What is Your Life?

Life changes in a moment.  A young mother of a baby girl died this weekend.  She was too young to die. No one would tell you otherwise.  One thing is for certain, she lived with purpose and value. 
We have a certain amount of days to live. At the end of the day, there is a question, which is asked in the book of James:

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

What is your life?

You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

  (James 4:14, NKJ) 

  Think on the question: What is your life?” Regardless of the plans we have today and tomorrow, we really don’t know how much time we have on earth.  Facing the unknown of the future is a continual risk of faith.  
Regardless of the amount of time we have to live, we must make the choice to trust God on a daily moment for the time that is given.  Time is a gift and measures our life on earth.
Worship: Nicole C Mullen: Call on Jesus
Prayer: Father God, reveal what life is all about.

      Learning with you to KICK START the day

 . . . intentionally answering the question:  what is life?
Pastor Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Palmer © 2009 All Rights Reserved)

kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~ Kick Start Your Day

Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

Pray . . . for wisdom . . . revelation . . . to know Him better

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the glorious Father,

may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation,

so that you may know him better. (Ephesians 1:17)

Pray for yourself and others to receive :

• Wisdom  . . . an understanding of life . . . of circumstances . . . of details . . . of the reality of life through the Spirit of Christ.  
  
• Revelation . . . a greater perspective . . . to see  through the presence and power of God.  
• Intimacy with God . . . a deeper relationship . . . that changes the way we live. 

Spirit of Christ . . . I ask for wisdom to understand and revelation to see . . .  that I might know You better. In Christ's name, I pray.

 

Learning with you to KICK START the day

 . . . intentionally living to know Him better.
Pastor Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Palmer © 2009 All Rights Reserved)

kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~ Kick Start Your Day

Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

AS STREAMS RENEW THE DESERT

Perspective . . . makes a difference. 

Too often we see the details of a circumstance without seeing that God is at work. 

Life changes when we focus on God. 

The Psalmist celebrated the work of God:

Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
      What joy!

 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
      as streams renew the desert.
 Psalm 126:3-4

The thing is . . .  the journey of life can be wearisome . . . until we become exhausted . . . as if life has been sucked out of us . . . and we find ourselves in a desert time of life.    
In desert times, we often feel like God is far away and that hope is lost. 
Restoration is needed. 
The Psalmist prayed to be restored as streams renew the desert.  The powerful words depict transformation.     
When there seems to be no more life within us . . . when we are weary and tired . . . overwhelmed by pressures and problems of this world, God responds, restoring our soul as streams renew the desert.  
      Pause from the daily pressures of life today. 
      Immerse yourself in the Word of God.

Worship: David Chowder: Oh Praise Him

Pray:  Oh God . . . let me experience Your amazing work as streams renew the desert.

      Release your weariness to the power of God and experience restoration as streams renew the desert. 

Experience the joy of knowing what amazing things the Lord does for us.

      Learning with you to KICK START the day

 . . . intentionally experiencing the work of God as streams renew the desert.

Pastor Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Palmer © 2009 All Rights Reserved)

kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~ Kick Start Your Day

Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

The Rock of Life

Can you change your life?

Then:   Hurt.  Harmed.  Hopeless.

Now:   Healed.  Healthy.  Hopeful.

The difference between then and now boiled down to a choice . . . to enter into a relationship with God.   We are transformed because of the presence of God . . . the Rock of Life:

Be my rock of refuge,

to which I can always go;

give the command to save me,

for you are my rock

and my fortress.

 (Psalm 71:3)

  

Be my rock of refuge:  We have the choice to ask God to be our Rock of Refuge—the solid foundation of life, providing a place of safety from problems and pressures. There is strength . . . a power . . . Life . . .  in the Rock of Refuge that can’t be found in any other place.  God is the Rock of Life.

 . . . to which I can always go:   We have the choice to go to God as our Rock

and fortress to the place of complete life-sustaining protection . . . the Rock of Refuge. 

 . . . give the command to save me: We have the choice to be saved by Christ.   Circumstances and obstacles (sin) separates humanity from God, which have no power in comparison to the power of God.

For you are my rock and my fortress:   We have the choice to experience the power of God as our personal Rock and Fortress. 

Worship: Matt Maher "Alive Again"

Pray: God, The choice to live with You . . . transforms life. You are the Rock of Life.

Take time to pray.

Choose the Rock of Refuge.

Discover the healing power of the Rock of Life. 

Invite the Rock of Life to your life.

Learning with you to KICK START the day

 . . . intentionally living in and through God the Rock of Refuge.
Pastor Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Palmer © 2009 All Rights Reserved)

kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~ Kick Start Your Day

Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

Fire from Heaven

He came for prayer.

He had messed up his marriage . . . his job . . . and his future. 

He was desperate.

He prayed, hoping for something more . . . anything.

A mysterious miracle occurred.

He received peace.

How is it possible to change through prayer?

Look at what happened to Solomon.

