11-17-2019 - From Grumbling to Gratitude

Each year in Rudyard, Montana, a good-natured vote takes place to raise money for a local museum and park.  Local residents pay $5 to vote on the grumpiest member of their community.  They can vote as many times as they like with every additional vote costing just $1.  After the ballots are counted, a winner is announced and a sign is posted to welcome summer visitors.  The sign defines their town population as "596 Nice People - One Old Sore Head." Pastor's Weekly Briefing, 6/7/2, p.2;)

A woman boarded a crowded New York subway with two full shopping bags.  She fumbled with her bags while trying to grab a support bar before the train started moving.  An older man graciously stood and offered her his seat, but she fainted from shock.  When she came to, she looked at the gentleman and said, “Thank you!”  He then fainted. Adapted from Humorous Notes, Leslie & Bernice Flynn, 1973, p.154

1 Corinthians 10:8–11 NLT

8 And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. 9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

From GRUMBLING to GRATITUDE

#1 - Recognize that God Hears our Complaining

Exodus 16:7–8 NLT

7 In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?” 8 Then Moses added, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him. What have we done? Yes, your complaints are against the Lord, not against us.”

#2 - Realize that Grumbling Makes Us Deaf to God’s Voice

Psalm 106:25 ESV

25 They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the Lord.

# 3 - Remember that Grumbling Invites Judgment in Place of Blessing

James 5:9 NLT

9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

Numbers 11:1–3 NLT

1 Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp. 2 Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the Lord, the fire stopped. 3 After that, the area was known as Taberah (which means “the place of burning”), because fire from the Lord had burned among them there.

#4 - Return to Biblical Thinking and Doing

Philippians 2:14 NLT

14 Do everything without complaining and arguing,

If you complain and grumble, you are **not alone** but Biblical Thinking is the Only Door to Deliverance

1 Peter 4:9 ESV

9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Hospitality - loving strangers, that is a selfless act of concern for another human being can help re-wire the Grumble Fest into Gratitude

1 Timothy 2:8 NLT

8 In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

Replacing Complaining with Praying - Stop, Turn your attention to heaven and SPEAK TO GOD as Your Father, Provider, Savior, Protector, Lord, Master...

Philippians 4:8 NLT

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Focus our Thoughts on What is TRUE, HONORABLE, RIGHT, PURE, LOVELY and ADMIRABLE- Replace the image of doom and gloom with things that are excellent and worthy of praise!

1 Peter 5:7 NLT

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Turn what Makes You Complain over to God and TRUST that He TRULY CARES FOR YOU!!!