Climbing Upward To Gain A New Perspective

I've been taking time to walk and pray in Southern California, heading up a pathway each day to a hilltop overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  The panoramic view gives me a whole new perspective of where I'm at.  But.  I have to make the effort to get there, which is an upward climb. It's worth the effort.  I'm changed by seeing a greater picture, reminded there's a greater purpose.

I've come to realize we need to stand in the place, where we can see more than our stuff or the people who surround us before we begin the day. Perspective changes our thoughts and behavior, for good and bad, depending on how much we are willing to see.

The thing is . . . we need to focus on life through the perspective of God . . .  rather than through the minutiae of the day. It's worth the effort to move to the place where we can get our eyes off self and see what more God wants us to see. 

Consider.
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. (Revelations 21:5-7, NLT)

John, who wrote Revelations, gained a new perspective of the presence and power of Christ in heaven and on earth.  It must have changed the way he thought and acted the rest of his life. When I begin the day with the same perspective, I have complete confidence in Christ who is in me, with no reason to have fear, discouragement, or anxiety.
So.  I need to go to the place found in Revelations:
“Look, I am making everything new!”

• When we develop the perspective that in Christ--the old is gone, the new has come--we see more than what is seen in the moment, enabling us to respond with anticipation rather than dread.  

"It is finished!"

• Regardless of the intensity of the battles we face, it's all finished.  Christ's work on the cross removed the power of each and every battle; this changes how we approach the battles, enabling us to face all things with strength and courage rather than worry and stress.  And, we need to remember some battles are not worth our attention, while others must be dealt with but not stressed over.   

"I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End."

• Life changes when we trust Christ to be the initiator and finisher of the day; however, worry and stress indicate we feel everything rests on us.  

 "To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life."

• If, we want life through Christ, then, He will give it to us freely.  Life in Christ releases us from what holds us bondage, freeing us to live with the purpose, passion, and energy of Life. 

"All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children."

• The battles have been won, the blessings are ours to have in Christ.  

Look again.
Change your perspective by seeing through Christ.
Respond to life with eyes of faith.

Learning to Kickstart the day climbing upward to gain a new perspective,
Kerrie

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

Beginning the Day

I enjoy walking in new areas, learning more about where I'm at and who is living and working there.  There's always a story. I'm amazed at how perfect strangers willingly give details of their story.  Stand in a coffee shop line for five minutes, ask a routine question about the area, and people will usually tell about their life experience.

Of course, part of the story is gleaned from observing the condition and maintenance of homes, buildings, and land, which does not have as much to do with money as one thinks but, rather, it reveals the inner workings of a family or organization.  Do they avoid what's theirs to do?  Do they wait for a problem and then react to it?  Do they see a bigger picture, looking ahead to potential issues, proactively managing things to prevent problems from taking over their time and attention?  Do they understand where they are at and who's surrounding them?  Do they take time to evaluate themselves?

We each have a different story; at the end of the day, we are responsible for how we manage it.

I'm learning about the value of beginning the day with calmness and clarity; it's a healthy way to approach whatever is ours to manage, it's what Jesus taught us to do, it's a lifetime habit of successful people.  

This means we must schedule an hour before the day actually begins,which, yes, means we need to be proactive and get up an hour early.  Of course, this is a habit that needs to be developed--if we start out by getting up five minutes earlier each day for one week, then get up another five minutes earlier the next week, then, by the end of three months we will have arrived at the goal of having one hour to get ready for the gift of living the day, organizing the day with the guidance of the Spirit of God, putting together specific goals and a mission for the day, preparing for what the day holds, receiving the peace and strength of Christ, realizing life is about who is in us.

When we intentionally begin the day with a calm and clear mind through the Spirit, we are enabled to approach the day proactively rather than reactively, which impacts the outcome of our story.

Consider. 
In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and )was praying there (Mark 1:35, NASB).

Mark records an incredibly busy-fast-paced day in the life of Jesus.  Even so, Jesus got up early the next morning to begin the day in solitude, praying, seeking the Father.  His early morning activity reveals the  vital component to having a calm and clear heart, mind, and soul.  These actions teach us an important concept:  The first of the day is meant to be spent with God, if, we are looking for the best outcome in life.  This is not something to do in order to check off some kind of spiritual to-do list but it's wise to be proactive, becoming calm through the awareness of the presence of Christ, gaining clarity through following the Spirit's directions, focused on living the best life for Him, choosing to be healthy and whole, enjoying the gift of the day, living the best life.

Manage your life proactively.  Know where you're at and who's around you. Own your story. Evaluate how you live.
Begin the day with God.
Learn to develop calmness and clarity through Him.
Live the best life.

Learning to Kickstart the day proactively,
Kerrie

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

Worship

I flew beside the Sierra Nevada mountain range along California's eastern edge. Though it's summer, the mountains are covered with snow.

