Always

14 Monday May 2012

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“Always” is a word of significance to me. It defines God’s ongoing presence, changing the dynamics of how I see circumstances, challenging me to see beyond the moment, defining my life. A few months ago, our worship leader felt he should email me the song, Always, without realizing how significant this one word is to me. It was on his list to do.  He sent it at 3 AM after his daughter threw up on him, feeling God urging him to do it right then– you’ve got to love how God always uses our circumstances.

And. I needed the song at that very moment. The words have become my own:

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always~Kristian Stanfill

God is always . . . continually . . . unceasingly . . . and without fail present and at work. It’s the message written in Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. (Psalm 46:1-3).

The divine words bring clarity.  We are always in the presence of God.  We’re in the presence of God right now.  Being in the presence of God is not something to attain but to always be aware of:

Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10, TNIV).

The gift of the day is received when we become aware God is committed to always being present. Always.

Learning to Kickstart with awareness that God is present . . . always,

Kerrie

(Written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

The PERFECT Day

08 Sunday Apr 2012

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I’ve learned that I must appreciate, must focus, must be in tune with the miraculous rather than the minute of this world, being in a relationship with Christ with such intensity that there’s nothing else that matters. One thing I know is there’s nothing better than trusting the Light of Life, when things are good and perfect as well as when nothing seems right, when it would be amazing, if, just one thing would work out. I will admit that I like the good and perfect part of living and that I would rather disregard the times when nothing seems to be working out and everything seems desperately hard and dark.  Our family is in both places as we experience the goodness of God while trying to make sense of little Miss Lucy Mae’s death.

It’s challenging to think we don’t have her here for Easter; however, this resurrection day gives us reason to go on, knowing there’s life ahead, knowing without doubt, Christ broke through the power of darkness and death, giving us the opportunity to experience the love, light, and life God offers.

The words of Christ, said before the first Easter day, pull us forward with belief there is more:  ”I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25).

So. We intentionally keep the heart of the story of Easter in the forefront, believing Jesus gives life even in death and that through Him nothing is impossible and all things are made new as He brings each detail of our life together for good. Because. When you get down to it, life is about the work of Christ on the cross, and the power of resurrection breaking through the darkness of death and devastation. The thing is . . . it’s a choice to experience the gift of the life Christ offers, refusing to fear what might or might not occur, believing there’s more to come . . . because He has freed us from the power of the devastation of the difficult and dark times.

There’s a difference in each day when we live in the mission and message of Christ, believing His destiny was the cross, that He alone was sent to save us, breaking through the power of darkness and death, giving us the perfect day: Easter.

And. On the perfect day, we received the gift of a lifetime from the One who will never leave or fail us . . . a life beyond imagination . . . forever. And, because of the perfect day of Easter, we are able to experience an undying love that changes how we think, speak, and live.

So . . . on this Easter, we will make the choice to let our light shine even though we are grieving and wishing Miss Lucy Mae could be with us . . . knowing and believing she is letting her light shine in heaven as we wait for THE PERFECT DAY when we will come together in the Light of eternity.

Learning to Kickstart the perfect day, Easter, by letting our light shine,

Kerrie

(Written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
http://faithfamilycreativity.com/

Breaking Through The Storm

03 Tuesday Apr 2012

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Grief is a part of life; however, no one wants it.  And. There are those who avoid our grief, not wanting to be touched by it, as, if, our tragedy will bring tragedy to their life.   But.  There are individuals willing to walk the long journey with us, open to their life changing as they come alongside.  The thing is . . . it is what it is for our family . . . a time to find our way through the impact of death and sorrow.  Through it all, we’ve recognized the presence and power of God breaking through the darkness of the ongoing storm of grief.  And.  We’ve seen and experienced the break through power of God in amazing ways.  The best way to explain it all is with the picture our friends took on their way home from Miss Lucy Mae’s celebration of life service. They looked up and saw light breaking through the stormy skies.  So. They took the picture and sent it to us.  It tells our story of God breaking through this fierce storm that we are in.

With God, there’s no reason to fear, even in the worst of storms.   God is our Light breaking through darkness . . . Life breaking through death . . . Love breaking through suffering . . . Beginnings breaking through endings . . . Hope breaking through hopelessness . . . Peace breaking through the chaos of it all. It is what the writer of Psalms declared: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121: 1-2, NIV).

