Category: Comfort

God Is Working

“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) God is working in all things for your good and His glory. Nothing can thwart God’s will and nothing can circumvent His provision. God is still on His throne and has the final say on every action and interaction. Nothing happens without God’s permission. If God allows something to come into your life, He will use it. If God permits it, He will use it. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Gen 50:20 (NIV) “For I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” Phil 1:19 (NIV) Do you love God? Are you called according to His purpose? Then know that God is working in and through your circumstances to accomplish His plan. You may not know what tomorrow holds, but you can know who holds tomorrow. You may not be able to see clearly in your present situation, but God will enable the fog to lift and His path for you will become evident. Trust in God’s perfect timing. He will see you through your dilemma. Your faith will be strengthened. Your experience of God’s presence and peace will be elevated. You will come to know God at a deeper level as you walk with Him through your pain. He will provide comfort. God will redeem your pain. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Comfort Compassion Prayer

Releasing Anxiety

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV) Is it hard for you to admit when you are anxious about something? Does your pride keep you from acknowledging your anxious thoughts? That’s why humility is a vital component to receiving God’s comfort. When you humble yourself, you take the initiative to present yourself before God in a proper attitude. In humility, you recognize your dependency upon God. Living in a fallen world generates anxiety. The uncertainty of the economy fosters an environment of anxiety. The presence of competing agendas creates tension which gives birth to worry. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matt 6:34 (NIV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phil 4:6 (NIV) Choose to bring your burdens to the Lord. What are you worrying about? What consumes your thoughts? What is keeping you up at night? Bring every apprehension to the Lord because He cares for you. Receive His compassion and enjoy His comfort. As you humble yourself before the Lord, He will lift you up. Take off the spirit of heaviness and put on the garment of praise (Is. 61:3). Release every anxious thought and renew your mind with God’s Word (Rom. 12:2). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Comfort Creator Jesus

Created on Purpose

“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” Col 1:16 (NIV) God made you. You were His idea. Before God formed you in the womb, He knew you (Jer. 1:5). You are not an accident. God designed you and there is not another person just like you. Why did God create you? Why are you here? You were created by God and for God. You were made for God’s pleasure. His redeeming love was demonstrated through the sacrifice of His one and only Son, Jesus. In Christ, you are God’s workmanship. You are God’s masterpiece. All things were created by Christ and for Christ. As a Christian, you have the privilege of entrusting your life to Him. He knows what is best for you because He designed you. You were fashioned for His glory. Regardless of what you endure throughout the seasons of life, you can anchor your life to the fact that God loves you and will accomplish His purposes through you. Your present circumstances will not stifle the activity of God. Christ will be formed in you in the midst of your challenges. Obstacles become opportunities for Christ to reveal His love and to extend His comfort. Are you having trouble going to sleep at night due to the situation you face? Don’t count sheep, just talk to the Shepherd. Turn to the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul (1 Pt. 2:25). Christ is still the Great Physician. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Comfort

Comfort In Pain

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Cor 1:3-4 (NIV) God redeems pain. When you look into the rear view mirror of your life, you can probably recall painful experiences that you have had in your past. Some of those experiences may be the direct result of poor choices that you made and some of those experiences may be related to poor choices that someone else made. You may look back and recognize painful experiences that were not attached to poor choices at all. It may be that you simply encountered pain as a result of living in a fallen world. Grief is an ongoing pain that resides within us as we try to navigate a path without someone who has meant so much to us. Grief can be encountered as a result of job loss, a shift in our personal health status, or a shattered dream. Are you currently experiencing any level of grief in your life? Can you identify the source of your grief? God is the Father of compassion. He is the God of all comfort. God comforts us so that we can comfort others. God blesses us with experiences that elevate our need for God. We come to realize our dependency upon God and how desperate we really are for God. God does not bring comfort into our lives so that we can become comfortable. God brings comfort into our lives during seasons of pain and difficulty so that we can comfort others who go through trying circumstances. We come to know God by personal experience. We become better equipped to bring comfort to others. Who are you building a bridge of comfort to? Who has God brought into your path lately who simply needs to know God’s comfort through you? That’s one of the many ways that God redeems your pain. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor (This devotional was originally posted in ’07 or ’08. I’m taking a break from writing for a season of personal renewal.) Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Comfort God's Provision

