Week 1, Day 1

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

Will I survive, much less thrive?

What do you do when your child says, “I hate you?” How do you get back on your feet after your spouse announces, “I just can live with you any longer”? How do you resurrect hope when your doctor says, “I’m sorry, but there’s no hope”?

I’m certain that we can all relate in some way to these statements. Declarations like these can unleash your worst fears at the very moment when you need your best faith! After an encounter with a statement such as these you can lose hope quickly. However, as strange as it seems, the times when you feel most hopeless are the very times when you need hope most!

What do you do when life feels unfair? How can you respond and hope for restoration when dreams and aspirations have been ripped form your grasp?

When these questions come up one more arises: Will I survive, much less thrive?

The Bible has many examples of people who had to persevere through tough times. We often encounter the same situations that they faced. We can find examples of this in the book of Job.

Many things happened to Job for no absolute reason. He endured situations that weren’t even his fault!

How often do you blame yourself for the things that happen? God has allowed us to go through tough situations, not to see how we react, but to see how we respond to them. God abundantly blessed Job, but when things got tough he held strong to his faith in God. Instead of searching for the provision in his tough circumstances he choose to fix his eyes on the provider-the one who provided the provision, the comfort, and peace

Week 1, Day 2

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

Am I a Hero?

Tough times are the womb of heroes!
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 8 & 9

Scripture Reading
“Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”
Judges 6:12

What makes you say, “I want to be like them?” They may seem super human. What makes them a hero? Can I be a hero? Why do we look up to some people?

We recognize and revere heroes because they don’t quit; they claw their way back from adversity. I’ve always heard that adversity causes some men to break and others to break records. This is what makes “heroes.” When we were little, it didn’t matter what trouble our heroes got into-they always came out on top!

They had to go through tough times, however times like those are the womb of heroes. Even if their own mistakes precipitated their personal disaster, somehow they found a way to “come back,” to initiate a magnificent turnaround.

If you look at heroes you see that there is another principle paralleled with tough times being the womb of heroes and that is the fact failure is often also the womb of success. I tend to be equally drawn toward those who did not just conquer and never fail, but also those who “came back” from the abyss of failure.

This was pointed out in Hebrews 11 where it lists the Heavens hall of heroes. It is amazing that many people, including David and Samson were included. Heaven made a point to show that the heroes were not just the ones who never failed but those who came back from failure. David and Samson, for example, had moral failures, but despite this, they made “the list.” This means there is hope for us after all!

Each of us has the ability to be heroes. We have a choice. We can decide to let our circumstances determine who we are or we can overtake them.

Week 1, Day 3

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

“_______, Come Forth!”

Tough times are the womb of heroes!
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 10 & 11

Scripture Reading
“…I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”
John 10:10

God has a unique way of taking an impossible situation and making it possible.

The story of Lazarus is a story that tells how God can take something “dead” and breathe life into. Lazarus was known as a friend of Jesus and after Lazarus died, before Jesus could reach him, he told him, “Lazarus, come forth.” Lazarus was in the grave, behind a stone, and he spoke three words and at that moment Lazarus heart started beating and he breathed his first breath after death.

This is exactly what God wants to do in your life. He wants to take you out of death and give you life. Although, Jesus is not physically on this earth, he still wants to resurrect your situation and bring life to the “dead” areas you face!

But is it enough just to survive?

Lazarus’s tomb had become his womb of life, but he was still bound in his grave clothes. It’s kind of like Paul doubting he's free even when God broke the chains in prison. Lazarus was free from the grave….but he was still wearing the garment of death.

Sometimes we narrowly escape a crisis just to forever live in “limbo land” of the un-restored.

Perhaps a mistake you’ve made or unjust decision has but your hopes and dreams in the grave; this raises the question, “How do you not only survive the crisis but truly ‘comeback?’”

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, -COMMA- and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Too often we find ourselves living on the wrong side of the comma. We find ourselves mealy living a life of complacency absence of heavenly expectation. The abundant life exists on the other side of the comma. This is the place God wants us to walk in.

God longs for us to walk in this type of life. We need to remember that when reaching for your restoration, your “deceleration” should be, “If God has done it for them he can do it for me!”

Week 1, Day 4

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

The Tale of the Almond Tree

My Future Looks Bright...
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 11

Scripture Reading
Aaron’s staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds
Numbers 17:8

Do you ever remember a time as a child when you would talk about what you wanted to be when you grew up? Or even better, perhaps you had chosen what you wanted to become without even asking the Father who He has called you to be. Did you ever come to a time when you tried to grow up too soon or you were forced to grow up because of life circumstances? Many times we cannot wait to grow up or get a promotion in life but we forget the process God has to take us through in order to get to that place.

Let me tell you a story I once read about a crisis in the life of a tree from the orchard of a master arborist. It may not sound like much, but one part of that story just rocked my world. Let me rehearse the tale to you …

Once upon a time there was a little almond tree. Although it started off as a little twig of a sapling, the master of the orchard carefully worked the soil around it, and made sure it was watered and lovingly cared for.

The little almond tree struggled and pressed through every obstacle to grow as tall as possible. The progress continued more and more each week as the master tilled the soil around the tree. Everything seemed to be going very well.

The little almond tree said to itself, “I am going to be the best almond tree in the orchard for my master. I am going to produce the best fruit.” The thought of failure never even crossed the little tree’s mind. All it could think of was, I will be the best!

Typically, fruit trees don’t produce fruit quickly. It takes time to wring moisture out of the soil, to put down deep roots, and grow strong limbs to support heavy fruit.

In fact, it often takes years for almond trees to produce their first fruit, but the little tree was trying its best to hurry along the natural process. That little tree wanted more than anything to squeeze out a blossom and make it produce some fruit for the master.

Unfortunately, the young tree just didn’t understand that in its immaturity, it did not have the root structure to gather up enough nutrients from the soil. It could not transfer enough moisture to the branches to produce blossoms and fruit yet.

Week 1, Day 5

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

THE ROOT HOLDS THE SOURCE

Roots go long and deep for hidden sources.
The Ultimate Comeback P g 12

Scripture Reading
“My roots will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches”
Job 29:19

Every drop of moisture in a tree and in its fruit must be squeezed from the soil by its roots. Those roots grow long and go deep to tap hidden sources of water and nourishment below the surface. Molecule by molecule the roots wrestle water from the earth. As the sap rises through the trunk of the young tree, fresh layers of new growth join the old and the tree continues to grow in girth and maturity.

It is in this process that we like the tree, get impatient the process we are going through. The Gardner, like Jesus, comes by and inspects us and takes out the “weeds” in our lives.

As a Christian we try so hard to be the best we can be for God. We try so hard in fact that we can end up looking down on others. We say to ourselves, “I’m much more mature than all these other people around us! Yes, I’m going to be seen as a lover of Christ” With this attitude in our minds we tend to take the focus off God and turn it to ourselves.

In the Story of the Almond Tree the tree thought, “Perhaps this is the year for me, when the warm spring sunlight begins to energize my buds, stems and leaves. Once the early sap begins to rise through the branches, things will begin to happen. Maybe this year I will produce fruit.”

Has this ever been your plea? Have you ever longed to be used by God so bad that it consumed your thinking?

We have to gain favor with God before we can gain favor with men. Too often we have it wrong, we think the longer we walk with God the more important we become. This is not how it happens! The closer we walk with God the smaller we have to become. As we get closer to God we can’t help but to exhibit humility as we see our own inadequacies compared to his ultimate purity.

Has ministry become a distraction to intimacy?

Week 1, Day 6

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

CUT OFF AT THE ROOT!

Roots go long and deep for hidden sources.
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 13

Scripture Reading
He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head.
Job 19:9

The almond tree is a story about a tree that was trying hard to please it’s master. He went through many years of trying to out-produce all the other trees around him until one day when the gardener was out making his usual rounds in the fields.

When the master gently bent the tree trunk a little bit, the almond tree said to itself, “Oh, he’s checking my root system. Maybe that is why he bent me a little.” O-o-o—that hurts! thought the little tree. With the little tree bent and holding its breath, one hand of the master firmly encircled around the bent sapling. With one swift movement he reached for his axe and cut off the tree at the root!

In shock, the little almond tree thought, “What did I do? I did the best I knew how. I’m sorry I didn’t produce the fruit that you thought was necessary.”

The little almond tree actually felt betrayed! The very one who seemed to take such care and interest in him was now the one who separated the almond tree from the source of its nutrients. He couldn’t believe the master himself had cut him away from his roots. How would he survive? What had he done wrong?

Does this sound familiar? When we go through trials we are often to quick to blame God. Because of this our ability to see what God is trying to do becomes clouded. Its really hard for us to understand what God is doing when our mind is filled with questions like: How am I supposed to bear fruit? All I ever wanted to do was be the best person I could be. Now I have nothing. Nothing! Will I be tossed away-never to be used again?

We could get caught up in our situations, but we would be neglecting our ability to see what God wants to do. God desires to make us stronger and he assists us in reaching our desires.

The gardener had to strip the almond tree because he wanted to take it through the “grafting” process. God wants to do this for us! God wants to strip us of anything we don’t need, and anything that’s not of Him so he can get us connected with what He desires for us.

Week 1, Day 7

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

Blessed by Broken Dreams

Roots go long and deep for hidden sources.
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 15

Scripture Reading
“They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.”
Psalms 22:5

The little almond tree went though an enduring process. The almond tree wanted so bad to be the best almond tree it could be, but the gardener eventually stripped him of everything. The almond tree felt betrayed and felt like he didn’t know what his purpose was.

The almond tree had dreams of greatness. It dreamed of a life of prosperity doing exactly what he wanted to do in life. But this was not what the master had in mind.

The master picked up the dried out sapling and began to walk while leaning on its sturdy length. A startling revelation suddenly dawned on the almond tree: “I’m no longer an almond tree! I am a staff. I’m a rod. So that is what the master wanted—he wanted to turn me into a walking staff, a strong rod to lean upon.”

The little almond tree submitted itself to the pain of its aborted dream. It decided, “If I can’t be what I thought I was going to be, then maybe I just didn’t know what I was supposed to be. I am going to be the best staff that any tree could ever be.”

The master and rod were separated only when the master carefully leaned the almond rod by the door of a tent before entering. Each time when he left, the master was careful to pick up his rod again. When the path grew steep and treacherous, when the master’s feet began to slip or falter… “Thy rod, thy staff, they comfort me.”

This is the mentality that we must acquire! We independently develop goals for our lives without first consulting the one in charge. God has a purpose for your life, but it may not be what you think it is.

Week 2, Day 1

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

Marked by the Presence

“…the master had branded his own name onto his staff.”
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 16-17

Scripture Reading
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…”
Ephesians 1:13

The Almond tree was crushed by his broken dream, but He realized that his Master had a purpose for him. Therefore, the Almond tree quietly reconciled himself to face the facts of his new role, even though it seemed starkly different from his dream of what he thought he would be.

The Almond tree had started to become a comfort to his master. His master carried him around everywhere he went, even to meetings. Most of the meetings were boring, but one meeting remained vivid in his mind.

One night the top leaders of the community were called into a serious meeting—and the master of the almond rod was summoned. The almond rod never really understood what was being discussed. But something happened during this meeting. It was different from any other meeting the almond rod had seen.

When the chief leader stood to make an announcement in a firm voice, twelve men suddenly rose to their feet. One of them was his master. Then suddenly, everything changed once again. People started scurrying around the tend and started searching through piles of belongings that were neatly stacked around the perimeter of the tent.

The master called for no servants. Instead, he walked directly to the opening at the front of the tent and removed the almond rod from the place where he leaned it against the tent.

The master then did the unthinkable! As if the rod hadn’t been cut enough, the master pulled a knife from the folds of his robe and began gouging gashes into the strong dry wood. Blowing away the particles of wood and nodding in approval, he mouthed his readiness.

Now everyone knew who had done this to the little almond tree; the master had branded his own name onto his staff.

Perhaps you are in a new environment and things are happening that you don’t understand. You may feel as if your world is spinning out of control and chaos seems to be the only thing present. If this is happening don’t fear because these are the times where God is trying to brand you. These stormy times are the moments were God desires to place divine peace in your heart.

Week 2, Day 2

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

Will I Make it Through The Fire?

…fuel to the fire.
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 17-18

Scripture Reading
“…so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.”
1 Thes. 3:3

The master had taken the Almond Rod and branded his own name onto the staff. He did this as he turned to the center of the meeting area addressed the men crowded into the meeting tent.

When all twelve men had finally assembled in a circle with their rods in hand, the master threw down the almond rod in the very center of the meeting tent, where all could see it. As if on signal, the rest of the men did the same with their rods.