And, as we lift our eyes up and see the Maker of heaven and earth breaking though our storm, we find a peace that changes the way we get through the storm.  Yes.  We continue to ask why; however, we trust God in it all. And.  Once again the song, Always, resonates with the soul through the confession “My Help Comes From the Lord.”  So. Though we are in the storm, we’ve experienced the break through power of God in the worst of it all as we make our own journey home.

Lift up your eyes.  God is your Refuge, your Help, your Light in the darkness of the storm.  Always.

Learning to Kickstart the day with faith God will always break through the storm,

Kerrie

(Written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
http://faithfamilycreativity.com/

Trusting God With The “Whys” of Life

26 Monday Mar 2012

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Time has passed. Life has shifted. I’m back to discovering the more of God, but from a whole new perspective . . .

Holding Lucy For The Last Time

The last few weeks have been delineated by hard, unwanted, sorrowful change for our family through the death of our Miss Lucy Mae.

The thing is . . . we have confidence Miss Lucy Mae stepped into the dazzling dimension called heaven . . . even so, it’s a process to learn how to live without her.

There are moments which seem more difficult than other times as the force of grief unexpectedly pushes its way through the big and small details of living, leaving us breathless, gasping for air, desperately wanting life the way it was supposed to be.

While it’s difficult to comprehend: this is life. And. We’ve only begun the process of learning how to live this life all over again, while leaning on God. I think I understand, more than ever, what Proverbs 3 means when we are told not to lean on our own understanding:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5, NIV).

No matter what the explanation, there’s not any reason good enough to explain Miss Lucy Mae’s death. There are some people who’ve tried to give us reasons. We know they’re trying to be helpful. But. If, you’ve ever experienced loss, you know that hearing someone’s reasoning for your personal loss does not help.

It helps when those around us refuse to put the whole situation in a neat and tidy box of answers, joining us with asking the “whys” of this situation, trusting God will always accept our questions with understanding, love, grace, and mercy.

I’m of the opinion that asking questions, including the “whys” of life, is an essential part of trusting God. Otherwise, we’re not surrendering it all or trusting God to accept where we’re at in our life. Yes.  There are times the list of “whys” will be long and challenging. BUT. I’ve learned throughout the years of my life, God is always with us, walking alongside of us in the deepest valleys, making a way through the “whys” with unrelenting love and understanding. Trusting God in the worst of times, when life doesn’t make sense, when nothing has gone the way it was supposed to go, and when there seems to be more questions than answers enables us to move forward with hope for the future.

Learning to Kickstart each day, trusting God with the “whys” of life,

Kerrie

(Written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

A New Beginning

03 Saturday Mar 2012

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Tragedy.  Destruction. Death. Silence.

Grief.
Doubt.
Disbelief.
Desperation.
Prayer. Waiting. Listening.  Surrendering. Receiving.
Peace.
Hope.
Trust.

The impossible became possible. Joy came in the mourning.  It was a new beginning.

In the winter seasons, the places where the hope of something more is far away, God assures us of the plan for springtime . . .  for a new beginning . . . making a way, doing a new thing in our life: See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wildernessand streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:19, NIV).

Spring Reminds Us God Always Provides New Beginnings

Spring Is The Promise That New Beginnings Will Come Through The Life-Giver

When spring comes, when we know God has something more, when a way is provided in the wilderness and wasteland of our life, we are renewed and grateful for the possibility of a new beginning.

Day 18 of 40-days of intentional gratefulness: A new beginning produces new gratefulness.

Learning to Kickstart each day with gratefulness,

Kerrie

(Written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

http://faithfamilycreativity.com/

A Rich Life

02 Friday Mar 2012

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This is the 17th day of intentional gratefulness.  While gratefulness is an intentional discipline, this forty-day exercise is  about the commitment to a God-driven directive to break free of the tyranny and power of circumstances.  Yet.  For most of us, the urge to complain never completely goes away.

The thing is . . . ingratitude is prevalent in this era . . . and is one of the most destructive attitudes in our own life and the world around us.

