Active Peace Will Mess Us Up

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NLT)

These will be his royal titles: Prince of Peace. . .

I have found that Christmas is a tough time for many individuals. Anxiety peaks, stress builds, and individuals feel stretched and often hopeless. A common cause of internal unrest during Christmas time can be traced to broken relationships.

What can be done?

Active peace reduces anxiety and stress created from broken relationships. Active peace brings down barriers and walls that separate humanity. The difficulty of giving active peace comes from the fact that one must first have peace.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of Christ as the Prince of Peace. Christ demonstrated ultimate active peace by coming to close the great divide between God and humanity. The peace of God is always active, never passive. Peace comes through Christ.

The thing is . . . the active peace of Christ messes with our human response. Our “rights” are exchanged for forgiveness and love through active peace. Thoughts, feelings, and actions are transformed as you and I invite the work of peace to rule in our mind, heart, and soul. Active peace activates our change which activates our ability to make a difference in the world.

Change your corner of the world.
Receive the active peace of Christ.
Allow the active peace of Christ to “mess” with your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Give peace.
Learning with you to let active peace mess with the mind, heart, and soul,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Job Opening: Encourager

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NLT)
These will be his royal titles: Everlasting Father . . .

There are individuals placed throughout this world that have the distinct gift of encouragement. One encourager has consistently given me a word of encouragement just at the right time. While encouragement takes little effort and is easily dispersed, it seems we in the Western World are more quick to criticize than to encourage. In actuality it is a matter of the mind. Encouragement strengthens an individual, discouragement weakens.

Corrie ten Boom, holocaust survivor and author of the Hiding Place, impacted my thinking of how to approach life. Years ago, I sat under her teaching during a cold, snowy weekend. She outlined the responsibilities of Christ-followers, which includes encouraging rather than discouraging people. A good rule of thumb, she explained, was to give ten authentic encouraging statements before saying anything negative. Of course, it is almost impossible to be discouraging after coming up with ten encouraging statements.

The prophet Isaiah spoke to the people in an era of discouragement. He encouraged the people, promising a Savior would come, delivering them from their plight. He described the Savior as Everlasting Father. He was, is, and always will be God. I can’t imagine a more encouraging word, but to know that Christ was, is, and always will be with us . . . the Everlasting Father.

Make a difference in the world today.
Accept the job of a Christ-follower: Encourager.
Take time to encourage individuals in your corner of the world.
Ask God to give you encouraging words that will matter.
Give authentic words that build up rather than tear down an individual.

Learning with you to speak encouragement,
Shalom,
Kerrie


(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

God Cares: He Has A Plan

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NLT)

These will be his royal titles: Mighty God . . .

We are celebrating Tim today. He came home from Korea and completed our family on December 19, 1988. As our story goes, I began praying about adopting a child from Korea when I was five years old. It doesn’t make sense when you take into account that we did not talk about adoption nor did I know anything about Korea . . . but it is a fact . . . I began talking about and praying about adopting a child at age five. There is no explanation other than God placed the desire into my heart, which was a connection point with the plan of God.

I could write books about the gift of having Timothy in our life . . . and, yet, there is so much more to come . . . the plan of God is incomprehensibly expansive. No one can argue how miraculous it is that Mighty God cares what we do with our life . . . in fact, God orchestrates the desires of our heart in such a way that we become an integral part of His plan for humanity. Yikes! Think about it . . . we have a daily opportunity to be an integral part of work of the Mighty God.

Humanity has not been left alone to figure out how to fit into the plan of God . . . He created human beings to have desires of the heart . . . interest and passion . . . a point of connection . . . to be aligned with His plan. God guides individuals through His Spirit to manage life, gives power to live beyond pressures and problems, and energy to participate in His work. Seriously . . . why do we get so wrapped up in the details of circumstances when God has a plan? It seems like it would be obvious . . . a duh answer. . . turns out humanity can make life very complicated.

Christ came and revealed the way to live.

The prophet Isaiah told us that Jesus Christ was Mighty God. While He took the humble form of a baby, He remained Mighty God. Mind boggling isn’t it?
And so it goes . . . when we connect our life with God . . . develop a personal relationship and participate in His plan for the world . . . well, it is just down right astounding.

So, what is the plan that Mighty God has for you today and tomorrow?
What are the desires that Mighty God has put on your heart?

Celebrate today as a faith marker day: Mighty God has a plan for you to be a part of His integral work today!

Look beyond your circumstances.
Connect with God through the connection point of interests and passion.
Enter into His plan today.
Celebrate living in His plan.


Learning with you to surrender desires of the heart for Mighty God’s plan,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Words of Comfort

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NLT)

These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor . . .

I sat in the dentist office, waiting for Timothy. To be honest, waiting while listening to drills created some discomfort. . . as I thought about the drill in my son's mouth. In the midst of the busy and professional office, the Spirit whispered words of comfort into my soul. . . “Do not worry” . . . “Be anxious for nothing.” [See Philippians 4:6]

Isn’t it amazing when the words of God take form in your mind? Those words began to my prayer . . . as God reminded me that I could trust Him through the process . . .
The prophet Isaiah told us that Christ would be our Wonderful Counselor. Accordingly, Christ told followers not to be troubled:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans -- I will come to you. (John 14: 16-18, NLT).

Christ-followers never need to go through anything, great or small, alone. He will guide us through every situation.
Receive the gift of the Spirit as Counselor.
Be aware of His presence.
Seek Him .
Receive His Word.

Release . . . relax . . . rejoice.

Learning with you to seek the Wonderful Counselor,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Do You Know?

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NLT)

And the government will rest on his shoulders . . .

My friend often plays the role of a homeless woman in drama productions. Before and after the presentations she stays in the role, connecting with people that cross her path. It seems like we hear how often people ignore the homeless and needy. In actuality, there have only been two occasions when people turned away from her. The great thing . . . the really great thing . . . there are people that responded to her out of love, the most powerful component of living.

Do you know that kind of love?

The book of Isaiah prophesized that the power held in this world through government would ultimately be under the authority of Christ. While governments are motivated by political position, Christ dominates with the power of love. When all is said and done . . . love overpowers whomever, whatever . . .

Do you know the overwhelming love of God?

Is it possible to manage life with the kind of love that overpowers everything and anything?
The true miracle of Christmas is receiving the love of God.

Do you know someone that needs a gift of love?

Make a difference today.
Ask God who needs love today.
Surprise someone and give love through a tangible way.
Learning with you to know and give the power of love,
Shalom,
Kerrie


(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

If You Can't See

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NLT)

A Son is given to us . . .

I drove in ice fog yesterday and decided that it is on my list . . . to never do again. First of all, the challenge of low visibility and icy roads is nothing in comparison with the drivers on the road. Yikes! There are some downright scary drivers. It might seem like a little thing, but if you can’t see why are you passing cars? Note: There may be another car heading your way in the other lane--refrain from passing cars when you can't see!

That said, how often do we live life with limited vision? We don’t know what we are doing . . . we can't see beyond our own life . . . . but . . . oh well. . . we forge ahead . . . and risk other lives as well as our own. Since the ancient days, humanity has looked for a way to be saved from living with limited perspective. Not one human being will escape from the reality of this world; however, there is a bigger picture to be seen than just our own life and circumstances. Our actions impact others.

How is it possible to broaden our perspective?

The process of seeing beyond ourselves begins with the realization that Christ bridges the gap between God and humanity. Receiving Christ, the gift God has given to humanity, changes how we see ourselves and the world around us.

Slow down. Stop. See beyond yourself. Seek Christ. Ask to see what He sees in this world.

Refuse to start your day without seeking Christ first.
Ask Christ to give you eyes to see what He sees in your world.
See more than your own needs.
Slow down throughout the day to see more than yourself.
Ask God to show you what He sees in specific individuals and/or situations.
Proceed through your day with new vision.

