They were scared . . . scared that it would only get more difficult. They argued. Their problems consumed their thoughts, conversations, and decisions. No matter where they were or what they were doing, they could not seem to escape the pressure of the stuff of their life. It had seemed so different when they had first begun their life together.
There were two choices. . . to live in despair . . . or . . . to believe their dreams were not lost. As simple as it seems, the first thing we must do is to take a stand . . . to take the position of hope. It goes against what makes sense at the time; however, when we live in the hope that comes from Christ . . . we are positioned in the hope that does not disappoint.:"hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5, NASB)
How? Is it possible to survive hopeless situations?
The people in the ancient days sang about the hope that does not disappoint when they crossed over from oppression to freedom:
The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name (Exodus 15:3).
Zephaniah says it this way: "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, The Message).
God is not only present, but our strong warrior. God will make a way through the problems of life.
Regardless of how hopeless the situation looks, hope in God will not disappoint us, the Spirit of God pours out the love of God into and out of our life, fighting for our life.
Take a stand in hope.
Have faith in the Hope that does not disappoint.
Trust God to be present and your strong Warrior.
Learning to KickStart the day with God as my Warrior,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
Monday, October 11, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Dedication
Ever so often days come along that we can put the faith stake in and say this day is to be remembered. So it will be for this Sunday, 10-10-10. Madelyn's life will be dedicated to God. We are taking a stand . . . to the best of our ability . . . to see that Madelyn will go the way God has planned for her.
Generation after generation, the people of God have dedicated themselves to God. Look at the people in the ancient days. They had broke free of the generations of slavery and were able to see that it was God who brought them across the line from oppression to freedom:
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory.
He is my God, and I will praise him; he is my father's God, and I will exalt him! (Exodus 15:2, NRS)
They came to the place of realizing God was not just God but their God. When you get down to it, we are freed from the pressure of the stuff of life when we realize the God of this universe wants to have an intimate relationship with you and I, and we enter into it.
The thing is . . . we are enslaved by the things in life that are not of God. It matters when we do the things that separate ourselves from God. Alignment with the ways of God, in other words obedience, not only releases us but strengthens us.
Everything within us becomes right on a day that we dedicate our life to God. It is summed up with Madelyn's life verse:
I'm bursting with God-news;
I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It's exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.
(Luke 1:46-55, The Message)
Mary dedicated her life to God and was . . .
Bursting with God-news . . .
Dancing the song of Savior God . . .
as
God's mercy flowed as the waves of the sea piled high.
Dedicate yourself to God.
Live.
Celebrate . . . bursting with God-news and dancing the song of Savior God
Remembering
God is your God just as those in the ancient days remembered that God had provided the way . . . a dry path on the bottom of the Red Sea and piled up walls of water . . . to freedom.
Learning to KickStart the day in dedication to God,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
Generation after generation, the people of God have dedicated themselves to God. Look at the people in the ancient days. They had broke free of the generations of slavery and were able to see that it was God who brought them across the line from oppression to freedom:
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory.
He is my God, and I will praise him; he is my father's God, and I will exalt him! (Exodus 15:2, NRS)
They came to the place of realizing God was not just God but their God. When you get down to it, we are freed from the pressure of the stuff of life when we realize the God of this universe wants to have an intimate relationship with you and I, and we enter into it.
The thing is . . . we are enslaved by the things in life that are not of God. It matters when we do the things that separate ourselves from God. Alignment with the ways of God, in other words obedience, not only releases us but strengthens us.
Everything within us becomes right on a day that we dedicate our life to God. It is summed up with Madelyn's life verse:
I'm bursting with God-news;
I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It's exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.
(Luke 1:46-55, The Message)
Mary dedicated her life to God and was . . .
Bursting with God-news . . .
Dancing the song of Savior God . . .
as
God's mercy flowed as the waves of the sea piled high.
Dedicate yourself to God.
Live.
Celebrate . . . bursting with God-news and dancing the song of Savior God
Remembering
God is your God just as those in the ancient days remembered that God had provided the way . . . a dry path on the bottom of the Red Sea and piled up walls of water . . . to freedom.
Learning to KickStart the day in dedication to God,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
When The Morning Dawns
As the morning dawns we are given the opportunity to begin a new day . . . a day that God is present . . . and a day we live and breathe because God has said it is to be so. Ultimately, the way we recommit to living the day dictates the way we live. What a difference we make for ourselves and the world around us when choose to see God at the center of our day.