I’m not denying that there are frustrating and down-right difficult things to manage in life.  But.  I’ve learned gratefulness comes from the awareness of the presence of God rather than our circumstances.  And. When we know the presence of God, we know the power of God breaks through whatever has its grip on our life, bringing us to our knees, blown away with gratefulness.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a theologian, who at age 39 was hung by the Nazi regime, gave insight to the richness of a grateful individual in his article, Ethics:

In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)

Isn’t Bonhoeffer’s statement incredible?  It’s not our possessions, position, or power but gratefulness which will make our life rich.  It’s why the Apostle Paul made it clear to the Early Church giving thanks is not based on circumstances but is the will of God.

 . . . Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (I Thessalonians 5:18, TNIV).

Sometimes we need to stop in the midst of it all . . . calling out our thanks . . . saying, “Thank you.”  So.  Today, I give thanks for our family, including our little ones soon to join us, recognizing the gift of one another.

Grateful

Grateful for one another. (Modern Exposure Studio)

  • Live rich.
  • Stop and give thanks.
  • Be grateful at all times.

Day 17 of 40-days of intentional gratefulness: The rich are the ones who are grateful!

Learning to Kickstart each day with gratefulness,

Kerrie

(Written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
http://faithfamilycreativity.com/

After The Cross

01 Thursday Mar 2012

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Miss Madelyn continually shows me the value of fully experiencing each moment of the day.  It has become clearer to me, that as we grow older, the cares of this world press into us, impacting the way we see life and how we live it.  So.  We must be mindful of what we let into our life.

Miss Madelyn--Living fully in the moment.

The reality of what Christ took on has freed us to live fully in the moment. But. To experience true freedom, we must surrender . . . the greatest burden and the smallest worry . . . to Christ. We need to be mindful throughout the day of the moment Christ declared from the cross, “It is finished!”

The words are life-changing, reminding us of what came after the cross:  “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit (John 19:30, NLT).

In the most powerful moment in the history of the world, we were freed to experience the fullness of life. So.  When the stuff that belongs in the grave begins to come at us . . . shame, blame, worry, doubt, stress, and whatever else . . . we need to remember the battle was fought and won. What comes after the cross is the fullness of life.  Ashley Summers, our worship leader, sent me a song that gives this message.  It’s from Hillsong United: Aftermath.

We are called to live in the realm of what comes after the cross.

  • Believe Christ has broke through the power of what belongs in the grave.
  • Step into the realm of Christ’s declaration–”It’s finished!”
  • Choose to live in the freedom of Christ, fully experiencing each moment of the day.

Day 16 of 40-days of intentional gratefulness:  Grateful to be free to experience the fullness of life in each moment.

Learning to Kickstart each day with gratefulness,

Kerrie

(Written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
http://faithfamilycreativity.com/

Time To Dance

29 Wednesday Feb 2012

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Leap year gave us a gift–24 extra hours. Seriously. it’s a brilliant idea to keep the world caught up with some extra time.There never seems to be enough time.

We are given a certain amount of time to live. In that time we are to live purposefully. If we are honest, most of us have wasted a significant amount of time.

Consider: 
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance. (Ecc. 3: 1-4, NLT).

So. Do you believe there is a time for everything, including death? What would happen if you had one more day to live?
What would be different?
What would be the same?

When my friend told me he did not have much time to live, I could not believe it . . . did not want to believe it . . . and hoped he did not believe it. We were young and healthy. It seemed like we had so much time ahead. But, somehow he knew.
So.
He asked some of us to dance in the rain. We did. At the time, it seemed random; however, looking back I see that it was part of his legacy. It was as if it released us to be free in the moment and grateful to be alive.

A few months later, he was hit on an Oregon highway by a drunk driver. He was injured, more than we knew at the time. We sat and talked on a rainy afternoon as he lay in his hospital bed. His words were memorable; he said to consider the day as a gift of life to be experienced . . . celebrated . . . and remembered. And, he reminded me to take time to dance in the rain. He took his last breath on earth a few days later.

There’s a time to dance.

Dancing At Tiffany's Wedding

The thing is . . . I want to spend more time dancing in the rain and less time complaining about the rain.

Day 15 of 40-days of intentional gratefulness:  Grateful there’s a time to dance. So.  I will.

