Friday, May 30, 2008

Sacrificing

The following day, John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and then declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!"
Then John's two disciples turned and followed Jesus.


Today is the last day that a co-worker, my friend, will be on the job. He is leaving for Ethiopia to participate in the quest to end poverty. The decision to leave required a conscious choice to sacrifice the comforts of the western world. This kind of sacrifice requires giving up a way of living.

There is a language of sacrifice that is used in the Bible that is barely understood in today's world. John is the only New Testament writer that refers to Christ as the Lamb of God, a phrase which belonged to a language of sacrifice in that era. Sacrifice describes the unique relationship that Jesus had with humanity.

So, what does Lamb of God mean to us?

While, this question could elicit a theological debate, on a practical level, the answer revolves around the concept that Christ, God with us, has sacrificed beyond our comprehension. The rendezvous between God and humanity through the sacrifice of Jesus created a way to intimately participate with God on a daily basis.

The thing is, participation with God requires you and I to sacrifice getting our way to go God's way. The process of sacrifice often is accompanied with a struggle of giving up what we think we need in life. Once the choice to sacrifice is made, our perspective of what really is important will change.

Seek God.
Ask for guidance of what needs to be sacrificed for the sake of Christ.
Lean on the understanding and power of God to make the sacrifice.
Celebrate the freedom of sacrificing something in your life today.

Learning with you to sacrifice for the sake of Christ,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Thursday, May 29, 2008

The Risk Of Failure

Then John said, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone, he is the one you are looking for. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Son of God.(John 1:32-34 )"

There is always a risk of failure when we risk our comfort for faith. Failure is tough. No one wants to fail. No one plans to fail. Everyone experiences failure. Even so, it is tough to try something and fail. I have experienced failure more than once. In fact, it would be great to know that I would never fail again. I will. You will.
One of the greatest accomplishments of life is to see something more than failure. More often than not, failure opens the door to great success.

At first, John the Baptist did not recognize Jesus as the Son of God; however, John participated in the work of God regardless of his lack of clarity. Life will not be fulfilling until we participate. In other words, we need to engage with life rather than just let it happen. Participating requires a decision to move from inactivity to activity. Ultimately, participation requires a willingness to experience failure, which is the most common reason for failing to participate. It is remarkable that John the Baptist reiterates that he did not know Jesus as the One until the Spirit was revealed. He took a risk of faith.

Discover the success of living in faith at the risk of failure.
Step out of your comfort and risk living in faith.
If failure comes, see more than failure, see success through faith.

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

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Doing What You Are Supposed To Do

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Soon a man is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.'I didn't know he was the one, but I have been baptizing with water in order to point him out to Israel." (John 1:29-31, NRS)

I had coffee with a friend that amazes me. The word, amaze, can be misused and overused if it is not used in the context of miraculous. The word fits in this context. Her young son died a few years ago. The pain of his death is as real today as it was when he died. Along with family and friends, she began a little non-profit foundation, created in honor of her son, to change the lives of children who are in need and/or ill. They felt it was what they were supposed to do and had faith that God would do the rest. The foundation is growing and amazingly touching and changing the lives of children on a daily basis. No one really had any idea that the foundation would explode in this manner. Isn't it amazing that pain can be used to impact others? How has it been possible?

Look at what John the Baptist said, "'I didn't know he was the one, but I have been baptizing with water in order to point him out to Israel." Yikes! He didn't know Jesus Christ was actually God with us; however, he knew his assignment was to prepare people to recognize the One. John the Baptist could not be sure that what he was doing would truly impact people but he did what he was supposed to do with faith that God would do the rest.

Amazing things occur when we really don't know how things will work but we do what we are supposed to do . . . with what we have . . . in faith that God will do the rest.

Evaluate what you are supposed to do.
Seek God and ask for direction.
Choose to do what you are supposed to do regardless of what you see as impossibilities.
Do what you are supposed to do with faith that God will do the rest.
Be amazed.