Learning with you to see what Christ sees,
Shalom,
Kerrie

The Stripping of Christmas

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NLT)

For a child is born to us . . .

Christmas time is not always easy, especially for those grieving the death of someone they love. I have a grieving friend that says that all the decorations seem . . . well . . . dumb. Another grieving friend feels that cheery greeting cards are . . . well . . . incredibly fake. And, yet, another grieving friend finds all the shopping and cooking . . . well . . . a ridiculous use of energy and resources.

While, the tradition of decorating, greetings, shopping, and cooking can bring pleasure to people; it will never produce the peace which comes through the presence of Christ. The perception of what matters changes after we experience loss. Those who grieve discover a stripping of thought, emotions, and actions. When all is said and done, loss enables individuals to see what really matters.

Take time to look through the “stuff” of Christmas.
What really matters?
Determine what you are willing to lose in order to more fully experience the presence and peace of Christ . . . He came simply as a child . . . willing to put all of His power aside that the world might know something more than the traditions of decorating, greetings, shopping, and cooking.
Learning with you to lose some traditions in order to gain more of Christ,
Shalom,
Kerrie

Risk It All

The Lord is my Strength and my Song, and He has become my Salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him.
(Exodus 15: 2, AMP)

Risk is part of living with faith for my friend. He lives in a place where faith requires a daily decision to risk everything. Under those circumstances, my friend has felt the pressure of a gun place against his head for mentioning the name of Christ. Can you imagine? One of the can-you-believe-this-happened-stories occurred when he and two of his friends decided to go to a store to share their faith. Before they entered, my friend suggested they pray. After taking the time to pray, they began to make their way in; however, the whole building blew up as they walked towards it. A bomb had been hidden at the store. The time they took praying saved their lives. That said, my friend explained, “Faith is always a risk.”

The Israelites risked all they knew about life to follow God. The people sang when God protected and delivered them:
The Lord is my strength: God attaches followers with His strength, which is the power provided for those who believe. In surrender, we find strength.

But this precious treasure -- this light and power that now shine within us -- is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own. (2 Corinthians 4:7, NLT)

The Lord is my song: The human spirit is transformed through the presence of God.

And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your actions, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed." (Revelations 15:3,4, NLT)

The Lord is my salvation: God has chosen to take action on behalf of humanity. Salvation is not attained by human effort but through the activity of God. Salvation produces the gift of restoration.

It doesn't make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people.
May God's mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God. (Galatians 6:15,16, NLT).

Risk it all for Christ to be all in your life today.
Surrender all of your control in every situation.
Receive the power given on the cross . . . confess . . .
”Christ is my strength.”
Receive the gift of transformation through the Spirit of Christ . . . confess . . . “Christ is my song.”
Receive restoration through the peace of Christ. . . confess . . . “Christ is my salvation.”

Learning with you to risk it all for Christ,
Shalom,
Kerrie

Uncomfortable Faith

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)

A fellow student shared a story . . . actually not just a story . . . an amazing true story. He grew up in a place where the government hassled Christ-followers and dictated the churches; however, his family openly professed their faith in Christ and pastored a church without the sanction of the government. My friend's family received routine terrorizing visits from the police during his childhood. The police focused on his father who often would be beaten and imprisoned. Despite their difficulties, their faith grew and their commitment to serve Christ deepened.

Faith that grows in the midst of persecution is authentic faith. Honestly, most Westerners have not experienced persecution of that magnitude for following Christ. Faith is acceptable, often . . . comfortable . . . and rarely a risk.

The Israelites lived a life of oppression and persecution. Their persecutors terrorized them to the end. Their faith soared when they realized that God had protected them and their persecutors perished. They stopped . . . in awe of God . . . and sang . . . imagine the sound of music . . . given the fact that it has been estimated that there were approximately 2 million people . . . a population of a very large city . . . all singing. They did not know the details of their future but they put their faith in God and sang.



How does faith grow?

What is honestly worth the risk to have faith in Christ?

What do you put your faith in?

Take time to assess your faith.

Determine to have uncomfortable faith.

Sing to God.


Learning with you to live with uncomfortable faith,
Shalom,
Kerrie

Are You Aware?

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)

We had a few snowflakes fall yesterday. I walked out into the church foyer and heard the news, “It’s snowing outside!” Actually, several people told me. I could see the small little flakes fluttering through the air; however, my awareness of the flakes heightened through their excitement.

It made me think . . . 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 the perception of life and ultimately how life is managed. Think about it, the Israelites were in the presence of God.
Did they understand what it meant to be in the presence of God?
Did they understand His power?
Did they have they peace in knowing His presence?
Do we?

The story of Exodus begins . . .
God . . .
Hears their cries . . .
Takes action . . .
Liberates them from the oppression of slavery . . .
Provides a way to a new life . . .
Protects them from the enemy of their past . . .
Opens the Red Sea and provides a dry pathway through . . .
BUT . . .
Only when they saw Egyptians drown would the Israelites put their faith in God.
Through it all, the Israelites perceived that the oppressors, the Egyptians, had enough power to conquer them regardless of the presence and power of God.

The word, put, requires action. How do we put our faith in God?
Take time to actively put your faith in God.
Breathe.
Recognize the presence of God.
Be aware of His presence . . . His power . . . His peace.
Be at peace.
Learning with you to live life through the presence, power, and peace of God,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

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)


Friends had their baby this week . . . a perfect baby . . . perfectly cared for . . . no problems . . . no challenges . . . loved fully and wholly (PS . . . by the Way . . . in my view . . . babies are the happiness of the world). Except not all babies are loved, some babies are forgotten, mistreated, and/or barely tolerated. While it's true, it seems so unfair.

Think about it . . .

Have you ever wondered how life can sometimes be so difficult, I mean . . . really difficult?

Have you ever wondered how you possibly survived the difficulties you faced in the past?

Have you ever wondered how you will manage any difficulties?

Difficulties are a part of living on earth. How we manage difficulties will be determined if we manage our own way or through the presence and power of Christ. He is the Way through all things in life.

Have you ever wondered if Christ Jesus can really be true?

Have you ever wondered if the presence of Christ has really has made this world different?

While walking through the middle of the sea on dry ground could be considered the most amazing experience . . . connecting with the presence of God through a baby in a manager is out of this world . . . downright . . . unbelievable. Have you ever wondered how the Israelites felt after they walked through the sea on dry ground? There must have been a time of silence . . . there are no words to describe the moment a soul is delivered from the pressures of oppression.

Christ came to make a Way out of the darkness of oppression into the light of liberation.

Take time to wonder . . .

Agree to accept the freedom of Christ within your mind, heart, and soul.

Breathe.

Celebrate the wonder.

Learning with you to take time to wonder about life and learn about the power of Christ,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

DONE!

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 storm of 2007 in the Northwest is done; however, there has been devastation for many people to manage. Power and phone service has for the most part returned. Flood waters are receding. While there will be work to recover from the damage . . . there is a calm after the storm. The storm is done . . . work has begun.

DONE is a powerful word. The word, DONE, can be defined as finished, completed, and concluded.

Imagine the scene. The drama reached a crescendo . . . the Israelites were:
Finally released through a series of divine interventions . . .
Freed with hope for the future . . .
Followed by their past oppressors . . .
Frightened for their life . . .
Found fault with Moses (their leader) for the way things are going . . .
Focused once again on God . . .
Furnished with a way for complete release . . .

The drama ended . . . a quietness came over all the people . . . their oppressors were dead . . . the pursuit over . . . done . . . it was time to begin to live . . . really live without the pressure of their oppressors.

