Where will you live?

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.  (Isaiah 9:2).

Isaiah announced the coming of Christ:   In the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 

Darkness . . .  hidden  . . . dishonesty . . . misery . . . oppression . . . hopelessness . 
LIGHT . . .  Revelation . . . Truth . . . Peace . . .Freedom . . . Hope. 

The questions is . . . where will you live . . . in the darkness or light?
To live in the Light, we make the choice to face the truth. Christ is Truth, revealing the darkness that resides within us. To be released from the darkness, we must become honest with ourselves and others.  When you get down to it, we are powerless to do it on our own:

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty (Zechariah 4:6, TNIV)

 When we ask Christ to take control of our life . . . we are released and liberated from the power in the place of deep darkness . . . not by our own strength or power . . . but . . . through  the Spirit of God.  We have no hope to be released from the darkness except through the Spirit of God. 

I hope you did not miss the point. Freedom from the darkness is not something we can do on our own.  Living in the Light is a daily choice to live through the presence and power of the Spirit. 

In the land of deep darkness, the Light has dawned.
You have a choice to either live in the darkness or the Light.
Life changes when we live in the Light. not by your own strength or power but by the Spirit of God.

Learning to KickStart the day  . . .  in the Light through the Spirit of God.

Kerrie

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

Seeing More

 Our family begins the Christmas season watching the old black and white movie, It's a Wonderful Life.  Even Madelyn, 21 months old, has now watched it.  The main character, George faced a hopeless situation.  It was the kind of situation that makes everything about life seem worthless. So.  George received a gift. The character, Clarence described the gift as  "A chance to see what the world would be like without you."

As the story goes . . . George Bailey dreamed of  traveling and constructing buildings around the world . . . but responsibility for the family business prevented him from leaving.  He married, had a family, and, without realizing it,  helped to build a community that mattered. Circumstances  prevented George from seeing that his  life had counted, was purposeful, and  made a difference.

The idea that there is something more in life than what we immediately see is vital to living a life that matters.  Luke wrote his book addressed to Theophilus, telling him there was more to see about life:
So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story's beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught. (Luke 1:1-4, The Message)

 Luke reminded his readers that there is something more to see in life.  Jesus.  He broke into the history of humanity, providing the way to live in and through the presence, power, and peace of God.

When we stop . . . breathe . . . and focus on the presence of God  . . . we see that Christ breaks through the stuff of our life providing the way to live a purposeful life that makes a difference in this world.
It is a wonderful life when we live in Christ.

Learning to KickStart the day  . . .  seeing more . . . the presence, power, and peace of Christ.

Kerrie

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

Press On

They lost everything.  Everything.
Friends opened their home to them and invited them to live with them.  They encouraged them to think of it as a step to gain strength. to move forward. One of my mentors said that when we face challenges we need to gain strength to press on. 

Press is a strong word, meaning to exert a significant amount of weight.

There are real battles that require divine strength to press on.  It is through God we receive the kind of strength we need to press on through the battles as He did for the Exodus people:  Amalek came and fought Israel at Rephidim. Moses ordered Joshua: "Select some men for us and go out and fight Amalek. Tomorrow I will take my stand on top of the hill holding God's staff."(Exodus 17: 8-9, The Message).

The thing is . . . Moses needed to press on by having the vision that ultimately the battle belonged to God . . . relying on the strength of God, as well as His wisdom, to face the battle. 

The Apostle Paul used the phrase, press on, when he wrote to the Philippians describing how he would cross the finish line of his life on earth: No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,  I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.(Philippians 3:13-14, NLT)


So. As Paul said, we have to forget the "stuff" and press on with the vision of what lies ahead, with faith that God will provide the way to win the battle, as we look forward to crossing the finish line . . . "Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,  I press on . . ."
Look forward to crossing the line.
Gain strength through the power and presence of Christ.
Press on.
  
Learning to KickStart the day pressing on,

Kerrie


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

God-given-opportunity

Wasting time.
Complaining.
Arguing.
Stuck. 
Seriously, we all have been there.  And . . . yet . . . God always has something more for us.  The thing is . . . we need to go forward . . . . grateful for a God-given-opportunity.

In their adversity, the Exodus people complained but Moses asked God what to do: Moses went forward by doing what God said: Moses did what he said, with the elders of Israel right there watching. He named the place Massah (Testing-Place) and Meribah (Quarreling) because of the quarreling of the Israelites and because of their testing of God when they said, "Is God here with us, or not?" (Exodus 17: 6-7, The Message)

What was the difference between the Exodus people and Moses?  The Exodus people gave up, complaining about their life.  Moses  had the wisdom to pray about what God wanted and the strength to do what God said to do. He moved forward with the guidance of God.

The Exodus people did not see that their adversity could possibly lead to a God-given opportunity.

It really comes down to following Christ no matter how difficult life becomes, giving thanks that adversity can be transformed, moving forward in the belief that all things are possible when we face life with God:
Jesus looked at them and said, “With human beings this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”   (Mark 10:27)

God is with you.
With God all things are possible, including the transformation of adversity.

