My trip back required an extra 12 hours with an overnight stay in Chicago due to the heavy thunderstorms that delayed a lot of flights this past Monday. So the photo captures how I spent most of my time on the plane.
It was really good to visit last Sunday's class, seeing old acquaintances and meeting new friends.
This topic is very practical in that, being followers of Jesus, frequent complaining ought not be part of that profile.
If I may review and request comments on two points I was trying to make...
One.
Complaining is expressing discontentment. The object of discontent may be the situation we're in, or the people in our lives. It may be about the kind of person we are - For instance, folks ask me all the time, "how do deal with being so beautiful?" (if only)
What I'm saying is complaining is ultimately about the One who allows us to be in the situations we're in, who puts the people in our lives that he does. Habitual complaining says to God "I don't think you're doing a good job running my life!" This notion I think, can really undermine your Christian walk.
Two.
When you catch yourself complaining, in addition the wristbands, say a short prayer and ask "God, why am I complaining about this? Help me understand if it's trivial or if it is something deeper? Could this affect my faith in you? is it hindering me from a deeper relationship with you?
Thanks again for letting me part of the class. I'm talking it over with Dan to see if he'll let me become a "virtual member".
5 comments:
I'm really glad you came to our class! I must say, you brought up better points than what I read in the book - especially the point where in a way we are insulting God by complaining. Also, I liked how you said we should say a prayer every time we catch ourselves complaining. - great tip!!! See ya =)
With regards to your second point tom, I'm reminded of Jonah and the vine that God grew to shade him and withered away. Immediately Jonah complained to God say " I'm so hot and angry! I would rather die!", leaving no regard for the thousands of ninevites in the city.
What matters more... the souls of friends, classmates, coworkers... or our comfort?
Bottom line, you can learn from your complaints like we learn from Jonah's. However this wisdom is only gained through the Holy Spirit through daily devotion in the Word of God.
very to have everyone that was a part of the Sunday School class the past Sunday.
Although i tease Thuy about the book quite often, I guess I wasn't trying to see the bigger picture of the fact that some people may not know that they are habitual complainers and that either they are harming themselves or others in their lives without knowing or thinking about it.
Just to add along with the part of not being happy with how God is guiding our lives is a major fact I have learned and strongly believe in is everything occurs for a purpose, be it known to us or only to God. Everyone of us plays a role in God's great plan.
actually i wanna clarify because that line i said that everything happens for a reason and it is God's plan is such a concept that is easy to know but hard to follow and understand. To believe that everything happens with a purpose, I believe that we can for the moment at our low point become upset, but do not hold onto that anger pray ask God for guidance ask him to enlighten our minds "why has this happened? what is it I must learn? or is it what is it I have been neglecting?"
Funny thing is "Evan Almighty," which was a good movie, put it pretty straight forward. They said if we pray for patience God doesn't automatically give us patience He gives us opportunities to learn patience. God gives us opportunities so we just have to pray and truly believe in his will for then we can be open enough to hear his plans sometimes.
good quote tam. I still think you're a geek. jkkkk!!! very good quote. I totally forgot about that quote!!!
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