Gift of the Moment

Moments become the headlines of our day.
There are those times life becomes more about getting through the day and the moment is missed-

Overslept . . . household in chaos.

Bills due . . . money in short supply.

Overeating, barely-exercising . . . headed for health problems. 

Irritated, complaining, angry at one another . . . wanting to be free.

But.  When we live with intention there is a change in how the moment is lived-- 

Woke up with anticipation . . . lived each moment to the fullest.

Generous with  . . . time, talent, and resources.

Consciously eating well, working out, choosing healthy living, 

Grateful for friends and family . . . forgiving and loving.

The way we live the days of our lives is the way we spend the time we are given.  There are days we forget the little things matter, forgetting daily details are important to pay attention to, forgetting every moment fits together to define our life, a gift to be savored, intentionally experienced, and appreciated.

Consider.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

      the moon and the stars you set in place—

 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

      human beings that you should care for them?

 Yet you made them only a little lower than God

      and crowned them with glory and honor.

 You gave them charge of everything you made,

      putting all things under their authority— (Psalm 8: 3-6, NLT)

The work of God in each moment of the day is a gift.  Life changes when we begin the day with anticipation, when we realize God is the maker of the moment, when we are grateful for the gift.

I have learned that when I take time to stop during the day, to intentionally become aware of the presence of God, to give Him thanks for the moment, my perspective changes because it is no longer about me, but about Him, as well as who and what, He has put on my path.

Stop.  Breathe.  Notice.  Intentionally become aware of the presence of God and His gift of this day.  Give thanks.  And, when possible, celebrate.

Learning to Kickstart the day with aware of the gift of the moment,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Clay Jar

I sat in a court room and listened to the charges made against individuals.  Some came before the judge, for the first time and others were repeat offenders.  Their stories centered around making at least one wrong decision and what occurred because of it. Some owned what they did, others blamed.  So.  It made me think about my response to my wrong decisions,  Am I honest . . . do I own what I have done . . . do I give it all to God . . . do I accept His grace and move forward with strength, courage, and determination or do I hide in shame or blame? 

The big question, Will I be held captive by wrong decisions? 

Consider.

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

The Apostle Paul, who had wrongly persecuted and murdered Christ followers, described humanity as weak, like a clay jar, easily broken and marred.  But.  The treasure we have received, the presence, power, and peace of the Spirit of God in us, changes everything about our life, empowering us to do more than we could ever imagine, making us strong in our weakness.

We can try to go forward on our own; however, eventually we lose our strength and even desire to push through the messiness of our decisions, constrained and held captive by it all.  But.  We can move forward through the Spirit of God's leading, stepping into a new beginning, becoming new when we surrender it all, when we trust Christ rather than ourselves, when we open ourselves up to receiving new strength each day, when we choose courage rather than fear because we know the power of God is as close as His presence.

In the midst of it all, we learn God is faithful to give us strength in our weakness.   

Refuse to be held captive by wrong decisions.  Recognize you are weak like a clay jar.  See that the only way to successfully move forward is through the power of the Spirit of God.
Move forward, stepping into a new beginning.

Learning to Kickstart the day through His power,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

First Response

The stuff of life can complicate what we are called to do, especially when someone is difficult.  The things people do can create chaos, taking our time, energy, and focus. The thing is . . . I have learned each person, even the most difficult individual, serves a purpose in our life.  Regardless of what a difficult person says or does, their presence allows us to see our own weaknesses and need for God in how we respond to all things.

In the end, our response to the words and actions of a difficult person will be what is most important, will determine how we get through a season of challenges, will put us on the path towards or away from God, and will be what really matters, even when we think we can't manage one more minute dealing with him or her. 

First, we must determine what our first response needs to be.  
I have learned when I refuse to react to someone, regardless of what I might like to do or say, and seek God's word first, meditating on it, letting it anchor and direct my response, I am made strong.  When it comes down to it, we must intentionally open ourselves to God's Word, surrendering our immediate reaction, determined God has something better, stepping into the power of  truth and life.   Of course, any follower of Christ knows that there is wisdom in opening the Word of God; however, knowing is not the same as doing.   To respond to God, we must know what He says to do.