The beauty of the mountains can be described by the passengers collective,  "Ah!"  It was a moment of worship.  

There's times we walk through the day missing the awesome creative work of God.  But. We're created to notice the work of God, the signature of His presence, and to be in awe of what's before us, a pink and blue sunrise and an orange-red sunset, a cool summer breeze and gale force winds, spring rain and winter snow, a waterfall in a rock's cleft and the rushing waters of a river,  all of creation.  When we stop and notice, we're refreshed, even if it's only for a moment in time.

The thing is . . . we are changed when we realize the Creator of this universe is not only at work in this big world but in the smallest details of our life . . . because that is who He is.   

There's a place in each day, regardless of how busy and challenging it all is, that we need to breathe, to settle down, to release the stuff, to notice God's work, to become still, to be aware of His presence, and to worship.   This means we need to intentionally connect with God, surrendering all to Him, trusting He is at work, bringing all things together for good in His creative, majestic, mysterious way.

When we intentionally go to the deepest places of our soul, we will find something more in the day, we will see he presence and power of God with eyes of faith.  When we see God, we understand there's nothing and no one in comparison.  All we want to do is worship Him.   Worship renews and strengthens who we are, enabling us to see the power of the Giver of Life. Our  day-to-day living changes when we've stopped and worshipped.

Consider: 

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

      The skies display his craftsmanship.

 Day after day they continue to speak;

      night after night they make him known.

 They speak without a sound or word;

      their voice is never heard.

 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

      and their words to all the world. (Psalm 19:1-4, NLT).

Worship.

• Stop. 
• Breathe. 
• Settle down. 
• Release the stuff.
• Notice the work of God. 
• Become still. 
• Be aware of His presence.
• Worship Him. 

Learning to Kickstart the day worshipping,
Kerrie

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

The Declaration of Blessing

The monitor had been quiet for several minutes. So.  I thought two-year-old Madelyn was asleep in her room.  But.  When I sneezed in the room next door, her voice came over the monitor, "Bless you Nana!"
"Thank you Madelyn.  Time to go to sleep."
She responded, "Okay, bless you!"

It made me laugh and still makes me smile. I love to hear her voice and words of love.
It makes me wonder about God's response when we say it to Him,  "Bless you, God!"
It makes me think how God loves to be blessed.

The space between heaven and earth disappears when we bless God--when we care more about Him in the moment then ourselves, when we love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, when we voice our love.  

Consider: 
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
         And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  (Psalm 103:1, NKJV). 

Psalm 103 opens with the declaration to bless God and finishes with a list of reasons why anybody and everybody wants to bless Him.  It's worth reading the whole passage.  The passage is underlined in our Grandma Roleder's Bible.  I have always thought it was underlined as a declaration of what she intended her life would be about, despite the many hardships she encountered--losing her home and family members to the Communist regime, leaving her homeland, suffering the death of a child, learning to live in a country with a different language and culture than her own--intentionally refusing to give in to the difficulties, blessing God with her life.    

The underlined words of her declaration have impacted me, knowing I, too, have the same choice to make:  I will bless God.

There's always something to bless God for in the day.  Always.  And, there are endless possibilities in the day when we live to bless God, knowing and believing God is enough.  Blessing God is personal, something no one can do for us, changing the dynamics of our life, shifting our perspective beyond our personal space and time we live in.  The thing is . . . intentionally blessing God opens us to living beyond ourselves, taking us to a new depth in our relationship with Him, giving us eyes to see we are invited to something bigger than ourselves . . . life in Christ.

Make a declaration to bless God with your life, regardless of the stuff you are facing.
Bless the Lord with all that is within you.
Bless His holy name!

Learning to Kickstart the day declaring I will bless God with all that is within me,
Kerrie

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

What's Needed And Matters

My friend told me he was exhausted from constantly getting ready to do another task before he has completed the one he is working on, feeling behind before he starts the next thing, overwhelmed with it all.  I understand.  Been there, done that way too often.  It's a struggle in today's world to keep balanced, living at a healthy pace.  No one is exempt from being stressed.  There's too many times, I've made the mistake of doing too much.  I'm convinced being too busy will do nothing but make us too tired and eventually ineffective at the very thing we are meant to do. We are called to do specific things, to live an active and participative life; however, nothing is accomplished by frenzied activity.

I'm learning there's a different way to approach life, which creates an anticipation for the next thing  rather than exhaustion.

The thing is . . . there's momentum and energy when we're thinking and getting ready for the next thing . . . if, we're doing only what is ours to do, if, we've said no when we need to say no, if, we've simplified our task list to the important things, if, we live free from the burden of doing too much by spending time with God first. 

Consider. 

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  (Luke 10: 40-42, NIV).  

This is a great conversation with Jesus. I love the fact that Martha wants Jesus to give her value by seeing how much more she does than her sister.  Seriously, it's a conversation any of us could be in-- we are rewarded in our culture for the amount of work we do--work long and hard enough and we will get a plaque or at least a certificate for our effort.   Jesus made it clear--life is about being in a relationship with Him.  Martha had been distracted and worried about many things, missing out on being with Jesus. These words of Jesus resonate with me, "But few things are needed--or indeed one."

Jesus was not saying,  "Don't do anything." But.  Jesus was saying to do life through Him, to be aware of His presence, to put Him first and foremost, to make our doing about Him.  Whether it's from confusion or a lack of understanding, we often act as if spending time in worship, prayer, fasting, or mediation is a mandatory rule or an obligation rather than as the way to live the best life each day.   In the end,  setting aside time to purposefully put our focus on God changes how we view life, allowing us to see how minute the stuff actually is in comparison to Him.

So. When we spend time with Jesus, we advert being immersed in our stuff, worried about many things; spending time with Him is not about doing one more thing, but about living the best life, actively engaged with Jesus rather than the stuff.

What's so important that we are willing to do it without Him?  When we live in the reality of His presence, we are enabled to simplify, to do what's needed and matters.  

• Do what's needed and matters. 
• Spend time first with God before you begin doing the tasks of the day.  Enjoy His presence.
• Let go of what's not yours to do. 
• Do only what you know God has given you to do today.
• Thank God for the work of the day. 

Learning to Kickstart the day by doing only what's needed,
Kerrie

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

Do Something!

Yesterday was a day of meetings purposefully planned for strategizing how to get work done in the most efficient way.  There's a moment when I've been in one too many meetings and feel compelled to do something besides talk about we need to do.  I take my own responsibility for planning my share of meetings.  But.  Seriously, Americans can meet like no one else.  I'm not saying we should quit meeting, I believe in the value of planning and preparing; however, I'm saying we need to rethink the way we use time, quit talking about everything that needs to be done, and do something.  It works the same for lists.  I've always been the kind of person who found more enjoyment from checking off the list than making it; spending time making lists makes no sense, if, we are not going to keep track of what is and is not done.

My point is this, nothing is going to happen until we do something.  I wonder how much we miss when we settle into a routine of getting through the day,  "talking" about life without "doing" whatever God has planned for the day.  

Consider.

 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. (John 5:9-10, NIV)

I've wrote about this section of scripture before.  It speaks to me about actively participating in the plan God has for us, doing what Jesus says to do.  These words are from a conversation between Jesus and a man, who had been paralyzed for decades, stuck on a mat beside healing waters, watching others dip into the water, experiencing healing. The man sat back and waited for help as if he did not have any responsibility in his own life to actively seek a way to get into the water.  Jesus told him to do something:  "Get up!  Pick up your mat and walk."

The thing is . . . life in Christ is not about being rescued . . . but about being redeemed, made new, actively participating in life, doing what God says to do, experiencing the gift of the day. 

Sometimes we get lost in the stuff of life, distancing ourselves from God, missing what has been planned because we do not trust what God has said to do:

• Stop.  
• Breathe. 
• Reconnect with God.
• Step into the plan God has for you today . . . participating in life, experiencing the gift of the day.
• Get up--take action. 
• Pick up your mat--do something!
• Walk--follow Christ, strengthened and empowered to do all things He has for you to do. 

Learning to Kickstart the day doing something--actively participating in life,
Kerrie

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

It's Useless

There's big things to worry about, there's small things to worry about, there's always something and someone to worry about; however, worry never adds value to life. It's been made clear to me, on more than one occasion, most of the things I worry about never occur.  The things which do come to pass are out of my control anyway. And, regardless of how hard and difficult the stuff of life becomes, I have learned God is present, will never walk away, and will make all things new.  In other words, I have always made it through the very circumstance I worried about.  The only thing worry ever accomplished was to waste my time and energy.

The thing is . . . when we allow worry to dominate . . . our awareness of God decreases while our anxiety increases. 

Consider. 

Jesus said: Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  (Matthew 6:27, NIV)

Worry is useless and adds nothing to our life.  Period.  On some level, worry becomes a self-indulgent action based on fear.  Worry is a force to be reckoned with it.  It's worry which makes us feel most miserable in the tough and even not-so-tough situations.  Refusing to worry changes how we manage a situation, which in the end changes the outcome.

How do we get rid of worry?

Worry becomes a life pattern which needs to be changed in order to live a healthy and full life.  Jesus emphatically said not to worry, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33, NIV).  So.  We change the response of worry by turning to God, seeking Him through the things which bring us closer to His thoughts and ways,  praying, and studying His word.

Take Jesus' words to heart.  Don't worry.  Worry is useless. Seek God.

