Light In This World

I love Sundays.  My life revolves around this day as being the big day of the week, when about 1,200 or more people in our small community come to our church. I try to stop for a brief moment when I enter the lobby of our building to see and hear the activity within the walls.  It's when you know that a building is not a church, but instead the people in it.  I know this has been said century after century and sounds like part of the Christianese language; however, when we grasp the truth of what it means for Christ followers to come together, we've glimpsed the purpose of the church in this world.

There's no other organization on earth like the Church; the sustaining power of it all is not through human effort but through the divine presence and power of Christ.

The dark forces of this world are seen more clearly each day; we all agree that something radical needs to happen to save us from  certain doom.  As people look for a way to escape from it all, the Church moves straight into it, not afraid but courageous, with the mission to be the light in the darkness, bringing hope to this hopeless, chaotic, dark world. The thing is . . . when we are connected to the source of Life . . . there's unmistakeable energy of being fully alive with a faith, hope, and love which just doesn't stop for anything or anyone.

Consider.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. either do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV).

Celebrate today.

Come together as the Church, moving forward with the courage to be Christ's light in the darkness, bringing hope to the world. 

Learning to Kickstart the day as light in this world,
Kerrie

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

Take The Walk

A visibly broken man stopped me after a church service on a gray and cloudy Oregon Sunday.  He wanted to know: Why her?  Why him?  Why me?  Why?  The questions that start with "why" often are missing a satisfactory answer.  But.  I've learned some important things about God that I'm able to share.

One thing I know by experience as well as from the Word:  God doesn't leave us stuck in the "whys" of life; however, we must be willing to move away from the questions.  

And.  It's not always easy to leave unanswered questions behind.  The "whys" of life often nag us, creating hurt, anger, and eventually bitterness that settles into deep places of our mind and spirit.  To move out of the stuff, we must agree to walk by faith rather than by sight, which of course makes sense for everyone else but ourselves.  

Seriously, walking by faith is not always the easiest route to take in life.  Even so. It's the most blessed way to live.

Consider. 
For we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV). 

When we follow Christ, we learn life is a walk of faith.  When we take the walk of faith, we choose to put our trust in Christ above anyone or anything else. When we're unable to see our way through a situation, we are enabled by the Spirit of Christ to take one step at a time, knowing He is present, powerful, and good.  The  things is . . . our God will shift every detail in the universe . . . breaking through the darkness, pain, and questions, transforming the places of hurt into healing, sorrow into joy, and the "whys" into peace.

 God is faithful and will take you on a walk of a lifetime when you choose to go forward.  There's always something more than you could ever imagined ahead of you when you go God's way.

Walk by faith, not by sight. 

Learning to Kickstart the day taking the walk of faith,
Kerrie

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

Anticipation

Miss Madelyn anticipates each day with exuberance.  The world is a place of discovery to her.  Currently she describes most everything as "DEE-licious."  There's nothing like a two-year-old teacher of life; through Madelyn's perspective I see some of the most ordinary things of life in a new and fresh way.   I smile thinking about her delight over a long list of first experiences, including when she picked and ate strawberries at a farm, when she saw a duck and heard its quacking sound in the wetlands, when she sat in the sand at the beach and made creations with her shovel, and when she built a snowman and made a snow angel one unusually cold and snowy day.

The thing is . . . it's easy to become tired and worn out from dealing with the stuff of life . . . failing to anticipate and experience the new creative work of God.

Consider. 
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here (I Corinthians 5: 17, NIV)

The process of being made new is ongoing rather than a one-time deal; however, there are times we become stuck in the stuff of the day, closing ourselves off from God’s fresh new creative work of life in and around us.

Even so, God is always at work.  It’s a holy work of love, grace, mercy, and peace.  It’s a transforming work.  It’s a powerful energizing work. But. It’s our choice to either enter into the work of God or to be weighed down by all of the stuff. 

Anticipate the new creative work God has for you today.
Refuse to allow the stuff distract you from God's work.
Intentionally pay attention to the work of God.
Seek what new thing you’re to experience.
Experience and enjoy being made new  . . . again.

Learning to Kickstart the day with anticipation of being made new,
Kerrie

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

Without Fear

Madelyn has decided fear and pain are the same thing.  When deer come into our yard she tells us, "Ow (Ouch), that hurts!"  In her perspective, the wandering creatures who break through our barricades to eat our plants, flowers, and grass are destructive and, therefore, scary.  There's reality in what she's communicating.

When we allow fear to invade our mind, we open ourselves up to pain, whether it's emotional, spiritual, or physical. 

Fear is a part of our life experience, so, it's crucial to lean how to face it.

The thing is . . . until we really believe God is continually with and for us . . . fear will have the upper hand, cheating us out of experiencing God's liberating power, weighing us down with the cares of this world, destroying hope and faith, leaving us with heartache and pain.  

If, we fail to address fear, it will explode within and around us.  In the end, fear is extremely painful.

Consider. 
 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
      He freed me from all my fears.
  (Psalm 34: 4, NLT). 

Fear imprisons the body, mind, and soul.  But.  God will free us from whatever kind of fear grips us.  It's essential to turn from the fear and realize God is just that good and great to remove all of our fear. So. God doesn't just have good intentions but is continually doing a good work on our behalf.  If, we could see through the stuff of life, we would see more:  And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you (Philippians 1:6, AMP). 

Remember fear is present in this world; what we do with fear is key to how we live our life.  But.  The reality of the presence and power of God far exceeds whatever we fear.  So.  In order to deal with fear, we must make time to see where fear has invaded our life and face it.

Live without fear.
Begin with prayer, acknowledging God first.
Pray about any fear in you.  As you pray, believe God will answer and free you, enabling you to have faith not only in God's presence and power, but in the reality of His good and great work in you.
Thank God for continually being with you and for you!
Celebrate the goodness and greatness of God, which overpowers anything and anyone coming against you.

Learning to Kickstart the day without fear,
Kerrie

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

The Miracle of the Moment

There are days which remind us how important it's to count the moment as a miracle.   It happens when someone tells us the way we know life to be will end, when we want to change something but realize it's out of our control, when the normal of the day seems to be lost in the unknown of it all, when the stuff we've been consumed with seems irrelevant, when we realize we've held on to things which hold little or no value in the bigger picture, when we realize what's really important in each moment.

The thing is . . . at the end of it all, we discover the one thing, more important than anything else, is being in an interactive relationship with Jesus . . . which is the miracle of the moment. 

Consider the miracle of one moment in time:

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”  Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink (Luke 5: 4-6, TNIV)

The disciples were experienced fishermen; they knew what they were doing.  And, yet, their nets were empty after a full night of work.  Jesus, known as Rabbi, a carpenter by trade, intercepted the tired and desperate fishermen.  It did not make sense to do what Jesus said to do from their perspective.  No one would've thought him to have any expertise on fishing.  We need to remember the identity of Jesus had not been fully comprehended; yet, they changed what they were doing simply because Jesus said to do it.  Their relationship with Jesus was the most important part of the moment.  So, it makes sense the miracle began the moment they responded to Jesus.

They risked it all by letting go of what they had held on to, focused on what Jesus said.  God had so much more for them in the moment; however, they would've never experienced the miracle if they had refused to push out into the deep and let go of their nets.  When we do what Jesus says to do, the direction of the day changes and we experience a miracle in the moment.

Change the direction of your day:  Actively respond to Christ.  Push out into the deep and let go of your nets.  God has something more for you--a miracle in the moment.  

Learning to Kickstart the day in the miracle of the moment, 

Kerrie

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

The Unstoppable Army

There's nothing like knowing people are praying for you, knowing they're asking God to release power on your behalf, knowing they've joined heaven's army, willing and ready to fight the battle.  I think it's why Matthew 6:10 has been one of my favorite verses to pray, repeating what Jesus said:  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  

The thing is . . . when we pray what Jesus prayed . . . heaven and earth collide.  After all is said and done, the result of this simple prayer is supernatural. So. We might as well throw a party.  

Consider what Jesus said about asking:
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).

It's spelled out.   When we remain in Christ and His words remain in us, we are focused, engaged, and participative with Him, which in turn means we walk in faith, believing all things are possible, confident that what we are asking will be done.

In other words, prayer is about who Christ says He is and, if, a mountain needs to moved, it'll be moved.

The power of Christ is unstoppable, so powerful that not even death can overrule it. So.  When we come together, aligned with Christ and His word, united with the will of God on earth as it is in heaven, there’s no doubt but that great and mighty things will occur.

Remain in Christ.
Keep the Word in you.
Join the unstoppable army of prayer warriors.
Pray for God's will on earth as it is in heaven.
Be ready for the mountains to move.
Celebrate and throw a party!
Learning to Kickstart the day joining the unstoppable army,
Kerrie

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

Strong and Courageous

Have you ever had to believe for the impossible?   There's a few times in life that we come to the place where questions must be honestly answered:
Do I believe God?
Do I believe what God says?

When the stuff of life comes at us, when we face something that no one can fix, when we must make the choice to either have faith or make room for  fear, then, we discover what life with Christ is really about.  Living in Christ is not even close to the soft Christian stuff discussed on a nice sunny Sunday morning in a neat and tidy package, but about hard core take-a-leap-of-faith-kind-of-living.

The thing is . . . we must be turn away from weak faith which gets us no where . . . to live in Christ's peace, strength, and courage, flowing over and in us.  

I'm convinced God uses the stuff of life to form us into courageous Christ followers who believe, without doubt, all things are possible, who know God is the God of miracles, who stand firm, refusing to budge when the going gets tough.  But.  There's a sector of the people who want to believe, who hope what God says is true, but never discover the richness of living strong and courageously in Christ.  

Consider what God says:
 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NLT)

God makes it clear.  Faith, the kind that moves us forward, requires guts and determination.  There's not room for fear when it comes to immersing our life in the presence and power of God.  Fear is whatever turns our attention away from God.  It comes in all sizes and shapes, but it messes with us, making us feel powerless.

God has provided a pathway through Christ to live strong and courageously.

Christ does not give the spirit of fear, but gives power to the powerless, strength to the weak, and courage to the faint hearted.  In other words, through the indwelling presence of the Spirit, we can face all things and live in the realm of possibilities when it all seems impossible.  

Live in the realm of possibilities.
Be strong.
Be courageous.
Refuse fear and discouragement.
Remain in the presence and power of Christ.
Your God is with you wherever you go.

Learning to Kickstart the day strong and courageous,
Kerrie

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

What's Important

We've moved my mother-in-law from her home to a senior community, held a moving sale, and now we're getting ready to put her house up for sale.  Change is difficult, especially when it comes to moving from the place on earth we call home.  But.  It's more than a change of location, it's surprising to be in the season of life  where there's less time ahead of us than behind us. Time moves quickly, whether we want it to or not; what we do with the time is up to us.

These changes for our family have made me more mindful of the gift of the day, never intended to be wasted by useless living, but to be treasured and celebrated.  

I've learned, by experience,  a great portion of wasted living is derived from worrying about what comes next.  When we've chosen to live in the reality of the presence of God, worry is needless. There's a bigger picture than what we can see in the moment, God-reality.  But.  When there's a question mark about the future, it's not always easy to forge ahead without worrying about what's in front of us.

Consider what Jesus said to the disciples: 
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12: 24-26, TNIV).

Jesus' words in Luke 12 were specifically directed to the disciples.  The question is worth meditating on, "Why do you worry about the rest?"  Verse 34 spells out Jesus' point: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12: 34 TNIV)."

The thing is . . . what we live for, what we focus on, what really is important to us . . . is found in the heart.  

The heart tells our story.  If, we're consumed with worry, we've lost sight of the bigger picture.  I'm not saying it's easy to live without worry, I'm saying it's necessary in order to live the life God has planned for us.  To make adjustments to the heart, we need to take a break, focusing on the reality of the presence of God, asking questions:  What's in my heart today?  Am I preoccupied with God or self?  Am I wasting my time worrying or am I relaxed with the belief God is God? 

Focus on what's important in life.
Take a God-break.
Step into the reality of God's presence.
Let go of any worry which you've attached yourself to.
See the big picture of God-reality.
Relax.
Believe God is God.

Learning to Kickstart the day focused on what's important, the reality of God,
Kerrie

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

Never Abandoned

I've learned many things by seeing life through Madelyn's perspective.  This week’s lesson has been thought provoking.  Madelyn discovered her shadow a couple of days ago.  Depending on the direction we walked, we could see the shadow was behind her, beside her, and in front of her.  She was visibly distraught when the clouds moved over us and the shadow seemed to disappear. The presence of her shadow was so real to Madelyn that she had a moment of hysteria when I stepped on it.  She claimed I hurt her.  I apologized.

I confess I'm able to find a spiritual lesson in almost everything.  Madelyn believed her shadow to be a part of her.  And, when you get down to it, her shadow is a reality of the way the sun reflects its light, which will continue all the days of her life on earth. But.  Her discovery has given me a fresh perspective of the presence of Christ’s Spirit in me.

Consider what Jesus said:
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  (John 14: 16-20, NLT).

When we ask Christ into our life, we receive His Spirit, reflecting Christ to the world, revealing we're not alone.  Jesus promised,  "I will not abandon you as orphans.  You are in me and I am in you."  We no longer live on our own, but we are enabled to live fully connected and engaged with the living presence, power, and peace of Christ.  Think about what this means.  It literally changes our perspective, mindset, attitude, and response to all things. 

The thing is . . . the power of Christ is as close as His presence . . . which enables us to do all things, regardless of the storms that rage against us and the battles we fight.  

Even so, there are times we allow circumstances to overwhelm us and we respond as if we're abandoned, as if the Spirit is more like a shadow than the living presence of Christ in us.

So.  First things first.  Keep connected.  Begin the day by engaging with Christ through prayer and meditation.  Listen to what the Spirit says and remember it:  "I will never leave you."

There's nothing we can't do when we connect and engage with the Holy Spirit's presence, power, and peace--all things are possible!

Learning to Kickstart the day connected to the Spirit, realizing I'm never abandoned,
Kerrie

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

Get Ready to Dance and Wear New Clothes

Alison, a blonde-curly-hair, motion-filled, sweet little girl, who lived six years was celebrated this weekend.  An artist painted her image on a mural in our church's indoor playground.  Though it's a picture, the image captured the revelation of God's unstoppable love in Alison's life, depicting an empty wheelchair with imprinted tiny footprints left behind as she made her journey to heaven.  It's a picture of the joy set before Alison.  Even so, there's unanswered "whys."

There are some who refuse to believe God until all the questions are answered.  But.

Part of walking in faith is being able to trust God when things don't make sense, when there's suffering without just cause, when desperation becomes normal, and when there's more problems than solutions. 

I've been reminded, once again, to look beyond the space and place we occupy to see there's a much bigger story.  The thing is . . . it's not easy to trust God . . . when it seems we're destined to live in the middle of a storm of impossibilities.

Consider. 
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
      You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy (Psalm 30:5, NLT).

The book of Psalms, at the heart of the Bible, describes the hard as well as the good places of life, clearly delineating the truth, God makes all things new.

God's promise is profound, "I will turn your mourning into joyful dancing and I will take your mourning clothes away, clothing you with joy."  

With God, there's more to the story than what we see in the moment, even death becomes life. Yes, there's times joy seems to be far away.  To see more, we must intentionally look away from our circumstances to see God is present and will make all things new, bringing joy out of the darkest places of life.

There's really only one thing to do today:  Get ready to dance and wear new clothes. 

Learning to Kickstart the day with joy,
Kerrie

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

More To The Story

Madelyn is a little thinker and talker.  She became concerned about a deer who had wandered into our yard and ate the grass.  She used the term, "ew--gross."  When she decided the deer had become a problem, I could not convince her otherwise, especially during her nap.  So.  I took her back into the yard so she could see it had been  barricaded to  prevent the deer from coming in.  But.  The deer was there . . . eating the grass . . . uninhibited by our presence. Really?  Madelyn could see we had a "big problem."

It's a lesson which will be repeated in her life many times: We will face problems.

When a problem does not seem to have a solution,  when there's more impossible than possible, when worry becomes a familiar companion, when our story becomes problem-centered, we need to stop and shift our attention to God.  There's more to the story,  regardless of how bad, difficult, and down-right impossible it all seems, there's a way through it with God.

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)

It's worth remembering and repeating the truth, God makes all things new, even when we're in the wilderness and wasteland of life.  Problems are a part of our story, not the whole story.  There's another side to it all.  It's how the story is told. When Christ went to the cross, it seemed his story would end in death; however, the story is not about the cross, it's about Christ overcoming death.  Through Christ, we are more than conquerors, strengthened to do all things, released from the ending of death, freed to experience the fullness of life.

Refuse to think the story of your life ends with problems, regardless of how big the problem appears. Take another look at the story.  God is about to do something new.  Do you not see it?

Learning to Kickstart the day remembering there's more to the story,
Kerrie

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

God is Good All The Time

People often send me requests to pray for them with long lists of hurt and loss.  From the outside, I would've never guessed they were struggling with such a heavy load.   The list of bad things happening is often long; however, there's a list of good things happening which are only possible through the goodness of God.

I can truthfully say there's no reason to think we've arrived at the end of the road when bad things happen.  I've learned to trust in the goodness of God.  Goodness is at the heart of God.

Of course, I know this concept is not new or innovative, but life changes when we trust God's goodness. I'm not talking about human goodness, good intentions, something that sounds good, or experiencing good times but about the powerful, complete, personal, active goodness of God.    The thing is . . . God's goodness is not about a happily-ever-after ending . . . but about power that disseminates evil and brings all things in our life together for good. 

Consider:
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 
   his faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100: 5, TNIV). 
And.
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow (James 1:17, NLT). 

When we trust in the goodness of God, we will see through the dark and difficult places of life, become strong as wings on eagles, healed from brokenness, moving forward through the most impossible situations, amazed as  all things come together for good.  It's a life lesson worth learning:

God is good all the time. His goodness will endure forever.  Whatever is good and perfect is from God.  He will never change or cast a shifting shadow.  All things are possible! 

Learning to Kickstart the day trusting in the goodness of God,
Kerrie

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

Stop and Take Care of the Business of the Day

She has cancer.  Again.  The doctors have said she will die soon.  So. She has focused on death.  As we prayed, it was clear God wants her to focus on life.  It's easy to get lost in what others direct us to think about and do. When we put our attention on stuff, we lose our focus on God and begin to grab onto fear, allowing the stuff to dominate our life.

It takes intention to give complete attention to God when all we can think of is the stuff we must face and contend with.  Even if a little thing has caught our attention, we must stop and take care of whatever is distracting us from living life.

The thing is . . . it's a conscious, intentional choice to interrupt the way things are going, to stop and take care of the business of the day, to believe God has the best plan for each moment, to have faith God is present, to ask God to examine each thought, word, and action, to confess what does not belong, to receive what more God has for the day . . . praying in Jesus' name.

