Midweek Encouragement - "Who Wants a Little Cheese with Your Whine”

"Who Wants a Little Cheese with Your Whine?”

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”



Paul, Philippians 2:14, NIV

         I’m a listener. Whether I’m with my church family or at the grocery store or just waiting at the dealer to have my car inspected, my ears are listening to those around me. I don’t always respond to what I hear, but my ears are always open. I’ve noticed lately that many people in our world have a lot to say. The problem is that a lot of what they have to say is full of complaints about their situation in life. “I don’t have . . .” “I wish he would . . .” “What’s wrong with this world is . . .” “If I was in the White House, I would . . .” “Why doesn’t the governor . . .” 

         Rather than whine that we don’t have certain things in our lives or that something is wrong, we need to take positive action. With your permission, let me suggest four steps toward turning whining into thanksgiving.

1. Give something away. If you’re thinking about doing some spring cleaning, now’s the time to give something away. When you give something, you create both a physical and a mental space for something new and better to come into your life. Even though you may think you’re “lacking” something in life, when you give, you’re demonstrating that you have an abundance to spare . . . even if it’s something you haven’t used in the past two years.

2. Narrow your goals. Why do many people expect everything good to come to them all at once? When you focus your expectations on specific and reachable goals, you’re more likely to direct your time and energies to reaching them. Take a “rifle” approach to reaching your goals, rather than a “shotgun” approach.

3. Change your vocabulary from “I need” to “I want.” Let’s admit it. Most of the things we think we need are actually things we want. If we admit that we want them rather than need them, we’ll more likely be thankful for them as luxuries rather than necessities.

4. Choose to be thankful for what you already have. I know it’s not November yet, but wouldn’t you agree that gratitude is a choice we make daily? Every one of us has more things to be thankful for than we could begin to count in a single day.

         Let me leave you with this . . . Jesus can turn water into wine, but He won’t turn your whining into anything. Let’s try this for one 24-hour period . . . Let’s not grumble or complain or whine about anything. When you’re tempted to whine or complain or grumble about whatever doesn’t fit into your standard of living or agree with your long-held opinions, DON’T. Let me know how you did!

Choosing to say “Thank you,” rather than whining,

Pastor Dale

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this email with anyone you choose. And if for some reason you'd like to stop receiving PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send me an email (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.