in prayer for the people He has placed in your life over the years to be a blessing to you. Think about the individuals God used to encourage you on your faith journey. You may even want to write a letter or type an email to someone God has used to elevate your faith. People matter to God and He delights in bringing people into our lives to bring us closer to Christ. Are you available for God’s use? Would you be willing to be used of God to encourage someone today? Would you be willing to be used of God to model Christ before a watching world? Remember that God blesses you so that you can be a blessing to others. Who will benefit from your life today? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“‘But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.’” Luke 6:27-28 (NIV) Have you ever been mistreated or hated? Did it make you want to retaliate? That is a natural reaction. Jesus modeled how every believer should respond to difficult people. We are to love our enemies. We are to benefit difficult people by doing good to them, blessing them, and praying for them. The reality is that we cannot always control how others treat us, but we can control how we respond to them. “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:23 (NIV) “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” Luke 23:34 (NIV) Jesus set the example for us to follow. Jesus also gives us the power to treat others based on Jesus’ treatment of us. We do not deserve His love, yet He loves us unconditionally. We do not deserve His goodness, yet He is so good to us. We do not deserve His blessings, yet He showers us with one blessing after another. Jesus even intercedes for us. That is so much more than we deserve. The word “grace” comes to mind doesn’t it? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
Usefulness
“He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” Eph 4:28 (NIV) You may have disengaged from this verse since you immediately recognized that you are not a thief. You are not stealing. You, in fact, have a strong work ethic and would never dream of stealing. So what is God trying to say to you through this verse? Look closely at the last phrase. Work. Do something useful and productive so that you can acquire more and attain greater prominence. Do something useful so you can gain momentum in the pursuit of the American dream. Is that right? Is that what God is saying? Not even close! God wants you to embrace a strong work ethic so that you can be a blessing to others. His desire is for you to work diligently so that you can share with those in need. You ought to get all the education you can so that you can excel and be the best at what God called you to do. Why? Because God deserves your best! However, it is not about you! It is about positioning yourself in alignment with God’s priorities so that you can be a blessing to others. God does not bless you so that you can funnel the blessings into your self centered pursuits. God blesses you in order to expand your capacity to bless others. Do you have anything left to share with those in need? Statistics show that the average American lives on 120% of his or her income. That means we spend more than we make. Maybe it’s time to re-think the American dream. The life God blesses is the life given to being a blessing to those in need. You are blessed to be a blessing! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Rejoice…God will bless you. “The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.”1 Chron 29:9 (NIV) God blesses obedience. Nothing brings more joy to the heart of God and to the child of God than obedience. When you give freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, you expand your capacity to rejoice. Joy overflows as you align your life with God’s plan. David and the people rejoiced. David had a reason to rejoice; he gave freely and wholeheartedly. The people rejoiced because of the willing response of their leaders. God blessed their obedience. Are you that kind of leader? Do those in your sphere of influence rejoice because of your faithfulness to God? God has demonstrated His gracious generosity by building the ultimate bridge to you and me. If you ever need a reason to rejoice, simply look up to your Heavenly Father and realize how blessed you are to have a loving Heavenly Father who freely and wholeheartedly gave His Son to be your Savior. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor