How Was Your Day?

How was your day? 

An ordinary question.

Answers like . . . 

Mundane.

Stressful.

Challenging.

Purposeful.

In one day we can lose sight of what really matters . . . and often give little thought to our impact . . . the  purpose of the day. When we take a moment and see that there is a divine purpose to being in a specific time, place, and space . . . the day changes.   

The Apostle Paul explained:

Even as (in His love),
He chose us
(actually picked us out for Himself as His own)
in Christ before the foundation of the world
(Ephesians 1:4).

Even as (in His love): God has purposed for you and I to be. Regardless of our circumstances on earth, we can be confident that God, Creator of life, creates individuals to live each day with purpose and worth.  In God’s economy, nothing is ever wasted.  Every detail can be managed with purpose.

He chose us (actually picked us out for Himself as His own): The thing is . . . you and I would not be on earth if it was unnecessary. There is a great privilege in knowing that we have been chosen by God to live each day.

In Christ: Our perception of life changes when we realize that do not need to try to be manage the day on our own.  No one is destined to be without Him; however, God gives humanity the free choice to respond to living the day through the presence of Christ.

Before the foundation of the world: God has an unlimited perspective of the past, present, or future . . . with a purposeful plan in the time and space we are in.  God does not have a plan B and will continually work all things together for good throughout the days of our lives.

So.  When things get tough and the day seems unbearable . . . we are enabled by the Spirit of God to live beyond the issue, to overcome challenges, and demonstrate the will to live beyond circumstances by responding through the purpose of God.  In other words, we choose to take on a purposeful divine assignment.   And . . . the circumstances that appear to be obstacles become a catalyst to become more like Jesus . . . when we respond through the presence and power of God. 

How was your day?

Choose to live the day with purpose . . . completing your divine assignment.

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . through the purpose of God.

                                      Pastor Kerrie 

 (written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
interactstudies/ ~ kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

The Shalom of God

A woman asked me, “How can I face tomorrow when I can’t face today?  Life is not what she thought it would be.  In fact, she was sick of the way she lived.

The thing is . . . there must be a decision that we can face the challenges of each day.  Otherwise, we will spend the days of our life filled with anxiety and worry.   An intentional decision to live in peace will help us to walk away from stress, anxiety, and worry. 

The Apostle Paul said, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by⁾prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

“Do not worry about anything.” (NRS)
“Be anxious for nothing.” (NKJ)
“Never worry about anything.” (NJB)
“Don't fret or worry.” (Message)

Authentic peace comes from God--Shalom--can be defined as knowing the presence and goodness of God. Shalom guards the heart from worry, anxiety of which root cause of worry is fear. Throughout the ages, humanity has been a slave to fear. Without knowing the presence of God, fear rules our thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions. Peace, the shalom of God, is produced through commitment and conformity to the presence and power of God.

Shalom.
Be at peace.
Refuse to be worried.
Choose to manage life through the presence and goodness of God.
Consciously let go of your worries.
Seek to connect with Jehovah Shalom.
Experience shalom through knowing the activity of the Spirit.
Manage life with peace.
Slowly read today’s scripture.
Let the Word of God settle into your mind and heart.
Center your thoughts on Jehovah Shalom.
Be at peace.
Shalom.
Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . in the shalom of God.

                                      Pastor Kerrie

 (written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
interactstudies/ ~ kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

Doing Life Together

Death.

Loss. 

Grief.

Family.

Friends. 

As I watch a family grieve . . . I watch others come alongside . . . and I see the power of doing life together.

At times, the journey of life can be difficult, overwhelming, and unbearable.   The thing is . . .  when we are present for one another . . . empowered to help each other move forward . . . there is a powerful shift from surviving  to experiencing the fullness of life.  In the process, we keep one another going . . . becoming stronger as we do life together . . . making a significant difference in who we are. God has made it so. 

In the words of Jesus . . . we are a friend of God . . . and as His friend . . . we are given the ability to make a difference . . . to intentionally bear fruit in the lives of others . . . a lasting fruit.

You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know their master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:14-16

As a friend of God, we are empowered to bear lasting fruit.  

First, we need to have the mindset that God has willed it for us to bear lasting fruit.

Second, we ask in the name of Christ.

Third, we receive the power to bear fruit, making a difference that is beyond ourselves.

Experience more.

Do life together.

Intentionally bear fruit . . . the kind of fruit that lasts . . . in one another’s life by asking in the name of Christ.

 Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . doing life together . . . intentionally bearing fruit in the name of Christ,

                                      Pastor Kerrie

 (written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
interactstudies/ ~ kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

A Very Present Help

It is beyond difficult to say good-bye to someone you love.  At the end of the day, we make a choice to let go and trust  . . .  that there is more . . . a real place . . . a whole new dimension of life . . . heaven.  

Even so.  

There is a storm of sorrow when we let go. 

But . . . we are not left alone . . . God is a very present help in the storm.
  God is our refuge and strength,
         A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

We will survive the storm because God is a very present help.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
         And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:2

We will not fear, even when it seems we have lost everything because God is a very present help.

Though its waters roar and foam,
         Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. Psalm 46:3

We will endure, even when the storm rages on because God is a very present help.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.  Psalm 46:4

We will see there is more . . . a river whose streams make everyone glad . . . because God is a very present help.

 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
         God will help her when morning dawns. Psalm 46:5

We can get through anything . . . because nothing will move us from God’s very present help.

"Cease striving and know that I am God;
         I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

God does not see anything as small or insignificant in our life . . . it all matters . . . know God is God and is a very present help.

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . with God who is a very present help.

                                      Pastor Kerrie

 (written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
interactstudies/ ~ kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/