The God of All Comfort

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Cor 1:3-4 (NIV) God redeems pain. When you look into the rear view mirror of your life, you can probably recall painful experiences that you have had in your past. Some of those experiences may be the direct result of poor choices that you made and some of those experiences may be related to poor choices that someone else made. You may look back and recognize painful experiences that were not attached to poor choices at all. It may be that you simply encountered pain as a result of living in a fallen world. Grief is an ongoing pain that resides within us as we try to navigate a path without someone who has meant so much to us. Grief can be encountered as a result of job loss, a shift in our personal health status, or a shattered dream. Are you currently experiencing any level of grief in your life? Can you identify the source of your grief? God is the Father of compassion. He is the God of all comfort. God comforts us so that we can comfort others. God blesses us with experiences that elevate our need for Him. We come to realize our dependency upon God and how desperate we really are for God. God does not bring comfort into our lives so that we can become comfortable. God brings comfort into our lives during seasons of pain and difficulty so that we can comfort others who go through trying circumstances. We come to know God by personal experience. We become better equipped to bring comfort to others. Who are you building a bridge of comfort to? Who has God brought into your path lately who simply needs to know God’s comfort through you? That’s one of the many ways that God redeems your pain. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Comfort Suffering Testimony

Suffering as a Christian

“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” 1 Peter 4:16 (NIV) When you received the gift of eternal life, you were saved by the grace of God. Your name was written in the Lamb’s book of life and your eternal security was sealed by the Holy Spirit. Your position in Christ is that of having a right relationship with God and a right relationship with others. The sacrificial death of Christ upon the cross provided you with a new identity, in Christ, as a child of God. Receiving the benefits of salvation is a joy. However, what you may not have realized is that being a follower of Jesus Christ includes suffering. You cannot be on mission with God and give your life to fulfilling the Great Commission and live out the Great Commandment without an element of suffering. Going against the current of culture will produce a level of suffering. Combating the satanic opposition from the kingdom of darkness will generate a level of suffering. Denying yourself and crucifying the flesh in order to walk in the Spirit will spawn an encounter with suffering. Do not be ashamed if you suffer as a Christian. Maybe you work in a difficult environment where Christianity is not well received. Maybe your home is not conducive to the reality of your Christianity. Perhaps being a Christian on your campus, at work, or in your home places you in the minority. Do not be ashamed. Give praise to God that you have high honor and privilege of bearing that name. You are Christ on your campus. You are Christ at your work. You are Christ in your home. Everywhere you go, you are representing Jesus! You are continuing the ministry of Jesus on the earth by doing what He did. You wear His name and you bear His identity. Remember, you may be the only Jesus others see! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Assurance Comfort Eternal security Faith Jesus

Fortifying Your Faith

“The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’” Luke 8:24-25 (NIV) Without a test, there is no testimony. Jesus provided the disciples with an opportunity to fortify their faith and to solidify their testimony. Fearing for their lives, the disciples woke Jesus and alerted Him of their plight. Jesus got up and changed their circumstances by rebuking the wind and the waters. The storm subsided and all was calm. Their life lesson was delivered in the form of a question, “Where is your faith?” Jesus wanted the disciples to think about where they were placing their confidence. Did the disciples place their confidence in the boat or in the Master of the wind and the waves? “We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor 5:7 (NIV) “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) The disciples asked one another, “Who is this?” Your answer to that question is vital. Is Jesus just a good man who performed good deeds while upon the earth? Or, is Jesus the Master of your life and your forever? Place your confidence in Jesus alone for salvation and trust Him to see you through the storms of life. Jesus can save you from your sin and from eternal damnation. The same Jesus who has provided for your eternal security can provide for your immediate stability in the midst of your storm. Entrust your life to Jesus completely. Jesus is in the boat! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Adversity Assurance Comfort Faith Jesus

