"In The Grip Of Grace"

During youth camp my junior year in high school one evening the women that do dress code and cabin checks for girls came in and hung out for an hour or so. We were talking about life and  what we had learned so far. One of the women talked about Max Lucado's book on grace that she had just finished reading and she spoke of how it transformed her perspective on many areas of her life that need growth and repair. I have been looking for this book since then and finally found it. I had forgotten the title of it as soon as the words came across her lips. The book is called "In The Grip Of Grace." I intended to begin to elaborate on chapter by chapter daily as I go through it. However, once I began to write down the quotes I would like to share, I realized I was basically giving you the entire chapter! I am loving it! Tomorrow I will try to break it down more, but so far I am being convicted on comparing myself to others as well as what is and isn't judgment.

I need to get back on track with weight watchers. Once mom went down because of surgery and nana and papa have been here I haven't kept with it. With a holiday coming up that doesn't make it any easier but my goal is to vastly cut my portion sizes. I will reference one section of the book. It reads as follows..

" The following conversation occurred between a canary in a cage and a lark on the window sill. The lark looked in at the canary and asked, "What is your purpose?"
 "My purpose is to eat seed."
"What for?"
"So I can be strong."
"What for?"
"So I can sing," answered the canary.
"What for?" continued the lark.
"Because when I sing I get more seed."
"So you eat in order to be strong so you can sing so you can get seed so you can eat?"
"Yes."
"There is more to you than that," the lark offered. "If you'll follow me I'll help you find it, but you must leave your cage."

Lucado page 29.

Why do I expect less of myself when I was made for so much more. All of my goals are attainable, but only when I acknowledge that my God does not thrive in a box under my conditions. He wants to and will drive me toward success when I surrender the freedom to him.