Look For Something New . . . Make Each Summer Day Count

It is hard to believe that July is ending.  I have always thought July defines summer.  And, yet, here we are . . . ending the month and getting ready for a new month.  Life is always changing.  There really does not seem much that remains the same. But, then again, isn’t that what we are told?    

 "Behold, I will do something new,
         Now it will spring forth;
         Will you not be aware of it?
         I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
         Rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

Despite the incredible new work of God . . . change is often difficult . . . we get comfortable doing what we always do.  Our faults, failures, and fear often rule us, which is depressive, oppressive, and . . . well . . . dumb.    God has created us to shed the weight of our stuff and to receive something new.   It is our response that determines the outcome of life.  The question is:  Are you and I willing to surrender and open our eyes to something new or will we close our eyes to what God has for us?   

We will see the new work of God when we open our spiritual eyes. It is a matter of what we intentionally focus on.  Even when we perceive that our problems have brought us to the end of the road, God will do something new,  making a roadway in the wilderness and a river in the desert.  In other words, God changes the impossible to possible.  When God does something new, life changes in miraculous ways.

The thing is . . . we often think of change as negative . . . but the new work of God . . . is positive change . . .  intentional . . . powerful . . . active . . . and eternal.  

And the fun begins. We realize that God does not intend for us to be stuck but will move us forward through His supernatural work.   

The impact of God's new work is life changing! 

Look for the new thing God is doing today and make each summer day count.

Receive the new work of God  . . . a new road in your wilderness . . . and a river in your desert.  

Celebrate the new work God has planned for you today.  

Learning with you to KICK START the day looking for something new,

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/

Know and Believe . . . Make Each Summer Day Count

People often tell me that they never thought about going to church until nothing in life was working.  In desperation they come to find out if God is real and could possibly do something for them.  One thing I have learned is there is an inherent knowledge of God and that humanity will call out to God in desperation and despair.  

And . . . God is there. 

You are My witnesses," declares the LORD,
         "And My servant whom I have chosen,
         So that you may know and believe Me
         And understand that I am He
         Before Me there was no God formed,
         And there will be none after Me. Isaiah 43:10

We are chosen to know, to believe, and to understand God is present and is . . . well . . . God.

God wants us to know Him.  [By the way, I assume you agree since you are reading this and like myself, want to know God more.] The Hebrew word, yada, which means to know is used to indicate the kind of knowing that occurs in intimate relationships.  We are invited to come closer and to become more intimate rather than living far away until desperation and despair takes over.

The more we know God . . . the more we believe God:  The Hebrew word, aman, which means believe is used to describe trust as well as to endure.  Whatever occurs in life we are gifted with the ability to believe.  Even so, it is a struggle to believe especially when disappointments crowd into our life.   

Eventually unbelief drains energy and passion from our life.  So. Belief is a crucial component of healthy living, which must be exercised in order to believe on a daily basis. That said, belief is not about ourselves but about God. The thing is as when we get to know God and exercise our belief we discover that God is not only faithful to some but to all.    

Pray to know God . . . to know God more intimately than ever before.

Exercise your belief.

Know God and believe nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). . . that all things will work together (Romans 8:28). . . and God is able to do more than can be imagined (Ephesians 3:20).

Learning with you to KICK START the day knowing and believing,

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 Into The Presence . . . Make Each Summer Day Count

Sometimes we just need to be honest and say that life is dark and downright impossible.  Translation: Life can suck!  I know mom . . .  if you are reading this . . . I should not say life sucks . . . but sometimes that is all that can be said.  As much as I like to party, life is not always a celebration.

There are going to be days that are too difficult to face regardless of how long we have followed Christ.

I have learned

not to freak-out

but

to wait

because

God always comes . . . always comforts . . . and always strengthens.  Always.

The thing is . . . when I wait and trust God . . . I can say what the Psalmist said:

¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation—
       whom shall I fear?
       The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
       of whom shall I be afraid?

    ² When the wicked advance against me
       to devour me,
       it is my enemies and my foes
       who will stumble and fall.

    ³ Though an army besiege me,
       my heart will not fear;
       though war break out against me,
       even then I will be confident. Psalm 27:1-3

Of course, taking hold of fear and shaking it off requires an acceptance and belief that God is greater than whatever grabs us.  

How?   

We intentionally step into the presence of God, our  Light . . . Salvation . . . Stronghold . . .  which becomes the basis of our strength to face the day.  So. The Light pierces the darkness and the impossible becomes possible.  The presence of God shifts not only our perception but reality.

Take hold of fear and shake it off believing God is greater than what has grabbed you and make each summer day count.

Wait. God will come, comfort, and strengthen you.

Step into the presence of God, your Light, Salvation, and Stronghold.

And . . . regardless of how difficult life is now . . . know that there will be a day you will celebrate again.

Learning with you to KICK START the day stepping into the presence 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/

Word of the Day . . . Make Each Summer Day Count

I have a friend that says nothing is official until it is on Facebook.  I am not sure how any of us lived before Facebook; however, we did.  Communication is an incredible gift.  Think about how the brain synthesizes what is read, heard, or discussed in order to understand and respond.   

That said, I wonder if in the high-tech-fast-paced world, if we have dulled our senses to communicating with God.   

The Spirit of God promises to communicate a new word each morning.  Do we hear the word of the day? Do we share the new word with others . . . especially those that have become tired and weary?

The prophet Isaiah explained: 

The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples,
         That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word
         He awakens Me morning by morning,
         He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. Isaiah 50:4

I believe that God gives us the ability to hear the word of the day through the Spirit. But . . . we allow other things to get in the way . . . such as busyness, fatigue, problems, and challenges.  To hear the Spirit we must intentionally focus on God rather than the “stuff.”   We need to ask ourselves: Is what God says my priority this morning? If, the answer is yes, then, we need to consciously refocus until our attention is completely on God.  For sure, that is hard to do when we are experiencing the pressure of life before we begin the day. Even so, focusing on God is a necessary discipline to be healthy and whole.

The thing is . . . God purposefully gives us a word in order for us to adequately prepare for the day and those we will encounter along the way.   We will never be fully prepared, if, we have not listened to the Spirit of God. 

Begin the day intentionally focused on God.

Listen to the Spirit of God.

Respond to the word of the day and make each summer day count.

Learning with you to KICK START the day listening to the word of the day.

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/

Anchored . . . Making Each Summer Day Count

There are places that change us.  Unable to resist . . . we become consumed . . . with where we are.  In those places we are able to see that there is more in this world than our personal circumstances.   Whether the place is found in the midst of towering mountains and rushing river waters or in a field before harvest or in the welcoming light of home on a darkened stormy night or in the open doors of a small country church there is one thing we find . . . peace.

As powerful as it is to experience peace in these places, there is a peace that  is an ongoing reality through the presence of Christ. 

It is the peace that Isaiah talked about:    

"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
         Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

A steadfast mind is anchored.   Worry or fear is unable to take over. Peace results . . . a peace that heals and soothes . . . the shalom of God.    Why?  Trust.

Release your worry. 

Anchor your mind.

Trust God.

Receive the peace God offers to make each summer day count.

Learning with you to KICK START the day anchored in 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/