Lift Your Eyes and See

It's not an easy day.  But.  It's a day of purpose, of consequence, and of God.  The thing is  . . . we tend to depend on ourselves until we are faced with the impossible of the day . . . then we turn to God and hope we'll be saved.  It is in the impossible, we often realize all at once, that God gives us the courage and ability to face all things.  When we spend the day whining, worried, or fearful, we miss the whole point of living in relationship with God.
What really makes any day the most difficult is losing sight of God. 
Even then, God uses others to bring us back to the place of complete trust.
Actually a friend emailed me a song while struggling with the thought, "I don't want to do what I need to do today."  It was a word from God:
Always--
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm 
My help is on the way, my help is on the way 
 Oh, my God, He will not delay 
My refuge and strength always 
I will not fear, His promise is true 
My God will come through always, always . . . I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord ~Kristian Stanfill


Consider. 
"Don't be afraid. Dear Zion, don't despair. Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you.  Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. (Zephaniah 3:16-17).

Zephaniah 3:16-17 gives two major commands:  Dont' be afraid.  Don't despair.
Then, there's an explanation to why its possible to not have fear or live in despair:  God is always present, a strong Warrior, who will save you and will calm you, singing over you with delight.

In other words, we do not need to fear anything but, rather, trust God to always be at work on our behalf as our strong Warrior.  

Fear is the absence of trust. So.  We need to evaluate the day, asking ourselves, "Am I responding in fear?"  As we evaluate ourselves, we must honestly assess if we are completely trusting God.  Trust requires quick action to fight the fear by lifting our eyes up from the circumstance to the presence of God.
Remember there's no reason to fear or to be in despair.  See the strong Warrior God always present and fighting for you.

Learning to Kickstart the day lifting my eyes to see the presence of the strong Warrior,
Kerrie

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

Attitude

So.  We had a skunk let its stink go during the night behind our house.  The smell permeated our home.  It was more than annoying, the stink literally changed the atmosphere.  It reminded me of one of my friends, who had been in a life-altering accident, who had to learn to live as a paraplegic, who had an incredible positive attitude and taught me:

Attitude changes the atmosphere of our lives.  There's some who have a stinking attitude and stink up our world.  Others change the world by their positive "can do" approach. 

The longer I live, the more I'm sure that "attitude is everything," a statement that my kids were pretty much forced to live by.  The thing is . . . both positive and negative attitudes are barometers of what's up ahead for us . . . leading us toward a positive or negative outcome.


Consider.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had (Philippians 2:5, NLT). 

We often think attitude is a choice; however, as a Christ follower, it's a "must" to have the same attitude as Christ had.  

A positive attitude, rooted in the presence and power of Christ, is optimistic, confident, hopeful, enthusiastic and self-less while a negative attitude is one that is pessimistic, cynical, critical, unenthusiastic, dismissive, unresponsive, and selfish; it's most often rooted in anger and/or fear. An attitude that lacks the presence of Christ is an attitude which lacks the power to have a positive lasting impact for Christ.  If, we keep centered on Christ rather than self, our attitude will be likewise.

Live with the attitude that Christ Jesus had.


Learning to Kickstart the day with the attitude of Christ,
Kerrie

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

Certainty in Uncertain Times

Uncertainty. It's where I've been for a couple of days.  It's an interesting place to be in.  It's when there's no definitive answer, no delineation of where things are at, no definable outcome.   It's a time of being in between of what is known to be true and what might be true.  It's a space of life in which faith is a necessity to carry on.

Faith gives us the basis for certainty.  

Consider.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1, NIV).

By faith, we're certain God is great and God is good.
By faith, we're certain God loves us more than what seems possible.
By faith, we're certain God is in control.
By faith, we're certain God's plan is the best way to live.
By faith, we're certain God is at work all the time.
By faith, we're certain God makes all things possible.

How is it possible to live by faith in uncertain times?

Intentionally and decisively put your focus on God rather than circumstances or people. Remember Jairus?  He was the man who went to Jesus and asked for healing of his daughter.  Jesus turned from what he was doing to go to Jairus' home; however, he was interrupted, a woman touched the hem of his garment, desperately needing a healing.  And, she was healed.  The healing power of Jesus immediately and completely healed her.  

The impossible became possible. Timing is everything.  As the woman was being healed, Jairus was told his daughter had died.  Then, Jesus gave the key to living in faith in uncertain times:

 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." (Mark 5:36, NIV).  

Jesus ignored the words pronouncing the girl dead and gave the two components to living by faith:  Don't be afraid.  Just believe.   To live by faith, we need to learn how to ignore words, situations, and ideas which are not of faith, giving our full attention to Jesus. Jairus made the difficult walk back to his home, certain Jesus had something more planned, certain of what he could not see, certain death would not be the final outcome.

Being certain in uncertain times is a gift.  

Receive the gift.

Live by faith, certain of what you do not see.

Learning to Kickstart the day certain of what's not seen,
Kerrie

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

With Christ

I've had to manage a situation that I don't want to have in my life.  So.  As I was driving to an appointment to talk about it, I had a moment in time of thinking about ways I could escape the whole situation.  But.  One of the cool things about having a relationship with God is that we are not alone.  God speaks to us in our need even when we are not calling out for divine help but actually planning an escape route to avoid the hard stuff of life.  I was reminded of the Word given to me almost a month ago.

At that time, I had no idea what I would be facing; however, I sensed God had used scripture as His message to me for a reason: JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.  

The thing is . . . this word has had profound meaning many times in my life . . . it was not as if this was something new . . .however, it felt new in the moment.  I’ve learned throughout the years that God is continually making all things new.  This message actually comes from Psalm 30.

It’s a message that life won’t always be about suffering,; it’s a message of something more; it’s a message that we’ll never have to be stuck in the hard stuff of life, it’s a message that though we can’t see it, God is working on our behalf and doing something new; it’s a message of a full life.  When suffering comes, we are able to know with confidence, it’s not the end of the story.

In the midst of the really hard stuff, we need to intentionally keep aware of the heart of the story of God: we are created to experience the fullness of life with God. 

Through Christ, we are enabled to have the best life, regardless of what we face.  Apart from Christ, we can do nothing.  With Christ, all things are possible.  The word, with, is key to living beyond and above all the stuff.  To live the best life, we live with Christ.

Consider. 
 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
      She will give birth to a son,
   and they will call him Immanuel,
      which means ‘God is with us.’” 
(Matthew 23:1, NLT).

God gave Jesus Christ to the world, Immanuel, God with us.  What makes life the hardest is losing sight of the presence, power, and peace of Christ.
With Christ, we know God is our friend and that living, no matter how hard, is an incredible gift.
With Christ, we have truth, life, and the way to get through it all.
With Christ, all things are possible.
With Christ, all things come together for good.
With Christ, we have a peace which surpasses all understanding.
With Christ, we experience life after death, whether it's death of a dream, a job, a relationship, or physical death.
With Christ, we have the joy of living.

Experience all of life with Christ.

Learning to Kickstart the day with Christ,
Kerrie

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

Refocus

I've asked and have been asked the question, What do you do when you don't know what to do?  The question often comes up when there's no apparent way to go forward, when it seems life is just a series of problems, when there's more sorrow than joy, when difficult challenges become routine, when life as we know it ends.  Our natural inclination is to suffer through the hard stuff, desperately waiting for things to be different, imagining how life could be without impossibilities piling up.  Many times we don't realize we've missed the gift of the day until we look backwards.

At some point, regardless of how exhausting or challenging life has become, we need to find a way through it.  

