Call of Duty: Countermeasure

Christ intentionally made His way to the cross.  It was His call of duty.  Nothing can compare.  Even so, our response to what Christ did that week is a choice. 

What is the call of duty?

Look at the unnamed disciple, the woman that poured expensive oil, worth a year’s wages, on Jesus.  She was called to duty.  To be sure, her actions did not make sense to the people around her . . . however, she was called to Christ and did not separate anything in her life from Him.   (See Mark 14:3-4.)  She courageously put Christ first.  She let nothing and no one deter her, which took guts.

All of us have things that can become consuming . . . relationships, possessions, needs, goals, and dreams.  Perhaps we are consumed because we want it, so, we begin thinking as soon as this happens . . . then I will . . . it might be something like . . . as soon as I am married . . .have a child . . . get that job . . . buy a house . . . then life I will pay more attention to God.  Of course, we often become consumed with what we have.  When we are consumed with the stuff of life, we miss out on what it means to live for Christ.  We never know the privilege of being actively engaged in the call of duty for Christ.  

There is a countermeasure to combat being consumed with the stuff of life.  Put in plain and simple terms, we must surrender.  Courageously surrendering whatever consumes us will release and free us to accept Christ’s call of duty. 

In the same chapter, Mark wrote about the one that did not make the same choice as the unnamed disciple.  His name was Judas.  We know him as the betrayer of Christ: Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Mark 14:10-11)

Here we have the extraordinary story of the call of duty juxtaposed with the horrific story of betrayal.  We know that Christ went to the cross with a purpose, the plan of God.  But, Judas had a choice.  He did not have to be the betrayer.  He was consumed with Jesus being the messiah . . . the one that would save the Jewish people from the oppression of the Roman government. He did not understand the kingdom of heaven that Jesus talked about it . . . he was consumed with the right here and the right now.   

Both Matthew 26:24 and Mark 14:21 say something so harsh . . . that it almost seems beyond comprehension:
The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

The words echo throughout history . . . it would be better for him if he had not been born. 

It begs the question: Are you and I so consumed that we are betraying Jesus Christ?  What do we need to surrender . . . to be free . . . . to take on the call of Christ?

Experience the countermeasure.

Surrender.

Respond to the call of Christ. 

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . called to duty.

                                      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 Clear Message of Purpose

Their life looked good.  Actually, it looked like they had a great life. Even so, they did not see their life as good and certainly not great. There did not seem to be much enjoyment, life had become a list of daily details.  At the end of the day, they were exhausted, feeling empty. They both admitted that they had lost sight of the purpose of doing life together.

How do we live with a lasting purpose?

In the ancient world, there was a follower of Christ who demonstrated living with purpose beyond the daily details. The details are as relevant today as they were in the years gone by: While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.  Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? (Mark 14:3-4) 

From the outside looking in . . .  giving our whole life to Christ can seem like a waste . . . until we look deeper. 

Mark does not name the woman; however, we know she was a follower of Christ.  Her actions puzzled everyone.  There were different reasons for ritual anointing, which included the custom to anoint for burial and for kingship.  She had understood Christ’s message . . . that his time had come . . . and anointed him for burial.  At that same time, it appears that she had been able to see there was more to come . . . the “not yet” . . . and anointed Jesus for kingship.

Her message is clear: the presence of Jesus was of greater worth than anything she possessed.  And, she understood her purpose . . . to love and serve Christ. The legacy of her purpose impacted every generation since that moment.

The answer to the question is different than we might expect.  How do we live with a lasting purpose?

Surrender everything . . . every detail of life . . . and purposefully love and serve Christ. It might sound like a “church” answer; however, it is the most courageous thing we can do . . . give up everything and follow Christ.

The payoff?  Living as a servant of Christ makes a difference.

Ask God . . . what do I need to surrender to You today . . . to live with the purpose of loving and serving you?

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . loving and serving 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/

Getting Rid of Things That Do Not Belong

He said. She said.  Seeds of distrust were planted . . . words were twisted and turned . . . truth was lost.

Bitterness.

Manipulation.

These things invaded their hearts . . . wrecking their life . . . impacting friends and family.  

What needs to be done?

As we look at the week of Easter . . . we see the need to get rid of the things that do not belong.  The gospel writer, Mark, describes:   On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. Mark 11:14-16

The  Temple was denoted as a special place of God’s presence; however, Jesus saw the corruption in the Temple. And, Jesus addressed the issue by getting rid of what does not belong.  Certainly, the “unholy” could not remain, if, the Temple were to be the place of the presence of God.    

When we ask the presence of God to enter our heart . . .the place that identifies who we are . . .  we must be willing to  honestly and authentically look  at what we have allowed to come into our life.   For the heart to be centered in Christ . . . we must continually be in process of surrendering to the presence of Christ  . . . as well as embracing the life we have in Christ.  

Putting Christ at the center produces the need to shift the way we live:

Make the decision to look at what you have allowed into your life.

