"How Dry I Am"

"They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards." (Psalms 69:12) Let's just say that childhood memories are sometimes hard to figure out; mostly because they are like soundbites, little two or three second clips of something you remember happening. My grandmother had a bar in her house, which is where everyone hung out at her house; mostly because that's where she planted herself. She had this little decoration on the bar, it was a windup clown of a hobo, who was holding himself up by a lamppost, and as he bobbed his head around, the tune would play, "How dry I am" from the base he was standing on. It was not a toy, but while I was there visiting grandma, it was my toy. There could be stranger things to think about, but when it came to the gatherings at grandma's house, that was one of the simpler ones to try and figure out. This is a very interesting verse, to say the least; but it speaks into my heart about something I closed with earlier from Ephesians 5:10-20, and how we need to "carefully determine what pleases the Lord." It is not based upon anything that others might be doing, but Paul is talking about something that is between you and the Lord. It's like, something that might be questionable, but something that you question, not what others might question for you. In other words, it's something that God is speaking into your heart that He might not want to do; even though others might be doing it, and it might be okay, God has spoken to you and said, "Please don't do that!" You know it was God who said it, but you continue doing what you know God said to stop. These things mentioned in the verse above may not pertain to what I am talking about, but that does not stop you from thinking that they are; because when you do not do what God might ask you to do, things just don't seem normal; people seem to be talking about you, and 'Country Songs' are all about you. It is just a little thing called a guilty conscience. Now, as for that silly windup doll: I would always wonder why that tune was what it was, when the doll obviously appeared to be plastered; but with a drunkard, it's not just a buzz that they are after, the drunk is not satisfied with that; and because it was obviously a hobo, he must not have had enough money to finish what he was after...
"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes - these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey Him. Don't participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true." (Ephesians 5:1-9) NLT