Ministries
Facing Transition
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Psalms 46:1-3 (NIV)
Are you currently facing any of life's transitions? Maybe you are preparing for graduation and anticipating the future. Perhaps you are considering retirement and wonder if this is the right time. As a primary caregiver, you may be seeking God concerning transitioning a loved one into an assisted living center. It could be that you have purchased a new home and are trying to get settled and find order amidst the chaos. Regardless of your particular season of transition, God is more than sufficient to see you through.
For the elder brother, his transition was related to the reentry of his younger brother we know as the prodigal son. Can you relate? Has anyone reentered your life recently? That's a transition that you must face. How will you make room in your life for the person? How will their presence affect you and your schedule?
The elder brother did not transition well. He was embittered by his father's gracious response. He was resentful of the forgiveness his younger brother received. He will have to choose how he will navigate this transition.
God is our refuge! We can go to Him. In fact, our first response to life's transitions should be to go to Him. He already knows what we are facing and what challenges we will face. Remember, He is all knowing!
God is our strength! We will run out of fuel at some point. The fumes are not sufficient, but God is. Allow Him to be your source of strength today. Allow God to have access to your life and your transitions.
God is an ever-present help in trouble. There's no where you can go to get away from God's presence. He is omnipresent! He is your help to face life's transitions. Rest in Him. Give Him your worry. Give Him your confusion.
Wait for God to show you the next step. Simply obey what you already know
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Unfailing Love
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions." Psalms 51:1 (NIV)
David came to the point of desperation after committing the sins of adultery and murder. God used the prophet Nathan to confront David. Nathan used a parable to personalize David's sin and then injected the piercing accusatory statement, "You are the man!"
Have you heard these lyrics before? "It's me! It's me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer!" Both David and the prodigal son would have embraced this song. It is common throughout our earthly existence to go through seasons of personalization. In fact, if you want to become Christ-like and reach your God-given potential then you must be willing to acknowledge your sin personally.
Personalization is looking into the mirror and confronting the reality of your own sin before you start judging others. The next step is to personalize God's mercy, unfailing love, and compassion.
Now let's get personal. What specific area of your life is in desperate need of God's touch? Identify the sin that entangles you and trace Satan's strategy. How does the enemy attack you? When are you most susceptible to sin? Where are you when you are most vulnerable to the enemy's flaming arrows? Is it when you travel? Is it when you are home alone? Is it when you are at work?
Personalize Psalms 51:1 and pray it to God right now. Go ahead and pray this Scripture and see how God reveals his mercy, unfailing love, and compassion.
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Compelling Love
"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" 1 John 3:17 (NIV)
When you pull up to a traffic signal and notice a man holding a cardboard sign saying, "Need food! Please help!" What kind of thoughts race through your mind? Do you wrestle with the notion to roll down your window and extend a dollar bill or maybe even a five dollar bill? Then again, you may start pondering what he might spend the money on. In your mind you are thinking that he may take the money and go buy alcohol, cigarettes, or a lottery ticket. You question whether he will really use the money to buy food as his sign advertised.
Does God expect us to use good judgment? Yes! But, God also expects us to help meet needs. Remember this concept: God does not bless you based on how that person spends the money you give. God blesses you based on your heart in giving to meet needs.
John takes the concept of meeting needs into the arena of the family of God. We are to help fellow believers. In fact, if we are unwilling to use the resources God has blessed us with to help a brother in need, then how can the love of God be in us. In other words, God's love is evidenced as we meet needs.
God's love compels us to be generous. Generosity will not flow naturally. It is a supernatural experience. God has blessed us to be a blessing. Ask God to show you some needs this week that He wants you to meet for His glory!
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Life Instead
“But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.” Mark 15:11 (NIV)
Have you ever encountered injustice? Have you ever been treated unfairly? I think we have all been there. It hurts! The scars serve as a constant reminder. In our verse today, we find a word that compels us to contemplate. It is the soothing word, “instead.” Let me take this punishment instead of you. Allow me to receive this penalty instead of you. Jesus will be flogged and crucified instead of Barabbas. The innocent man dies in his place. The guilty man goes free. Jesus receives what he doesn’t deserve while Barabbas receives what he doesn’t deserve. Jesus receives death! Barabbas receives life! Is that justice? Should the guilty go free?
It depends who takes the initiative. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”(Rm. 5:8 NIV). Christ died instead of us! Yes, while we were still sinners! How can you demonstrate that kind of love? Who in your sphere of influence needs to know what “instead” looks like?
Forgive instead of holding a grudge. Show acceptance instead of forging a gap. Offer help instead of ignoring the need. Appreciate Jesus instead of taking Him for granted. It’s your move!
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Departure (7)
"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:2 (NIV)
Without pruning, there is no productivity.