Solomon worked on building the temple, a dwelling place for God.  When it was completed, Solomon prayed, dedicating the temple.  Something unusual occurred.  It was not the prayer . . . or the dedication . . . but what happened after the prayer . . .

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven

and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices,

and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.  2 Chronicles 7:1

Something changed . . . shifted . . . as fire came from heaven.  The focus of Solomon and the people had shifted away from their life to the presence and power of God.  Certainly, they had touched heaven as they prayed. 

Surrender what you pray.

Give everything up.

Receive the answer to prayer:  the presence, power, and peace of God . . . fire from heaven.

Touch heaven.

Worship: John Waller - While I'm Waiting

Pray:  Give me the strength to focus on You and receive the fire of heaven.

Learning with you to KICK START the day

 . . . intentionally praying for fire from heaven.
Pastor Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Palmer © 2009 All Rights Reserved)

kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~ Kick Start Your Day

Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

Refuse to Hang On

They purposefully hurt one another; however, there was a time that they promised to love one another with intentional kindness and care.  The problem between them began when one could not forgive the other.  The thing is . . . neither would say that the lack of forgiveness was the issue but rather the “wrong” behavior of one another. 

 

Forgiving someone is complicated and always takes work.  Even so, the act of forgiveness is simple: let go of an offense.  Have you noticed that it seems easier to hang onto an offense rather than to let go?  

 

Jesus came to show us how to live . . . praying for forgiveness . . . in alignment with the action of forgiving others.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven

( left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against)

our debtors. (Matthew 6:12)

 

Forgiveness is not about the offense but about the one who can let go of the offense.  When we live in a state of forgiving others, we can receive forgiveness from God.

For if you forgive others when they sin against you,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14)

 

If, we refuse to forgive others, we are refusing the forgiveness of God.  Why?  Our heart is not in a state of forgiveness . . . to give or receive.  How do we shift from a state of hurt and maybe even hate to a state of forgiveness?  We must let go of the offense committed against us . . . regardless of how wrong or horrific the action seemed.

 But if you do not forgive others their sins,

your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:15)

 

Forgiveness requires consciously detaching from an offense.   The Greek translation of forgive is "aphiemi," derived from "apo," suggesting separation and "hiemi," which is to put into motion and send.  Thus, forgiving is active separation as we detach from the offense—letting it go—sending it away from self.

Is it possible to truly forgive the offenders who commit intentional, destructive, life-changing offenses against us?   According to Jesus in Matthew 6:12 , forgiveness is part of our relationship with God: forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven.  

 

Forgiveness does not require the offender to change and it does not change the offense against us.   Forgiveness requires a change within us.  We must choose to detach and let go of the offense and send it away from our life.   Forgiveness liberates us from the burden and power of the offense, freeing us to experience the forgiveness of God. 

  

 Worship:

Newsboys: It Is You

 

Pray:  You have freed me through forgiveness.  Give me the power to let go of the harm, hurt, and even hate I have from those who have wronged me.  I surrender.

 

Live in a state of forgiveness.

Refuse to hang on to what needs to be let go.

Respond: Let go and be free every day.

Learning with you to KICK START the day

 . . . intentionally forgiving,
Pastor Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Palmer © 2009 All Rights Reserved)

kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~ Kick Start Your Day

Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/

All Things

A long while ago, our family faced no-good-down-right-difficult times.  

Everything seemed hopeless, nothing seemed possible.  We repeatedly and intentionally let go of the fear of what could happen.  The thing is . . . we would decide to trust God . . . really trust Him . . . handing the fear over to Him; however, as so often occurs, details would change, and fear would move back into our thinking, conversations, and behavior.  It took active trust to continually surrender the fear to God.  Along the way, as we let go of the fear, it became evident that God was at work in the midst of adversity.  

 I had been weighted down by worry . . . until I could not manage the pressure . . . and gave it to God.  There was a moment in time when I realized that God who created the universe could manage the things I was worried about without my worry.   The circumstance did not change but I changed.  After many sleepless nights, I finally slept with peace . . . a peace that could only be from God.  And in the morning . . . I woke up with a song in my mind. 

The gift of a morning song has continued throughout the years.

One song . . . "Call On Jesus" has echoed in my mind more than once . . . in the early morning hours . . . reminding me that it is the power of Jesus that shifts the universe through no-good-down-right-difficult times to put the plan of God in place.

But when I call on Jesus

All things are possible

I can mount on wings like eagles and soar

When I call on Jesus

Mountains are gonna fall

'Cause He'll move heaven

and earth to come rescue me when I call. ~ Nicole C Mullen: Call on Jesus

Pray:  God, You will shift the universe to put your plan into place. All things are possible!

Jesus looked at them and said,

"With human beings this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

With God, all things are possible . . . . even . . . receiving a morning song as a reminder that God is present and at work in the impossibilities of life.

Learning with you to KICK START the day

 . . . intentionally calling on Jesus and listening for His answer: "All things are possible."

Pastor Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Palmer © 2009 All Rights Reserved)

kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~ Kick Start Your Day

Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/