It's Hard Not To, Ain't It?

Philippians 2:14,15

 ¹⁴Do all things without grumbling or questioning, ¹⁵that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,  [emphasis mine]

Yes, I'm talking about grumbling, murmuring and complaining.  In the world, we expect to hear unbelievers complain like it's nobody's business.  They don't depend on the Lord and His goodness, nor trust in His Sovereignty to cause all things to work together for good.  It's tough to be content under those circumstances I'd imagine. They don't have the benefit of being taught from the Bible of the sufferings of the Saints before us; they don't have the benefit of seeing the suffering of Christ in relation to their own "suffering."  Unbelievers compare their suffering, for the most part, to what they feel they deserve.  Yet, they're unaware that we all deserve Hell.  Believers should not be so unaware.  Paul tells us in Philippians that he learned contentment, and that contentment he learned was solid in WHATEVER state he found himself.

Saying that just gave me two points that should really cause believers to at least hesitate before freely offering up joy-killing complaints:

1. God is good and can be depended on-Complaining undermines faith and thanksgiving.  Can one complain and be thankful at the same time?  Yeah, if that one has a forked tongue and a double mind.  It sounds like this, "I'm thankful that God gave me this job, BUT.........." Uh Oh, dear believer.  You should probably really think twice about continuing that statement.  True thankfulness doesn't have a but.  

2.God is Sovereign-Romans 8:28 says that if you belong to the Lord, He is working everything out to your good and for His glory.  Where can we find space to complain in light of that? Is there ANY circumstance that is not under the authority of the Creator of the World?  Is your situation outside the scope of God's Sovereignty?  All things work together for the good of the believer because God orchestrates these situations for the sanctification of His children.  That is, the aim is Christlikeness-Trust the Lord that He's accomplishing that in you through this light affliction.  

Listen, I'm talking to myself just as much as anyone here.  I find myself at times complaining about the most trivial things.  Once I stop and listen to myself, I realize I'm being a kill joy to whoever's lucky enough to have to listen to my murmuring.  Complaining is a sin, plain and simple.  If I continue to let this little fox get into the garden of my Christian growth, it will spoil the vine of evangelism, peace (external), and joy in my life.  All because I think more highly than myself and my trials then I ought.  Sad shame that would be.  

I know this is Drops of Thought, and I'm supposed to be brief, so I'll just leave you with some wisdom from the Word of God:

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Rejoice in the Lord always. Phil. 4:4; Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16; Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. James 1:2  (Joy in trial, not complaint)

Why should any living mortal, or any man, offer complaint in view of his sins? Lamentations 3:39 Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:2-3 (We all deserve Hell, so anything short of that should cause us to rejoice not complain)

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Rom. 8:18; For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:19 (Basically, in light of eternity and God's sanctification of His own, all affliction should be endured without complaint)

Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right? Genesis 18:25 (Sometimes we believe that something is not right with our situation.  Like, "how could I be going through this," as if God does anything other than that which is right. Even the smallest complaint (I don't like this food) wreaks of ungratefulness and a sense of entitlement that runs counter the tenor of the Whole Bible.)

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (I think that says enough) Look at the context in which the Lord says this to Paul........

Finally, who of us has gone through that which our Savior has?  Have I been beaten beyond recognition, spit upon, pierced with a spear, hated, ridiculed, mocked, and murdered? No, but I'm upset because things aren't going my way and I have to do something I don't want to. I hereby resolve to put away all complaining in my life by God's grace. I repent of the ease with which I complained up till now too.  If I have brought you down, or provoked complaint in you by my complaints, I apologize.  If you are an unbeliever that I have shared the Gospel with, and I tainted my testimony through complaint, I apologize; and although that won't amount to a good excuse for you on judgement day, I promise I realize the hindrance that could've been.  Please forgive me and obey the Gospel.  If you are a friend of mine who I've told to trust God during one of your afflictions and you've heard me complain as if I don't heed my own advice, I apologize and ask your forgiveness.  

Lastly I'd like to say Praise God for the mirror of His word, His grace to show us us, and the enablement and motivation He gives to turn from sin and to Him. 

Grace and Peace.

What Am I Really Saying??

So the other day, I'm on the phone with a client who has called me no less than 20 times in the last month. Now, this isn't horrible, except I've given this client the numbers to technical support and service-yet ALL his calls are technical in nature. Anyway, he calls me again and starts his conversation by saying, "I know I'm being a big pain and a waste of your time with all my questions." To which I respond, "Oh, it's no problem."

Here's the mini-quagmire I find myself in now. What, exactly, did I respond to? Was I actually saying, "yes you are being a big pain and a waste of my time, but it's OK?" Or was I saying, "it's no problem, because you're not really a big pain or a waste of my time?"

When faced with similar situations, how do YOU respond? I realize it could just be me overanalyzing the situation, but it's a real question I have. Thought I'd drop that thought on you (pun intended)......

The Invincible Message

Stephen the Levite exclaims on his album, "To Die is Gain" (a MUST cop for all true lovers of Christ-centered lyricism) that "The message of the Gospel is invincible!!"

I love that line; a whole lot.  It is a reminder to me that the Gospel is the power of GOD unto Salvation........That's right, 1-1-Six (Romans 1:16)!!!  Shai Linne is an artist who overtly and obviously belongs to the fellowship of the unashamed,  and we see here an example of his unashamedness AND his trust in God that the Gospel is indeed invincible.  Check this out, as it is truly refreshing to hear some of the truths of God being spilled from a stage during a Hip-Hop event.  God is Sovereign over the means as well as the ends.  Grace and Peace!

They're the Same Age as Me.........

As I watched Mike Tomlin become the youngest Super Bowl winning coach in history last night, one thing crossed my mind.  Well, you have to believe that many more things than that crossed my mind, but one I'll share now.  "He's the same age as me" was that thing.  I kind of chuckled to myself after thinking (and actually Twittering) about that.  Why did I chuckle?  Because what on earth does that mean?  Am I really thinking that because Tomlin won the Bowl at the same age as me, that I could have also won the bowl if only.............?  The hilarity of the phrase "they're the same age as me," especially when referring to some celebrity or otherwise well-known person, lies in the implications.  What exactly am I saying when I say, "man, the founders of Google are younger than me"?  What do you mean by using this popular phraseology?  Are you comparing your lot in life as though it may be less favorable because of what you do at your age vs. what such and such is doing at the same age?  Why?  Seriously, let me know.  It'll only take you a minute to comment.  Thanks in advance because my curiosity is killing me.  

Why Drops?.

Good morning, and what's up Fam??  Straight to the point I'll go:  Two Reasons for a Microblog.........

1.  Many of my friends/acquaintances really just don't want to read more than a paragraph (or giving the benefit of the doubt, they don't have time lol).  All too often I've heard, "hey I read some of your blog today."  I won't blame myself for writing article-size pieces, rather the 21st century for being the home of 'microwave living.'  Micro blog, in the case of "Drops..." then, is short for microwave blog.

2.  Quite frankly, I have a bunch of stuff going through my head that's not quite the fit for Streams of Thought.  Just short stuff.  More suitable for a microcosm of Streams, like a drop.  Hence, Drops of Thought.  I'm committed to writing within the space here in such a way, that you won't ever have to touch the scroll bar to read an entry.  How's that for short-windedness.   

There you have them, 2 of many reasons for a microwave blog.  Enjoy!!!