Tag: Devo

Daily Inspiration from God’s Word

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Spiritual Toolbox (2)

Meeting with God

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:35 (ESV) How’s your prayer life? Are you spending unhurried time alone with God? Your ministry effectiveness will never rise above the level of your daily intimacy with God. Habit #2:  A daily practice of meeting with God in prayer Jesus is the ultimate model to follow. He demonstrated the daily habit of communing with God in prayer. He exemplified the epitome of an abiding relationship with God. Notice that Jesus got up early in the morning to connect with God. When are you at your best? Are you a morning person or a night owl? Whenever you are at your best is really the best time to have a special meeting with God in prayer. Where is the best place for you to connect with God in prayer? In his book, Sacred Pathways, Gary Thomas identifies nine different ways that people best connect with God. For example, you may best connect with God in solitude, or outdoors, or with worship music playing. Discover what works for you. What environment helps you to focus on God in prayer? Let me give you some tracks to run on to assist you in your daily practice of meeting with God in prayer. 1)  Setup a time. Make a daily appointment with God. 2)  Select a place. Find an environment that enables you to focus. 3)  Secure a plan. Consider learning how to pray through the Tabernacle. There’s nothing like having unbroken fellowship with God. You are made by God to commune with God! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Spiritual Toolbox (1)

Spiritual Toolbox

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.“ 2 Tim 3:16-17 (ESV) How do you become all that God has created you to become? What habits are essential to reaching your God given potential? Over the next five days, let’s open the spiritual toolbox and examine five habits necessary for obtaining a lifestyle of Christlikeness. Habit #1:  A daily intake of God’s Word You are what you eat. If you consistently fuel your body with junk food then your level of energy and performance will be hindered. You will be like a marathoner running with ankle weights. Soul food is mandatory for spiritual growth. Nourishing your soul requires a daily intake of God’s Word. God has revealed Himself through His Word, the Bible. Your Creator has written the owner’s manual for your life. Let me give you some tracks to run on to assist you in your daily intake. 1)  Secure a translation of the Bible that speaks the way you listen.  2)  Read four chapters of the Bible per day. (In one year, you will have read through the entire Bible.) 3)  Write down one verse from each of the four chapters that really speaks to your heart. 4)  Meditate on your four verses and then write an action step to employ today. Here are a few examples of action steps that I have written as a result of my daily intake of God’s Word. Love others today with the same love I have received from Jesus. Turn interruptions into opportunities to make Jesus known. Put others first. Practice the Presence of God today. Make God smile. Now, it’s your turn! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Growth

Growth

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:6 (ESV) Where there is health there is growth. A healthy body will grow. A healthy believer will grow spiritually. A healthy church will grow both numerically and spiritually. You determine the level of participation in the process of maturation. God honors your devotion to daily spiritual disciplines. You also have the wonderful opportunity to assist in the maturation process in others. God is the source of growth. You have the privilege of participating and cooperating in the growth process. You join God in your personal spiritual development. You also join God in investing in the spiritual development of other Christ followers. Maturation results in multiplication. As you grow, you assist others in their growth. Moses mentored Joshua. Elijah mentored Elisha. Naomi mentored Ruth. Daniel mentored Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Paul mentored Timothy. Does your life evidence spiritual health? Are you growing? How have you invested in another believer’s maturation? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Stabilized

Stabilized

“So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Ephesians 4:14 (ESV) Spiritual maturity will ensure stability. God blesses the pursuit of spiritual maturity. His strength and stability become evident in the devoted life of the child of God. What are you striving to become? How are you allocating your time and energy? What eternal benefits are you producing by your daily decisions? We combat three enemies: the world, the devil, and the flesh. These three are anti-God. They are opposed to God’s agenda. God’s purposes do not align with this world’s system. Thus, to become a fully devoted follower of Christ will require a life of resistance. Just like in physical fitness, without resistance there is no growth. God desires for every believer to grow deeper. Stability comes when you are grounded in God’s Word and anchored to the Rock, Jesus. Instability is the result of spiritual immaturity and lethargy. God wants you to know Him more. “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Philippians 3:10 (ESV) Is your current walk with God characterized by stability? Are you building your life on the deep truths of God’s Word? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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In Motion