The Psalmist reminds us that each day:
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
and
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High (Psalm 46:4 ).
and
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns. (Psalm 46:5)
With God as our very present help . . . we can respond to the day by faith . . . even when the world is falling apart . . . and it seems the mountains of our life quake and fall into the sea. And, regardless of what is going on, there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God . . . where God is in the midst. . . . extending help as the morning dawns.
When we recommit to living the day intentionally for God, we are reminded that when the morning dawns, it is a new day and a new opportunity.
Can you imagine the Israelites waking up as the morning dawned after walking across the dry path on the sea floor and watching their oppressors drown? They knew God was very present and had helped them cross over. As the morning dawned the next day, they must have had an incredible experience of fresh faith with the realization that they had been given the opportunity to begin life again. It was a day of celebration:
THEN MOSES and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord, saying, I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider or its chariot has He thrown into the sea.(Exodus 15: 1, AMP)
The Israelites lived a life of oppression and persecution. Their persecutors terrorized them to the end. The power of oppression had been removed from their daily life. They began a new day worshiping God.
Imagine the sound of music as over 2 million people sang to God as the day dawned.
As the day dawns recommit to live it as a new day with new opportunities.
Trust God has something more for you.
Sing.
Celebrate.
Learning to KickStart the day as the day dawns,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
The Psalmist reminds us that each day:
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
and
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High (Psalm 46:4 ).
and
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns. (Psalm 46:5)
With God as our very present help . . . we can respond to the day by faith . . . even when the world is falling apart . . . and it seems the mountains of our life quake and fall into the sea. And, regardless of what is going on, there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God . . . where God is in the midst. . . . extending help as the morning dawns.
When we recommit to living the day intentionally for God, we are reminded that when the morning dawns, it is a new day and a new opportunity.
Can you imagine the Israelites waking up as the morning dawned after walking across the dry path on the sea floor and watching their oppressors drown? They knew God was very present and had helped them cross over. As the morning dawned the next day, they must have had an incredible experience of fresh faith with the realization that they had been given the opportunity to begin life again. It was a day of celebration:
THEN MOSES and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord, saying, I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider or its chariot has He thrown into the sea.(Exodus 15: 1, AMP)
The Israelites lived a life of oppression and persecution. Their persecutors terrorized them to the end. The power of oppression had been removed from their daily life. They began a new day worshiping God.
Imagine the sound of music as over 2 million people sang to God as the day dawned.
As the day dawns recommit to live it as a new day with new opportunities.
Trust God has something more for you.
Sing.
Celebrate.
Learning to KickStart the day as the day dawns,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Put Your Faith Where It Belongs
Do you ever put your time and energy into focusing on the presence of God? It is the presence of God that shifts the way we think and respond to what is occurring in our life in faith. As life goes . . . the circumstances in our life take our attention . . . and we must decide where we will put our faith.
Humanity is surrounded by the presence of God; however, it is easy to respond to life as if God is not present or in control. Awareness of the presence, power, and peace of God changes our perception and ultimately how life is managed. Think about it, the Israelites were in the presence of God along the way, but they did not always pay attention to God.
Did they understand the miracle of being in His presence?
Did they understand God was at work?
Did they have peace in knowing God was with them and would not fail them?
Do we?
The story of Exodus began . . .
God . . .
Heard their cries . . .
Took action . . .
Liberated them from the oppression of slavery . . .
Provided a way to a new life . . .
Protected them from the enemy of their past . . .
Opened the Red Sea and provided a dry pathway through . . .
BUT . . .
It was when the Egyptians drowned that the Israelites put their faith in God.
Along the way, the Israelites perceived that the oppressors, the Egyptians, had enough power to conquer them regardless of the presence and power of God. Until that day: When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and put their faith in him and his servant Moses.
(Exodus 14: 31, NLT)
They put their faith in God.
Take a break.
Breathe.
Recognize and acknowledge the presence and power of God.
May God give you and I an awareness of His presence . . . covering . . . work . . . and love . . . wherever we are and whatever we are doing.
Be at peace.God is present.
Learning to KickStart the day putting faith in God,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
Humanity is surrounded by the presence of God; however, it is easy to respond to life as if God is not present or in control. Awareness of the presence, power, and peace of God changes our perception and ultimately how life is managed. Think about it, the Israelites were in the presence of God along the way, but they did not always pay attention to God.
Did they understand the miracle of being in His presence?
Did they understand God was at work?
Did they have peace in knowing God was with them and would not fail them?
Do we?
The story of Exodus began . . .
