"Yes"

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.(Philippians 2:25, NIV)

I had a very short and concise phone conversation with a friend . . . no long drawn out discussion . . . no compromise . . . no nonsense:
“Do you want to meet for coffee?”
“Yes.”
“Can you meet in an hour?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me to order for you?”
“Yes.”
“I will see you in an hour. Is that okay?”
“Yes.”

The Apostle Paul described Epaphroditus as a fellow worker but as a fellow soldier: But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.
Paul and Epaphroditus had a “yes” lifestyle. They responded to the “yes” of God with “yes.” God revealed His “yes” to humanity through sending Christ Jesus to serve and save. In turn, individuals have a lifetime to respond with “yes” to God. Developing a disciplined and obedient lifestyle, enabled by the Spirit, expresses an ongoing “yes” to God.

Say “yes” throughout the day to God.
Enjoy the experience of “yes.”
Celebrate living in the power of “yes” today!

Learning with you to develop a “yes” lifestyle,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

It's How Things Go

I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me;
and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.
(Philippians 2:23-24, NRS)

I went home to pick up some needed items for work. When I attempted to leave home, I was informed there would be a huge delay due to road construction. I chose to wait at home.

It’s how things go . . .

When I ventured out again, I did not see anyone and left home. Within less than a minute, a pilot car followed by cars, trucks, and school buses headed towards me in the one open lane. They did not stop but kept coming towards me.

It’s how things go . . .

I squeezed into a neighbor’s driveway as the pilot car passed me. The driver informed me that I would be faced with oncoming traffic if I continued on. I waited for twenty minutes, less than a minute away from home.

It’s how things go . . .

I finally made it back to work. Construction workers, positioned by my office window, were busy jack hammering the side walk. The loud hammering made it difficult to work. Turns out, I did not have time to go back home to finish a work project due to . . . hmmm . . . construction delays!

It’s how things go . . .

We tend to rate life through circumstances. In reality, our response to how things go determines how we live our life.

The Apostle Paul announced Timothy would most likely travel ahead of him: I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me;
and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.
Paul wrote to the church at Philippi from prison waiting for a trial. He planned on sending a personal message through a representative, updating the people on his situation. That said, there were many challenges in sending the news, including dangerous travel conditions. It's how things go . . .

Paul’s value of life did not depend on his circumstances—including prison, trials, or dangerous travels. He determined to respond through the presence, power, and peace of the abiding Spirit of God, summed up at the end of his letter:
And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19, NRS)

Evaluate how things are going . . .
Be satisfied through the Spirit of God, rather than in the right circumstance.
Celebrate regardless of how things go today!

Learning with you to live through the Spirit rather than how things go,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

In The Process Of Time

But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
(Philippians 2:22, NIV)

Timothy will give his last high school assignments to his teachers today. Our culture has placed an invisible line between high school and college, signifying the transition from childhood to adulthood. Transitions require managing change. In the process of time . . . twenty-nine years of raising children . . . . . . I have learned that change creates the opportunity to grow.

The Apostle Paul wrote about his co-worker, Timothy. He described Timothy as a son who proved himself in the process of time: But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

Under Paul’s leadership, Timothy chose to change, growing stronger in Christ, revealing character beyond reproach. His personal growth enabled him to lead others, impacting the course of human history. Growth is not a drive through process, it requires desire, discipline, and time. Ultimately, an individual's growth leads to impacting others in the process of time.

Determine the process of time to be an opportunity to change and grow stronger in Christ. Celebrate the impact you will have on the world through your growth.

Learning with you to grow in the process of time,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

PEACE

America is called to pray for peace in each locality at 11:00 AM today. Will you join in prayer?

Heavenly Father,
You are Peace, Jehovah Shalom.
You initiated peace through Your great love for humanity through the reconciling work of Christ Jesus.
Christ, You are Peace, reconciling and uniting individuals through the cross, dissipating humanity’s hatred and violence.
We commit our communities, counties, states, nation, and world to You.
We ask for a healing of the nations, for people around the world to receive Your love and peace.
We ask for the powerful peace that passes all understanding, the peace that guards a heart and mind through trusting You.
Bless the peacemakers.
Bless homes, neighborhoods, businesses, schools, and churches with Your presence and peace.
Thank You.
We give all honor and glory to You.
In Your name, Amen.

Meditation:
1On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; he sets up victory like walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, so that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. 3 Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace-- in peace because they trust in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD GOD you have an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:1-4, NRS)

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7, NRS)

33 The God of peace be with all of you. Amen. (Romans 15:33, NRS)

Learning with you to pray for peace,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Pause . . . .

For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 2:21, NIV)


My road woes continued yesterday; however, my perspective broadened. After waiting for several minutes, I followed a pilot car through construction on the way home. The pilot car led me to another place on the road to wait. The attending road worker walked over to the car and began to chat . . . yes . . . chat.

As we conversed, he said the road crew had begun to recognize the few of us that live up the road. He thanked me for being patient. Hmm . . . patient? Continuing with our chat, the road worker told the story of his needs and the blessing of joining the construction crew. Pause . . . . repent . . . reformat . . . reframe . . . . renew . . . evidently, life is not all about me.

The Apostle Paul contrasted a life focused on self versus Christ: For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
The response to life is a catalyst to the outcome of life. Those who live beyond self discover the joy of being an instrument of God. The Spirit of God uses willing individuals to reach out to make a difference in the world. A Christ-follower lacks fulfillment and purpose with a narrow perspective focused on self.

Evaluate your perspective.
Is any component of life all about you?
Pause . . . . repent . . . reformat . . . reframe . . . . renew . . . see beyond yourself.
Learning with you to live beyond self,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

Does Anyone Care?

I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.
(Philippians 2:20, NIV)

I have road issues. There . . . I have said it . . . after all, admitting my problem is the first step to resolution.

My current road issue: Five minutes from my house, I encountered a member of the construction crew working on our road. He informed me that I would have to wait approximately forty minutes; however, he extended the time after I informed him that our home was located on the left side of the road. I followed the crew member’s advice and turned around. When I arrived at the next available road, the construction crew detained me for fifteen minutes. After waiting with waning patience, I proceeded almost to the end of the road. I was told to turn around since the rest of the road had been removed. No one seemed to care about my need to get home.

There is a world of people that need to know they matter. Does anyone care?

Authentic compassion and care has been a rare gift throughout the ages. People tend to be focused on their own specific life details. The Apostle Paul described Timothy, a faithful ambassador of the Message, uniquely interested in the welfare of the Philippians:
I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.
Paul demonstrated genuine care for the church as a whole as well as for the well-being of all individuals. People mattered. Timothy accepted the call to be an ambassador for Christ Jesus, demonstrating care for people through actions as well as words. Caring for people transcends any barriers that society erects, including power, position, and possession.

Ask the Spirit of God to empower and activate your care and compassion.
Demonstrate genuine compassion and care today.
Reach out to a specific individual with a specific act of kindness.

Learning with you to genuinely care for others,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)

The Power of Togetherness

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon,
that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.
(Philippians 2:19, NIV)

Timothy’s baseball team won their league title. They played the first round in the playoffs last night, anticipating winning the state championship. The game was tense, each team challenging the other. Though the team played intensely, a few player errors impacted the game. We lost.

Of course, losing the game could be the end of the story; however, the connection and care between each of the players became evident. The rest of the story . . . the most poignant part of the story . . . was their response to the loss. They formed a huddle after the game, consoled one another, and then worked together to care, clean, and close their playing field down.

The Apostle Paul wrote of the joy of hearing about the church at Philippi, who significantly supported his effort (see Philippians 4:15–18) to share the message near and far:

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon,
that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.

If, Paul had relied on his own effort, the impact of his work would have been reduced. The power of coming together with others through the work of the Spirit is indescribable. The church, built in the ancient days, continues today through the united effort of people empowered through the Spirit of God. The word, church, ekklēsia (New Testament Greek), was derived from the verb, ek-kaleō, meaning to “call out.” Accordingly, the verb, ek-kaleō, was used as a summons for an army to assemble.

There is power in togetherness.
Choose to connect with others.
Unite through the power of the Spirit of God.
Share purposeful and empowered living with others.
Discover the joy of impacting the world together.

Learning with you about the power of togetherness,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)