Weekend Music links on iTunes: All Over the World by Matt Redman; My Savior Lives by New Life Worship; You'll Come by Hillsong United; To the Ends of the Earth by Hillsong.

Read: I Peter 5: 10

Think: It seems to me God must really like a good comeback story because the Bible is FULL of accounts of people a lot like you and me who get a second chance. There's something pretty special as we see into the heart of God through the these Divinely orchestrated comebacks in His Word. They remind us we too can come back! Let's consider David for example. David spends a night of reckless passion with a married woman and then as part of the cover up sees to the murder of the woman’s husband! (See II Samuel 11 and 12) Or how about the Apostle Peter. Here he is one of Jesus' closest disciples, swears on his life he‘ll never turn his back on Jesus. He publicly declares loyalty until death… and within hours Peter is found denying he ever even knew Jesus. Not just once - but again and again! (See Matthew 26)

Though these are just two accounts they represent much of what we can see play out throughout the history of mankind. Our absolute inability to continue walking closely with the Father… getting tangled up in our sin, our selfishness, our faithlessness. But God knew our need for a comeback - a "come back" to Him - and made the way through His Son Jesus Christ!

Look closely at God’s heart for you as you recall the end of the stories of David and Peter. David later finds redemption and forgiveness and becomes known as a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22) Peter is given a grace-filled reception by Jesus and commissioned in ministry to lead the Church - the very ones Jesus lays down His life for. (John 21:15-17) Those are quite some comebacks wouldn’t you agree?

Do: Those comebacks aren’t just for the few who lived in Bible times but are for us today too. God’s grace doesn’t run out, He doesn’t grow tired of calling us back to Him. Like we’ve heard said, God is simply a half turn away - turn away from what’s entangling you and toward the Lord who loves you. Live for Him and make your comeback today.

Pray: God I want to trust that you haven’t run out of second chances for me. Help me to believe, to fully turn to You. 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, 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 2

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 53

Bible Challenge: Luke 12; Sat. Luke 13; Sun. Luke 14

Think: Good Friday is here, this most awful and wonderful day. Last weekend Pastor Ben shared the myths that our failures leave us unlovable... unforgiveable... unacceptable. The absolute falsehood of that comes into crystal clear focus on this day as we recall the Son of God giving his life on a cross because He loved us enough to make all things right.

Jesus Himself took the weight of our failure and sin - all our condemnation upon Himself and in His death on the cross. Isaiah 53:5, "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

Truly incredible that the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died to make things right for a sinful and lost world! He was wounded for our transgressions. "All we like sheep have gone astray," but praise God, "the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).

In one sense, Good Friday was the darkest day in human history. But because of Jesus' sacrifice for us, the cross was actually the greatest victory of all time!

Do and Pray: Not so long ago there was a worship song we would sing called Amazing Love. Make it your prayer and your worship this morning:

 I'm forgiven because You were forsaken,
I'm accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.

Amazing love,
How can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love,
I know it's true.
It's my joy to honor You,
In all I do, I honor You.

I'm forgiven because You were forsaken,
I'm accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.

You are my King
Jesus You are my King

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 17

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: The Holy Spirit

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Not to Us by Chris Tomlin; No Not Oneby Christy Nockels; Love Came Downby Ben Cantelon; Til I See Youby Hillsong.

Read: Romans 8:26-30

Think:  Have you ever noticed how we try really hard to improve our weaknesses? I wonder if all that trying really helps? I'm not very good at administrative, detailed stuff. I worked at a print shop one summer, and messed up so many projects that I was relegated to gluing scrap paper into notepads all day. I tried being a bank teller at one time, and balanced twice the entire three months I worked there. I suppose I could have tried harder, and I may have improved a little, but the likelihood of me turning my weakness into a strength was slim.

The same applies to our frail humanity. Since we are human, we have some inherent weaknesses: like coveting, complaining, criticizing, controlling, lying, lusting, gossiping and nursing grudges. You know what I mean- we have a weakness toward sin. We can try really hard not to sin, but unless we invite God's power into our weakness towards sin, we won't see any real improvement.

Once when the Apostle Paul was lamenting about his own weaknesses, he described God saying this to him; "My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Isn't that cool? So what we see as a limitation or a weakness, God sees as an opportunity for a display of His power and grace. What we see as a problem, God sees as just another way He gets to step in show His strength.

What if we were able to stop lamenting about our limitations, and turn them over to God? I wonder if we stopped trying to fix ourselves, and just surrendered ourselves to God, how much more power over sin we would really experience? What if our weakness was the key to our greatest victory?

Do: Explore what might be keeping you from surrendering completely to God, and ask a friend for their insight if you get stuck.

