Social Justice versus Love

I wrote the following back in 2017, but it seems even more pertinent to post now...

Recently I have become keenly aware of the new reality of love that is attached to our culture. We, even in the church, scream tolerance and social justice so that people have the right to do as they please. I do believe in freedom and justice, but at what point does this necessity to support the rights of others become the absence of love or complacency for me?

If I care about social justice then I will only be concerned with you having full access to your rights. If you do then I am happy and that is my obligation to you. 

But if I care about you then how can I fall in line to fight for your right to do wrong or harm yourself or others? How can I not give warning or wave the lantern that says turn back, this is not good for you? 

Detrieck Bonhoffer said "to love the community (or what defines community) is to destroy community, but to love the people is to build community."

Loving people includes encouragement, edification, rebuke, and correction. Sure to speak truth you must lead with grace , but it is not love if at the right time you do not follow with truth. 

As one who lives under authority, may I ask a friend, not only what do you think of my actions?, but also how does this line up with God's truth, in your opinion. 

As a Christian, if a friend asks me what do you think if I _________?  May my response not only consider their rights, but also be in line with God's truth. This will either bless them or warn them. But either way. This is love. 

James 5:16,

Camelot

Synergy

What if the beauty of excellence is not found only in the product but in the process?

READY, SET, GO

1 Chronicles 22:19

"Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the LORD."

Lord, I will set my heart, my will. Just like I set cruise control, or set my radio dial, a conscious decision with longevity in mind. But Lord prevent my heart from walking away from the wheel, or tuning out the radio. May I be about your business taking from you not only the instruction but the way in which I live. Seeking You, Your Way, Your Heart, Your Heartbeat. 

And your promise... if I seek You, if I set my heart on You, then You WILL BE FOUND by me. Thank You! You are truly 1. good 2. holy and 3. faithful 1. to me 2 in me and 3 through me

In Jesus Name. AMEN

Camelot, coheir with Christ

A little Friday morning Theology

Christian Theology...Take this in.
"When the first Adam was tempted, it wa self-interest. Created to have authority in the earth, when he looked up to God, he saw Himself as servant; when he looked down, he saw himself as its Lord.Satan therefore said, 'ye shall be as gods.' What he did not tell them, was that this authority was delegated power only. Losing the servantship, he therefore lost the lordship. Christ came to perfect this servantship, and therefore regain for man, the Lordship." Oh the patience and love of God!

There's more..."the form of a servant", He did not put on the acts of humility, they flowed from a nature. Too good had to share! In this world of masks, compartments, friend groups, and identity crisis, Jesus reveals Himself to those who seek Him in transparent and humble ways. What a friend I have in Jesus!

Philippians 2...good stuff. That combined with theologians of old like Wiley and Culbertson and even Reed - gooooood stuff.

Camelot - co heir with Christ

Compassion

In our local church, our vision is...

We are All iN...

iN love with Jesus

iN relationship with others 

iN compassion to the world

In working out this mission in my life. I know that compassion means to "suffer with". The question my heart is asking in each situation I am encountering is who is my heart suffering with. While needs break my heart in different ways, as a Christian " I struggle with His energy that is at work inside of me" 

So maybe for me to bring this right side up God into this upside down world I have to realize that the compassion I have to the world must be rooted and grounded in Christ, suffering with Him. "Filling up in my body that which is lacking in the body of Christ" 

Suffering with Jesus for who He died for. 

As the hand and feet of Jesus, may my life be dedicated to working out in my flesh His suffering so that I may know Him, so that others may know Him. 

Lord, may I recognize and cherish the opportunities to suffer with You for souls. 

AlliN,

Camelot

Prayer

Prayer is more than petition, more than supplication, more than confession, more than conversation. 

In my time set apart for My GOD,

I must be a worshiper, not a whiner. 

Until my emphasis is off myself and my circumstances, have I even entered the Presence of God.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, come into His courts with praise. 

Father, Almighty God, I give you the honor due your Name!

Love covers

Above all, love each other warmly, because love covers many sins. 1 Peter 4:8

This morning as Sam and I were putting out the trash and recycling, my neighbor, Jean, came around the corner with a wagon in tow. She started across our yard. I walked her way to see what she wanted. Nothing. She was giving this morning. 

We are new to the ways of the neighborhood trash pick up. The pile of tree limbs and brush that we put out two weeks ago(bad timing) was more pine needles and cherry bombs than limbs, which means they probably will not get the pile as they come by. More work in our future it seems. 

Here comes Jean, not asking for help, but giving evergreen limbs to cover up our mix of stuff in hopes that the truck will see the limbs and feel compelled to stop. She said as she as was walking back across the yard. Maybe these limbs will do the trick even for one scoop to save us from having to come out here and bag it all up. "Save us" she said. "Us". 

Thanks Neighbor for being Christ to me today!

"Hosanna, Glory to God in the Highest." 

All in,
Camelot

How are you?

I had someone contact me the other day asking, "How in the hell are you?"

I started thinking about the "How are you?" question and it usually is just a substitute for Hello, let's smile and shake hands and say something to each other.

We can put the Christian spin on the deeper question above by saying, "How in the heaven are you?" and it still lends itself to emphasizing "you", which works?

But I wonder if we who have the mission of God on our hearts and minds, i.e. the Church, His body, if we would ask the question, "How in the Kingdom are you?"

A better place to start the conversation, a better place to stay my mind.
Matthew 24:14

1 Corinthians 2:9

Relationship Rules

A wise man once told me that in God's economy relationship rules.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart & Love your neighbor as yourself. How much more should we love and look out for the interests of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

As I say goodbye to Christmas decorations this week. I remember the angel's proclamation "Peace on earth. Good will to men."

Lord fill my mind and heart as your good will overflows through me to those you love o dearly especially those in the family of believers. 

1Corinthians 2:9

Camelot

Last Day of Christmas

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

1 John 1:5-7 NLT

With the taking down of lights and the highlight of Christmas fading, I'm content and enthralled even to know that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is Light. Truth. Living in us, He Shines!

Let Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9,

Camelot

Complete

Sometimes or well most times, I do not feel complete. Looking at my house a mess, my schedule, my to do list, etc. Most of the time I "feel" ill-prepared, not put together, disheveled(I love that word.), and inadequate.
In a reality without God, this would never be spoken or acknowledged because while everyone know this to be true, especially me we would never admit our weakness.

BUT, God became personal in Jesus Christ. He is WITH me, He is ENOUGH for me, He PREPARES me, He GOES BEFORE me, He is my STRENGTH, SHIELD, PROVIDER, PROTECTOR, PROJECTOR, COMFORTER, HELP, FRIEND.

Standing complete in Christ, who sits down at the right hand of the Father, my Good Good Father, my faith overwhelms my feelings. A dear friend and I remind each other not to think with our feelings, today, this year, I'm saying out loud what that implies...
Think with Faith in Jesus.
What a solid foundation!

1 Corinthians 2:9,
Camelot

It's in the Bible

Yesterday, I was writing my blog and this verse from memory is what I wrote.

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will direct your path. I could not remember if it was from Psalms or Proverbs... the reason is because if was from neither or both depending on how you see it.

Psalm 37:4 reads...

Proverb 3:5-6 reads

Just want to go on record as saying that though my version is not in His Word, per say...

I delight in trusting God and watching Him "be God all by Himself" (-Sister Agnes) on my behalf and in so doing it is my desire to have Him direct my path. As He does, I will praise Him and tell of His goodness.

So whether my memory is wrong or my memory is just thinking holistically about the Word...
Trust Him. Delight in Him. Acknowledge Him.

Run with endurance the race that is set before us...
oh wait Hebrews 2
it's in the New Testament too.?.

1 Corinthians 2:9,
Camelot

Possibilities

After a month of reflection, I woke up this morning with two words on my mind.

Potential and Possibility.

After spending the first half of my life burning bridges, ruining potential and subtracting possibilities, my pivot point of changing my mind "repenting" about God and listening to who He is and then eventually to Him, I realize that each of my days lived in relationship with Him become a New Year's Day.

The high hopes, the limitless potential, the excited expectation, the sheer joy of a new beginning is intoxicating without all of the mind-numbing substances usually associated with that verb. And so, on this New Year's Day of 2016... I am intoxicated yes with all of the joy and expectation because I am totally and completely in love with my LORD God.

Last year in our relationship, we played, we had fun, we delighted in each other. Hard to explain, but I felt like a kid on the playground with her dad.

This morning, as our time unfolded, this relational potential of delight moved to glimpses of possibility.


So as we jump on this trampoline higher and higher and discuss the possibilities on His heart and mine.

My prayer for you is that delight will rise up in you and gush into every area of your life until the potential(the work He began in you) begins to take shape and both of you envision and appreciate the dreams and possibilities of life filled with Him in increasing and complete measure!

1 Corinthians 2:9,
Camelot

Always

Have you ever been in sweet prayer with God and not wanted to leave?

I have.

Praising, Praying, sitting in His Presence. Wonderful. Especially at Christmas!

But His nature beckons us to have His vision and Go! Go and make disciples. Go and make peace. Go in love. Go in relationship.

My heart hesitated this morning, wanting nothing more than to stay in His Presence. Finally relenting with the cry of Moses' heart. (Exodus 33:15) If I go, go with me?!? His Response...

"Always"

All iN,
Camelot

Ministry Now

It occurred to me that what I assumed was the obvious response to the cable guy asking what I do and what is a parsonage, would be to invite him to church. As the words left my mouth, I realized I was wrong. As Christians, we are sent to be ambassadors of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5) I knew enough to ask permission to pray for this man covering pain with sarcasm. I could have prayed for him then and there. 

Our God is timeless and rich in mercy. For me and for him...missed opportunity not missed prayer. Praying still. 

James 3:18,

Camelot

Deep Faith

"There’s a simplicity about God in working out His plans, yet a resourcefulness equal to any difficulty, and an unswerving faithfulness to His trusting child, and an unforgetting steadiness in holding to His purpose." —S. D. Gordon

"The clinging hand of His child makes a desperate situation a delight to Him." - Streams in the Desert

The above quotes reiterate where my mind has been playing lately. Thinking through the prayer of my heart...Lord, increase my faith.

This amazing contrast between the All Powerful God and the peace of my own heart as I trust Him. 

I imagine this tension rope that at first could not be stretched too far from the "believe" and the "see". Now as I walk more each day by faith, my prayer is still increase my faith. The rope is a bit longer and can be stretched a bit tighter. I know God is faithful. I know God is good. This delights my heart to see what and how He will provide and work all things together. What an amazing journey!

However the delight of my heart this morning was my husband dropping me off at the airport. I said I'll meet you in Newport News. He responded with a prayer and promise. Wow! A fellow sojourner riding this ride of faith during one of the biggest faith leaps of our lives. The joy swelling up in me is from a deep place and our eyes are on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

To God be the Glory,

Camelot

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Yesterday, my pastor and I announced to the church where I currently serve that God has called me to serve in another church on out district. An exciting and painful reality as this bittersweet transition unearths so many amazing memories and also heart filled faith for the next adventure God is leading us in. There is not doubt in me that my ability to hear the voice of my Father so clearly is because of these precious saints that have mentored me, taught me, and loved me well.

And so God multiplies us and gives us increase. The God of this city is still God over the mountains and to the sea. My cries out the following verses:

“May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Psalm 20:1-7 NIV

http://bible.com/111/psa.20.1-7.niv

Our God is faithful and He will continue to prove Himself faithful. Our God is good and He will continue to prove Himself good. May God be glorified in our lives as we part so that when we come together again, our God will receive exponential praises through our obedience to Him because of His great Love for us.

We are one in the Spirit, we are One in the Lord

Camelot

Down in the Face

Until the day when we see our Savior face to face, we have the opportunity to face life in sin or In Him.

In Genesis, Cain's face was downcast, his offering rejected by God...

but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:5-7 NIV)

Why?

Sin

God gave him opportunity to go and do well, but well he chose sin and death.

In Joshua, Joshua"s face was downcast, God's people were humiliated and defeated at Ai and word was spreading.

The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. (Joshua 7:10-11 NIV)

Why?

Sin

God gave the people of Israel opportunity to go and do right and they chose cleansing.and yes there was death to the part of Israel that sinned, but victory at Ai was on the way.

Is your face downcast?

Why?

Sin

forgetting faults and excuses...confessing pride and unbelief.

Take the advice of David, the command of Scripture. 

God is faithful! God is good!

Camelot

Rahab Loses Everything?

Rahab said to the spies that Joshua sent to Jericho in Joshua 2:9

“I know that the Lord has given you the land"

Later we are told in Joshua 2:15

"Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall."

And the first thing that happens in this battle --the "walls of Jericho" fall and crumble to the ground. All that she has is gone.

Do you think she at some point calculated the cost...or at the moment her house fell, was their regret, fear, or faith?

We know where she landed as the ancestor of Jesus, but in the midst of the circumstances, I can only imagine her interior life based on my own inward struggle of faith in spite of what I see. It makes sense that a woman of such faith as Rahab would be in the family line of Jesus.

At times my heart/strength may fail, but (here is the faith) my God You never will!

James 3:18,

Camelot

Jesus, Shine on me!

Light exposes the true character of everything because light makes everything easy to see. That’s why it says: “Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:13-14 GW)

I quote scriptures all the time like...

Ask for wisdom, Jesus gives wisdom to all without finding fault. (James 1)

May your love abound in knowledge and depth of insight( Philippians 3, 1 Thessalonians 1, Colossians 1)

When I pray these scriptures, I am praying for Jesus to shine on me, light up my heart, motives, actions. If i do not invite and allow His Light to shine on me, I find myself much like this cartoon below kind of being aware and trying to think and love and have my being in Christ but with no direction or clue what that looks like. Just like the blind leading the blind. 

James 3:17-18,

Camelot 

However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere. A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers. (James 3:17-18 GW)