The Place, Position, and Power

I am not sure there is anything more difficult than to know a child is suffering.  Madelyn struggled with pain and the impact of anesthesia all day and night . . .  while surrounded by love from family, friends, and individuals who have not been introduced to her  but know of her. These individuals, some that we don't even know, are asking for the healing power of God to touch her with such committed love that I know it impacts her little heart.   And, I know she will be healed through the power of love.

Ultimately, those who have the love of God poured into their heart release that same love to others.  And, there is so much power to that love which is issued to another that it changes the very atmosphere we are in.  The Apostle Paul explained that we have been given the place to ask:
Because of Christ and our faith in him we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored. (Ephesians 3:12-13, NLT)

Paul said just thinking about having this position through Christ made him drop to his knees in prayer:
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. (Ephesians 3: 14-16, NLT)

Because . . . our position and place of prayer comes through the  power of incomprehensible love:
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. (Ephesians 3: 18, NLT)

At the end of the day, when we enter into the place of prayer through our position in Christ through incomprehensible love we experience the activity of God beyond imagination.  Paul prayed it:
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

So today, I pray the same prayer for you. . . that you will be transformed by that incomprehensible love of Christ . . . experiencing the power that God gives through the place of prayer.
Go  boldly and confidently to the place of prayer.
Take the position that you have through Christ.
Pray through the incomprehensible power of Christ's love.
Experience the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Learning with you to KICK START the day praying in the power of Christ's love,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Trust in the Unpredictability of Life

We are on the way to the Children’s Hospital.  Madelyn is scheduled for surgery this morning. It is easy to go down the pathway of fear with  “what if” thoughts that leads to fear.

The thing is . . . Jesus said to respond specifically with trust:  . "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.  (John 14:1)

In other words, we are told to respond to life trusting Jesus is with us and will not fail us.   Seriously.

Trust  is difficult when we have a list of "what if's."
Jesus told us to trust. 
The way to live in faith is to trust God in the unpredictably of life,  trusting God to be God.
Isn't trust  the crux of our relationship with Christ?
Jesus said to trust.
Trust is non-negotiable when we live by faith.
 So. Today we choose to exercise trusting God . . . and then we will trust God tomorrow . . . and the next day. When we trust God . . . we see life differently  . . . even when the next minute seems so unpredictable.

Trust strengthens our faith.
Life is unpredictable.
Make your summer days count . . . trust God.
Trust that Jesus is present and will not fail.
Trust God to be God.
Learning with you to KICK START the day trusting,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Proseuchomai . . . make each day count

Have you stopped and noticed the creative details of God's work today?

I could not help but notice the glow of the skies as the sun set on my drive along the country roads last night. I have missed seeing a good portion of sunsets in my life because . . . well . . . apparently I am too busy to notice. As the skies morphed from one color to the next, I thought about how God gives attention to the details . . . perhaps the sunset is one of those details that God has created for us to pause and take time to notice the signature of His presence.

When we stop and take time to notice what God has done, scrutinizing the details . . . then . . . our perspective changes.

Study the scene in John 6: “After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.(John 6:12-13, NLT)
The thing is . . . God never leaves anything undone . . . but works in each detail to bring about His plan.

The people had a need . . . hunger . . . and Jesus answered. Look at how Jesus asked the disciples to participate in the needs of the people.   Think about what the passage reveals about prayer: We not only must rely on God for provision but we are asked to enter into the work of His provision.  How cool is that?

We can't live the best life without prayer. John's writings were originally written in Greek. The New Testament Greek word for prayer is proseuchomai. To understand the word we need to understand that pros can be interpreted as toward and/or facing which is put together with the word, euchomai, meaning to speak out and/or express a desire. So, the word, prayer, could be interpreted as taking a direct approach by being aware of the presence of God and speaking to Him.

So.  We discuss the details of life face to face with God . . . knowing that God will work in the most unexpected ways  .. . when we give access to the details of our life.

Proseuchomai . . . make each summer day count.
How?  Surrender.  Trust.  Prayer.
Be aware of the presence of God.
Talk to God about the details of living,.
He will answer you.


Learning with you to KICK START in "proseuchomai" in each detail of life,
Pastor Kerrie

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

Pray . . . Make Each Summer Day Count

Things change when we pray. We change.  Life changes. The world changes. When you get down to it . . . when we pray . . . there is a shift in the universe as God puts His plan into place.

Prayer is more than doing it.  Prayer delineates our relationship with Christ.  How we live as a Christ follower can be seen the way we approach prayer.
      
Hear my cry, O God;
       listen to my prayer.
    From the ends of the earth I call to you,
       I call as my heart grows faint;
       lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
    For you have been my refuge,
       a strong tower against the foe.
    I long to dwell in your tent forever
       and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. (Psalm 71:1-4, TNIV)







Psalm 71 teaches us that prayer is a significant place in our life:

Prayer is the place of honesty . . . where we intertwine our life with God . . . through surrender and trust.

