Balance and The Big Thoughts of God

Tiffany, my middle child, has declared 2011 as the year of balance.  I agree, announcing it to be so with the individuals I do  life  with. 

Balance,
often ignored, is
a state of equilibrium,
steadiness,
and contentment.

Life can happen so fast that we fail to see the value of balance.  We often become stressed without understanding why.  When clarity of balance in life comes,  we realize it does not make sense to be enslaved with stress.  The thing is . . . we live because of the big thoughts of God . . . and most of us really have no idea how big His thoughts are:

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
         Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8, NAS)

Balance is more about action than words. 

It is when a million things come together and direct us to God. It is about trusting that God has completely thought out this thing called life.  It is about being set free to live in the way that matters. It is about living like God has planned. It is about loving that we have a chance to live because God has willed it.

Stop.  You are living in the big thoughts, plan, and will of God. Trust God. Celebrate the New Year in balance.

Learning to KickStart the day living in the big thoughts of God intentionally and actively in balance,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Loss . . . Time . . . Becoming New

Saying good-bye to a child, a parent, a spouse, or a friend when you are not ready is a challenging and difficult battle. I have lived long enough to have a list of individuals that I miss, who continue to impact my life not only because of the way they lived but how they lived in my life.  At the end of the year, I am more aware of the time we had and the time we have missed. Loss becomes a part of our life.

Standing. 
Staring. 
Waiting. 
Wondering if life can ever be the same again.  

Because I have experienced significant loss, I can say with honest confidence that there is an answer:  Life will never be the same . . . but. . . .loss can be an instrument of transformation . . .  in and through Christ to become new:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17, TNIV)

Not that I have loss figured out, but one thing I know is that loss can bring us to God in a way that nothing else can.  Loss creates a hole in our life.  Healing from the pain of the loss of a significant person in our life requires us to take steps of trust..  So.  We learn to take one step and then another step towards trusting God more.  I do think that loss gives us the ability to understand that we really don't have control of anything that matters.  And . . . only through Christ . . . there is power . . . as close as His presence . . . to live fully despite loss. 

The thing is . . . I can't figure out how God makes us new when we experience loss . . .but when I go back, again and again, to Psalm 46:10 . . . I understand there is one thing to do when the world turns upside down with loss . . . and that is to become still and know that God is God. 

Take time to be aware of the time you have had with significant individuals and the time you have missed.
Trust God in all of it.
Receive the power of Christ to become new . . . to experience a rebirth . . . of life.
Be still and know that God is God.

Learning to KickStart the day becoming acknowledging loss . . . in gratefulness for the time received . . . , becoming new,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

You Have Today

He is missed.  A child who barely had time to experience the gift of life is remembered this week.  It is well worth knowing that in a short amount of time, he showed us the sacredness of everyday life . . . to be intentional with the way we live . . . and to take in all that God has for us in the day.  Each day he lived not only mattered but was celebrated by those of us who knew him. It is difficult to understand how one child can change the course of life, but he did. 

At the time, it seemed unreasonable to think that he would die and not experience growing up.  In the midst of his suffering, Psalm 46:4 became more tangible and real: “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High” (Psalm 46: 4, Amplified).  

The presence of the Spirit of God is the River . . . in heaven and on earth . . . that penetrates the power of sorrow and loss . . . revealing that life is a daily sacred gift . . . and meant to be celebrated regardless of the number of days we have to live.

Let’s be honest, too often we take the day for granted, hoping for life to be something more.  And, we miss the gift of the day.  In his song, Beautiful Boy, John Lennon wrote “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”   Look back on your life and you will understand the profound truth of Lennon’s words.  

One child showed me that what happens today, including the minute and mundane details, is the gift of the life I have today. 

You have today.
Celebrate today . . . and the River that runs through it . . . whose streams make glad the city of God. 
Be glad for all that you receive.
Learning to KickStart the day celebrating,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Storms

There is nothing like watching an Oregon coast storm from an indoor vantage point with a cup of coffee in hand and a fire burning. There is comfort watching . . .

dark skies . . .
sideways rain . . .
and high winds . . . from a safe vantage point as it unleashes its' power. 

To be in a storm is vastly different than watching a storm.  When the storms of life come at you, life will change. In fact, change is the one thing we count on when a storm brews in our life.  It fills up our conversations, time, and attention.  The storms  that hit us head-on leave a pathway of destruction.  Whether it is a storm that hits us head on or a storm that quickly comes and goes, change will come.  There will be some dreams and goals that will change because of the storm, things that we had planned and hoped for will look different.  Ultimately, the storm makes us stop, forcing us to respond.

The power of the storm produces questions:  What could have been done to prevent the storm?  What do we do now?  And . . . of course the most frequently asked question . . . why?
But . . . the most important question is . . . what will you do?

The storms will come.  Perhaps the worst storms that I have experienced, more than once, came in the words, “There is no hope. Death is imminent.”  To hear those words said about someone you love can make you feel that you are drowning in the deepest sea within the strongest storm.
The Psalmist understood the devastation from the storms of life that I am talking about when he wrote Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. (Psalm 46:1-3).

Even when a storm turns our world upside down, we are promised:
God is our refuge . . . our source of help, relief, and safety. 
God is our strength . . . our power that is beyond human capability.
God is our very present help in trouble . . . there in the storm and will go through it with us.

What can you do in the storm?  It seems simple but in reality it can be hard.  Go to God and trust Him.  The decision to trust when the storms hit us can be difficult but will always be healing as you realize God is an intimate Refuge, Strength, and very present Help in trouble.  The thing is . . . the choice is either to go to God  . . . or to attempt to weather the storm without God.  What I know to be true . . . is that when the storm rages, God changes how I go through the storm . . . and in the end, strengthens me.

God has sheltered me when I have felt like drowning in the storm of words, “There is no hope. Death is imminent.”  He has been my very present help . . . my refuge of hope . . . and my strength of life. The storms of life can be the hardest thing we ever experience; however, God will go through it with us in an intimate and personal way.


Learning to KickStart the day in the worst storms believing God will be present and walk us through,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

The Storm

There is nothing like watching an Oregon coast storm from an indoor vantage point with a cup of coffee in hand and a fire burning. There is comfort watching . . .

dark skies . . .
sideways rain . . .
and high winds . . . from a safe vantage point as it unleashes its' power. 

To be in a storm is vastly different than watching a storm.  When the storms of life come at you, life will change. In fact, change is the one thing we count on when a storm brews in our life.  It fills up our conversations, time, and attention.  The storms  that hit us head-on leave a pathway of destruction.  Whether it is a storm that hits us head on or a storm that quickly comes and goes, change will come.  There will be some dreams and goals that will change because of the storm, things that we had planned and hoped for will look different.  Ultimately, the storm makes us stop, forcing us to respond.

The power of the storm produces questions:  What could have been done to prevent the storm?  What do we do now?  And . . . of course the most frequently asked question . . . why?
But . . . the most important question is . . . what will you do?

The storms will come.  Perhaps the worst storms that I have experienced, more than once, came in the words, “There is no hope. Death is imminent.”  To hear those words said about someone you love can make you feel that you are drowning in the deepest sea within the strongest storm.
The Psalmist understood the devastation from the storms of life that I am talking about when he wrote Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. (Psalm 46:1-3).

Even when a storm turns our world upside down, we are promised:
God is our refuge . . . our source of help, relief, and safety. 
God is our strength . . . our power that is beyond human capability.
God is our very present help in trouble . . . there in the storm and will go through it with us.

What can you do in the storm?  It seems simple but in reality it can be hard.  Go to God and trust Him.  The decision to trust when the storms hit us can be difficult but will always be healing as you realize God is an intimate Refuge, Strength, and very present Help in trouble.  The thing is . . . the choice is either to go to God  . . . or to attempt to weather the storm without God.  What I know to be true . . . is that when the storm rages, God changes how I go through the storm . . . and in the end, strengthens me.

God has sheltered me when I have felt like drowning in the storm of words, “There is no hope. Death is imminent.”  He has been my very present help . . . my refuge of hope . . . and my strength of life. The storms of life can be the hardest thing we ever experience; however, God will go through it with us in an intimate and personal way.


Learning to KickStart the day in the worst storms believing God will be present and walk us through,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Breath of the Spirit

My friend's father is dying; she and her family are staying with him.  The ministry of presence is a gift.  There is nothing that can be compared with those who are willing to be present in the midst of suffering and pain.  At the same time, the ministry of presence is transforming with prayer.

Andrew Murray wrote, "Prayer is just the breathing of the Spirit in us. When we quietly believe that the Holy Spirit as a Spirit of supplication is dwelling within us, for the very purpose of enabling us to pray...our hearts will be filled with hope."

The breath of the Spirit within us  is a great description of  prayer, producing  a view  that allows us to see that prayer is about the connective presence of Christ in us. In the ancient days, Zechariah  made it clear that it is impossible to face the mountains in life without His presence:

Then he said to me, This [addition of the bowl to the candlestick, causing it to yield a ceaseless supply of oil from the olive trees] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of Whom the oil is a symbol], says the Lord of hosts. For who are you, O great mountain [of human obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who with Joshua had led the return of the exiles from Babylon and was undertaking the rebuilding of the temple, before him] you shall become a plain [a mere [a]molehill]! And he shall bring forth the finishing gable stone [of the new temple] with loud shoutings of the people, crying, Grace, grace to it (Zechariah 4:6-7, Amplified).

We have no qualifications or abilities to face the mountains of life without God; however, God is God and with God all things are possible (Matthew 19: 26).  Prayer empowers us to face the mountains . . . the obstacles . . . opening our eyes to see that in the reality of the presence of God . . .  the mountain is a  mere molehill.

Pray.
Experience the breath of the Spirit.
Anticipate the mountains becoming like mere molehills through the infilling presence of God.

Learning to KickStart the day with the breath of the Spirit,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Front Row Seats

 I served on a pastoral staff with an older pastor who eventually became a great friend.  He  was always energetic and would often say that the average adult expended energy by making excuses rather than using it to do what needed to be done.  I can still hear him say, "Oh for crying out loud . . . grow up . . . and just do it."  .  He would make it clear that we should not try to do everything; however, we needed to know what was ours to do and just do it.

He continued working until a few days before his death at age ninety-something with authentic energetic enthusiasm and joy, giving himself away to the world. And, yes, he is one of God's heroes. 

Learning how to live well is a process; the hero told me that he did not understand the value of living with enthusiasm and energy, without complaining, until he was over forty. That said, if had been present at the first Christmas, I am sure he would have been out in front of the shepherds leading them straight to Bethlehem. I know God's hero would not have looked back or tried to finish up a task.  He would have known what was his to do and not to do,  immediately responded with high energy. 

The shepherds, ordinary guys, were given an extraordinary message from God.  I am sure they did not fathom the honor of it all. But.  They knew it was their responsibility to go.  And, they did. 

So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. (Luke 2: 16)

Imagine what it would have been like to see the baby in the manger.  Seriously.  There He was . . . Emmanuel . . . God with us in the most ordinary of places on what started out as an ordinary night.


The shepherds had to have been humbled and amazed that they were the ones that had the "front row seats" to view the miracle of Emmanuel, God with us.  God invites ordinary people in ordinary places to take front row seats and experience the miracle of Emmanuel.

Jesus told us how to take the front row seats: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33, NIV).

Jesus made it clear to first seek God, asking for guidance of where  to go and what to do.


Intentionally take the front row seats.
Experience the miracle of Emmanuel with enthusiasm and energy.Give Him your all.

Have an extraordinary Christmas.

