Not my plan...

I don't know if this ever happens to any of you, but it happens to me all the time. The scenario plays out like this: I sit down to do my quiet time. After reading sometimes for a few minutes or other times almost instantly something hits me like a ton of bricks. The words are right there staring back at me. A conviction that I did not even know I had. Wham.

I have been doing the "Read Through the Word" with Southpoint Community Church since January, and everyday I get an email with the Scripture we are supposed to read that day. It really is an awesome way to get in the word, and with an entire community reading the same passage daily the discussions are not bad either. If you want more information, or what to sign up to get the email as well-check out http://southpointcc.com/.

Today's passage was Philippians 2. 14 verses in, I read this: "Do everything without complaining or arguing". I know that I complain a lot, and about lots of things. Things I find myself complaining about recently are: school, work, my family, the weather, traffic (especially), and people attitudes to name a few things. I never thought of my complaining as something against God or a sin per se, doesn't everyone complain? Why do we complain? Because we are comfortable, and selfish. It makes me sad to think about all the times I complain because we are busy at the office and I cannot stop to eat lunch, think about the children and people in developing countries that are not going to eat lunch at all-or worse, don't even know what lunch is. Funny how my complaint has a hidden blessing, since I know I am lucky to still have a job and busy is good! When I really stopped to think about all the things I commonly complain about-I realized we have NOTHING to complain about at all. We live in a country where we can do almost anything, we don't have to worship underground, we have jobs (most of us), we have unlimited resources for many things, we have cars or other modes of transportation, education is within reach-in reality we have so much to be thankful for.

Not only that, but as Christ followers we know we are not alone and Praise God for that! Deuteronomy 31:8 "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."