Category: Sufficiency

Feeling Inadequate

“But Moses said to the LORD, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’ Then the LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’” Exodus 4:10-12 (ESV) Have you ever felt inadequate? It is an overwhelming feeling. Anxiety intensifies when you feel that your assignment is beyond your ability. Moses felt that way. He had received an assignment from God to deliver the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. Moses was to confront the Pharaoh and to forge a path of deliverance for those enslaved by Egypt. Moses began to read off his list of excuses for God to consider. Moses was trying to get God caught up on the deficits that he had been living with all of his life. In others words, Moses was not quick on his feet and he felt inadequate to be God’s choice for the task. God is so patient. He gently reminded Moses of who the Creator is. Who gives man the ability to speak, to hear, and to think? Who makes it possible for humanity to know and to do and to be? God graciously affirmed Moses by saying, “Go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” God is your sufficiency. He will never ask you to do anything that He does not equip you for. Will you trust God to provide for your role in His story? God will be your sufficiency. God will compensate for your inadequacy. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Integrity Motives Sufficiency

Measuring Your Motives

“You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.“ James 4:2-3 (ESV) Have you ever been the recipient of a gift that was given with impure motives? When motives are not right, the gift loses its impact. How you give is just as important as what you give. How you serve is just as important as the act of serving. How you do life is just as important as what you do with your life. Motives matter to God. God is all-knowing and all-seeing. In His omniscience, God detects the motives in which you operate your life. God looks beneath the surface of your good deeds to identify your true motives. Selfishness is an indicator of impure motives. Wrong motives will cause you to mistreat others in order to get what you want. “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.” Prov. 16:2 (ESV) What if we started with a boldness to simply ask God? If there is something we need, what keeps us from asking God who is the Creator and Sustainer of life? Why do we try to take life into our own hands and allow impure motives to infiltrate our decisions? Let’s commit to go to God! He is our sufficiency! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Gate I am sayings Sufficiency

Everlasting Sufficiency

“‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’” John 10:10 (NIV) God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Satan hates you and has a deceptive plan for your life. Satan’s agenda is to deplete you and to defeat you. Don’t allow the thief to steal your joy, kill your peace, or destroy your passion. Don’t allow the thief to neutralize your zeal, to vandalize your victory, or to jeopardize your testimony. Don’t allow the thief to distract your devotion, to discourage your discipline, or to deflate your demeanor. Embrace the great promise of everlasting sufficiency that Jesus provides. Jesus is the Shepherd and His agenda is to complete your life. Jesus has come to deliver your from darkness and defeat. Remember, the tomb is empty so that your life doesn’t have to be! Allow the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul to infuse you with His power, to inject you with His love, and to inspire you with His compassion. Allow the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul to ignite your worship, to excite your prayer life, and to incite your sensitivity to His activity. My mind is made up: I have been designed by God and for God. My eyes are looking up: Jesus sought me! Jesus bought me with His own blood! Jesus thought of me before I ever thought of Him! My faith is growing up: He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion! Remind the devil that your sin has been removed, the blood of Jesus has been applied, and your eternal security is securely fastened in the all-sufficient, all-powerful, and all-knowing nail-scarred hands of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Provision Moses Sufficiency

Feeling Inadequate

“But Moses said to the LORD, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’ 11 Then the LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’” Exodus 4:10-12 (ESV) Have you ever felt inadequate? It is an overwhelming feeling. Anxiety intensifies when you feel that your assignment is beyond your ability. Moses felt that way. He had received an assignment from God to deliver the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. Moses was to confront the Pharaoh and to forge a path of deliverance for those enslaved by Egypt. Moses began to read off his list of excuses for God to consider. Moses was trying to get God caught up on the deficits that he had been living with all of his life. In others words, Moses was not quick on his feet and he felt inadequate to be God’s choice for the task. God is so patient. He gently reminded Moses of who the Creator is. Who gives man the ability to speak, to hear, and to think? Who makes it possible for humanity to know and to do and to be? God graciously affirmed Moses by saying, “Go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” God is your sufficiency. He will never ask you to do anything that He does not equip you for. Will you trust God to provide for your role in His story? God will be your sufficiency. God will compensate for your inadequacy. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 31: Exodus 4-6) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Gate I am sayings Sufficiency

Everlasting Sufficiency

“‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’” John 10:10 (NIV) God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Satan hates you and has a deceptive plan for your life. Satan’s agenda is to deplete you and to defeat you. Don’t allow the thief to steal your joy, kill your peace, or destroy your passion. Don’t allow the thief to neutralize your zeal, to vandalize your victory, or to jeopardize your testimony. Don’t allow the thief to distract your devotion, to discourage your discipline, or to deflate your demeanor. Embrace the great promise of everlasting sufficiency that Jesus provides. Jesus is the Shepherd and His agenda is to complete your life. Jesus has come to deliver your from darkness and defeat. Remember, the tomb is empty so that your life doesn’t have to be! Allow the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul to infuse you with His power, to inject you with His love, and to inspire you with His compassion. Allow the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul to ignite your worship, to excite your prayer life, and to incite your sensitivity to His activity. My mind is made up: I have been designed by God and for God. My eyes are looking up: Jesus sought me! Jesus bought me with His own blood! Jesus thought of me before I ever thought of Him! My faith is growing up: He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion! Remind the devil that your sin has been removed, the blood of Jesus has been applied, and your eternal security is securely fastened in the all-sufficient, all-powerful, and all-knowing nail-scarred hands of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Integrity Motives Sufficiency

Measuring Your Motives

“You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:2-3 (NIV) Have you ever been the recipient of a gift that was given with impure motives? When motives are not right, the gift loses its impact. How you give is just as important as what you give. How you serve is just as important as the act of serving. How you do life is just as important as what you do with your life. Motives matter to God. God is all-knowing and all-seeing. In His omniscience, God detects the motives in which you operate your life. God looks beneath the surface of your good deeds to identify your true motives. Selfishness is an indicator of impure motives. Wrong motives will cause you to mistreat others in order to get what you want. “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.” Prov 16:2 (NIV) What if we started with a boldness to simply ask God? If there is something we need, what keeps us from asking God who is the Creator and Sustainer of life? Why do we try to take life into our own hands and allow impure motives to infiltrate our decisions? Let’s commit to go to God! He is our sufficiency! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Christ Provision Sufficiency

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

Paradox Submission Sufficiency Surrender

Surrendered Life (1)

“Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’” John 12:23 (NIV) Victory comes through surrender. Our culture teaches you to take control of your life. Be the best! Give it your all! Get all you can! Be happy! Win at all costs! Reality shows have glamorized the self-centered life. The persistent themes suggest that your best life is all about you and what you can acquire during your short stay on this planet. Jesus demonstrated the opposite pursuit. Jesus left it all in Heaven so that He could come to earth, live and die a sinless death, be resurrected on the third day, and ascend back to His Father in Heaven. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. Jesus oriented His life around the centrality of bringing glory to God. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2 (NIV) “‘Father, glorify your name!’” John 12:28 (NIV) Jesus willingly put others first. He willingly endured the agony of crucifixion and looked to the resulting outcome of saving mankind and bringing glory to God. Your best life is not your life! Victory comes through surrender. Are you willing to follow the example of Christ and place God’s agenda first in your life? Are you willing to reflect honor to God? Live in such a way that those who know you, but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Sufficiency

“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! Because Jesus was without sin our insufficiency is transformed by His sufficiency. 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 Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care