In Motion

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV) The goal of your spiritual maturity is Christlikeness. Until you become just like Christ, you are not through. You are in the process of becoming who you are in Christ. Are you on a path of spiritual growth and development? Are you being intentional about becoming more and more like Christ? If you are not in motion to become more like Jesus then you are creating a commotion within the Body of Christ. Each person in the Body of Christ must grow personally. Each person must be in motion being equipped for service and being encouraged towards spiritual maturity. “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good..” 1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV) Where are you heading? What are you aiming for? How are you going to achieve spiritual maturity? Do you have an action plan? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Focused

Focused

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) You become what you focus on. Diffused light is weak. Focused light can cut steel. God blesses a life that is focused on His mission. His mission involves knowing, growing, and going. God wants you to know Him personally and intimately through an abiding relationship with Jesus. God wants you to grow in Him through prayer, Bible study, and connecting with other believers in a small group. God wants you to go into the world shining His light and sharing His love. Are you focused? “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (ESV) “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you..” Proverbs 4:25 (ESV) “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.’” John 4:34 (ESV) “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2 (ESV) Is your life fragmented? Are you trying to keep too many plates spinning? Maybe God wants you to downsize from thirty spinning plates to three. Focus your life on knowing, growing, and going. Eternity is at stake! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Family Mission Statement

Family Mission Statement

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

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Family Mission Statement

Exemplify

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 Cor. 11:1 (ESV) Your home should be a place to run to, not run from. God wants your home to be an oasis. Your home should be the safest place on earth to be yourself. Trust is essential. In fact, without trust there is no relationship. Without trust, your home will not be an oasis. Relationships are built on trust. Your love relationship with Jesus is in your response to your trusting in Jesus alone for salvation. God has entrusted you with the gospel message and spiritual gifts to serve others. God has demonstrated His trust in you which makes your unbroken fellowship with God possible. In order to be trusted by others, you must be trustworthy. To create an environment of trust within your home, the members of your family must be trustworthy. Living a life of integrity elevates the level of trust within your home. You can be the example for other family members to follow. If you want to be encouraged, spend a few moments thanking God for the family members who have modeled Christ before you. You may even consider sending them a note, a text, or an email expressing your gratitude for their example in your life. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Family Mission Statement

Extending Acceptance

“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7 (ESV) What kind of home environment did you grow up in? Was your home a safe place where love was extended unconditionally and where acceptance was granted freely? Do you recall if your home was filled with an atmosphere of trust? We exist as a family to love each other unconditionally in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. What about now? What’s your home life like? Have you nurtured an atmosphere of acceptance? When you accept God’s acceptance of you, every relationship takes on a new dimension. Drawing from what God has done in your life, you will be able to extend acceptance of others. When you accept others, it does not mean that you condone their behavior or affirm inappropriate conduct. Rather, you are demonstrating that your acceptance of them is not based upon performance. Clothe yourself with the garment of God’s love and acceptance. Treat your family members the way God has so graciously treated you. God has already given us so much more than we deserve. God simply wants us to let His life flow through us to influence our home for His glory! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Categories
Father Parenting Proverbs

Honor Your Dad

“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23:22 (ESV) A few years back while driving through heavy traffic, I heard this powerful question on the Christian radio station I was listening to, “What did your dad do right?” That question captured my heart and gripped my soul. I turned the radio volume down and I began to pray a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the specific things my dad did right. Then, the Lord prompted me to call my dad and share with him what I felt that he did right. That phone conversation was one of the most meaningful interactions I have ever had with my dad since my parents’ divorce which had taken place when I was seven years old. Perhaps you had an engaging father who walked with God and lead your family spiritually. You have so much to be thankful for. Maybe your dad did not have a vibrant relationship with the Lord and he was not a model father to you. Father’s Day may generate painful memories that you have to navigate with God’s grace. Take some time today to think about what your dad did right. You may want to consider writing down some specific things your dad did right and give God glory for each item. If your dad is still alive, give him a call, write him a letter, or text him to express what he did right. You will honor your father and you will bring him such joy and pleasure as you share your heart of gratitude with him. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the faithfulness of God and the value of your earthly father. If you are a parent or a grandparent, live in such a way as to enable your children and grandchildren to generate an extensive list of what you did right! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Family Mission Statement

