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

Piece

Everywhere I go that I want to remember I've been I usually pick up a rock or she'll or something to represent the time, place, or person. 

In Israel I picked up shells along the Galilee...

My first women's retreat I picked up a good size pink rock...

Along the path my papa nub and I used to walk, my aunt Pat and I hauled a huge rock with a wheelbarrow back to the house and put under the big oak tree.

The memory is recalled with a piece of something that seems inconspicuous and meaningless, but becomes special. 

My stepmom, Peggy, and I cried today over a bag of rocks and clipped toenails. The rocks my dad picked up in the holy land that now reside in the chest in her room. The toenails I clipped withe last bit of red on them from when I got a pedicure last December before My trip to Disney, the last time I would see my dad alive. 

While the rocks and shells are special, no I did not keep the toenails, I think the most special things in life are not where you take a piece of it with you, but when you leave a piece of you behind. 

I have crosses and shirts and stickers and fish that remind me of Jesus. 

He gave love and peace and healing and comfort, when He ascended He sent His Spirit back to us as a deposit. 

The only good I have to leave in me is Jesus. 

Jesus,

May you strengthen me and embolden me to strengthen my brothers and sisters.

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples.” (Luke 22:32 GW)

James 3:18

Camelot

Hope and Grace

Our lifegroup met last night to begin a new study on Relationshipping. I know... not a word, but if any other word would have been used there would be stereotypes and preconceived ideas. While I would love to tell you all that we talked about - it was good - let's skip to the end.

Two questions were given

1. Whom don't you like?

2. Whom does Jesus excuse you from loving?

Obviously the answers are easy, but when asked together one answer or the other become sheepish. Amazing how quickly questions start you thinking. I had no problem listing a few EGR's in my life. EGR- Extra Grace Required. I also know there are plenty of people who consider me an EGR.

 The main thought I kept thinking is how to do we maintain this love relationshipping attitude toward all others as Jesus commands. 1 Peter 4:8 passes along the command repeated everywhere in the New Testament, "Above all, love each other deeply"

Hope, Grace, and Peace are all I have. 

Hope - filled with the knowledge that God is as work through me and sometimes in spite of me.

Grace - that knows I know nothing and my perspective is dim, so I trust in my Omniscient Father to meet all needs or expectations I have

Peace - Freedom from expectation and excuses, but guided by God, by Love.

James 3:18,
Camelot

Mist

You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears. Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans.” (James 4:14, 15 GW)

For many years my daddy saw this angle of his boat. Many years he took great joy carting around the family while they sang hymns on the lake at sunset. Many years pulling boogie boards and skis. Many years of trolling for fish sometimes or just dragging family very slowly in floats behind the boat. Seems like yesterday, but also seems so far away. I do not understand, but I trust. 

I have been signing my blog with James 4:14 since I began. It seems fitting to change today since the verse is seared in my heart with pain, but mostly with hope.

My dad lived his time carrying out the Lord's plan in his life, ministering to others and praying. I am the first hand recipient of The Lord working on my daddy's behalf. This mist I have left I want to be sowing peace and reconciliation. First, pleading with all who will listen, just like my daddy... Be reconciled to God and second, as evidenced by those my daddy touched be reconciled to each other. This was the cry of my daddy's heart, but more importantly this cry began in the heart of my Heavenly Father. 

Lord, may I help you bring in the harvest and reconcile the family.

James 3:18,

Camelot

Give me Your Eyes.

I am so grateful to the myriad of testimonies that others can give and I can remember from my own life about how God has changed my perspective so that I can see from a "closer to reality" viewpoint.

Yesterday after church my husband, Sam, and daughter, Emily, were both trying to find me because we wanted to do our Operation Christmas Child box and maybe even a local present for a child here. While they ran out of the local children ornaments, we were excited to go and fill two boxes for OCC. If you have participated before, you know the joy of picking out the items and filling the box.

This year following the mission trip that Emily and Sam went on this summer, things were different. Even though I had did not go with them, it was like as soon as we decided to fill a box for a 5-9 year old boy and one for a 5-9 year old girl, their minds immediately went into gear. They were transported back to their trip. At one point  I was holding up an small pet toy for the girl and Sam immediately grabbed the princess nail polish and said it would be better. I was floored, but then I remembered how they all sat with the orphans last summer and the girls spent hours painting each others nails and showing them off.

Amazing what a one week trip will do, and I am sure that I have not seen the half of it, yet.

 ^"I thank my God for all the memories I have of you. Every time I pray for all of you, I do it with joy. I can do this because of the partnership we’ve had with you in the Good News from the first day you believed until now. I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6

Mother Teresa said, "The reason we have no peace is we have forgotten we belong to each other."
We truly do need each other.

Lord, Increase our Peace, Increase our Vision, Increase our Intimacy with You. Amen.

James 4:14,
Camelot

Project Galilee

This Thursday, I am participating in Project Galilee, a time of rest and revelation with other pastors and leaders, a time to make extra room for the Presence of Jesus in our lives.

We are gathering off the coast of North Carolina, not the Sea of Galilee, but the call is the same as the angel's message in Mark 16:7

"But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’"

Pastor Kerry Willis is leading this conversation as we all seek to intentionally look on the horizon of our lives and increase our peace, joy, hope and grace by gazing into His face together.

Here was the view from my window the last time I woke up at the Sea of Galilee a few years back.

Spiritually speaking, I am looking forward to the Light on the Horizon of this week as we entire a time of intentional Holy Spiritual Community. Anyone interested in spending a few sunrises and sunsets with us receive the invitation...

ProjectGalilee.com

James 4:14,
Camelot

Have a Great Day!

Last week I received this card in the mail...

The verse on it is Philippians 4:6

"Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks."

The results of obedience to this command follows in the next verse...

"Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus." (v. 7)

Now the abundance that follows...Freedom from the bondage of negativity and doubt. We are free to fill our minds with the "good stuff" 

"Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable." (Philippians 4:8 GW)

Thanks Paul the Apostle and Pastor Paul at Living Well Church of the Nazarene for the reminder today.

Truly a great day!

James 4:14,

Camelot

He is Here...He is Good.

Matthew 8:34  Everyone from the city went to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their territory.

After Jesus delivered two men who were possessed by demons, he commanded the demons to go into the herd of pigs. What a miracle! But fear settled in cause' they did not know the rest of the story. But we do.

John 10:11  "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep."

All of the statements of "Do not be afraid" are not so much commands but promises. If we will trust and yield and rest in the arms of The Almighty, His Presence and His Peace will overwhelm our struggles and our sighs.

I still sigh. In that prayer, He is still good.

James 4:14,
Camelot