Weekend Music links on iTunes: God is with Us by Michael Olson; All Because of Jesus by Fee; Strong Tower by Kutless; Come Thou Fount arranged by Canvas.

Read:  Psalm 51:16-17; Gen. 3:10

Think:  No matter how confident we are, I think we’ve all experienced the feeling of wanting to hide our true self from other people. But what about this idea we have that we can somehow hide from God?  Ever since Adam and Eve tried that in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:10) people have been trying to hide from God.

Out of our own pride or shame and our mistaken ideas of who God is, we may try to fake who we are, even with this God who created us. On Sunday, Pastor Ben said “God would rather hear something authentic from a sinner than something fake from a saint”. It made me think of the song I’ve heard on the radio by Amy Grant called “Better than a Hallelujah”. The lyrics say, “the honest cries of a breaking heart are better than a hallelujah sometimes” and “silence when the words won’t come is better than a church bell ringing, better than a choir singing out”…in other words, God loves authenticity. He says this over and over in the Bible. In Psalm 51 the psalmist says, “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”.

Do: Let the fact that God loves you sink deep into your spirit. Seek to be honest with him. If you are hiding any part of yourself, come to him with it and trust his love for you. Just as honesty between people can deepen a relationship, honesty with God will result in a deeper and more satisfying relationship with him. 

Pray: Dear God, I really desire an honest relationship with you. I am coming to you today trusting your love for me. As I am honest before you, I know that you will not despise me or turn me away. (Spend some time revealing some hidden places in your heart if necessary). Thank you for your incredible love. Amen

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Weekend Music links on iTunes: God is with Us by Michael Olson; All Because of Jesus by Fee; Strong Tower by Kutless; Come Thou Fount arranged by Canvas.

Read:  Isaiah 58

Think: So many of us work so hard to keep up …..the house, the car, the yard, entertainment, travel, etc.    A friend saw this statement on twitter “People are funny.  They spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't need, to impress people they don't like.” 

Pastor spoke recently about the related issue, people-pleasing, being a form of idolatry.  Indeed, anything that takes our eyes away from the Lord and His precepts is placing another god before Him.  Becoming over-committed and doing too many things, trying to please too many people leads to stress and sometimes health problems.  When we add something into our already busy lives,  the house can get messy, the laundry can stack up and we may have to eat out.   But, what is God’s priority for us?  I think His way is balanced and does not require us to be stressed out.    “He’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.  It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.”    Micah 6:8 MSG

He knows our heart.  He makes allowances for our weakness and our inability to do it all.  I suspect He is not too concerned about the condition of my laundry room.   Imagine what Jesus’ place would look like if He were living here today.  Would He use a fresh towel every time he showered?   What kind of car would He drive?  Or would He take the bus?  I think He wouldn’t have a lot of stuff in His little flat.   I doubt He’d be dining out much, making investments and dreaming about the Caribbean.  His priorities were for us to love one another, feed the poor, heal the sick and preach the Gospel, just as He did.

Do: Study the life of Jesus.  Obey His word.  Ask God how to help you do what He’s calling you to today.  Drop the unnecessary baggage from your life and schedule.  Forget about what your friend or neighbor is doing and ask Jesus what He would do. 

Pray: Forgive me, God for the idolatry in my life and for caring more about things and impressions than I should.  Jesus, I want to be more like You.  Make Your priorities for me my priorities for me.  Reveal Yourself to me so that I know You more.  Help me to want to serve you and please You more than others. 

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Weekend Music links on iTunes: God is with Us by Michael Olson; All Because of Jesus by Fee; Strong Tower by Kutless; Come Thou Fount arranged by Canvas.

Read:  Luke 15:11-22, Romans 12:1-3 

Think:  In listening to Pastor Ben speak about the prodigal, I was reminded of my own rebellion.  I had grown up attending church with my mom and accepted Christ and walked with Him during my teen years.  After graduation, my move away from home also became a move away from God. 

There was definitely some “wild living” in my time away from my Heavenly Father.   When I look back, I can clearly see times when He protected me from harm.  I remember being so disappointed that I didn’t get what I was hoping for, or when the guy I was attracted to didn’t respond to me.  Now, I praise Him for watching over me during my time away from Him.   As my partying life slowed down, I began to feel more secure in who I was, having settled down with the man I’d soon marry.  I didn’t realize I was “in need” (vs.14) when a friend insisted I read a new age book called “Prescription for Happiness.”   One might not expect this would be how the Lord would run to me, throw His arms around me and kiss me.(vs.20)  In that book, I read that the way to happiness was to be found within myself.  As I thought about this more, I remembered that the God of my youth was far more powerful than anything that was inside of me.  His love poured out over me in a dramatic way as I found my way back to His arms. 

The transformation in my thinking was radical.  I repented from wild living and my mind was renewed.  My friends wondered what was up with me.  Not long after, my husband came back to the Father, as well.

Do: Thank God for loving you unconditionally and meeting you just as you are or were.  Pray for the prodigals you know to return to the Father….and REJOICE and CELEBRATE when they do! 