With this action fear flooded the thoughts of the almond rod. He’d seen the same thing happen to other pieces of wood. First they had been carefully laid together in a bundle, and the next thing he knew, someone had ignited the pile of dry wood with a burning ember or coal! Each time he saw this happen, the hungry flames of the fire quickly consumed every piece of wood in the stack. That was the last thing he wanted to happen to him.

When these thoughts arose the Almond rod began to question every action and decision he ever made since he started serving his master. In a panic, he told himself, Anyone will tell you that when you pile wood in this fashion, it becomes fuel for the fire!

Then an old man who was the chief leader with a commanding presence picked up the almond rod along with all of the others and carried them away. He took the rods into a dark room and carefully parted the thick folds of a heavy embroidered tapestry dividing the room they were in from another darker, more mysterious place.

Absolutely abandoned. Every dream crushed, every hope gone, the almond rod felt alone and desperate in a dark place. “All I ever wanted to do was be the best almond tree I could be. When that didn’t happen, all I wanted to do was be the best staff I could be. Now it seems as though these men have decided to get rid of the lot of us.”

And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers’ twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.
And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.

God had, once again, reviled another level of the Almond Rod’s destiny. God had grown the Almond tree for a specific reason-He grew it for a specific purpose. The Almond Rod went through many transitions, where God proved himself to the Rod yet.

Week 2, Day 3

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

Have you Ever Been “Laid Up”?

The almond rod’s journey appeared to end with a question mark, not an exclamation mark.
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 19-20

Scripture Reading
“…so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.”
1 Thes. 3:3

In many parts of the United States, it is common to say of someone confined to a hospital bed, “They are going to be ‘laid up’ for a good two months, as a result of that accident.” One command appeared to change destiny’s course for the almond rod, and it came without warning or option: “…Lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony where I will meet with you.”

The almond rod didn’t have a choice about when, how, where, or what would happen. Forces above and beyond the almond rod’s control or influence dictated the act, the time, the place, the method, and its purpose.

The almond rod’s journey appeared to end with a question mark, not an exclamation mark. Often, a shepherd’s staff will have a crook bent in the end of it—turning what had been a straight sapling into a question mark. A question mark is often an exclamation mark that got bent at the end. Life itself is filled with both exclamation marks and question marks.

If you were to take a look at the rod, you would notice that the straight part of the rod looked closely like an exclamation mark, while the top of the rod looked like the question mark. When you seek direction or instruction from the Great Shepherd, the only way to discern which “end” of His rod you follow is by being still and waiting in the Presence of the Lord.

As with the story of the Almond Rod, everything that “could have been” or “should have been” was reduced to empty “what if?” speculations and imaginations. No parties or celebrations were scheduled for the almond rod’s future. All future possibilities had collapsed into the gloomy reality of the present, a dark day of devastation, despair, hopelessness, and abandonment.

Have you ever felt this way? Do you know what it is like to feel stripped, bare, vulnerable, and powerless?

From the perspective of the young almond tree, he had been cut off and diverted another direction before his time. The almond rod’s dreams had been dashed and permanently frustrated. This marvelous genetic wonder of an almond tree could never produce the fruit prized around the world for its delicate aroma and sweet taste. He had been abruptly severed from what he once believed was his greatest purpose and destiny.

Did you catch that? The almond rod’s dream was severed from what it believed it’s greatest purpose was. It did not say that his dream was severed from what God believed His greatest destiny was. In fact, the almond rod wasn’t concerned with what God wanted for its life, he was consumed with his own ambitions.

Week 2, Day 4

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

The “Until” Clause

You must become a graduate from the school of the “Ultimate Underdog”
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 20-21

Scripture Reading
“…but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:23

“Plan A,” according to the almond tree, just never included the possibility that he would one day be turned into a lifeless staff or rod. Nevertheless, the almond rod adjusted to “Plan B.” His abrupt and unasked for change of life and purpose.

Everything seemed to go along just fine and without incident until ….

Most of us can easily relate to the “until” clause. How many times has life actually seemed to be looking good for you “until …”?

For the almond tree-turned-leader’s staff, life was finally beginning to look good again, until he found himself suddenly gathered up and thrown into a pile; just like just another discarded stick of wood consigned to the fire.

Perhaps everthing was going good in your marriage untill…. Or your career was going well untill…. Or life was going well untill…. Something happened that was not your “Plan A.”

