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: Thursday, May 27

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Money and Generosity

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Holding Onto Youby Mike Flathers; All Over the Worldby Matt Redman; Glory to God Forever by Fee; How He Loves Us by David Crowder.

Read: Isaiah 5:8-9; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Acts 20:35

Think: The American Dream was born in the 1950s. After WWII, America wanted to just settle down and stay at home. Most families could afford a home (average size 1,000 sq. ft.), had a single income, had one family car and lived the "Dad comes home and sits smoking his pipe reading the paper" lifestyle. Achieving this "dream" became the measure of a man.

Things have changed since then... Now the average house size is 2,300 sq. ft., it requires two incomes, two or more cars and Dads and Moms spend more time away from the house in order to afford the payments.

Pastor Ben taught us this weekend that one of the hurdles to grace-motivated living and giving is financial responsibility. We need to count the cost of the American Dream and consider scaling it down to give us the margin and the freedom to live more and give more.

Do: Read Isaiah 5:8-9 and consider the warning of the results of our creating excess. From Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and Acts 20:35 we see the blessing of obeying God's commands. The choice is ours.

Pray: Lord, I want to obey you, I want to hear your voice. Please help me to understand your dream for me and give me the courage to pursue it. 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: Monday, May 24

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Generosity

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Holding Onto You by Mike Flathers; All Over the World by Matt Redman; Glory to God Forever by Fee; How He Loves Us by David Crowder.

Read: Matthew 6:33; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Luke 12:27-31; Matthew 6:8-13; Psalm 61:3-5; Acts 2:44-47

Think:  What is it that we really need? The Bible teaches God will provide our every need --- but what is that truly referring to? Whatever it is, it has to apply to the richest Christians and the poorest Christians in the world. So it can't be iPods and flat screen TVs. Pastor Ben taught us this weekend that one of the "hot topics" in growing and becoming everything God wants us to be is a good and healthy relationship with money.

A foundation for that is knowing God will provide what we need! We don't have to be anxious at all, we can simply know that it's His promise (see Luke 12:27-31). Our faith in God gives us the benefit of His daily provision just as Jesus taught in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:8-13). The Bible gives specifics including food, drink and clothing. But I absolutely trust God provides for other human needs, in fact I know this to be true from experience.

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who founded the theories behind humanistic psychology. In themselves they say we can become everything we are meant to be on our own -  which certainly isn't the Biblical perspective but I think we can borrow safely the hierarchy of five human needs he describes.

As young Christians our physiological needs (bottom of the hierarchy) are what we often focus on and what bring us to God in desperation. Once we experience God's provision He builds in us a sense of safety and shelter in Him (Psalm 61:3-5). That sense of safety draws us into community with the other believers (Acts 2:44-47) and being accepted and loved in that environment gives us self esteem (we see ourselves through God's eyes). All these building blocks lay the foundation for God actualization (rather than self), serving Him and His people using the wonderful gifts He has laid up in us. 

God knows our every need - and He wants to be our Source, our Sustainer, our Provider... because He loves us. We can find our true fulfillment in Him - Jesus promised He was the Bread of Life and the Living Water that will leave us to never thirst again.

Do: Assess your progress in the hierarchy of human needs. Do you believe God can provide for you? Do you feel safe in God? Do you feel that you belong in the body of Christ and are accepted and loved? Do you know the great things God says about you and how awesome you are in Him? If you have all these other needs met, are you serving the Lord out of this rich foundation?

Pray:  Lord, thank you that you promise to meet my needs; physical, emotional and aspirational. Help me where I am today to grow and take my next right step as I seek to become that mighty tool in Your hand helping to reveal Your kingdom here on earth. 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, April 9

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Living Every Moment

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Happy Day by  Tim Hughes; No Not One by Christy Nockels; Jesus Paid it All by Kristian Stanfill; Hosanna by Brooke Fraser.

Read: Romans 8:35-39; 2 Corinthinans 5:17; John 6:51

Bible Challenge: Luke 19

That also brought me to another place of reflection.  A friend of mine who led a small group I was in a number of years ago used to ask the best questions.  One evening he asked each of us to remember back to the days, weeks, and months when we accepted Jesus as our Savior.  He then asked us to compare that to the present.  I remember the days following my decision for Christ, how excited, eager, thankful, and joyful I was.  Time has put a lot miles between me and the day I first believed, and maybe I have let those miles also distance me from the joyful existence that was realized in that moment.  Perhaps I need to take a page from one of my employees and remember back to that first day I believed.  How does that transform the present?  How does that allow me to live more humbly, more urgently, more expectantly?  Probably most importantly it allows me to humbly remember the saving grace and forgiveness that was freely given to me....that's a reason to celebrate daily!! 

Paul encourages us in one of todays devotional readings that living expectantly allows us to look past our current circumstances, with hope and knowledge that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.   