The thing is . . . there's a life-altering way . . . to get through anything and everything.  I've seen it and experienced it. Though it may sound religious and even naive, we change and are enabled to manage whatever comes our way by intentionally refocusing through meditation of God's message and prayer.
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)
God's word is His message to us today.
Stop, become aware of God's presence and listen:

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

The Spirit of God leads, brings clarity, and empowers us to get through it all with wisdom, strength, and wholeness:

"I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught." (John 14:25-27, The Message)

So.  Refuse to settle into worry, stress, or fear.  Clear it out. There's no room for fear when we face the impossibilities of life:

“Don’t be afraid; just believe” (Mark 5:36, TNIV). 

When we choose to listen to God first, when we respond to the Message, when we refuse to be anxious or fearful, when we choose to believe even when it does not make sense, we're changed:

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. (Isaiah 40:31, AMP).

Refocus.
Respond to God first rather than to the circumstances of the day: Stop. Be still.  Listen.  Meditate. Know God.
Renew.
Receive peace.
Refuse worry, stress, and fear; don't be afraid, just believe.
React to whatever comes your way in the power of the Spirit; live above all circumstances, as an eagle lifts its wings and mounts up.
Regard the gift of the day and celebrate, no matter what.  

Learning to Kickstart the day by first responding to God,
Kerrie

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

Step of Faith

He told me his story.  I listened as he gave a list of hard things in his life: Finances. Job.  Wife. Kids. It all seemed hard.  I responded with what I know to be true,  God always makes a way.  He said he did not believe the words.  We prayed and underlined words in Scripture, God's message to us.  We talked about taking one step of faith at a time.

It's a choice to walk by faith.  There's an intersection in each circumstance, in which we must decide whether or not to step out on faith and believe God.

The thing is . . . we limit ourselves when we focus on impossibilites . . . but when we walk in faith, trusting God to make all things possible, we're able to step into the day with courage, believing there's a way through it all.  

That said, walking in faith is a challenge; it's believing for something which can't be seen, it's focusing on God rather than circumstances, it's responding to life with faith rather than fear, it's living courageously.  When you get down to it, walking in faith is not for the weak.
So.  How do we live by faith when we're weak?

Consider. 
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The key to walking in faith is developing a complete-nothing-held-back trust.  When life gets hard we tend to lean on our own understanding, seeing it all from our limited perspective and experience.  There's always more to the story; there's redemption, hope, goodness, love, and transformation.  When we ask the Spirit of God to lead us, taking time to pray and diving deep into the Message, we develop a mindset of divine wisdom which allows us to see how circumstances become stepping stones on a divine path through it all.  Yet, it all may seem too hard and too impossible to do anything but be overwhelmed.
So.
Take one step at a time.
Trust enough to whisper a prayer.  God will listen to you and give you strength to take the next step.
Remember God is God.
God will make a way, giving you strength to get through it all.

Learning to Kickstart the day taking a step of faith,
Kerrie

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

Time Out

I'm looking forward to talking with Tim tonight; he's been in the wilderness somewhere in central Oregon hiking and camping, taking time out from his busy schedule, technology, and the stuff of life.  He'll step back into it all the minute he's back.

The thing is . . .  we discover there's more to life when we take time out, unplug, and disengage from the rush of life . . . yet, it's not always easy to slow down the mind to gain clarity of what we're missing.

It's a discipline to take time out and intentionally slow down our thought process.

Most people are too busy and too tired. We often mistake busyness for effectiveness.    We need to understand we're appointed for specific work in a specific time and place.  That said, we'll never have divine clarity of what belongs to us, if, we don't stop and listen to God.

Consider. 
John's disciples came to him and said, "Teacher, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you said was the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going over there instead of coming here to us."
John replied, "God in heaven appoints each person's work. (John 3:26-27, NLT)

It's clear God has created us for a purpose, appointing our work.  Misery sets in when we lose touch with the heart of God and what we're appointed to do.  If, the mind is too busy, we'll be unable to effectively hear God.  We clearly need space to listen what the Spirit of God reveals about our purpose and appointment.  So, when we allow the pressures of life to guide us we will miss out what the Spirit has for us.  That said, on some level we've adopted the belief being too busy is okay.  And, then, we develop a litany of excuses of why we are unable to slow down for a time out.  There's power in making a commitment to stop and step away from the craziness .

