Do the do's; don't do the don'ts (Ephesians 5:1-21)

"Lilies in our garden"
Canon Rebel T1i
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

First I'd like to thank all who prayed for our boardwalk in Ocean Grove (God's square mile).  The boards came, and it's almost done.  Next week Governor Christie is coming to cut the ribbon.  I don't know who did what and how but thanks!  The Lord has provided : )

This morning my husband and I were walking on a local trail.  I looked at the ground and saw sand.  We're miles from the shore here.  Then I remembered all the seashells  I found on top of mountains in Washington state.  It makes no sense unless there really was a flood that washed over all the mountains.  It could've happened in creation but it just seems like a flood thing to me because the shells were already created.  Perhaps the flood created the Grand Canyon as well.  DNA blew away the big bang.  One thing is for sure, God knows.  I'm hoping He'll show us one day how it really happened err from a safe place : )

I am excited to see Scientists and Christian leaders dig into the Bible to figure this all out.   I can only imagine how delighted God must be : )

Walk in Love
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet- smelling aroma.
We are to imitate God, to walk in love.  We know that God loves us or we wouldn't be forgiven.  He would've walked away before the flood receded.   He could've made a new planet with robot people (I would've hahaha).  But He didn't.  Amazing God, amazing grace.  We must remember this so we don't give up:

23 ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...
(Romans 3:23-24 NKJV)

I quote Romans 3:23 to myself when I start feeling bad.

God inspired the Apostle Paul to give us some do's and don'ts.  They're so practical.  You want to live in peace?  Don't be unwise (stupid).  You want to be respected?  Don't be drunk all the time... be honest and helpful.  You want to be happy?  Give thanks to God for what you have.  You want to contribute ideas that are accepted?  Listen to the ideas of others, remember God is with you.  Try and use everyone's ideas not just yours.  Reading through these verses showed me some great stuff.
 
Don'ts vs. 3-6, 15-18

• don't even mention fornication
• uncleanness
• covetousness
• filthiness
• foolish talking
• coarse jesting
• idolatry 
• be unwise
• be drunk with wine
• walk as fools
• speak of the things done in darkness

 Do's vs. 8-21

• give thanks
• stay away from people doing the don'ts
• walk as children of light 
• “Awake, you who sleep,
  Arise from the dead,
  And Christ will give you light.”
• goodness, righteousness, truth 
• have no fellowship with people doing the "don'ts"
• understand what the Lord's will is
• be filled with the Spirit
• speak to one another in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs
• sing
• make melody in your heart to God
• give thanks for all things to God
• in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
• walk circumspectly (cautiously)
• submit to one another in the fear of God
• redeem the time, because the days are evil

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
 
Walk in Light
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
 
Walk in Wisdom
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
(Ephesians 5:1-21 NKJV)

Love this song : ) by Hezekiah Walker, Every Praise (link)
Giving Christian Musicians some free publicity : )