Pray: Jesus, I surrender my burdens, my weaknesses and my limitations to you for your glory. I will stop trying to hide or fix them, and just give them to you. I trust you to show up with your strength. 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 12

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Grace

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Yesterday, Today and Forever by Vicky Beeching; The Time Has Come by Hillsong United; Your Name by Paul Baloche; Need You Here by Hillsong; Til I See You by Hillsong.

Read: Ephesians 2:14-22; Hebrews 4:16

Think: A few months ago the big news of the day was the White House dinner crashers. Remember the couple who was able to get into a State dinner at the White House without an official invitation? The media had a field day with the story!

Though in this instance it doesn't seem to be the case, generally it is supposed to be incredibly difficult to get to our country's highest official. There is a prescribed protocol, with background checks and security clearances not to mention the fact you have to know the right people and be a noteworthy person yourself of course.  

Throughout time, dignitaries, leaders and monarchs have had specific and ironclad rules about who could be in their presence and what steps needed to be observed before doing so.  For example the biblical account of Queen Esther we see that she couldn't even approach her husband the king without Him first inviting her. She - or anyone for that matter - risked her very life for simply requesting audience with the king.  

Contrast that to our God, the King of kings, the Creator of the Universe... He invites His people to come to His throne freely. We can come to Him anytime-no advance appointments and no background checks required! But it does come down to knowing the right Person - "Through [Christ] we . . . have access by one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:18). Because of this, the book of Hebrews urges us to "come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).  

You have an open invitation to come to the King.  You can come in awe and gratitude, for God is willing to welcome you into His presence. He wants to spend time with you and He is available to you, with grace and mercy, to hear your prayers.  

Do: Don't let anything hinder you from coming to the Lord... You have an open invitation and He wants you to spend time with Him. 

Pray: Lord, thank you that I don't need some special rite performed or to hold a certain position in order to come to You - but just as I am, today, you invite me to come. Thank you for the grace that allows me to approach your throne boldly knowing that You won't turn me away. 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, March 11

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Grace

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Yesterday, Today and Forever by Vicky Beeching; The Time Has Come by Hillsong United; Your Name by Paul Baloche; Need You Here by Hillsong; Til I See You by Hillsong.

Read: 1 Peter 1:13-16; John 1:16-18  

Think: People have tried throughout history to please God or to gain His acceptance through trying to earn it somehow. Chuck Swindoll in his book, The Grace Awakening likens it to being invited for dinner by a friend- Say you went to his/her home, enjoyed a fabulous meal with great conversation and a really enjoyable evening. After a time of catching up on life and lots of laughter you make your way to leave. After thanking your host for the evening you took out your wallet and asked how much you owe them... That would be truly insulting to your host wouldn't it? They graciously gave you a meal and invited you into their home because of your friendship and because they cared about you!  

That is what we do when we try to DO something to earn God's love or get in His good graces... We try to pay Him back for what He has done for us!

Somehow people keep coming to the conclusion that if we just do the right thing, say the correct words, or work really hard THEN God will accept us, then He'll love us, then we'll have done our part and deserve His goodness. But that reduces our relationship with Him to works - what WE do, not what Jesus has done on the cross!  John 1:17 says "Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ." God's grace is about His Son and Jesus is the key to the Father's acceptance. It's not about our feeble attempt to earn our way, but His gracious outpouring that draws us to Him.

Do: What motivates you to do the right things? Are you trying to earn God's approval? If you've put your faith in Christ you have His love and acceptance because of what Jesus did, not because of what you have done! So do good, but do it as an outflow of God's love, not because you have to in order to be ok with Him.  

Pray: Your grace is enough Father and I know there isn't enough I can do to earn salvation or to deserve Your approval... Thank you that I don't need to - that your grace is enough to cover my sin and failures and that Jesus YOU are enough! Thank you for your grace. 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, March 9

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Grace

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Yesterday, Today and Forever by Vicky Beeching; The Time Has Come by Hillsong United; Your Name by Paul Baloche; Need You Here by Hillsong; Til I See You by Hillsong.

Read: Luke 15:11-31

Think: As Pastor Ben talked about God's grace this weekend it was as if we got a glimpse of the very heart of God toward His people. In fact the more we learn, the more we see that grace is the very essence of what Jesus is all about! Today's bible passage, the account of the prodigal son is the story of a good-for-nothing who has messed up in every way imaginable. He has broken the heart of his dad, wasted his resources and ruined his family reputation. But what awaits him as he returns home a broken man?  "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." (Luke 15:20) What a picture of the grace of Our Father in Heaven.

As Pastor Ben talked about a few weeks ago, the prodigal son account in Christianity isn't a unique story - similar stories are found in other belief systems. If you remember, Ben shared the big difference in Christianity- according to Scripture, God not only gives another chance He rushes to the wayward with open arms! Those judged undesirable, unforgiveable, unredeemable by everyone else-maybe like the prodigal son-are infinitely desirable to God. So much so that when one of them turns to God, a party breaks out.