Learning with you to do what is supposed to be done,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Remember Today

Then those who were sent by the Pharisees asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?"
John told them, "I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not know, who will soon begin his ministry. I am not even worthy to be his slave (John 1: 24-27, NLT)."


Most people were celebrating the unofficial beginning of summer on Memorial Day; however, the day was set aside to remember the individuals that have died, specifically those who have served the nation. I drove by one cemetery that had been filled with flowers. It was a message to me that the value of life needs to be remembered.

John used the word, slave, in the gospel. Referring to slavery was a familiar part of the faith language of the Old Testament. Generation after generation were reminded that God had set them free from tyranny and oppression of slavery. A significant portion of the population were slaves. Later on, Aristotle would explain a slave to be a human tool.

The people learned to recite the stories of being freed from slavery. They remembered the celebrative song of freedom: The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory. He is my God, and I will praise him; he is my father's God, and I will exalt him! (Exodus 15:2, NRS)

John the Baptist said, "I am not even worthy to be his slave." Likewise, we are not worthy to be freed by Christ. Yet . . . He came to free us of the things that oppress and enslave us . . . through grace . . . undeserved and unmerited.


Break free of circumstances through the grace of Christ Jesus.
Remember today that you are free.
Let Christ be your strength, song, and victory today.
Take a break, remember today that you are free to live with purpose and passion . . . celebrate . . . you are free!

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

Friday, May 23, 2008

Hope

John replied in the words of Isaiah: "I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare a straight pathway for the Lord's coming!' " (John 1:23, NLT)

Last night, I held a 26-hour old baby in my arms. One of the greatest moments in life is the birth of a baby. New life brings great hope for our future. Humanity needs hope.
Hope restores.
Hope revives.
Hope transforms.

John wrote that John the Baptist understood his task to put a voice to the great news of God breaking in. The reality of God breaking in illuminated the hope of the people to be saved from their plight. The things the people, including John the Baptist, ultimately could not base their hope on what was seen but through trust and faith. Hope is rooted in trust and faith.
Meditate on the words of the Psalmist:
But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone. (Psalm 33:8-22)

What does it mean for you and I to have hope in God alone?

Regardless of what is seen in the moment, hope is formed from knowing God is actively present and God is good.

What do you hope in?
Reactivate your hope.
Be aware of the presence of the unfailing love of God.
Hope.
Learning with you to hope,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Who Are You Anyway?

This was the testimony of John when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John whether he claimed to be the Messiah. He flatly denied it. "I am not the Messiah," he said. "Well then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?" "No," he replied. "Are you the Prophet?" "No.""Then who are you? Tell us, so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?" (John 1: 19-22, NLT)

An individual, who I did not recognize, stared at me during a meeting. She did not use the glance method but the full on stare approach. All I could do was smile and nod. As soon as we had a break she shouted out . . . "Who Are You Anyway?" Wow! Nothing like putting it out there!

John writes about another John, who was confronted with the need to explain his identity. He had chosen a vocation that caused the religious people to question his validity: preparing people to be introduced to the promised messiah. Put yourself in their place, the only thing that seemed out of the ordinary was a man in the desert trying to convince people to get ready for a messiah. They had a valid question: "Who are you?"

Eventually, history would identify him as John the Baptist because he baptized people to symbolize their readiness for the Messiah. People often recognize us by what we do. A healthy individual learns to separate their identity from their tasks in life; however, our identity determines how we speak and act.

So, who are you?
How do people identify you?
How will people remember you?
Meditate: "But by God's grace I am what I am . . ." (I Corinthians15:10a)

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

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Living Faith

No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him.
(John 1:18, NLT)


Eventually, our true beliefs can be translated through our actions. I have a friend that believes God wants those who "have" to reach out to the "have nots" of this world. My friend has seen the needs and in the next few weeks will leave the comfort of the western world and go to the greatest poverty-stricken area of the world.