Think about what happens when we respond to the words of God.
Job, a man who faced and managed difficulties on every level, responded to what God said.  In fact, we are given front row seating to the interaction between God and Job in the midst of devastation.  I will say, I have realized there are specific people who have front row seating in my life, watching and waiting to  see how I respond.  How I respond, is as important for them as it is for myself.


Consider. 

Then the Lord spoke to Job from the storm: "Be strong, like a man! I will ask you questions, and you must answer me (NCV). 

So. As hard as it can be, we must determine whether we will be strong, focusing and engaging with what God says to do, or, if, we will allow a difficult person to tip us over, taking away the life God has planned.

One thing we need to keep in mind, while things as they are might not be okay, things will work out for good when we choose to be strong through the power of God. 

Stop.  Refuse to immediately react to a difficult person.  Intentionally making your first response to go to the Word of God.  Be strong  . . . engaging in conversation with God . . . doing what God says to do.  All things will work out for the good.

Learning to Kickstart the day making His Word be the first response,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

The Best Plan

I meet many people, hear their stories, praying for them, admittedly not understanding all the "why's" of their life, grateful I know there is a way to experience the best life, sharing the hope I stake my life on.  But. I never dismiss the pain. The pain is real, Life was not supposed to be what it has been, parts of life are missing, much of life has been stolen.
Why?
Honestly, many "whys" are unanswerable this side of heaven.  But.  The way through the "whys" is clear.

The thing is . . . we often put more hope into our circumstances than what we realize . . . . until things are so difficult that we don't know what do to.   It is in the times of difficult circumstances when we realize we can't do it on our own, when we feel we are in too deep, when we have gone as far as we can, when we beg God to be real and to to do something. 

Consider. 
We are sure that we live in union with God and that he lives in union with us, because he has given us his Spirit. And we have seen and tell others that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If we declare that Jesus is the Son of God, we live in union with God and God lives in union with us. And we ourselves know and believe the love which God has for us. God is love, and those who live in love live in union with God and God lives in union with them.”
1 John 4:13-16 (TEV)


 Look at the word union, really look at it, and think what it means to join your life with God through Christ, to live in and through His presence and power, the place that nothing and no one can take your life over, to live in the best plan for your life. Christ has released the power to live in union with God, for us to live in the best plan, when He prayed, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." 

It is through Christ we realize there is something more in life, there is a reason not to give up, there is a reason to move forward, there is a reason to live beyond the circumstances of the day.

Christ is the best part of life, offering us a way through the "why's" of life to connect our life with God, who created the universe, who said in the darkness, "Let there be light" and there was light, who releases us from the deepest pain, who makes all things possible, who has planned the best life for us. 

Be aware of your union with Christ.
Seek God.
Refuse to worry.
Trust God to make a way.
Step into the plan, the best plan for your life, today and tomorrow.
Experience what God has for you, beyond your circumstances, where heaven and earth collide through Jesus' prayer.

Learning to Kickstart the day living in the best plan,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Dynamic Force

Yesterday.  A day of power.  A day of being made new.  I talked with several individuals who are stuck in a continual struggle with what their "ex" is doing.  I am amazed at the stories I hear, the stuff that people will do to one another, warring with each other, wanting one another to not only be stopped but wrecked.  The power of hatred is profound.  But.

At some point, we must decide what and who has power over our life, whether it is an individual, circumstances, or something within us.  Living the best life will not occur until we let go of the stuff and open ourselves to the dynamic force of Christ's love. 

Consider.

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13: 34-35, NLT).

The power of love is a dynamic force, the way the presence of Christ is seen in this world, a gift to be experienced.  To love, really love, we must pay attention and be intentional, savoring each moment with people, whoever they are, realizing that when an opportunity comes with those we love up close and personal or those that pass through, we reveal Christ when we respond in His love.  To be honest, I have, and you have, missed some great moments to share the love of Christ, running out the door of individual's lives, falling short of what we are called to do, ruled by the pressures of the moment.

The thing is . . . when we compromise loving others . . . we compromise what is best.  

