Whining (or winning)

Aren't we equipped with such great capabilities with our voices? Such range and pitch. For some it's melodic and others a bit scratchy...But I was commenting to my son yesterday about the purity of vocal projection when it comes to kids. Their sound just CARRIES pretty much above everything.
I am not sure what happens to that ability as we get older. Jesus was able to speak to large crowds without microphones and speakers and probably without shrieking to get His voice to carry. We long for our babies to talk and then when they do and when they catch on to inflections it can be fun unless it is Whining..Ewwwwwww...so irritating! Such volume. Such perfect projection. Definitely gets our attention. Since we do not like the sound of whining,  we understandably do everything we can to train them NOT to use their whiny voices...
This is not a lesson on how to keep our kids from whining though... sorry. This is about whining when things do not go my way. Another term that fits in the same category of dislike is grumbling...Oh my goodness! Nancy if I may grab and apply your phrase once again it's "NOT ATTRACTIVE".

God is bigger than me. He is stronger than me. Even though He gives me freedom of choice He does have a plan for me if I will simply get on board and stay on board and not grumble and whine at any turn that takes me by unpleasant surprise. This is challenging isn't it?
Evidently God dislikes whiny, grumbling tones too. The people he miraculously delivered from slavery and opened a sea for and fed fresh manna in the morning to and kept their clothes from wearing out ended up taking 40 long years traveling in a desert circle around and around largely due to grumbling and complaining. "I miss the leeks. I miss the garlic"...did they miss the oppression of a task master?... they forgot that part. They missed staying in one home and raising kids (who were going to be slaves too mind you). Looks like we may be taken out of slavery but also need slavery as an image taken out of us.

I think a partial solution is praise and thanksgiving. Deliberately changing what wants to just let loose in my mind and mouth to do something that will help bring God on the scene (though sometimes an honest "HELP" will do when it is all I can muster at the time). The word of God says "God inhabits that is lives in, dwells in, the praises of His people" So if I want more of God actively involved in my life I should praise Him more..Not for His ego's sake because that is not how He is. But let me ask you this. When you have a child, or spouse or any person really that lets you know how much they appreciate you and what you do for them instead of whining and grumbling about the next thing they are asked to do or are asking you to do, don't you just want to be with them and do more for them? I do. And when they do whine constantly and complain aren't you just wearied by it? Don't you just want them to stop. Be quiet. Use a pleasant voice. I do too.

So my suggestion to us is that we "put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" as scripture says and move on out of the dark places whining and grumbling would have us dwell in. Maybe this doesn't fit you today but I have had lots of opportunity to put this into practice today (ummmm no. I am not complaining in a veiled sort of way either) but go ahead start thanking God for the things He has done for you. The times He came through when you didn't see any possible way. For breath. For salvation. For the beauty around you. You will be glad you did! Then make it a practice to do that. Not just be an asker. And definitely not a whiner. That is something else that never looks good on us no matter what shoes we wear.

Temper Tantrums (the 57 year old kind)

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control...from Galatians 5:22

Does anyone like the two year old's tantrum? The answer is apparent and if you do you are a rare person.

Generally a two year old is responding to being told to do something or give up something they think they really, really, really want to have or do, or on the other hand yield to something they do NOT want to do. So we may get that concept, but even so the tantrum is not acceptable behavior.

Now how about a 57 year old woman's tantrum? Even uglier! Yesterday I had what looking back on it today was really just a tantrum....Oh and I should be honest and let you know it was right before getting ready for church. There seems to be this running theme the past couple of weeks of having to let go of my rights to things, the way I like things to happen and also my pride which is likely one of the biggest issues when we get down to it. Which, I have been discovering, appears to be pretty thoroughly woven into my life fabric.

By yesterday I was ready to blame my HUSBAND for at least some of the crazy happenings going on...(anyone remember the verse that plainly tells us "we wrestle not with flesh and with blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places"Ephesians 6:12) He is clearly "flesh and blood " but I was waging war with him even so.

Two crazy weeks of "mishaps" with my little Malibu's engine blowing up and being declared to be a two thousand dollar repair (the little Malibu I am still paying on and is no longer under warranty) all
within days after my sons car for whatever reason (still to be discovered) stopped running; just began the line up of circumstances. Circumstances which were pretty much, though not all, outside of my control and bringing to mind the movie "Money Pit". My own little internal engine blew up unfortunately,and my husband was the undeserving recipient. Not attractive as my friend Nancy would say. I will say also that God worked through a friend and her husband, who stepped in after week one loaning us a car until mine is working so easing some of the strain on the family.

This emotional explosion the day following my teaching at a our School of Ministry on cell groups and how to have one where I the teacher turned it into a mini therapy session for me, at least that's how I see it looking back. Yes, I am embarrassing myself left and right because the night before that at the womens group I am one of the leaders of I poured out some of my woe even as I was really trying to minister to others..God help me this confession is not pretty!

So what's a woman to do? I was reasoning with myself. I was telling myself principles from God's word and praying and still reached a limit where I was pretty seriously thinking I needed to step down and out of all leadership positions at least until we could get this stuff in order. Strangely, or should I say divinely, enough yesterdays sermon was titled Stepping Down. Obviously I am not the one with all the answers here but this is the direction I plan to take:

1) When I am tempted to act ugly and even think I have a right to be spewing my point I will remember the following and plead with God to help me act accordingly Love is paitient, love is kind, love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

2) I will remember who my real enemy is even as I discuss the difference of opinion I may have with my husband and as I grapple with the trying circumstances we find ourselves in because it is "we" not just me seeing as we are married and all.

3) I will forgive myself for past mistakes in my attitude and actions and any other person who may be contributor to the problems we are experiencing and ask for forgiveness from those my attitudes have spilled over on like so much hot lava from a volcano so I can move forward...not get stuck...not move backwards...

4) I will look for God's promised wisdom for ways to bring correction and resolution to the circumstances I need to change, and for His miracles in the places beyond my control. I will compose myself like an adult not a two year old. In other words, instead of like a cat in a cat fight, like a Christian (a Christ follower) leaving peace, not turmoil in my wake.