Challenge your lifestyle of busyness.
Make the commitment to slow down.
Take a few minutes throughout the day to practice slowing down by taking a time out.
Breathe.  Rest.  Listen.  Do only what you're appointed to do.

Learning to Kickstart the day taking time out,
Kerrie

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

Remember The Gift of the Day

I am helping someone who forgets what day it is, forgets where she's living, forgets important details of her life, forgets how to act to others, and even forgets who loves her.  I've seen first hand the sadness and anger within an individual from the trauma of forgetting.  The gift of daily living is often lost when someone forgets so much.  But.

In the midst of the suffering from forgetting the past and the present, I've seen the presence of God is with her, the gift of each day.  

Consider.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17, TNIV). 


Through the mess and the maze of the days of our life, we can be assured God is present, holding all things together.  God does not forget who we are or the purpose of why we've been created to live in a specific time and place; God never forgets us.  Even when we forget what's important, forget the gift of the day, forget God is in control, and forget God is present, we are assured, God is before all things and in Him all things hold together.

When we grasp the concept that God will never forget who we are, where we're at, and what we need, we're able to celebrate the gift of the day knowing God is making us new, enabling us to press on, empowering us to move forward do to what the Apostle Paul said, Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14, TNIV).


God has called us for more than what's occurred yesterday or what will be today.  There's a bigger plan than what we are able to see.

It makes sense to trust God in all things, to remember in Him all things hold together, to forget what's behind and to press on for which God has called us.  Life, regardless of what's seen in the moment, is a gift. Remember the gift of today and celebrate it. 

Learning to Kickstart the day remembering the gift of today,
Kerrie

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

The Rich Life

When people describe their life to me there's often usage of some rather harsh words, followed by an apology, "Sorry, Pastor."  My usual response is to laugh, thanking them for their honesty.  The thing is . . . I know when they choose to live fully in Christ . . . their response to life, regardless of circumstances, will be different because they're no longer living in spiritual poverty.

Consider.
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives (Colossians 3: 16a, NLT).

Life is rich each day when we choose to fill our lives with Christ. I'm not talking about a rule-keeping, negative, rigid existence but an ongoing, active, participative life with Christ.

When we are religious rule keepers, we live in spiritual poverty; when we let the message of Christ fill our life, we are spiritually rich.

When we base our life on religious rules, a rigid and often negative mindset develops, which leads to bondage.  When we enter and engage in a relationship with Christ, the possibilities of life are limitless.

So. When someone tells me, "I'm not religious." I usually respond, "Thank God."  This often evokes a nervous laugh from the individual as if I've broken some kind of rule, it's their assumption that religion is supposed to be my life. I'm pretty sure there's been a few people who thought they might actually go to hell, if, they stayed in the room with me.   But. The atmosphere changes as I explain how Jesus irritated and made the religious leaders mad, how he broke their rules, and how he made it clear God invites us to be in an intimate friendship, I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you (John 15:15, TNIV).  

The message of Christ is lived out through the words, I have called you friends.   As a friend of Christ, we're no longer bound by the "should" of rules, we no longer need to feel we should pray more, should meditate more, should study God's word more, should love more, and should serve more.  When we let Christ free us from a rule-keeping religion, we pray, meditate, study, love, and serve because we want to go deeper in our friendship with Christ, aligning our life with God's plan for a healthy and full life.  This is the key to ending spiritual poverty.

Stop living in spiritual poverty.
Go deeper in your friendship with Christ.
Let the message of Christ fill your life.
Experience the riches of Christ.