God . . .
Heard their cries . . .
Took action . . .
Liberated them from the oppression of slavery . . .
Provided a way to a new life . . .
Protected them from the enemy of their past . . .
Opened the Red Sea and provided a dry pathway through . . .
BUT . . .
It was when the Egyptians drowned that the Israelites put their faith in God.
Along the way, the Israelites perceived that the oppressors, the Egyptians, had enough power to conquer them regardless of the presence and power of God. Until that day: When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and put their faith in him and his servant Moses.
(Exodus 14: 31, NLT)
They put their faith in God.
Take a break.
Breathe.
Recognize and acknowledge the presence and power of God.
May God give you and I an awareness of His presence . . . covering . . . work . . . and love . . . wherever we are and whatever we are doing.
Be at peace.God is present.
Learning to KickStart the day putting faith in God,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Out Of The Darkness
Have you ever wondered why we go through dark times, I mean . . . most-difficult dark times? I have some friends that felt blessed because they had not experienced dark times. As you might guess, dark times came. And, after they went through dark times . . . they realized God had blessed them . . . in ways they would never have experienced had they not gone through dark times.
That said, they don't want to experience dark times again.
But, isn't that true? In dark times we are more desperate for God and more willing to pay attention to what God has for us.
The people did not walk in the middle of the sea on dry land with water standing like a wall because times were good but rather they lived continually in dark times . . . oppressed . . . and enslaved. They had no freedom . . . no choices . . . no life of their own:
"The people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry land, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides". (Exodus 14: 29, NLT).
The thing is . . . we are called to trust in the dark times . . . when life seems hopeless. We are promised that the light will shine out of the darkness:
For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; ( 2 Corinthians 4:6-8, New American Standard Bible)
The Light provides a way out of the darkness.
Humanity . . . you and I . . . are invited to live in the Light of life.
The darkness does not comprehend the Light . . . moving the darkness out.
In the Light . . .
humanity is not alone . . .
in the Light . . .
the presence of the Spirit of Christ is seen.
Trust God will make a way out of the darkness.
Learning to KickStart the day out of the darkness, into the light,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
That said, they don't want to experience dark times again.
But, isn't that true? In dark times we are more desperate for God and more willing to pay attention to what God has for us.
The people did not walk in the middle of the sea on dry land with water standing like a wall because times were good but rather they lived continually in dark times . . . oppressed . . . and enslaved. They had no freedom . . . no choices . . . no life of their own:
"The people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry land, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides". (Exodus 14: 29, NLT).
The thing is . . . we are called to trust in the dark times . . . when life seems hopeless. We are promised that the light will shine out of the darkness:
For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; ( 2 Corinthians 4:6-8, New American Standard Bible)
The Light provides a way out of the darkness.
Humanity . . . you and I . . . are invited to live in the Light of life.
The darkness does not comprehend the Light . . . moving the darkness out.
In the Light . . .
humanity is not alone . . .
in the Light . . .
the presence of the Spirit of Christ is seen.
Trust God will make a way out of the darkness.
Learning to KickStart the day out of the darkness, into the light,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
Monday, October 4, 2010
For Nothing
There are times we bend to anxiety, which, moves into our thoughts and imagination impacting the way we respond to life. God has more for us than to be enslaved by anxiety. Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6, NASB)
The point Paul was trying to express is elementary: God is present. When we study the context he wrote in it is clear that we share the same issue as the people of ancient times did: the response of anxiety when we realize we do not have control. BUT, Paul makes it clear that it does not make sense to be anxious . . . God is present . . . and . . . rather than respond with anxiety we respond by praying. Before we skim over that . . . we need to let the fact that what Paul is saying to sink into our mind as well as heart . . . prayer is the answer to anxiety.
So, we are commanded to be anxious for nothing! The thing is . . . it requires intention to make the decision to be anxious for nothing. The key words are "for nothing." That said, it is impossible to escape anxiety at some point in our journey of life without the help of the Spirit of God.
There is a way to be anxious for nothing. God has promised us that He will be our strength in our weakness, in and through the power of Christ that dwells within: "And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (2 Corinthians 12:9, NASB).
It really is a miracle to experience the strength of Christ and to be anxious for nothing. I can only imagine how easily it would have been to freaked out with anxiety as the high-powered Egyptian army chased the Israelite people through the Red Sea. Yes, God provided them with the way . . . but . . . the Egyptians continued to pursue them and took the same pathway to capture them. When they turned around, they saw their pursuers disappear into the sea: "The waters covered all the chariots and charioteers -- the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived" (Exodus 14: 28, NLT).
The Israelites were free. Their pursuers were gone. Not one was left.
Be anxious for nothing.
God never fails. Never.
God will make a way in the Red Seas of life.
Learning to KickStart the day intentionally being anxious for nothing,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
The point Paul was trying to express is elementary: God is present. When we study the context he wrote in it is clear that we share the same issue as the people of ancient times did: the response of anxiety when we realize we do not have control. BUT, Paul makes it clear that it does not make sense to be anxious . . . God is present . . . and . . . rather than respond with anxiety we respond by praying. Before we skim over that . . . we need to let the fact that what Paul is saying to sink into our mind as well as heart . . . prayer is the answer to anxiety.
So, we are commanded to be anxious for nothing! The thing is . . . it requires intention to make the decision to be anxious for nothing. The key words are "for nothing." That said, it is impossible to escape anxiety at some point in our journey of life without the help of the Spirit of God.
There is a way to be anxious for nothing. God has promised us that He will be our strength in our weakness, in and through the power of Christ that dwells within: "And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (2 Corinthians 12:9, NASB).
It really is a miracle to experience the strength of Christ and to be anxious for nothing. I can only imagine how easily it would have been to freaked out with anxiety as the high-powered Egyptian army chased the Israelite people through the Red Sea. Yes, God provided them with the way . . . but . . . the Egyptians continued to pursue them and took the same pathway to capture them. When they turned around, they saw their pursuers disappear into the sea: "The waters covered all the chariots and charioteers -- the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived" (Exodus 14: 28, NLT).
The Israelites were free. Their pursuers were gone. Not one was left.
Be anxious for nothing.
God never fails. Never.
God will make a way in the Red Seas of life.
Learning to KickStart the day intentionally being anxious for nothing,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
Friday, October 1, 2010
Hope Comes
The storms of life are never invited but they must be faced. At times, the power of the storm is unfathomable. The thing is . . . in the storm . . . we are not alone. God invites us to pour out our heart to Him and to let Him be our refuge in the storm:
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.(Psalm 62:8, TNIV)
Pouring out our heart to God in honesty releases the power and pressure of the storms of life, preventing us from being enslaved. And . . . hope . . . comes.
It would seem that the Egyptians of the ancient days did not understand that they were enslaved as they kept their hearts shut off from the presence of God. At the time, the Egyptians most likely thought they were just trying to take back what was rightfully theirs. In the culture of the day, slaves were not considered equals as individuals but property. Without the slaves they would undergo an economic collapse. They had been given God's message time and time again to let the people go; however, they refused.
The problem that resulted in the Egyptian's demise resided deep within them in the unseen place, the heart, that drives and motivates us: So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea. The water roared back into its usual place, and the LORD swept the terrified Egyptians into the surging currents. (Exodus 14: 27, NLT)
Time after time, the Egyptians had disregarded God. The more they disregarded God, the more resistant they became to God. As Moses raised his hand over the sea, the Egyptians died without hope.
True hope can only be experienced when we keep our heart open to God.
God is the only hope.
Pour out your heart to God.
Let God be your Refuge.
Hope will come.
And, the point is . . . that with hope . . . we live.
Learning to KickStart the day pouring out my heart ,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.(Psalm 62:8, TNIV)
Pouring out our heart to God in honesty releases the power and pressure of the storms of life, preventing us from being enslaved. And . . . hope . . . comes.
It would seem that the Egyptians of the ancient days did not understand that they were enslaved as they kept their hearts shut off from the presence of God. At the time, the Egyptians most likely thought they were just trying to take back what was rightfully theirs. In the culture of the day, slaves were not considered equals as individuals but property. Without the slaves they would undergo an economic collapse. They had been given God's message time and time again to let the people go; however, they refused.
The problem that resulted in the Egyptian's demise resided deep within them in the unseen place, the heart, that drives and motivates us: So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea. The water roared back into its usual place, and the LORD swept the terrified Egyptians into the surging currents. (Exodus 14: 27, NLT)
Time after time, the Egyptians had disregarded God. The more they disregarded God, the more resistant they became to God. As Moses raised his hand over the sea, the Egyptians died without hope.
True hope can only be experienced when we keep our heart open to God.
God is the only hope.
Pour out your heart to God.
Let God be your Refuge.
Hope will come.
And, the point is . . . that with hope . . . we live.
Learning to KickStart the day pouring out my heart ,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
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