Consider:
"Don't be afraid," he said, "for you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart and be strong!" As he spoke these words, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, "Now you may speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me." (Daniel 10:19, NLT)

We have access to the same God who spoke to Daniel.  The words which strengthened Daniel will also strengthen us when we anchor into them, words spoken to bring us to a place of strong faith:

Don't be afraid--Do not live in fear.  Stop allowing fear to mess with you. Tell fear to flee.  Declare God is always with you and will never fail you.

Your are deeply loved by God--Do not think anything can push God's love away.  Stop thinking you are not good enough for God's love.  Recognize who God is, what He has promised for your life, and what He has done for you through Christ. When you truly see the depth of God's love, there's an eternal change in the way you see life.

Be at peace-- Do not think anything matters more than the presence of God.  Stop walking in chaos and unrest.  Walk by faith not by sight. Open yourself to the Truth of Christ, who has been broken so that all of humanity might be healed and whole.

Take heart-- Do not be discouraged. Stop making excuses and start believing God is God and will do what He says He will do.  There's always possibilities in the impossible of life, potential in places which seem like dead-ends, great things in small beginnings when we live a God-driven purposeful life.

Be strong-- Do not let the darkness of this world win.  Stop thinking the darkness has ultimate power.  Remember the darkness does not comprehend the Light.  Ask God to give you eyes of faith.  Believe God will equip you to do what you are created to do. There's no reason to back away from the purpose you have received, even when circumstances seem insurmountable and dark. Christ, the Light of the world, has given you new life.  You belong to God, He will never fail you.

Learning to Kickstart the day by making time to stop and take care of the business of the day,
Kerrie

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

Momentum of Faith

He asked me the profound question,
"Why should I have faith in God when life is so hard?"
He said he had come to find God because nothing else had worked. And.  He found God.  Circumstances became harder to manage, life seemed dark. So.  He asked the question.  I'm the first to say it was true, nothing seemed to be easy in his life.  What's the answer to this difficult question?

One thing I've learned: Life is not about circumstances but about God.  It's a matter of faith. At the end of the day, faith does not stand still but is active, the momentum of who we are, what we do, where we go, and why we live.

Consider.
God said:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; 
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. 
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, 
Nor will the flame burn you. (Isaiah 43: 2, NASB). 


The writer of Psalms 23 said:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 
I fear no evil, for You are with me;  (Psalm 23:4 NASB).


God said:
‘Do not fear, for I am with you; 
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. 
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, 
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41: 10, NASB).


The writer of Psalm 27 said:
The LORD is my light and my salvation; 
Whom shall I fear?


The key to living beyond circumstances is to have faith in the presence and power of God whether we are going to the mountain top or walking through the valley of the shadow of death, whether we are experiencing comfort and ease or going through a storm, whether our way is easy or we walk through the fire.  No matter how we feel, what we think, or where we are, God will never leave and never fail us.

Exercise your faith.  Get strong. Make a personal declaration of faith, the momentum of living the best life:

Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear.  God is with me. 

Learning to Kickstart the day with the momentum of faith,
Kerrie

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

Vantage Point

I've always enjoyed flying, viewing the earth from up above, seeing the things which seem big on the ground look small from the air.  It's what happens when we change our position and look at the world from a different vantage.  Likewise, I've learned there's a need to shift my position from where I view life.

The thing is . . . my perspective is often limited by the circumstances of the moment . . . but when I focus on the reality of the greatness of God, then,  I see the smallness of my circumstances.  

And, when I look at God first, I'm able to see nothing and no one will ever supersede His purpose.

Consider. 

I know that you can do all things;  no purpose of yours can be thwarted (Job 42:2, TNIV). 

