Why is judgement so easy??

Recently, my family left our church of ten years.  It wasn't a swift decision, nor one made from anything anyone did.  It's just that our church changed over time.  We still love that church, and the people there.  But we feel a bit like Abraham ...  following God's leading without a clear destination.

As we visit churches, I'm finding an old enemy rearing its head in my heart:  judgement. 

God has convicted me of this dangerous sin over the years.  Because sadly, it comes quite easily to me.  It's starts with being quite opinionated.  About everything.  On one hand,my strong opinions keep me committed to my values and devoted to what and whom I love.  I'm steadfast and loyal. 

On the other hand, I can be critical. 

Because I'm opinionated, I even have an opinion about being critical:  it's really yucky because it keeps me from loving fully and being used by God fully.

So, my goal is to capture every critical thought before it sneaks past my mind and into my heart.  You see, those initial thoughts aren't sin.  It's what we do with those thought.  It's letting critical thoughts marinate, and then season our choices of words and actions, that gets us into sin.

Back to the church visiting.  I find I've got more opinions than I realized about music.  Which isn't surprising since I've sung on worship bands for decades.  But I've found myself critiquing the quality of the band and vocalists more than I should. 

We've found one church we really like, but my husband and I both wish the worship band was a step-up in quality.  This morning, I was thinking again about it and started considering what I would change if given a chance. 

Before I could think another thought, God spoke clearly to me:  What if I want it like that?

That effectively stopped my negative thoughts and redirected me.   What if God wants that worship band just like it is?  What if He intentionally called those people, at this time, to this act of service for a reason?  Who am I to question His decisions?  Or to judge His appointments?

Really, this question is good for me to remember when someone does something differently than I would. 

God put me back into a place of following instead of trying to lead. And He stopped judgemental thoughts from going too far.  If God decides to use me again in worship, it will be His choice.  I know from experience He won't use me with thoughts like that. 

So this morning I got a little talking-to from my Heavenly Father.  He was gentle as always.  And I needed to remember that God's doing just fine without my opinionated help.  

In His Love,

Glynnis

 

The antidote to complaining: perspective

Today I've got a devotion running on Proverbs 31 and Crosswalk on Controlling a Complaining Spirit.  If you have found your way to my blog from there, I'd like to welcome you to my little corner of the Internet. 

Life is tough.  It really is.  I've met a lot people in the past two years who've got real troubles.  They've lost jobs, homes, marriages or health.  I know people who have lost loved ones.  The list could go on.

If anyone has a right to complain, it's someone who has suffered. Right?

What if that isn't right? What if there was a way to deal with life's troubles without complaining?  Have you ever met someone who had every right to complain ... but didn't. 

Those people seem to have a secret.  How can they deal with the pain of life and yet not complain?  Even more than not complaining, they have hope.  Yes they experience sadness, grief and pain.  But they don't lose hope.

Year ago my pastor said something that stuck with me.  He said when you have lost something, focus on what you have left.  Not on what you have lost.  I wonder if that's the secret some people have. 

Here's what that means to me.  When I lose something, especially if it was something I love, I grieve. Different losses mean different levels of grief.  But grieving is healthy.  Acknowledging what I've lost is healthy.  Telling God how I really feel is healthy.  Not faking it is healthy.

Then after a time of healthy grief, I get perspective and thank God for what I have left.  It doesn't diminish what I've lost to do this.  It's a way to move forward.  This isn't easy, don't get me wrong.  But if I make a choice to thank God for what I have just a little more today than I did yesterday, I'm making progress. 

As I've read Scripture, I've discovered that God can handle my honesty.  He can handle my pain.  He can even handle my unhappiness with Him.   But He doesn't like when I complain to others.  Maybe it's because complaining doesn't move us forward.  It keeps us in a place of pain.

These are just some thoughts of mine today on complaining.  What are your thoughts?  Let's start a conversation about how you handle complaining.

In His Love,
Glynnis