I mean, overall, a complaint is a sign (even if slight) of ungratefulness.
People who are grateful for what they have and their circumstances don’t complain.
So every complaint we have is a moment where we’re taking something for granted.
Now, God is merciful, so it’s not the end of the world, but I imagine He hates hearing his children complain about petty things when they have His love.
And so, I hate it when I complain.
…just made me realize how I am often so UNgrateful. Especially with school. Sure it’s hard, sure it’s busy…but really, every time I feel like complaining, I should remind myself of what a blessing it is to be here (to have the opportunity to learn and to further my education!)
I was reading a Psalm tonight and I came across this verse:
For you, O God, havetested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried. (Psalm 66:10)
I remembered a slightly cheesy but meaningful email forward…It talks about how the struggles and difficult times we go through are part of the process of refining our character to become more like Christ.
Here is the forward..enjoy:)
***
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver (Malachi 3:3a)
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.”
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy – when I see my image in it.”
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
Beyonce: The heart is stronger than you think,
It’s like it can go through anything.
And even when you think it can’t it finds a way to still push on, though
Carrie: Sometimes you want to run away, Ain’t got the patience for the pain
And if you don’t believe it look into, your heart the beat goes on
Rihanna: I’m tellin’ you that,
Rihanna/Miley: Things get better, Through whatever
Rihanna: If you fall, dust it off, don’t let up
Sheryl: Don’t you know you can go be your own miracle
Beyonce: You need to know
CHORUS :
Sheryl: If the mind keeps thinking you’ve had enough, But the heart keeps telling you don’t give up
Sheryl/Beyonce: Who are we to be..questioning, wondering what is what
Don’t give up…THROUGH IT ALL, JUST STAND UP!
Fergie: It’s like we all have better days
Problems getting all up in your face
Leona: Just because you go through it
Fergie: Don’t mean it got to take control, no
Leona: You ain’t gotta find no hiding place
Keyshia: Because the heart can beat the hate
Leona: Don’t wanna let your mind keep playin’ you
Keyshia: And sayin’ you can’t go on
Rihanna: I’m tellin’ you that
Miley: Things get better
Through whatever
Rihanna: If you fall
Miley: Dust if off, don’t let up
LeAnn: Don’t you know you
Natasha: Can go
LeAnn: Be your own
Natasha: Miracle
Carrie: You need to know
Ensemble: CHORUS
Mary: You don’t gotta be a prisoner in your mind
Ciara: If you fall, dust it off
Mary: You can live your life
Rihanna/Carrie: Yeah
Mary: Let your heart be your guide
Rihanna/Carrie: Yeah yeah yeah
Mariah: And you will know that you’re good if you trust in the good
Ashanti: Everything will be alright, yeah
Light up the dark, if you follow your heart
Mary: And it will get better
Mariah: Through whatever
CHORUS
Fergie: You got it in you, find it within
You got in now, find it within now
You got in you, find it within
You got in now, find it within now
You got in you, find it within
Find it within you, find it within