It's time to do the business of life in a new way, Christ's way. It's time to walk out of the power of hatred, intentionally stepping into the dynamic force of love found in Christ.  It's time to make the journey count for Christ, not at getting back, getting even, getting the final word, or getting satisfaction from winning the war of the day.

Let the power of the love of Christ make you new today.  Be aware of the dynamic force of the love of Christ.  Walk in the power of Christ today.

Learning to Kickstart the day in the dynamic force of Christ's love,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Let It Go

We are here, the time we mark Jesus' work for all of humanity, when the power went out for the stuff of our past to be left in the grave and a new life to begin.  It is the time to meditate, to seek God, to evaluate where we are at, letting go of the things that belong in the grave, becoming free to experience a full life.
Consider.
Bound with ropes, beaten, blood dripping from his wounds,  Jesus faced the high priest Caiphas, who asked, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
If, he kept silent, they would have had to release him, but Jesus said, “I am.“  The power of Jesus to go forward, to go to the cross and to the grave for the sake of humanity is undeniable.
Nearby, Peter stood around the fire, trying to get warm.  He was asked three times, Are you one of the followers Jesus?  Each time he denied any association, which had been unimaginable hours before.

Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept (Mark 1:71-72, NLT). 

Their eyes met in that moment.  Jesus who had faced accusers for something he did not do, looked at Peter with understanding and forgiveness. 

Peter looked at Jesus, seeing nothing but his own personal shame, running away from what he had done, denying his forgiveness, unable to let go of what he did.

(Read it fully in Mark 14:60-72; Luke 22:61)

The thing is . . . when we live our life half-heartedly, when we do not fully engage with the forgiveness of Christ, when we can't forgive God for not preventing something happening in our life, when we refuse to forgive someone, when we do not forgive ourselves for what we could never imagined we would do. . . we are denying the power that puts the dark stuff of life into the grave.  It's  time to let go of whatever has its grip on us, to let it go to the grave, to let its power over us to be over, to let the power of Christ make us new.

Let it go.
Receive what Christ has done.
Be free to live fully in the power of Christ.

Learning to Kickstart the day letting it go,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

The Mission

If, we are honest, we can go through some days and forget our mission in life, not because of a crisis of faith, but because we lack focus, allowing the details of the day to be all-consuming.  I know this because I have been there and done that, more than I care to say.

It is easier to borrow the day, using up time and space, rather than owning the day as a gift, an opportunity, and a responsibility to live purposefully and finish well.  Many times the first thought, when we wake up, is often about how to get through the day rather than how to purposefully and intentionally live the day.

Easter makes me realize, all over again, that it's up to me.  

The thing is . . .  Jesus had a mission, living with purpose,  focused on moving forward, despite opposition, difficulties, and certain death . . . to complete His mission, revealing what it looks like to finish well.   

Consider.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God (Acts 20:24, NLT)

We have to decide to cross over the line of mediocre, focused on our mission, living with purpose, finishing the work Christ assigns us.
Cross the line.
Live with purpose.
Finish well.
Learning to Kickstart the day purposefully, with the intent to finish well,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

When The Hour Comes

Rejected and alone, never dreaming he would lose his family or for that matter he would ever need help, he desperately went on a search for something more. Life had changed, more than anything else, by his choices, resulting in pain and brokeness. Looking backwards, he understood his part, he wished and wanted everything to be different, he said he would do anything to go back and change it.  So.

We talked about Christ, not about religion, but about what happens when the life of Christ enters into our life, about how to live the best life, about having a new life with passion and purpose, living each day as a gift rather than just making it through, wanting the day to be over.

His hour had come.  He invited Christ into his life.

Consider.

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. (John 13:1, NASB)

"His hour had come ". . ,  these words recorded in John 13:1, mark the moment in time when everything changed through the power of Christ, a power that broke through the darkness and pain of humanity, a power that overcame evil, a power that not even death could hold down, a power that brings hope to the hopeless, a power that makes nothing impossible, a power that makes a person new, a power that in our weakness makes us strong, a power that is a daily gift.  Specific times mark the way we go and what happens next, changing the details of our life.  When the hour comes, when we say yes to Christ, when we step into the power of Christ rather than relying on our own abilities, we know the hour is significant and will change the course of not only our own life but those around us because it is Christ in us, working to accomplish His plan.
Be ready for your hour.

