Exceptional . . . Make the summer days count

Along the way . . . we experience an exceptional day . . .

the kind of day that we separate from other days . . .

the kind of day that takes hold of  the heart . . .

the kind of day that changes how we think, feel, act, and live . . .

the kind of day that can only be explained through the presence and power of God.

An exceptional day makes me wonder why there can’t be more of those kind-of-days.  While circumstances certainly can drive the day,  we have the opportunity to experience something more.  Jesus prayed it in John 17:24:
Father, I want those you gave me To be with me, right where I am, So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me, Having loved me Long before there ever was a world. Righteous Father, the world has never known you, But I have known you, and these disciples know That you sent me on this mission. I have made your very being known to them— Who you are and what you do— And continue to make it known, So that your love for me Might be in them Exactly as I am in them.

Life itself becomes exceptional, when we realize that the  love God, the Father, has for Christ resides within our being. The same love! 

Jesus, sent on a mission, prayed that we would know the specific and powerful love that grips us . . . so powerful that it can change everything about our life . . . including the way we experience the day.

So . . . what if we live each day . . . the 57 days before Labor Day intentionally in the powerful  love of God . . . the same love that the Father had for the Son? Wouldn’t each day be exceptional?

 

Jesus said it . . . that the love of God . . . was His mission. 

When we follow Jesus, we share the mission.

Be mission-minded today. 

And of course . . . celebrate the exceptional day!

Learning with you to KICK START the day as an exceptional day,

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/

A Free Drink . . . Make the summer days count

 I drove up to the window and ordered at the coffee shop.  I was surprised and excited when the  barista told me that my drink had been paid for by someone else.  Now, you might wonder why a gift of $2.30 would excite me so much.  The thing is . . .  it is rare when someone gives without any requirements or restraints.   

 Think about the scene, in the heat of the day, that occurred between Jesus and the woman at the well.  He offered her a free drink of water. She could not do anything for it . . . except . . . receive it.  Jesus explained the kind of drink He offered: But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life.  John 4:14

Jesus offered her the opportunity to take the drink of life . . . to experience more than what she ever expected . . . or thought she deserved.  Think of what it would been like for this woman who had a lifetime of rejection to be offered the drink of life.    Free.  Nothing was due.  She had spent all of her life owing people . . . until Jesus came and sat beside her and offered her more.

We are offered the drink of life . . . in the heat of the day . . . when life is sucked away.  And . . . it is free.

What happens in the summer days when we tell others about the free drink of life?

The impossible becomes possible . . . sorrow becomes joy . . . hopelessness becomes hope . . . life becomes full and whole.

Receive.

Drink.

Live.

Learning with you to KICK START the day with the free drink of life

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/

Dynamic and Energetic Hope. . . Make your summer days count

He could not get beyond what his wife did. 

Betrayed.

Hurt. 

Broken. 

Stuck. 

Done. 

Hope had disappeared. 

Whenever someone comes into my office with a story of betrayal or some other obstacle, I know that if their pain is not surrendered, the individual will miss experiencing the reality of life found in Christ.

The thing is . . . when a Christ follower lives in and through the dynamic and energetic hope of Christ . . . the individual does not stop living when things go sideways.    I like how the Message spells it out:  It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. Ephesians 1:11

The passage spells out the shift that occurs when we live in Christ:

We know who we are.

We know what we are living for.

And:

We know Christ had and has his eye on us.

We know Christ had and has designs on us to live exceptionally well (gloriously).

We know that Christ was and is working out his overall purpose in everything and everyone.

So . . . what if we live each day . . . the 60 days before Labor Day with a renewed identity, value, and purpose through the dynamic and energetic hope of Christ? 

Everything in our day changes, even the atmosphere changes, when we engage and participate in the dynamic and energetic hope of Christ.  Circumstances and what others do to us will not have the same impact on us.

Make the day count through the dynamic and energetic hope of Christ.

Intentionally live your day in the dynamic and energetic hope of Christ.

Celebrate the day as a gift.

Learning with you to KICK START the day living  in the dynamic and energetic hope of Christ. . . making each summer day count.

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/

Do One Thing . . . Make the summer days count

Summer used to be lived differently than the rest of the year; I am not saying we had lazy summer days, but it seems we were more intentional with what we did during the summer.   The thing is . . . God has a plan for us to live in an intentional manner . . . . in each season.  And, while our society spends time and money trying to find efficient and effective ways to organize and balance our days, we have one main task:  which is to intentionally follow Christ.   

It requires us to surrender everything . . . to live simply . . . it is the key to health living:  Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." Mark 10:21

Jesus made it clear that we must surrender everything to follow Him.  It is what makes our life count.

So, what does it mean to make the 61 days between now and Labor Day count?

The first thing we need to do, is be honest and evaluate how we live each day.

This requires prayer and questioning ourselves:  What separates us from completely following Christ on a daily basis?

Whatever the answer is, we must shift our attention to Christ.

Do one thing:  follow Christ.

To do the one thing: Be willing to live each day intentionally living like Jesus.  Be willing to surrender your plans, goals, and things you want to do.  Be willing to be random as well as to be planned.  Be willing.

Intentionally follow Christ these next 61 days of summer.

Nothing and no one can separate you from Christ but you.

Learning with you to KICK START the day living intentionally for Christ . . . making the summer days count.

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/

Impact

Madelyn has opened herself to the new life she has been given.  Clearly, God orchestrated every detail to bring her into our lives and us into her life. It all started with prayer . . . not just talking to God . . . but listening and responding.

When we listen to God and do what He says, the world is impacted.

I look at the person I was before Madelyn came home from China.  I will never be that person again.  One little girl has made a significant impact, changing who we are as individuals and as a family.

The thing is . . . we are created to impact others  . . . to change the world.   The book of Joshua records how the people failed to impact the world when they failed to listen to God and did not cross over to the other side: For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD, to whom the LORD had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey ( Joshua 5:6).

There is a line that must be crossed to impact the world.  To cross over the line is to make a courageous decision to listen to God . . . to do what God says to do . . . to go where God says go.  There is never a time to cross back to the other side when we value what God wants us to hear.

Impact the world.

 Be still. Breathe.  Listen to God.

Learning with you to KICK START the day, impacting the world by listening to 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/