Look at adversity as something God will use to move you forward. 
Refuse to complain.  Be wise.  Pray about what to do and take the God-given-opportunity..
Give thanks

Learning to KickStart the day taking a God-given-opportunity,

Kerrie


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

Get Directions First

 I wonder what would happen if we knew we would succeed . . . accomplishing what we set out to do . . .  ending up where we hoped we would end up?
Would we have more courage?
Would we be more willing to risk?
Would we take a flying leap of faith when it makes no sense?

The Exodus people were stuck, failing to ask for directions, spending their energy and effort by complaining.  Moses cried out to God, fearing the complainers.
God revealed His plan.
God was not going to leave or fail them.
God promised to be present and active, with a plan of provision: 

God said to Moses, "Go on out ahead of the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel. Take the staff you used to strike the Nile. And go. I'm going to be present before you there on the rock at Horeb. You are to strike the rock. Water will gush out of it and the people will drink." (Exodus 17: 5-6, The Message).

God told Moses there was a plan.
God told Moses to move forward, going ahead of the complaining people.
God gave Moses specific directions.
How did the Exodus people fail to understand that God had a plan for them?
How did they fail to see that God not only had a plan but  a plan  with a future and a hope?.
Why did they immediately begin complaining rather than praying?
The thing is . . . God had been faithful . . . releasing them from slavery . . . providing a pathway through the Red Sea when it seemed they were at a dead end . . . providing manna every day.  How did they miss the fact that God had a plan for them? 
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen.(Jeremiah 29:11-12, NLT)

God has a  plan with a  future and hope that is for you and I; however, we fail to see the plan when we are consumed with our circumstances.  So what can we do?  The promise following the promise of a plan is clear. Pray and God will listen.
Refuse to let circumstances rule.
Pray.
God will give the directions to His plan, giving you understanding of what to do as He did for Moses:
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance (Ephesians 1:18, NLT)
When the next step to the plan is not clear, get directions, asking the Spirit of God to open the eyes of your heart.
See that God has more . . . develop confidence . . .  that there is a plan that will not be stopped by obstacles.
So. Refuse to be stuck in your circumstances.
Choose to move forward by asking for directions to the plan.  Pray!
Move forward, giving thanks for the plan.
Give thanks.




Learning to KickStart the day grateful for the plan of God,

Kerrie


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

Thanks

So often we struggle with how things are not working rather than focusing on what God is doing. To live beyond our struggles requires intentional . . .   thanksgiving . . . even if it is for seemingly unimportant and small details.  Our perception of life changes as we give thanks. Gratefulness is a powerful part of living as a courageous follower of Christ.

The people of God did not see what God gave them or where they had brought them.
They saw lack.
They saw disappointment.
They saw pain.
Moses did not know how to lead the complaining people:

    Moses cried out in prayer to God, "What can I do with these people? Any minute now they'll kill me!" (Exodus 17:4, The Message)

The power of a complaint stopped Moses.  He called out to God, desperate to be rescued from the complaining people.  Gratefulness had been lost.  They succumbed to the pain of their circumstances.  Moses needed a word that brought him to a place of personal gratefulness.  The thing is . . . he had the responsibility.  . . .  to lead with thanksgiving.

Jesus demonstrated the power of gratefulness, even the night before He went to the cross. Jesus  took bread, gave thanks, and broke it.  The act symbolized Himself, the Bread of Life, broken for all of humanity: Then, he took the cup and gave thanks . . . saying it was his blood of the covenant . . . poured out for the forgiveness of sin:

     While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus gave thanks for the pain that was before Him for God so loved the world and gave His Son that all might have life.(Matthew 26: 26-28, TNIV).

Jesus gave thanks for the bread and the cup.
Simple.
Small things.
Powerful.
For God so loved the world and sent His Son to bring salvation which means  healing, wholeness, restoration, deliverance, and recovery.


Stop.
Refuse to complain.
Look beyond your pain of a circumstance.
Lead those around you in gratefulness.
Give thanks for the smallest of details.
Remember that gratefulness allows us to see more.

Learning to KickStart the day with thanksgiving . . . for every detail . . . for God so loves the world,
Kerrie

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

Toxicity

 We are created to influence one another; however, our influence declines when we complain.  The negativity becomes a barrier to what God can do through us. The thing is . . .  the negativity of complaining . . . is toxic. Even so, we are the ones that make the choice  to complain.

The Exodus people could not deal with their situation.  So. They complained:  But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses, "Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here with our children and animals to die of thirst?" (Exodus 17: 3, The Message)

The complaints of the people of God were rooted within a lack of trust as well as gratefulness.  Perspective changes with complaining as well as gratefulness.  Complaining brings problems into focus while possibilities are seen by those who give thanks.

At some point we need to decide if we, as His friends,  trust God
Friends, don't complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The Judge is standing just around the corner. (James 5:9, The Message).

Determine to be a positive influence today.
Refuse to enter into the toxicity of complaining.

Give thanks to God.


Learning to KickStart the day becoming a postive influence through gratefulness,

Kerrie


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