The Place of Undeserved Privilege

We celebrated our church's hundredth birthday in an outdoor service which had been planned for months.  It rained. I'm not sure why we were surprised, after all Oregonians live in rain much of the year; however, we were.  But.  We were in the presence of God.

The thing is . . . standing in the presence of God . . .  is a more powerful place to be than in any storm we may face. 

I'm the first to say the storms of life are difficult, challenging, and sometimes downright impossible, creating havoc and causing pain.  BUT.  And, this is a big BUT:

Our response to a storm delineates the power it has over us.  When we become consumed with the storm, we lose our balance, becoming less aware of God; when we intentionally look for God's presence, we realign ourselves to what really matters in life; when we learn the reality of the presence of God is much bigger than any storm, we are released to see life from a vantage point beyond ourselves. 

Consider. 
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory (Romans 5:2, NLT).

The key to facing a storm, is to intentionally stand in the divine place of undeserved privilege, the place Christ has given us to stand in, the place where nothing and no one is able to harm us, the place of grace and glory. And, yet, it's a choice to let the storm take hold of us or to weather a storm with faith, intentionally standing firm in the divine place of undeserved privilege without losing balance, drawing closer to Christ in a new and fresh encounter, confident there's a supernatural use for the storm.  In the end, we intentionally choose whether or not we will stand in the place Christ has given us to stand in or find ourselves pushed down, unable to get up, whether or not we live with confidence and joy or defeat and depression, whether or not we will be more than conquerors in Christ, courageously facing all things.

Give thanks for the life Christ has given you.
Face the storm.
Stand in the presence of God, the divine place of undeserved privilege.
Encounter Christ in a new and fresh way, confident God will work out all things for good.

Learning to Kickstart the day standing in the divine place of undeserved privilege,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Friendship Never Dies

I'm missing my friend today.  She died a little over a decade ago.  I never thought it would be possible to live ten years without talking to her, listening to her southern accent, laughing or planning our days together.  But.

I've come to realize friendship, true friendship made in and through the heart of God, never dies.   

We had such a good friendship, a strong love for one another.  We often communicated without words; we only had to look at each other to know what the other was thinking.  We cared about what happened to one another on a daily basis, willing to risk our life for one another as well as to do over-the-top-crazy-fun things together.  The gift of our friendship has made me acutely aware of the power of a committed and strong relationship.

Consider the words of Jesus.
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me (John 9: 13-15, NLT).

Religion was turned upside down when Jesus said there was a way to be a friend of God. Until then, spirituality was measured and graded by keeping the rules.

There's nothing greater than to be friends with God, trusting and believing that no matter what happens God is for you and you're for God.  No one and nothing can take your divine friendship away, not even death.  

Friendship with God is a forever deal.

Regardless of the season of life we're in, having a friendship with God gives us the reason to love life, to see the gift of the day, and to know we're never alone.  As a friend of God we're enabled to face life courageously with faith rather than fear, believing all things are made new, nothing is impossible, and that all things will come together for good.

Enjoy your friendship with God.
Go to a deeper place of intimacy.
Celebrate your day with God.

 Learning to Kickstart the day as a friend of God,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

The Moment

They're facing a day which will shape the course of their lives.  They desperately want a specific outcome; however, no one will say it will occur.    So.  We prayed, acknowledging God is GOD, asking for help to surrender their focus on the issue, trusting the plan for their life is beyond what they've ever thought or imagined, receiving divine peace.

When we face something challenging, when no one will guarantee a positive outcome, when we have more questions than answers, when things appear to be getting worse, we need to stop and become aware of the presence and peace of God.

The thing is . . .   when we're missing peace . . . we're missing the fact God is present, goes ahead of us, and will never leaver leave or fail us. 

Consider.  
"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you" (Deut. 31:6, The Message).

Sometimes we do that thing, we have the ah ha moment, when we read a truth about God and realize we're not living in its reality.  It happens.  There are seasons in life when we become more focused on our stuff  than on God.  Our conversations during these times often begin with the question, "Why?" And, we often wonder why other people, especially those who have chosen to live without God, are able to have what we want in our own life.    But.  Instead of focusing on what others have and what we're afraid won't happen, we need to stop everything and meditate on the presence of God, remembering God is with us, goes ahead of us, will not let us down, and will never leave us.  Becoming aware of this truth must become a daily exercise in order to live in the kind of peace that is unexplainable.

As we become more aware of the presence of God, we're enabled to relax and to receive divine peace.  

At the end of the day, what matters is knowing the presence of God.  When we know God is present, all  things in our life come together because we understand God is in control and at work.
Stop. Put aside a moment to become aware of the presence of God.
Remember God is with you, goes ahead of you, will not fail you, and will not leave you.
Relax.  Receive the peace of God, trusting all things will come together because God is with you, going ahead of you, promising to never leave or fail you.

Learning to Kickstart the day taking a moment to be aware of the presence of God.
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Uncommon-out-of-the-ordinary

Our church is celebrating one hundred years of service this week.  Who does that?  Who survives one hundred years?  It’s uncommon. But, then again, God is about doing the uncommon, those things which are out of the ordinary.  It all started with Pastor Eva and four women in 1911 in a little store front called Mission House.  In 1914, they moved to a building which remains standing in our little town of McMinnville.  One of the old-timers remembers at one point the church almost quit being a church. But.  They continued on despite the problems.  God had called the people to be a church.  Period.  It requires trust to do what God says to do, especially when we hit the tough times.  And.  Tough times will come.  It's not about how hard life becomes, but how we manage it all.  I can only imagine what the teens would have said when they were sitting in church, if, they could've seen the result  of persisting and pursuing God: "SHUT-UP.  I MEAN IT, SHUT-UP."  Really, it's surprising when anyone survives big problems, especially the kind of problems which make us want to quit and be done with it all.

The thing is . . . God's uncommon-out-of-the-ordinary greatness and bigness supersedes anything and everything . . . including the problems we face.  Actually, I think the problem is you and I.  It's often easier to see the greatness and bigness of a problem than God.  So.  It's in these times we must decide to either  persist, pursuing God or to quit, turning away from what we're called to do.

Consider. 
The heavens declare the glory of God,
       and the skies announce what his hands have made.
 Day after day they tell the story;
       night after night they tell it again.
 They have no speech or words;
       they have no voice to be heard.
 But their message goes out through all the world;
       their words go everywhere on earth (Psalm 19: 1-4, NCV).

The Psalmist reminds us of God's uncommon-out-of-the-ordinary greatness and bigness in our ever-changing skies, sunrise and sunset, the harvest moon, the stars shining in the night sky, the light of the sun that dissipates the darkness in the early hours of the morning.  And. All of creation is a reminder that God has greater things for us than what we can see in the moment.  When our reality is anchored in the presence of God rather than in the problem, we are able to see how ridiculous it is to worry, to stress-out, or to fear.  God is GOD.

Persist in what God has called you to do, despite problems.
Pursue God.
Breathe.  Take a moment.  Look up into the skies.
Remember God's uncommon-out-of-the-ordinary greatness and bigness.
Trust God in all things, including when great and big problems come your way.
Be ready for what more God has . . . it's ridiculously uncommon-out-of-the ordinary great and big.

Learning to Kickstart the day trusting God for greater and bigger things than any problem.
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

ALL

People often tell me they're trying to have a better and stronger relationship with God.  So, I ask them how they plan on doing it.  Most have no earthly idea.  I've learned, through my own life as well as with others, trying does not cut it.  An intentional plan is mandatory for anything worth doing.  So.  I recommend beginning by making a plan with ways to intentionally pay more attention to God.  I help list ways to intentionally engage more with God in their prayer life, meditation, study of  the Bible as well as participating in a class, small group, or something with others who have determined to do the same thing.  Being intentional requires accountability.

When it gets down to really doing something more to get closer to God, people tend to count the cost of their time and begin to feel pressured, guilty, and stressed. It's all too much to comprehend when we give ourselves to so many other things.  

The thing is . . . it's one thing to say we want to have a stronger relationship with God . . . and it's another thing to give all we have to do it. I mean, we're talking about God.  GOD.  In our culture we tend to think of God from our human perspective, forgetting God is GOD, greater and mightier than we could ever think or imagine. To continually give all to our relationship with GOD changes everything about life.

• It's not something small to get close to our great and mighty God, who not only created us and the space we live in, but who desires to have a close and personal relationship with us.  
• It's a big deal that GOD takes such personal pleasure in our desire for a stronger relationship.  
• It's our choice and responsibility to get closer to God.  One of the greatest promises Scripture highlights is the promise that God is always present and will never leave or fail us.  When we step into relationship with God we can be sure God is for us, God is with us, and the Spirit of God is within us.  The strength of our personal relationship with God is based on how deep we're personally willing to go.

When we cut God short with our time, effort, energy, and ability, when we give only a part of our heart to God, when we call on God only when we have a moment or desperately need divine intervention, we've turned our back on what God has planned.  It's a miraculous thing that God has not only forgiven our sins with complete love and amazing grace but wants to be in a deep and strong relationship with all the components of who we are and what we do.