Peaceful Habitation

“My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Isaiah 32:18 (ESV) We exist as a family to love each other unconditionally in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. Now that statement is loaded with meaning and with life giving principles. Is your family characterized by love? Does your family consistently extend unconditional love? Love is the mark of a mature follower of Jesus Christ. If our home and family are going to bring honor to God, love must be the supreme demonstration. The unconditional love God has shown us in Christ is to be duplicated in our home. Love is also a fruit of the Spirit which is evidenced through our treatment of others. Seize opportunities within your home this week to demonstrate the unconditional love of God. Whenever you go through seasons of not wanting to love that way, just remember how God has lavished you with His unconditional love. God is not asking us to do anything He has not already done for us in Christ. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Family Mission Statement

Pleasing God

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

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Family Glory Mission Statement

Our Family Focus

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

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Family Mission Statement

God’s Family Plan

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

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Family

God’s Family

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.“ Ephesians 3:14-15 (ESV) Family is God’s idea. God is pro-family. Regardless of your upbringing, whether you grew up in a stable Christian environment or a broken home, you can be adopted into God’s spiritual family. God’s family is known as the Body of Christ, the church. God’s desire is for you to believe in His Son, Jesus. Once you place your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross, you become part of God’s family. As you examine God’s global family, you will detect instantly that God loves variety. He specializes in using all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people. What kind of family member are you being within God’s family? Are you adding value to what God is doing? Have you discovered your God-given gift mix and are you serving through ministry of God’s local family, the church? There is so much more that God wants to do through you than you can imagine. Begin asking God to reveal to you the next step that He wants you to take. Once God reveals the next step, be willing to obey instantly. It just may be something that will cause you to totally and completely depend upon His provision. God always provides for those He guides. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Adversity Spiritual Maturity Suffering Trials

Adversity and Maturity

“And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:4 (ESV) Spiritual maturity may involve adversity. The child of God is not exempt from adversity. Often, God will allow adversity to enter our journey in order to move us toward spiritual maturity. God expects us to grow spiritually. Mediocrity, lethargy, and apathy are foreign to the maturation process. God enables us to grow through seasons of uncertainty and through seasons of drought. We are reminded of our inadequacy and our total dependency upon God. God’s desire is for us to not lack anything. Trials produce the canvas upon which the providence of God is painted for our personal engagement. Our response to adversity demonstrates our level of spiritual maturity. Our response to difficult circumstances can also propel our spiritual maturity to the next level. Here’s the bottom line: Are you becoming more Christlike in the midst of the trials you face? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Alignment Discipline Suffering Trials

God’s Pursuit of You

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!’” Luke 15:17 (ESV) Do you have someone in your life who is currently suffering the consequences of their poor choices? Everything within you wants to shift into rescue mode. You want to pull them out of reaping what they have sown. Their trial has become your trial because of the love you have for them. The prodigal son traveled down the road filled with the potholes of selfish choices. The consequences of his sinful lifestyle were in full bloom. The fast lane had not delivered what it promised. What I admire most about his father, is that he allowed the natural consequences to flow. Instead of rescuing his son, the father gave God room to work and to produce deep conviction in his straying son’s life. Yes! It took a pigpen experience for the son to come to his senses. What if the father would have interrupted the process? What if the father would have chased the son down and prevented him from reaching the pigpen? Sometimes we just need to give God room to work to bring those He has created back to Himself. There are times when God wants to use us in the process of bringing a rebelling son or daughter back into alignment. Don’t bypass God’s disciplinary process. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Faith Suffering Trials Trust

