The Power of Presence

Frogs live in the wetlands behind our house.

Annoying frogs. 

Loud croaking frogs. 

Persistent-unable-to-ignore frogs.

The thing is . . . the frogs are there . . . nothing we can do . . . they are present.  

Presence.  There is power in presence.  

Think about it . . . when someone or something is present . . . details and circumstances change just by being present. 

Sometimes people ask me what they can do to help someone in crisis.  I often tell them that there is ministry in presence. 

How often does knowing that God is present . . . really present . . . change how we interpret and respond to life? 

We are promised that God is present . . . the promise is an anchor we can drop . . . to set and secure our mindset, emotions, and soul:

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

Isaiah 41:10

Be aware of the presence of God.

Refuse fear.

Refuse anxiety.

Look about you and know God is present.

Receive strength and help from the presence of God.

 Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . trusting God is present.

                                      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/

Why God?

In the course of life, we find ourselves facing mountains . . . problems, pain, and impossibilities.   Part of the journey of faith is to accept and understand that the grace of God provides the freedom to ask questions when we face the mountains:

"God . . . where are you?”

“God . . . how could this happen?”

“God . . . why?”

In the ancient days, the Psalmist had questions.  The mountains surrounding Jerusalem were considered dangerous . . . criminals hid there . . . the roads were unsafe. . . the Psalmist looked up and saw the pain and problems that occurred in the mountains. 

The Psalmist questioned (Psalm 122):

Psalm 122:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—

       where does my help come from?

While asking the question, the Psalmist dropped the anchor of trust:

Psalm 122:2 My help comes from the LORD,

       the Maker of heaven and earth.

The Psalmist declared that help would come from God to face and pass through the mountains. 

We may not understand or have answers to every question of life . . . but . . . we can trust God  to help us as we ask the whys of what the mountains represent . . . gut-wrenching pain, problems, and impossibilities. 

Face the mountains.

Receive the freedom to ask questions through the grace of God.

Drop the anchor of trust . . . secure and set your mind and heart  by trusting Christ to give you the strength to face  and pass through the mountains.  

[Hebrews 6:19 tells us that Christ is who we trust and hope in. . . an anchor for the soul . . . firm and secure.]

 That is our hope . . . that is what we trust . . . that no matter the problem God is there . . . that He will get us through the mountains.

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . trusting in the midst of questions.

                                      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/

Why God?

In the course of life, we find ourselves facing mountains . . . problems, pain, and impossibilities.   Part of the journey of faith is to accept and understand that the grace of God provides the freedom to ask questions when we face the mountains:

"God . . . where are you?”

“God . . . how could this happen?”

“God . . . why?”

In the ancient days, the Psalmist had questions.  The mountains surrounding Jerusalem were considered dangerous . . . criminals hid there . . . the roads were unsafe. . . the Psalmist looked up and saw the pain and problems that occurred in the mountains. 

The Psalmist questioned (Psalm 122):

Psalm 122:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—

       where does my help come from?

While asking the question, the Psalmist dropped the anchor of trust:

Psalm 122:2 My help comes from the LORD,

       the Maker of heaven and earth.

The Psalmist declared that help would come from God to face and pass through the mountains. 

We may not understand or have answers to every question of life . . . but . . . we can trust God  to help us as we ask the whys of what the mountains represent . . . gut-wrenching pain, problems, and impossibilities.

Face the mountains.

Receive the freedom to ask questions through the grace of God.

Drop the anchor of trust . . . secure and set your mind and heart  by trusting Christ to give you the strength to face  and pass through the mountains. 

[Hebrews 6:19 tells us that Christ is who we trust and hope in. . . an anchor for the soul . . . firm and secure.]

 That is our hope . . . that is what we trust . . . that no matter the problem God is there . . . that He will get us through the mountains.

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . trusting in the midst of questions.

                                      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/

The Grace and Gift

 Today we grieve and celebrate the life of a little girl that is in heaven today. Grief is a pathway in life that can be surprising . . . at times we will see the light and beauty of knowing  heaven is more than we can imagine and other times we can’t breathe as we climb the mountain of sorrow.  The thing is we can find ourselves experiencing both at the same time. So. We look for hope in the midst of the grief. 

Hebrews 6:19 tells us that Christ is the hope . . .
an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

When we drop the anchor to secure ourselves . . . and trust Christ to be our hope . . . then we know we are secured to question and trust at the same time.   

In the end, when we trust God in all times . . . in the good and hard times . . . we change . . . who we are shifts . . . life becomes defined by the presence of God . . . we see, hear, think, speak, and live in trust and hope of Christ.  

It is the grace and the gift of God to question and trust as we face the mountain:  

God, I trust you. God You are my hope. God you are my anchor.

Drop the anchor.  Be secure in the hope of Christ.

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . anchored in Christ.

                                      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/

Collision of Heaven and Earth

As I prepare to officiate a funeral this week . . . I have been thinking  . . . about what goes on in heaven . . .  while we do what we do on earth. 

When do heaven and earth collide?

Is prayer the collision point?

Will we see the outcome of prayer from heaven’s side?

Certainly, one day we will be amazed when we see life from heaven.

The thing is . . .  a collision of heaven and earth has occurred through the prayer of Christ:

 your kingdom come,
       your will be done,
       on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10)

So . . . ask . . . for the will of God to be done in your life.

Experience heaven and earth colliding . . . where the impossible becomes possible.

 Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . in prayer . . . as heaven and earth collide.

                                      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/