Whining.

This little song/poem has more verses to it.........but this will be sufficient for what I need:

With feet to take me where I'd go,
With eyes to see the sunset's glow,
With ears to hear what I would know;
I'm blessed indeed--the world is mine,
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I made a little tune to this chorus and taught it to the girls in my Sunday School class.....I know I've posted it before, but it speaks to me every time I see it. 

I have a paperback book called 365 Sunrays of Help by Albert Garner.....
This is from page 133 and called Number 120:

"Any man can spoil himself, he can allow himself to grow so sensitive that he lives in constant pain.
He can nurse his grudges until they are an intolerable burden.  He can think himself insulted until he is apt to be.  He can believe the world is against him until it is.  He can imagine troubles until they become real.  He can hold so many persons under suspicion that no one believes him.
He can look so askance at his friends that they are no longer friends.  He can think himself so important that no one does.  he can have such a good opinion of himself that no one else enjoys his presence.
He can become so wrapped up in himself that he becomes very small.
Regarding such selfishness, the Bible admonishes--"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others," Phillipians 2:4"

.....not meaning to snoop, but to be concerned about others!

I have made this challenge before: Don't complain about anything for 24 hours.
Not one negative word. 
I feel sick.  My toe hurts.  I have a headache.  I have an ant bite that's stinging.
oooooOOOOoooOOOoooomy tummy
I'm hot.
I'm cold.
I'm hungry.
UGH, I ate too much.
We never get to go anywhere.
Can't we just stay home?
I never get to see a sunset.
There's dead seaweed on the beach and we can't go tomorrow because it's stinking.
I hate wind.
Nobody likes me, everybody hates me....
She did this, he said that, my feelings are hurt.
I don't like to wear glasses.  Why can't SHE feed the cats once in a while?
I don't have money to pay attention.....this house is so little I don't have room to change my mind.

Oh don't we have great imaginations when it comes to complaining?
(All blessings fly out the door. )
Have you ever heard two people talking about their aches and pains.......and it turns into a *can you top this?* kind of conversation?
How about somebody revealing just how poor they are?
We don't have this, we don't have that, we never do those things, we're broke......
We can complain about spiritual, physical, financial, social and mental things.
SO many things to think about and express when we're feeling sorry for ourselves.
Is there enough time in the day?

Spiritually speaking we can be the victim of all sorts of horrible things.  What a great way to live out the rest of your life.  Once somebody says *victim*, everybody must fall back in awe and mustn't encourage them to put things behind them......that counsel  is not welcome.  Victims are at their best when things are blown out of proportion.....so you best go along with it.

Physically speaking, something can always be hurting. Or pounding.  Or in need of a band-aid or attention.

Financially? well, if you are in such bad straits, who can you blame?


Socially speaking we can bemoan our friendless lot in life.
When we drive by a house and there are lots of cars parked on the street...........I say this: HUMPH, another party I didn't get invited to. 

The mental problems are many.  Us 4 and no more.  My mind is just spinning and frazzled.  I shouldn't have to put up with this.
Deep dark depression, excessive misery....if it weren't.....
well, you know the rest.
I love when my husband preaches on Bible Characters that noticeably had problems that doctors today would medicate them for.....instead of applying personal responsibility.
Jonah was an angry man.  

I had a friend once that told me he walked around a Children's Hospital in Dallas one time and said he saw people that were truly having a hard time.
I read somewhere that a family went to a mission field, and they came back very rich....realizing just how much they really had.

I would never tell a friend or foe to NEVER express a heart-ache or a concern.
Some things are real, and they hurt.
I am NOT speaking about those things.

I am talking about good old fashion whining.

We as Christians have the capability of looking on the bright side.
Taking one more step of faith.
Praying for help.
Looking for....and finding blessings.
Thinking about the good, not the bad.

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed.......
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost......
 Find someone to blame for your lot in life....
Then you can have a heart that's filled with strife.....

NO, WAIT.....

Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled!

Rock of Ages
Cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of YOU!

I need Thy presence every passing hour:
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine,
O abide with me!

 I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate Friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.

I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me,
Jesus alone. 

AMEN.