The word, thwarted, defined as restrained or stopped, clarifies the purpose of God has been issued and that nothing will be able to restrain or stop its momentum.  The book of Job records Job's devastating circumstances leaving the reader with the big question, "Why God?" But.  When we read the end of the story,  we view it all from a different vantage point, and see there is more to reality than circumstances.  When Job's perspective shifts from his circumstances to a full view of God, the questions are left behind.  In the end, Job sees God's purpose will continue, regardless of the horrific circumstances.  The reader, along with Job, is left in wonder of the reality of not only the greatness but the goodness of God:
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ 
   Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, 
   things too wonderful for me to know (Job 42:3, TNIV).

There's nothing easy about a Job-like experience but when we see it from the vantage point of God's greatness and goodness, we are assured all is well, regardless of how life looks in the moment.

I'm not sure how many times I've had to re-learn to focus on God first, but I've had my share of moments.  When I focus on God's greatness as well as His goodness, looking beyond the stuff,  my perspective shifts from the circumstances to God and I am able to see there is always more to the story than what is initially seen.

Look at life from the vantage point of faith and see: God is great; God is good. No purpose of God can be thwarted . . .  restrained . . . or stopped.  God is at work doing things too wonderful for you to know.

Learning to Kickstart the day from the vantage point of faith,
Kerrie

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

The Rock and the Redeemer

We visited Tim at the camp he's working at for the summer.  The staff members, at the beginning of their adult life, are enthusiastic and energetic.  They would not tell you everything about their summer is perfect, but they would tell you they're blessed because they've become a community of friends, experiencing life together, purposefully making a difference in hundreds of kid's lives and in one another's lives.

Their attitude is not only contagious but worth mentioning, which at first glance would seem to come from their youthful perspective.  But.  After spending time with them, it's set in their words and actions, charging the atmosphere around them through the rooted conviction planted in them:  All things are possible with God.

They've gone past the feeble, passive, pointless attitude that comes with shallow faith.  Their life is defined by having a deep relationship with God, believing God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do.  

Consider: 
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart 
   be pleasing in your sight, 
   LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19: 14, TNIV). 

When we take a moment to anchor the truth into our mind, soul, and heart: God is my Rock and my Redeemer, then, the day changes.

In other words, there is nothing and no one who can conquer you and I.  Nothing is impossible with our Rock and our Redeemer.  All things are possible!  

Refuse to live with a feeble, passive, pointless attitude that comes from shallow faith.  Go deep with God.  Believe God says who He is and will do what He says He will do:  God is your Rock and your Redeemer.

Learning to Kickstart the day living in the presence and power my Rock and my Redeemer,
Kerrie

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

Walk in Faith

I passed a beautiful old church yesterday.  There's something powerful about old churches with tall steeples and stained glass windows where generations of people have found grace, have bound together with others because of their love for Christ, have shared sorrow and joy, and have found hope in good and difficult times.  The stories of these people are a part of something greater than what most would've realized,  influencing us whether we know it or not, impacting the way we live today.  Even so, they were like you and I, living one day at a time, wanting to live the way God planned, experiencing hardship and disappointments as well as over the top miracles. They were alive at a specific time in a specific space to do specific things, plowing through the uncomfortable hard stuff, celebrating the incredible unexplainable moments, walking in faith.

The thing is . . . when we live God's way . . . we believe there's more to life than what we have ever imagined.  

Consider. 

As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him (Psalm 18:30, TNIV)

There are times we can't imagine the way God has planned is perfect.  But.  Life is a walk of faith.  We can break through the stuff  which comes into our life, even when it all seems to be impossible, through belief of what He has said rather than what we see in the moment.  God's way is perfect and His word is flawless.   Read what Jesus said to the man who learned his daughter died in Mark 5: 36,  “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

The flawless words of Jesus were not about death but life.  The father believed what Jesus said.  He did not give up and walk away, but clearly wanted Jesus to come to his home despite what he had been told.  The father took a walk of faith when he went home.  Even so, I'm certain he could not have imagined the results of inviting Jesus into his home.   Everything changed when Jesus, the power of life, entered in.  Jesus took the dead little girl's hand and told her to get up.   So, she got up and walked.  The girl, as well as the people who knew her,  must have experienced an incredible walk of faith after experiencing life after death.