Learning to KickStart the day with energy and enthusiasm,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

This Thing That Has Happened

When I put Madelyn in her high chair,  she points to the chair next to her, wanting me to sit down.   Madelyn makes it clear that she does not see the value of me doing other things in the kitchen while she eats. So. I  sit down and eat with her.  Period.   She is just 23 months old; however, she has taught me the value of stopping and doing what is important rather than focusing on the urgent tasks.

The thing is . . . the  lesson of choosing the important rather than the urgent . . . is vital to learn, especially this time of year.  We tend to get so stressed out with holiday stuff that we don't see the thing that has happened . . . the coming of Christ . . . the thing we need to be concerned with and focused on:

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." (Luke 2: 15, NASB).

The shepherds responded.
They knew what they had to do.
They had to see "this thing that happened."
God made it known to them.
No argument.
No hesitation.
No procrastination.
Nothing else mattered.
They did not wait for convenience.
They would not be diverted or distracted.
They purposefully chose to go straight to Bethlehem.

Experience this thing that has happened.
Christ has come.
Emmanuel.
God with us.
Refuse to be diverted by the urgent. Go straight to the important.
Celebrate.

Learning to KickStart the day experiencing the thing that has happened,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Joy and a Flash Mob

Have you heard about flash mobs?   They are organized through online networks and text messages.  There have been many reports of flash mobs showing up and singing this Christmas season. A friend sent me a video of a group singing the Hallelujah Chorus" of Handel's Messiah in a mall.   Shoppers, stunned to hear the "carolers,"  stopped, smiled, and joined in.

An experience of shared joy is rare. 

It makes the joy of the first Christmas a little bit more understandable.  The sky was filled . . . with a flash mob of sorts . . . angels to be exact . . . singing about the birth of Jesus.

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,  but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,  “Glory to God in highest heaven,
      and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Luke 2: 8-14, NLT). 

Imagine what the experience described in Luke 2 would have been like.  One night, while you are  focused on what you have to do, the skies light up with an angel announcing the birth of the Savior.  But it doesn't stop there . . . angels fill the skies . . . and they sing.  Nothing would ever be the same again.  You not only received great news but shared joy with heaven.

 Joy.  

Joy is easy to miss in this world.  We get so concerned with ourselves, circumstances, and the state of the world that we forget what is most important.  Christ came.  Immanuel.  God with us.  Joy.

Share joy with heaven today.
Refuse to be stuck in the stuff and stress of living.
Focus on Christ.  Emmanuel. God with us.

Learning to KickStart the day sharing the joy of Christ,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Cynics

It is easy to be cynical, believing that what you see is what you get.  Cynicism leaves faith out of living.  When I meet a cynic, I ask if they have ever had faith in anything.  Most will say that the only one to have faith in would be themselves.  I like to mess with people,so,  I respond by asking if they have ever let themselves down. You can guess the answer.  How do you get rid of cynicism in a world full of cynics?

One thing I know is that faith is contagious in places where people help people to overcome the challenges of life.    On my latest list of places to visit  . . . is the local Children's Hospital . . . Doernbecher.  The team at Doernbecher assigned to take care of Madelyn always ends the appointment with encouragement for what can be.  We not only walk away with hope but also with faith.

Even so, the promises of what can be are often so far removed from what we see in the moment.  It is why I like the question Mary, the mother of Jesus, asks the angel. Straight forward, to the point, she asks:

"How can this be,
since I am a virgin?"
(Luke 1: 34 NRS)

 Part of faith is seeking the answer to that question, "How can this be?"

The answer comes down to the fact that God is not limited by our limitations. We would respond differently to most of life situations, if, we  could see more . . . a broader view . . . than what we see in the moment.  The thing is . . . God has given us the ability to see beyond the moment . . . and ourselves through faith. 

Faith is defined in Hebrews 11.  Study the first three verses: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. 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. (Hebrews 11: 1-3, TNIV)

So.  How do we live in faith rather than cynicism in this cynical world? The best way to leave cynicism behind and to begin living in faith is to take one step in faith . . . and then another step . . . and another  . . . until we become sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  Faith is a process of letting go of what we see through our limitations and developing a perspective through the presence and power of God.

