What I Want You To Know

Question to think about: What message do you give through your words and actions?
The family came.
They gathered around the bed.
The background noise of the Intensive Care Unit intermixed with the end of life discussion.
Powerful words were issued:
"What I want you to know . . . "
The words gave reason to pause and pay attention.

Christ, God with us, came to show and tell what humanity was to know about life; however, the religious rulers refused to pause and pay attention.

The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why did you not bring Him?"
The officers answered, "Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks." The Pharisees then answered them, "You have not also been led astray, have you?
"No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? "But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed."
(John 7:45-49, NASB)

God is present . . . revealing what we are to know . . . and in turn we have the opportunity to tell others:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6, NASB)

Seek God first.
Receive and tell the Message . . . what everyone needs to know:
Be strong.
Be courageous.
Do not be afraid.
God will go with you.
God will never leave you.
God will not forsake you.
Learning with you to live out the message of what is to be known,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Thin Place

Question to think about: Have you experienced the thin place?

Her time is short.
She has been told that her days are numbered.
Her last days
are
long,
challenging,
and
purposeful.
She knows
time is short
and speaks
carefully.
Each word is
measured,
focused on
the legacy she
leaves behind . . . purposeful living in Christ.
She is present in the presence of God.
She is in the thin place,
a sacred place,
where the presence of God
is undeniable.

How is it possible to experience the thin place? What do people miss when they are unaware of the presence of God?

People stood in the presence of Christ, God with us; however, they did not know they were in the presence of Christ:
Those in the crowd who heard these words were saying, "This has to be the Prophet." Others said, "He is the Messiah!" But others were saying, "The Messiah doesn't come from Galilee, does he? Don't the Scriptures tell us that the Messiah comes from David's line and from Bethlehem, David's village?" So there was a split in the crowd over him. Some went so far as wanting to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him. (John 7:40-44, The Message)

They did not see the identity of Christ:
Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.(Philippians 2:6-8, NASB)

Seek God first and foremost.
Find the thin place.
Be present in the presence of Christ.

Learning with you to live in the thin place,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Out of Control

Question to think about: What is out of control?

Believe it or not . . . as we were driving
out in the country
two Clydesdale horses
pulling farm machinery
raced past us
on the road.
A small truck
chased after them.
No one was
guiding the horses.
The big,
strong,
horses
were out of control . . .
on their own.

It was a picture of humanity . . .
when we take matters into our own hands,
living in our own strength
and power,
going our own way.

The Spirit of God will direct us . . . if . . . we choose.

Through Christ we receive the Spirit. He spoke of the Spirit before going to the cross:
But this He spoke (of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:39, NASB)
Christ came to the disciples after He died on the cross and put in the tomb, revealing life:

21So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21-22, NASB)

To those who believe:
Christ has issued peace . . . well-being and wholeness in life.
Christ sends into the world as the Father sent Him.
Christ invites to receive the Holy Spirit

Refuse to live an out-of-control life without direction or guidance.
Seek God.
Believe.
Live in and through the peace of Christ.
Respond to Christ as Christ responded to the Father.
Surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Learning with you to live through the guidance of the Spirit,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

A New Day

Question to think about: Do you see the new day?

I visited a woman in ICU yesterday.
A few days before . . .
medical professionals fought to save her life for several hours.
At first she felt panicked; however, there was a moment in time that she received perfect peace.
While doctors and nurses worked on her . . .
she saw something more
through a window
where the light was brighter
than she had ever seen.
She described it as "a new day."
The view of the new day changed her.
As she described her experience . . .
I felt humbled,
changed,
and renewed.
Isn't it powerful to think that
regardless of circumstances,
we can look forward
to a new day,
every day,
filled with the
presence,
power,
and peace of God?

Christ brings hope. Changing our perception so that we too can see the new day.

Through Christ . . . the power of life is received:

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"
(John 7:38, NASB)

God has promised to guide us through the hard places of life, strengthening us, enabling us to see there is a new day:

"And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. (Isaiah 58:11, NASB)

Learning with you to see the new day,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

A New Choice

Question to think about: Will you change?

He made a choice.
He chose to take a risk.
He chose to risk what he had for what he wanted.
He lost what he had.
He did not get what he wanted.
He feels like a failure.
He hates his life.
He doesn't see that anything else will work.
He keeps doing what he has been doing.
He is stuck; nothing changes.
He is afraid to change.
He feels like he will lose the little that defines his life.

How is it possible to change life?

Study John 7. The people could not see beyond what they knew. They did not understand Jesus:
Then the Jews said among themselves, Where does this Man intend to go that we shall not find Him? Will He go to the Jews who are scattered in the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
What does this statement of His mean, You will look for Me and not be able to find Me, and, Where I am, you cannot come?
Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!
(John 7:35-37, Amplified)
Jesus interrupted the celebration of the Feast.
People could not understand that God was in their mist at the Feast. Jesus revealed Himself as the Source of water. What did the revelation mean to the people?Ceremonial pouring of water occurred during the celebration of the Feast.
Water was considered a gift in the hot, arid, desert lands. The people asked God for rain and remembered when God provided water from a rock, as their ancestors wandered in the wilderness (see Exodus 17:1-7).
It is easy to imagine the drama that occurred as Jesus announced He was the answer to their need for water during the ceremonial water pouring and prayer.
The presence of Christ, God with us, changed life for humanity. The people did not need to thirst anymore. Christ offered a new choice . . . to come to Him and drink. Christ is
the Rock
out of which
Living Water flows.
Stop.
Make a new choice.
There is not any need to thirst for something more in life.
There is more . . . choose the invitation of Christ . . .
"Come" . . .
"Drink" . . .
Experience real Life.

Learning with you to make a new choice,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Walking Through Storms

Question to think about: How do you manage the storms?

It rained along the Oregon Coast.
Oregonians . . . true Oregonians . . . are not deterred by rain storms.
As a family, we consider ourselves to be true Oregonians . . . so we walked together in the sideways rain and the blowing wind,
enjoying the sight of the clouds hugging the mountains and the crashing waves of the gray sea disappearing into the gray stormy skies.
We walked together and watched the seagulls become stuck in the air as the wind pushed back on their attempts to fly and observed the pelicans weathering the storm by standing alone in some of the inland pools of water.
We enjoyed the storm . . . because we were together.
The thing is . . . Oregonians know that the storm will end . . . and the day will be new.

How do we survive the storms in our life?

A storm was brewing . . . individuals planned to arrest Jesus and stop Him.

Jesus began to tell the people that there was something more that would occur,
facing a crowd that could not have possibly imagined the powerful moment that God had planned for the world . . . that would change life for all of humanity:
Therefore Jesus said, For a little while I am [still] with you, and then I go back to Him Who sent Me. You will look for Me, but you will not [be able to] find Me; where I am, you cannot come.(John 7:33-34, Amplified)

Jesus promised there was not any reason to fear . . . there was a plan put into place:
DO NOT let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. (John 14:1, Amplified)
Jesus promised that humanity would not need to be alone:
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever--
The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.(John 14:16-17, Amplified)
There was a purpose to the plan . . . Jesus prayed:
And now I am coming to You; I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts].(John 17:13, Amplified)
Jesus broke through the power of the storms for all of humanity.
Regardless of the power of the storm that comes into our life,
we do not need to be troubled, distressed, or agitated . . .
because we have the Friend that will walk through the storms with us . . .
the Spirit of God . . .
and through it all . . .
a new work is being done . . .
that completes who we are . . .
creating peace and producing joy.

Walk through the storms of life
with the Friend . . . Who
makes all things new.

Learning with you to walk with Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

The Already and Not Yet of Life

Question to think about: Do you focus on the "already" or the "not yet" of living?