The thing is . . . when your hour comes . . . the power is as close as the presence of Christ.

Mark the hour as a gift, giving thanks for the opportunity, celebrating for the life of Christ in you.

Learning to Kickstart the day ready for the hour,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Giving Up Worry

My friend gave up worrying for Lent.  Isn't that awesome?  She began to realize how much of her life was driven and consumed by worry.  Most of us have carried a list of reasons to worry in our mind, at one time or another, spending way too much time on stuff that we can't control.  When you trust God, rather than giving yourself to worry, letting Him carry you, peace will come.

Consider. 

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:6-9).

Here it is . . . the best way to live spelled out . . pray about everything  . . . refusing to worry about anything.  
Try it.  Each time you let worry come into your mind. Refuse it.  Pray. Receive peace, fixing your thoughts on Christ.

Learning to Kickstart the day refusing to worry,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

When The Story Changes

We baptized more people yesterday.  Each time I participate in an individual's life by baptizing them, I learn more about the power of Christ as they tell their own story about what was and now what is through the gift of being made new in the continual work of love, grace, forgiveness, and healing.   Over time, I have learned the changes that occur through life in Christ, not only changes our story but the stories of whoever our life touches, wherever we live and work.

Part of being made new means that our "newness" is woven in every aspect of life, including our values and purpose of living, the things we do or never do, and in the generations to come.  There is the one thing, the power of the life of Christ in us, that changes history and the future. 

Consider.
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:38, NASB).


The stuff of life takes us to many places, but Christ made it clear that when we believe in Him, there is a power, described as rivers of living water, that changes every place of our life.  The very first moment we experience Christ, the power of Living Water moves within us, causing others to pay close attention to what we have received, a new life.

The thing is . . . when an individual has what we all want, living with a connection to God, living beyond the good and the bad stuff that comes at us, living with so much energy and passion that life is an obvious gift . . . the story is worth living and telling about each day.

It's not like anything else, it's not only a moment in time, but an ongoing-interactive-connecting relationship with Christ, who was and is Life.  We are made to experience life  the way Christ lived, with passion for every moment, loving and serving all, changing stories along the way.

Learning to Kickstart the day with a changed story,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Amazing GRACE

He walked away.  She did too.  But.  They wanted something more.  So.  They went to church, hoping to find God, hoping God would be there, hoping God would have something more for them, hoping God would help them find a way to stay married, hoping God would make something change.  And.  Change came through the power of the GRACE of God. Until then, they thought of GRACE as some old-fashioned-religious idea.  But.  After. It was clear to them, GRACE is a real and tangible gift that makes it possible for us to become new.  GRACE changed them, allowing them to see what they could have, bringing new life to the way they thought, felt, acted, and spoke.  GRACE broke through the walls of pain they had built over a lifetime.

I can say with complete confidence, from personal as well as from up-close relationships with others, whatever problems and pressures come at us, whatever has a hold of us, whatever is choking the life out of us, when the gift of GRACE from God is accepted, then, a breakthrough leading to healing will begin. I'm wrecked when I hear the song, Amazing GRACE, which was written centuries ago, sung or played often at funerals for the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong, the known and the unknown, because it describes the power of God's GRACE in our life.

Amazing GRACE, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see. (John Newton)

There are sacred moments in life, the kind we should memorize, especially for the times when everything is out of order, difficult, and down-right impossible, that changes everything we know, because of GRACE . . . unrelenting, unstoppable, undeserving . . . amazing GRACE.

There is nothing small or inconsequential about GRACE—a divine action of God, found in Christ, offered to all. 

Consider.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 
We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, 
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14, NIV)
And.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV). 

GRACE is as close as the presence of Christ. When you invite Christ into your life, you invite GRACE in. Stop just for a moment, to breathe, to become aware of the GRACE of God, to believe the power of GRACE is sufficient for anything and everything.