Pray: Thank you, Father, for protecting and rescuing me from the grip of the enemy.  Help me to never take your grace for granted.  Give me compassion for those who have strayed from your hand.  Help me to love them back to you and to give mercy freely, as it was given to me. 

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Your Grace is Enough by Chris Tomlin; Sing to the King by Passion Band; Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture; How He Loves by David Crowder.

Read: Luke 15:25-32, Luke 15:1-10 

Think:  Pastor Ben taught us from Luke 15:25-32 this last weekend. We refer to this story as the parable of the Prodigal Son. However, the rest of the chapter Luke 15:1-10 is really about the older brother. Like the Pharisees, the older brother looks good. In verse 29 “Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time” This is a pretty easy place to get in our walk with the Lord. We know it’s not true that “I never transgressed your commandment” but we can feel that way. 

It says the older brother was angry, who was he angry with? Not his brother, he was angry with the Father. He accuses his Father: "[I did all this] and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends" (15:29b). His father has given him less than he “deserves”. Not only has the fatted calf never been killed for him, he has never even been given a young goat for a party! I know I’ve felt this. God has saved and blessed someone (who doesn’t go to church nearly as much as I do) with great wealth and favor, and when I’m in the middle of some hardship I feel that I deserve "better than this" from the God whom I’ve served so well! 

We need to understand what our Father celebrates and celebrate with Him. God celebrates “sinners who repent”. The Prodigal Son parable is preceded with the parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-10). Verse 10 describes what the older brother is missing. “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” 

Do: Next time we bow our heads at the end of church services and Pastor acknowledges those who have been saved on his left, in the center and on his right. Imagine the party in heaven and celebrate. 

Pray: Father, you seek the lost, and when they respond to You there is a celebration. Give me your heart for the lost so we can celebrate together.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Your Grace is Enough by Chris Tomlin; Sing to the King by Passion Band; Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture; How He Loves by David Crowder.

Read: Matthew 23, Luke 20:20, Matthew 15:8-9, Luke 12:1

Think:  The Pharisees looked so good, why did they catch all the flack? I decided to do some research. The Pharisees were a sect of Judaism in Jesus’ day, their name means “separated” as we are to be. They were devoted to the law; they opposed the Greek influence and compromises that were permeating Jewish tradition, they tithed, they prayed. Outwardly holy but inwardly hypocrites. 

In one sermon of Jesus He called them hypocrites seven times (Matthew 23), other derogatory names 12 times and told them He didn’t know how they could escape being condemned to hell. They feigned respect, referring to Jesus as Rabbi but they only sought to trap Him in a capital crime so they could have Him killed. Matthew 15:8-9 describes the Pharisees and defines the spirit of religion. 

As Pastor Ben taught us this holier attitude was the attitude of the prodigal son’s older brother. Religion and the religious look good and sound right but their hearts don’t match their outward expression. Jesus warned several times to beware the leaven of the Pharisees (Luke 12:1). We can be infected or can infect others with looking and sounding good. We need to check our hearts and be careful to discern the hearts of those we follow. 

Do:  Read Psalm 139:23-24. 

Pray:   Father, search me and know my heart, help me keep from saying and not doing, let no Pharisee leaven take hold in my life.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Your Grace is Enough by Chris Tomlin; Sing to the King by Passion Band; Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture; How He Loves by David Crowder.

Read: Job 2:7, Genesis 3:1, Matthew4: 5, 8, 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, Revelation 3:15-17, Ephesians 6:10-18 

Think: How easy it is to become the prodigal? The prodigal son story that Pastor Ben talked about this weekend made me think, “Wow, that guy was an idiot”, he walked with the Father, he was provided for by the Father, he was protected by the Father, he had a precious inheritance from the Father why did he run away? 

Then I thought about all the people I know (me being one) who have run from that wonderful place. The big assignment of the enemy of our soul (Satan) is to tempt us to do just that. Run away and stay away. Satan may come to us as he did to Job (Job 2:7), our world is shaken and our trust and faith are challenged. Or he may appeal to our pride as he did with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1) and Jesus (Matthew 4:5 and 8) or bring us “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:2-4). The riskiest place to becoming the prodigal is being lukewarm in our faith (Revelation 3:15-17).

It’s pretty easy to become the prodigal. 

Do: Pray everyday and put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) 

Pray: Father, I want to be strong in You and in the power of Your might. Satan and this world work so hard to tempt me to follow other ways than Your’s. You have provided powerful tools to keep me safe, help me Lord, to wield them every day.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Your Grace is Enough by Chris Tomlin; Sing to the King by Passion Band; Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture; How He Loves by David Crowder.

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:9, Deuteronomy 27:5, Exodus 15 

Think:  Coming home, how sweet it is. I’ve been a prodigal in my life. Maybe not exactly like the guy Pastor Ben told us about this week but I’ve walked away from God’s goodness and thought I knew better. When I came to the end of my vast knowledge (in short order usually) and rushed back, it was such a sweet reunion. 

