Watch Out.

Watch OUT!
So many or not so many years ago, I was asked to attend the youth camp for our church as a leader. I learned so much about myself and about God that week. David Uth our pastor and amazing teacher was the teacher of the week. The whole week's events revolved around this one particular work EXCUSIA, meaning AUTHORITY. So what does that mean? Well it means that God is our Ultimate Authority. He has placed governing bodies in our lives to provide laws, rules and policies that we must follow. This includes our parents, teachers, bosses, city/parish/state officials, country officials and our president.
Romans 13:1-7 ESV
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Romans 13:1 ESV
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

These verses clearly state that God has placed governing authorities in our lives to keep us on track to follow Him. Regardless of whether we like it or not, agree with it or not, or think it applies to us or not, WE STILL ARE INSTRUCTED TO FOLLOW THE LAWS AND RULES.
What if some people chose not to follow traffic laws and ran stop signs and red lights and drove over the speed limit or all over the road? There would be all kinds of accidents harming people. This happened to me. A boy chose to run a stop sign. It has been a miserable journey, but definitely a learning journey. It actually almost happened today. A man chose to go straight when the his light was red and the turn light was green. I almost took him out.
What if kids decided to do as they please and not listen to adults? They would grow up disrespectful, unruly citizens, if they survived their childhood.
What if I went to work and chose not to do my job, but did what I wanted to do? What if I didn't follow the company rules? I wouldn't have a job, bottom line.

This all goes back to my word of the year- CHOICE. The CHOICES we make to respect and obey authority, will affect our lives and most definitely others. I hope that through my example of CHOOSING to respect and obey our earthly authority, they'll see our Ultimate Authority shine through. Even though it may be so hard to follow the laws, we must follow the Ultimate Authority by doing as the governing authorities have told us.

Lead Me.
I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying

"Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone."

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying

"Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone."

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I am called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't you lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love
Chasing dreams that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this out home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Christian lyrics - LEAD ME LYRICS - SANCTUS REAL

Love!