Sunday, April 11, 2010

How to get rid of the mumble-y grumble-ies..



Last week some things just hadn’t been going as smoothly as we/I had planned.  The last straw came when, instead of adding TO our savings account, we ended up having to withdraw FROM our savings account.  While I am normally an optimistic person who has been a lover of the Word long enough to know the Truth, and while I normally don’t too often struggle with fear, worry and anxiety, sometimes, when I least expect it…WHAM!  So, I found myself mumbling, grumbling, murmuring, and complaining to God about the sad state of my current affairs.  The next morning I woke up with God’s voice speaking to my spirit. “Are you saying that I am not a good Father and that I don’t take good care of you?”  Divine perspective…that’s what I needed.  I do take comfort in the fact that David, the man after God’s own heart, began many of his psalms complaining to God.  Then he would remember God’s greatness and His faithfulness and His great works in times past, and by the end of that same psalm, David had gotten some divine perspective and he ends the psalm praising God. 
Here’s some things that helped me get back my divine perspective and chase away the mumble-y grumble-ies this week…
The Word of God –  The supernatural Word really works!  It corrects, it comforts, it heals, it deals, it delivers.  It reminds me of Who He is and What He can do.  It causes Him to be magnified in my eyes and my troubles to seem smaller.
Think about how much worse things could be – Seriously! For example: In the windstorm this week a huge branch fell off a tree and crunched the roof and trunk of our car.  The branch could have fallen on one of us.  The whole tree could have fallen onto our house.
Think of what to thank God for in the situation – Thank God we have good insurance.  The car repairs are only costing us $50, plus we have rental car provision.

Think of someone else – Every time I do minister to someone else when I’m feeling out of sorts, it ministers to me. Write an encouraging note, call and pray for a discouraged friend, help someone in need.
Take a beauty break – No not a spa treatment, though that may not be a bad idea!  During hard times, especially if the difficult season is a long one, our spirit can become wounded and malnourished.  Beauty ministers to and nurtures our spirit…the beauty of God and His great love as well as the love and kindness and caring of others, but the beauty in nature or in music and art ministers to our spirit as well.  God created beauty for us.  Take a walk in the outdoors, watch the sunset, go for a drive in the country, listen to your favorite composer, go to the museum, look for a place with a view and go and sit a while.  Sit and soak the beauty into your spirit.

SDC14149
SDC11424

And of course, everyday take notice of and write down things you are grateful for…


gratitude list #341-351

-good insurance to cover car damage and rental car

-my youngest daughter (her phone calls, texts, facebook chats, her first birthday away from family but with lots of friends to enjoy it with)

-a call from a friend right when I needed it

-Phillipians 4:6-8 right when I needed it!

-being used by God to encourage others even when I needed encouraged

-knowing God directed the topic as I prepared to teach Bible Study

-ordered steps – God’s help prioritizing a busy day

-an evening with all three grandbabies

-an evening of fun, food, games and laughter with friends

-boys (my grandson) in trees and girls (my granddaughter) with flowers
SDC14190
SDC14191Gratefully yours,
Elizabeth

12 comments:

  1. I love your pictures. I love your perspective. It's so great to share in our joy, I just love the gratitude community.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think I might need a beauty Break too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, what lovely pictures, and lovely thoughts! Thank you for sharing. I've been searching for some "beauty treatments" myself lately, something I can just let sink into my soul. It really does make all the difference!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Elizabeth...I am learning to never cease to be amazed at how God works...Just before coming to the computer to record my gratitude gifts today my quiet time with Him is a study I'm doing in a devotional on the Book of Psalms. It was mentioned that there are more than 50 psalms that are actually "laments"...how the psalmist goes to God in trouble and seeking deliverance. It was how I'd gone to Him this morning...and I was so blessed to come and see that you, too, had a similar need. Always helps to know that we aren't the only ones going through the trials. SO...thank you for sharing your struggle and how you were able to walk away from it praising the Lord for the good things in your life! I'm doing the same!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Elizabeth,
    Thanks for being so honest in your blog today. And for sharing that the freedom that is our through God's Word.
    I love your playlist, I listen to it almost everyday sometimes for hours. I work for a non-profit Christian ministry and this music really ministers to me.
    God bless you as you continue loving Jesus.
    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  6. Commenting on my own blog in hopes you will see this Deb.
    So awesome that the music ministers to you!
    I pray God richly blesses you today,

    ReplyDelete
  7. These past two weeks, you have been constantly on my mind!! I am so thankful for YOU!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great post!
    I SO needed to read that today! Thank you! You are SO blessed and so am I!
    How much sweeter can life get than children climbing trees and bringing flowers in your yard.
    That is precious!
    Hugs and thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  9. A beauty break...that's a great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I loved the honesty in this post and your gratitude list! Those pictures of your grandchildren are precious!

    ReplyDelete
  11. A Beauty Break - I LOVE that! Now if I could only go for a walk with the children without lamenting about THEM...

    ReplyDelete
  12. lovely pictures! a beauty break can do such wonders on a dark attitude!

    ReplyDelete

The best thing about blogging is hearing from you!
I'd love for you to leave a comment! Click subscribe by email if you want me to be able to reply to you.