Swearing is out

After James 5:7-12 

I don’t know how

to say it any plainer.

Don’t swear. Above

all else, don’t swear.

Don’t swear by heaven,

don’t swear by earth.

Don’t swear in any

other way. Do

something novel;

do something that’s

revolutionary. Let

your yes be yes; let

your no be no. In

that way, you will 

avoid condemnation.

Do the righteous thing,

now. Do the Godly

thing, now. Don’t swear.

 

Photograph by Usman Yousaf at Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

If God Meant Everybody, Why Did He Say Neighbour? – Seth Lewis.

 

Choose Better Words – Melissa Edgington at Your Mom Has a Blog.

 

The Presbyterian Revolution: The Faith That Founded America – Rob Pacienza at the Institute for Faith, Work, & Economics.

No grumbling!

After James 5:7-12 

No grumbling against

one another; grumbling

implies you’re judging

one another, and you,

too, will be judged;

the Judge is standing

at the door. Consider

the prophets. They were

patient on their suffering,

and they suffered 

for how they served

the Lord. Be patient

and steadfast in your

patience. Job remained

patient and steadfast

in the face of terrible

trials and ordeals.

And Job received

compassion and mercy.

So, cut the grumbling.

 

Photograph by Engin Akyurt via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“Concerning a Nightingale,” poem by Alcuin – D.S. Matin at Kingdom Poets.

 

“He Leadeth Me,” hymn by Joseph Henry Gilmore – Anthony Esoloen at Word & Song.

 

The Secret Place – Daniel Kunkel t Mere Orthodoxy.

Patience

After James 5:7-12 

Patience is a trial,

but it is also to what

you are called, so

be patient, for

the Lord will come.

Follow the farmer,

who knows his fields

and waits for

the harvest to come.

The coming of the lord

is soon; the coming

of the Lord is at hand.

That is what you’re

awaiting, and patience

will be rewarded, just

as the farmer is rewarded

with his harvest.

 

Photograph by Free Walking Tour Salzburg via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

The Lost Art of a Wandering Mind – Melissa Edgington at Your Mom Has a Blog.

 

‘Religious Affections’: Textbook of the American Soul – Obbie Tyler Todd at Desiring God.