The child born under the regime of a cruel dictator is subject to the whims and laws of that dictator. Another born in a more democratic society has other opportunities and freedoms.

In either case, the authority over the person determines the quality of life.

That’s not all, of course. How they interact and follow the laws and freedoms given also determines their quality of life.

Those who decide the “no stealing” law is stupid and decide to break in and rob their neighbor will be subject to the ruling authorities for their disobedience. There is fear of being caught and punished, and the very thing they thought would enhance their lives can end up diminishing it.

Funny how we understand this in the natural, but many people (Christians included) look at God as some sort of angry, judgmental, bad guy for saying, “I want you to have relationship with me and live under my authorities. If you do, here are the rules that will help you stay free.”

When it comes to the law of God, we are all tempted to ask the same question Adam and Eve asked: Is God trying to keep something good from me? That question changes the subject from obedience to trust. –Andy Stanley, the Grace of God

If we break laws set by governing authorities, we can expect consequences even if they may be delayed. We have to understand that God’s grace gives us parameters to stay in His freedom and fellowship, but when the enemy or our own thoughts can convince us God is only out to take away all fun, we falter in our trust.

Honoring, trusting, and obeying Him as our authority leads to all sorts of blessings, peace, and freedom. Sin, disobedience, and selfishness promise the freedom that can only be found in walking with and obeying God.

Compromise doesn’t lead to greater fulfillment. It leads to more compromise.

Take the hand of grace and embrace His authority, living in the reverence and fear of the Lord. It certainly changes the quality of your life.

You just might live a life of quality.

What are your thoughts about this?

Welcome to week 5 of our book club discussion of the Grace of God (disclosure) by Andy Stanley. We are taking a sentence, paragraph, or passage that inspires, encourages, or challenges and writing about it. If you have a response on your blog, add it to the widget below. Either way, head over to my friend and co-facilitator, Sarah Salter’s blog for her thoughts. Whether you’ve read the chapter or not, please dive into the conversation!

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Today my kids will participate in a “fun run,” one of the activities for the last week of school. In preparation, the older three (ages 8, 10, and 12) wanted to do a practice run on the trail I jog behind our house.

It wasn’t the pace I was used to, of course, but we had a blast. Saw a mama bear and two cubs (don’t worry, in the distance), talked, laughed, and conquered the mountain. Well, three miles of it anyway.

On the way back, my little girl was mostly right behind us in line, and every so often, I would call back, “Alicia, you there, baby?”

One of the times, I called, but heard nothing. We stopped to listen. “Alicia?” I called again.

This time I heard a faint “dad” but it was not coming from behind us on the trail so I kept calling and she would call back. I ran back and then I saw her so I waved my arms and shouted until she saw me too. I led her back to the path and we resumed our run.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” –Romans 8:15

I marvel at how we sometimes think God is just itching to run off and leave us. You get a little turned around and fear comes knocking, trying to convince you your Father has left and you’re on your own.

Fear promotes silence, but you are not under a spirit of slavery. It’s that spirit of adoption that can’t help but cry out, “Abba! Dad! I’m over here!”

In the intimate times or the wondering/wandering times, sons cry out and know their Father hears.

I would obviously be a terrible father to leave my little girl wandering in the woods alone. There was no way I would have left without finding her. I kept calling back because I wanted her with me.

Your Father wants you with Him.

He’s a much better Father than I could ever hope to be (there’s no way of overstating that, of course!). He’s not leaving you behind so don’t listen to fear.

He’s as close as your cry and He will lead you all the way home.

Do you ever entertain fear when you get turned around? How do you get back to the cry of His adoption spirit?

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Sometimes the truth
Doesn’t come in bright joy
Like the baby born
To a world of possibilities
Parents beaming

Sometimes the truth
Doesn’t look respectable
Like the white-haired man
Leaning on the cane
Sagely pronouncing

Sometimes the truth
Doesn’t grab you by the throat
Like a crafty mugger
Attention demanding

Sometimes the truth
Looks like a homeless beggar
Or a dirty orphan
Or a nursing home patient

Un-obvious, unassuming
Patiently watching passerby until
Someone stops, takes time to notice
Nurtures the forgotten

You look the fool
Embracing the disreputable
Reaching the disrespected, dejected
And God smiles

Buy the truth and sell it not; not only that, but also get discernment and judgment, instruction and understanding. –Proverbs 23:23

“Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem,
And look now and take note.
And seek in her open squares,
If you can find a man,
If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth,
Then I will pardon her. –Jeremiah 5:1

A Warrior Poet Circle post.

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Sanctuary–

1 : a place (as a church or a temple) for worship

2 : a place of refuge and protection

Meditating on the beauty He’s created and the power of His words…

Psalm 65:9-13 (MSG)

Oh, visit the earth,
ask her to join the dance!
Deck her out in spring showers,
fill the God-River with living water.
Paint the wheat fields golden.
Creation was made for this!
Drench the plowed fields,
soak the dirt clods
With rainfall as harrow and rake
bring her to blossom and fruit.
Snow-crown the peaks with splendor,
scatter rose petals down your paths,
All through the wild meadows, rose petals.
Set the hills to dancing,
Dress the canyon walls with live sheep,
a drape of flax across the valleys.
Let them shout, and shout, and shout!
Oh, oh, let them sing!

What’s your sanctuary this week? What thought, verse, etc. are you meditating on?

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Rounding up posts from around the web that challenged, inspired, encouraged, made me laugh, or all of the above. Be sure to check out these favorites and tell them I sent you! Here they are in the order I read them this week.

And for even more great posts from amazing bloggers, be sure to visit Kevin Martineau’s blog as well.

• How You Can Influence Your Daughter’s Self-Esteem by Carey Casey (CharismaMag.com).
  
• satan’s favorite word by Jon Acuff (SCL).
• When You Need Help Navigating Uncertainty by Jennifer Dukes Lee (JenniferDukesLee.com)
• A Slow Miracle by Ryan Tate (Compelling Parade).
• I Got Him… Now What Do I Do with Him? by TC Avey (Wisdom of a Fool).
• One Who Is Able by Matt Cannon (The Seeking Pastor).

And your random pic for this week…
WHAT’S YOUR BEST CAPTION?

Do you have a favorite post or link you want to share?
Want to discuss one of my picks?

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The flash of cameras go off in rapid succession. People magazine pays big bucks for the shot of the starlet coming out of Starbucks with her son.

A video crew follows him to his car after a workout at the gym. The rock star lights up the Internet with his witty comments about the trivial minutia of his life.

You may drink it in or disdain this type of “journalism,” but believe it or not, every Christian shares something in common with these celebrities. It may not be political ideology, penchant for expensive cars, amount of money in the bank, or other such things.

No, what you have in common with them is simple.

What you do is significant not because of the action itself,
but because of who you are.

Many Christians (myself included) have felt as if they were drowning in insignificance. Fruit seems minimal and cost feels high. That sense of accomplishment feels too far away–out of reach.

It’s not true though. Your life is in the Kingdom and Kingdom life is in you. You can succumb to insignificance or you can choose to embrace Him and be in significance.

When that happens, you find joy and thanksgiving in everything. Folding laundry, feeding the kids, running to the store, praying for your neighbor, helping a friend move–these are significant because of Who Christ is in You, not because the world takes notice.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world… –Philippians 2:14-15

We grumble and complain because we fail to see what the “big deal” is. Loving your family, maintaining your marriage, giving to those in need, and whatever else while displaying joy, thanksgiving, and humility shows the world you’re different.

Even if you’re never applauded on the world stage, the cloud of witnesses and heaven is tuned in, cheering you on. Everything Jesus did was significant, not just the miracles and preaching–everything.

If we are in Christ, we are in significance. Paparazzi may not be beating down your door, but take note today that you’re contributing to the Kingdom through every menial or exciting thing you do.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. –Galatians 6:9

Do you struggle with feelings of insignificance? What changes your mind or direction in this?

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Depending on where you get your information, you may have varying opinions on what God desires from people.

Some people read the Old Testament (and hear some in the body of Christ) and come to believe that God is obsessed with rules and judging anyone and everything in His path.

There are rules about worship, sex, relationships, work, finances, and almost anything you can think of. Christians in some circles have even fought for political power to become God’s “rule enforcers” so we can be a Christian nation once again.

Problem is, the cart is nowhere to be seen because the horse is 350 miles in the opposite direction behind the aforementioned cart. God didn’t give Israel rules of conduct to begin their relationship, He did it to confirm an existing relationship.

It was in the context of this preexisting relationship–a relationship that began more than six hundred years earlier with a promise to another undeserving man, Abraham, that God gave His people the Law. God initiated a relationship with His people before He even told them what the rules were.

Having established the relationship, having sealed the relationship, and having proven the security of the relationship, God then gave the people rules to live by. God knew something that every parent eventually discovers. Rules without a relationship lead to rebellion. God understands human nature. So He gave the Israelites rules after they shared a relationship. –Andy Stanley, the Grace of God

Stands in contrast to how most of the world has come to view God and Christians. God goes to great lengths to love, bless, and affirm relationships while the Church has too often used manipulative self-righteousness to attempt to control people.

Since we are and act as the representation of Jesus on earth, He seems very unappealing and self-serving.

Would the rules benefit people? Sure. But until the heart changes, until people are in the context of relationship with God and His people, it won’t make sense to them.

Truth is, God isn’t obsessed with rules. He’s obsessed with you and your knowing Him. Grace to the undeserving.

What are your thoughts on this? How has this played out in your life?

Welcome to week 4 of our book club discussion of the Grace of God (disclosure) by Andy Stanley. We are taking a sentence, paragraph, or passage that inspires, encourages, or challenges and writing about it. If you have a response on your blog, head over to my friend and co-facilitator, Sarah Salter’s blog for the widget and another great take. Whether you’ve read the chapter or not, please share your thoughts! We always appreciate a vibrant conversation.

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For You have tried us, O God;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
You brought us into the net;
You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins.
You made men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water,
Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance. –Psalm 66:10-12

I seem to be in the “oppressive burden” stage of things. I won’t elaborate too much, but you can trust me it’s not fun.

We like the blessing of godly character, but don’t like the refining. We like His comfort, but don’t like the burden. We like the place of abundance, but don’t like the fire and water.

Every day seems to bring some level of hope only to see it snatched away. So many questions and uncertainties. I know hope deferred makes the heart sick–a sad understatement. I did find myself yesterday saying to the Father, “resolution is in You and You are my hope.”

I know there’s a place of abundance out there, but the fire feels hotter and the water seems more raging than I could have guessed. I trust Him that I won’t be swept away in either, but I still have to go through.

I have to admit: I’m not normally one to talk much about what I’m going through until I feel a sense of victory or at least feel close. I wanted to write anything but this today. I honestly don’t know where I am in all this, but in this oppression, I will yet praise and seek Him.

I don’t have a simple way to tie all my situations up in a bow. I can’t fix all the problems like they did in 30 minutes on the Brady Bunch or any other sitcom. You may be in the same boat, same struggle. No one needs to feel sorry for me or try to ‘fix’ this.

I’m determined to go through.

I’m afraid I’m guilty of trying to be more rosy than I feel many times because that’s what a Christian is “supposed to do.” I’ve tried to wait for beauty on the other side of a tough situation instead of looking to Him to show me beauty in the midst. It doesn’t come naturally. I hope you’ll excuse me as I struggle.

I’m not in disobedience to Him. I’m following His voice and direction. He laid an oppressive burden on me, but it won’t be forever. His peace and life will prevail.

Until I get to that place of abundance, I’ll keep going through. I’ll pray. I’ll praise. I’ll lift my eyes. This is my path.

Where are you today in all this? Oppression? Abundance? Be honest. I’ll pray or praise with you.

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This post was written by Kevin Martineau who blogs over at Shooting the Breeze. He’s a great pastor who writes encouraging, inspiring, and challenging posts. I’m blessed to consider him a friend so check out this post and his site–lots of great stuff!

Over the last several months, I have been working my way through the Old Testament. I haven’t made it very far yet (just got into Deuteronomy) but one thing has become very apparent to me in my reading.

The people of Israel did a lot of celebrating!

It seems like there were always celebrating something. They celebrated the Passover. They celebrated the crossing of the Red Sea. They celebrated living in tents after the exodus from Egypt. They celebrated when their were victorious over their enemies.

And the thing is, they didnt do this all on their own initiative. In many (actually most) instances, God commanded them to take time to celebrate.

That tells me that celebration is important to God!

My problem is, I have always found it hard to celebrate.

I find it hard to celebrate the small victories because they seem so insignificant.

But I also find it hard to celebrate the big victories because it feels like I am making the victory all about me and not about God.

Can anyone else relate to this?

The truth is, my lack of celebration has lot more to do with my own insecurities and other issues than the reasons I listed above.

A lot of what it comes down to is I have a hard time accepting that what I do is worthy of celebration.

That is crazy talk!

What we do is worthy because what we do matters to God. More importantly, we matter to God so that means what we do matters to Him.

Small or big, it is all worthy of celebration.

There is so much in life to celebrate and we need to make celebration a regular part of our lives.

Do you find it hard to celebrate?

A repost from March 2011

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Rounding up posts from around the web that challenged, inspired, encouraged, made me laugh, or all of the above. Be sure to check out these favorites and tell them I sent you! Here they are in the order I read them this week.

And for even more great posts from amazing bloggers, be sure to visit Kevin Martineau’s blog as well.

• Press on! Take Hold of the Prize! by Dusty Rayburn (Devoted Conversations).
  
• God Loves to Use Failures by Kevin Martineau (Shooting the Breeze).
• Bless the Mamas by Sandra Heska King (BibleDude.net)
• Body & Spirit: Aspects of the Same Thing? by Glynn Young (Faith, Fiction, Friends).
• When Mockingbirds Sing by Billy Coffey (What I Learned Today).

And your random pic for this week…
In honor of Mother’s Day and the mom who can do it all.
WHAT’S YOUR BEST CAPTION?

Do you have a favorite post or link you want to share?
Want to discuss one of my picks?

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