• Refuse to worry, it's useless. 
• Seek God and His righteousness. 
• Pray. 
• Study His Word. 

Learning to Kickstart the day refusing to worry, remembering it's useless,
Kerrie

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

Days Of Our Life

We are getting ready for a funeral of a young man this week.  Family and friends are trying to understand the details of death, wishing things would've been different, wanting to make sense out of it, wondering what has happened to him.  Death often makes us question and even fear what occurs when we breathe our last breath.  When I was in my early twenties, I had a friend in her nineties who explained stepping into the dimension of heaven as being born again, again.  She explained there's no reason to fear the day we face death, describing the day we go to heaven to be much like the day we are born--we are made new in a new place and new day.

There's nothing like breaking free of the fear of death, trusting God in everything, including physical death.  When we break free of the fear of death, we can see each day is a gift, including the day we die.

Consider.  

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26, NIV)

In John 11, Jesus told a grieving woman, Martha, her brother had life, though he had physically died.  She had seen her brother die; however, she believed he was alive.

The thing is . . . we have the assurance of life in Christ . . . though we die physically, we remain spiritually alive.  

Put simply, our physical death is the way we pass from earth to heaven.   The force of Christ's love broke through the power of death.  So. When we accept the love of Christ, asking Him to come into our life, we are freed from the grip of the darkness of death.  I'm not saying we are free from deep sadness when someone dies; loss through death is a difficult journey in the shadow of the valley of death.  But.  We know there is life on the other side.  In the midst of sorrow,  we celebrate the days of our life, especially the day we are born, the day we receive Christ, and the day we step into heaven.  These three days sum up what my friend meant by being born again, again.

We can't stop physical death, there is a day we must face it.
With God, death is a new beginning, a time of being made new, in a new place and new day.
Celebrate the days of your life, including the day of being born again, again.

Learning to Kickstart the day celebrating the days of our life,
Kerrie

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

Moments

I have been introduced to a whole new community, composed of individuals who have lived eighty-plus decades, who are making an effort to reach out to my mother-in-law,  the new "kid" on the block.  After a few discussions with them, it's clear they've passed through the stuff of life, come out the other side, and developed a life view:  Life is what it is, a gift.

The thing is . . . they no longer live life in between the stuff . . . they live all the time, believing each moment matters.  

There is power in believing each moment matters, receiving the gift in it, living it the way God has planned.


Consider.

 MY SON, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you. (Proverbs 3:1-2, AMP). 

The wise words found in Proverbs, give clarity to intentionally living God's way.  When we are more concerned with the stuff of life, when we get stuck in it all, when we fail to see the gift in the moment, when we feel like it's all a mess, we've missed what more God has planned for us.  God's word outlines how to live the best life, making each moment count, regardless of the stuff; however, it won't work unless we take it to heart, putting it into practice.  It requires us to stop and to ask--is this the way Jesus would do it?

So.  I am learning from Jesus' words, determined to keep them in my heart, focused on living the best life for Him:

• “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5, NIV).--Life is productive, fruitful, and full when we live in and through Christ, surrendering everything to Him, trusting Him for sustenance, developing our mind, heart, and behavior to be more like Him.  Without Him, we can do nothing.  
• "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7, NIV).-- These words are powerful to think about.  When we step into the realm of His will and way and stay there, He will do whatever we ask. 
•  "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love" (John 15:10, NIV).--These words echo the wise words in proverbs, giving us the key to make each moment count: Keep doing what Jesus has shown us to do and do it in His love.  

Refuse to live in between the stuff of life:

• Learn from His word today.
• Take His word to heart.
• Put His word into action.
• Live each moment.

Learning to Kickstart the day making each moment count for Him,
Kerrie

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

Changed Thinking

"Change" is the word of the week.  We are moving my mother-in-law closer to us into a place where there's assistance for daily living.  I've watched this fiercely independent woman get ready for this change in her life.  Along the way, she stepped into all of it with enthusiasm, getting ready by making lists, checking off her completed tasks, putting her energy into the goal to move.

The thing is . . . positive change begins with a mindset . . . intentionally breaking through the power of the negative side of it, focused on the bigger picture, seeing there is something more to come. 

Consider. 

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2, NIV). 

There's a list of reasons we manage change in a certain way.  But.  When you get down to it, successful people choose where their mind, and for that matter their heart, is each day.  We need to be more focused on His presence than the stuff of life, seeking and trusting His thoughts and ways.

So.
The list to manage change is simple:  Seek God first, think and act on His thoughts and ways.   

Changing the way we think, changes us  as well as the outcome of our life, preparing us for the changes of life which come our way.  Make a daily goal to think more about Christ's presence and power . . . more about His thoughts and actions . . . more about Him.

