Submission can be a good thing

"Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect. In fact we are submitted to you in the same way." (p. 145)

i find this a bit tricky to grasp and am trying to think about how to apply it in everyday life. Something like...'I surrender to everything, in the name of love?' Yikes! that's pretty scary. And to me this is where trust comes in...i gotta have trust.

A greater reality to come

"This life is only the anteroom of a greater reality to come. No one reaches their potential in your world. It's only preparation for what Papa had in mind all along." (p. 167)

Freedom is about him

"Mackenzie, the Truth shall set you free and the Truth has a name; he's over in the woodshop right now covered in sawdust. Everything is about him. And freedom is a process that happens inside a relationship with him. Then all that stuff you feel churnin' around inside will start to work its way out." (p. 95)

Emotions are the colors of the soul

"Just because you believe something firmly doesn't make it true. Be willing to reexamine what you believe. The more you live in the truth, the more your emotions will help you see clearly. But even then, you don't want to trust them more than me." (p. 197)

Forgiveness

"Forgiveness is first for you, the forgiver, to release you from something that will eat you alive; that will destroy your joy and your ability to love fully and openly. (p. 225)

My 'church' is all about people...

"It's simple Mack. It's all about relationships and simply sharing life. What we are doing now - just doing this - and being open and available to others around us. My 'church' is all about people and life is all about relationships. You can't build it. It's my job and I'm actually pretty good at it." (p. 178)

the Law becomes a Promise?

"But can you clean you face with the same mirror that shows how dirty you are? There is no mercy or grace in rules, not even for one mistake. That's why Jesus fulfilled all of it for you - so that it no longer has jurisdiction over you. And the Law that once contained impossible demands - Thou Shall Not...- actually becomes a promise we fulfill in you." (p. 202)

Help me out here please...what is Sarayu saying?

Grace

"Just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors." (p. 185)

"Papa has never needed to evil to establish his good purposes. It is you humans who have embraced evil and Papa has responded with goodness. (p. 165)

The Friendship is Real...Sharing the Journey

"So yes, what we desire is for you to 're-turn' to us, and then we come and make our home inside you, and then we share. The friendship is real, not merely imagined. We're meant to experience this life, your life, together in a dialogue, sharing the journey. You get to share in our wisdom and learn to love with our love, and we get...to hear you grumble and gripe and complain...!" (p. 175)

Staying in the Present

"Do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures me there with you?" (p. 142)

I am love.

"Love and relationship. All love and relationship is possible for you only because it already exists within Me, within God myself. Love is not the limitation; love is the flying. I am love." (p. 101)

Everything you do is Important

"Mack, if anything matters, everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again." (p. 235)

Contrary to my Purposes

"As well intentioned as it might be, you know that religion can chew up people! An awful lot of what is done in my name has nothing to do with me and is often, even if unintentional, very contrary to my purposes." (p. 179)

You are incredible...wonderful

"You and this Creation are incredible, whether you understand that or not. You are wonderful beyond imagination. Just because you make horrendous and destructive choices does not mean you deserve less respect for what you inherently are - the pinnacle of my Creation and the center of my affection." (p. 190)

That feels like a whole buncha "unconditional love" to me! :D

I love this one...!!

"You have judged the actions and even motivations of others, as if you knew what those were in truth. You have judged the color of skin and body language and body odor. You have judged history and relationships. You have even judged the value of a person's life by the quality of your concept of beauty. "Tell me," she inquired, " if I may ask, by what criteria do you base your judgments?" (p. 159)

That "relationship" thing again...

"Honey, there's no easy answer that will take your pain away. Believe me, if I had one, I'd use it now. I have no magic wand to wave over you and make it all better. Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship." (p. 92)

Dare to Dream

"Dreams are sometimes important, you know. They can be a way of openin' up the window and lettin' the bad air out." (p. 118)

Give up and Embrace

"Give up being his judge and know Papa for who he is. Then you will be able to embrace his love in the midst of your pain, instead of pushing him away with your self-centered perception of how you think the universe should be." (p. 165)

It's just that simple...

"Seriously, my life was not meant to be an example to copy. Being my follower is not trying to 'be like Jesus,' it means for your independence to be killed. I came to give you life, real life, my life." (p. 149)

Rules only cause us to judge...

"Enforcing rules, especially in it's more subtle expressions like responsibility and expectation, is a vain attempt to create certainty out of uncertainty. And contrary to what you might think, I have a great fondness for uncertainty. Rules cannot bring freedom; they only have the power to accuse." (p. 203)

God's Purpose

"Mackenzie, my purposes are not for my comfort, or yours. My purposes are always and only an expression of love. I purpose to work life out of death, to bring freedom out of brokenness and turn darkness into light." (p. 191)

HaPPy FriDaY!!

"You have judged them worthy of love, even if it cost you everything. That is how Jesus loves. And now you know Papa's heart, who loves all his children perfectly." (p. 163)

Hierarchy is Man-Made not God-Made

"As the crowning glory of Creation, you were made in our image, unencumbered by structure and free to simply 'be' in relationship with me and one another. If you had truly learned to regard each other's concerns as significant as your own, there would be no need for hierarchy." (p. 124)

Relationship of Trust

"I already told you that forgiveness does not create a relationship. Unless people speak the truth about what they have done and change their mind and behavior, a relationship of trust is not possible. When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment, but without true change, no real relationship can be established." (p. 225)

Good or Evil...who decides?

"You must give up your right to decide what is good and evil on your own terms. That is a hard pill to swallow; choosing only to live in me. To do that you must know me enough to trust me and learn to rest in my inherent goodness." (p. 136)

Imagine...but wisely

"You imagine. Such a powerful ability, the imagination! That power alone makes you so like us. But without wisdom, imagination is a cruel taskmaster." (p. 141)

The Real

"God, who is the ground of all being, dwells in, around, and through all things - ultimately emerging as the real - and any appearances that mask that reality will fall away." (p. 112)

Choices...

"Don't forget that in the midst of all your pain and heartache, you are surrounded by beauty, the wonder of Creation, art, your music and culture, the sounds of laughter and love, of whispered hopes and celebrations, of new life and transformation, of reconciliation and forgiveness. These are the results of your choices, and every choice matters, even the hidden ones." (p. 191)

About love...

"So many believe that loves grows, but it is the knowing that grows and love simply expands to contain it. Love is just the skin of knowing." (p. 155)

Happy New Year!

"I am not asking you to believe in anything, but I will tell you that you're going to find this day a lot easier if you accept what is, instead of trying to fit it into your preconceived notions." (p. 119)