“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV) Where do you look for help? Where do you turn when life takes a turn for the worse? Lift up your eyes to the hills. Your help comes from the Lord. He made you. He made heaven. He made earth. The Creator of the universe created you and He knows you better than anyone else on the planet. God knows where you have been, where you are, and where you are going. He knows your fears, your frustrations, and your frailty. Lift up your eyes and call out to the One who loves you, who gave His only Son for you, and who has included you in His story of redemption. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8 (ESV) “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!” Psalm 130:1-2 (ESV) Cry out to the Lord for mercy in your time of need. Don’t suppress your pain. Express your heart to the Lord through prayer and receive nourishment for your soul. Your help comes from the Healer. Your help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth. Your help comes from the Creator who designed you and develops you for His glory. God allows you to experience adversity in this life to build your spiritual muscles and to demonstrate His faithfulness to you. When you are in need of help, your desperation becomes a canvas upon which God can apply His paint of mercy and grace. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Provision
Categories
Pain and Growth
“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.” Genesis 32:24-25 (ESV) Have you ever wrestled with God? Who won? Wrestling is part of being God’s workmanship. Jacob, as God’s workmanship, came to know God in a new way after a night of wrestling. Just like in weight training, without resistance there is no growth. God allows us to go through seasons of uncertainty. God allows us to experience seasons of silence and yes, even seasons of suffering. We wrestle with God in those seasons. Our faith is challenged and often our prayer life is stretched. We come to know God by experience. Sometimes that experience involves pain. As God’s workmanship, Jacob came away from the night of wrestling with a limp and a new name. You don’t come into close proximity with the living God and leave the same. God gave Jacob the name Israel, which means God prevails. Jacob was known as a deceiver, but God gave him a new name to live up to. Jacob would become the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. God is for you. He is willing to go to any length to bring you into a vibrant, intimate, and growing relationship that is personal and eternal. God will pursue you and groom you so that you will be conformed into the image of Christ. Your life matters to God. After you encounter the Living God, you may walk with a limp to remind you of His daily provision. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (ESV) Jesus has saved us to represent Him on the earth. He has instructed us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, to forgive our debtors, to judge not, to go the extra mile, and to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. “‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’” Mark 12:30-31 (ESV) “‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” Matt. 28:19-20 (ESV) It is impossible to obey Christ’s instructions without His power. Jesus does not expect us to obey Him without His enablement. The Christian life is a life of total dependency upon Jesus and His provision. How did Paul accomplish so much in the Lord’s service? Paul lived in full surrender to Christ and in total dependency upon Christ’s strength. Are you relying on Christ’s strength? You can do everything Christ calls you to do in the strength He provides. God can accomplish more through your life in six minutes than you can accomplish on your own in sixty years. Will you be found faithful? Rely on the strength Christ provides. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV) Where do you look for help? Where do you turn when life takes a turn for the worse? Lift up your eyes to the hills. Your help comes from the Lord. He made you. He made heaven. He made earth. The Creator of the universe created you and He knows you better than anyone else on the planet. God knows where you have been, where you are, and where you are going. He knows your fears, your frustrations, and your frailty. Lift up your eyes and call out to the One who loves you, who gave His only Son for you, and who has included you in His story of redemption. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8 (ESV) “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!” Psalm 130:1-2 (ESV) Cry out to the Lord for mercy in your time of need. Don’t suppress your pain. Express your heart to the Lord through prayer and receive nourishment for your soul. Your help comes from the Healer. Your help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth. Your help comes from the Creator who designed you and develops you for His glory. God allows you to experience adversity in this life to build your spiritual muscles and to demonstrate His faithfulness to you. When you are in need of help, your desperation becomes a canvas upon which God can apply His paint of mercy and grace. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 110: Psalms 121, 123-125, 128-130) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Pain and Growth
“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.” Gen 32:24-25 (NIV) Have you ever wrestled with God? Who won? Wrestling is part of being God’s workmanship. Jacob, as God’s workmanship, came to know God in a new way after a night of wrestling. Just like in weight training, without resistance there is no growth. God allows us to go through seasons of uncertainty. God allows us to experience seasons of silence and yes, even seasons of suffering. We wrestle with God in those seasons. Our faith is challenged and often our prayer life is stretched. We come to know God by experience. Sometimes that experience involves pain. As God’s workmanship, Jacob came away from the night of wrestling with a limp and a new name. You don’t come into close proximity with the living God and leave the same. God gave Jacob the name Israel, which means God prevails. Jacob was known as a deceiver, but God gave him a new name to live up to. Jacob would become the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. God is for you. He is willing to go to any length to bring you into a vibrant, intimate, and growing relationship that is personal and eternal. God will pursue you and groom you so that you will be conformed into the image of Christ. Your life matters to God. After you encounter the Living God, you may walk with a limp to remind you of His daily provision. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:13 (NIV) Jesus has saved us to represent Him on the earth. He has instructed us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, to forgive our debtors, to judge not, to go the extra mile, and to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 (NIV) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:19-20 (NIV) It is impossible to obey Christ’s instructions without His power. Jesus does not expect us to obey Him without His enablement. The Christian life is a life of total dependency upon Jesus and His provision. How did Paul accomplish so much in the Lord’s service? Paul lived in full surrender to Christ and in total dependency upon Christ’s strength. Are you relying on Christ’s strength? You can do everything Christ calls you to do in the strength He provides. God can accomplish more through your life in six minutes than you can accomplish on your own in sixty years. Will you be found faithful? Rely on the strength Christ provides. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
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
Categories
Enriched and Equipped
“For in him you have been enriched in every way–in all your speaking and in all your knowledge–because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” 1 Cor 1:5-7 (NIV) Once you are in Christ, the realities of your eternal relationship come to fruition. In Christ, you are enriched in every way. Your life is no longer your own. You become God’s possession and God’s masterpiece. He enriches you in every way so that you can know Him personally and make Him known relationally. When you speak on God’s behalf, He enriches your speech. When you are pursuing the knowledge of God, He enriches you with knowledge reserved for His children. Another reality of your eternal relationship is that in Christ, you are equipped with spiritual gifts. At the moment of your conversion, you were filled with the Holy Spirit and you received the impartation of spiritual gifts as determined by God (1 Cor. 12:11). God has placed you in the Body of Christ to fulfill His purpose and mission and you exercise the spiritual gifts He equipped you with. Are you operating in the enrichment and equipping provided by God? God saved you so that you can invest your life in serving Him and leading others into a growing relationship with Christ. You have been enriched in every way. You have been equipped with spiritual gifts. God has given you everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Heaven: Trust His Promise
“‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.’” John 14:1 (NIV) God designed you for eternity. Everybody will live somewhere forever. As Bruce Wilkinson says, “Your beliefs determine where you will spend eternity; your behavior determines how you will spend eternity.” When you choose to live the life God has given, you experience abundant life on earth and you enjoy the reality of eternal life in heaven. In this earthly existence, you live on a broken planet with the presence of sin. As a result, problems become part of the landscape of life. The disciples were troubled as Jesus revealed the reality of His imminent death. “It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” John 13:1 (NIV) As you can imagine, the disciples were grieving. Jesus offered them words of comfort by exhorting them to trust in God. They could trust God’s timing and they could trust God’s plan. Jesus included the appeal for the disciples to trust in Himself. Jesus had faithfully walked with them and taught them. The disciples had come to know Jesus in close proximity. Now they would have to trust in Jesus as He submitted to death on the cross. Trust in God to do what He has promised. God keeps His word. God has provided the resolution for the problem of sin. Trust God to carry you through this life into the life to come. 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
Categories
Our Sufficiency In Christ
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin.” Heb 4:15 (NIV) Are you struggling? Are you hurting? Do you ever go through seasons of loneliness? Have you encountered frustration or disappointment? Have your dreams been shattered? Jesus is more than enough! He can identify with our heartache and pain. He knows what it feels like to be misunderstood. His life was marked by ridicule, unfair treatment, and betrayal. Jesus is well acquainted with the onslaught of temptation. Was He tempted? Yes! Did He commit sin? No! Can He relate to the gravitational pull of sin? Yes! Our insufficiency is transformed by the sufficiency of Christ. When we are weak, He is strong! When we are most susceptible to sin, Jesus consistently stands as the model to follow. Remember, Jesus became like us so that we could become like Him. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.’” John 14:1 (NIV) God designed you for eternity. Everybody will live somewhere forever. As Bruce Wilkinson says, “Your beliefs determine where you will spend eternity; your behavior determines how you will spend eternity.” When you choose to live the life God has given, you experience abundant life on earth and you enjoy the reality of eternal life in heaven. In this earthly existence, you live on a broken planet with the presence of sin. As a result, problems become part of the landscape of life. The disciples were troubled as Jesus revealed the reality of His imminent death. “It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” John 13:1 (NIV) As you can imagine, the disciples were grieving. Jesus offered them words of comfort by exhorting them to trust in God. They could trust God’s timing and they could trust God’s plan. Jesus included the appeal for the disciples to trust in Himself. Jesus had faithfully walked with them and taught them. The disciples had come to know Jesus in close proximity. Now they would have to trust in Jesus as He submitted to death on the cross. Trust in God to do what He has promised. God keeps His word. God has provided the resolution for the problem of sin. Trust God to carry you through this life into the life to come. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“The LORD said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NIV) God’s revelation and relationships are antidotes to depression. God has chosen to reveal Himself to us through His Word. As you read the Bible, you discover God’s purpose and plan for your life. You come to know the heart of God for world redemption and you gain insight into God’s nature and character. The ultimate revelation of God is His Son, Jesus. Jesus is God incarnate. Jesus became flesh, lived a sinless life, and died to purchase our salvation. God’s Word is nourishment for your soul. God has provided the way for us to walk in relationship with Himself and to walk in relationship with other believers. God revealed Himself to Elijah as a gentle whisper. God wanted to teach Elijah to be sensitive to His abiding Presence. Elijah had chosen to leave his servant. As a result, his depression escalated in proportion to his isolation. One of Satan’s most effective tools is that of isolation. He wants to remove you from relationships because God designed you for relationships. In fact, the first “not good” in the Bible is where God said that it was not good for man to be alone. It’s time for a spiritual checkup. What are you currently doing for refreshment? What adjustments do you need to make in order to get more rest? Are you having a consistent intake of God’s Word? If you read four chapters each day, you will read through the entire Bible in one year. Do you have a life-giving friend? Ask God to help you in these four specific areas to help you grow through depression. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
When Elijah reached the lowest point of his life and prayed that he might die, God provided Elijah with physical nourishment and rest. Read these two verses and take special note of the rest God provided. “Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.” 1 Kings 19:5-6 (NIV) You will spend one-third of your life sleeping. For your body to operate at maximum capacity, rest is a nonnegotiable. So how’s your sleep? Do you feel rested when you awake each morning? Sleep deprivation will negatively affect your mood, your energy, and your stress level. To help ease your mind at night, have a notepad and pen close to your bed so you can jot down the items that are bothering you. Instead of counting sheep, talk to the Shepherd. Pray through whatever you are worrying about and anything that God brings to your mind. When your mind is at peace, your rest will be sweet. Your pillow, mattress, sheets, and comforter do impact how well you sleep. If your room is too bright, you may want to think of ways to make your room darker. Another tip is to locate your alarm clock away from your face and place it across the room. If total silence helps you sleep better, then eliminate noise. If soft music helps you relax and fall asleep, then turn on the music. God wants you to take care of your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, do whatever it takes to ensure a good night’s rest. When you are well rested, you will feel the difference and you will have more energy to live for God’s glory. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’” 1 Kings 19:3-4 (NIV) Have you ever reached a point in your life where you had just had enough? In our fast paced culture, it is easy to reach the breaking point. Frustration, fear, fatigue, and financial pressure along with other stress in life can lead you to the place of depression. When you are depressed, your resistance to the stress of life weakens and your ability to bounce back may be inhibited. What did God do to bring relief to the depression Elijah was experiencing? “Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.” 1 Kings 19:5-6 (NIV) “The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.’ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.” 1 Kings 19:7-8 (NIV) Your body requires refreshment. God has designed your body to operate effectively and efficiently with the proper consumption of healthy food. Food is fuel for your body. Why kind of fuel are you putting into your body? Elijah ate the food God provided for his refreshment. You could call it Angel food cake. Sometimes you may feel depressed simply because of a nutritional deficit. Depression can also be the result of the unhealthy food we choose to eat. Start experiencing God’s refreshment by eating properly and exercising consistently. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
Something Great for God (4)
Stretch…God will help you. “Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD?” 1 Chron 29:3-5 (NIV) Love has an amazing influence. We know that God is love. God has demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). God gave us His best by allowing Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin and to provide eternal life. Love is an attribute of God’s character that is clearly expressed in the redemptive process. You will never stretch beyond the capacity of God’s love. David was willing to give God his best and to consecrate himself before the Lord in response to God’s love. God’s love in us and for us energizes us to do something great for God. God’s love compels us to sacrifice in order to benefit others. God’s love mobilizes us to look beyond ourselves. Has God allowed you to come into a situation that has caused your love to be tested? Do you sense that God is stretching you in order to demonstrate that He is more than enough to sustain you in the situation and to deliver you through the situation? Trust in God’s abundant provision. Respond to God’s love by giving your best and consecrating yourself and your service to Him. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’” “Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.’” Gen 22:11-14 (NIV) God’s provision always exceeds our sacrifice. Just when you think you have given God your all, He surpasses your sacrifice with His provision. God will never ask you to do anything that exceeds His provision. God’s timing is not limited by our schedule. His provision always comes through at the perfect moment. He is never late. We serve an on-time God. Sometimes it may seem as though God waits until you are in the fourth quarter with only a few seconds left on the clock. Yet, God’s provision appears right on time. Abraham obeyed God and demonstrated his reverence for God. In response, God provided a substitute for Isaac at the exact moment of greatest need. What did Abraham learn about God through his willingness to trust and obey God in every situation? He learned that God was dependable and trustworthy. In response to the encounter of God’s provision, Abraham acknowledged God as Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Will Provide. What is keeping your from obeying God and trusting Him to provide? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care