Learning to Kickstart the day changing my thinking,

Kerrie

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

Surprised By God

Life always has surprises. This week has been no exception. Little Madelyn had a friend, a little boy, at the orphanage in China. There are several pictures of them together, as well as reports describing their relationship as close, best friends, like a brother and sister.  Isn't it amazing to think of two babies attaching themselves to one another?  Their bond was clearly strong. We know Madelyn grieved after she left the orphanage and certainly leaving her best friend/brother was part of it.

A family in Texas is now in the process of adopting Madelyn's friend, who has been named Travis. They were doing a search and found the blog about Madelyn with pictures of her and their new son.  So. They emailed.  And, now, these little best friends will have a way to connect.  There's no doubt, God planned for them to have a relationship.  It's a catch your breath, awe moment.  Once again, we are surprised by God.

Both Madelyn and Travis have had their share of hardship in their young lives; however, adversity is not the end of their story but something God has used to bring about His plan for the best life.

Isn't it just like God to surprise us, revealing His heart, reminding us that every detail is important to Him, nothing, not one thing, about who we are and what we need is forgotten?

Consider.
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations (Psalm 33:11, NIV).

Think on it.  Reality is based on the plans of God.  We often are busy with our own plans, unaware of God being purposefully at work.  To see what more is going on, we need to intentionally take our focus off of our stuff and focus on Him.  And.  When we look, we will see there are surprising moments woven into each day, reminding us God has a plan based on relentless love and will purposefully use each detail, bringing all things together for good, making all things new, revealing life is more than what we've planned.

The thing is . . .  when we look for God, when we've turned away from the pressures and problems, when we've surrendered what we want, when we've rested in the reality of His presence . . .  we can't help but be surprised when we see what He has done.  It's a gift to be surprised by God. Take time to look for God.  Celebrate the moments you are surprised by God. 

Learning to Kickstart the day surprised by God,
Kerrie

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

Wait.

I am always grateful to share life with others in the good times as well as the difficult times.  If I’m honest, there are times I want an immediate fix, especially when things are dark and difficult.   I want this more often than I would like to admit.  The thing is . . . to experience the best life, for others as well as myself, I need to let go of what I want, seeking God, asking what He wants, trusting Him to make all things new . . . . willingly waiting for the fruit of His ongoing work to be seen.  But.  There are those moments, when it seems too hard to wait, when there's unanswered questions about the way things are going, and concern for the days ahead.

Even so,  I have learned God always makes a way. Period. It's worth the wait.

Consider.
“In the wilderness prepare 
   the way for the LORD; 
make straight in the desert 
   a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, 
   every mountain and hill made low; 
the rough ground shall become level, 
   the rugged places a plain. (Isaiah 40:3,4, TNIV). 


We need to calm ourselves, there is no need to be rushed; God is present and has promised to make a way through it all.  But.

 It's a choice to wait for God to make a way in the desert, to raise a valley up, to move a mountain, to level the uneven ground, and to make rocky places plain. 

When we take matters in our own hands, responding to the circumstance rather than to God, making excuses for going our own way, failing to seek Him first, then, we miss His marvelous, mysterious, and miraculous way through it. And. Rather than being released from the power of the stuff, we are more pressured and overwhelmed by it.

So.  Calm down.  Refuse to rush ahead. Wait.  Remember God will make a way through it all.

Learning to Kickstart the day waiting,
Kerrie

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

Very Good

This is Tiffany's last day with her students.  Yesterday, they reviewed the best moments of their fourth grade year.  The exercise purposefully made the kids see their life from the side of good.  The thing is . . . the stuff of life often blocks the view of the good in life . . . and we miss the best moments of the day.

God planned for us to experience His goodness, which has been confirmed throughout history.  Right from the beginning, God made everything about this world to be good.

 I like to think of the power in the moment described in Genesis 1:31: God saw all that he had made, and it was very good (NIV).  

There is an emphasis on the two words, very good.  But, now, we live in a world where evil and darkness have crowded in.  It's hard to imagine what our day would look like, if, all of the world, all of humanity, all of the details of the space we occupy would be very good.

Whether, we can imagine it or not, God created it all to be very good.  Though we live in the aftermath of the moment humanity stepped away from what God created life to be, we can be assured the power and purity of His goodness is relentless and greater than anything or anyone.  He has provided the way to live a very good life, shifting every detail in the universe to put His very good plan into place through Christ. Even so, there are those who are intent on going their own way, living outside of the realm of God's plan, carrying the damage of their choice into every area of living,

Consider. 

And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion” (Exodus 33: 19, NASB).

This verse in Exodus allows us to see God wanted Moses to experience His goodness.  Think on it.  God has provide a way for us to experience God's goodness each moment of every day.

Stop. Breathe.  Be aware of the power of God's goodness surrounding you.  Thank God.  Choose to be a wise manager of His goodness by the way you think, speak, and act.   Celebrate the very good life God has planned.