 Learning to Kickstart the day living the rich life,
Kerrie

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

P.S. And Always Be Thankful

So.  I've been learning about gratefulness.  Again.  A woman, a single mom, who has every right to complain and to be depressed, who has what I would describe as a difficult, challenging, and hard life, who has more responsibilities than a world leader, has been my teacher.  Seriously. She defines the term, "free spirit." I've come to realize the stuff she is faced with is just that, stuff.  She's sincerely grateful for her life and all God has entrusted her with.  And, she’s free from the weight of the pressures of daily living.  As we’ve talked, she told me one of things that has continued to help her was to keep a gratefulness journal.  She thanked me for suggesting it.  Apparently, she took it more seriously than I have because in all honesty I occasionally enjoy a good ranting moment about some of the details of the day.  And, seriously, I could do some ranting on her behalf because of what she faces

The thing is . . . being grateful is a huge part of the healing process . . . which enables us to live free from the pressures of the day, requiring us to intentionally pay attention to the gift of life, trusting God to be God.  

Gratefulness is not based on circumstances; gratefulness is a state of being; gratefulness is a realization that life is a gift from God. It's when you're able to appreciate each day without grading it as good or bad.  It's when you realize God is constantly at work on your behalf with never-ending love.  Gratefulness is trusting God to make all things new.  Gratefulness is intertwined with peace and contentment, a distinctive aspect of health and wholeness, changing the dynamics of the way we live.

Consider.
For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Colossians 3:15b, NLT). 

There seems to be almost a P.S. before the Apostle Paul was actually done writing his letter to the Colossians with the words, “and always be thankful.”  When these words are studied in context,  it’s clear this is a command, it’s part of the calling, it’s the way to live.  We’re not told to wait until all the details of life are smoothed out, until all the hard stuff disappears, until things go our way, but to be thankful now and always.  It’s an ongoing present tense command.  To be grateful, to live freely, we are to be thankful.
So.
Develop a life of gratefulness.
Live free from the pressures of the stuff of life.
Pay attention to the gift of life.
Take time-out to intentionally give thanks--stop, breathe, and thank God for the gift of the day.
P.S. And always be thankful.

Learning to Kickstart the day being grateful,
Kerrie

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

Let It Be

I'm always surprised when it comes to how people react to life.  I've watched people face the worst tragedies and heartache with incredible peace--the kind of peace that only comes from the presence of God.   Their response to the worst of the worst always makes my faith brand new.  But.  At the same time, I've watched individuals unravel over something minute, something that won't impact anyone or anything but what they planned for the day, something that in the end really doesn't matter.  The tension and anxiety from the minute changes the dynamics of day, leaving everyone afraid of a major explosion.  In the end, we're responsible for what we do and say, regardless of the circumstance.

Consider. 
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts (Colossians 3:15a, NLT).

There's something powerful to the one minute word, let, used in this passage.  This one word tells us that we  have the authorization to have the peace of Christ rule us; however, it is an ongoing choice.  The old Beatles' song, Let It Be, would fit perfectly with this Word of wisdom.   Seriously, those old songs still wander around in my thought process.  At least there's some use for them in this context and it's a reminder of the impact words have on us or whatever else we let in.

When you get down to it, the three words, let it be, define the choice of letting the peace of Christ to rule within.  The thing is . . . the peace of Christ . . . is an active state of being. 

And, yes, the stuff of life often strikes quickly and without warning.  We've all been hit straight on with something which is at the very least irritating and at the most, devastating.  The force of an unplanned and uninvited disruption may disorient our resolve at first, knocking us to the ground.  But.

In our weakness, God has promised to be our strength, giving us the ability to stand and face whatever comes our way with the peace of Christ. And, we will have the divine peace, if, we let it be.  

It's made clear, we're created for the peace of Christ rule in us, the key to health and wholeness, central to our walk of faith, the signature of the presence of Christ in you.  But, it's a choice. Let it be.

Learning to Kickstart the day with the peace of Christ,
Kerrie

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

Satisfied

It was a night to remember.  People of all ages shared their stories of life without and with Christ.  I'm always renewed when I hear how someone became new by saying yes to Christ.  It's as if a fresh wind blows through the room when people begin to talk of their new love for God.