Surrender what does not belong. 

Center your attention on God.

Be still and know the everlasting God.

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . getting rid of things that do not belong.

                                      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 Gift

In the last few hours we have been reminded that life is a momentary gift. A young friend died.  He was part of our kids’ group that hung out together. The thing is . . . it seems too soon.  Then again, life seems to go by quickly.  Before we know it . . . the day is done.  

Clarity comes when someone dies. 

So.

Do you and I live this life as a gift? 

What needs to change to experience life the way God has designed it to be experienced?

When you get down to it . . .life is about living intentionally and purposefully . . . trusting God.  It means that we trust God in every moment even when nothing makes sense . . . including a young man dying.

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;

   in all your ways submit to him,
       and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Trust is not partial but fully:
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart.  To do this, we ask God to take every thought, emotions, behavior, and beliefs without reserve.

Trust means that we need to seek the wisdom of God and:  Lean not on your own understanding: Too often, we are problem-focused. We need to be solution-oriented. With Christ, there is always a solution . . . nothing is impossible with God . . . nothing.

And He will make your paths straight: Regardless of the challenges . . . God always makes a way . . . always.

Experience the gift of life.

Trust God with all your heart.

Seek the wisdom of God.

Celebrate life today. 

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . experiencing the gift of life.

                                      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 Promise of More

I have a friend that hopes for a life that offers something more. The thing is . . .  most of what he wants has always been out of his reach.. His hope is based on more of a wish list than what his reality has been.. He will be the first to tell you that he has not seen it  come true . . . but he has hope.

Joshua had hope that there was something more in the Promised Land.  God had promised there was more.  Even so, it could have seemed that the circumstances would stop their plans to enter: It was told the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land" (Joshua 2:2)

Joshua sent his spies; however, their presence was discovered.  They  would not be able to go forward on their own.  As with all challenges, we must decide if we can trust God.  We are told that we can depend on the power of God to be sufficient:  And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

The promise of this verse is one to remember through the word, "is."
The grace of God IS sufficient . . . meaning it IS present right now and IS enough for whatever we are facing. 

 We are told that when we are weak that God will make us strong . . . with God we can break through our weakness.  The power of God IS made perfect in weakness . . . as our need is surrendered to God we open ourselves up to the power that penetrates our need giving strength to not only move forward but to be restored.

Through the grace of God, we receive enough strength to move forward.

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . to face challenges through the strength 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/

Get The Facts

A wrong decision was made.
The impact of the decision worsened
when it was covered up.
Eventually the truth came out.
Life became messy.
Trust was lost.
Words and actions were questioned.
As time went on . . .
trust was restored.
Life became better . . .
until the wrong decision was made . . . again.

At one time, Joshua had been sent to the Promised Land as a spy with other spies.  He was one of two that perceived they could enter in; however, the others reported giant problems.  Subsequently, the people did not enter the land.   As the leader of the people, Joshua sent two spies into the land, not to determine whether they would enter in but rather to see what they would face.

He did not want to make a wrong decision. 

 So.  He needed the facts:  Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho " So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. Joshua 2:1

When we face a situation . . . we need to explore and study the facts . . . to make a decision of how to manage it.  That said, we must learn to see the facts through faith. In other words, the power of Christ breaks through our limited perspective. Anxiety, stress, and pain are often byproducts of seeing the facts through our personal perspective. 

The power of Christ opens our mind to see beyond our personal reality of past and present experiences. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. (Isaiah 40:28, NRS)

 Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . with all the facts through faith .

                                      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/

Step Up

We have a daily choice to step up to the task at hand or not to do so.

Joshua had to decide if he would step up and be the leader God called him to be. 

Joshua was an emerging leader. He had learned to lead by being Moses’ right hand man . . . coming alongside . . . entrusted with  vital tasks.  When Moses died, Joshua was not only left with the task to lead, but to guide the people into the Promised Land.  

The key for Joshua . . . was not to worry about what Moses would have done or how difficult it might be without Moses . . . but to trust, stepping up to the task God called him to do.  While the people knew Joshua, they had been led by Moses, one of the greatest leaders of history.  Certainly, it would have been difficult for them to turn over their trust to Joshua; however they did.  "Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you as He was with Moses. Joshua 1:17

The people exchanged their allegiance to Joshua  . .. a true miracle . . . despite the challenges of taking over leadership. It would seem that Joshua had the favor of God. 

How did Joshua do it?

He was not consumed with what Moses did but with what God was doing.  It is a mindset: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Our thoughts easily conform to our circumstances rather than the will of God. How do we move from conformed to transformed thinking?

We need intentional training of the mind . . . a self-imposed spiritual boot camp . . . letting go of worry about circumstances. In other words we choose not to worry or to be anxious and to respond to situations through prayer: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  (Philippians 4:6)

Step up. 

Face the challenges of life and conquer them through trusting God.

Place a shield around your mind . . . trust rather than worry.

Renew your mind.

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . choosing to step up,

                                      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/