Grumble, Complain! B & M! (Whatever Else You Want To Call It)

Grumble & complain. B & M. I'm sure there are many other letters or words that you could use to say the same thing. If we are honest, most of us do this. A lot! I know that I sure do. Especially at work, when things do not go my way (or the way that I think that they should go).

Philippians 2:14 English Standard Version

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

Anytime something happens at work that I don't agree with in my mind, I am the first to start complaining about it. I have been doing this so much lately that I fear that I am becoming known as the "complaining guy". I don't want to be known this way. I try to follow the above verse but darn it, it sure is hard. When things happen in my department, I keep thinking who do they think that they are doing this too? Don't they know how things work here? I almost take it personal, which of course is not true! It's just the way that things work out sometimes. Just because it is not the way that I like it, or do it, doesn't mean that it is wrong.

Colossians 3:23 Amplified Bible

23 Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,

I feel that every time I complain about something, it goes against God. I am not showing Jesus to people when I am complaining all the time. He has me at my job for a reason and complaining about it is not it.

Don't get me wrong. There are some things that you can complain about that are a real complaint. I just pray that God gives me discernment to tell the difference. If you complain about everything, nobody will take you serious when you have a actual real complaint.

James 1:19 Amplified Bible

19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];

I work in the S&R dept. at my job. We have daily calendars with appointment times for the pick ups and deliveries. Some days I only have two or three trucks scheduled. Others I have eight to ten trucks. Those are the days that get my grumbling and complaining.

I have a day like that coming up next week. I decided that I am not going to say a word. Just take the day as it comes. Jesus always helps me out, why would He not on this day. Before I left for the day on Friday, one of the deliveries for that busy day had already been moved to a different day. See, Jesus is already at work. Before we even get to that day, He's intervening on my behalf. Love that about Him!!

So I urge you. If something is getting you annoyed and you start to grumble and complain about it. Give it Jesus. It has taken me awhile to get to this point (even though I knew to do so). He will help you out. Just be patient while waiting. He is never late. His timing is always right on!

Running The Race.

 Covid 19/Corona virus. Mask wearing. Social distancing. Hand washing. Wiping everything down with sanitizer wipes. No large social gatherings. Businesses closed. Churches & schools closed. Almost everything shut down. This is the course that we have been set on for the last year, plus. People are getting tired, fed up with it all. Ready to hang it up, drop back and punt if you will. This is not the way that we thought that the last year would go.

Isaiah 40:31 New Living Translation

31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

I think that is what The Lord has been doing during this last year. Wanting people to put more trust in Him. Place our trust where it matters most and He will renew our strength for the next obstacle of our race, which have been many this past year.

People keep saying "What about all the trouble that this pandemic caused?" I lost my job, business, etc. etc.

John 16:33 New International Version

33  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus never promised us a trouble free life. 2020 proved that. But we can take heart, Jesus has overcome the world. With His help we can overcome anything.

So it seems right now that we are on the right track. Vaccine seems to be working. More and more things are opening up and letting people in. Slowly, possibly getting back to normal....ish. So if we keep our eyes focused on Jesus and what He can do for us. Not what the government says that they can do. We will be much better off.

So I urge you today to keep pressing forward. It may seem bleak for some, but remember, Jesus overcame the world, so can we!

Mirrors!

I turned onto a street this morning on my way to work. I was headed West and the angle of my mirrors and the angle that the sun was shining, it reflected off of all three of them and light up the inside of the car. The reflection nearly blinded me as well. I actually had to flip my rear view mirror up like I was driving at night with a car behind me. That is how bright the sun was reflecting off of it. So naturally I started thinking, (I know it can be dangerous) about "wow, I want to shine this bright for Jesus!" I want people when they look at me, to see the love light that is Jesus reflecting off of me, just like these mirrors! Just like the mirrors made the sun shine very brightly in the car, I want The Son to shine very brightly on us! So much so that when people look at us, they notice something different about us. We have a light or a glow about us.

Matthew 5:16 The Message

14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

We are not to hide the Light that Jesus has placed in us. We are to be at the top of a hill, shining brightly for all to see. We are to be pointing people to Jesus, The Son. The ultimate light source!

So how exactly do we shine the light of Jesus to those around us? Glad that you asked.

Watch what you say: 

James 3:8 Amplified Bible

8 But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison.

What kind of entertainment are you letting enter your eyes and ears? My wife and I have a saying around here "garbage in, garbage out!" Be careful of what you consume, entertainment wise!

How are you using social media? Are you using it for good? Or are you starting arguments and strife? People are watching us. To see what and how we post. Are we honoring God with what we put out there??

Finally, think of others needs. Lift up and not tear down. Encourage each other.

Luke 6:31 New Living Translation

31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you

So let me encourage you today to let your light shine bright for all to see. Let The Son shine in you and through you. Let it be so bright that people will have to adjust their mirrors!

God bless!