Prayer is the place of faith . . . where we know that God is not only present. . . but will  listen and respond.

Prayer is the place of refuge . . .  where we find protection . . . as in the ancient days when refuge cities were established to protect people.

Prayer is the place of strength . . . where we are weak and vulnerable . . . God becomes our strength.

Prayer is the place of meeting with God . . . where we become consumed with His presence . . . as in the ancient days in the tabernacle, the tent of meeting

Prayer is the place of shelter . . . where we find comfort and safety . . . as under the wings of God.

Prayer is life.

Pray . . . making each summer day count.

Learning with you to KICK START in prayer.
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/

Synergized . . . Make Each Summer Day Count

The end of summer is coming.  It does seem that there is a sense that we need to start gearing up for fall.  One thing I know is that if we are not careful the rhythm of life is traded for busyness and even chaos.    While we talk about salvation of the soul, we often fail to talk about salvation of our whole life . . .  becoming immersed in the synergizing power of Christ . . . body, mind, soul, and the calendar.  

Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans:

It is the power of God for salvation
to everyone who has faith,
to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
(Romans 1:16b, NRS)

Salvation power is Christ's healing power that synergizes all things together.  It is a power that heals and transforms, requiring our choice to surrender to  the indwelling power of Christ.

Are you experiencing the salvation power of Christ today?

Salvation necessitates an understanding of the need to be rescued and ultimately healed.  We often fail to understand that Christ transforms everything about our life.  The places we have stress or discouragement or anger or fear are the places we have blocked the power of God from touching and healing us.  

Prayer or communing with God is an essential component of going to the deeper place of healing.  The thing is . . . people often tell me that they are afraid to enter into healing prayer . . . which often comes from the fear of losing control with honest vulnerability.  That said, we are released when we connect with the synergizing- healing power of Christ.

At the end of the day . . . we choose if we live . . . in the synergizing-healing power of Christ.

Make each summer day count . . . live in the synergizing-healing power of Christ.

Surrender your control to Christ’s power that rescues and heals.

Allow Christ to transform every area of your life.

Intentionally live in the synergizing-healing power of Christ. each day.

Learning with you to KICK START in the power 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/

Celebrate . . . Make Each Summer Day Count

We celebrated Timothy’s birthday yesterday.  Birthdays are a big deal in our family; it gives us a reason to celebrate and party.

Celebration is crucial to healthy living.  The thing is . . .  I spend time with people that live without celebration.  Why?  They have allowed something or someone in their life to block their view of what God has given them.  The long-term result of this condition is the loss of gratefulness, which is key to celebration.  And, we really can’t blame something or someone else for our personal lack of gratefulness. 

Study what James writes: Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.(James 1: 17-18, NLT)

Regardless of problems, pressures, or how people treat us  . . . we are told . . . we are the prized possession of God, who created the universe.  Isn’t that reason enough for celebration?

It is a decision to live intentionally grateful as well as to celebrate. 
So.  We must intentionally focus on the continual goodness of God, which creates gratefulness and an atmosphere of celebration.
Make each summer day count: Stop. Focus on the goodness of God. Give thanks.  And, celebrate.

Learning with you to KICK START the day celebrating.
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/

Celebrate . . . Make Your Summer Days Count

We celebrated Timothy’s birthday yesterday.  Birthdays are a big deal in our family; it gives us a reason to celebrate and party. 

Celebration is crucial to healthy living.  The thing is . . .  I spend time with people that live without celebration.  Why?  They have allowed something or someone in their life to block their view of what God has given them.  The long-term result of this condition is the loss of gratefulness, which is key to celebration.  And, we really can’t blame something or someone else for our personal lack of gratefulness.  

Study what James writes: Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.(James 1: 17-18, NLT)

Regardless, of problems, pressures, or how people treat us  . . . God, who created the universe, , states that we are His prized possession.  Isn’t that reason enough for celebration? 

It is a decision to live intentionally grateful as well as to celebrate.  

It seems to me that to focus on the continual goodness of God creates gratefulness and an atmosphere of celebration.

Make each summer day count: Stop. Focus on the goodness of God. Give thanks.  And, celebrate. Learning with you to KICK START the day celebrating.

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/

Reconcile . . . Make Each Summer Day Count

Offended.
Hurt.
Anger.
Avoidance.
Blame.
Division.
Broken.

How can individuals be reconciled?

Reconciliation is a process.
Those who reconcile must be willing to
give up their rights . . .
forgive . . .
reaching out in and through the power and peace of Christ.

Christ is the Reconciler. The presence, power, and peace of Christ has reconciled humanity to God and one another. John tells the story in chapter 8:

Christ stood between the accusations of religious leaders and the wrongs of a woman.
Christ gave a strong message of truth and wrote a message in the sandy soil.

Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
(John 8:8)

What did Jesus write?
We can only imagine. Perhaps it was something like:
"Forgive and you will be forgiven."
"Love as I love you."
"Go in My peace."

Make each summer day count . . . engage with the reconciling power of Christ.
What words would Christ write in the sand for you?
Forgive.
Love.
Go in peace.

Learning with you to Kick Start the day in the reconciling power 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, OR97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go tohttp://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com

Settled. . . make each summer day count.

There is more to life than circumstances.
There is more than what can be seen.
There is more than what can be imagined.
There is more than what can be hoped for.
There is more. 


How is it possible to believe there is more in life when we face difficult circumstances? 

It begins with our mindset.  The thing is . . .  the way we think can limit us . . . and  hold us captive. 


The Apostle Paul wrote: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is---his good, pleasing and perfect will  (Romans 12:2 ). 


We must be clear that we do not need to conform to this world  . . . to settle for what circumstances do to us . . . but rather we need to be settled in faith that God is continually present. 


In other words, God is with, and for, you and I.  So.  We are not to be discouraged or to have fear, but to be settled in the presence of Christ.  



As Moses ended his life,  he told the people God had more for them.  He told them to take possession of the land . . . to settle for nothing less . . .  and not to be afraid or discouraged . . . reminding the people that God would go before them and be with them.
                        1.     Deuteronomy 1:21

See the LORD  your God has given you the land.  Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of our ancestors, told you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. 
2.     Deuteronomy 31:8 
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. 

Make each summer day count.
Be settled in Christ.
Refuse to conform to this world, settling for what your circumstances do to you.
Believe God has more for you.  
God is at work on your behalf . . . going before you.
God is with you. 




Learning with you to Kick Start the day by being settled in Christ, 
Pastor Kerrie

(writtenby Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

interactstudies/~ kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go tohttp://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

By Faith . . . Make Each Summer Day Count

An unfamiliar highway.

Twists and turns.

Road construction. 

A slow truck  at the front of the traffic. 

“Do Not Pass” signs.

 Impatience.

The still small voice of the Spirit of God whispered to me, "

This is how you often live your life.  Be patient.  Live by faith.” 

Truth.

Breathing. 

Stillness.

Acknowledging God.

A passing lane.

God is present as we travel through life including the times we feel stuck in unfamiliar territory.

The thing is . . . knowing that God is present . . . should change how we manage life. Think about it. At one command the universe was formed . . . Hebrews 11:3says it all:  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

We live in the space of this universe because of the command of God.

It makes sense to have faith that God is present and more powerful than anything we face on the road of life.

Make each summer day count by living in faith.

Live by faith.

Stop.

Look.

Listen.

 God is present and will make a way.

Learning with you to KICK START the day by 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/

More . . . Make Each Summer Day Count

Throughout the years I have experienced the messiness of life in the church. Stuff happens . . . people are people . . . and along the way church often becomes more about people than God. 

That said, I love the church. 

I love being a part of the church.

I love how God uses the church to bring hope to the world.

I love the promise that God has for the church  . . "and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen".Ephesians 3:19-21

The thing is . . . we do not always live in the power of this promise:

1.      He is able

2.      To do immeasurably more

3.      Than all we ask or imagine

4.      According to his power that is at work within us.

Another words . . . there is no limit to the power of God . . . that is at work within us.

What does this mean for the church . . . you and I?

Just what the promise says, which is that God is at work within us . . . the church . . . immeasurably more than what we can ask or imagine . . .  right now! The thing is . . . we need to live in this promise . . . as the church we need to know God has something more . . . all the time.  There are no dead ends for God.

Make each summer day count.

Be the church. 

Be ready for immeasurably more than what you can ask or imagine.

Learning with you to KICK START the day anticipating immeasurably more,

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/

Trust as a child . . . make each summer day count

I spent the day with 17-month old Madelyn.  She taught me about complete trust.  It was apparent that she had no doubt that I would be continually present, planning out our time together, protective of her body, mind, and soul, providing for her needs, planning and carry out the plans for her, and interactive in her day.

A small child has shown me the greatness of complete trust.

The Bible underscores that:

We are to trust as a child::  Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

We are to trust Christ to always be present:  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
We are to trust God tobe  our protection: You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.(Psalm 32:7)

We are to trust that God has personal plans for us: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

 We are to trust that God interacts with our life: ^1-4 But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel:
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
   I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
   When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
   it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
   The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
   all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That's how much you mean to me!
   That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
   trade the creation just for you. Isaiah 43:1-3

Choose to completely trust as a child.

Trust Christ to always be present.

Trust God for protection.

Trust God to put His plan into action. 

Trust God to be interactive.

Trust..

Learning with you to KICK START the day trusting as a child,

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/