Friday, October 24, 2008

Sick and tired of being sick and tired...
Do you ever find yourself complaining? I have found myself complaining lately and have been convicted about it. I had bronchitis for about 3 weeks and was just getting over it and now I'm having sinus problems and can't breathe while trying to sleep...I have had my house on the market since July and it hasn't sold yet...still commuting to church makes life difficult on Monday and Thursday mornings to get our school aged son to school on time because he's so tired from not getting as much rest as normal...yada yada yada - you get the point.

I've always been a 'glass half full' person and tried to look for the positive side. I believe that is what the Lord would want from us so I think that's why He has been convicting me of my complacency. I never realized until now how negative I was being. Do you realize how much that can affect different aspects of your life? Don't even mention how your children watch everything you do and pick up on it!

I've learned recently that it can always be worse. That has become our newest motto at our house to remind us of how good we have it. We've seen so many people in TRUE pain with REAL problems through ministry and just friends of ours...it really puts things in perspective and totally embarasses me for even complaining. We have healthy children, a roof over our heads, food on the table, cars that drive...we are 'better than we deserve' to quote Dave Ramsey. Honestly, even if we were suffering we'd still be better than we deserve because we'd have our life in Christ. I deserved death and my Lord took that pain for me on the cross so that I could spend eternity with Him. I live in America where I'm free to worship Him as I choose...there are brothers and sisters in other parts of the world that live in fear that they could be killed at any moment for doing that...people that have willingly put themselves and their families in those situations in hopes of winning people with the love of Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for your gentle and sweet reminder of what life is truly about...as we prepare to go into the holidays and be in the middle of all that hustle and bustle...please continue to remind us of this when necessary.

2 comments:

Shalita said...

Thanks Michele for those words from the Lord. I am right with you in being sick and tired of being sick and tired. No, we are not going to be perfectly healthy all the time, have children that are always obedient, always have a clean house, always have perfectly balanced meals(HA!), jobs that are always encouraging, bills that are always paid on time, enough sleep each night----------BUT, we have a God that is bigger than any situation we are in the midst of. And the best part of all, He is right there with us ALWAYS!!!

Thank you God that you allow us to wake up each morning, that we have your shared gift of children, that we have houses with food on the table, that we have jobs, that there is money to pay bills, and that we do have rest in you. Thank you for your love and total provision that we do not deserve! Thank you that you see past our sinful nature! Amen.

Let's encourage each other to be "lifter uppers" and not "puller downers"! We are not getting any younger, as we have discussed, but oh the great and mighty things the Lord has in store for us if we keep our eyes, hearts and attitudes on him! Thank you for the reminder that we do NOT have it all bad. Let's start this holiday season with a great attitude looking for the good and the God in each day!!! I love you!!

Anonymous said...

Sweet sister, I could have written that post for you!!! That is the biggest problem in my marriage--as I just got through telling that wonderful Pastor of ours, ha ha, that I am a glass half full person and my hubby is so not! LOL

God is so good to point out to us whiners that there are always those who have it worse than we do and we should be grateful for the things He gives and I'm hear to say also the things He takes away because sometimes the things He takes away can be the biggest blessings of all (even if we don't think so at the time!)

So glad I got to read your blog! Great picture of your three "boys"!