Ask: Am I allowing lifes current circumstances to rob me of the joy of my salvation? Maybe you haven't received Christ into your life yet, but you desire a relationship with Him, to become a new creation in him (2 Corinthians 5:17), to live eternally with him (John 6:51). Is he knocking on your door, your heart?  

If you want to know have a relationship with God you can know him today by asking Jesus into your life, into your heart. Simply ask Him and He will answer.  A simple prayer such as:

Please Lord Jesus forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend.

I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ."

Pray: Heavenly father let me remember your touch, your grace, your forgiveness of me. Help me hold it close to me each day.  In Jesus name I pray. 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: Tuesday, April 6

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Living Every Moment

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Happy Day by  Tim Hughes; No Not One by Christy Nockels; Jesus Paid it All by Kristian Stanfill; Hosanna by Brooke Fraser.

Read: Luke 16; John 10: 7-10; Romans 15:7-13 (The Message)

Bible Challenge: Luke 16 

Think:  How is your life today?  If I am truthful with myself I would have to say that I am more bored with life at times than I care to admit.  As a follower of Christ it is a painful admission. Those that know me might be surprised by my answer given that my life is full of people, activities, family, friends and a job which keeps me on my toes.  Now for the follow up question: “whose fault is that?” 

When I read the second part of today’s devotional in the gospel of John, Jesus makes a promise that He came not only that we may have life, but have it to the full!  Now read Romans 15:13 from the Message translation:

“Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!”

Do:  Do I live life expectantly?  Am I complacent with my life?  Am I curious about what God personally desires for me? Do I look forward to following God’s plan for my life?   

Pray:  Heavenly Father I desire to live the life you have planned for me, a life lived expectantly on your promises. Today I look to you full of hope and anticipation.  May my eyes see what you see, hear what you hear, and feel what you feel.  In Jesus name I pray. 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: Monday, April 5

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Living Every Moment

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Happy Day by  Tim Hughes; No Not One by Christy Nockels; Jesus Paid it All by Kristian Stanfill; Hosanna by Brooke Fraser.

Read:   Matthew 26:36-41

Bible Challenge:  Luke 15

Think:  Pastor Ben used several props this weekend to illuminate several truths for Easter services. Most notably an easy chair, which even more appropriately is trademarked by a certain company as the "La-Z Boy Recliner".   Admittedly, I have one in my office at home, complete with a remote control on the table next to it. 

I have some productive moments in that chair, on many an occasion leaning back and having a conversation with my best friend, Jesus.  That's the good news. The not so good news is that too often that chair represents exactly what Pastor Ben was trying to show us this weekend, it is a chair of lost and squandered opportunities and under-appreciated relationships that God has desired for me.  My comfort to watch a TV show, and dine on popcorn (Ho'Ho's and Twinkies just aren't my thing) took precedence over something else that undoubtedly was more important.

In addition to the reading of Luke, today's devotional focuses on a very familiar "La-Z Boy" moment if you will.  Jesus asked three of His disciples to join him in the Garden of Gethsemane. He specifically asked them to keep watch with Him while he poured out His anguish to His Father.  At this moment Jesus knew full well what was about to happen, the sacrifice that He would asked to make. His humanness felt the pain; His Godliness, love and humility For His Father and for us, caused Him to utter these words: "My Father, if it is possible may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."  When Jesus returned to His disciples he found them sleeping.  At this time, at this hour, the disciples chose to sleep. The disciples surely missed an opportunity to spend time serving our Lord in an hour of need. I am pretty sure they were regretful for the rest of their earthly lives about this event.

What am I missing in my comfort, in my slumber?  Don't get me wrong, we all need our rest, but Jesus provides a very clear instruction: "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation".  Living urgently forces us to ask ourselves whether we are living for God, or living for ourselves, for our comfort.  A friend of mine advised me on what regret is: "Regret is knowing that you could have done something differently but chose not to". As the song says "Live Like You Were Dyin"....so how would that change what you would do?

Ask:  What regrets am I carrying with me today?  How can I make amends for those regrets?  What are one or two things that continually nag at you that you need to do?  Speak to a long lost friend?  Forgive someone?  Let go of a hurt?  Reach out to a neighbor?  Share your testimony about the saving grace and everlasting life of Jesus Christ with a friend or family member? 

While you are in that recliner, ask God to help you examine your priorities, to help you get up out of the chair and take a step of faith, an urgent step of action.

Pray:  Heavenly Father, You desire so much for us.  You desire an abundant life, pressed down, and overflowing.  Help me Lord to put away my agenda and urgently follow You.  Help me to be watchful and prayerful always.  I love You and want to know You more.  In Jesus name I pray. 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: Thursday, April 1

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Failing Forward

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Salvation is Here by Hillsong United; Hosanna by Paul Baloche; Cannons by Phil Wickham; Lead Me to the Cross by Hillsong United.

Read: Philippians 3:12-14; Psalm 103:12

Bible Challenge: Luke 11 

Think: As Pastor Ben talked about the idea of failing forward it got me thinking about God's forgiveness and how it is focused forward...