They are waiting for something to happen . . . something bad to happen.
They have become accustomed to bad news.
Each day is filled with
pain,
heartache,
and
difficulties.
The thing is . . . they need something good to happen; however, they have lost faith that any good will happen now.

Is it possible to have faith that God is at work in the "already" and "not yet" of life when everything seems wrong?

We are given insight:

Therefore they were eager to arrest Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, for His hour (time) had not yet come.
And besides, many of the multitude believed in Him [adhered to Him, trusted in Him, relied on Him]. And they kept saying, When the Christ comes, will He do [can He be expected to do] more miracles and produce more proofs and signs than what this Man has done?
(John 7:20-31, Amplified)

Humanity's rejection of Christ would be used in the overall plan of God. Jesus would be arrested . . . but it was not time . . . no one laid a hand on him. Meanwhile, people came to believe in Christ.

In order to see the work of God we must take time to see
God is already at work
and
has planned for more than can be imagined,
which has not yet occurred in our life;
however,
God will
bring all things to completion.

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. (Philippians 1:6, Amplified)

Step back.
Stop.
Seek God.
See the "already" and "not yet" of God.

Learning with you to trust God is at work,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Nothing Seems To Be Working

Question to think about: Are you empowered?

They are struggling.
Actually they have spent most of their time together struggling.
No one would guess . . .
not even their children.
Throughout the years they have hidden their struggles.
Their hidden struggles have become their normal.
Except . . . it has become too hard . . .
to use all their energy . . .
to continue struggling . . .
and hiding their struggles.
Nothing is working any more.

What do we do when nothing seems to work?

Change is required. A primary component of effective change is changing our perception . . . how we view life.

We need to be honest. Do we perceive life through the power of Christ or the power of our circumstances?

John wrote of the inability of individuals to see the power of God through Jesus.

That provoked Jesus, who was teaching in the Temple, to cry out, "Yes, you think you know me and where I'm from, but that's not where I'm from. I didn't set myself up in business. My true origin is in the One who sent me, and you don't know him at all. I come from him—that's how I know him. He sent me here." (John 7:28-29, The Message)

Live empowered.
Stop struggling.
Refocus when nothing seems to be working.
Take your eyes off the circumstance.
Refuse to allow the power of the circumstance to rule your life.
Focus on Christ.
Receive the power of Christ.

Learning with you to live through the power of Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

A Daily Choice

Question to think about: Do you make a daily choice of faith?

He lost his job.
He never would have changed his job.
He liked his job.
He was comfortable in his job.
He immediately sent his resume out.
He was hired.
He started his new job.
He is challenged at his new job.
He loves his new job.
He is confident that unfortunate circumstances were used as a pathway to a new beginning.
Confidence requires faith that . . .
there is something more to come
and that God has a plan
and is at work using the circumstance to create a pathway
to something new.
Hebrews 11:1 provides a definition of faith: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (NASB).

People lacked confidence in God. They could not imagine that God would become part of humanity
to change lives . . .
to provide a way for a personal relationship with God . . . .
to give new life.
Then again . . . it seems impossible:

That's when some of the people of Jerusalem said, "Isn't this the one they were out to kill? And here he is out in the open, saying whatever he pleases, and no one is stopping him. Could it be that the rulers know that he is, in fact, the Messiah? And yet we know where this man came from. The Messiah is going to come out of nowhere. Nobody is going to know where he comes from."
(John 7:25-27, The Message)

At the end of the day, the people would have to make the choice of faith
that God was present and at work in their midst.
Faith is a daily choice.

Make a daily chose of faith.
Stop.
Seek God first.
Surrender to the work of God.
Look through the circumstance to see that God will use it to a pathway of new beginning.

Learning with you to make a daily choice of faith,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Jumping to Conclusions

Question to think about: Are you a jumper?

Mistakes are made when we jump to conclusions. When we make the jump . . . we go beyond the evidence . . . without taking time to gather the facts and make a full evaluation. Our pressurized-fast-paced-immediate-need world rarely allows the time to be thorough.

Are you thinking about jumping?
Stop!
Take the time to evaluate.
The first thing we must do . . . is to take the time to seek God . . . to be aware of being present in the presence of God.
John wrote of the scene of people that were present in the presence of God; however, they did not recognize the presence of God. They jumped to conclusions. Jesus told them:
"Don't be nitpickers; use your head—and heart!—to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right."
(John 7:24, NASB)
There is always something more to be seen through the presence of God. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:9 NKJV).
Stop.
Slow down.
Refuse to jump to conclusions.
Take the time to intentionally to be present in the presence of God . . . to know the higher thoughts and ways of God.

Learning with you to refuse to jump,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Stress and Sabbath

Question to think about: Have you experienced Sabbath?

In the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to speak to groups of people about stress. Individuals are almost always surprised that the result of their self-evaluation reveals a high level of stress. The fact of the matter is that stress
has become a normal component of living in this era. Even so, we are not created to sustain stress for long periods of time.

What can we do?

The answer is not easy. We must change and change is never easy.
To combat the stress we must
intentionally place margin (space) in the daily schedule . . . simplify . . . and practice Sabbath.

Why Sabbath?

Jesus discussed Sabbath:
"For this reason (Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man.
"If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?
(John 7:22-23, NASB)

Christ, God with us, revealed the point of Sabbath is not about rules but for our health and wholeness. A weekly Sabbath releases stress, restoring the mind, body, and soul.

Choose health and wholeness.
Stop.
Breathe.
Determine your stress level.
Intentionally make some changes . . .
place margin in your day,
simplify
and
practice Sabbath.

Learning with you to prioritize,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Number One Priority

Question to think about: Do you prioritize?

I talked with a family that complained there is not enough time
to do all the things
they not only would like to do
but need to do.
The thing is . . . when asked . . . they could not define their number one priority.
It is time to go back to the basics . . .
we must put first things first.

Jesus said it:

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you"

(Matthew 6:33, NASB).

Before we do anything else . . . we seek God first . . . if we believe God is the number one priority.

We fail to seek God first when we have disengaged from the presence of God.

Jesus spoke to a crowd that refused to believe they were in the presence of God:
The crowd answered Him, You are possessed by a demon! [You are raving!] Who seeks to kill You?
Jesus answered them, I did one work, and you all are astounded. (John 7:20-21, Amplified)

Do you believe God is present?
Do you believe God is your number one priority?

Stop.
Become aware of the presence of God.
Determine to seek God first as your number one priority.
Commit to prioritizing the time you are given . . . seek God first.

Learning with you to prioritize,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Why do you do what you do?

Question to think about: What do your actions reveal about your belief?

"I am on a diet . . . but . . . "
"I should go exercise . . but. . . "
"I don't have money for this in my budget . . . but . . . "
"I shouldn't do this . . . but . . . "

Why do we do what we do?

Jesus spoke to a crowd that didn't understand what He was doing:
Jesus said, "I didn't make this up. What I teach comes from the One who sent me. Anyone who wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it's from God or whether I'm making it up. A person making things up tries to make himself look good. But someone trying to honor the one who sent him sticks to the facts and doesn't tamper with reality. It was Moses, wasn't it, who gave you God's Law? But none of you are living it. So why are you trying to kill me?" (John 7:16-19, The Message)

Jesus lived with focused purpose.
Opinion,
expectation,
and pressure from others
did not change what He did.
Jesus purposefully did what He did in order that humanity
could freely enter into an
active
ongoing
participating
relationship with God.
Stop.
Determine what God would have you purposefully do today.
Do it.

Learning with you to purposefully do what I am called to do,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Do you believe what you say?

Question to think about: Do you believe what you say you believe?

I have a friend who messes with people.
He likes to discuss a controversial subject.
People defend an opposing opinion; however,
he persuades them
to change their mind.
In response to their changed mind, my friend promptly explains why he believes their original point of view.

There are individuals that do not believe what they say they believe.
Throughout the ages, people have expressed opposing beliefs about Jesus:
There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him;
some were saying, "He is a good man";
others were saying, "No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray."
Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.
The Jews then were astonished, saying,
"How has this man become learned, having never been educated?"
So Jesus answered them and said,
"My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. (John 7:12-16, NASB)

The presence and power of God was revealed as Jesus taught.
No one and nothing could change the Truth
that God had come.
Belief in Christ, God with us,
is an interactive
confidence,
trust,
and
love.
The Psalmist described living in belief:

How can a young person live a clean life?
By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I'm single-minded in pursuit of you;
don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.
I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won't sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
train me in your ways of wise living.
I'll transfer to my lips
all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
I attentively watch how you've done it.
I relish everything you've told me of life,
I won't forget a word of it. (Psalm 119:9-16, The Message)

Stop.
Determine to live in belief.
Read the map and study the road signs.
Bank the promises of God in the vault of your heart.
Refuse to go bankrupt by going against the promises of God.
Delight in what God says, think about it, and don't forget a word.

Learning with you to believe,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Where Can He Be?

Question to think about: Are you present in the presence of God?

More people are stressed.
Stress produces
Frustration.
Anger.
Bitterness.
Depression.
Fearfulness.
Confusion.
And . . . faith decreases . . . as stress narrows the perception of life.
Stress blocks the view of the presence of God.

It is not a new problem. Jesus revealed the presence of God; however, people could not see:
Having said these things to them, He stayed behind in Galilee.
But afterward, when His brothers had gone up to the Feast, He went up also, not publicly [not with a caravan], but by Himself quietly and as if He did not wish to be observed.
Therefore the Jews kept looking for Him at the Feast and asking, Where can He be? [Where is that Fellow?] (John 7:9-11, Amplified)

The people missed the presence of Christ, God with us.
They asked the question, "Where can He be?"
The presence of God is often missed when life is not going the way we think it should go . . .
we wonder where God is . . .
especially in tough times.

The thing is . . .
we are told that God is always present:
The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8, NASB)

So, what is the problem?

We are not always present in the presence of God . . . we disengage.

Stop.
Engage with the presence of God.
Be present in the presence of God.
Step back from challenges.
Surrender.
Be aware of the presence of God throughout the day.

Learning with you to be present in the presence of God,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

The Need for Now

Question to think about: Do you want something to happen now?

"It needs to happen now."
"Now," is a powerful word that is driven by our expectations.
Whether we admit it or not,
we have expectations
of how life should be.
We place our expectations before faith,
thinking that if only things
would go our way
life would be okay.
Expectations narrow our perspective.
Our perspective becomes our reality.

How is it possible to see beyond our expectations and the need for "now?"

Even the brothers of Jesus struggled with their expectations .

They did not see the bigger picture.
They were unable to perceive that God was with them.
So they got into a discussion with Jesus about His need to go to the festival at the right time:
Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee. (John 7:6-9, The Message)
The brothers could not understand the purpose of Jesus.
The brothers expected Jesus to do something to gain back His popularity . . . after many disciples left . . . and after hearing about others plotting against Him.
The brother's expectations of Jesus created a perceived need for "now."
The brothers pressured Jesus to go to the festival to be seen.
Jesus answered, "Now is not the right time for me to go," giving them the choice to go anytime.
Expectations produce a powerful need for "now." In reality, "now" is not always the best time.

Stop.
Evaluate the purpose of God in your life.
Determine if your need for "now" is driven by your expectations created by your circumstances.
Refocus.
Experience real life through the reality of the presence and plan of God.

Learning with you to re-evaluate the need for "now,"
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Not Even

Question to think about: How does faith define your life?

There are moments in time that change our life.
Discouragement settles in.
Dreams die.
Hope is lost.
There comes a moment that
the decision of faith must be made
to respond
with belief
that God is present
and at work,
regardless of circumstances.

History changed when Christ, God with us, came.
And, yet,
many disciples left,
leaders plotted against Him,
and his own brothers did not believe.

John spent a significant amount of time writing about the disbelief of the people surrounding Jesus:
"For not even His brothers were believing in Him." (John 7:5, NASB)

The two words, "not even," encompass a powerful message.
It must have been especially difficult that
the brothers of Jesus,
who were up close and personal,
did not believe in Him.

Their disbelief was recorded and known for all of history.
Yet,
not even
the brothers' disbelief
could cause Jesus
from doing what He came to do.

Stop.
Refuse to allow anything and anyone
to stop you from
participating with the work of God; not even ___________.
Seek the strength of Christ to empower you to move forward.

Learning with you that not even the greatest challenges can stop the work of God,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Is it time?

Question to think about: Will you trust God's timing?
Life is filled with decisions
which
rely on timing.
What we do and when we do it
impacts lives.
Timing is crucial to everything we do.
The question must be asked: "Is it time?"

In the ancient days, time revolved around feasts and festivals. The people were to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths and live in huts to remember the Israelites living in huts after the exodus from Egypt. The people celebrated for seven days. The timing of the Feast of Booths became significant in the discussion that ensued between Jesus and His brothers:
Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. Therefore His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. "For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." (John 7:2-4, NASB)
The brothers of Jesus must have been concerned about the many disciples who left as well as those who plotted against Him.
The brothers believed Jesus could use the time of the Feast of Booths to gain popularity.
The brothers failed to understand that the purpose of Christ had never been to gain popularity and position but to accomplish the plan of God in the right time.

Stop.
Seek God for guidance and wisdom to purposefully make decisions.
Ask God if it is time to put a decision into action.

Learning with you to trust the timing of God,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

In The Midst of the Stink

Question to think about: Do you think, speak, and act with the belief that God uses stinkin' circumstances?

Skunks seem to be multiplying in our area. Well, at least their smell.
The thing is . . . their aroma is a reminder of how God can use anything in our life as a tool. A few years ago, I was in another state speaking at a conference. The weather turned uncommonly cold forcing a group of skunks to find shelter . . . where I slept. I was skunked twice during that weekend. Seriously!
It was a stinkin' problem.
And listen . . .
the stink is relentless . . .
regardless of what you do to get rid of it.
On the way home, people distanced themselves from me . . . at the airport coffee shop, in line to board the plane, and on the plane. The plane was filled except for the two seats by me. A young woman boarded late and had no choice but to sit by me. After I explained that I had been skunked and smelled . . . she confirmed that the stink was not a secret. Despite the stink, we connected.
She shared her story . . . pain created by division between family members, distressing circumstances, loneliness, and the need for something more in life. In the midst of the stink, she invited Christ into her life that night.

When all is said and done, God uses our stinkin' circumstances. In God's economy, nothing is wasted.

Christ, God with us, dealt with stinkin circumstances. John wrote,
"AFTER THIS, Jesus went from place to place in Galilee, for He would not travel in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him." (John 7:1, Amplified)
Not everyone agreed with Jesus. Many disciples left Jesus (review John 6) and Jews sought to kill Him.
Jesus threatened the way they viewed a relationship with God . . . and the way they lived.
At first glance, it would seem that the would-be murderers had power over Jesus, limiting His travel and ministry.
Look again . . . read the story . . . every circumstance was used to accomplish the purpose of God.
"We humans keep brainstorming options and plans,
but God's purpose prevails." (Proverbs 19:21, The Message)
Stop.
Refuse to let stinkin' circumstances consume you.
Focus on the purpose of God.
Go the way God directs.

Learning with you that the purpose of God continues in the midst of the stink,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

Love to the End

Question to think about: Do you understand how powerful the love of Jesus is?
At the end of the day,
we must decide how committed we are to
people in
our lives.
Commitment is love.
What could be more important than love?
Christ demonstrated commitment:
Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And [yet] one of you is a devil (of the evil one and a false accuser)." He was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he was about to betray Him, [although] he was one of the Twelve.
(John 6:70-71, Amplified)

He knew them.
He knew the one who would have a change of heart.
He loved them . . .

Fast forward to the last hours before Jesus went to the cross . . .
Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. (John 13:1, NASB)

Meditate on the powerful statement: "Jesus loved them to the end."

The love of Christ, God with us, is not dependent on our response.
Jesus knew he would be betrayed;
however,
His love did not change.

Renew your commitment.
Ask God to infuse you
with love
and strengthen you
with the power to
be committed to others.

Learning with you love to the end,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

And there was Light

Question to think about: Can you see beyond the darkness?

Sunrise is an incredible time of day.
The light moves into the darkness, changing the way the world looks. As the light overtakes the darkness, color seeps into the world. What has been hidden is revealed. Light transforms the world.

We have a picture of the world without light:
The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 2:2, NASB)

The Spirit of God was present.

The world did not remain in darkness.
Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. (Genesis 2:3, NASB)

John introduced Jesus as the Light:
"In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:4,5, NASB)

The darkness did not (and does not) comprehend the Light, God with us.

The thing is . . . we either live in the Light or in the darkness. It is a choice. When we stay in the dark we fail to perceive the Light of God and the life God offers. Thoughts, attitude, words, decisions, and actions lack the power of the Light . . . lacking power . . . becoming formless and void.

There were many disciples that turned away from Jesus, the Light of the world. Jesus asked who would stay in the Light:
Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life. And we have learned to believe and trust, and [more] we have come to know [surely] that You are the Holy One of God, the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of the living God.(John 6:67-68, Amplified)

Some chose to leave;
others remained
and
believed,
trusted,
and came to know Christ . . . the Light of humanity.
Before the day begins . . .
invite the Light of God
to enter your
thoughts,
attitude,
words,
and actions
in belief, trust, and relationship with Christ, the Light of the world.
The Light will transform your day.

Learning with you to live in the Light,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)

They Left

Question to think about: Are you committed?

Two frogs sit outside of our house and croak.
Two little frogs.
Two loud frogs.
Their noise-making is distracting.
They need to leave.

The thing is . . . distractions can take our focus off what is important.
Distractions can be stumbling blocks.
Jesus could have been distracted when many of the disciples left.
The talk . . .
the complaining . . .
disciples leaving . . .
incredibly distracting.
Questions arise. Why would many disciples leave? What was wrong? Did Jesus need to do something else when his popularity decreased?
Meditate on it:
After this, many of His disciples drew back (returned to their old associations) and no longer accompanied Him. Jesus said to the Twelve, Will you also go away? [And do you too desire to leave Me?] (John 6: 66-7, Amplified)

What happened?
John 6: 1-2 describes people following Jesus because of the miracles He performed.
John 6:10-13 describes how Jesus took 2 loaves of bread and five little fish and fed thousands.
Were the people more fascinated with miracles than having a relationship with Christ, God with us?
Thousands of people were hungry. Did their souls hunger for God?
They needed to be fed.
Everyone understood there was a problem;
there was not enough money or food to feed them.
Jesus had a plan.
Jesus invited the disciples to participate.
Jesus used what they had.
Jesus asked the people to sit down . . . to be in a position to receive.
He gave thanks . . .
there was more than enough food . . . twelve baskets of leftovers.

But after all was said and done . . . the people wanted miracles without commitment.
John records many disciples left.
It had to feel discouraging . . . the miracles had energized everyone,
leaving people wanting Jesus to do more.
Jesus did not perform another miracle but talked about commitment.
Many disciples did not want to commit.
They left, rejecting Jesus.
Jesus was not distracted.
Choice was and is a part of the plan.
Jesus gave the Twelve a choice.
It is a daily choice to be in an ongoing-active-participating-committed relationship with Christ, God with us.
Stop.
Breathe.
Refuse to be distracted.
Focus on the presence of Christ.
Commit your day to Christ.

Learning with you to be committed to Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)