Vulgarity Does Not Glorify God

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

                                                                                (1 Peter 2:9:12 KJV)

I was outside drinking my morning coffee in the dark yesterday morning. Children were at their stops waiting for the school bus. A dog was barking and roosters crowing in the distance. Suddenly, I heard a very loud motorcycle revving up its motor within a few blocks from the house. Shortly after this noise began, I heard swearing. A lot of very loud, screaming and very vulgar, swearing! This was not from a neighbor. We have no close neighbors. It was at least two or three blocks away; yet, I could hear every curse word that was screamed. The motorcycle continued roaring on and off for a few minutes then took off. The swearing ceased as well. 

I, unfortunately, have been known to swear a time or two or maybe more. When I do it, I cringe. Yesterday morning, I really cringed at the thought of someone being so out of control of themselves or such little lack of respect for themselves, their neighbors, and for the children waiting for buses, that they would be screaming the f.. word and a bunch of others not so nice words in the quiet of the morning so that all the world could hear. I pray for calmness and peace for that man as well as for the man who was revving his bike up in a way that seemed very intentional so early in the morning.

As Christians, we are a chosen generation, a holy nation. We ought to be speaking gently and truthfully. We ought to be the examples of moderation in all that we do that our Father in heaven might be glorified.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. 

                                                            (Song of Solomon 2:12-13a)

The grass is growing in most of the yard. The flowers are blooming. The birds are singing. I drank my first cup of coffee outside in the dark this morning listening to the birds sing. I love it out here. 

We turned the keys to our last home over to the new owners yesterdays and have just about finished moving into the RV. The RV, in our son's yard, will be where we stay when we are in Florida.

I have been working on a butterfly/fairy/gnome garden for Paige and myself. The photo above is the very beginning of it. There is a long way to go. It will be a work in progress for awhile. 

Nine months ago this chunk of land was completely wooded. It is now a home. God has blessed us richly. May God bless you, as well.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Stay Awake

Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;

      stay awake and you will have food to              spare.

                                    (Prov 20:13 NIV)

I slept for about ten hours last night. But, that does not mean I slept in. I was still at my desk before 7 a.m.. I am one of those people who tend to live to work rather than work to live so it is easy to get up; get a cup of coffee and begin the work day. Pull me away from work and I end up feeling very lost. That is probably not the best thing; but, that is who I am. 

I grew up in a family; in a community, with a very strong work ethic. No one ever questioned if one would put their everything into the work they had to do or just do enough to ensure they kept getting a paycheck and not get fired. If there was work before you; you just did it. You went to sleep early enough so that you could get up and get done what needed to get done. My parents often reminded us when my sisters and I were young that "the early bird catches the worm."

When my granddaughter was still in school, she liked to sleep in. Getting up at 9 a.m. on days off was early for her. She missed out on a lot of things that she may have enjoyed by sleeping her days away. She is now almost twenty years of age. She works an early morning shift and has to be up no later than 4:45. She has learned that if she wants to eat and do what she likes; work comes first. It pleases me that she is able to get moving so early and enjoy the work that she does. 

Jesus too had a habit of waking very early. Scripture tells us of times that he would rise early and go off to pray. The quiet early morning hours bring opportunity to be refreshed by God's word and by His presence. Wake up and spend intentional time with the Lord so that you may be strengthened to go about the day doing His will.

“Wake up, sleeper,

     rise from the dead,
     and Christ will shine on you.” 

                                           (Eph 5:14)

God's Peace - Pr. J