Because of God's great grace extended to us, we can be agents of His grace to others because the love of Christ now is in us. We are called to extend that mercy, to be conveyers of grace, not avoiders of those far from God. Like Jesus, we can help the lost find their way to the Father who waits with party hats and open arms!

Do: Who have you deemed unreachable or too far gone for God to ever be able to change? See them through God's eyes (maybe as the prodigal son) and extend the grace that God does and tell them about a Father full of grace and mercy!

Pray: God help me to see people as You see them. Forgive me that I've judged, that I've pronounced others as unworthy or beyond Your reach. Use me today to be an agent of your love acceptance and forgiveness and of your amazing grace to the hurting people in my life. 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 8

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Grace

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Yesterday, Today and Forever by Vicky Beeching; The Time Has Come by Hillsong United; Your Name by Paul Baloche; Need You Here by Hillsong; Til I See You by Hillsong.

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10; Romans 5:20

Think: Starting our new Timberlake Message Series began with the very foundation of what we believe and why we do what we do at the church - GRACE! God'samazing, unbelievable, abounding gace! What a gift! We can't talk about grace without starting with the story of the well-know hymn, Amazing Grace. You may have heard it before... or maybe not, but either way it never gets old, nor does the tale lose its pointedness... Forgive me if I dont do it justice but here goes:   In the 1700s, John Newton went to sea with his father on a merchant ship. Soon after his father retired, Newton served on a warship. Facing terrible conditions, he deserted and then sought a position on a slave trading ship that was to set sail for Africa.  Newton hardened his heart against the trafficking of human beings, and eventually he became captain of his own slave ship. After a season of his new found profession however, his life was changed forever. His ship encountered a terrifying, violent storm. Just as it seemed that they were sure to sink, Newton cried out to God, "Lord, have mercy upon us!"  That night in his cabin alone, he began to really consider God's mercy. As he put his faith in Christ and came to understand Jesus' sacrifice for him, John Newton experienced God's amazing grace in a personal way. After some time, he left the slave trade and entered Christian ministry. Although he became a preacher of the Gospel, he is most remembered for his much-loved hymn "Amazing Grace." A song so famous that it has stood for centuries through the changing styles of worship and is known by Christians and no- Chrsitians alike... The most famous verse goes like this: Amazing grace-how sweet the sound-
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.   It's an amazing testimony of Newton's own experience as well as the experience of any who have come to put our hope and faith in Christ. The very fact that when we receive Jesus as our Savior, He does what we are powerless to do in our own strength and what certainly do not deserve. That truly is God's amazing grace. 

Do: Where have you been thinking God owes you something more than what you're getting? Be honest... and remember again what we truly deserve because of the sin and selfishness harbored in our hearts. Thank God for his truly amazing grace and that He gives not what we deserve, but what we don't deserve.

Pray: Lord You are so good to me and I am truly grateful that You do not give me what I deserve but what You lovingly offer: grace...love...salvation...purpose...hope... Just like Newton, I was a wretch, lost in my sin but now I am forgiven because of the grace You extended to me. Thank you Father, 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, Feb 24

Speaker: Rick Enloe

Theme: The Roman Flower and Garden Show

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Yesterday, Today and Foreverby Vicky Beeching, Let the Praises Ring by Lincoln Brewster; Cannonsby Phil Wickham; You'll Comeby Hillsong.

Think: As we have been looking at Romans 11 this week we find the Apostle Paul teaching some Christians who had fallen into some wrong thinking and had become prideful. We get the sense that somehow these early followers of Christ were operating as if their position and their status as Children of God was somehow because they earned it. And Paul gives a much needed spiritual kick in the pants: In v. 23 and 24 he says "don't get to feeling superior...Just be glad you're in the tree". I love that!

Spiritual pride is so easy to fall into - just look around! Paul's admonition should serve as a warning for us who can tend toward pride... Don't fall into the false thinking that somehow our favor with God is something we deserve or are due. God has shown us favor beyond our ability to earn - and has allowed us to be grafted to His tree NOT because we've earned it, but because He loves us.

The branches (you and me) draw life from the root and the tree (God). It's not the other way around. We are completely dependent on Him for all our needs. We are totally at His mercy for our next breath and heartbeat. When we remember His gift of grace then we can keep a heart of humility.

Do: Check your spiritual attitudes and disposition - Do you see any signs of spiritual pride? 

Pray: God, I know there is nothing I can do to earn your favor or to deserve salvation. Thank you Jesus that when I placed my faith and trust in You I received the right to become a Your child. I come humbly and so grateful for your mercy and grace. 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