John described Jesus Christ as the "Son, who is himself God." In other words, the Creator of the universe, who has a power beyond human comprehension identified with the need of humanity as "God with us."
Do you and I believe that God is with us? Do our actions translate that belief?
The author of Hebrews describes our response to our belief:
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. (Hebrews 13: 5-9, NKJ)


We need to unpack the verses in order to actively respond with living faith:
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have: Be content.
For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?": Do not fear.
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct: Let your faith rule your conduct.
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them: Stay firm in your belief of Jesus Christ, God with us. Let grace rule your heart.

Learning with you to respond to Christ with living faith,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Change

For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17, NLT)

Most of us would agree that change is easier to manage when it visibly benefits our life. That said, I struggle when change . . . well . . . changes my life and makes things uncomfortable. Rather than responding through seeking God we often react by attempting to push back on whatever or whoever is making us change.
The thing is, life on earth is constant change. How can we manage change, especially when it hurts?

John wrote about the changes that Christ, God with us, brought to the world. Generation after generation, the people continually failed to understand the law was not about rules but about the way to have a relationship with God. Christ changed everything. We can look back through the scope of history and see that the coming of Christ changed the way humanity could relate to God. The people had developed a rigid way of thinking, speaking, and acting in their attempt to follow the law.
So, what was John trying to communicate?
A good portion of John's message was written for humanity to understand that an incredible change, a change that is for good, a change that makes a difference in how we live our life, comes through a relationship with Christ.

When we filter change through the presence of Christ rather than through our circumstances, we receive the power to change. I am not saying it is easy to change without thinking about our circumstances. It is the first thing we will do; however, in order to manage change we must first seek Christ to see a bigger picture than the here and now.

Christ, God with us, told us what to do: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).

Experience change through Christ.
Seek Him first.
Filter the change and your circumstances through prayer and meditation.
Reorient your perspective through the presence and power of God.
Respond rather than react to the change through Him.

Learning with you to experience change through the presence of Christ,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Monday, May 19, 2008

What does blessed mean?

John pointed him out to the people. He shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.' " We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us -- one gracious blessing after another. (John 1:15-16, NLT)

This past weekend I officiated at the wedding of a family that I have come to know through their life joys and sorrows. We discussed that unity and uniqueness are two vital components for a marriage to last. The Bride and Groom not only made a vow to become one but to encourage and support one another in their uniqueness, growing together as they change through the course of a lifetime. Circumstances, the joys and sorrows of life, eventually surface to the top and become a force that either brings people together or pushes them apart. So, it is imperative to make a daily choice to be unified in managing life. That said, we must realize that the same life experience will impact one person differently from the other . . . because of the uniqueness of each human being.

The presence of Christ provides the power to remain unified and celebrate uniqueness with those we love and live with, regardless of the circumstances. John wrote about experiencing the presence of Christ as one rich blessing after another. In the western culture, we often believe that good circumstances come to those who are blessed. If that were true, we would believe that all the people in the world experiencing difficulties and horrific events have not been blessed.
What does blessed mean?
Re-read John 1:15-16. Those who are blessed are personally aware of the presence of Christ . . . it is Christ that brings hope, faith, peace, and the power to live beyond the worst of circumstances.

Refocus.
Take a few seconds every hour to be aware of the presence of Christ.
Stop what you are doing.
Think about the presence of Christ.
Become aware of the hope, faith, peace, and power of Christ.
You are blessed.

Learning with you to be blessed through the personal awareness of the presence of Christ,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Friday, May 16, 2008

Awareness of Others

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, NRS)

Stories about the horrific circumstances after an earthquake in China are circulating around the world. Regulation of the news has decreased in this event, which is extraordinary in itself. They have also decided to receive outside relief for the first time. The world has been given the opportunity to identify with the suffering of the people of China and to reach out to them.

The awareness of another person's suffering and the desire to help is a gift from God. Otherwise, humanity is self-absorbed with self.
John wrote that Christ was the Word, logos, identifying with humanity by becoming part of humanity. Jesus Christ, God with us, came to live among humanity with grace and truth. The active presence of God has been revealed through Christ. Regardless if the work of God is seen, or not, God is always working on the behalf of all humanity.

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:15-18, NRS)

God invites you and I to participate in His work to touch others.
Take time to be aware of others.
See the needs of others.
Reach out to help others through the power and guidance of the Spirit.
Learning with you to be aware of others through the Spirit,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Born Again Today

. . . he gave power to become children of God who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or the will of man, but of God.. (John 1:12b, 13, NRS)

One of the greatest gifts in my life has been helping people through the childbirth process. While medicine has changed dramatically over the last three decades, the birth process remains a miracle. The dynamics of the whole room change when a child is born. I have watched old-timer physicians become emotionally moved when the baby takes the first breath, the sign of life. When you get down to it, the whole world changes when a child is born.

A second birth begins with our “yes” to receive Christ, who enters into our life through the powerful and mysterious work of the SpiritJohn writes about the ongoing power given to become children of God by being “born . . . of God.” To be born again is not only a one time event but also an ongoing process. Jesus explained:
"Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' (John 3:5-6, NRS.)

John 5:24, explains that through the second birth we “. . . pass from death to life.” Through new birth we enter into a covenant relationship, which will never end. At the same time, we have the opportunity to be born again on a daily basis.
I have a friend, Kim McLean, who wrote one of my favorite songs, "Born Again Today." The song reminds me that each day is a new day to live in Christ.

Start the day with a fresh and new perspective.
Begin today with a new perspective.
Breathe.
Receive the opportunity to be re-energized, revived, and renewed.
Ask God to bring new life to your thoughts, words, and actions.
Celebrate . . . this is a new day . . . to be born again!

By the way . . . happy "birth" day!

Learning with you to be born again today,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The Power To Change

But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God (John 1:12, NRS)

I have a friend that quit smoking. She has had to change her routines to make sure she won't pick up a cigarette. I am blown away every time someone changes the way they have always lived. Put simply, our brain memorizes the triggers that cause an individual to behave in certain ways. It makes sense when someone says, "I have always done it this way." The brain signals the individual to do what they have always done because of specific triggers.

Christ offers humanity a power that transforms the way we live, a power that is greater than any trigger. John makes a remarkable statement about the gift of power which is to be received and realized within the life of the believer. The power (dynamis) of God is a dynamic force that transforms the experience of living for the believer.

How can this be possible? The power comes from the Spirit residing in the believer. Meditate on the Ephesians 3 prayer:

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit . . . Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, (Ephesians 3:16,20 NRS)

Evaluate what you need to change.
Receive the power that is able to accomplish far more than you can ask or imagine.
Rely on the Spirit to change what needs to be changed.

Learning with you to live in and through the power of Spirit,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Purposeful Living

He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.(John 1:11, NRS)

We had to take a detour. The police redirected us to a little country road that had not been designed for bumper-to-bumper traffic. It made me think how often we take a detour from the purpose of living. Problems and pressures often take precedence over living with purpose, especially when difficulties slam us.

Christ, "God with us" revealed living with purpose regardless of circumstances. John wrote that "all things came into being through him (John 1:3)." Even so, humanity, created out of the love of God, would not accept "God with us." The challenges of not being accepted did not distract Christ from the purpose of living with humanity. Christ did not come solely for the one time event of being with humanity but for the ongoing reality of personal union and communion.

Life changes through our union with Christ:
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7, NRS)
Humanity is created and invited to live purposefully "in Christ."

Unpack the truths about living with purpose in Colossians 2:6-7
Receive Christ Jesus the Lord: Humanity has the choice to receive the presence of Christ. The presence of Christ is life-giving, who empowers an individual to live with purpose and passion.

Continue to live your lives in Him: It is a daily choice to keep Christ at the core of every thought, word, and behavior. When all is said and done, we must stop, look, and listen before we proceed with the way we are thinking, speaking and behaving. The question in all things: Is this of Christ or self?

Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith: Busyness, pressures, and problems distract and detour you and I from living with focused purpose and passion. Most of us would agree that life can be overwhelming; however, what we base life on and how our life is structured will determine how we manage life. We need to assess where we are at and how we are doing: Is my response rooted in Christ? Is my purpose Christ? Am I responding in fear or faith?

Abounding in thanksgiving: Gratefulness is a vital component of health and wholeness. A lack of gratefulness often comes from dissatisfaction created from a limited perspective. Our view of life can't be compared to God's perspective. Gratefulness comes from the awareness of the presence of God and all that He is doing irregardless of what is actually seen in the moment.

Refuse to take a detour from purposeful living.
Take time to be aware of the presence of Christ . . . stop . . . breathe slowly . . . be still and know (Psalm 46:10).
Determine to keep Christ at the core of every thought, word, action.
Give thanks.

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

Friday, May 9, 2008

InterActive

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. (John 1:10, NRS)

I talked with an individual that believed in a higher power but could not understand the reality of a personal relationship with God. Humanity often views God in the abstract rather than up close and personal. John wrote that humanity did not understand that the creator of the universe had joined humanity. Throughout the ages, there has been a struggle to fully comprehend that the God of the universe is not just a higher power but intimately interactive with humanity.

Christ, God with us, has provided the way to personally interact and encounter God. Christ revealed the personal presence of God that the Psalmist wrote about:
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far.
3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely. (Psalm 139, NRS)


Be aware of the personal presence of God.
Encounter God and seek a stronger intimacy on a daily basis.
InterAct with God in your thoughts, behavior, words, and actions.

Learning with you of that God is interactive in every thought, behavior, word, and action,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Daily Details

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:9, NRS)

Too often we only see life through what we are experiencing in the moment. And, sometimes it seems too difficult to do anything else. That said, humanity has been given the capacity to develop a perspective that encompasses what has been, what is in the moment, and what could be. The daily details change when we develop a greater perspective.

In his writing, John told the story of Christ, the true (authentic) light, entering the world as part of humanity. The story begins before the birth of Christ, in an era that nobody had any idea of what was about to take place. Perspective changes when we look back and see more of the picture.

The coming of Christ into humanity has revealed the kind of relationship God desires to have with humanity. It is a day in and day out, participative relationship, which includes the details. Everything changes, even the darkest moments, when we invite the true Light into the daily details of life.

Stop.
Take a breath.
Ask Christ to enter into the details of your life.
Look beyond what is seen in the moment and seek the true Light to enlighten you.
Refuse to react on your own ability but rather respond through the power of Christ.
Learning with you that Christ wants to participate in the daily details,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Clarity

In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. (John 1:4, NLT)

I talked with an individual who had been struggling with a difficult situation. After a significant time of praying . . . there was clarity . . . not everything was clear . . . but it was clear what needed to be done.

How do you and I find that kind of clarity?

Light and life are frequently interconnected in John's writing. The culture understood light to be revelation. In the Old Testament, light often referred to instruction and guidance. The Psalmist wrote:
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:105, NRS)?


What does the image of light mean in this era?

In this time of history, we have learned that there is enormous power generated to turn on the lights of a home. The "haves" of this world may not think about the power behind the flip of a switch; however, I think we are becoming more conscious of the energy that is required to turn on a light bulb.

To turn this around, think about the incredible power of the Spirit that illuminates the truth, instructing and guiding you and I through life. When we live in the Light, we are living in power that is beyond our comprehension.

Have you ever struggled with how you were going to manage something in your life?
Have you prayed and sought the wisdom of God?
Have you experienced the switch from confusion to clarity?
If you answered yes . . . your mind and heart were empowered with the presence of the Spirit bringing light into your life.

The Spirit of God brings light into our mind as we seek clarity.
The process of prayer, meditation, and counsel are components of attaining clarity through the Light.

Seek God.
Pray.
Meditate on the Word of God.
Receive counsel.
Give thanks for the power that produces divine clarity.
Learning with you to find clarity,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

A Good Day

All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. (John 1:3, NRS)

Sunny days are always welcome in our area. Yesterday was no exception. I enjoyed watching people enjoy the sun. As I wove through country roads there seemed to be more activity than usual. There were children playing outside, people working in their yards, bikers along the road, and convertibles out. Turns out, a sunny day is a good day in our neck of the woods.

When even a weather change makes a difference, it is easier to understand how circumstances dictate our well-being. John writes a concept about life that goes beyond the power of circumstances:
All of life comes from God. In other words, we need to understand that the most basic part of our existence, which is what gives us life, comes from God.
When we take stock of our day, the very first thing is to realize we are living today because of the life God has given. Secondly, we are to live well, regardless of the circumstances, because we have received life. Receiving life makes today a good day.

God has given you and I life today.
It is a good day.
Give thanks for the life you have received today.
Take time to enjoy life.
. . . it is a good day.
Learning with you that it is a good day,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Monday, May 5, 2008

Light Overcomes Darkness

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:5, NRS)

I spent some time with individuals harmed by someone they trusted. Some people become so consumed with their own life that they do not give a thought to what they are doing to others. Conversely, there are individuals who intentionally want others to experience pain. Whatever the reason, the pain is created out of darkness.

John writes a promise that humanity can hold onto: Light overpowers darkness. Light shines into the darkness. The darkness does not hide the light. Christ, the Light of the world, brings us into the Light with sustaining power that will overcome.

While simple, it is a promise of hope for all of humanity: Light overcomes darkness.

Refuse to be in darkness.
Walk in the Light.
Stay in the Light.
Learning with you that Light overcomes darkness,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Friday, May 2, 2008

Life Goes Wrong

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10, NRS)

I listen to people that explain how life goes wrong. The list of how life goes wrong never seems to end. Usually, the outcome brings significant challenges which includes some form of loss, such as a relationship, health, and finances. There are elements of fear and faith within each individual.

Paul continually illustrated the tension we experience in this world throughout all of his writings. He listed things that occur when life goes wrong in 2 Corinthians 12:10 ending with a life-changing principle: "Whenever I am weak, then I am strong."
This principle works in every circumstance, including times when life goes wrong.

Any circumstance can be endured because of the empowering presence of God.


So, I receive for myself and give this prayer to you:
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit (Ephesians 1:16, NRS)

Learning with you to learn how to live when life goes wrong,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Clay Jar

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Significant people, the ones that make a lasting mark on this earth, usually do great things in the midst of adversity. I have a friend that has spent a significant amount of time battling for his life. Cancer has been a personal battle for several years; however, his focus is serving others. His service is his legacy.

How do we live beyond adversity?

As Paul wrote the second letter to the Corinthian church, he described his body as a clay jar. Despite the constraints of his marred and easily broken clay jar, Paul experienced power through the abiding presence of God that enabled him to live out his life in service.

Meditate on Paul's epiphany (realization):
Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. (Ephesians 3:7, NRS)
But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9, NRS)


Clay jars are weak and easily broken, but through the power of God, it is possible to leave a legacy that impacts others. The power of God enables us to carry out a life of service regardless of constraints, obstacles, and adversity. It comes down to a choice. Will we be held captive by the weakness of the clay jar or liberated and empowered by the power of God within the clay jar?

Leave a legacy that matters.
Refuse to be dictated by the limitations of the clay jar.
Consciously choose to experience the liberation and power of God within the clay jar each day.
Learning with you to refuse to be limited by the clay jar,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)