Learning to Kickstart each day with gratefulness,

Kerrie

(Written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
http://faithfamilycreativity.com/

All Of Me

28 Tuesday Feb 2012

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I woke up with echoes of Matt Hammitt’s song, “Your Gonna Have All Of Me.”  The song was written when pain and love collided after his son was diagnosed with the congenital heart condition, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. And. It’s our declared commitment to God, to give everything, holding nothing back to the One who took on our pain in this world, revealing a love that won’t die or let go:

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8: 38-39, NLT).

The revealed all-powerful love of God through Christ is beyond our full understanding.  It’s worth meditating on, discovering the power of endless love.

Regardless of the condition of our heart, even when it’s filled with doubt, desperation, or darkness, all of Christ’s love is for us, declared centuries ago on the cross when our pain intersected with His love; it was as if He said: “You have all of me.”

Yet. There’s a difference of wanting to believe and actually experiencing all of Christ. It comes down to a choice to trust Christ has not and will not hold anything back from us. And. When we give all of ourselves to Christ, when we enter into the reality of all of Him, we are freed from all of the power and pressure of the pain that produces fear and worry.  But.

I must be honest , I’m still learning about the power of giving all of myself to Christ, living fully present in all of the Love that intersected with all of my pain, freed of the power of all fear and worry, hearing the divine promise: “You have all of Me.”

Ordination May 2009 at Salem First Church of the Nazarene . . . You have all of me.

Day 14 of 40-days of intentional gratefulness:  Grateful to give all of me to the One who has said:  You have all of Me.

Learning to Kickstart each day with gratefulness,

Kerrie

(Written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
http://faithfamilycreativity.com/

Slow Down . . . experience the rhythm of life

27 Monday Feb 2012

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Stress is the number one killer of people. The faster we go, the more stress we have; however, few think they’re able to slow down until they’re forced to do so. I’ve learned, the hard way, slowing down is mandatory to living well.

The thing is . . . I’ve found that when we slow down . . . we’re able to be more efficient with the things we are assigned to do. Part of reducing stress is living with a planned rhythm of life.

Let me say, this is not rule-oriented; it’s a way to live in a healthier relationship with God, self, and others. But. If, slowing down is a big change, then, we need to remember it will not only be a change for ourselves but for those around us. And. Not everyone is happy when we make a significant change in our life because of the impact in their own life. I’ve lived long enough, to say they will get over it and, if, they don’t, it’s their loss. When we live the way God has planned, it’s the best for all those in our life, whether they want it or not.

So. It’s Monday, a great day to evaluate what needs to be done in the next seven days, setting priorities and goals for the most important things to do, putting the other stuff on the side–marked for any extra time, choosing to slow down in the midst of the chaos and busyness of life.

The first priority of each day is to begin quietly with God.

I know. It may mean getting up earlier; however, beginning the day quietly with God changes everything else we do. Quiet makes a difference in our loud world. I’m a morning person, so, this part of the rhythm of life is easier for me than someone that loves being up all hours of the night. I’ve encouraged people who love to go to bed late to prepare for the next day, by spending time, before they sleep, with God, praying about the coming day and meditating on Scripture, preparing for what is to come their way in quietness and confidence that God’s got it.

I’ve learned to meet with God on a regular basis, I need to make space on the calendar and plan the place we will meet.  It’s a successful strategy.

One of the places in Central Oregon that I've met with God and received quiet and confidence.

One of my mentors gave me Isaiah 30:15 as a scripture to live with quietness and confidence rather than stress:
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15, NKV).  Meditate on the words from Isaiah 30 today, making space in your calendar and a place in your world to meet with God:

  • Return–to God.
  • Rest–in the presence of God.
  • Receive quietness and confidence–through the power of God.
  • Re-energize–in the strength of God.

Quietness and confidence is a state-of-being, the absence of anxiety, worry, and stress, as the mind, heart, and soul are calmed by the presence, power, and peace of God.

Change.  Determine to live in the realm of God’s strength with quietness and confidence, rather than in the realm of stress, by making a daily meeting with God the priority and goal,  grateful God is waiting for you, wanting to meet, willing to give you all you need to live the best way possible.

Day 13 of 40-days of intentional gratefulness: Grateful to meet with God, receiving quiet and confidence to live well, regardless of the circumstances.

Learning to Kickstart each day with gratefulness,

Kerrie

(Written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
http://faithfamilycreativity.com/

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