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.

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: Lift Us Up to Fall by Tenth Avenue North; Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin; Your Love Never Fails by Chris Quilala; Til I See You by Hillsong United.

Read:  Ephesians 4:1-5

Think:  All week, following on the sermon theme from the weekend, we’ve been thinking about how God uses times of waiting in our lives.  Having accepted that waiting is part of God’s plan for us, and can be a time of great benefit to us, we are faced with questions: what does good waiting look like?  How should we wait?

Pastor Ben identified two characteristics of the best kind of waiting.  First, when we find ourselves waiting, we need to trust God.  Somehow, when we see God’s hand working actively in our lives, shaping events, we can’t help but trust Him.  But in the stillness of a waiting time, doubt whispers persuasively, and we can so easily lose faith.  We have to choose to trust God, even when the waiting suggests He is gone from us.

We also need to wait expectantly.  You see, a season of waiting does not mean that time is standing still.  Even while we wait, God is at work, and His plan for each of us – and all of us – is moving forward.  With God shaping outcomes, how can we anticipate anything but good?

When we place our trust in God and look expectantly to the future, waiting is transformed into one of the greatest joys of the Christian life – hope.  Even better, while we often wait alone, hope is a shared joy, bringing believers together in support of each other.  “Be patient, bearing one another in love…you were called to one hope when you were called.”  (Ephesians 4:2 and 4:4)  Turn waiting into hope, and share it with others.

Do:   Who in your circle is waiting on something?  Reach out to that person today and help turn their waiting time into a time of hope. 

Pray:   Lord, it’s not always easy for me to see the connection between waiting and hope.  But I want to experience the times of waiting in my life as times of joining with other Christians in hope for the future, trusting in You and expecting You to do great things.  Change me into the person You want me to be.  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: 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: 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