Consciously surrender on a daily basis to GRACE, God I am Yours, I surrender everything and anything that is preventing me from receiving and experiencing Your amazing GRACE fully and wholly.  

Thank God for the gift of GRACE. Be changed by GRACE in everything you think, say, and do. Walk in the power of amazing GRACE today.

Learning to Kickstart the day through the power of amazing GRACE,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Heart-changing, Mind-altering, Soul-transforming

Five people asked Christ to come into their life last night, one couple and three teenagers. I am always grateful to be put on someone's life path, when the timing is just right, when someone is tired of how they have lived, when someone wants something more in their life, when someone says yes after I tell about Christ.

 I did not know any of them until our lives intersected just a few hours ago; God knew them from their beginning, planning their existence, loving them, wanting them to know His love and the best plan for their life.  

Life is a gift, there's a lot to life that we can't see when we are standing far from God, the closer we come to God, the more we experience the gift of life.  In a mysterious way, saying, yes to God, opens the door to a revolutionary beginning, a heart-changing, mind-altering, soul-transforming, dynamic gift of life.  The thing is . . . with God each day is a new beginning, a fresh start, a gift of grace . . . not to be missed, not to be taken for granted, not to be misused, but to be lived with passion, purpose, and with an anticipation for all things to be made new.

Consider.
"Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
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: 18-19, NASB)

It's revolutionary to think God would make life new.  But.  He does.  With God, the past no longer has any power over us. We are told, not to go backwards, not to put our thoughts on what has happened in the past, not to spend time on it, but to anticipate what new thing will spring up, to be aware of the new work of God, who promises to make a roadway in the wilderness of our life, and a river in our desert.

No matter how tough life gets, God will make a way and will do something new.  Hang on.  Believe.  God has a plan that is a heart changing, mind-altering, soul-transforming gift of life for today and tomorrow.

Learning to Kickstart the day experiencing the gift,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Step Into The Power

Easter season is my favorite season of the year.  I anticipate celebrating and experiencing a renewal of life, focusing on Christ's resurrection, intentionally becoming aware of the power and mystery of living the resurrected life.

The thing is . . . the stuff of life can be so consuming, can leave us vulnerable, can take our breath away, can be a force so big we can't manage it . . . that while we are grateful for the salvation Christ gave, living a daily resurrected life may seem  impossible, illogical, and unreal; however, that's the mystery and power of the resurrection, freeing us to experience all things becoming new.  The force of resurrection changes the way we live each day.

Consider.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8, NIV). 
And.
You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him (Acts 10: 37-38, NIV).

Jesus told us, we will receive power from the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that enabled Him to do the work He came to do.  Think on this . . . meditate on it . . . believe it.  We do not need to be constrained by the stuff of life when we are filled with the Spirit; we are no longer defined and controlled by our circumstances but by the Spirit of Christ.  So We must decide if we will step into the power Christ gives us to live the resurrected life.

Through the power of the Spirit of Christ, we can put and leave the stuff that constrains and limits us in the grave, stepping into His resurrected power, which makes all things new, empowering us to experience what God has planned.  

Step into the power of living the resurrected life through the Spirit of Christ.

Learning to Kickstart the day in the power of the Spirit,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Believe

Is it possible to move on?  Is it possible to live beyond pain and disappointment?  People promised things would get better.  But.  Things were not better.  Nothing had changed.  So. I asked them if they could have one miracle in their life, what would it be . . . what miracle would make life better for them?  It was easy for them, they knew exactly what the miracle would be, what one thing needed to change in order to have a better life.

I am always amazed that most everybody can immediately delineate the one miracle that would make a difference in their life.  It's as if they are waiting to be reborn, wanting a miracle to release them from the one thing that has taken their life over.

The thing is . . . some things are extremely hard, painful, and life-consuming . . . and . . . whether it is  in the past or in the present, if, we keep focused on it, every other life experience is funneled and filtered . . . through that one thing.  

We've all been there, at one time or another, when one thing becomes so big that it is all we think about, until it seems to control every thought, feeling, and action. It's exhausting and time consuming, blinding us from seeing whatever else exists in our life.  It takes a willful decision to turn our focus away from the one thing, to seek God, to trust God is present and at work, and to believe God could do something more.