Storms in Life

“As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.” Luke 8:23 (NIV) Why does God allow storms to come into our path? God is more concerned about our character than our comfort. His passion is for us to become like Christ. If God allows a storm, He will use that storm to reveal Himself and to refine our character. There are some things you learn in a storm that you cannot learn on the calm sea. The storm provides the environment in which we learn to trust God by taking Him at His Word. We learn to view our circumstances from God’s perspective. The disciples were in great danger from their personal perspective. While the storm was raging, Jesus was sleeping. Jesus knew the outcome before they even set sail. Jesus oriented His life according to the Father’s agenda. God’s will supersedes any storm and any distraction. God will accomplish His plan in the midst of life’s storms. Your character development matters to God. The friction of each storm in your life will be guided by the hand of God to sand the rough edges from your life in order to perfect Christ in you. If God allows a storm to come into your life, He will orchestrate the movement of that storm to conform you into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:28-29). God works in all situations to bring you into perfect union with Christ and to effectively portray Christ through your life. Every storm has a season and is used of God for a divine reason. What storm are you in? Have you detected the loving hand of God at work in the midst of the storm to produce Christ-likeness in you? Maintain God’s perspective while you trust His provision to see you through. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Comfort Faith Perseverance

Finishing Strong

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Tim 4:7-8 (NIV) This verse comes to life when you bury someone close to you. There’s something about funerals that remind us of the brevity of life and the reality of heaven. Maybe it causes us to move closer to the reality of our mortality. The pace of life on earth can sometimes numb our emotions and keep us from dealing with life beyond the grave. Seeing your loved one in a casket is a stark reminder that we are one breath away from eternity. Paul was at the end of his life and wrote a final letter to his son in the ministry, Timothy. Paul had truly fought the good fight. Paul had finished the race and kept the faith. He finished strong! Paul reminded Timothy of the crown of righteousness that Jesus would be awarding at the finish line. Think about your life. How are you doing? When you look into the review mirror of life, do you have any regrets? Remember, it’s not how you start; it’s how you finish that matters most! Fight the good fight of the faith. Yes! It is a fight because we are in a spiritual battle that has eternal implications. “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.” 1 Tim 1:18-19 (NIV) “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Tim 6:12 (NIV) Your life has eternity written all over it. Finish strong! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Comfort

Abiding Presence Comfort Heaven

Heaven (2)

“No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Josh 1:5 (NIV) God’s presence brings comfort. You will never go through anything that Jesus hasn’t already endured on your behalf. Jesus knows grief, suffering, rejection, humiliation, betrayal, loneliness, and death on a first name basis. Yet, Jesus reigns in victory. If you will allow Jesus to reign in your life, you will reign in victory. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil 1:21 (NIV) “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy–to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24-25 (NIV) Joshua, Paul, and Jude can testify with clarity and confidence that God’s presence sustains you while you live the life God has given on this earth. While you wait for your glorified body and your glorious reunion with Jesus and your loved ones in heaven, God’s abiding presence enables you to endure the hard seasons of life. What’s troubling you today? Is there anything causing you to lose sleep or to agonize in the sea of worry? Has fear darkened your vision or diffused your passion? Surrender every fiber of your being to the Lord right now in prayer. Invite God to make His presence known in your life. I enjoy quoting aloud each day the following excerpt from Beth Moore’s book, Believing God: God is who He says He is God can do what He says He can do I am who God says I am I can do all things through Christ God’s Word is alive and active in me…I’m believing, I’m believing, I’m believing God! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Comfort

The deadliest shooting in modern United States history took place on April 16, 2007, on the campus of Virginia Tech. Thirty-two students were killed and the gunman committed suicide. Our hearts are broken and our nation grieves for the families of those affected by this tragedy. Similar feelings erupted on September 11, 2001. Confusion looms. Questions linger. Our pastor, Dr. David Fleming, shared four timely promises that we can embrace from God’s Word to help us navigate seasons of uncertainty. 1. Jesus will come to you wherever you are. 2. Jesus will walk with you through whatever. 3. Jesus will help you make sense of it all. 4. Jesus will turn your life around. Our greatest need in this moment is the comfort God provides. He is more than enough. Would you take a few moments and meditate on these two verses of Scripture? “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Cor 1:3-4 (NIV) Allow God to speak to your heart and to extend His comfort to you. Then, PACE yourself and share your heart with God. Let Him hear the authentic cries of your heart. Express your trust in Him. Be comforted and seek to comfort others. In His Care, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care