I found myself grumbling again today. I was grumbling because I had to go to school after being home two days due to the snow. I wanted yet another day. Two days wasn't good enough; I wanted more. This afternoon after I got home from work, I started thinking about wanting more. I thought about my grumbling. Grumbling? No big deal--Everyone grumbles at one time or another. There are definitely people that grumble more than I do. Grumbling isn't so bad, is it? It is just human nature, right? Then I started thinking about the Hebrew people after their deliverance from Egypt while traveling through the wilderness. Talk about some grumbling people. Every time I read their story, I think "Boy do these people get on my nerves. Really?! God opens up an entire sea for them to walk through and they have the nerve to grumble and complain in between the miracles! Really?!" Then, I put myself in check--don't I do the same thing? What do I do in-between the "wow factors" in my life when I don't "feel" those spiritual highs? I find myself not in prayer as much. I find myself getting slack in my Bible reading. I find myself not making more of an effort to connect with God. I just see myself becoming spiritually slack, and I'm grumbling about life more. I tend to think and see myself as constantly drawing the short straw--grumble, grumble, grumble. And what does this grumbling accomplish? Nothing you might say. Oh, but it does. It allows satan the perfect opportunity to get into our heads and plant his vicious lies. He waits for this time to attack. I'm sure he gets that Grinch-like grin on his evil face, rubs his hands together and starts telling us that God doesn't love us, that God has forgotten us, that God is tired of us and has left us in our time of need, that God's promises really aren't for everyone. That is one thing that grumbling accomplishes--an opening for satan to get a foothold. Yikes!
Have you noticed when reading about the Hebrew's journey through the wilderness that there was always a time of waiting? A time of patience after each miracle? A time when the Israelites were to trust God's love and protection and promises even when the miracles were slamming them? Was God showing them (and us) that blessings don't come without first learning dependence on God? Without showing faithfulness? Did God allow the Red Sea circumstances and their disappointments to build their reliance on Him? Was He trying to show them I will provide? I love you!? I keep my promises?
What do I do in my in-between times? Do I patiently wait on the Lord? Do I remember His goodness? His past blessings? The way He met my needs so perfectly in the past? Or do I grumble? Do I complain? Oh, shoot! I find that I do the exact thing the Hebrews did!! Yep, I grumble and complain. I forget God's goodness. So, what should I do in my in-between times? Philippians 2: 14 says that I should "do everything without complaining or arguing." Paul told the Philippian church to "rejoice in the Lord always...be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." So, what should I think about? Paul has the answer again, "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. (Phil. 4: 4, 6, 8) Grumbling and complaining are bad. Scripture says that "we must not put Christ to the test, as {Israel} did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer" (1 Cor. 10: 9-10) Grumbling against the plans God has for our lives is very serious and very costly. Our in-between times are part of God's plan. A grumbling spirit robs each of us of what God wants to teach us during out in-between times. It keeps us from getting the most out of your journey with God. We are NEVER to stand in judgment upon God and His plans for us. Maybe it is best that we remember Isaiah 61:3 ("To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory.") and ask God to turn our bitterness into something sweet. We serve a God who is more than able!! We serve a God that wants to do these things for us if we will only ask and trust Him!
"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1: 6-7 Instead of grumbling, I need to remember to focus on Christ!
Here are a few pictures from my day (of grumbling)...
This little gal is leaving me today to go to another school. Her family recently moved and she is no longer in the zone to attend "the Forest." I am going to miss her. She was such a joy to teach and made me laugh often. Good luck, Girlie! You will be missed!! (Alberta, notice I'm in flannel!! Haha! We had a delayed start so it didn't really feel like a real teaching day. It felt like a flannel, stay warm kinda day. Looks like it also felt like a "do nothing with my head" kinda day too. HA!)
John Ryan went to see the doctor today. He hasn't eaten anything in three days. Poor baby. The doctor gave him some meds to help with the nausea. He still isn't eating that much but at least the fluids are able to stay down.
I ordered these from Gap recently and they came today. The pink reminded me of spring and I think spring fever is beginning to creep up on me early. However, I am NOT going to grumble about the cold weather b/c all things need to rest including nature.
Tomorrow I'm going to share some pictures of my friends in the Forest. Such a fun group!
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