In the Boat

“And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.” Matthew 8:24 (ESV) Trials have a tendency to sneak up on us like weeds in a flowerbed. We can be living in the land of the familiar and enjoying our daily routine when all of the sudden, we get surprised by an unexpected interruption. Maybe we get an unwanted notice in the mail, or the check engine light in our car comes on, or the doctor walks in the room with a concerned look in his eyes. Life is filled with seasons of uncertainty. Who do you turn to when trials come into your life? The disciples went to Jesus and woke Him and said, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” We must give them credit at this point. They knew to turn to Jesus. But, Jesus questioned them about their lack of faith and their pressing fear. Why would they be afraid of anything, knowing that Jesus was with them? Jesus seized the opportunity to demonstrate His power over nature. Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and it was completely calm. The disciples experienced the demonstration of Jesus’ power. Whatever trials come our way, remember that Jesus is our sufficiency. The storms of this life can never catch Jesus by surprise. Jesus is in the boat! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Delays Hannah Omniscience Suffering Trials

Being Misunderstood

“As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, ‘How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.’” 1 Sam 1:12-14 (ESV) Have you ever been misunderstood? When you are hurting, your emotions will be expressed through anger, suppression, depression, or grief. At some point, your hurt will manifest. For Hannah, her pain was being expressed through heartfelt prayer. She was unveiling her broken heart before the Lord. Hannah was barren. Eli misinterpreted her pain as that of being drunk. That was far from the truth of Hannah’s condition. She wasn’t drunk. She was devastated with the reality of her circumstances. Can you relate? “But Hannah answered, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.’” 1 Sam 1:15-16 (ESV) “They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the Lord.’” 1 Sam 1:19-20 (ESV) God knows what you are feeling right now. God knows where you are and where you are headed. Nothing catches God by surprise. Maybe you are experiencing a delay that just doesn’t make sense to you. Know that God has a purpose for every delay we endure. God understands our feelings and our frustrations even when others may not understand. God is all-knowing. God has the final say! For those who have misunderstood you, will you entrust them to God? For the delays you are experiencing, will you entrust them to God as well? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Faith Perspective Suffering Trials Wisdom

Wisdom and Perspective

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5 (ESV) View your trials from God’s perspective. Knowledge is needed to take things apart. Wisdom is needed to put things back together. When your life is coming apart, you need God’s wisdom to put your life in order. Trials tend to skew our vision and stifle our passion. It is so easy to lose perspective when facing trials. Our tendency is to be captured by the immediate and bypass the future that God has in store for us. Why do we wait so long in the process to turn to God in prayer? We try to figure out circumstances on our own and frantically search for answers apart from God. Nothing comes into our lives without God’s permission. If God permits trials, then God will use those trials for our good and for His glory. If only we can embrace that reality earlier in the process of our trials. God is both the Creator and Sustainer of our lives. He knows where we are and what we are facing and where we are heading. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (ESV) In faith, turn to God and ask for His wisdom. Seek to gain God’s perspective on the trials you face. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Faith Suffering Testimony Trials

Building Your Testimony

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:2-3 (ESV) Without a test, there is no testimony. God allows trials to come into our lives in order to prove the authenticity of our faith. We are like a tube of toothpaste, when squeezed whatever is on the inside comes out. Trials have a way of revealing character. When our faith is tested, we have the opportunity to demonstrate the character of Christ being developed in us. Our testimony is enriched as our faith increases. Learning how to trust God when trials ensue is part of our spiritual formation. God does not waste the trauma that comes into our lives. When difficult circumstances are in view, our faith is fortified. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) Review your spiritual journey and identify those hard places in your life that proved your faith. You will find that some of your most meaningful moments with God were during those seasons of intensity and adversity. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Joy Rejoice Suffering Trials

Rejoice Is Your Choice

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:2-3 (ESV) Living in a fallen world comes at a price. The consequences of sin have rippled throughout our family tree all the way back to Adam and Eve. When sin entered the human race, trials became the shadow. Trials are as much a part of life as the air we breathe. The question is not a matter of whether we will face trials or not in this life. The issue is how we choose to respond to the trials we face. Trials are inevitable in a fallen world. However, we can choose to rejoice in the midst of the trials we navigate. We need not be surprised by the multifaceted trials that come our way. Instead, we need to live in the ready mode in order to anticipate trials and more specifically, plan our response to trials. Will you choose to rejoice? You cannot choose your trials, but you can choose your response to the trials. Consider the trials that you are currently experiencing. How will you respond today? Will your choice be to rejoice? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Fishing Reveal Soul Consciousness Soulwinning