Let go of cynicism.
See what can be through the presence and power of Christ.
Walk in faith.

Learning to KickStart the day in  faith,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Hoping

We celebrated Timothy's home day.  It is the day we officially became a family when he was only three months old.  God had given me the desire to adopt a child from Korea . . . which . . .  I realized at the young age five.   Obviously, my five-year-old perspective of the future could not have anticipated what led up to adopting Tim.  And, I could never have imagined all the days we have had together since that day.  But. I hoped.

Hope is a crucial component to seeing beyond the limitations of our perspective. 
Hope opens our life up to all the possibilities God has planned for us.
Hope is an attitude of expectation.
Hope brings light to a perspective of possibilities.  Without hope, we eventually see ourselves stuck . . . at a dead-end . . . with nothing . . . except impossibilities.

Choosing hope is radically intentional way to see and respond to life :
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me (Micah 7:7).

The words watch and wait are key to intentionally living with hope.  In the ancient days, watchmen were given the task to stay alert and fully aware. It was vital for their own safety, as well as the community, to keep watch.  When we keep watch in hope for God, we see that God is eternal and not constrained to our time limitations or the circumstances we find ourselves in.  And, then there is the discipline of waiting.  Most of us struggle with waiting.  There is a celebrative element to waiting when we expectantly wait for God to do what more He has promised to do.  When you think about it, the hope and future promised in Jeremiah 29:11 deserves a daily celebration.
So. Hope.  Watch. Wait. And while you are at it . . . celebrate . . . what more is yet to come!


Learning to KickStart the day in hope,

Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved

There Are Times

Have you ever walked on a road in the darkness of the night?  

Dark . . .
without light . . .
pitch black dark . . .
the kind of dark that you can't see your hand in front of you . . .
when it is so dark that taking one step forward requires courage . . .
because you have been on the road before
and you know the risks.

 There are those times, that even though we know and believe God, life is difficult and dark.  Sometimes the darkness can be so dense, that it is easy to think that nothing can penetrate it. The thing is . . . even in the darkest of times . . . the dark is not dark when we acknowledge the presence of Christ.  In his book, The Gospel of Luke, Doctor Luke makes it clear that Christ will be present when we go through  the darkest of places, even in the shadow of death, and He will guide our feet into the path of peace.

      . . . To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of
    death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." Luke 1:79

The promise has been issued and fulfilled through the coming of Christ.  Even in the darkest of places and in the shadow of death, Christ will be there, guiding us through it to the path of peace.  The Light of Christ will free us from the darkness and shadow of death.

    The light shines in the darkness,
          and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:5, NLT)

Darkness can be overwhelming. But, Christ shines a beam of light that the darkness can never extinguish.  And. He will provide a path of peace. That said, it is our choice if we will stay in the darkness or go in the way of of peace.


Be encouraged despite any darkness.
Christ will guide you through it, revealing the path to peace. 
Walk in the pathway of peace.

Learning to KickStart the day in the light that shines in the darkness,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Like A River

 I spent some time with a dying friend.  He had unusual peace while he suffered with a horrific cancer.  The thing is . . . his life was good . . . really good.  And, he was the kind of person that purposefully made a difference.  Turns out, he knew the value of impacting others. Even so, his time on earth had ended; his days were done.  His death did not make sense. So. The peace in him and in the atmosphere around him could only have been from God.

The book of Isaiah records the difficult challenges  the people of that era faced.  In the midst of the difficulties, Isaiah revealed the promise of God: "I will extend peace to her like a river . . . (Isaiah 66:12)

The peace of God is like a river. When we fight against the current of the river, we will go under the water and risk drowning; however, when we go with the flow of the current, we gain strength, discover a new energy, and experience life the way God has planned:

Healed. Whole. Empowered.