God wants us to be fruitful. In order for us to bear fruit that remains, God initiates the process of pruning. As the gardener, God removes those things in our lives that prevent the life of Christ from flowing through us. He allows us to go through seasons of adversity to address those fruit-restricting areas of our lives.
- "Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Heb 12:10-11 (NIV)
The loving hand of our attentive Heavenly Father brings correction when we drift from His best. Without pain, there is no change. God allows pain to come into our lives to bring us to the place of full surrender. When we reach the level of acknowleging our sin and recognizing God's desire, the pruning begins to enable the flow of Christ to nourish the areas of our life that brings glory to God.
Will there be a major change when you stand before God? Will you be responsive to God's pruning in your life now so that when you stand before God very little will be needed to make you like Christ? Allow God to conform you into the image of Christ.
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Departure (6)
"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:8 (NIV)
Are you ready to leave?
Hit the pause button for just a moment and take a close look at your life. What have you done with the life God has given you? What have you done with the opportunities God placed in your path? Have you spent your life or invested your life? What remains?
You bring glory to God through the fruit you bear. The fruit validates and athenticates your discipleship. Your devotion as a follower of Jesus Christ is measured by the fruit that is born through your life. The focus is not on bearing fruit, but rather on abiding. Staying connected to Christ through an intimate love relationship will result in a fruit-bearing life.
- "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matt 5:16 (NIV)
- "'By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.'" John 13:35 (NIV)
The fruit of kindness will be expressed through your life as you abide in Christ. Your compassion for the lost and your commitment to sharing the Gospel will be in direct proportion to the level of your abiding relationship with Christ. The fruit of love will evidenced by your life in relation to your connectivity to Christ as the ultimate source of love. The life of Christ will flow through you to impact the lives of others.
Are you bringing glory to God? If so, then you are living in light of eternity. You are departure ready!
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Departure (5)
"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." Heb 2:1 (NIV)
Departure readiness includes making sure that you are saved and being conscientious about how you live each day. Every moment matters in God's economy. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be attentive to how we think, how we speak, and how we act. Our thought-life, our conversation, and our conduct are vital to departure readiness.
- "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess." Heb 3:1 (NIV)
- "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God." Heb 3:12 (NIV)
How attentive are you to what you already know from God's Word? Are you obeying what God has already revealed to you? Make no provision for drifting from God. Fortify your faith and solidify your daily walk with God.
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Departure (4)
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God." 1 Peter 4:1-2 (NIV)
What are you going to do with the rest of your life?
Jesus is our model to follow. He suffered in His body for our benefit. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. He was willing to become the sinless sacrificial lamb that took away our sin. Jesus nailed our sin to the cross. He paid the debt we could not pay.
What will you do with what Jesus has done for you? Will you live your life for earthly human desires or for the will of God?
- "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:7-8 (NIV)
- "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Departure (3)
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Prov 3:5-6 (NIV)
Trust God with the remainder of your days. Your departure from planet earth has already been scheduled by God. He knows when you will take your final breath of earthly air. God is all-knowing and God is eternal. He sees the entirety of your life. He already knows every decision you will make and every path that you will take. In His foreknowledge, God already knows what the final chapter of your earthly existence looks like.
Are you willing to trust God with your life? Are you willing to place your life completely in His hands? Live your remaining days with the focus and tenacity of a passionate follower of Christ. Don't rely on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge the sovereignty of God. Live with the awareness of God's purity, power, and perspective. God is for you. He demonstrated His love for you before you had a chance to weigh in on the transaction (Romans 5:8). God took the initiative to bring you into a love relationship with Himself.
Place God first in your life (Matt. 6:33) and He will make your paths straight. Give Him the proper place of allegiance and loyalty. God deserves your devotion and your worship. Make no room for apathy or lethargy. With the time you have left on this earth, trust God with all of your heart. Allow your love relationship with Him to demonstrate who you are and whose you are!
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Departure (2)
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4 (NIV)
How will you live before you go? Your time on earth is limited. James compares life to a mist that appears and then vanishes (James 4:14). Compared to eternity, our time on earth is brief. Yet, how you choose to live your life on planet earth has eternal implications. Each moment matters for eternity.
Jesus identifies the abiding relationship made available to you. Without having an abiding relationship with Jesus, you cannot bear fruit. He is the vine. He is the source of real life. You are the branch. Your role in the relationship is to stay connected to the vine. You become the conduit through which Jesus bears His fruit. Your fruitfulness is proportionate to your abiding relationship with Jesus. To remain in Christ is to stay connected to Him through a growing relationship with Him.
Once you have established the connection through your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross, your eternal relationship with Christ is solidified. Now that you know Christ personally, you are to grow in your relationship with Christ progressively. Moment by moment you enjoy the abiding relationship whereby you experience His life flowing through you. As the life of Christ flows through you, His life is expressed through you to a watching world. Fruit is evidenced as a result of your abiding relationship with Christ.
Stay connected!
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor