WHEN I WHINE

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“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
(Philippians 4:11-13)

I have been to the Philippines on 5 Short Term Mission Trips over the last 6 years (planning on going a 6th time this coming February), and each time God allows me to go I learn more and more about how we as Christians need to rely upon God to supply the resources to meet our every need as we are used by Him to complete His will through us….Here in America, it seems like we tend to whine about what we do not have instead of understanding what God can do with what we do have; now there are times that we do need something, and God supplies it to us in His time to help us to do His will better and possibly easier.

But every time I return from the Philippines, God reinforces the statement I made as I was coming back from my first trip -- it captured the essence of what I had learned; “I am amazed at how little they have and yet how much they do with it, and how much we have and yet how little we do with it.”

I found a poem I would like to share (written by an unknown author) that expresses part of the problem we have as Christians when we don’t realize how blessed we truly are -- not lucky, but blessed! We need to focus in on what we DO have, instead of what we DO NOT have.

"When I Whine"

Today, upon a bus, I saw a girl with golden hair, and wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and wore a crutch. But as she passed, she passed a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I have two legs, the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad. If I were late, it’d do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me, “I thank you, you’ve been so kind.
It’s nice to talk with folks like you. You see,” he said, “I’m blind.”
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I have two eyes, the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play. He did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said, “Why don’t you join the others, dear?”
He looked ahead without a word. And then I knew, he couldn’t hear.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine. I have two ears, the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I’d go. With eyes to see the sunset’s glow.
With ears to hear what I’d know. Oh, God forgive me when I whine.
I’ve been blessed indeed, the world is mine.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT GOD CAN USE TO HELP YOU SERVE HIM AND
HIS PEOPLE BETTER?
BE CONTENT AND LET HIM USE YOU!!!
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