Consider.
 When you go through deep waters,
      I will be with you.
   When you go through rivers of difficulty,
      you will not drown.
   When you walk through the fire of oppression,
      you will not be burned up;
      the flames will not consume you (Isaiah 43:2, NLT). 


We need to look at the promise of God, I will be with you--you will not drown--you will not be burned up--the flames will not consume you. It doesn’t matter what one thing we need a miracle for, how big or small the challenge appears to be, every detail shifts in our life when we believe God.
So.

Do you believe God?  

Do you believe what God says--that He will carry you through the rivers of difficulty and the fire of oppression from the one thing?  

When we can truthfully answer yes, the miracle has begun, the one thing no longer can control and consume us because we believe God, trusting Him to be present, to get us through it all, to free us from the consuming power of the one thing.

Surrender whatever is controlling and consuming you, believe God and believe what God says. 

Learning to Kickstart the day believing God,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Together

Our family went to the Oregon Coast for the weekend, staying in one place at one time, learning more about each other, laughing, eating homemade favorites, focusing on fun.  Blue skies, calm waters, and just enough wind for hang  gliders launching from a hilltop above framed our first day.  It was breathtaking, all of it  . . . the  sea, sand, and sport . . . an unusual day to have together.  But. A storm came in that evening . . . high winds . . .  and side-ways rain.  So. We enjoyed storm watching, drinking coffee, and eating homemade french toast.

The thing is . . . the strength of our relationships is dependent upon how we manage the good and the stormy times together . . . in every space of life. 

Sharing life together is when we celebrate a rite of passage or something that has been accomplished and completed, when we draw close with understanding when a mistake is made, when we stand as disappointment, disease, death, and darkness invades our space, when we trust God, believing He has the best and highest purpose and plan.  Sharing life together is transforming.  We really do need each other.

Consider. 

 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. (Philippians 1:7, NIV).  

The Apostle Paul communicated to the early church the importance of being connected to one another through sharing in the power of God's grace.  In our humanness, we rely on circumstances to direct our relationships.  But.  When we focus on the power of grace in Christ as the central point of relationship, we respond to one another differently, no longer in bondage to what someone has or has not done, breaking free of strongholds, developing healthy and whole relationships that make us better.  This kind of a relationship comes from a bond that can only be described as God-driven and God-sustained.

Come together, driven and sustained by the power of grace.

Learning to Kickstart the day together through the power of Christ's grace,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Grateful For The Good

I am often invited to share in people's lives, which is a gift in my life.   The thing is . . . I have come to appreciate the gift of life that lies within each individual . . . and, whether the person knows it or not, there really is something extraordinary about their gift.  Sometimes individuals can't seem to grasp what God has given them because of the stuff of life that they have had to manage,  because the pain from hurtful and hard things has been too much, because  they need to meet and develop a relationship with Christ to experience it.  But.  There is a way for every person to experience the gift of life, healed, whole, and strong.

Sometimes the messiness of life can make it seem impossible and, if pressed, I'd agree it's true when we walk the path alone.  But.  When our life is in and with Christ, everything changes, making life into an extraordinary gift.

Consider.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26, NIV).

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28, NIV).

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17, NIV).

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’  (Acts 17:28a, NIV).

When we take a moment and look back on our life, when we feel fragile and broken, when we are exhausted and overwhelmed, when we think about all of the hard stuff and the resulting unanswered questions, in the middle of it all, we can rest on the promises that God will work all things together for good, even the impossible things, grateful because the good work in our life is an extraordinary gift from heaven.

Be grateful to be in the midst of an extraordinary gift . . . life . . . and give thanks for the good work of God.

Learning to Kickstart the day grateful for the extraordinary gift of life,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

The Unexpected Crisis

Are you ready for an unexpected crisis? 
I have a friend that seems to always be ready for whatever comes in life, prepared and organized to survive an unexpected crisis.  But.  Regardless of preparation, I know my friend will be surprised when a crisis comes.  I have learned crisis, the unwanted and unexpected stuff that happens, is reality. And.  When crisis occurs, it usually comes at the worst time, when we are already too busy, overwhelmed, and exhausted.  The most valuable thing I have learned about responding to crisis has been this: Relax. God is present and promises to go through everything with us, even through the darkest valley,  bringing every detail, even the worst things, together for good.  While being prepared and organized is definitely important and really admirable, our readiness to face crisis ultimately depends on our response.