Are you still trying to comfort yourself with the words, “I was only doing the best I knew how to do”?

Perhaps you never claimed to be the “best,” or to be the “biggest” tree in the orchard. You never claimed to be the most productive employee, but you were doing the best you knew how to do. You gave it your all, only to discover in surprise that your best didn’t seem to be good enough.

You might even find yourself saying,“It hurts to think the Master Himself separated me from the very thing that He called me to do.” Is that what you are really thinking? Do you want to tell Him in heart-baring honesty, “God, I thought You put me here! Why are You now separating me from my obvious destiny?”

Many people want to experience the “ultimate turnaround” and the “greatest comeback” in history, but without having graduated from the school of the “ultimate underdog.”

Week 2, Day 5

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

UNDONE

What does true love for God really entail?
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 23-24

Scripture Reading
”Woe is me, for I am undone!”
Isaiah 6:5

When your world collapses around you is there anywhere you can turn? When your closest friends walk away, who will be there? When your dreams are shattered in front of you, what will you do? What can you do when you feel stripped, bare and dry?

We never want to find ourselves in these situations, but unfortunately life is full of unfair circumstances. Its not about how you act in the “good times” that defines who you are. Rather its all about how you conduct yourself when the pressure is on that defines a person’s character. Life is easy when everything is going smoothly, but what are you like when easy street turns into chaos boulevard?

How do you feel when you’re undone? And why do we all have to endure hard times?

If you’ve been stripped of your dreams, bare of hope, and dry of tears, friend you’ve been undone. When you’re undone its easy to become overwhelmed with emotion. But remember its not always about how you feel, its about what you know to be true. We know that God sticks closer than any brother. He will never leave or forsake you. He’s been with you, he is with you, and he will always be with you!

When you arrive at a place where you’re undone, you realize that you can’t make it on your own. It’s that place where you understand your dependence on God. And friend, it’s in that place where you can’t go any lower that you realize there’s no place to go but up!

God allows though situations into our lives so we can get through them, not dwell in them. Tough times build character, and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. God allows difficult circumstances in our lives so we will know him as our deliverer and as our strength in times of trouble.

Week 2, Day 6

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

Fruitful and Dumbfounded in the Presence

“… Where will I meet with you.”
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 24

Scripture Reading
“…And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witnesses.”
Numbers 17:7

Often when we are most broken and weary God allows us to step into His presence and behold Him in a greater way than we ever have before. If you are feeling broken and weary don't be discouraged, God may break through at any moment. As soon as His presence hits you nothing else matters.

In the story of Moses and the almond tree we are told of the miraculous blossoming of the supposedly dead almond rod. Not only did the almond rod blossom, but it produced an almond fruit that ripened on the spot. This is not supposed to happen.

All of this happened at the very place and time that the almond tree felt most abandoned and broken. What happened in the lonely place and why?

And thou shalt lay them [the twelve rods] up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony [the Ark of the Covenant], where I will meet with you.

And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of the witness.

And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

Notice that God told Moses to lay up the rods in the Most Holy Place right in front of the Ark of the Covenant "… where I will meet with you."

Week 2, Day 7

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

Supernatural Habitation Trumps Dark Desperation

One night in God’s presence, and you can become what you always dreamed you were supposed to be
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 25-27

Scripture Reading
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9

Have you been telling yourself (and anyone else who will listen) “I’m drying up! Something is missing and I have to be reconnected. I need to get into the soil; I need to get back to the stuff that used to make me happy”?

When your outward circumstances all seem to be going downhill, it is important to remember “When my dreams are dying His plans are often just beginning”.

This concept is illustrated in the story of Moses and the almond rod. When Moses laid the dead and discouraged rod of Aaron in the near darkness of the Most Holy Place, the almond tree was alarmed. He thought, Why would my master abandon me in what seems to be a lifeless place of punishment or disposal for unwanted things?

The almond rod didn’t understand or fully realize that he was still an almond tree until the following morning. All of the dreams and the genetic disposition he originally possessed had somehow been resurrected. He was still alive and flourishing, but didn’t understand how or why!

Even though the almond rod was totally “disconnected from soil and sun, he felt a strange glow and warmth of life flowing through his dried-up cells. This feeling didn’t resemble anything he had ever received from the soil, and the sun never provided anything as potent as this!

