Daily Devotional: Tuesday, March 30

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Failing Forward

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Salvation is Hereby Hillsong United; Hosannaby Paul Baloche; Cannons by Phil Wickham; Lead Me to the Crossby Hillsong United.

Read: Philemon 1:8-20; Acts 9: 26-28

Bible Challenge: Luke 9

Think: One of the lies the enemy of our soul likes to whisper to us is that our flaws and failures make us completely unacceptable to God. As Pastor Ben talked about failure, he told us what God truly desires for us is to submit those places in our lives to Him. It's in the Master's hands we can see Him transform and mold us and make us more and more like Jesus! It reminds me a bit of a story that you may have heard but I'll share again because it is so appropriate.

For almost 100 years, a huge piece of flawed marble lay in the courtyard of a cathedral in Florence, Italy. In the early 1500s a young sculptor was asked to do something with it. He measured the block and noted its imperfections. In his mind, he envisioned a young shepherd boy.

For three years he chiseled and shaped the marble bringing to life the vision he imagined. When the 18-foot towering figure of David was unveiled, his student exclaimed to Michelangelo, "Master, it lacks only one thing-speech!"

From our Bible reading today we learn about Onesimus who was a lot like that flawed marble. He was an unfaithful, useless servant when he ran away from his master Philemon. But while on the run he came to know the Master Sculptor - Jesus. As a changed man, he served God faithfully and was invaluable to the Apostle Paul's ministry. When Paul sent him back to Philemon, he asked Philemon to see the changes in Onesimus and to receive him back as a brother in Christ.

Paul himself knew what it meant to be given another chance after past wrongs (Remember his days as Saul? Acts 9:26-28). He knew personally the transformation God can accomplish. And he saw it in the life of Onesimus. The Lord can chisel His image on our flawed lives and make us beautiful and useful too.

Do: Is there a sin or failure you think is too big or too awful for God and leaves you unacceptable in His sight? Trust God at His word, let him chisel away that flaw. Allow Him to use His Divine artistry and shape you into His image!

Pray: God thank you that you love me just as I am but You don't leave me this way. I ask Lord for You to continue to chisel away those pieces of me and those places in my life that are ugly - sinful - flawed. I submit to You, please do the work that I need done to become more like You Jesus! 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

Daily Devotional: Friday, March 26

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Reality (Truth)

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Your Grace is Enough by Chris Tomlin; Let the Praises Ring by Lincoln Brewster; How Can I Keep From Singing by Chris Tomlin; Came to My Rescue by Hillsong United.

Read: John 8:31-36; 2 Corinthians 5:17  

Bible Challenge: Luke 4 (Saturday: Luke 5; Sunday: Luke 6)
Think: We Americans place a high value on freedom - and rightly so!!! Our soldiers fought (and continue to do so today) to protect it, to restore it to those who have lost it and to ensure it for the generations that will follow us. When we think of a free society we think of the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly... All incredibly important and well worth fighting for! But there is a greater freedom that law and military power cannot secure: Freedom from sin, freedom from hopelessness and despair, and ultimately, freedom from death. It is for these greater things that Pastor Ben taught us being Rooted in Christ sets us truly free!

We couldn't free ourselves, not through any amount of good works, sacrifice, or penance... Seems mankind has tried them all in one form or another. Jesus knew the human condition - enslaved to sin. Jesus' heart broke for His people and with single minded focus, Jesus came to set us free. 

"Jesus was therefore saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,'" (John 8:31,32).   

As we start looking toward Easter, let's spend the next days really considering what that freedom brings to those of us who follow Christ. Let the truth of His Word, and the vastness of His love begin to prepare you as we celebrate the most momentous event in all of history - the Lord's death and resurrection.  In Him we are set free and we are made new.

Do: Make time for a quiet moment to remember what it felt like before knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior - being weighed down by the sin, the attempts to make things right in our own strength, the inability to bridge the gap on our own.  

Pray: God I am so grateful Your acceptance and forgiveness of me doesn't rest on my efforts. I know I am not good enough and couldn't ever do enough to deserve your mercy. Thanks you that you provided the perfect Sacrifice... thank you for Jesus. 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

Daily Devotional: Friday, Sept 25

Speaker: Paul Diaz

Theme: Unforgiveness - a BIG bag!

Weekend Music links on iTunes:   Your Grace Is Enough by Chris Tomlin; Sing to the King by Passion Worship Band; Glory by Hillsong United; Mighty to Save by Hillsong.
 

Read: John 8:1 - 11

When I have messed something or someone up the Lord is quick to remind me. In reminding me He wants to have me seek His forgiveness and restore my relationship with Him and others. However, I can also take His promptings and beat myself up with them. I can rehearse my shortcomings as easily as someone else's. And I think unforgiveness for myself leads me to all the same places Pastor Paul spoke of: it affects my relationships, holds me in bondage, gives Satan a chance to work and results in bitterness.

Young mothers who lose babies, alcoholics who lose families and livelihoods, divorced couples with children, businessmen whose businesses fail all need to study this teaching. Jesus provided us a wonderful image of applied forgiveness in John 8:1-11. Jesus came into the temple courtyard and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery. "In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women". Jesus led this woman from public humiliation in the temple courtyard, to all her accusers slinking away knowing their own sin, to a wonderful blessing from Him "Has no one condemned you? Then neither do I".

Sometimes I need to imagine myself standing in the courtyard with Jesus, humiliated in front of all the people I'm thinking look down on me and as they slink away hearing Jesus say "Has no one condemned you? Then neither do I".

Jesus was hung on the cross for us. It is enough. Getting up on the cross myself says it wasn't enough. We are forgiven and we must forgive ourselves.

Do: Think about things you've done and can't forgive. Take yourself to the temple courtyard of John 8 and hear Jesus say "Has no one condemned you? Then neither do I".

Pray: Jesus, I accept your sacrifice on the cross for all my sins. I won't hold on to them because your sacrifice is enough. Thank you for your grace, mercy and love. Amen.

Timberlake Church | 4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, Washington 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@tlcf.org

Daily Devotional: Thursday, Sept 24

Speaker: Paul Diaz

Theme: Unforgiveness - a BIG bag!

Weekend Music links on iTunes:   Your Grace Is Enough by Chris Tomlin; Sing to the King by Passion Worship Band; Glory by Hillsong United; Mighty to Save by Hillsong.
 

Read: Colossians 3:2, Philippians 4:5-9

A culture has been built for us that celebrates or at least is very focused on many of the attributes of bitterness, anger and unforgiveness that Pastor Paul warned us about. It's called reality television, competition shows and partisan politics. The Real World, Big Brother, Survivor and so many more now give us opportunity to weekly get "involved" in anger, criticalness, celebrating misfortune, writing off groups of people and discontent. I know I have to be careful as this "involvement" now becomes part of my work place conversation, my trips to the grocery store and too many idle moments.

"That girl can't sing at all" I hear myself saying. "Who would ever cook that? That looks disgusting" Rush hates Anderson who hates Bill who hates Chris and they spend an awful lot of time screaming about it.

Col 3:2 says, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth". It is so easy to be drawn into the strife and anger and even feel justified in it. Philippians 4: 5-9 tells us about being anxious for nothing, letting our gentleness be known, meditating on truth and nobility. I have a choice to adopt this culture of anger or to seek the peace that Jesus modeled for me and offers.

Do: Write down the television shows you watch for a week. Go back and grade them one thru five. One being least peaceful and noble, five being the most peaceful and noble. 

Pray: Father, help me be aware of what I allow into my mind, my heart, my house and my family. Let it honor you. Amen.

Timberlake Church | 4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, Washington 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@tlcf.org

Daily Devotional: Wednesday, Sept 23

Speaker: Paul Diaz

Theme: Unforgiveness - a BIG bag!

Weekend Music links on iTunes:   Your Grace Is Enough by Chris Tomlin; Sing to the King by Passion Worship Band; Glory by Hillsong United; Mighty to Save by Hillsong.
 

I never really knew my father.  I grew up in a huge family, one of the "babies" of the family along with my twin sister and little brother.   My memories of dad are of an angry man with an explosive temper who would discipline his ten kids in anger, profanity, and fear.  Mom was as afraid of him as I was.  She prayed a lot and worked hard keeping the peace.   But whenever he had a drink in him, you could be sure he'd be on a tirade. 

Not a nourishing environment for a family.  My father died of lung cancer when I was 30.  I was a young mother with a 6-month old daughter and a loving marriage.  After a yearlong illness, in and out of hospitals, my father died surrounded by his very large family.  I remember standing in the hospital room with my family watching as my father's life slowly came to an end.  And in those last moments, he called each one of us by name and wanted to touch our hands.  It was the most intimate moment with him we'd ever known.  I stood there remembering how hard he worked to feed and clothe all ten of us, sending us all to private schools, adding on to our house as the family grew, fixing everything that needed fixing, including cars, even reupholstering furniture, all the ways he showed devotion to his family.  One of ways to start a healing journey is to do what Philippians 4:8 tells us. Meditate on the good report.

In that moment we all knew he really did love us, but he didn't know how to show affection.  A few days after the funeral I remember standing at the kitchen sink doing the dishes of all things, and thinking of my father's life and my confusion and hurt from the lack of relationship we had.  In that quiet moment of reflection the Lord showed me a picture of my father, not as an angry man unable to give or receive love, but as a child who had come from a dysfunctional home who was needing love and encouragement as much if not more than I did. I pictured the children that Jesus called in Matthew 19:14. And forgiving that child, my father, came easily, blessed by the Lord's love and tender mercy.

Do: If you have anyone you are struggling to forgive try visualizing them as a child.

Timberlake Church | 4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, Washington 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@tlcf.org

Daily Devotional: Tuesday, Sept 22

Speaker: Paul Diaz

Theme: Unforgiveness - a BIG bag!

Weekend Music links on iTunes:   Your Grace Is Enough by Chris Tomlin; Sing to the King by Passion Worship Band; Glory by Hillsong United; Mighty to Save by Hillsong.
 

Read: Ephesians 4:17-29, Matthew 18:34, 1 John 1:9

I think divorce and the painful end to long-term relationships are some of the greatest opportunities to apply this teaching on forgiveness. I contributed to this mess I had to forgive myself. Without forgiving myself I would continually doubt if I could ever make marriage work again. I had to forgive my spouse or risk hating and mistrusting all women. I had to forgive the others involved or risk the bitterness that poisons a life.

Ephesians 4:17 -29 tells us we must not darken our understanding, harden our hearts and lose our sensitivity. With every rehearsal I was building a bigger wall and hardening my heart to keep from getting hurt like that ever again.

Pastor Paul told us that unforgiveness holds us in bondage. In Matthew 18:34 the "prison" and "torture" that the servant who wouldn't forgive experienced was very much my experience. I had to learn from my mistakes or risk repeating them but I also needed to open the self imposed prison doors by asking for and receiving God's forgiveness and then asking for His forgiveness to flow through me to everyone else involved.

God answered this prayer for me. He is faithful 1 John 1:9. If you ask He will answer you too.

Do: Examine your relationships past and present and ask, "Are there any negative changes in my life that I carry as a result of that relationship?" Write it down and pray to be released from the bondage.

Timberlake Church | 4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, Washington 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@tlcf.org