Many difficult challenges that occur in a crisis are often created by managing the situation with fear, thinking the gift of life has been stolen away.  The thing is . . . it's a waste of the life we are given . . . to give in and respond to a crisis as if it is the end of the gift.
So.

We need to keep our heart and mind open for what God will do when the stuff of life comes at us, never trying to force something to happen because of our fear. But. We need to take ground in the situation with faith, believing God has a plan for something more, and will bring every detail together for good.  

Consider.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. (Genesis 50: 20, NLT)

The recorded words of Joseph in Genesis 50 were said to his brothers, the ones who threw him into a pit to die and led him through a series of crises.  He was enslaved, oppressed, falsely accused, and imprisoned without deserving any of it.  That said, Joseph trusted God to be present and in control of his life in the midst of the worst of the worst adversity, to work out every detail in the crises, to bring about a divine plan of good in his life.  And.  Thousands were saved from starving to death in a famine, because God used the circumstances to bring Joseph into a position of power in a place he could make a difference.  He was armed with faith rather than fear, to face the stuff of life, trusting God to bring all the details together for good.

Be ready to respond to the stuff of life, including a crisis.
Remember a crisis can not take away the gift of life.
Take ground in the crisis with faith rather than fear.
Believe God will work out circumstances, no matter how disastrous, for good.

Learning to Kickstart the day, ready and prepared to respond to the stuff of life with faith,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Time Out

Most of us, myself included, live a fast-paced-high-energy lifestyle.  The thing is . . . I thrive by working and doing . . . making lists, meeting goals and objectives, strategizing ways to move forward more efficiently and effectively, with intentional purpose and passion.  But.

And, this is a . . . BIG but . . . we have to pause,  to take time out, becoming still in order to know God, which when it all comes down to it, is what life is about. 

Consider.

Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10, NLT).

These simple words of the Psalmist have chased after me throughout my life.  It requires a conscious effort on my part to become still, to find the time to step out of all that is happening, solely focusing my whole mind, heart, soul, strength and energy on God.  The amazing-cool-can't do in any other way-connection with God becomes a faith marker, overwhelming, in-filling, transforming, life-changing interaction.

Scheduling a time out, becoming still in order to know God, takes us to the core of life, the heart of God.   It is the place where we confess our need for Him, admitting life is out of our control and in His control, surrendering our plans for His plan, believing and trusting Him for all things.  Sometimes we are so busy, we lose touch with God, not realizing how badly we need to regain our footing, to renew our perspective, and to revive our faith by literally stopping everything to really know God.

When it comes down to it, the greatest gift of our journey, is knowing God. 

Take a time out.
Be still.
Breathe.
Focus . . . completely and fully . . . on God.
Become aware of His presence.
Know God.
Celebrate the crux of life . . . Him.

Learning to Kickstart the day with a time out, to be still and to know God,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

In The Middle Of It All

We stood together in the intensive care unit, wanting, willing, asking for life to continue.  The doctors met with us, telling us what we did not want to hear, "Prepare for the worst."

The words were harsh and frightening, tearing through our lives like an unrelenting fierce storm, with high winds of one hundred miles an hour, pelting hail, and never-ending lightening strikes.  It is a surprising and fearful place to be in.  It was there, in the middle of it all, we knew God was present.  It was God, who guided us through the storm, when it did not seem we would make it, when it seemed too hard to push through, when we were told the worst would occur.

Consider.

That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum.  Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!”  Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination! (John 6: 16-21, NLT).