Consider what Jesus said to be most important:
"YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND" (Matthew 22:37, NASB).

The word, all, explains the importance, depth, and commitment of what our relationship with God is to look like:
A relationship with God through Christ is all we need to have the best life.
Determine what needs to be surrendered in order to give your all.
Ask yourself, "What are the things that I've allowed to take precedence in my life rather than God?
Be honest.
Be real.
Love God with all of  your heart, your soul, your mind . . . your time, energy, ability . . . all components of your life.
Make a plan to give your all.  Do it.  Life is amazing when we give all to GOD.

 Learning to Kickstart the day giving all to GOD.
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

No Better Way To Live

So. This summer has been interesting.  I've had to face a life-threatening health issue.  The term life-threatening seems so ominous and needs to be put into perspective. While I'm responsible to be wise in  the things I can do to manage my health, as well as all of the other components of my life, at the end of the day my life is in God's hands.  I trust God.

 I've learned there is no better way to live than to live on earth as it is in heaven.   

Consider what Jesus prayed: 
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
   on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10, TNIV). 

Life is much more simple when we respond on earth the way we will in heaven, the dimension where we will be face to face with Jesus, where sin has no dominion, where amazing grace reigns, where there's no room for fear, where life is lived with courage and strength, where pure love defines everything and anything. 

The thing is . . . when it all comes down to it  . . . what really matters is how the day is lived,  regardless of what must be faced.  So.  It makes sense to live the way we're created to live, the way we'll live in heaven, the way Jesus showed us to live.  He told us to seek God first, to pray, to understand we are talking with the Creator, Who has promised to listen and answer, which in itself is a miracle when you think about how great God is.  This is not about praying the little church pocket prayer, but real, honest, gut ripping, courageous prayer-- confessing the things that don't belong in our life, if, we're to live the way we'll live in heaven-- surrendering all of our expectations and needs-- trusting God in all things--believing there's something more in the will of God than what can be imagined--determining to live beyond whatever must be faced with integrity, courage, strength, and pure love.  It's about what we are unable to do without the presence and power of the Spirit: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit" (Zechariah 4:6).

When you get down to it, there's no better way to live on earth than as it is in heaven:

• Live on earth as it is in heaven, face to face with the presence, power, and peace of Jesus Christ. 
• Confess. 
• Surrender. 
• Trust. 
• Believe.
• Live with integrity, courage, strength and pure love through the Spirit.

 Learning to Kickstart the day with the better way to live, as it is in heaven,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

A New Season

The day after Labor Day is one of my most favorite days of the year.  It always has felt like a day of crossing over the line  into a new season when the first day of school begins for students in our area, when new pencils, notebooks, and textbooks are issued for a new school year, when a few leaves on the trees begin to change colors, when we exchange summer activities for the things of fall.  When there's a re-energizing change of routine in the day, we've experienced a gift of something new.

Though we might not always see it, something is always being made new through the power and presence of God.  While we might feel we're stuck or at a dead-end, God uses it as a catalyst to transform, making all things new, creating opportunities for a new beginning, a new day, and a new season of life.  The thing is . . . it's our choice  . . . to live the day, or even the moment, receiving the fresh and new gift of God, re-energized and impassioned for life.  There's often more time spent in waiting for something different, waiting for something to change, waiting for something more than in the moment, waiting to enjoy what life holds for the day than in the time we take to experience God's gift of a new work.

We are made to experience the liberating and redeeming power of God when something is made new.  

Consider. 
But forget all that—
      it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
 For I am about to do something new.
      See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
   I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
      I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19, NLT).

Isaiah 43 makes it clear to focus on the new thing God is doing, to be willing to cross over the line from what has been to a new beginning.  It's not always easy to take the step when we're in the wilderness and wasteland in some or all of life.  But.  The key is to let it go, to focus on what God is doing, to see through faith that God is making a way through the wilderness and dry wasteland of life.

And, yes, it's easy to focus on the things which should've, would've, and could've been different . . .  if, only . . . however, we miss the mysterious and miraculous new work of God when we look at the stuff rather than turn our full attention on the Divine. 

Get ready for a new season of miracles.
Step in; cross over the line from what has been to the new work of God.
See what God is doing.
Trust God to make all things new, providing a way even in the wilderness and wasteland of life.
Celebrate the gift of God's work in your life as a new season.

Learning to Kickstart the day seeing the gift of a new season,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)