I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.(Philippians 4:12, NRS).
Good Morning!
The world continues to remember that Diana, Princess of Wales, died after suffering massive injuries in a car accident ten years ago. People have been fascinated with her life, including her work with the poor and needy people in the world. That same year, just five days later, Mother Theresa, died. She lived amongst the poorest of the poor to touch and change their lives. While the world grieved these women, their power, position, and possession were continually compared. That said, it seems the point of living was missed: purpose.
The Apostle Paul determined that living is not whether or not we have power, position, and possession but living purposefully for Christ. He writes that his circumstances were not the point but how he managed them for Christ. This point is clear in Ephesians 4:1--“I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”
Fulfillment of purposeful living comes from knowing and serving Christ.
Determine your purpose today: How can you live purposefully for Christ in your circumstances?
Intentionally develop an awareness of the presence of Christ.
Choose to focus on purposefully serving Christ.
Learning with you to purposefully live for Christ regardless of the circumstances,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
When Is It Enough?
Not I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. (Philippians 4:11, NRS).
Good Morning!
My friend seemed to have everything anyone would need or ever want. Even so, he thought he needed more. He felt restless . . . dissatisfied . . . and . . . he was . . . well . . . bad tempered, irritable, and argumentative. He wanted something more. Nothing seemed to satisfy him.
So, he developed a habit of letting alcohol take the edge off the feeling of needing more. Eventually, alcohol consumed his life until his business collapsed. He lost his home and possessions. He was abandoned by family and friends. Nothing was left.
One early morning, he woke up in a jail cell after a drinking binge. He realized all of his efforts had been centered on himself. The quest for more power, possessions, and position in this world had left him with nothing. He had no one to help pull him out of the dark place he had fallen into—a place far from where he ever wanted to be.
Sitting in the jail cell, he encountered Christ at about 2:00 AM in the morning. He asked Christ to enter and fill his life. As the light of the dawn seeped into the day, my friend had contentment for the first time. Why? Life was no longer about self.
The Apostle Paul explained in Galatians 2:20, “Not I, but Christ” (KJV). Christ completed him. Fulfillment came through serving Christ.
Christ completes who we have been created to be and fulfills what we are created to do.
Contentment comes from living in and for Christ.
Evaluate your life today:
Do you feel dissatisfied?
Do you want something more?
Turn your thoughts, feelings, words, and/or actions from self to Christ.
Give thanks for the enduring contentment that comes from Christ. He is enough . . .
Learning with you to be content,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Good Morning!
My friend seemed to have everything anyone would need or ever want. Even so, he thought he needed more. He felt restless . . . dissatisfied . . . and . . . he was . . . well . . . bad tempered, irritable, and argumentative. He wanted something more. Nothing seemed to satisfy him.
So, he developed a habit of letting alcohol take the edge off the feeling of needing more. Eventually, alcohol consumed his life until his business collapsed. He lost his home and possessions. He was abandoned by family and friends. Nothing was left.
One early morning, he woke up in a jail cell after a drinking binge. He realized all of his efforts had been centered on himself. The quest for more power, possessions, and position in this world had left him with nothing. He had no one to help pull him out of the dark place he had fallen into—a place far from where he ever wanted to be.
Sitting in the jail cell, he encountered Christ at about 2:00 AM in the morning. He asked Christ to enter and fill his life. As the light of the dawn seeped into the day, my friend had contentment for the first time. Why? Life was no longer about self.
The Apostle Paul explained in Galatians 2:20, “Not I, but Christ” (KJV). Christ completed him. Fulfillment came through serving Christ.
Christ completes who we have been created to be and fulfills what we are created to do.
Contentment comes from living in and for Christ.
Evaluate your life today:
Do you feel dissatisfied?
Do you want something more?
Turn your thoughts, feelings, words, and/or actions from self to Christ.
Give thanks for the enduring contentment that comes from Christ. He is enough . . .
Learning with you to be content,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Remarkable
I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. (Philippians 4:10, NRS).
Good Morning!
I know a remarkable individual. Webster’s dictionary defines the word, remarkable, as “worthy of being or likely to be noticed especially as being uncommon or extraordinary.” Accordingly, a remarkable individual lives beyond the boring, mundane, routine, and monotonous tendencies of humanity. That said, living a remarkable life does not require a change in circumstances or challenges. Rather, a remarkable life is lived through the remarkable presence of God.
The Apostle Paul commented on the revived concern the Philippians had for him. Certainly, he remarkably impacted their lives through the presence of Christ in his own life. He was born with a purpose and remarkably lived with purpose. Paul explained, “But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me, even before I was born! What undeserved mercy! Then he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else . . .” (Galatians 1:15-16, NLT).
Remarkable. The revelation of Christ turned the Apostle Paul’s life upside-down—--he experienced transformation. There is nothing ordinary about living in and through the presence of Christ. A life lived for Christ is absolutely and unequivocally remarkable.
Take time to increase your awareness of the remarkable presence of Christ.
Stop. Be still. Connect with Christ.
Refuse to live a boring, mundane, routine, and monotonous minute.
Surrender every minute to Christ.
Experience a remarkable day--minute by minute--through the presence of Christ.
Impact others through the remarkable presence of Christ in your life.
Have a remarkable day!
Learning with you to live remarkably through the remarkable presence of Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Good Morning!
I know a remarkable individual. Webster’s dictionary defines the word, remarkable, as “worthy of being or likely to be noticed especially as being uncommon or extraordinary.” Accordingly, a remarkable individual lives beyond the boring, mundane, routine, and monotonous tendencies of humanity. That said, living a remarkable life does not require a change in circumstances or challenges. Rather, a remarkable life is lived through the remarkable presence of God.
The Apostle Paul commented on the revived concern the Philippians had for him. Certainly, he remarkably impacted their lives through the presence of Christ in his own life. He was born with a purpose and remarkably lived with purpose. Paul explained, “But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me, even before I was born! What undeserved mercy! Then he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else . . .” (Galatians 1:15-16, NLT).
Remarkable. The revelation of Christ turned the Apostle Paul’s life upside-down—--he experienced transformation. There is nothing ordinary about living in and through the presence of Christ. A life lived for Christ is absolutely and unequivocally remarkable.
Take time to increase your awareness of the remarkable presence of Christ.
Stop. Be still. Connect with Christ.
Refuse to live a boring, mundane, routine, and monotonous minute.
Surrender every minute to Christ.
Experience a remarkable day--minute by minute--through the presence of Christ.
Impact others through the remarkable presence of Christ in your life.
Have a remarkable day!
Learning with you to live remarkably through the remarkable presence of Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Out Of Order
. . . the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:9d, NRS).
Good Morning!
We moved.
Then, we took Tim to school.
Now, we need to have a sign pinned to our clothing: “Out of order.”
I mean really, we intended to do all things in an orderly manner.
You would think we would be in order rather than out of order. Our first mistake came when we borrowed a small truck and moved little by little. My advice: just say no! Move all at once.
And, then, there is the whole college moving-thing. Moving our last child from a new place to college proved to be . . . well . . . disorderly.
So . . . there you have it—I am out of order.
That said, we know that God is a God of order. The Apostle Paul described a Christ follower's lifestyle. Individuals who engage their thoughts, words, and behavior in Christ find an orderly rhythm to life resulting in peace.
Ultimately, humanity is created to align their mind, heart, and soul with God--it is an orderly process--that occurs through daily surrender.
Evaluate your life. Are you out of order?
Surrender disorder to the orderly manner of thinking, speaking, and acting that God has outlined in His word.
Meditate on the peace received through living the way God has revealed through Christ Jesus.
Experience and enjoy the peace of God.
Learning with you to live in His orderly way,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Good Morning!
We moved.
Then, we took Tim to school.
Now, we need to have a sign pinned to our clothing: “Out of order.”
I mean really, we intended to do all things in an orderly manner.
You would think we would be in order rather than out of order. Our first mistake came when we borrowed a small truck and moved little by little. My advice: just say no! Move all at once.
And, then, there is the whole college moving-thing. Moving our last child from a new place to college proved to be . . . well . . . disorderly.
So . . . there you have it—I am out of order.
That said, we know that God is a God of order. The Apostle Paul described a Christ follower's lifestyle. Individuals who engage their thoughts, words, and behavior in Christ find an orderly rhythm to life resulting in peace.
Ultimately, humanity is created to align their mind, heart, and soul with God--it is an orderly process--that occurs through daily surrender.
Evaluate your life. Are you out of order?
Surrender disorder to the orderly manner of thinking, speaking, and acting that God has outlined in His word.
Meditate on the peace received through living the way God has revealed through Christ Jesus.
Experience and enjoy the peace of God.
Learning with you to live in His orderly way,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Friday, August 10, 2007
Leaving
Keep on doing the things that you have . . . heard and seen in me . . . (Philippians 4:9c, NRS).
Good Morning!
We are moving tomorrow. Admittedly, we have mixed emotions. It is difficult to leave our family home as well as the community where we have raised our children; however, we are excited to experience what God has planned for our future. We believe that God has given us a new opportunity to be a part of His ongoing work in the world. Actually, this is a core belief—a foundational belief that we stand on—a legacy we have received.
Let me explain, our family has had great examples of faithful individuals from generation to generation. Stories of divine intervention, a legacy we have received, inspire and motivate our family to move forward with faith. These individuals, some that we only know through the retelling of stories, have caused us to want to live in faith. Many of the stories describe circumstances in which the faithful generations of the past could have been stuck in fear; however, they went forward in faith to accomplish the work of God.