The disciples, those closest to Jesus, needed to get to the other side of the lake, they waited for Jesus; however, Jesus did not come in the time they had set for Him to come.  It made sense to leave.  The disciples were seasoned on the sea, making their way on the journey without Jesus would not have been unusual, they left most likely because of their schedule and plans.  A storm came soon after they left.  But. Jesus met them in the middle of it all, an incomprehensible mysterious moment . . . for all humanity to realize nothing has power over Jesus . . . not even a storm . . .  or the rough seas . . .  or the darkness of the night.  Think what Jesus did to meet them where they were at, He walked on water, got in the boat, and went with them to the other side.

How many times do we go ahead . . . doing what we think will work . . . and, then, suddenly find ourselves alone in the storm?   

No matter where we are at, the words of Jesus are healing, assuring, and transforming, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!”  But, it is in the midst of the storm, in the middle of it all, the words become our anchor, providing courage as well as comfort.

Wait.  Trust.  Christ will come and go with you, even, when you have begun the journey without Him.

Learning to Kickstart the day making the journey, in the middle of it all, with Christ,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

You're Still The One

The band sang, Still The One, as couples renewed their marriage vows to one another in our church services.  A renewed commitment changes our point of view, of how we see and respond to life, one another, and God. At first, we might hesitate to make yet another commitment, afraid of being disappointed and hurt, thinking a new beginning is impossible after all that has been said and done.

It's not a new idea to renew ourselves to others, God, or a principle, but, rather a gift from God, a catalyst to start over; what's new . . . is what occurs within us . . . when we begin again.

The thing is . . . it is God who makes all things new . . . regardless of what is in our past.  When we enter into the presence of God, we enter into the miracle of another chance, of new beginnings, and a fresh start. It's as if every day . . .  God issues a declaration from heaven to earth . . . you're still the one!

Consider.

  “Forget the former things; 

   do not dwell on the past. 

See, I am doing a new thing! 

   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 

I am making a way in the wilderness 

   and streams in the wasteland (Is 43: 18-19, NIV).

There are those miraculous moments of life, when we know God loves us beyond reason, when we experience the power of God changing our perspective, when we see a new way to respond in the midst of  the wilderness and wasteland of pressures and problems, when we receive another chance, when we release all that has been for all that could be, and enter into a new beginning and a fresh start.

God declares today: You're still the one.
Enter into the miracle of the power of God making a way for a new beginning.
Make a new commitment to God and to those in your life to focus on what could be today, the day of a new chance, a new beginning, and a fresh start.

Learning to Kickstart the day believing in the miracle of another chance, a new beginning and a fresh start,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

As The Story Goes

There are those few entertaining, memorable stories we share with one another, stories that make us laugh, make us realize how easily we lose perspective, make us see how easily we sacrifice the good in life. When I think about one of those stories, I think of the "E key," two words identifying one of our often-told stories, of how our kids' friend cleaned his dad's computer keyboard, of how he broke the "E key," of how he told his dad, and of how his dad became increasingly emotional, repeating over and over, "Not the E key!"

Telling the story provides a great moment, when we all laugh together,  when we claim the moment to enjoy one another, when we recognize the humor of inconvenience,  when we celebrate what really matters, when we share life with one another. And. We learn as we tell the stories about the stuff of life, whether it is something like an "E key" breaking or an incomprehensible event, to underline the most important point, God is with us.

The thing is . . . when we ask Christ to be at the center, when we seek Him first, when we rest in Him, when we love Him more than anyone or anything . . . then we know He is always present in our story, changing the way our story goes.

Consider. 

The LORD your God is with you, 

   the Mighty Warrior who saves. 

He will take great delight in you; 

   in his love he will no longer rebuke you, 

   but will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17, TNIV). 

Zephaniah tells the story of how God is present in our life, explaining, after all is said and done, at the beginning and at the end of our story, God is our friend, our best friend. When we turn the pages of our story, God is with us, fighting for us, singing over us, covering us with joy.  Always.  So.  Our story has a message, one to gain perspective from and to see more in life, to learn what matters and to experience, to trust what God has promised and to believe, God is with us, sharing life.  It's a story worth repeating.

Remember the way your story goes today . . . God is with you, fighting for you, singing over you, sharing life with you . . . making today a significant part of your story,

Learning to Kickstart the day understanding the presence of God changes the way the story goes . . .
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)