Yes.  I believe my friend received healing, became whole, and was empowered by the Spirit of God while he was dying. Peace is the sign of healing.  How did he receive that kind of healing?  The one thing I know is that my friend spent time alone with God each day.  It was a discipline that he intentionally developed.  The more time we spend with God,  the more we will experience God's peace. Then, we will be more able to access His peace in difficult times.  So. The discipline of seeking God first each day enables us to receive the peace He extends to us. 

Spend time with God each day.
Receive the peace  that God promises to extend to you.
Confess your need of peace. Surrender everything. Open the door of your life to the River of peace. Experience Christ's holy peace, which flows within your life like clear-pure-flowing waters.

Learning to KickStart the day with peace like a river,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Mountain-Shaking -Hills- Be-Removed Problems

Problems.  They can be big.  So big that it is all that we can think about.  Isaiah talked about the big problems as the  mountain-shaking-hills-be-removed kind of problem:

    Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,
   yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
    nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has
   compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

When we first are in the mountain-shaking-hills-be-removed kind of problem peace seems impossible. The thing is . . . peace is as close as Christ presence  . . . through His unfailing love.   What Isaiah is saying that the peace of God will not leave us, regardless of how difficult life becomes.  How do we know?  God came. It is what Christmas is all about . . . Immanuel . . . God with us.   

That said, we must make the choice to seek God before anything or anyone else. And, listen, that is not always easy when it comes to mountain-shaking-hills-be-removed kind of problems. It really comes down to whether we trust Christ or not:

   You will keep in perfect peace
     those whose minds are steadfast,
     because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26: 2)

Perfect peace goes hand-in-hand with trust in Christ, God with us.

Though the world around us is shaken with problems and crisis, we can
trust Christ for the peace that has been promised.  Choose to live in the unshakeable peace of Christ, God with us.

Learning to KickStart the day in  unshakeable peace even in the mountain-shaking-hills-be-removed kind of problems,

Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

The Power of Adversity

Have you ever been desperate for peace?
My friend received a phone call.  A phone call that changed her plans.  All of her plans.  Results of tests were received.  Cancer has returned for the third time.  The world seemed to tip over. Peace left. Desperation began to settle in.

The one thing I know for sure is that God wants us to have peace regardless of  adversity.  It is the plan of God for us to have peace. 

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NLT)

There is power in the Prince of Peace.   As we  prepare for Christmas . . . we need to recognize that the presence of Christ . . . is the presence of Peace  . . . the kind of peace we are desperate to have . . . when we face adversity.

In our need, Christ comes and gives  peace. . . the kind that makes no sense in the face of adversity . . . but changes how we face and manage life.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.   But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4: 6-9, TNIV). 

Adversity may crush . . . perplex . . . persecute . . . and strikes us down . . . HOWEVER . . .  Christ . . . the Prince of Peace . . . took on our adversity on the cross . . . and put it in the grave.  In other words, the power of adversity is dead.  So.  While we go through adversity . . . it can't have us when we receive Christ . . . who gives us all-surpassing power. We will not be crushed, in despair, abandoned, or destroyed in the face of adversity. 

Take time to see the power of the Prince of Peace.
Take a stand against adversity, which may come but has no power.
Live in the peace of Christ, who put the power of the adversity in the grave.
Celebrate the Prince of peace.

Learning to KickStart the day in the peace of God rather than in the power of adversity,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Beyond the Glitter and Gifts of Christmas

Christmas.
There is  much more to the celebration of Christ's coming than what we normally think about,  requiring thought and intention to move into a celebration that is beyond the traditional glitter and gifts.

Think about the true gift.  John said it so plainly . . . God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3:16).
The Christmas season often is described as stressful and tiring.  The thing is . . . we look at Christmas as something we do . . . UNTIL . . . we let go of the preconceived necessities of the season.  Letting go of the  pressures is necessary to receive the endless energy and boundless strength that marks the power that we are invited to receive in Christ.
I like how The Message translates this in the prayer that the Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians: 

That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength (Ephesians 1:15-19, The Message).