When we hold on to Jesus and receive His words of life, we are enabled and empowered to get up from the worst of circumstances and walk in faith.  Belief not only impacts our life, but the generations to come.  When we choose to take the walk of faith there's no reason to fear and every reason to believe.

Those who walk in faith refuse to be ruled by fear and believe God's way is perfect.
Don't be afraid.  Believe.  Take refuge in Him.
Walk in faith, believing you are a part of something bigger than the span of your life.

Learning to Kickstart the day walking in faith,
Kerrie

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

Fighting the Battle

It's time to get back to work after a week away.  Re-entry is a challenge.  No matter how much we plan, there's more to do than what we left behind.  It's not a reason to lose my renewed perspective: The key to living a strong and healthy life is being focused on the presence of God, believing He is at work, fighting the battles of the day for us.

It's miraculous and incomprehensible to realize God is not only present but at work on our behalf, fighting the battle.  No one and nothing will be able to stand against us.  

Consider. 

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you (Joshua 1:5, TNIV). 

God assured Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, would have victory.  The book of Joshua reveals God fought for Joshua and the people in supernatural ways.  He never left or failed them.  God is the same in our life as He was in Joshua's life.  God fights for us, never leaving or failing us.  It happens each and every day.  When we believe God is not only present but fighting for us, we are able to see all things are possible.  In fact, Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God will do immeasurably more than what we can imagine.  That said, if we are not careful, we become numb to this truth because it is said so often in faith communities.  Numbness leads us to  settling for less than what God has planned.

How we live is a reflection of how we connect to this truth about God:  He fights for us, never leaving or failing us.  

Be healthy, trust God is at work, fighting for you.
Relax and trust God.
Anticipate the impossible becoming possible through God. Regardless of how things seem, the battle has been won through Christ on the cross.

Learning to Kickstart the day healthy, focused on the presence and work of God,
Kerrie

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

Celebrate and Be Glad

July Fourth was a great day of celebration.  We ate good food, cheered people participating in a two-hour parade, featuring the military, students, cars, and a variety of people, and ended the day watching fireworks.  Most of us need more days of celebration. There's a  renewal of gratefulness when we celebrate what was, what is, and what will be.  It's not that we are unaware of the pain and suffering of this world when we celebrate.  But.

Celebration is a recognition that life is a gift even when we experience challenges and hardship.  

We've got to relax, breathe, and release the stress to celebrate the gift we've received. Celebration is a great way to see what really matters in life.  What it comes down to is awareness.  I made it a practice to wake up my kids, each and every day, with the powerful words of Psalm 118:24, declaring we would rejoice and be glad because a new day is a gift.   I will say there were days the kids would put their pillows over their heads and groan when I would say the words.  But.  We need to begin the day with energy and focus to fully experience the gift of life.

Consider: 
This is the day the Lord has made.
      We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118: 24, NLT).

How often do we think about the day being a gift?

The thing is . . . each day is made by God . . . how the day is lived is our responsibility. 

The Psalmist made it clear we need to make the choice to rejoice and to be glad.  These two words are powerful, meaning we need to respond to the day by celebrating with joyfulness and gratefulness.

We've all experienced a never-ending-stinking-hard day.  These are stolen days, time we have missed seeing the gift in the midst of it all.  To celebrate the day with joy and gratefulness regardless of the circumstance requires an awareness of the presence of God and His gift of life.  There's no excuse of missing the day, except for our lack of attention.

We need to routinely ask, Why am I missing it? What do I need to do differently?   

It changes when we recognize what the day is about.
Begin. Recognize God has made the day. Receive the gift of the day.  Live the day with high energy: Celebrate and be glad.

Learning to Kickstart the day receiving the gift, with the intent to celebrate and be glad,
Kerrie

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