Let’s Go Fishing

“Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:16-18 (ESV) If you’re not fishing, you’re not following. To be a true follower of Jesus Christ, you must be fishing for souls. Jesus has called every follower of His to fish for men, women, boys, and girls. Our purpose for existence is to know Jesus personally, to grow in Jesus progressively, and to go for Jesus intentionally. As a follower of Jesus Christ, your lifestyle should include both private and public worship. To know Jesus personally gives expression through your daily intimacy with Him in private worship. You bring your worship of Jesus with you to a gathering of fellow followers of Christ in public worship. Are you growing in your love relationship with Jesus? Are you connected to a small group of Christ-followers in order to grow progressively in community, in Bible knowledge and application, and in exercising your spiritual gifts? Are you growing in your knowing? As you know Christ and grow in Christ, you are compelled to go into the world to represent Christ. Your lifestyle becomes intentional. Your soul-consciousness is elevated. Your passion to reach the lost at any cost is ignited. Now, let’s go fishing! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Conceal Great Commission Mission Reveal Soulwinning

Our Mission

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 28:18-20 (ESV) The Great Commission is our mission. I live in awe of the reality that God would choose someone like to me to be adopted into His family, to be included in His redemption story, and to be empowered for His redemptive mission. If you have turned your life over to Jesus Christ and allowed Him to become the Lord of your life, you to have been adopted, included, and empowered by God and for God. Your life has true meaning and your life matters to God and directly impacts the population of heaven. You have been given authority by Jesus to make disciples of all people groups. Now that’s something worth giving your life to! Don’t get distracted by materialism and the pursuit of prestige. Don’t allow your passion for God and His redemptive activity to be dissolved by the pursuit of worldly pleasures. Laser focus your life on that which moves the heart of God. Give your life to influencing people for Christ. As you go, make disciples. Maximize every opportunity that God gives you to make Jesus known. You may be the only Jesus others see. Reveal God’s love to every person you come into contact with. Be an irresistible influence for Christ on this broken planet called earth. Reveal the grace you have been given by God to others. Reveal the mercy you have received through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Reveal the hope to others that you have come to know firsthand. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Ascension Conceal Experience Pentecost Reveal

Moving with God

“And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’” Acts 1:10-11 (ESV) The disciples experienced a monumental moment as they witnessed the ascension of Jesus. Jesus had walked with them and invested in them and mentored them. Jesus sacrificed His life upon the cross for them and was raised from the dead. Jesus interacted with the disciples during His forty days of post-resurrection appearances. Now, Jesus ascends before their eyes back into heaven. Can you imagine what they were feeling and thinking? How would you respond to such an experience? Where do you go after witnessing such a miraculous event? It is possible to seek to live in a God-moment meant as an isolated experience and miss God’s next assignment for you. God allows you to have special moments where He reveals more of Himself to you so that you can know Him more deeply and obey Him completely. Had the disciples been unwilling to keep moving with God, they would have missed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. They had to go to Jerusalem and engage in a “ten day prayer meeting” in the upper room in order to have the experience of becoming Spirit-filled followers of Christ. Contemplate this powerful quote from Henry Blackaby, “You cannot stay where you are and go with God.” Keep moving with God! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Conceal God Moments Mountaintop Experiences Reveal

Mountaintop Experiences

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” Matt 17:1-2 (ESV) If only life was a perpetual mountaintop experience! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be on a constant spiritual high and never come down? Peter, James, and John had a once in a lifetime experience with Jesus on the top of a mountain. Jesus was transfigured before them. Peter wanted to build three shelters in order to stay on the mountaintop and live in the radiance of Jesus’ glory. Jesus used the experience to teach Peter, James, and John the necessity to come down the mountain to meet the needs of people in the valley. In other words, God surprises us with mountaintop experiences to reveal His glory so that we can go into the world to reveal God’s glory to others. Consider the terrain of your spiritual journey. Can you recall the mountaintop experiences you have had with God? Did God reveal His glory to you in those moments so that you would stay in the moment? No! God gave you those special glimpses into His nature and character so that you could go into the valley of life to connect with people in desperate need of God’s salvation. God moments can be difficult to transfer to others. Often, the God moments are for you to be encouraged and strengthened personally. The experience should motivate you to go into the world to declare the message of reconciliation to a world alienated from God. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Authentic Worship Evangelism Isaiah Reveal

