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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)