Learning to Kickstart the day in the very good plan of God,
Kerrie

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

The New Thing

They lost hope; all of it.  They could not see beyond their darkness.  The loss of hope is a needless tragedy.  For sure, there are seasons in life, when we enter into the day carrying stress, when we find ourselves in a firestorm of problems, when we become lost in our stuff; however,  the outcome is determined whether or not we keep our belief God will provide a way through it all.  I am not talking about glossing over the issues which get us to a place of feeling there's no hope or about denying the hard stuff.  But.  I am saying  there is more to the reality of each moment.  God is always at work, whether we choose to believe or not.

With God, there is always more going on than what we see, think, or imagine.  The thing is . . . we need to shift our focus from the impossible problems to the power that makes all things possible . . .  choosing to intentionally connect with God through prayer, His word and community. There's nothing better than seeing God make something new out of the hard stuff, creating possibilities out of impossibilities, bringing all things together for good.

This is what I know to be true:  hope, believing God is present and at work, changes the way we live. 

Consider. 

For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland (Isaiah 43:19, NLT).

When we are in a place of life which seems too difficult, like a wilderness and wasteland, we need to focus on God making all things new, making a pathway through the wilderness and a river in the dry wastelands of our life, making all things possible. This promise needs to be underlined, memorized, and believed.  So. When life becomes impossible, we are prepared to look through it and see the presence and power of God.

I've come to realize it's God's pleasure to make all things possible.

Look beyond the stuff of life today, see the new thing God is doing, take the pathway He makes through the wilderness, ride the river He makes in the dry wastelands, believe all things are possible.

Learning to Kickstart the day looking for the new thing God is doing,
Kerrie

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

Celebrate The Gift of the Day

There's talk of clear skies and warm weather coming our way after a long season of Oregon rain. Even so, we are always prepared for rain.  The thing is . . .  I have learned there is reason to enjoy the gift of the day . . . in the sunshine as well as in the rain     There's nothing sweeter than when the gift of life is recognized and celebrated.  After living a few decades, I've learned celebration is an important piece of a fulfilling life. This means there's an intentionality to developing an attitude of celebration, refusing to allow the stuff of life to control how the day is lived.

How is celebration possible when life is more stormy than calm?
It begins with choosing to calm ourselves down.  So. Take a breath, focus on God, and believe:

• He is in complete control.
• He is present. 
• He will walk with us in all seasons. 
• He won't walk away. 
• He has a plan. 
• He will bring all things together for good. 

Consider. 

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28, NLT).

When a storm comes, we are enabled to stay on course through God's presence. We are never alone, God's Spirit always comes alongside of us, walking us through the storm.  But.  When we become focused on the storm, we fail to see God is with us.   It requires us to turn away from the storm, to rest in His presence, refusing to be overdone, overwhelmed, and overpowered by it all. And, yes, it's a mystery of how good will ever come out of the storms of life; however, we are promised God will do it.  Period.  Nothing else but good.  It's good before we physically see it good.
If we see God is at work through eyes of faith, believing He will purposefully use everything for good, we are able to relax and celebrate the gift of the day, even in the storms of life.

So.
Pay attention to the gift of the day: God is purposefully at work, bring all things together for good.  Celebrate.

Learning to Kickstart the day celebrating the gift of the day,
Kerrie

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

The Meeting Place

I have some friends, who do not know each other, experiencing grief, the kind which feels like something has been stolen, leaving an emptiness, and a feeling that something is terribly wrong.  Loss puts us in a dark valley, a place no one wants to be in.  Even so, everyone eventually will experience a dark valley in life.   I have stood in the place of loss, not wanting to be there, feeling like I can't catch my breath, thinking it's a bad dream, wanting to wake up to a new day in a new place.
The question is, "Why?"

To move through the dark valleys of life, we must turn from the desperation of the "why's" and become desperate for God. The thing is . . . the dark valley will become a divine meeting place when we seek God . . . who will meet  all of our needs, making all things new.     

Consider. 

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19, NLT). 

This scripture is one to remember, regardless of the place we find ourselves in.  No need has ever escaped the attention of God; it all has been covered by Christ who chose to be broken for our brokenness.  Our pain has been intercepted at the cross. So. In the dark valleys of life, we can be assured God will be present, providing a way through it, meeting our needs, moment by moment, in His personal and divine way.

There is a divine connection in the process of loss when we become aware God will never leave us, when we realize He is our friend in the best and worst of times, when we surrender our pain and experience freedom from it, when we trust Him in the midst of hardship and receive peace, when we receive eyes of faith to see He will make something good come out of loss, when He walks beside us through the dark valley into the light, when we acquire hope in the most hopeless places of life.

God has made a way for you to get through the darkest of valleys, regardless of who or what is responsible for your loss.  He will meet you in the dark valley, making all things new.