So. Look at the power of living in Christ that this prayer of Life reveals:

Intelligence and discernment in knowing Christ personally.
Focused and clear vision.
Ability to see exactly what He is calling you to do.
A grasp of the immensity of the glorious way of life.
His utter extravagant work in you.
Endless energy.
Boundless strength.

Intentionally live out the prayer of life  . . .  beyond the glitter and gifts.
Celebrate the coming of Christ, God with us.

Receive the abundant gift of  Life.
May you experience the extravagant work of God in you today with endless energy and boundless strength.
Learning to KickStart the day in the gift of Christ, God with us,

Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved

Peace

An announcement was made to the world on the first Christmas night. 

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14)

Peace, well-being and health, had been issued to the world on the life-changing night.

How is it possible to live in and through the peace of Christ in this crazed-stress-producing world?
First, we need to continually remember that the presence,
power,
and peace of God is with us . . . not separate . . . not somewhere far off . . . but with us. It really is mind-boggling to think that the Creator of the universe comes to be personally present in our life with peace that changes the way we live.
Jesus said it clearly, 

“Peace be with you” (John 20:19, 21,26). 

It is a choice to receive the peace that has been issued to reside in us.
Even so . . .
Problems, pressures, and the stuff of life often becomes an obstacle to receiving peace.
Develop a new response to the stress of life.

Be still and know God (Psalm 46:10).

Refuse to let any circumstance rule you:

Do not worry or be anxious for anything (Philippians 4:6).

Believe Christ is present regardless of what you are facing.

I am with you always (Matthew 28:20b).
Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5b).

Make the decision today to live courageously in Christ.

"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you." (Deuternonmy 31:6, The Message)

Ultimately, it is our personal choice to receive the peace of Christ . . . which is the key to living well. Receive the peace Christ has issued.  

Experience transformation  when peace is received.  

Rejected . . . now loved.
Lost . . . now found.
Hopeless . . . now hopeful.
Sorrowful . . . now filled with joy.
Broken . . . now healed.
Bored . . . now passionate.
Focused on self . . . now loving and serving all.

 Pray.  On earth . . .  let there be peace . . . that comes from the presence and power of Christ.

Learning to KickStart the day in the peace that Christ brings,

Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

The Way it Was

 Is it possible that we don't get what Christmas is really meant to be?  
What if the coming of Christ became what it was on the first Christmas  . . . life-changing . . . and purposeful?  Could it be that we are to respond to the coming of Christ in the way it was the first Christmas? 


Look at Mary, the mother of Christ.  She received a Word from God . . . that she would carry His Son . . .

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.  For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
 (Luke 1:34-38, TNIV)

Mary's question could be anyone's question:  How will this be? 

Mary's response revealed courageous faith;  I am the Lord's servant . . . may it be to me . . . according to your word.


The way it was for Mary that first Christmas is a miracle.  She said yes.  Trusting.  Surrendering.  Willing.  Believing.
Courageous faith begins with surrendering of personal plans. Surrendering is a daily choice of faith. The choice is an active decision to participate  in the work of God.  Stepping in to the life God calls is the miracle.  And, then the adventure begins.  God will do more than we can ever think, ask, or imagine.

Mary was changed. And, we are called to be changed.

Intentionally live the way it was the first Christmas.
Surrender.


Prepare for an amazing life  the way it was when Christ came . . . Immanuel . . . God with us.

Learning to KickStart the day the way it was the first Christmas, 

Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

I Will

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will lead them in paths they have not known.
I will make darkness light before them,
And crooked places straight.
These things I will do for them,
And not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16, NKJ)

The two words of God, “I will,” make a powerful difference in the way we manage life.  It seems to me that anxiety and stress come out of not understanding the coming of Christ.  In preparation for celebrating Christmas, meditate on the words of God:  I WILL.

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know: God will  . . . give eyes to see Reality . . . the presence and power of God.
I will lead them in paths they have not known:  God will . . . lead us in a direction that we would not go on our own . . . through His plan.
I will make darkness light before them:  God will . . . bring light to our lives . . . even in the darkest of times when hope seems lost.
And crooked places straight:  God will . . . . transform the impossible to possible with unexpected transforming power . . . .   making all things new.
These things I will do for them:  God will . . .  provide a way . . . and do more than can be imagined. 
And not forsake them . . . God  will . . .  always be present . . . and will never leave or fail us.