Christ has provided a way for us to move through a process to be freed from oppressive hurt and problems that keep us from really living. He leads us to a quiet place to find His peace that has been issued from the cross . . . the moment . . . God exchanged Himself for the oppression of darkness and turmoil that humanity experiences. In Christ’s words:

"It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30, NLT)

The power of oppression and darkness is gone . . .it is finished . . .DONE!
Find peace in every situation through Christ.
Refuse to be managed by problems.
Become quiet.
Seek Christ.
Let go of the pressures.
Receive the peace that has been issued to you on the cross.
Remember Christ’s words . . . done.


Learning with you that the power of oppression is over . . . peace has been issued,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Life Can Be Messy

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)

The storm has passed; however, the path of the storm’s destruction remains. Some individuals had to be evacuated; others remain in the dark today. Floods and high winds have left messes behind them.

Storms in our personal lives are similar. Unforeseen problems can seem to gain power and create messes to clean up. Exodus 14 paints a picture of the messiness of life. The Israelites who lived for centuries under oppression are released and then pursued. God provided the estimated two million men, women, and children with a pathway to freedom; however, it takes time and effort to move across the pathway. The Egyptians, the oppressors and pursuers, can’t let go of what they want, and put all of their effort and energy into what they wanted. What a mess . . .

The messiness of life makes me tired. Seriously . . . the picture of the Israelites reflect the process of being released from problems . . . problems become a part of the past . . . release occurs . . . BUT . . . the problems return with a vengeance.

Or . . . the picture of Egyptians reflect the problem of letting go of wants and habits . . . things that don’t belong . . . the process of letting go of what doesn’t belong in life is downright difficult . . . finally what doesn’t belong is let go . . . BUT . . . it is too difficult to let go . . . so all energy and effort is directed to the problem of getting back what doesn’t belong in life.

Then . . . a new day . . . the sun comes up and God issues power to Moses . . . the wall of waters begin moving with a roar . . . and the Egyptians are left to drown. WOW!

Moving through problems can be difficult but God entrusts those who seek Him with power to move through the process. BUT . . . Umm . . . yeah . . . turns out putting energy and effort into whatever does not belong in our life is not a good idea. Life is messy.

Christ Jesus purposefully experienced the messiness of humanity.
Christ Jesus promises to never leave us in our personal messiness of life.
Christ Jesus invites us to come to Him in the messiness of life . . .
Today is a new day.
Let go of what needs to be let go.
Receive the power of Christ to move forward.

Learning with you that how to process the messiness through Christ,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Which Way?

The Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground with the waters a wall to the right and to the left. The Egyptians came after them in full pursuit, every horse and chariot and driver of Pharaoh racing into the middle of the sea. It was now the morning watch. GOD looked down from the Pillar of Fire and Cloud on the Egyptian army and threw them into a panic. He clogged the wheels of their chariots; they were stuck in the mud.
The Egyptians said, "Run from Israel! GOD is fighting on their side and against Egypt!"
(Exodus 14: 22-25, The Message)

A December storm has blown in . . . wind and rain has inundated Northwest Oregon and Washington. There are coastal flood watches and hurricane force wind warnings. In fact, the high winds have knocked out a good portion of the coast’s power. Accordingly, the winds are preventing the restoration of power. Traffic has been reduced because of high water, covering highways and roads. Those that are outdoors in the stormy weather have been asked to be cautious and on guard for fallen trees and limbs as well as power lines.

It is unbelievable that weather, in this era, can create such chaos. Then again, let’s be honest . . . it doesn’t take much for daily living patterns to be thrown off. I mean really . . . life seems to be going well . . . one thing changes . . . chaos takes over . . . so much for schedules and order. . . nothing seems to go according to plans.

How does chaos occur so quickly when we think everything is under control?

Look at the story of the Egyptians who went after the Israelites in full pursuit. The Egyptians, the Israelites’ former oppressors, were stronger and had more resources than the former slaves. Even so, the Egyptians pursued the Israelites in their own power, going their own way. While the Israelites were weak, they were in the power of God, going where God was going.

Everything seemed to go wrong for the Egyptians when they attempted to cross the Red Sea . . . they lost control . . . chaos occurred. In reality, everything went wrong long before they entered the Red Sea . . . chaos was set into motion when the Egyptians went their own way rather than God’s way.

Circumstances seemingly direct the course of life; however, the direction we take . . . God’s way or away from God . . . dictates the course of life.

Take time to determine God's way.
Examine the way you are going today.
Go where God is going.

Learning with you to go where God is going,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Stay The Course, Collaborate, Serve

So the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! (Exodus 14: 22, NLT)

I talked with an individual who has lost most of the function of his body due to an illness. Even so, he approaches life with passion and a great sense of humor. His strategy:

Stay the course.
Collaborate with others.
Serve others---volunteer.

The Israelites struggled; however, they stayed the course. In turn they walked through the Red Sea on dry ground with walls of water on each side-- a walk of a lifetime. How did they do it? They did it together.

Once the decision to stay the course is made, collaboration and service are key to an individual’s health and well-being.

Stay the course: Endure and persist, regardless of challenges and difficulties, to reach the goal of _________.
Collaborate: Work with others and reach the goal of _________.
Serve others (volunteer): Give yourself to others and reach the goal of _________.

Mother Teresa explained:
"There is a light in this world, a healing spirit
more powerful than any darkness we may encounter.
We sometimes lose sight of this force
when there is suffering, too much pain.
Then suddenly the spirit will emerge
through the lives of ordinary people
who hear a call and answer
in extraordinary ways."

Answer the call—
Stay the course—
Collaborate—
Serve others.

Learning with you to stay the course, collaborate, and serve,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Release

Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. (Exodus 14: 21, NLT)

As I taught childbirth classes last night, I reminded the students that breathing slowly and deeply will be a life skill for both women and men. We tend to breathe too shallowly because of stressful living. I encourage everyone to take five slow and deep breaths every waking hour while consciously releasing muscle tension. It never fails; everyone is always surprised how taking a few moments in an hour to breathe and release tension can actually give an energy boost.

We tend to get used to living with tension and stress, failing to realize the difference in living without it. The picture of the Israelites’ release depicts humanity’s need for deliverance from the pressures and power of problems.

I am not sure anyone would really be prepared for the deliverance scene in Exodus . . . Moses raises his hand over the sea . . . a path opens through the water . . . a strong east wind rises . . . blows all night . . . a gigantic blow dryer . . . and the bottom of the sea becomes dry land. The Israelites had perceived life through their experience of oppression; however, the parting waters and dry ground created a visual image of God making a way for the people to fully experience freedom.

The Apostle Paul explained in 2 Corinthians 3:17: Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.

God makes a way for humanity to experience freedom from the weight of problems, challenges, and messes in life. Freedom doesn’t make sense because humanity experiences the pressure of living every day. Even so, God has made a way to be free through surrendering to the presence of Christ. The act of surrender releases you and I to receive His peace, Shalom.

Remember God always makes a way for you to be delivered from the pressures and power of problems and trials.
Take time to slow down today.
Breathe.
Breathe deeply and slowly.
Become aware of the presence of God.
Release your tension.
Surrender your pressure.
Receive the shalom of God.
Give thanks for freedom.
Celebrate.
Learning with you to be released from pressures to live freely,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

In The Darkness

The cloud settled between the Israelite and Egyptian camps. As night came, the pillar of cloud turned into a pillar of fire, lighting the Israelite camp. But the cloud became darkness to the Egyptians, and they couldn't find the Israelites. (Exodus 14: 20, NLT)

I have left work the last two days after dark. Two nights ago, the lights in the parking lot were off. It was difficult to see, which decreased safety and security. Last night the parking lot lights were on. Safety and security increases with light.

Light makes a difference.

Light is part of our spiritual journey.

Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
And God saw that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:3-4, NLT)

Those who follow God live in light. Those who are separated from God live in the darkness. The ancient day Exodus story encapsulates the steps of the journey we take either in the darkness or light. We freely choose to follow God, a choice that leads us in the light. The Exodus story contrasts the differences between two camps . . . light and dark . . . following God . . . going their own way.

Have you ever been in the dark? The kind of dark without light . . . absolute darkness . . . pitch black . . . nothing can be seen . . . nothing. The Egyptians were in darkness. They were chasing after what they wanted for themselves . . . their slaves. Their camp was completely dark. Imagine the fear and frustration of the Egyptians.

Next door to the dark Egyptian camp, the Israelites’ camp was lit with the light of God. Two camps . . . side by side . . . light . . . dark . . . a picture of humanity. Light and dark separate our lives.

God said that Light is good, separating light from the darkness.
Every thought, word, or action is either of the light or darkness.
Living in the dark is purposeless.
Invite others to join you in the Light.
Learning with you to live in the Light fully and wholly,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Revealed

Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. (Exodus 14: 19, NLT)

Well, I messed up. Shocker . . . hmm. . . but true. Our college pastor corrected the figures used in the devotion yesterday. Actually, the American Christmas spending budget has been 450 billion dollars rather than 4.5 billion dollars. Talk about being a little off. . . but wait there is more . . the National Retail Federation revealed their plan for American spending to increase 4 percent to $474.5 billion this year. Crazy . . . ridiculous . . . what does this mean about Americans?

Of course, we all know that Christ did not come for the sake of the economy. That would be a “duh” answer . . . and, yet, look at the facts and figures . . . Christ-followers need to think about what it means to follow Christ at Christmas.

So . . . what are we supposed to do?

First things first . . . ask God to reveal what you are to do. God reveals Himself to those who desire to go His way. Look at the followers in the ancient days . . . an angel and a pillar of cloud led them. God revealed His will when the angel and pillar of cloud changed positions and moved to the rear of the camp. Think of this . . . God actively revealed that the followers were to be protected from their oppressors.

God uses the mind of a follower to actively reveal His plan. The mind is created to connect and understand what God is revealing. You might say the pieces of the puzzle come together and the will of God is understood.
Refuse to buy into the American Christmas spending plan.
Seek God to reveal His will for Christmas.
Follow Him.
Learning with you to see the revealed way to celebrate Christmas,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Christmas Canceled

When I defeat the king, his chariot drivers, and chariots, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." (Exodus 14: 18, NCV)

Did you know that Christmas was canceled in England in the 1640’s? An extreme amount of time and money were expended on the day. Celebrating in excess became a normal component of the season. The government decided to cancel Christmas so that the people would focus on Christ.

Rather than investing time in giving thanks this past weekend, many Americans were spending time and money on Christmas. The college pastor at our church researched spending habits on Americans during the Christmas season. The total amount of dollars spent on Christmas in the United States is an incredible 4.5 billion dollars. He has asked us to join him in a Christmas Reformation. Do you think we need a reformation? Yikes! Yes!

Think about Christmas . . . do we celebrate through spending too much money and time on excess . . . the unnecessary . . . or invest time and resources on behalf of Immanuel . . . God with us.

The book of Exodus records the wealth of the Egyptians. God promised that His presence would overpower the Egyptians and their extreme materialistic power. Today, as in the ancient days, the economy seems to dictate how the world lives. Even so, the presence of God gives the ultimate value to life.

Christmas is about the presence of God entering our world. To the world, buying and spending dictates the Christmas season. Ask God how to approach this Christmas season . . . what can be canceled . . . what is unnecessary?

It is a simple choice: cancel the unnecessary this Christmas season.
Be aware of the presence of God . . . Immanuel . . . God with us.
Seek what Immanuel would have you do this Christmas season.
Cancel the unnecessary this Christmas season.
Focus on Christ in everything you think, say, and do.
Learning with you to cancel the unnecessary,
Shalom,
Kerrie

(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

When Life Goes Wrong . . .

And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers.(Exodus 14: 17, NLT)

Many Americans are preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow . . . taking time to eat a specially prepared meal with friends and family . . . around a table . . . giving thanks together. While eating with friends and family continues to be a part of the holiday, fewer individuals spend time verbalizing gratefulness. Actually, there will be more Americans stressed over what seems to be going wrong than grateful for the life they have received. Stress easily overpowers gratefulness.

The plight of stressed-out Americans can only change through a broadened perspective of what life is really about. Is that possible? While I have no statistics to back me up, it seems that many Americans tend to get cranky when things are not working out and crazed when there are too many things to work out.

Well, then again, all of humanity does seem to have dealt with the cranky-crazed issue throughout the course of history. The book of Exodus records the people of God being cranky and crazed; however, in the course of time . . . they chose to seek God rather than to stay focused on the details that they percieved to have gone wrong . . . for a while . . . and they were promised to see God. Of course, the Egyptians were also cranky and crazed, unable to see beyond their personal lives. Things were not working out and there was too much to work out.

The Egyptians were afraid for themselves when they liberated their slaves. They did not have a warm-good-feeling from doing the right thing and freeing their slaves. Liberation meant that their productivity would decrease while their personal work load would increase and their economy would take a no-return nose dive. Yikes!

The Egyptians were enslaved to their problems to the point that they became a problem to the children of God. When you and I focus on our needs, desires, and problems, our perspective narrows and our awareness of God decreases. We can either be cranky and crazed over the circumstances of life or give thanks to God . . . a simple choice.

Refocus.

Refuse to focus on whatever has "gone wrong."

Focus on God.

Give thanks.
Learning with you to focus on God and give thanks,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Is The Impossible . . . Possible?

Use your shepherd's staff -- hold it out over the water, and a path will open up before you through the sea. Then all the people of Israel will walk through on dry ground. Exodus 14: 16, NLT)

My friend spent the last few months fighting cancer. After surgery she was told that it had not spread; however, some routine testing revealed the cancer metastasized to her lungs. So . . . she went through treatments. Recovery takes time but the doctors determined she could return to work. Except while she was battling cancer . . . the business closed . . . it was reported she had died.

Now what? Is it possible to move forward when life is so difficult?

While we may have more technology and information than the people of God had in the ancient days, nothing really has changed. People get stuck in the difficulties and trials of living. Throughout the course of life we come to dead ends . . . a place where nothing seems to work . . . a time that nobody can seem to help . . . and nothing seems right.

Moses, the leader of the people of God, had to make a choice. He had to decide that God would make the waters part and make the mushy wet sea bottom dry so the people could cross over to the other side.

Okay . . . we know the story . . . but wouldn’t you think someone who happened to be your leader was crazy to explain he had to have enough faith to raise his staff over the sea and God would make a way?

I am afraid that my response might have been filled with dismay and a call for people to wrestle the crazy leader to the ground. Trusting God can seem really crazy . . . but that is what faith is . . . believing God will do what He has promised to do . . . to make the impossible . . . possible. Moving out of difficult challenges requires seeking God, believing God can do more than you think is possible, and following His directions.

Seek God.
Study His Word for direction.
Give thanks the work of God—He will make a way. He makes all things possible.

Learning with you to believe the impossible is possible,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Get Moving!

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!(Exodus 14: 15, NKJ)

Last night we had dinner with a group of people experiencing the pain of loss. Through a series of events, the individuals lost most or all of their resources, family, and a place to belong. Most of the people said they had no where to go, no one to help, and no idea of what to do to change their present situation. It makes sense that the pressures of their problems have created an ongoing fear of the future.

How do we have faith in the midst of experiencing what we fear?

Look at the interchange between Moses and God.

The people of God were freed from slavery; however, their previous slave owners wanted them back . . . slavery was the strategy to their success. There was no place for the people of God to go but into the Red Sea. The people were afraid and complained. Their fear makes sense. You and I can read ahead to find out that God planned to part the Red Sea and provide a way out, but, the people could not see ahead.

After Moses instructed the people to stand still and see the deliverance of God, he turned to God and cried out for deliverance. The answer was clear:

Get moving!

Easier said than done . . . we must let go of fear to move forward in faith.
Letting go of fear is an ongoing decision.
Letting go of fear allows you and I to connect with the peace of God . . . the Shalom.
Get moving!
Let go of fear.
Receive peace . . . Shalom.
Move forward in faith.

Learning with you to get moving,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

A Sign Of God's Presence

The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. (Exodus 14: 14, NKJ)

Have you ever been so aware of God that you were changed? My friend has been struggling with the pain of a broken relationship for over a year. A few nights ago, my friend woke up and knew God was present. In the darkness of the night, God gave my friend peace. That said, my friend has already had a continual peace of knowing the presence of God; however, the pain of the broken relationship had created an emotional upheaval. While most people would never have known my friend was struggling, God knew. God came. God liberated my friend from the emotional upheaval.

How do we know God is present?

A peace, that passes all human understanding, is present.
The peace of God . . .
Connecting with the pain of one individual . . .
Healing . . .
Restoring . . .
Relational . . .
Shalom.

Exodus tells the story of the people of God being far from peace. They were freed from slavery; however, their oppressors chased after them. The problem of their pursuers stressed them until they could not move on. Moses explained that God would fight for them.

The people had to make choices. Did they beleive the power of God was greater than their problems. Were they willing to be in peace in the midst of an unrelenting powerful problem?

Humanity is not free from problems. Even so, the liberating power of God frees humanity from the power of problems. Peace comes when an individual relies on the power of God rather than becoming entangled with the problem.

Enter into the relational peace of God . . . Shalom.
Refuse to allow problems to have power over you.
Rest in the power of God.
Live in the peace of God.
Shalom.
Learning with you to live in peace,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Fire!

And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. (Exodus 14: 13, NKJ)

Interruptions are always interesting.
I was scheduled to teach a class last night. I arranged the class room . . . put the class materials in order . . . and engaged in pre-class conversation.
The time came for class to start . . . a crowd began to form outside of the classroom . . . someone said there was a fire at the other end of the building . . . the fire alarm went off . . . we evacuated . . . emergency vehicles arrived as we waited outside . . . a small electrical fire took precedence . . . class was canceled.

Plans were changed. A new schedule will have to be planned. And, when all is said and done, in the process of time that is how life goes.

The people of God had finally been released from slavery. They were free; however, they turned around and saw their oppressors coming after them. They literally saw their past catching up with them. It was not what they planned. Evidently, though their previous attempts of release had been interrupted, the people did not think it would occur again. They thought freedom meant being free of problems.

Hmmm. . . sound familiar? Ouch!

Moses’ advice for an interruption of life remains applicable for our own life:
Do not be anxious: Refuse to become anxious or stressed. Consciously relax.
Stand still: Breathe. Become aware of the presence of God.
See the salvation of the Lord: Broaden your perspective. Look beyond the moment and believe God is in control.
Learning with you to see beyond interruptions,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

What Is Your Complaint?

As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the LORD for help. Then they turned against Moses and complained, "Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? Why did you make us leave? Didn't we tell you to leave us alone while we were still in Egypt? Our Egyptian slavery was far better than dying out here in the wilderness!"
(Exodus 14: 10-12, NLT)

I have a friend that listens to complaints all day long. He manages a large customer service department. Evidently, there are few that are willing to take time to say thanks. Most people visit customer service with a detailed list of problems. We have talked about the challenge of listening to complaints all day long.

Can you imagine . . . all day long . . . listening to complaining people?

Yikes . . . I would be complaining to God, and anyone that would listen to me, about people that complain. Seriously . . . I would complain about the complainers.

One of the best stories about complainers can be found in the book of Exodus. The people of God had been oppressed, living in slavery for 430 years . . . until . . . miracle of miracles . . . the people were let go. LET GO! And, then, of course . . . the slave owners began to think about what their life would be like without their slaves . . . an economic disaster. So, they chased after them . . . of course.

The people of God saw their oppressors coming at them . . . and saw the Red Sea before them. They had been comfortable in their oppression and feared change. The people complained . . . they were done . . . they saw problems rather than possibilities.

How do we see beyond problems to see possibilities?

The complaints of the people of God were rooted within their anxiety. Your perspective changes with gratefulness. You see more than problems . . . you see possibilities through thanksgiving.

Remember what the Apostle Paul said: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, NIV).
Refuse to complain . . . complaining is draining.
Pray and make your requests known to God with thanksgiving.
Give thanks to God.
Give thanks.... giving thanks is energizing.
Learning with you to be grateful,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

I Have Nothing

God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them.
(Exodus 2: 24-25, NRS)

I remember the first time I heard an individual say these words, “I have nothing . . . I have nobody . . . nothing matters . . . I am done.” At the time, I was a young nurse and could not imagine anyone thinking that way. Through the course of the years, I have come to understand that the hardships and difficulties of this world are relentless at times. Life can be unimaginably difficult.

What can we do to help others during tough times?
I have learned when times are tough:

People need to be heard.
People need to know that someone cares and will not forget them.
People need to know they are seen and not invisible because of their difficulties.
People need to know they are noticed and will be helped.
People need to know they will be okay.

In the ancient days, the people of God were oppressed. They were slaves. Their life belonged to the slave owner. After centuries of living in oppression, the people called out to God. And:
God heard their groaning,
God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God looked upon the Israelites
God took notice of them.

Christ-followers are called to serve others for Christ.
Life changes when we call out to Christ and reach out to others as He leads.
Make a difference today.
Take time to pray for someone that has nothing—really pray---not just a quick prayer—but a sit down—be still moment to pray and connect with God on behalf of someone that has a great need.
Experience the activity of God.
Be a part of His activity and reach out to the specific individual through the leading of Christ.
Give thanks to God.
Learning with you to call out to God and reach out to others,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Unexpected Death

Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
(Ephesians 1: 4, NLT)

I attended a funeral this weekend for a man. In my perspective, he was too young to die. His death was unexpected. No one was prepared for him to die. Then again, death usually catches us by surprise.

I think he would have been stunned to see the church filled up with so many people and to hear their stories about how he had made a difference in their life. As people shared their personal connection, I was struck with the fact that we often only know an individual in one context. I knew more about his struggles than about his creative abilities, musical talent, and passion for fishing. And . . . I did not realize how much he loved and served people in simple ways . . . all the time . . . regardless of his personal circumstances. And there is more . . . he loved living.

He leaves a powerful legacy: Regardless of what we struggle with in life . . . we can love and serve people and enjoy the simple things of life. Life can be hard; however, when all said and done, how we live our life is a daily choice.

Is it really that simple to make a difference and enjoy life when life gets complicated and difficult?

The Apostle Paul wrote that every person has been chosen and loved, to live fully and wholly through Christ, before the beginning of time. To put it simply, God determined that the world could not do without a specific individual in a specific era and time. Each day has been chosen for us to live in Christ. In turn, we need to reformat and broaden our perspective beyond ourselves on a daily basis . . . to see there is a planned daily purpose . . . to love all . . . to serve all . . . to be grateful for life . . . to make each day count . . . regardless of the struggles of living.

We have a specific number of days to live. We know we will die; however, death would be unexpected today or in the near future for most of us.
Choose to live beyond your struggles.
Love all.
Serve all.
Be grateful for life.
Learning with you to make each day count . . .
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Let The Wall Fall

. . . “who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms
because we belong to Christ.”
(Ephesians 1: 3, NLT)

November 9, 1989 marked the historical fall of the Berlin wall. Within the historical annals of time, it has been recorded that courageous people stood at the wall praying for unity. Eighteen years ago, people around the world understood that the impossible had occurred. The Berlin wall had separated East Germany, ruled by the communist regime, from West Germany’s democracy. November 9, 1989 marked a new era of unity in Germany.

History holds valuable information for humanity. History repeats itself. In other words, what happened in the past will repeat itself in the present. While we learn about human behavior from historical records, we also understand that ultimately the impossible becomes possible through the liberating power of God.

The oppressed see the impossibilities created by their oppressors. The liberated see the possibilities produced through their Liberator. Liberation occurs through the Liberator, Christ; however, humanity often denies the liberating power of Christ to work within them.

The Apostle Paul explained there IS more available to Christ-followers. Why? Christ-followers belong to Christ. Think about it . . . what does it mean to belong to Christ . . . He liberates the oppressed. Christ invites humanity to experience liberation saying,

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Pray . . . Think about it . . . seek the liberating power of Christ.
Let the heavy walls of oppression fall . . . over commitment . . . busyness . . . financial pressure . . . broken relationships . . . disappointment . . . depression . . .
Surrender your burden.
Rest.
Learning with you to let the walls of oppression fall through the power of the Liberator . . .
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

What Is Your Excuse?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
(Ephesians 1: 3a, Message)

I have a friend who has abounding energy. My friend believes that the average adult expends more energy on making excuses than actually doing something in life. My friend is in her nineties. She is an active volunteer, walks two miles a day, and is known for her acts of kindness. Actually, excuses irritate my friend.

Listen carefully to yourself and those around you. The most used excuse is the busyness excuse . . . “I couldn’t do this because I was doing that.” Yikes! I must be honest . . . I do make the busyness excuse . . . seriously . . . I am busy. We are not called to do everything; however, what we do needs to be accomplished with energy and enthusiasm with no excuses. There is no excuse for excuse-living.

How can we live without excuses with energy and enthusiasm in all we do?
Receive the spiritual blessing God has for you to live your day.
Excuses become an obstacle to receiving spiritual blessings.

The Apostle Paul wrote that every spiritual blessing imaginable is available for the Christ-follower. The available spiritual blessings are not always received. Why? We make excuses about our specific circumstances.

Regardless of circumstances, living in the realm of spiritual blessings rather than making excuses, changes the outcome of how we live.

Excuses are derived from thoughts.
Reformat your thoughts. Ask Christ Jesus to manage your thought process.
The way we think directs what we do.

Excuses indicate a lack of responsibility for setting boundaries to do only what is ours to do.
Review your daily task list and ask God for wisdom of what to do . . . evaluate the tasks that need to be accomplished and the tasks that need to be released.

Excuses limit life experiences.
Rely on the Spirit of God to give you divine energy.

Remember making excuses expends energy and removes enthusiasm.

Rejoice . . . live with abounding energy and enthusiasm through the spiritual blessings of God.

Learning with you to refuse to make an excuse,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Do You Enjoy Your Life?

If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. (Matthew 5: 25-26, Message)

I watched children, of all ages, playing in a pile of leaves. Each one seemed to be weightless, falling into the gold and orange leaves, laughing as they buried themselves under the leaf piles. While most people take a few moments to enjoy the changing colors of the leaves, few individuals take the time to experience the feel and textures of the falling leaves.

Why? Most individuals are more focused on the details of living rather than enjoying the gift of their life. Do you take time to enjoy your life?

Seriously, we live in an era with seriously . . . fussy. . . worried . . . anxious . . . cranky . . . unhappy people. It is easy to let the problems of this world consume us. Because of technology, we engage with the problems by simply turning on a computer or cell phone or television with visual and oral reports. While awareness of what others are going through is a vital component to a Christ-follower caring for others, we need to balance life with the freedom to enjoy it. The Message translates Jesus to say we are not to “fuss” about the details of living, particularly when it comes to the personal details of our own life. We need to take time to enjoy the gift of life.

How do we avoid fussing and enjoy life on a daily basis?

According to Christ Jesus we need to intentionally refuse to fuss about the details of life, meaning we are to refuse worry . . . refuse fretting . . . refuse anxiety . . . refuse nagging God for what we do not have and giving thanks for life itself. Rather than fuss . . . intentionally take breaks during the day . . . say thank you to God and enjoy your day. I mean . . . what would happen if we intentionally enjoy a portion of daily life? It does make sense that the gift of life is to be enjoyed.

Release . . . let go of the tension . . . intentionally refuse to fuss.
Choose a God-worship lifestyle.
Give thanks for the gift of life.
Enjoy the life God has given you.

Learning with you to enjoy life,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

As Time Goes By . . .

. .. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 5: 13b, NKJ).
. . . And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9).
. . . And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7, NKJ).

We participated in “Family Weekend” at Timothy’s university. We drove about sixteen hours from home to campus and then back home. Time goes by rather slowly during a sixteen hour car trip. While we were at the university, clocks were changed and put back one hour . . . we gained one hour of time . . . and . . . because we live in a different time zone, we gained another hour when we crossed back over the Oregon border. . . so . . . based on the technicality of the elusive gain of time, we made the trip home in a shorter amount of time . . . well . . . think about it.

As time goes by. . . we learn that life is based on how we live rather than how much time we do or do not have to live.

In reality, beyond the restraints of time and space, Christ-followers are given the eternal presence, power, and peace of Christ. The awareness of the presence of Christ changes the perception of circumstances. The awareness of the dynamic power of Christ changes the management of circumstances. The awareness of the peace of Christ, changes the impact of circumstance.

Christ promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5b).
Develop an awareness of His promise to never leave you . . . ever.

Christ promised to be our strength in the weakness of our humanity (II Corinthians 12:9).
Develop an awareness of the strength He makes available for you to endure and persist in the race of life.

Christ promised to give peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Develop an awareness of the Shalom— His presence and goodness.

As time goes by
Choose to live . . .
In the presence . . .
In the power . . .
In the peace . . .
of Christ.

Learning with you to live in and through Christ as time goes by,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Stay The Course

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. (Philippians 3:12-14, The Message)

Yesterday, geese, in a perfect “V” formation flew overhead. There were three geese lagging behind. They seemed to be trying to catch up, which made me wonder . . .
Were the birds lagging behind or part of a tag team?
How do the geese know which part of the “V” is their responsibility?
Do birds ever miss their deadline to fly north?
Do birds ever veer off course?

Well . . . I’m just saying . . . we might be able to learn something from our feathered friends. . . there is a purposeful rhythm in a bird’s life span . . . go north for the winter . . . south for the summer . . . purposefully staying the course . . . together.

The Message translates the Apostle Paul description of life as reaching out for Christ as God beckons us onward. Actually, this is an explanation of how to stay the course . . . in community with others.

Reach out for Christ . . .
Move onward . . .
Stay the course. . .

Learning with you to stay the course,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

The Miracle of Giving Up

So no one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me.
(Luke 14:33, NLT)

I have permission to tell a true story that occurred this week:
A young couple with young children felt drawn to invite a single mother, her parents, and two children for dinner.

The young couple had a small amount of food.

The single mother had none.

The young couple, through faith, gave up their food to those who were hungry.

The young couple gave up their fear of running out of food.

The young couple gave up their time to fix dinner and share a meal with the single mother, her parents, and her two children.

After everything had been put away and their dinner guests had left, the young couple realized there had not only been enough but there had been more than enough—their refrigerator was filled with leftovers.

Impossible . . . incredible . . . I mean seriously . . . it happened. . . a miracle. . . a bon fide miracle!!!

We are given the opportunity to give up ourselves, including worry and fear, to simply do what God leads us to do. Jesus asks us to count the cost and then follow Him. The cost is giving up a self-centered lifestyle for a Christ-centered lifestyle.

Count the cost of giving up everything on a daily basis.
Consciously think about what you need to give up including: thoughts, attitudes, desires, needs, words, and actions.
Follow Christ and give up your whole mind, heart, and soul centered on Him.
Experience the miracle of giving up everything to follow Christ.

Learning with you to give up everything to Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

95 Revolutionary Opinions

And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me. (Luke 14:27, NLT)

Today is the last day of October 2007. Many Americans relate this day to costume wearing and parties; however, did you know that something incredibly important occurred 490 years ago?

One individual, Martin Luther, changed history. He nailed a paper issuing 95 revolutionary opinions (Theses) on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Copies were made and translated.

One individual chose to do something rather than to complain and do nothing.

One individual had the courage to condemn the corruption of the Church.

One individual’s actions changed history, known as the Reformation.

One individual makes a difference by responsibly living with purpose and following Christ.

Christ Jesus explained one individual lives purposefully by carrying a cross and following Him. What does it mean to carry a cross?

One individual, Simon of Cyrene, carried the cross to the place of crucifixion, where Christ died in order to restore humanity’s relationship with God.

One individual, Simon, became a part of the revolutionary movement to change the way humanity relates to God.

Start a personal revolution.
Ask God how to live purposefully by carrying your cross every day.
Carry your cross with joy, peace, and satisfaction.
Follow Christ.
History will change because of you.
Learning with you to carry a personal cross and follow Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Warning: DO NOT ENTER

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,
to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
to be made new in the attitude of your minds . . . (Ephesians 4:22-23, NIV)

I watched people while waiting for a flight to come in yesterday. I sat across from where the passengers were exiting. Guards were posted at the area with signs marked plainly, “DO NOT ENTER.” In fact, a warning sign had been posted at the edge of the exit. Turns out . . . guards and signs mean nothing to several people.

Apparently, the actual entrance is not as appealing as the exit. Some people actually stopped, examined the “DO NOT ENTER” sign, looked at the guards, and proceeded to enter. There were other individuals who physically looked away as if they could not see the guards or signs. Without fail, the guards told each individual not to enter. Believe it or not, each person responded with their special reasons to enter the exit.

Please . . . are you kidding me? Can you believe those people? Umm . . . hold on . . . this is an issue for all of humanity to face. The issue of entering into negative, unhealthy, and even destructive thoughts, discussions, attitudes, and actions must be addressed and assessed . . . all the time . . . in the process of becoming more like Christ.

The Apostle Paul described our new behavior as putting off the old self to be made new . . . in the attitude of our minds. The mind receives and processes the way we will define life. When we are tempted to go back to the way we live without Christ . . . Paul says we must put off the old self. In other words, to be made new requires action.

Put off the old self.
Acknowledge and assess your thoughts, attitude, words, and actions.
Refuse to enter into Christ-less way of thinking, speaking, and acting.
Enter into the thoughts, words, and actions of Christ.

Learning with you to refuse to enter into Christ-less thoughts, words, and actions,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Tipped Over

" May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:26, NLT)

I received twenty-four calls this weekend that centered on one kind of crisis or another. Though unrelated, each person described situations that left them . . . well . . . tipped over. A variety of emotions were described; however, helplessness threaded through each of their stories.

Along the course of a lifetime, crisis occurs and individuals lose their balance. And . . . by the way . . . have you noticed? When we are tipped over . . . we become a magnet for crisis. What is up with that? If it is not one thing . . . then it is another. Yikes!

Difficult circumstances often block our awareness of the presence of God. When we can’t see God, we tip over. Whenever we tip over, life becomes a series of challenges; the simplest task seems too difficult to do.

The one thing I know is that to get up when we are tipped over is a process. How life proceeds is not dependent on being crises-free but to be set free through the peace of Christ. Peace, the kind of peace that comes from Christ, breaks down the power of circumstances. The Apostle Paul said of Christ:

For he himself is our peace . . . (Ephesians 2:14, NIV)

The Hebrew blessing found in Numbers 6 proclaims the desire for peace to be given to another individual. Peace, the active work of God, will move us into an upright position.
Life changes when we receive peace.
Stop.
Breathe.
Be still.
Become aware of the peace of Christ.
Receive the peace of Christ.
Take time and allow the peace of Christ to occupy you.
Learning with you to manage the tipping point through the peace of Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Sorry, Wrong Number

The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you.
(Numbers 6:25, NKJV)

In an attempt to call a young woman named Brandi, I dialed the wrong number. I talked with a man and woman, sounding advanced in age, apparently using two phones. After introducing myself as Pastor Kerrie, I asked to speak to Brandi.

Man: “We don’t have brandy.”
Me: “Oh . . . actually . . . does Brandi reside at this number?”
Man: “We don’t serve brandy.”
Me, trying not to laugh: “I must have the wrong number. I am trying to reach Brandi.”
Woman: “You can’t reach brandy here because we don’t have brandy.”
Me: “I apologize for taking your time. I obviously have the wrong number.”
Man: “Right, because we don’t have or serve brandy.”

We had different perspectives. The two individuals must have wondered why a pastor would be calling for brandy. They may have some concern for me. On the other hand, I thought the discussion to be quite funny.

Our personal perspective is developed from our personal reality. At times our personal reality disconnects us from the bigger picture. You might say, living with our limited perspective is like being connected to the wrong number. [Yes, I wanted to connect the story with the concept . . . but come on . . . it works.] Christ-followers have the opportunity to enlarge their perspective by seeking true Reality, Christ Jesus.

The Light of Christ brings clarity and understanding. The gospel writer Luke, introduced Christ as light from heaven:

“Because of God's tender mercy,
the light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace." (Luke 1: 78-79, NLT).

In other words, the light of Christ breaks through our limited perspective. Anxiety, stress, and pain are often byproducts of seeing life through our personal perspective. The light of Christ opens our mind to see beyond our personal reality of past and present experiences.

Accordingly, the Hebrew blessing in Numbers 6 becomes a prayer for healthy and whole thinking and ultimately living. When an individual accepts the light of God, the Light literally pierces through the darkness of the mind, heart, and soul.

Connect with the Light of Christ.
Ask for the Light of Christ to pierce through your mind, heart, and soul.
Take time to respond and filter life through the Light of Christ.
Experience more through the Light of Christ.

May you be blessed with the power of the Light of Christ in your mind, heart, and soul:
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you.

Learning with you to see that my limited perspective is like dialing the wrong number,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

A True Miracle

May the LORD bless you and protect you.
(Numbers 6:24, NLT)

Two cars, side-by-side on a two-lane country highway, headed in the same direction came towards me as I came around the corner. In the dark of the night with no time to spare, I thought we would collide. [You know it doesn’t take the brightest bulb in the bunch to figure out that a collision will likely occur when there are two cars headed one way and one car coming the other way.] At the last minute, one of the cars swerved off the road to avoid smashing me and my car.

The remarkable part of the story needs to be told. I had peace in the moment that it seemed the car would hit me. Seriously . . . I am the dramatic type . . . shocker isn’t it? Peace does not come by own doing. My first response is to register my complaint out loud . . . yes . . . I know they can’t hear me from my car . . . but . . . people that put others needlessly at risk drive me crazy!

That said, the gift of peace, knowing God’s presence, was the miracle. The Hebrew blessing in Numbers 6 begins with the blessings of protection. “Keep,” another word used for protection, described the blessing of a 24/7 guard. This does not mean that we will avoid or avert trials and tragedy, but that God will guard and keep the heart, soul, and mind through challenges.

Seek to know the miracle of the presence of God 24/7.
Ask God to guard and keep your heart, soul, and mind 24/7.
Give thanks for the miracle of God’s protection 24/7.

Learning with you to be aware of the true miracle of God’s protection of the heart, mind, and soul,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Facing Loss

"So don't let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
(John 14:27a New Century Version).

The fires in California continue to burn. The evacuation mandate in my sister’s area lifted; however, others are unable to go home, waiting for updated reports of damage and devastation. There are some people confronted with loss such as our friend whose family’s new home burned. Of course, in the midst of the loss, they are grateful that their lives were spared.

When all is said and done . . . loss is painful . . . loss creates unwanted changes . . . loss results in the need for personal change. I mean . . . let’s be honest . . . it is easier to avoid loss than confront loss. Christ-followers often think loss should not be personally difficult; however, the reality of loss is difficult. Loss is loss for all of humanity. The difference for Christ-followers comes through the awareness of the continual abiding presence of God. The abiding presence of God does not remove the challenge or pain of loss but does change how we manage the process of loss.


Christ Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” In other words, don’t let anxiety or stress rule the heart but let the peace of Christ into control the heart. In the ancient days, the heart was considered the life-center of self. Accordingly, what we let move into the life-center determines how we manage life.

In the process of life, we will face loss. How we manage loss will be determined if we let anxiety or the peace of Christ to be at the core of our being.

Seek Christ.
Receive the peace of Christ.
Live in the peace of Christ.
Manage life through the peace of Christ.

Learning with you to manage loss through the peace of Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Why?

"I leave you peace; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does . . .”
(John 14:27a New Century Version).

My sister is one of the hundreds of thousands Californians who had to leave their home due to out-of-control wildfires. News reports have suggested that these fires are the worst that the area has ever experienced. A state of emergency has been declared to provide help in order to protect people and their property.

At the height of a crisis everyone does what needs to be done. Once the wind dies down, the fires are put out, and the news reporters go home, individuals will have to face the reality of tragedy and loss. There are so many questions when crisis of great magnitude occurs. At the end of the day, humanity asks the same question, “Why?”

I am not sure humanity will ever have all the answers, especially when it comes to tragedy. Of course, there are individuals who attempt to answer the “why” of tragedy by blaming God. YIKES! Why do we blame God when we are unable to understand something?

Christ Jesus gave an answer that goes beyond the “whys” . . . peace . . . His peace. Think about it, Christ Jesus did not say that life would be free of troubles and tragedy; however, He promised to leave His peace. That said, it is a choice to receive His peace . . . a peace that is different from the peace of the world . . . from our circumstances.

Why?
I don’t know.
What should we do?
Receive the peace of Christ. . . Shalom. . . the peace of knowing His presence . . . love . . . mercy . . . understanding.
Allow the peace of Christ to infiltrate every thought, attitude, word, and action today.
Meditate on the peace of Christ.
Saturate yourself in the peace of Christ.

May the peace of Christ be with you today.
Shalom.

Learning with you to go beyond the “why” and receive the peace of Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Daily Test

I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear . . .
(Ephesians 1:17a, Message).

I have a mid-term exam today. Who knew that going back to school would include test-taking? I would much rather tell about my knowledge than to be tested on my comprehension and understanding of specific material. Really . . . come on . . . does anyone want to take a test?

Um . . .yeah . . . I do know the answer to that question . . . only individuals that want to prove they know it all.

One thing that I do know . . . investing time and energy into learning more about God produces understanding of how to manage the trials that test our faith. I like how Eugene Peterson phrases the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the Church, the body of Christ: “to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally.” In other words, true clarity comes through the pursuit of learning more about Christ.

The unexpected happens despite our best laid plans. These are the occurrences in life that test our beliefs. That said, we are given the individual responsibility to have a clear and focused mind on what really matters. Easy to say . . . difficult to do . . . put possible when we take time each day to know more about living in Christ.

When you get down to it, living is a daily test.

Be ready for the daily tests of life.
Seek to know more about Christ.
Ask the Spirit of Christ to give you clarity.
Admit your need for the presence and power of Christ to abide within you.
Know the answer to the daily test: Christ in you.

Learning with you to know more about Christ, essential for the daily tests of life,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Doing Before Thinking

God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.
(Ephesians 4:15, Message).

Waiting in traffic, I watched a man use a leaf blower to remove leaves off the city sidewalk. The job is necessary in the fall; however, he chose to do his job during a wind storm. As he blew the leaves towards the street, wind gusts lifted the leaves back onto the sidewalk. That's not all . . . leaves continued to fall from the trees. It might just be me . . . but I am thinking leaf blowing would be more effective and efficient after the wind storm.

I mean . . . well . . . yikes . . . sometimes we do our tasks before we think. Doing before thinking could leave us with
increased work,
stress,
crisis,
and even tragedy.

The Apostle Paul explained that Christ followers need to take their lead from Christ. That's why Christ followers need to develop a committed mindset to do whatever needs to be done through the presence and power of the Spirit of Christ. How?

While it is a process, seeking God first makes sense, asking, “What would you have me do?”

Christ Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, NKJV)

There is more to life than doing . . .
Seek first.
Ask.
Do everything through the wisdom and dynamic power of Christ.

Learning with you to think before doing,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Wrong Direction

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
(Ephesians 4:14, NIV).

I was on an unfamiliar road following unfamiliar directions from a GPS (Global Positioning System). I thought the information gained between the satellites and the GPS receiver was . . . well wrong. A few minutes later, I realized the GPS had been right and I was on the wrong road. Who knew? Actually, this can be considered a “duh” principle: when you fail to follow directions . . . you will go in the wrong direction.

We are created to live a life that is directed by Truth. If we fail to follow Truth then we will go in the wrong direction. In the ancient days, Ephesus became a central gathering place for religious cults. Christ followers struggled with the deception taught by the cults. Accordingly, the Apostle Paul described Christ followers who fail to follow Truth as:
Infants
Tossed back and forth by the waves
Blown here and there by every wind

Going in the right direction by following Christ begins with our mindset. Our thoughts have the power to direct the way we live the days of our life. Thoughts guide words, attitudes, and actions. And, let’s be honest, thoughts can lead to assumptions that are not based on Truth which leads us to say words, form an attitude, and behave in a manner that is unwise or even wrong, leading to hurt and harm.

Follow directions based on Truth.
Seek the Spirit of God to fill your mind with Truth.
Study the Word of God.
Ask God to place Truth in your thoughts, guiding your words, attitude, and actions.
Go the right direction.

Learning with you to go the right direction,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

The Journey of Change

This work must continue until we are all joined together in the same faith and in the same knowledge of the Son of God. We must become like a mature person, growing until we become like Christ and have his perfection. (Ephesians 4:13, NCV).

The landscape has transformed in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The yellow, orange, gold, and red leaves paint a picture of change. Fall transitions us from summer’s warm sunny days to winter’s cold rainy/snowy days in the Northwest.

Humanity is created to experience and endure change. But . . . I have to tell you . . . change is not easy . . . actually most change is downright difficult. That said, change can lead us to growth and new insights to Truth. But . . . oh . . . change is a journey.

Humanity embarks on a journey of changes with the choice to follow Christ. Actually it is a lifetime journey of change according to the Apostle Paul who said, “We must become like a mature person, growing until we become like Christ and have his perfection.” Yikes—that is a process!

The challenges of life help us to understand our need to change. Change is difficult; however, changes that occur through surrender to the presence of the Spirit of Christ change the landscape of our interior life, creating noticeable peace, goodness, mercy, and joy. . . .

Seek the process of changing the landscape of your interior life.
Ask the Spirit of Christ to lead you in the journey of change.
Celebrate the noticeable changes of becoming more like Christ Jesus.

Learning with you to enjoy the journey of change,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)