Our Daily Bread

This is a good challenge this morning. Farmers are known to be "gripers". ...not enough rain...too much rain.... etc. As we watch the hand of God unfold across the acres of the heartland of America, I pray that thankfulness would be our heart song. We have had crop damage and do start to become disheartened with each hailstorm, but God has ALWAYS provided for us and will continue to do so. We have NEVER come to harvest without a crop to cut. And even if He chooses to make this the first year (and our crops are FAR from that...) may we praise His name and know that He still has a plan, and we are part of it! =)


No Gripping

READ: Philippians 2:12-18

Do all things without complaining and disputing. —Philippians 2:14

During my first week of Bible college, we had several days of orientation in which we were given a rule book to study. Several days later, during a meeting to discuss those rules, one student stood up and asked, “What is ‘no gripping’? And why is it against the rules?”
He was referring to a statement in the rule book he had misread. Instead of “gripping,” it read “griping”—complaining or grumbling.

A rule against griping is perfectly understandable. The cancer of a complaining spirit can undermine the spiritual and emotional health of an individual and can infect an entire group. This can result in discontent, frustration, and even rebellion.

Moses heard griping among God’s people a mere 3 days after leading them from slavery into freedom (Ex. 15:24). Centuries later, Samuel felt the weight of griping as he sought to represent God to his generation (1 Sam. 8:4-9).

A complaining spirit can destroy the effectiveness of a church too. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, “Do all things without complaining and disputing” (Phil. 2:14).

We need to avoid a complaining spirit when serving Christ. Instead, rejoice and thank God for all He has done! No griping allowed.

When things go wrong,I would not be a grumbler,

Complaining, seeing everything as grim;

For when I think of how the Lord has blessed me,

I cannot help but give my praise to Him. —Hess

When you feel like griping, start counting your blessings.