Learning to Kickstart the day trusting God to meet me, even in a dark valley,
Kerrie

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

Live Blessed

Today is celebration.  Tricia and Troy have been married nine years.  I remember when they had the ah ha moment, defining what their marriage would be, declaring it as the theme of their wedding, "blessed."  The word is old, used throughout history to describe the sacred moment of knowing the activity of God, recognizing His goodness, the gift of His presence and power.  We experience a blessed life  when we choose to live the way God has planned, in relationship with Him, surrendering our way for His way of living.

Put simply, to live blessed is to live like Jesus. 

Consider. 
And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world (I John 4:17, NLT).

The thing is . . . when we choose to live like Jesus, surrendering and dedicating our life to Him . . .  we live in the divine favor of God as a conduit of His love, blessed to know His presence and power.    

Those who are blessed intentionally do what Jesus did, choosing to think His thoughts, behaving His way, living courageously beyond the pressures of this world.    The consequences  of living like Jesus are far different than the consequences of living outside of the realm of God's will and way. The bottom line is this, it is a choice to live blessed, purposefully seeking God in prayer and the word each day, refusing to settle for less than what has been planned for your life, anticipating each day to hold something more, entering into His divine favor.

1. Choose to live blessed. 
2. Live like Jesus.
3. Celebrate the gift of living blessed each day. 

Learning to Kickstart the day blessed,
Kerrie

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

Don't do it!

Several years ago we stepped into a season of anxiety and worry.  All three of our kids had significant medical challenges.  It all came at once, seemingly without warning.  Worry seemed reasonable.  The thing is . . . we give into worry  . . . when we take our focus off God.

When you get down to it, worry is a form of fear. And. I have learned fear disrupts faith. 

I remember what Tricia, our oldest, said when we took her back to college, when we really wanted her to stay home rather than to be living eight hours away, when we told her she could take some time off from school,  "I refuse to give into this."  She proceeded to tell us how Deuteronomy 31:6 had become her truth.

Consider.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV). 

Unpack this verse, words Moses spoke to the people before they stepped into the promised land:

1. Be strong--stay aligned with what God says to do. 
2. Be courageous--face your fears through the presence and power of God. 
3. Don't let anyone or anything worry, frighten, terrify, threaten, pressure, harass, or tyrannize you for one moment; God is with you, walking alongside of you, and has promised never to walk out on you. 

When you get down to it, what God says about worry is simple:  Don't do it.  Choose to be strong and courageous.  I am with you!

Refuse to give into worry.

Learning to Kickstart the day refusing to give into worry,
Kerrie

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

Anything, Anywhere, Anytime

I love the motto of the 22nd Aircraft Squadron who participated in the 1975 Operation Babylift in Saigon . . . "Anything, Anywhere, Anytime."   These heroes risked their life to rescue 2,000 babies and children, orphaned, living on the streets of Saigon in the midst of a troubled and dangerous time.  The thing is . . . true heroes are the individuals who face life with intentional and purposeful courage and strength. . . holding themselves to the highest standard of honor, integrity, and selflessness.

This is the standard of Christ, a wholehearted, non-negotiable, courageous, and strong life.  But.  It is only possible when we yield ourselves to the Spirit rather than to our flaws and fears.  Though God promises to be with us, it is our choice to fully yield to Him.  No matter what we are up against, we can push through it, even when it seems impossible, even when there are 2,000 orphans needing to be rescued in the streets of a war-torn country, because the power of Christ is as close as His presence.

With God, we can face whatever comes at us . . . anything, anywhere, anytime.  

Consider.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13). 

Think on these four points of living:

1. Be on your guard, set guardrails in every area of life, intentionally living the best life God has planned, body, mind, and soul--seeking God in prayer and His word, keeping accountable to Christ.
2. Stand firm, refuse to think, say, or do anything that dishonors Christ. 
3. Be courageous, remember the day is an opportunity to live for Christ.
4. Be strong, refuse to yield to your flaws or fears, remember Christ's strength is in you.

Keep the standard of Christ through the power of the Spirit . . . anything, anywhere, anytime.

Learning to Kickstart the day living the standard of Christ . . anything, anywhere, anytime.
Kerrie

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

Finish Strong

I want to finish strong, which I know requires intentional, purposeful focus, which means losing my focus will divert me from the goal. So.  I must pay attention when  the stuff of life distracts me, taking my eyes off of the important things. The thing is . . . to be strong is to be obedient, aligned with what God has planned . . . doing everything possible to live the best way, rather than misusing the gift of life.

