"Complaining"

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2011

"Complaining"

"Wherefore doth a living man complain.....? Lamentations 3:39a

Recently, it seems like everywhere I go I wind up in the company of complaining people... and many of them are professing Christians. The complaints that I hear are not confined to one area, but every area. I hear complaints about everything from the weather to what someone else is doing. People tend to complain about everything that doesn't go their way. We want what we want, when we want it and the way we want it. If it is not to our liking-- we complain about it.

The problem with complaining is that it shows a lack of gratitude. When you complain about your food, it shows that you aren't grateful for the fact that you have something to eat and are not going hungry. When you complain about your spouse, it shows that you aren't thankful for that person. And whether you realize it or not, the primary focus and object of your complaint is God. You are saying that what He has done for you is not good enough. This was the problem with the Israelites in the wilderness. You would have thought that they would have been so thankful to be out from under Egyptian bondage that there would never be a complaint in their mouths ever again--- wrong. They complained about everything, even the blessings the Lord was sending them.

Another problem is that complaining is contagious. When you are around someone and they start complaining, it is easy to get pulled into that complaining spirit yourself. (If you ever talk to any one about politics you'll see this happen real quick.)

The Bible tells us that godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6) As I said earlier, complaining comes as a result of things not going the way we want them to go. The truth of the matter is, as long as we live in this world, things will not always go the way we want them to go-- they will go the opposite more times then not. There are plenty of reasons to complain all around us. But we need to learn how to be content with such as we have so we won't be guilty of complaining. If we will have an attitude of gratitude- regardless of the fact that all we have is "manna" and "no meat", then we will not be complaining people. Because when you get down to it, the blessings and good things that we have are far more than we should have.

Have a great day. Let your gratitude outweigh your complaining.

For further reading:
Psalm 144:13-15
Exodus 16:8
John 6:43
1 Corinthians 10:10

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

God Is In Your Corner

God Is In Your Corner

The LORD himself will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forget you. Deuteronomy 31:8

When I was seven years old, I ran away from home. I'd had enough of my father's rules and decided I could make it on my own, thank you very much.

With my clothes in a paper bag, I stormed out the back gate and marched down the alley. [But] I didn't go far. I got to the end of the alley and remembered I was hungry, so I went back home.

Though the rebellion was brief, it was rebellion nonetheless. And had you stopped me on that prodigal path . . . I just might have told you how I felt. I just might have said, I don't need a father. I'm too big for the rules of my family.

I didn't hear the rooster crow like Peter did. I didn't feel the fish belch like Jonah did. I didn't get a robe and a ring and sandals like the prodigal did.

But I learned from my father on earth what those three learned from their Father in heaven. Our God is no fair-weather Father. He's not into this love-'em-and-leave-'em stuff.

I can count on him to be in my corner no matter how I perform. You can, too !

Written by Max Lucado
The Great House of God

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground.

The man slowly looked up.

This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.

His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled....

To his amazement, the woman continued standing.

She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.

"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..

"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it.."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business.."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled....... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a godly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."

"Oh."

The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."

"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, maam. That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.

"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said.. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus...... He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways....

"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And.. And thank you for the coffee."



God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor.

If you believe, send it.

If you don't believe, delete it.

God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close..

If you need God to open some doors for you...send this on.

Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing...

LIVE WELL, LOVE MUCH, LAUGH OFTEN

NEVER GROW A WISHBONE

WHERE A BACKBONE OUGHT TO BE

He Will Wipe Every Tear

"His Word Is Enough"

Coffee Break

"His Word Is Enough"

"Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." Luke 24:7

Jesus told His disciples that He was going to be crucified but that He would rise again. They saw Him being arrested. They saw Him beaten. They saw Him die on the cross. They saw all their hopes and dreams and all they had believed vanish before them. All they had was Jesus' word- "I will rise again on the third day".

"And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side." (Mark 4:35) While they were in the boat all the disciples could see was a violent storm, the seas roaring and the wind blowing. They could see the water in the boat. They could see the helplessness of the situation. It did not look good for them at all. All they had was Jesus' word- "Let us pass over to the other side".

In both cases the disciples saw nothing encouraging, nothing hopeful, nothing but darkness and death. All they had was Jesus' word to hold on to, but that was enough.

When you face the storms and trials of life, when you go through difficulties, when all looks hopeless, when there is nothing around you but despair, and all you have is God's word about the situation, then that is enough.

All the disciples saw was death, but Jesus said they would see Him raised from the dead--- and they did! All the disciples saw was a storm that was about to destroy them, but Jesus said they were going to the other side--- and they did!

Things may not look good, but we don't walk by sight, we walk by faith-- faith in what Jesus has said. It is not about what we see, but about what we hear. It doesn't matter how dark it may look, if Jesus said the light is coming, then it is. It may look like you are going to drown, but if Jesus said you are going to survive, you will. If whatever you face is saying one thing, but Jesus is saying another-- then what Jesus said is what you can count on.

Have a great day. If all you have is God's word about the situation- no matter how it looks- His word is enough.

For Further reading:

Mark 4:35-41

Romans 1:17

Hebrews 11:1

2 Corinthians 5:7

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"I'll Be Back"

Coffee Break

"I'll Be Back"

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3

Jesus had spent the last three years with His disciples- day in and day out- and now He tells them that He will be going away. Jesus knew this would be troubling news to them so He begins by telling them not to let what He is about to say trouble their hearts. Then He tells them- "I will come again." He was saying, "You haven't seen the last of Me. I may be absent for a little while, it may look like I am gone for good, but I am not, I will be back." ("Yet a little while." John 14:19a)

There are times when we feel as if we have seen the last of Jesus. You were walking with Him so closely- hearing His words guiding you, feeling His arms of love around you, knowing every move you made He was making it with you. But all of a sudden it appears as if He has left you. You can't feel His presence. It doesn't look like He is anywhere in sight. You can't hear His sweet voice directing you in which way to go. You seek for Him, but He must be hiding because you can't seem to find Him.

Are you feeling like that? During the period of time that He "left" the disciples He had not forgotten them. He was working on their behalf to fulfill the plan of their redemption. He was making preparation for their eternity. He was, as a high priest, presenting His blood on the mercy seat in heaven. They were still on His mind. Though it may seem as if He has "left" you, He has not. He is still making intercession on your behalf. He is still going before the Father on your behalf. Take heart! You haven't seen the last of Him. He has not left you. His eyes are still on you. He is still there.

So this morning, "Let not your heart be troubled. I will come again." You will sense His presence again. You will feel the warm of His presence. You will hear His voice again. You will see His hand working on your behalf. You have not seen the last of Him.

Have a great day. While it seems as if He has left you, He hasn't, He is working on your behalf.

For further reading:

John 14:1-3

Hebrews 8:1; 9:24; 7:25

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.

"He Won't Put Up With It"

Coffee Break

"He Won't Put Up With It"

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6:46

What do you think would happen if on your job you decided to set your own hours- you would come in and leave when you wanted to? What if you decided that you wouldn't go to work at all this week- just because you didn't feel like it? What if when you got to work you only did the job that you wanted to do? What do you think your employer would say about that? Do you think he would continue to allow you to work there? If you were an employer with an employee like that, would you allow him to remain or would you fire him?

What if when you got married you told your husband- I will wear your ring and take on your name, but I will continue to see my old boy friends. I will be at home during the week but on the weekends I am going out with the girls. Suppose you told your husband that you were not going to cook his meals or wash his clothes- except when you felt like it. Wives, suppose your husband told you that he was not going to work and make a living, you would have to take care of everything that needed doing, and he would not be home but one night a week because he plans on spending the other nights with his buddies or seeing a girl friend. If that was you, how would you feel? What would you do about it? Would you put up with that type of "relationship"?

In both examples neither would put up with it. Your employer would fire you. Your spouse would never agree to such an arrangement. So, let me ask you a question-- why do we think that Jesus will put up with it? Why do we say we are saved and not act like it? Why do we continue to do the things we want to do and think that it is all right with Him? Why is it that we think He will overlook the fact that we never go to His house, we never read His word, we never talk to Him (except when we are in trouble) and think that He'll "understand". We don't get by with it in our earthly relationships with other people, yet, we think we will get by with it where Jesus is concerned.

An employer wants an employee that he can count on, that is faithful to his position and that will actually work for his pay check. A husband/wife wants their spouse to love them, spend time with them, choose them above others and be there with and for them. What do you think Jesus wants? He wants someone to love Him- not with "lip service" but with lifestyle. He wants someone who desires to be with Him, who will follow Him and will listen to His voice. We give that respect to others, why is He any different?

Your employer would not put up with your lack of commitment. Your spouse would not put up with your lack of love and respect. And contrary to popular opinion, Jesus won't put up with your taking Him for granted. One day He will tell you, "Depart, I never knew you."

Have a great day. If our boss and spouse won't put up with our lack of commitment, why do we think Jesus will put up with it?

For further reading:

Matthew 7:21,23; 16:24; 22:37

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.