Sensitivity to God’s Activity

“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” Isaiah 6:1 (ESV) Authentic worship leads to sensitivity to God’s activity. When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, he encountered the holiness of God. As a result, Isaiah had a heightened awareness of both his personal sin and the sin of those around him. The light of God’s holiness had exposed the darkness within him and around him. Isaiah was so overwhelmed by his encounter of God, that he said, “Woe is me.” Through his personal encounter with God, Isaiah heard the voice of God calling out to him. Isaiah was sensitive to God’s activity. He made himself available for God’s use by saying, “Here am I. Send me!” Have you reached that place in your walk with God? Have you encountered God’s presence at the level of hearing God’s invitation to join Him in His redemptive activity? Your worship of the One True Living God should result in a corresponding willingness to participate with God in His world redemption plan. Your heart aligns with the heart of God and you submit your will to God’s will. His agenda becomes your passion. Are you willing to place your “yes” on the altar unconditionally? Be willing to say to God, “Lord, I’m yours. Use me.” Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Light of the World Reveal Witness

Uncover Your Candle

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matt 5:14-16 (ESV) Jesus has transformed your life so that you will become an agent of transformation in the world. Jesus has illuminated your life so that you will reflect His light and extend His love to a lost and dying world. As a child of God, you are the light of the world. God has strategically placed you in a dark culture in order to shine His light in you and through you. You are alive right now on purpose. You live, work, study, and play right where God has placed you to know Jesus and to make Him known. Is your light shining? Is your candle burning brightly for the Lord? God has created people who need the light you have. God has brought them into your life and placed them in your sphere of influence so that you can let your light shine before them. Don’t fear the open doors God places before you. Don’t divert from the path God has placed you on. Don’t neglect crossing the bridges God has built for you. You will come into contact with people today who need the light God has placed within you. Will you uncover the candle? Will you allow the light of Jesus to shine through you in order to reveal His love to others? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Conceal Reveal Worship

Conceal or Reveal

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Col 3:17 (ESV) You have the power to conceal or reveal God’s glory. God reveals His glory to you as you worship Him privately and corporately. Whether you encounter God personally through private worship or in a setting with other believers, God reveals His glory. He wants you know His nature and His character. God wants you to come to know Him by experience. As God reveals Himself to you, your relationship deepens. Your understanding of God’s purposes and ways grows as you spend time with Him. The question becomes: What are you going to do with what God reveals to you? Are you going to conceal His glory or reveal His glory? Authentic worship is a lifestyle. It is not what you come to on Sunday morning or what you go away from on Sunday afternoon. Worship is living a life that honors God as you are doing life. Everything you do should be an act of worship. Even menial tasks can be used to reveal God’s glory. God will orchestrate opportunities today for you to reveal His glory to others. What will others come to know about God’s nature and character through your willingness to reveal His glory? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Joshua Memorial Day Spiritual Markers

Memorial Day & Spiritual Markers

“And Joshua said to them, ‘Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, “What do those stones mean to you?” then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.’” Joshua 4:5-7 (ESV) Don’t forget what God has done to bring you to the place where you are right now. Take note of the sacrifices others have made to protect our freedom and preserve our future. Recognize the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on the cross to provide atonement for our sin. Joshua wanted to solidify the crossing of the Jordan River as a spiritual marker for all of Israel. He wanted to ensure that future generations would know what God had done to bring about deliverance to the people of God. Joshua utilized the twelve stones, which were selected from the middle of the Jordan to serve as a memorial. Solidify your spiritual markers. When did you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? When did you follow the Lord in believer’s baptism? Where were you when God revealed Himself to you during a season of adversity? Identify some God-moments you have experienced in the journey of life. Testify of God’s faithfulness by sharing with another person. They may need the encouragement you have to offer right now. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell