I have been writing blog posts for our church, Mt. Pleasant Church of God (MPCOG) for a few months now. The previous blog posts can be found at the church’s website, www.mpcog.com and then, click on the Blog tab.
The posts are shared by my pastor through Facebook. However, not all of this blog’s readers are on Facebook and I have decided that maybe some would like the read both posts. Following is my most recent MPCOG post.
What? You mean me?
I always start to get edgy in February; possibly even a bit testy. Winter, by now, has made me as frazzled and frayed as my old, weathered, chore coat. The mud outside is cumbersome and the mess that gets tracked inside is down-right loathsome. When it isn’t muddy outside, it is only because it is frozen, and that is just, well, cold and miserable.
Sigh, I know spring is coming, but it is really too soon to sense that ‘spring is in the air.’
The other day, which was like most other days, the trash was annoying me. Yes, the trash. My family (men!) treat it like a contest of building a house of cards. If an item can be placed on the trash heap without falling off, there is no need to take the trash out. If the trash is too high to, oh let’s say, put an empty milk jug on it, then put the empty milk jug on the floor beside the trash.
While compacting the trash down farther into the can, like a car-smasher, I thought of that Bible verse that had something to do with not grumbling or complaining. Then, I had what I thought might be a good great idea! What if I make a sign with that verse on it and hang it above the trash can?!? Would it subliminally implant the message into my family’s (men!) mind? Would they (men!) begin to take the trash out when it needs it … without complaining? I started to feel proud of my good great idea. I was sporting an evil little grin as I Googled that Bible verse.
Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
Then, God hit me on the head with a brick. He said, “Hey! This means you!” I said, “oh crud….”
I still think that verse might make a good sign in my kitchen, above the trash. What do you think?
Just Make the Coffee 
I think you should make the sign and put it up there. Reading it reminded YOU not to grumble and complain and it might work to make THEM feel guilty. Guilt is always a good trip to send someone on. 🙂 In the fall of 2010, I started a 3 year Bible course called The Amazing Collection. Each week, we read a book of the Bible — either the “quick” or the “complete” read. I chose to do the complete read because I really wanted to know for myself what was in the Bible rather than taking someone else’s word for it. Isaiah, Psalms, and Proverbs were too long to read in a week’s time and to this day I have never read those 3 books. Nevertheless, this was the best thing I ever did for myself.
What an awesome thing to do for yourself! Thanks for sharing that with me. 🙂
The sign would be a good idea for anyone, anywhere!