After being with kids and adults who've had their world divinely changed, I want to tell someone in need of encouragement about how all things are possible, about how life is a miracle, about how God is the God of more.  

And, I want to hear more about the miracle of the indescribable sacred gift of the presence of Christ, completely satisfying the empty spaces of life.

When we pay attention to the gift, we realize how desperate we are for God and only God; there's no one or nothing that satisfies our need for God.  The Spirit of God moves into our life, allowing us to experience the presence and power of Christ, freeing us to live fully and wholly.  It's not to say that life is never challenging or downright hard after receiving Christ, but it's different because we'll know we're not alone in it all.  And, it's why we realize there's nothing more valuable in life than being in Christ.

Consider.
 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:12-13, NIV).

There is more to life than our wants. Without Christ, the hunger for more is never satisfied.
When we fully engage with the presence and power of Christ
with
all of our mind
all of our heart
all of our soul
all of our strength
we discover divine contentment no matter what we face.

Evaluate your life.  Are you satisfied? Are you content?  Do you have God in your life? Let the fresh wind of the Spirit of God blow over you today, satisfying all of your needs.  Christ is more than enough.

 Learning to Kickstart the day completely satisfied,
Kerrie

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

Grateful For Things Like The Moon

Little Miss Madelyn continues to teach me about recognizing the gifts around me.  The other night she became  incredibly excited about the moon shining through the evening clouds.  For a brief moment, the moon became ours.  I smiled for hours, thinking about how God created the moon for many reasons, one being for the two of us on a summer night.  I'll be more aware of the moon, thanking God for giving us the gift to see it.

When we take time to be aware of what we've received, we're more grateful and appreciative, seeing life more for what it is to be---a sacred and holy gift.  It seems to me that the stuff, the good and the bad circumstances, block our vision of what really matters.  Gratefulness changes the way we see and respond to life.

When you get down to it, the most courageous and faithful people are the ones who have an attitude of gratefulness and appreciation.  

Consider.
As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan (Luke 17: 12-16, NIV).

Jesus healed ten lepers; however only one out of the ten lepers thanked Jesus for their healing.  And, that particular one, was considered an outcast as a leper and as a Samaritan.  Luke mentions it in his writing because the Jewish people considered the Samaritans to be unclean.  And, before we cast a stone at the ancient Jews, we too have a system that attaches a label on an individual indicating their worth by their background, power, position, and possessions. And, yet, it was the one considered less worthy who took the time to thank Jesus.  I'm sure each of the ten lepers were excited, relieved, and very grateful for their healing; however, they went on their way without thanking the One who gave them the gift of new life.

It makes sense that humility is a part of gratefulness.   We really are blind to God's great generosity until we humble ourselves.
Recognize God's great generosity.
Be aware of what you've received.
Give thanks morning and night.
And . . . when the moon is out . . . remember God put it there for you.
Be grateful for things like the moon.

 Learning to Kickstart the day grateful for the gifts of life . . . like the moon.
Kerrie

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

More In You

I've been getting ready to preach this Sunday by living the sermon.  There's been some challenges in doing so.  It's not always easy. The thing is . . . preachers will tell you . . an authentic message has to be lived out.  When you get down to it, how we live is the message that speaks. God works through all of us in an unique and individual way, to say something through our lives.  There are many facets to our narrative, that are touched by the presence and power of God.

It's incredible to think that part of the story of God comes together in and through our own life.  But.  We have the choice of whether or not we will live the story--one of relationship with God--which brings hope to the world.  

Consider.
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me (John 15: 4, NLT).

God is always ready to do something in our life, when we remain in Christ.  Our greatest limitation to what God will do is our will.  In fact, God will do more than what we could ever think, ask, or imagine.  God wants to give us more faith, more hope, more love, more grace, more strength, more courage, more of everything and anything that will make us more like Christ.   God is the God of more.