Under the best circumstances, it normally takes much more time for a healthy almond tree to produce buds, blossoms, and ripe almonds, but the little almond tree became everything he ever wanted to be in about twelve hours! And it all happened while the almond rod was “laid up” in the presence of God.

Has this story reminded you of times in your life when you felt disconnected from what mattered most to you? Do you wonder why God would take you out of your comfort zone and leave you feeling stripped?

Week 3, Day 1

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

His Presence Resurrects the Disconnected

He imparts His life when you lay down your life-In His presence.
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 27-28

Scripture Reading
“ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
Romans 5:19

We all feel down at times. It’s a fact.

When we are in a rut it feels like we will never get out of the situations we are in. But, if we wait on the Lord, even when we feel “laid up” in the dim isolation, we will gain new strength. Life WILL spring up again. There is always hope with God!

When we go through these dim times its easy to loose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel or to lose the “eternal perspective” of the situation. We get so distracted by our mess that we become disconnected from our purpose the valleys of our life are not meant to last forever. Things will happen in a short span of time that seem beyond explanation or understanding. HIS presence reconnects the disconnected.

If you can persevere through your season of being “laid up” or “laid off” on earth, the Paul said there is “laid up” for you a crown of righteousness!

This is God’s desire for you. People will look at you and see that it doesn’t make since for you to be blessed as a result of your desolate times. Society thinks that in order to be on top you have to be connected to the right people, have years of experience, and have all the credentials, but God elects his leaders and he blesses those who love him.

“How do I get to this point?” “How can God do that for me?

If this is your desire, you must lay everything down in the presence of God.

It doesn’t matter to God whether you failed or others failed you. You may have suffered injustice yesterday of fifty years ago. He imparts His life when you lay down your life- in His presence.

Only an intimate encounter with His presence can resurrect your dreams and restore you to the destiny for which you were born.

If you are ready for God to turn your valleys into mountains, examine your relationship with the Father. Does the relationship represent true death? Does it seem one-sided? Decide to enter into an intimate relationship with God and your world will change.

Week 3, Day 2

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

Your Darkest Hour….His brightest moment?

The Ultimate Comeback Pg 28-30

Scripture Reading
”..but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31

Do you ever feel like you have been left out or lonely? Have you ever felt far away from God? Many people feel this way, and many say that it’s natural. Feeling lonely and separated from God is not what God has in mind for his children. God desires for you to be happy and close to his side. He loves you!

Never underestimate the potential of one encounter with God’s presence!

God moves in our lives but we may not be able to see why or when this is occuring. Perhaps your path will follow that of the almond rod. It may be that God will not restore your life piece by piece. He may decide do everything in just one night. He may choose to resurrect your dead dreams in one powerful movement of intimacy!

You might be saying to yourself, “But you don’t know how striped I feel.” God can do anything! He says to come as you are. We don’t have to put on false identities to make God or other people like us. It’s not about getting the right job. It’s not spotlighting yourself in front of the most important people. The one thing you have to keep in mind is that you always need to be in God’s presence. Learn what the almond tree learned, the soil is not your true source.

Week 3, Day 3

Daily Devotional by Tommy Tenney
The Ultimate Comeback

Don’t move me-My life is in this Presence!

Where do we stand in the Presence of God?
The Ultimate Comeback Pg 30-31

Scripture Reading
In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.
Psalm 31:20

We all feel down at times. It’s a fact.

After that night in the presence of the Lord, Moses returned to pick up the rods. Aaron’s almond rod had budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds. This twelve-hour wonder was so incredible that you could almost imagine the little almond tree asking Moses that Morning, “Please don’t move me away from here. My life is in this presence!”

How many of us have said that very same statement, “Please don’t move me away from here. My life is in this presence!” After experiencing the presence of God it is very hard to leave the place the Lord has visited. But we must also remember that God does not favor just a single church, God shows up where He is invited, and where the people are desperate and hungry for the fullness of His presence.

But yet how many of us after being in the presence of God want to receive the Glory because we were there when it happened. Never fall in love with the spotlight. Never fall in love with the crowds. Even the rod, the little tree now longed to be placed behind the veil.

There in that thick and private Presence, he was hidden from the crowd. He was spared the test of pride in an accomplishment he could not claim or explain. Never take credit for what you cannot duplicate. The presence of God is something that we cannot duplicate it is God’s. Many of us try hard to do so, but we end up falling on our face.