Take Another Look

Then Elijah brought him down
from the upper room and gave him to his mother.
"Look, your son is alive!" he said.
(I Kings 17:23, NLT).

This is the last day of January 2008. Did you get that? The month is over. Finished. Done. The thing is . . . if we are not careful . . . time will go by . . . and we will miss the value of what God has given us . . . the gift of life in that segment of time. It makes sense that at the end of each day, month, and year that we should take time to look back and give thanks for the life we have received in all circumstances.

Look back to the ancient days. Can you imagine the scene that the writer of I Kings has created? Elijah had carried the dead boy to the upper room, leaving the grieving mother alone. What happened to her when he had left? Most likely, she experienced the devastation of incomparable loss. Her world most likely had turned gray, tasteless, and senseless.
Then, Elijah carrying her son back down to her, announced,

"Look your son is alive!"

The range of her emotions must have been out of control. To see her son filled with life could not have been easily processed. She must have had to take another look . . . and she must have always seen her son differently after that . . . realizing how much she loved him.
The contrast of death and life must be noted . . . in our thoughts, words, and actions . . . we need to take another look and ask . . . am I responding to this circumstance through the mindset of death or life?
The Apostle Paul explained to the Corinthians:

But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we exist for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life (I Corinthians 8:6, NLT).

Take another look at this verse . . .it says "we exist for him."
What does that mean to you and I?
You and I exist to be in a love relationship with God.
Take time to think about that . . . it defines the purpose of life in every thought, word, and action ...
Take time to look back and evaluate this last month.
Do you see the life you have received through a love relationship with God?
Take another look.
Give thanks.
Celebrate.
Learning with to you to take another look!
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Life As It Is . . .

The LORD heard Elijah's prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he came back to life! (I Kings 17:22, NLT).

The Oregon Coast Range roads, after a powerful December storm, were closed due to downed trees, high water, rock and mud slides. The power of the storm's devastation and destruction remains evident by the hundreds of trees strewn along the sides of the road. Eventually, the downed and damaged trees will be put to use as loggers make their way through the Coast Range.

The scene has reminded me that restoration is a work-in-process but always possible. Life as it is from our perspective can seem hopeless in times of devastation and destruction. The prophet Isaiah wrote to the exiled people who had experienced their own 9/11 experience:

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory (Isaiah 61:3, NLT).

Life as it is . . . becomes a transforming process through the power of God:
Beauty for ashes . . .
Joy instead of mourning . . .
Praise instead of despair . . .
For the beloved of God are created to be like strong and graceful oaks for His own glory.
II Kings 17 records the prophet Elijah, the widow, and the young boy connecting to the power and presence of God through prayer. Death was exchanged for life.

What does this mean to you and I?

What I do know is that God gives life. When we experience devastation and destruction, God will breathe life back into us. Yes, it is a process . . . but . . . when we seek God . . . there will be a day that life as it is . . . will be exchanged for something more . . . and there will be beauty, joy, and praise with a new strength and grace.
Refuse to succumb to life as it is in the midst of devastation and destruction .
Pray.
Seek God.
Willingly go through the transformation process to become strong and graceful.
Rejoice . . . for life as it is . . . through the power and presence of God.
Learning with to you to see beyond life as it is . . .
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Joy!

And he stretched himself out over the child three times
and cried out to the LORD,
"O LORD my God, please let this child's life return to him."
(I Kings 17:21, NLT).

We had snow and ice yesterday, providing for some entertaining driving in our neck of the woods. I followed a tow truck along the highway, which seemed to be a safe place. A few miles into my drive, a car on the other side of the highway began to slip and slide, went across the divider, in front of the tow truck, and on to the side of the road. Creating a sense of calmness, the tow truck driver put his lights on and traffic stopped. He went to work . . . helped to position the car on the road . . . turned off his lights . . . and led the way for traffic to move forward . . . BUT . . . the thing is . . . the car was headed back in the opposite direction from where it came. I assume the driver of the car was grateful that the driving fiasco did not lead to injury, harm, or death and was happy to be turned around on the road.

When you get down to it . . . we often don't understand that we need to turn around and go in a different direction until we experience crisis . . . and when we are turned around from the hopelessness and despair of crises. . . we experience the joy of a new beginning on the journey.

The prophet, Elijah, faced the death of the widow's son. Certainly, the Spirit of God had given Elijah the wisdom and clarity in the midst of the horrific crisis to see that there was more life for the young boy to experience. He cried out to God, asking that the boy would be turned away from death. The young boy's journey of life took a new turn when Elijah connected with God in prayer.

Prayer turns us around from the circumstances that lead us away from life through the presence, power, and peace of God. Too often, prayer becomes duty or a check off list rather than a connection with God that defines the joy of a personal relationship with Him. Prayer is essential to experience the joy of living.

Martin Luther said, "I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.”

Pray.
Receive the joy of your journey through your relationship with God.
Turn around from the circumstances that separate you from the presence, power, and peace of God.
Receive joy.
Consciously and intentionally live this day with joy.
Think joy.
Speak joy.
Respond to life with joy.
Joy!
Learning with to you to travel this journey with great joy!
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

It's All Good

Then Elijah cried out to the LORD,
"O LORD my God,
why have you brought tragedy on this widow
who has opened her home to me,
causing her son to die?"
(I Kings 17:20, NLT).

I saw a Studebaker Pickup yesterday. Actually, before I go on with this story . . . some of you will need to google Studebaker . . . you will have no idea what I am talking about . . . and please do not attempt the feat I am about to tell you at home or anywhere else . . . lastly . . . Mom . . . when you read this remember I am fine . . . this occurred a long, long time ago.

So . . . the sighting of the Studebaker Pickup reminded me of the days when my cousins and I would pile into the back of Grandpa's old Studebaker Pickup. We would hold on to the rope tied to the cab of the truck, lean back and let the wind rush against us as Grandpa drove through the dusty roads of the countryside. It's all good . . . memories of simpler times . . . are remembered as good.

Is it possible to see the good in the tough times of life?

The Bible records the desperation of Elijah calling out to God when the widow's son died. While it is difficult to imagine anyone seeing the good in such desperate times, I would say that the good in the situation occurred when Elijah drew near to God. Elijah experienced a great need and brought it to God.

Prayer provides life-giving communion with the Spirit of God as we seek His divine perspective, power, and peace. Prayer transforms the one who prays. While we may think that life should be evaluated through our circumstances, the quality of life is measured through our response to circumstances. The good to be found in the horrific circumstance of the boy dying can be found through Elijah turning to God.

When it comes down to it . . . prayer can be explained much like the Studebaker Pickup ride . . . hold on to hope, lean back into the heart of God, and let the fresh wind of the Spirit free you of the constraints of life.

Measure life through your response rather than your circumstances.
Pray.
Surrender the details.
Hold onto hope.
Lean back into the heart of God.
Experience the fresh wind of the Spirit.
It's all good.

Learning with to you to see it's all good,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Possibilities Beyond Today

But Elijah replied,
"Give me your son."
And he took the boy's body from her,
carried him up to the upper room,
where he lived,
and laid the body on his bed.
(I Kings 17:19, NLT).

Martin Luther King, Jr. had such a profound impact on the United States that we take time to celebrate his life and dreams. His inspirational message, I Have A Dream, continues to echo through the hearts of those who can see the possibilities beyond today. King's memorable words include:

I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man that saw life through his faith. He saw beyond the moment.

People who see possibilities beyond the moment are the ones that persevere in the face of adversity and move forward.
People who see possibilities beyond the moment are the ones that make life lasting changes.
People who see possibilities beyond the moment are the ones that God uses to inspire others.

The prophet Elijah could see beyond the possibilities of the moment. Well, actually I suppose that is what prophets are supposed to do . . . to see beyond the moment in time. The writer of I Kings 17 paints the picture of death and devastation. The widow’s son had drawn his last breath and died. It is not too difficult to imagine the widow’s hysterical grief. Elijah responded to the widow’s grief by taking the boy to his bed. Okay . . . take a moment . . . and think about this scene . . . we are not given any clue of what Elijah was thinking . . . but . . . well . . . YIKES . . . he picked up the boy’s body and moved him upstairs to his upper room . . . to his own bed. Who does that?

So what do we know about Elijah that would motivate him to take such strange actions? He had faith . . . he had experienced life through faith . . . he saw circumstances through faith . . . he saw beyond the moment.

The Apostle Paul prayed for Christ followers to see with faith:
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. (Ephesians 1:17-19).

Seek Christ for new vision.
Refuse to see life through faithlessness.
Take another look at your circumstances through the lens of faith.
Allow the Spirit to give you wisdom and revelation.
With the eyes of your heart enlightened see the possibilities beyond today.
Learning with to you to see possibilities beyond today,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Why Now?

She said to Elijah,
"What do you have against me,
man of God?
Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"
(I Kings 17:18, NIV).

I spend time with individuals grieving over the death of loved family members and friends. The process of grieving is always difficult and the question repeatedly comes up, "Why now?" Several years ago, one of my best friends died, leaving three children who desperately needed her. I still question the timing. Honestly, I am not sure we are ever ready to have someone we love die or ever really understand the timing. In the end, we have the choice to trust God in His love, without expecting to always understand all the details of living.

Famine and drought created the harsh backdrop of the death of the widow's son. The widow blamed God . . . she blamed Elijah . . . she blamed herself . . . while she struggled to understand why her son had died. There must have been overwhelming doubt, despair, and even devastation from the death of her son. Can't you just hear her say, "Why now? Things were going so well."

The thing is . . . there are why's that never makes sense from our perspective. The why's are exhausting and empty us out. Surrendering the why's to God produces restorative hope. In other words, the experience of faith in God through the presence of Christ replaces emptiness with hope.

Trust God with your why's.
Ask God to help you through the why's of life.
Receive hope through fully trusting God.
May you be blessed this weekend:

May the God of your hope
so fill you with all joy and peace in believing
[through the experience of your faith]
that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound
and be overflowing
(bubbling over)
with hope.
(Romans 15:13, AMP).

Learning with to you to be filled with hope through trusting God with the why's of life,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

What Can I Say?

Some time later,
the woman's son became sick.
He grew worse and worse,
and finally he died.
(I Kings 17, NLT).

I gave many people cause for laughter yesterday. It seems that when I used my spell checker the word, feminine, came up rather than famine. The result? The people were dealing with a feminine drought. Wow! Harsh times I tell you. What can I say? Ummmm . . . a feminine drought just doesn't occur too often. That said, don't always believe the spell checker has the right answer.

So . . . during a famine . . . that would be F . A . M . I . N . E . . . and drought, the widow came to believe the prophet's word from God. And . . . there were always enough resources. Just when things looked like they were working out . . . tragedy struck . . . her son died. What can you say to someone when something so horrible occurs?

The answer . . . is difficult . . . but simple . . . have faith in God even when you don't understand why tragedy occurs.

Choose to have faith when you can't answer the why's of life.
Rest in the presence of God.
Receive His peace.

Learning with to you to see through faith that God is always enough,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Enough

For no matter how much they used,
there was always enough left in the containers,
just as the LORD had promised through Elijah.
I Kings 17:16, NLT

We have had some of the coldest temperatures of the winter in the last couple of days. Yesterday, the cold temperatures mixed with moisture causing icy conditions. Ice covered all of the roads, which required extra attention. The ice could not always be seen; however, the ice covered everything. Isn't it true, when we fail to pay attention we miss what is right before our eyes?

Certainly, humanity often fails to see the presence of God covering the world. The story told in I Kings 17 allows us to view a portion of the spiritual journey of a prophet and a widow during a desperate a time of famine and drought. Elijah had seen the miraculous provision of God when he provided an oasis of running water and food. We do not know what the widow had experienced in her past; however we know she had experienced loss . . . the writer of the story entitled her a widow. Loss often produces a mindset of fear rather than faith. She paid attention . . . heard God speaking through Elijah . . . refused fear . . . chose to see the presence of God through faith.

Think about it . . . seeing life through faith required great discipline. Resources were gone. Problems centered upon the most basic needs: food and water. Times were desperate. And, then we read the phrase, "there was always enough." God completely covered all of the needs . . . not almost enough . . . or barely enough . . . but always enough.

Here is the question for you and I today--is God always enough?
Do we live in a manner that no matter what--God is enough?

Take time to examine the principles of faith in I Kings 17.
Ask yourself the life-question: Is God enough?

Learning with to you to see through faith that God is always enough,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Grateful No Matter What

So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat from her supply of flour and oil for many days.(I Kings 17: 15, NLT)

I have a friend that takes supplies into places throughout the world that are difficult to access, places where people live with little resources. He has said that the children in these places tell the story of the heart of the people. When he sees that the children are content he knows the spirit of the community is one of gratitude. They do not ask for more or have expectations that he will come back, instead they are grateful for what they have received.

I am not sure that there are many individuals in the Western World that are authentically grateful for what they have received.

Entering into the story of the widow and Elijah has made me wonder if we lack gratitude because we have lost the awareness of the Source of our resources. It is difficult to understand the living condition of the widow and her son when Elijah brought them a Word from God. The widow was living in a land that had nothing to offer, in a time that disregarded women and children, in a culture that refused to render help to widows, and in society of faithlessness. And then . . . a prophet came into her life with a word directly from God . . . far from the context of her experience . . . yet she chose to receive the word . . . and responded by doing what God had said . . . her response of faith . . . transformed her life.

All things come from God.

Receive the words of God.
Be aware of the generosity of God.
Be grateful no matter what . . . it reveals the heart.
Give thanks throughout the day.

Learning with to you to be grateful no matter what,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Do You Believe What You Hear?

For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be plenty of flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!" (I Kings 17: 14, NLT)

I had a conversation with an individual that thought we had conversed earlier; however, I knew we had not talked before. It did not matter . . . the individual attempted to convince me that we had had a previous conversation. . . I almost began to doubt myself until the "light bulb" went on for my new friend . . . and he realized a mistake had been made. The thing is . . . I had almost believed that we had talked . . . YIKES!

Isaiah, the prophet, told the widow that God said there would always be plenty. Most people might have thought that this guy was insane . . . the land was so dry that dust rose with the slightest movement . . . permeating the air they breathed . . . giving them a continual taste of the dust . . . children went to sleep hungry and thirsty while parents wondered how long they had to live. Famine and drought controlled the lives of the people, taking precedent over every thought and discussion.

Could the widow believe that she had heard the true Word of God? Could she believe God would stretch her non-existent resources to sustain her son and herself? How do people believe they have heard the Word of God?

Belief requires surrendering fear and entering into the peace that God is present . . . in control . . . is at work for our good. When it was reported that the daughter of the leader of the synagogue had died, Jesus gave specific directions:

"Do not fear, only believe."

(Mark 5:36b, NRS)

Believe the Word of God.
Surrender fear.
Enter into the peace of God's presence . . . control . . . and work.
Believe God speaks to your need.
Learning with to believe the Word of God,

Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

When All Seems Lost . . . Find Your Faith

But Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid! Go ahead and cook that `last meal,' but bake me a little loaf of bread first. Afterward there will still be enough food for you and your son. (I Kings 17: 13, NLT)

My friend's grandmother died. Family gathered together in the hospital room. They waited. . . cried . . . laughed . . . and loved. So often the unknown of how it will be to die creates fear. . . but there is another view . . . created by the presence and power of the love given from the heart of God. . . death becomes life.

Famine and drought produce devastation and even death. It makes sense the widow could only see the process with fear.

How do you see life when all seems to come to a dead-end? The answer is viewed through Christ's response to the disciples fear during a violent storm.

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.(Luke 8:24-25, NLT)

When all seems lost . . . find your faith.
See beyond dead-ends . . . see life.
Take time to be aware of the presence and power of the love coming from the heart of God.
Celebrate life.
Learning with you to find and live in faith,

Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Do you see little or more?

"As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread-only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it-and die." (I Kings 17: 12, NLT).

My friend has spent this week by her grandmother's bedside. Those who invest their time with someone that has little time left on earth are what I call ushers. An usher helps someone to close the door on this side of life to move to the other side. Along the way . . . the usher glimpses something more . . . change . . . transformation . . . through the power, peace, and presence of God.

The widow did not see anything but her meager existence. It must of seemed crazy to think that there was something more for the widow to experience. After all, they were in a famine and drought.

How can we believe that there is something more than what we are experiencing now?
The first step is to be willing to be freed from a limited perspective and a defeatist attitude. The Psalmist prayed to be free:

Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Psalm 142:7 (New International Version)

Choose to see more.
Be set free from a limited perspective.
Be set free from defeatist attitude.
Be free.
Seek to go higher.
Soar.

Learning with you to see more,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

A Cup Of Water . . . A Bite Of Bread

So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, "Would you please bring me a cup of water?" As she was going to get it, he called to her, "Bring me a bite of bread, too." (I Kings 17: 10-11, NLT).

Some friends manage an inner city ministry that seeks to help those who are unable to help themselves. They help people that live under bridges and in cardboard box shelters. This is the time of year that many of these people suffer and become gravely ill from harsh living conditions.

The prophet, Elijah, lived in a place with the harsh reality of famine and drought. Most of us really don't understand what it would be like to live with little to none food and water supplies. The thing is . . . Elijah did not give up . . . he did not let the situation stop him from moving forward with God. When God said go . . . Elijah went . . . he didn't stop to explain (with a hint of sarcasm) . . . "a little busy here." Nor did he complain about having nothing. He got up and took the pathway that God asked him to take. He received a cup of water and a bite of bread.

He went to a place called Zarepath which means smelting shop, a place where metals were refined and smelted.
Webster defines the words refine and smelt:
Refine: “To free (as metal, sugar, or oil) from impurities or unwanted material.”
Smelt: “To melt or fuse (as ore) often with an accompanying chemical change usually to separate the metal.”

Challenging circumstances become a Zarepath: they refine and smelt us. What does this mean?

Both Elijah and the widow chose to believe in the provision of God rather than working in vain to fix things on their own. We go to our Zarepath via difficulties and receive a cup of water and a bite of bread. In other words, we commune with Christ who is the Living Water and the Bread of Life. Our sustenance of life is Christ.

Move through your difficulties to Zarepath.
Go through the refining and smelting process.
Receive the Living Water and the Bread of Life, who is Christ.
Live.
Learning with you to receive the Water and Bread as sustenance,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Transforming the World Through Giving

Then the LORD said to Elijah, "Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. There is a widow there who will feed you. I have given her my instructions." (I Kings 17:8-9, NLT).

I watched a man stop and help a man holding a sign asking for money on a street corner. He stopped and gave him a big bag of groceries. It was during the rush hour . . . when everyone is in a hurry to get where they need to go. Now, I don't know if the man on the corner was helped by receiving the groceries . . . but I was . . . I saw compassion and hope . . . a rare commodity. The world changes when someone helps another person.

Elijah faced the adversity of drought in the ancient days. He was not the only one. . . resources necessary for life had dried up all over the land. A widow is mentioned. Widows had a lower status and typically lacked resources. To mention the woman to be a widow seems to emphasize she lacked a way to be resourced. Imagine the lack the widows and orphans experienced during a drought . . .It is common that people lose faith and eventually hope when it seems there is nothing left. That said, the widow, who lacked resources chose to give out of her meager resources to someone that had nothing. Her act produced hope.

The exchange process of one individual giving to another transforms the world. Giving is not dependent on what we have but what we are willing to give.
Choose to transform the world. . . give.
Learning with you to give no matter what,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Extravagant provision

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning
and bread and meat in the evening,
and he drank from the brook.
(I Kings 17:6, NLT)

I had the opportunity to meet with an individual that had no resources. Well . . . let me put it differently . . . there was a perception that the resources were dried up . . . that there was nothing left and no where to turn. The thing is . . . after I heard the story . . . I realized there were many avenues to receive resources; however, the individual had been asked to change one behavior. Unfortunately, the behavior was deemed more important than being resourced. Letting go of the behavior would ultimately lead to a productive, healthy life.

We often hold on to something that we perceive to be important but in fact it often becomes an obstacle to receiving the resources of God and living a healthy life. How many times do we hold on to something that takes time and energy away from our life?

God owns it all. He uses His resources to provide for you and I. Look at the incredible story of God's provision for Elijah. Seriously . . . can you imagine receiving your daily portion of food from ravens?

Elijah would never have known this kind of provision if he had not surrendered his needs that he had in the drought. Elijah made the decision to trust and believe God as the Source, even when it seemed all of the resources were dried up.

God provides beyond what we ask, think, or imagine . . . He gives us what He owns with extravagance . . . as He provided Elijah with “ravens” and "brook" in the midst of a drought.

Surrender your needs.
Trust God for provision, even when it seems there are no avenues for resources.
Receive God's extravagant provision.
Learning with you to surrender any needs and receive His extravagant provision,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Ridiculous Belief

Then the LORD said to Elijah,"Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook at a place east of where it enters the Jordan River.Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food."(I Kings 17:2-4, NLT)

A friend, a single mother, continually amazes me. Her situation is far from easy. She has sole responsibility to provide and care for her children. No one argues, her needs for her family are down right ridiculous and impossible. . . beyond her own resources . . . and . . . yet . . . she makes it through every day . . . living life well. No one can really explain it. Nothing adds up; however, it is true. My friend believes God is present and provides for them.

Divine provision begins with believing God will provide and then following His directions. Though our needs may seem beyond our reach . . . we have the choice to believe God will provide. One of the most ridiculous and impossible situations occurred in the ancient days during a drought. There was a need for water and food. God directed Elijah to a specific brook for water in the drought . . . and wait that is not all . . . and provided ravens who delivered food. seriously . . . can you imagine . . . a running brook in a drought . . . and fast food ravens. Yikes! God solely directed Elijah how he could be resourced when all resources had dried up.

God gave Elijah the specific direction: “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook.”
God told Elijah exactly what to do: “Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you.”

There are times during the process of life that we experience droughts, whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual. We have the choice to seek God and go where He directs us to go as well as do what He directs us to do.

Believe God will provide in your most ridiculous and impossible need.
Seek God.
Believe beyond your ridiculous and impossible needs.
Go where God says to go.
Do what God says to do.
Celebrate divine direction and provision.
Learning with you to believe that God will provide for the most ridiculous and impossible needs,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

The Exercise of Belief

"As surely as the LORD,
the God of Israel, lives—
the God whom I worship and serve—
there will be no dew or rain during the next few years
unless I give the word!"
(I Kings 17:1, NLT)

There have been some interesting reviews of the year, 2007, and predictions of 2008 in the media. The exercise of evaluating life provides a way to learn what works and . . .well . . . what doesn't work in the process of living. Evaluation also provides a backwards view of what occurs when the unexpected occurs . . . and let's just say it . . . we have little . . . if any . . . control over what happens in life . . . YIKES . . . as the saying goes . . . life happens.

That said, God has given humanity the ability to have belief, regardless of what happens. Evaluation of occurrences changes when we look closer and see the presence of God. Ultimately, our belief of the presence of God strengthens our faith and trust in Him.

In the ancient days, the first recording of the man, Elijah, began with the statement of belief: "There will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I give the word!" (I Kings 17:1, NLT)

Are you kidding me? Who says something like that?
Elijah clarified that his beliefs were based in the living presence of God: “the God of Israel, lives.”
Elijah aligned himself through belief of God through worship and service: “the God whom I worship and serve.”
Elijah believed in the power of God: “there will be no dew or rain during the next few years.”
Elijah entered into the work of God, believing God is able to do more than can be imagined (see Ephesians 3:20-21): “there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I give the word.”
Belief changes our perspective and behavior.
Exercise your belief.
Create a statement of belief for 2008 with the perspective of hope through Christ.
My belief is . . .
Celebrate the ability to believe.
Learning with you to exercise belief,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Begin With Belief

She said to Him, Yes, Lord, I have believed [I do believe] that You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), the Son of God, [even He] Who was to come into the world. [It is for Your coming that the world has waited.] (John 11:27).

It is interesting the New Year begins in the winter. The skies are often cloudy, the tree branches are bare, and the days have less light. Winter is a time of waiting as the earth becomes ready for Spring, a time of new life. So . . . we begin the New Year believing there is something more . . . a new hope . . . an anticipation . . . belief.

The word, believe, derived from the Greek word, pisteuo (pist-yoo'-o), can be defined as thinking something to be true, to be persuaded, to place confidence in, and to have conviction and trust to which one is impelled by the rule of the soul.

Webster defines the word, believe, as having a firm religious faith, to accept as true, genuine, or real, to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something.

A synonym of the word, believe, is trust. In the ancient days, a woman named Martha stated her belief that Christ was the One the world had waited for to come. Martha's story in John 11 records belief in Christ changed her perception of life and death.

Begin the New Year with belief.

Belief in Christ changes the way life is perceived and managed.

Form your perception of life around belief in Christ.

Manage life through belief in Christ.

Believe God has more to come for you this year.

Learning with you to begin the New Year with belief,
Shalom,
Kerrie

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