God’s will for us is beyond what we can comprehend. 
Connect with the “I will” of God.
Focus on the “I will” throughout the day.
Celebrate the two words of God:  I WILL.

Learning to KickStart the day in the will of God,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Get ready to celebrate the coming of Christ this Christmas . . . Live in His Favor

Think about what Isaiah declared before the birth of Christ:  [ The Year of the LORD 's Favor ] The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners . . . Isaiah 61:1

Isaiah noted  the year of the Lord's favor, which later would be referenced by Jesus (found in Luke 4:19).  Favor will not be understood in the same way on earth as it is in heaven without faith. The favor of God is anchored in the unseen realm: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11: 1, TNIV).  So.  Understanding the  favor of God comes through faith.

 The favor of God occurs through  Christ . . . the One who heals the broken . . . frees the body, mind, and soul . . . and releases the prisoners of the darkness. 

Receiving the favor of God is a choice to intentionally live in the presence, power, and peace of Christ in faith.  Too often we become our own worst enemy and live outside of the favor of God.  The most common reason is that we try to control our life rather than surrendering everything to God.  Remember, faith is being sure and certain of God. 

How can we be sure and certain of God? 

Two things that I know make a great difference in our faith is focusing on the Word of God and prayer.

Let God speak to you through His Word.  Let His Word become a way of your thinking, behaving, and responding to life by studying on it each day.  Meditate on the two scriptures Isaiah 61:1 and Hebrews 11:1  today. Respond to the truth of His Word.
Pray.  It is a choice who we go to first and whose voice will speak to us.  Wait for the guidance of the Spirit of God. 

Learning to KickStart the day in the favor of God,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

Courage

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? Psalm 27:1

 One of the most impacting and honest questions to ask ourselves is what the Psalmist asked:  Whom shall I fear?

Fear can become a routine habit that impacts the way we manage life, including how we relate to God and others. Fear finds its way into our life through difficult or downright hard circumstances . . .  from significant people in our life teaching us the ways of fear . . . and/or . . . from gradually allowing fear into our mind and behavior.  As fear weaves its place into our life, we tend to respond to life in defeat, discouragement, depression, and anger.  

We have the opportunity to celebrate the coming of Christ . . . Christmas . . .  a time to understand that Christ has wiped out the kind of fear that pushes us into the darkness.  Christ is our  salvation, the One that releases us from fear, freeing us to live in the Light.  The salvation of Christ powerfully frees  . . . body . . . mind . . . and soul . . . enabling us to live courageously as we give it all to Him.

The Word of God continually tells us that with God, there is no need to fear.  Whatever the reason, fear becomes a life pattern that must be broken off our life. The book of John, chapter 5, records the story of  a man who lay paralyzed beside a pool with healing waters for 38 years waiting to be healed; however, he never asked for assistance.  His physical paralysis had produced a paralyzing fear. There was a risk to ask for help and not be healed.  And, there was the unknown of what life would be like without the paralysis. Fear had become a part of the routine of his life.
So.  Jesus asked him the duh question, "Do you want to get well?" Duh.  Of course he did.  Jesus told him three simple things:
Stand.
Pick up your mat.
Walk.
A choice had to be made.  He either would spend the rest of his life on the mat or he would get up and move forward in the power of Christ.
Christ is your light and salvation.  Whom shall you fear?  Do you want to be well . . . free of fear . . . living in the power of Christ?

In Christ:
Take a position . . .  stand in faith . . . rather than living in a state of fear.
Pick up your mat . . . the things that prevent you from moving forward . . . perceived impossibilities.
Refuse to be stuck on your "mat." Walk in the healing power of Christ.  Intentionally live courageously.

Learning to KickStart the day  . . .  answering the question, "Whom shall I fear?"

Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)