The Bible talks about what God has prepared for us (1 Corinthians 2:9) and so much of that is prepared and available to us now. We sometimes think of the things God has prepared for us as heaven, the sweet by and by, but the peace that passes all understanding when we come to Him either the first time or subsequent times is one of those things He has prepared for us here and now. 

I walk away because I don’t place a high enough value on His peace, joy, strength, communion, wisdom, grace, mercy and forgiveness. The prodigal son parable talks about a party. There is a party in God, a banqueting table. It is so sweet to be set free of guilt and shame, to be restored to relationship. 

When I start to value other things higher, I am walking on a slippery slope. I need to make an altar of stones like the Jews were told (Deuteronomy 27:5) or write songs like Moses (Exodus 15) to commemorate those times God prepared for me a sweet reunion and remember those times and walk off those slopes. 

Do: Watch what we value. Do we crave the Lord’s presence? Do we love His peace, His joy, His strength? Write a remembrance of that time He met you with open arms and keep it close. 

Pray: Father, you have prepared so much for me, help me stay on the path that leads me to them.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Your Grace is Enough by Chris Tomlin; Sing to the King by Passion Band; Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture; How He Loves by David Crowder.

Read: 1 Corinthians 4:4-5, Psalm 51:10, Mark 3:29

Think:  Pastor Ben taught us this weekend that trying to be religious is not a way to please or gain favor with our Father or a way to present a witness to the world of our Father.

There is a religious phrase that comes pretty easy for me (sorry, Lord) and that is “Wow, that guy is sure going to hell”. To my credit, I save it for only the most despicable of people. But here’s what it does in my mind, it writes that person off.

I have to bring myself back to a couple of simple truths. First, God judges the heart (1 Corinthians 4:4-5). Paul says we judge by what we see and only God sees people’s hearts. I even have trouble judging myself because as Paul says “For I know of nothing against myself” only God can judge and He judges hearts.

As bad as someone looks at this moment I don’t see their heart and if I write them off I also dismiss the Lord’s ability to create in them a clean heart (Psalm 51:10) in a moment if they put their sin under Jesus’ blood.

The second truth is, sin is sin. The Bible only talks about one unforgivable sin (Mark 3:29). All the rest, separate me from God but can be covered by the blood of Christ. So if I tell a little white lie, I’m separated. If I cheat on my taxes a little bit, I’m separated. And if I do whatever that person did that I’m so sure condemns them to hell, I’m separated. I want there to be some scale. If I’m separated by a few feet I’m OK but that guy is separated by miles he’s so much worse. That’s religious.

Forgiveness is available to everyone for almost everything and my job needs to be praying for folk’s salvation and not condemning them.

Do: As we read the newspaper or watch the news or hear of a family tragedy, check our attitudes toward heinous sinners. Pray for their salvation.

Pray: Father, let me not be the older brother when it comes to judging others. Help me Lord to become more like you, offering hope, grace and forgiveness.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Weekend Music links on iTunes: All Over the World by Matt Redman; Hosanna by Paul Baloche; You'll Come by Hillsong; Rescue by Desperation Band; None but Jesus by Brooke Fraser.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Pleasing Everyone

Weekend Music links on iTunes: All Over the World by Matt Redman; Hosanna by Paul Baloche; You'll Come by Hillsong; Rescue by Desperation Band; None but Jesus by Brooke Fraser.

Read: Romans 12:1-2

Think:  One winter, we decided to give our kitchen a makeover. We refaced the cabinet doors, replaced the countertops with decorative tile, painted the walls, and replaced the appliances. When our friends came over, they were astonished by the transformation. They couldn’t believe it was the same kitchen. It was the same kitchen in the same house, just renovated and updated.

I am that kitchen. The renovation process seems to be coming a little slower than I expected, though. You know how we all can get when we are waiting for a project to be finished and the contractor asks for more time. Well the Carpenter in my case is taking His sweet time too. He’s leaving nothing out, taking no short cuts, and smoothing out the rough spots- so many rough spots.

Romans 12:2 talks about “being transformed” and getting “new thinking.” It talks about offering the guts of who we are as an offering to Christ, and in exchange He will transform us and give us new thinking. Appliances to a kitchen are what thinking is to a brain. The new appliances in our kitchen were so smart- they used less energy, held more food, cooked things more thoroughly, and looked better too. When God transforms us, we get new appliances and we work more efficiently and joyfully. We can hold more blessing and we look better too (ok, I’m not exactly sure about looking better, except that a joyful face does look a lot better than a sour one).

Romans 12:2 also says, “Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him.” We don’t want to offer our kitchen over to any old person with a hammer and a promise. We want the Best there is to renovate our kitchen. Jesus is the best person for the job, because he cares about the finished product- He gets to live there after all.

Do: Write down one thing that you would like surrender to God for transformation. Then write down how your thinking needs to change in order for that transformation to happen.

Pray: Jesus, help me to offer myself to you as a living sacrifice. Help me to surrender to you the things that need smoothing out and total renovation. Show me when I am offering myself to things that will only mess me up, and help me to turn from those things. You are the Master Carpenter and I want you to transform me into what I was always destined for.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org