On a spiritual note...

Our Pastors wife spoke yesterday at Bible study and I wanted to share some of the points that stuck with me :)

First, how we're called to obey the law of the land even down to the littlest rules. How we need to set an example for our children and for people around us. This means, obeying traffic laws which are there for our safety. Bringing the trash cans in on time, not taking candy and drinks into the movies when it says "NO OUTSIDE FOOD". Obeying the Home Owners association laws. Putting our grocery carts back in the holders when we're done instead of abandoning them in the parking lot! (I'm especially guilty of that one since I have both kids in the cart, I just leave it wherever I parked!) This will help teach our children to respect authority, ultimately God is the authority in our lives and if we don't obey the laws, why would our children? We need to not disregard the authorities in our life. That means, our bosses, our government and our Pastors. We submit ourselves to authorities for "the Lord's sake". Honoring the laws honors and gives glory to Him :) We don't want our children to think that God's rules are too restrictive and reject Him. We do not want to be the reason our kids deny Christ.

Romans 13:1-2 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

Another authority over us is our spouses. Recognizing that God put Robby as the head of our household and learning to submit to and obey what he says. This has always been tough for me, I always have comebacks or an opinion to share. Bear with me, I'm working on it! A great book I'm reading (slowly) which I recommend, "The Excellent Wife". Someday I'll grab my book and do a post on all I've been learning from it!

Carlynn also spoke on what would our society be like if we did not have laws? Laws are in place to commend those who do right and punish those who do wrong. We would be in danger if we lived in a lawless society.

Thankfully, the small sacrifices God asks of us in this age are miniscule compared to Christians who lived before us. We're not stoned in the streets or cruicified for preaching Gods word. Daniel 6:4-5 shows a great example of how others should view us. "The commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God. Reading this passage, if we do the right thing, if we keep the rules, others will only be able to slander us for doing the right thing and obeying the rules! we want to make sure we're a good example too, to our neighbors, in line at the grocery store, driving on the roads. People are watching :)

Another good point. How often do we take advantage of the grace God has given us? Do we continue to sin, knowing He's forgiven us anyway? James 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin. This great verse found in Romans 6:1-2 says What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Another verse, Hebrews 10:26 For it we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.

The choices we make daily, are they going to help or hinder others? Heaven or Hell is in the balance! We do live forever, it's our choice where we will spend eternity.