Let God do something more in you.
Be willing to go where no one can go except in Christ.
Live out the message God will speak through you . . . the message of more . . . in Christ.

 Learning to Kickstart the day living with more,
Kerrie

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

Refuse to Waste the Gift of Life

I used to teach birthing classes.  It was always interesting how easily I had the students' attention; they wanted to hear something different than the frightening stories which were routinely told by family, friends, and complete strangers.  By the time they came to class, the students were worried, fearing late pregnancy, labor, and delivery.   I knew the first class had to begin with reassurance and a list of techniques and tools to learn, all of which would help them to manage what they were experiencing as well as what was to come.  There were three major life skills which needed to be learned: breathing-relaxation, focus, and preparation.  My goal was to help them to recognize the gift of life as something not to be wasted on worry and fear.

The students needed experiential learning, not just words, to remove fear from their mind. A good portion of the class was spent on "practicing what was preached."   So.  We took time at the front of the first class to breathe, relax, and focus on one thing, the gift of life.  The simple exercise helped everyone to calm down and to see there would be a way through it all.

The thing is . . . when we stop and step back from the stuff . . . we are able to have a new perspective which dissipates fear and worry, enabling us to face the future with courage and anticipation. 

Jesus clearly said there's more to our reality than what we see at first glance.
Consider.
"I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught." (John 14:25-27, The Message)

 Jesus gave us the Friend, the Holy Spirit, to give us clarity, to empower us to get through the stuff with supernatural peace, and to ensure we will experience the gift of life fully without worry and fear.

There's no reason to worry or have fear when we believe what God has made clear in the Word: "I will be with you.  I will not leave you. I will not fail you."  Without worry or fear, we are freed to live this life as it's been planned, as a gift.  So.  It's a choice to live this life as a gift, no matter the situation, with Christ's passion and courage, refusing to worry or to have fear, focused on walking in the presence, power, and peace of the Friend.

Step back from it all, learn what God has for you in the midst of it all.
Experience the presence of God.
Stop.
Breathe.
Relax.
Focus on the presence of the Spirit.
Refuse to worry or to have fear.
Follow the instructions of the Spirit.
Be at peace.

Learning to Kickstart the day without worry or fear,
Kerrie

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

Trusting

One family--a husband, wife, and three kids, were distraught after they received bad news, the kind no one wants to claim or even think about.  Their future was unclear as the news settled in and took over their feelings, thoughts, words, and behavior.    There are times the stuff of life is too hard, when all things seem impossible, when trouble and darkness moves into each feeling, thought, and word, when it's difficult to face another day or for that matter another moment.  No one escapes these times on earth.

I've been there.  Even as I'm writing this, I'm facing something that I'd rather not face.  But.  There's more to life than what we see in the moment.  Its taken some years of life to learn it's not as much about what we face but how it's faced. My teachers of life are the ones who possess courage and grace under fire, trusting God to be present and at work, regardless of what they're facing.

Long ago, there was a song,  Bridge Over Troubled Water, which was totally secular but always meant something more to those of us who were following Christ:
I'll take your part 
When darkness comes 
And pain is all around 
Like a bridge over troubled water 
I will lay me down (Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel).

The words from the song echo the words of Christ.
Consider:
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1, NLT).
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world"  (John 16: 33, NIV).

The thing is . . . as we trust Christ, even when we're faced with problems, troubles, and pain . . . we're able to see He's the way through it. Trust is not always easy, especially when life seems to be out of control; however, trust makes us better and changes the way we face the stuff.  When life gets tough, when darkness comes and pain invades our life, Christ has already took our part on, willingly becoming broken for our brokenness that we might be healed.

Christ is your Bridge over troubled waters and dark times . . . don't let your heart be troubled . . . trust Him to be your Light in the darkness, your strength in weakness, your peace in chaos,  your hope in the hopelessness as you face it all, giving you courage and grace with confidence it's been overcome.

Learning to Kickstart the day trusting Christ,
Kerrie

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