The Apostle Paul noted that the Philippians should pay attention to the core beliefs seen and heard in his own life. In other words, our life becomes part of history, or should I say His (God’s) story, revealing our participation in the work of God. Accordingly, questions arise:
“What am I leaving behind?”
“What is my legacy?”
Assess your plans today.
Determine the legacy you will leave behind today.
Leave a legacy that motivates others to live in faith.
Learning with you to leave a legacy that makes a difference in the faith of others,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Good Morning!
We are moving tomorrow. Admittedly, we have mixed emotions. It is difficult to leave our family home as well as the community where we have raised our children; however, we are excited to experience what God has planned for our future. We believe that God has given us a new opportunity to be a part of His ongoing work in the world. Actually, this is a core belief—a foundational belief that we stand on—a legacy we have received.
Let me explain, our family has had great examples of faithful individuals from generation to generation. Stories of divine intervention, a legacy we have received, inspire and motivate our family to move forward with faith. These individuals, some that we only know through the retelling of stories, have caused us to want to live in faith. Many of the stories describe circumstances in which the faithful generations of the past could have been stuck in fear; however, they went forward in faith to accomplish the work of God.
The Apostle Paul noted that the Philippians should pay attention to the core beliefs seen and heard in his own life. In other words, our life becomes part of history, or should I say His (God’s) story, revealing our participation in the work of God. Accordingly, questions arise:
“What am I leaving behind?”
“What is my legacy?”
Assess your plans today.
Determine the legacy you will leave behind today.
Leave a legacy that motivates others to live in faith.
Learning with you to leave a legacy that makes a difference in the faith of others,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Do You Get It?
Keep on doing the things that you have . . . received . . . (Philippians 4:9b, NRS).
Good Morning!
No one could say my three-year-old friend was a quitter. He repeatedly asked me after each of his sentences, “Do you get it?”
Did I mention that he repeatedly asked the specific question? As I left him, he was still asking me the same question. So, I ask you, “Do you get it?”
I mean do you get what I am saying? Really, do you get it?
Of course, I must admit—that there are simple life lessons that I have repeated several times over before I “get it.” Transformation occurs when an individual “gets” the lessons of true and authentic living in and through the presence of Christ. Our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions become more like Christ. People notice that we “get it” without asking the question.
Do you get it?
Do you get what Christ wants you to learn today?
Do you get what lesson Christ wants you to implement today?
Ask Him.
Learning with you to “get it,”
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Good Morning!
No one could say my three-year-old friend was a quitter. He repeatedly asked me after each of his sentences, “Do you get it?”
Did I mention that he repeatedly asked the specific question? As I left him, he was still asking me the same question. So, I ask you, “Do you get it?”
I mean do you get what I am saying? Really, do you get it?
Of course, I must admit—that there are simple life lessons that I have repeated several times over before I “get it.” Transformation occurs when an individual “gets” the lessons of true and authentic living in and through the presence of Christ. Our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions become more like Christ. People notice that we “get it” without asking the question.
Do you get it?
Do you get what Christ wants you to learn today?
Do you get what lesson Christ wants you to implement today?
Ask Him.
Learning with you to “get it,”
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Lesson Learned . . .
Keep on doing the things that you have learned . . . (Philippians 4:9, NRS).
Good Morning!
A deer caused havoc on the road. The deer seemed to sense that it had power over the vehicles on the road. So, the deer made a three point plan.
1.Stand in the middle of the road, face the left lane, and refuse to move. (Result: Vehicles on both sides of the road could not move.)
2.Turn, stand in the middle of the road, and refuse to move.
3.Jump to the side of the road, look back at the vehicles (with a smirk???), and disappear into the woods.
What was the lesson? Humanity has little control over much of anything.
Isn’t life a series of lessons? That said, the Apostle Paul instructed the Church at Philippi to live the lessons learned about Christ. God has created humanity with the ability to learn and the control to choose or deny to live the lesson that has been learned.
Assess what you have learned as a Christ-follower.
Take control and implement the learned lessons.
Continue to be a student.
Learning with you to implement lessons learned about Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
Good Morning!
A deer caused havoc on the road. The deer seemed to sense that it had power over the vehicles on the road. So, the deer made a three point plan.
1.Stand in the middle of the road, face the left lane, and refuse to move. (Result: Vehicles on both sides of the road could not move.)
2.Turn, stand in the middle of the road, and refuse to move.
3.Jump to the side of the road, look back at the vehicles (with a smirk???), and disappear into the woods.
What was the lesson? Humanity has little control over much of anything.
Isn’t life a series of lessons? That said, the Apostle Paul instructed the Church at Philippi to live the lessons learned about Christ. God has created humanity with the ability to learn and the control to choose or deny to live the lesson that has been learned.
Assess what you have learned as a Christ-follower.
Take control and implement the learned lessons.
Continue to be a student.
Learning with you to implement lessons learned about Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
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