I need to ask the hard questions and answer honestly:

• Am I treating my body as a gift--do I rest, exercise, and eat well?  
• Am I training my mind to think wisely, letting go of the things that don't belong, focused on God?
• Am I keeping my relationships healthy, forgiving what needs to be forgiven, living in the power of grace, loving unconditionally?
• Am I wise with my resources, investing the gifts of time, talent, and money with generosity?
• Which all leads to the question . . . Am I living a healthy spiritual life, developing and growing in my relationship with God and others?

I refuse to end my time on earth doing less than what God has asked me to do in every area of life. If, I end the day weak, rather than strong, I will miss living the best life.  I have found we tend to focus on impossibilities, especially when things get tough, realizing we can't possibly be strong enough to fix the stuff of life or make the impossible to be possible; however,  God will strengthen us through His unstoppable revolutionary power to do all things, which enables us to finish this race of life strong.  It is a gift of grace, which occurs through happen living in Christ.   Those who have never experienced the gift of grace often minimize the power of God working in us, until, they enter into it and become empowered to live better, experiencing more than ever could be imagined.

Consider.

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work” (1 Chronicles 28:9-10 (Today's New International Version)).

We are given a divine assignment, to live the best life with purpose and strength.  David told his son, Solomon, to build the house as the sanctuary.  If, we build our life as a sanctuary, we will be strong, acknowledging God, intentionally aware of His presence, serving Him with wholehearted devotion, refusing to be half-hearted in any area of life, wanting to live God's best way with a willing mind, seeking Him, doing the work we're assigned to do, stronger because every area of living is God-centered.

Live the best life.
Live as a sanctuary.
Finish strong.

Learning to Kickstart the day focused on finishing strong,
Kerrie

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

The Win of the War

In one hour I was told a faithful teacher  lost her job, a friend received a tough diagnosis, and a couple  gave up their marriage. Life changed in just a moment for each of them.  While they have asked for prayer, I know it is difficult for them to believe life will ever be okay, to trust that God has already been at work when life is hard, to be strong rather than to be weak, to be in the race rather than slipping off to the sidelines, to be a conquerer rather than a quitter, to go forward believing life is more than the stuff that comes at us, to be a winner.  What I know to be true is this, God has already won the battle for us, providing a pathway to live, even in the worst of circumstances, as a winner.  

It takes a very intentional decision to live in the "win of the war" when hardship comes.  But.  We have been gifted the win.

 Consider. 

God stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority. With the cross, he won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless (Colossians 2:15, NCV).  

When we accept God's gift of life, we are not handed the second best life because of what we have done or someone has done to us, we have entered into the best life because of what Christ has done on the cross.  He won purposefully and intentionally for you and I!  So. When we move into a season of struggle, in the war between darkness and Light, we can know with a confidence that the outcome is for good and not for evil.

The power of the evil has been destroyed, it will not and can not overcome us, despite how it seems or feels.  We can stand and face the battle because the "win of the war" has been issued to us.   Simply put, we receive the win through the grace of God.  

Receive God's gift of grace.
Live intentionally as a conqueror.
Walk with confidence, knowing the "win of the war" has been issued to you.

Learning to Kickstart the day in the "win of the war,"
Kerrie

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

Overcome All The Power

Grandpa Roleder is an icon in our family, a man of honor, courage, and faith.  His story is downright heroic.  He faced certain death years ago in Russia during a dark time, when Communists took over the government, when people were forced out of their homes, when violence ruled, when freedom was removed.  During an interrogation, after he had been arrested for teaching and preaching about faith, Grandpa told his captors about God, about what Christ made possible, and about how anyone can have a full life through grace.

The thing is . . . if you decide to stand and face darkness . . . it will push you down, confuse you, and eventually destroy you, unless you step into the battle through the presence and power of God, then you will have conquered the battle the moment you decide to stand up.

There are times the battle doesn’t seem to end.  But.  I learned from Grandpa Roleder to stand, refusing to let the darkness win, setting aside time to strategize through prayer and the Word, believing the darkness does not have the ultimate power or authority over us.  The day he stood against darkness was not the end of life, but in many ways, the beginning of an adventure of a lifetime, which Grandpa could never have imagined.

Consider.

"I have given you authority …to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you"  (Luke 10:19, NIV).

When the darkness comes at us, we might feel beaten and battered before the battle has barely begun. Sometimes we become blind to anything but the presence of the battle.  And, if we are honest, we often see how the battle will be lost rather than how it can be won. But. The battle is not the main part of the story but about God’s commitment to give us whatever we need to conquer the darkness. It’s not that we get to a certain level of faith to receive the
authority to overcome, but when we receive the gift of grace we receive the right to access the power to overcome every battle, whether it is a conflict with darkness or an all-out war.

Stand.
Fight the darkness.  Pray.  Learn what to do from Scripture.
Determine the battle is won through the authority God has given you.
Remember you do not need to earn the right to overcome: Christ has done it for you.

Learning to Kickstart the day standing and overcoming the darkness,
Kerrie

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