This is the first of my series and I am so sorry I did not get 
it to you on Saturday, as I told you I would.
I AM glad I did say that scheduling permitting I would get
these posts out and I DID have scheduling issies.
Without further ado, here we go......
Here is the subject verse for this post:
"How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are
grumbling against Me? I have heard the complaints of the
sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. "
(Numbers 14:27)
This after the spies had come back to report on the land which
God was giving them across the Jordan river.
The spies returned from Canaan with a HUGE cluster of grapes.
They also returned with stories of how big and tall the inhabitants of the villages were in the land. They told of walls around the villages "up to the heavens" and people who made them seem "as small as grasshopppers" in their own eyes.
God said He heard the grumbling and the complaints of the
children of Israel. He hears our complaints too. The sin of
grumbling is related to the sin of gossip. Both are forms of
evil speech; both result from a critical spirit.
Gossip destroys others, breaks up friendships and severs
relationships. Grumbling destroys your quality of life and
that of those around you.
The grapes should have encouraged the Israelites. The land was 
indeed a good land full of bounty and prosperity, just as God had promised. The ten spies, however, saw the giant grapes differently.
To Joshua and Caleb, giant grapes were a sign of Gods goodness. To the other spies, the giant grapes were a sign of despair or horror.
Imagine you were taking your children to the zoo or to a Theme Park. Instead of watching in awe and wonder at the lions, tigers, bears, monkeys and zebras or having fun riding the rides at the park, they sulk because you did not buy them ice cream
cones. At every point in your trip to the zoo or that Theme Park you saved so long to bring them to, these children have
something bad to say, OR they want something "right now"
(french fries, sodas, ice cream, etc.) and it spoils the whole time
there for everyone because of thier attitude(s) and perceptions aboiut what THEY WANT.
As an adult, it is easy to look at those situation(s) and realize
how foolish the grumbling child is. It's harder to realize that
our own complaints, grumbling and murmuring is just as foolish.
Adults are usually sophisticated enough to disguise their childish
attitudes and inner discontentment. We disguise them as serious
adult issues, concerns and complaints.
Upon closer investigation, many of those issues tend to be no more
than sulking over French fries, soda or ice cream.
The worst part is that this is not a trip to the zoo or to a theme park. This is your walk through life. If you spend it fussing and sulking about what you do not get "now" or what you THINK is going on, you will never enjoy the good things God is continually doing for you.
You will never even notice those very good things.
The Bible teaches that God hears all our complaints and grumblings, whether it is about HIM or about what is going on in our lives. That's why the many bible teachers teach that the complainer is akin to an atheist. Those very complaints deny the existence of God as if there is no God to hear those bitter words.
The next time you have "problems" in a real estate transaction, with a client, other agents, a broker or a listing. try to see what God is letting happen and why.
He MIGHT be trying to help your faith grow. Or, he might be trying to build more patience into you, or more gentleness, etc.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness;
and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control,
perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness;
and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,
they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-8 (New International Version)
Thanks to: www.flickr.com and
mark.os , Claudio.Ar (not too much online) ,
Joe-Nathan (JonathanLaberge.com) ,
and Tambako the Jaguar for the GREAT pictures!!
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Ok now... don't everyone comment all at once........ hehehehehe......
=-)
Ok, I'll be the first. To begin, thank you for sharing God's word. I catch myself complaining too often, and sometimes I don't stop myself. Your post has reminded me that complaining is a lack of faith. As a result of your post, I have decided to challenge myself. Whenever I even think of complaining this week, I will try to stop it immediately. At that point, I will give praise and thank God for all he provides.
Thanks for sharing,
Phil
Thanks brother... I know sometimes it is hard to admit things... BUT if we turn to the Lord... admit our sins, turn away from them and cling to doing GOOD... we will be BLESSED.
It is a biblical thing to do.....
=-)
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