As we recall the times we've failed ourselves or the people we care about, the part that hurts the worst is that at the same time we have failed the Lord, too. I know the One I want to disappoint the least is my Heavenly Father.

When we see the character of God through the Bible we get to know Him, we see that He is the Perfect Father - our true Abba Father (Daddy!). And as such, He loves us in spite of our failings. His goal is to keep moving us forward to spiritual maturity - to the place where we become more and more a reflection of Him... But until that process is complete, He travels alongside us, guiding and forgiving us when we need it. The Apostle Paul captures the attitude and mindset we are to have in his letter to the Philippian Church:

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

So often we look back with regret on things we shouldn't have done, the sin and difficulty we've caused. But sin is one thing we should never need to look back on with feelings of failure IF we have confessed our sins and asked God's forgiveness. When we do so, He promises to take that sin and remove it "as far as the east is from the west"! Our job is to keep a forward focus toward the goal of pleasing Christ!

Do: Follow the words of Paul - press on with everything you have in pursuit of God!

Pray: God, I get swallowed up sometimes in regret over the past. Help me to know that once I've confessed my sin to You, Your Word says you remove it from me! Thank you! Father, help me to continue to press on toward the goal - becoming like You! 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: Wednesday, March 31

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Failing Forward

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Salvation is Here by Hillsong United; Hosanna by Paul Baloche; Cannons by Phil Wickham; Lead Me to the Cross by Hillsong United.

Read: Isaiah 6:1-8

Bible Challenge: Luke 10

Think: Television shows like American Idol have become huge. Millions of us wait each week to find out who will be the next performer to get cut. We watch as Ryan Seacrest tortures them one by one, dragging out the decision as painfully long as possible. For those of us who've been around for awhile we know this kind of show isn't exactly a new idea - there was the The Gong Show in the 70s (weird as it was), and Star Search in the 80s (which gave us Brittany Spears and Christina Aguilera).

As we hear their background stories though we often hear about the doors of opportunity that were slammed along the way, the big flubs they'd made, the failures and missed opportunities..... Yet they kept trying, pushing ahead and remained open to what would bring them their heart's desire!

In much the same way, we as followers of Christ must do the same. Just as Pastor Ben pointed out, we need to remain available, keep moving forward in our faith with God EVEN after we've blown it.

God seems to value the heart that is open to Him above all else... In Isaiah, the Lord asks: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" And then we read Isaiah's quick response: "Here am I! Send me" (6:8). It's a lot like the challenge Ben put out to all of us a few months ago - are we willing to tell God YES even before we know the question?  In spite of our failures, in spite of what we have or haven't done - are we open and available to God?

He isn't looking for the most qualified or talented but He is seeking hearts that are surrendered to Him. If that's you then you can fully trust God will show Himself strong, and He will be glorified through you!

Do: Are you available?  Are you open to what God would ask of you? If not figure out what's holding you back and take care of it today!

Pray: Thank You Lord that my sin and my failure don't disqualify me from being used by You. Father, today I say (again) Here I am Lord send me! In Jesus' name, 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: Monday, March 29

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: Psalm 42

Bible Challenge: Luke 8

Think: I was standing in the church lobby this morning before service talking with a friend about how the people who have the most vital walk with the Lord seem to be the ones who have been through some of the toughest challenges. We went into hear Pastor Ben and the message this weekend was about just that -making the most out of tough situations! Amazing how the Holy Spirit works sometimes!

I remember reading once about a high school commencement speaker who was the president of some large corporation - successful, respected, worked hard and earned his way to the top. He was known to be a pretty inspirational guy so it made sense they would ask him to speak to the graduating seniors - however, his message wasn't quite what they'd expected...

The speaker told the students this: "If I could have one hope for you as you go out into the world, it would be this: I hope you fail. And I hope that you fail at something that is important to you." (Not quite the words of encouragement and inspiration usually heard at those moments, hmmm?!) He went on to say how his younger years especially included one failure after the other, until he learned to see failure as an effective teacher.

That wisdom holds true doesn't it? God seems to do some of His best work through those seasons of our lives. (Whether the failure is simply from circumstance OR when it is of our own making!) In fact we see God's people sharing that same experience throughout Scripture - many of the Psalms were born in seasons of failure. Out of desperation came their cry, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." (Psalm 42:1-2).

A recurring story of the Bible is that deep abiding faith rises from the dark difficult places of failure. It there that often we are finally able to grab a hold of the love, wisdom, and guidance of our God. Failure is definitely an effective teacher when we allow it to be used by the Great Teacher!

Do: Look at the difficulties you're facing or failures you've experienced. Have you seen God  teach you through those? Have they made you better or driven you away from Him? Cooperate with what the Lord wants to do in your heart and life through those hard times.

Pray: Father, I don't want anything I go through to be wasted... Use the good the bad and the ugly things I go through to teach me how to be who You want me to be. Show me how to live in a way that brings You honor and glory. As I go through struggles I choose today to look for the good that You will bring out of those situations. In Jesus' Name, 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