I Am What I Am

I am a want-to-be-more-organized individual.  If, I only had more time or a personal 24/7 assistant, then, I would be highly efficient and organized.  That said. . .  “I am what I am.” 

Actually, the statement of “I am what I am” has always been a convenient statement for our family to explain our lack of having life figured out and put together.  The thing is . . . the Apostle Paul was the original author of that statement.  

He said: But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me (I Corinthians 15:10).

When it comes down to it . . . we are who we are . . . and we do what we do . . . through the grace of God.  The thing that matters is the continual active work of God, which changes us as well as the world around us.

It is seen in the book of Acts:

When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master. (Acts 11:22-24)

When we realize that God has a plan for what we can do with our life and will give us the power to do it . . . then it changes how we see ourselves and the life we have.

It is up to us . . . if we will see the “more” of God  . . . that God is behind and in all of life.  Then we can throw ourselves into what God has for us . . . enthusiastically and confident in the Spirit’s ways.

So. Realize and celebrate you are who you are and do what you do through the grace of God.

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . in the grace of God.

                                      Pastor Kerrie

 (written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
interactstudies/ ~ kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

God Will Do A Good Work

A good portion of my phone contacts have been lost.  No one seems to know how or why it happened.  It is increasingly clearer to me that technology can make life difficult at times. 

The question is . . . where did those contacts go . . . is there a place in cyberspace that lost information is swirling around?

What we don’t understand . . . the things that occur that seem out of our reach . . . can and will be used for a purpose . . . if . . . we are open to the “more” God has for us.  God will use our circumstances, the good, the bad, and the ugly, as a catalyst to propel us into living more in the power of God and less in our limitations.

We are given an incredible promise, one that stretches hope and brings us to our feet . . . “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  (Romans 8:28)

What does it mean to know that in all things . . .not just some things . . . God will work for the good.  There is one disclaimer . . . this promise is for those who love God.  That’s it . . . nothing else . . . love God . . . and God will work all things together for good.  Isn’t that a powerful promise to live with each day?

So.  The book of Acts , written at the time when the Church began unfolds the story of people living through the belief that God would do a good work in their life regardless of the hardships associated with being Christ followers:   

A few sentences express it all:

 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord (Acts 11: 19-21).

The people were persecuted; however, the more of God occurred . . . a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  The thing is . . . the presence of God in our lives changes everything.  The battle is won; God will do a good work in all things for those who love Him.

Look beyond the circumstance.

See what God is doing.

Celebrate that no matter how it appears, God is doing a good work in all things.

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . knowing God will do a good work in all things.

                                      Pastor Kerrie

 (written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
interactstudies/ ~ kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

Perception of Truth

There was no doubt that she had reason to worry.  Everything about her life was tentative for months . . . routine and order were a thing of the past . . . chaos had taken over. Nothing seemed safe in her perception.   

Our perception becomes our reality; however, it doesn’t mean it is true. What she could not see was the perception of the truth.  The truth is the presence of God is the safest place to be in. 

Peter’s life turned upside down . . . he came to the understanding that God has a plan that was beyond his perception . . . that Christ was for all people:   So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God's way?  Acts 11:17

Who are we to think that anyone or anything can stand in God’s way?

God is always present and more powerful than any challenge in life.

Seek the view of the bigger picture. See that God is present.
Live with purposeful intention . . . understanding that no one can stand in God’s way.

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . in the perception of truth.

                                      Pastor Kerrie

 (written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
interactstudies/ ~ kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnv,lle, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

The Heart of Reality

There was no proof . . . no evidence . . . but he believed that another man was the cause of most of his problems with his wife.   He had no doubt that their marriage would have been different if he would have not entered into their life.   He admittedly hated him.  

The thing is . . . what is in our heart will become our reality. 

In the ancient days, Saul who would later be known as the Apostle Paul, believed that he was a vindicator of God, assigned to make the world right. So, he pursued Christ followers with a murderous spirit . . . consumed with the need to be rid of them. 

Paul went to get an official authorization to persecute Jewish Christians. (Acts 9:1–2).

His reality was defined by hatred.

How is it possible to have the kind of heart change that changes our reality?

Ask the Spirit of God to change your heart.  We are promised to be freed through the power of the Spirit of God in our life:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Be free. Live in  the Spirit

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . freed to live in the reality of the Spirit.

                                      Pastor Kerrie

 (written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
interactstudies/ ~ kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnv,lle, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/