Curing the Whines - Rita Pueschner

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NIV

Felicia, my feline child, had the whines one afternoon. Her constant, high-pitched meowing grated on my nerves and left me wondering what she wanted. She showed no interest in playing with Jingles the jellyfish or any of her other toys scattered across the living room floor. We’d had lunch and cuddle time, but evidently catnap time wasn’t on her agenda. She didn’t even want to practice her tunnel tumbling. Things were just not to her liking. I guess she’s forgotten about the year and a half she spent confined to a cage at an animal rescue before I adopted her. She has gone from being homeless to becoming queen of the household. She should be grateful. Where is her appurrciation? She needed to learn a little about curing the whines.

On that thought, God reminded me of my own whiny tendencies. Sometimes, things are just not to my liking either. Perhaps my well-laid plans have gone awry, or I’ve been disappointed, and the whining begins. 

But then I look around and see how God has blessed me. I look within myself and see a woman transformed by His forgiveness and grace—rescued from a wayward, self-indulgent lifestyle. I’ve gone from being on a downward spiral of sin to becoming a cherished child of God Most High, who has promised me an eternal home with Him in heaven. So what do I have to whine about? Where is my appreciation?

The Bible tells us to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Our joy in the Lord should be based on who He is to us—not on how things are going for us. I’ve found that when I get a case of the whines, the best cure is to recall all that God has done for me and show Him my gratitude through thanksgiving and praise. When we focus on God’s goodness and His loving presence in our lives, our whining gives way to rejoicing. 

If you get the whines, pause and reflect on everything you have to be grateful for. Spend time with God, thanking Him for who He is and what He’s done for you. Rejoice in God’s goodness, even when things don’t seem purrfect.

Rita Pueschner is a recent retail retiree and is excited about pursuing new opportunities to do God’s work. She was almost fifty when she acknowledged her need for salvation, and God transformed her life by His amazing grace. Now she wants to share her faith through writing and to encourage others in their Christian walk. Rita leads a prayer ministry for people and their pets and is a devoted cat mom.

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Complain Away - Martin Wiles

The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words. Psalm 39:3 NLT

I am guilty…of complaining.

As a young boy, my physique bothered me. I wasn’t athletically built. You know, the last one picked for the team to play whatever game the coach assigned. Also, the one ignored by the girls.

As a driver. When the car in front of me drove too slow, when the car behind me sped around me in places it shouldn’t have, or when the driver behind me rode my bumper so closely I could feel his breath on my neck.

About the bills. As a young man just out of high school, working hard every day, trying to make ends meet, and watching my outgo exceed my income.

About taxes. How the Internal Revenue Service took too much from my check, not leaving me enough to get by on.

About people. People whom I led who said they wanted me to change things in their organization, but when I did I got no appreciation … and nothing but complaints.

About the world and how terrible people can be. The rate of crime. How the wicked seemed to get ahead while the do-gooders fall behind.

David—as well as other biblical figures—complained too, but his complaints erupted to the right person: God.

No one likes a constant complainer, unless misery loves company. Complainers tend to hang around together, but those who don’t like complaining avoid them. God doesn’t. Of course, there are things He doesn’t want us to complain about. Such as when His people who wandered in the wilderness didn’t enjoy the food He provided and complained. Their complaints brought discipline.

Whether our complaints are justified or not, God is the one to whom we should take them. He’ll never avoid or walk away from us as others might. He knows why we’re upset … and wants to hear about every detail of our lives.

When our complaints are unjustified, God—through the work of His Spirit—can reorient our perspective. (He’s had to do that quite a few times with me.). When they are justified, He can guide us along the right path to address them with the right person and in the right way.

God has the ability to see what we can’t see: what’s ahead. He’s been where we haven’t and knows the big picture. He even controls it.

When you feel like complaining, take your complaints to God. He’s ready to listen.

Prayer: Father, hear our complaints and guide us along the best paths to address them.

Tweetable: Are you a complainer? 

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Flashback Friday - Don’t Complain; Trust - Martin Wiles

Don’t Complain; Trust

Series: Practical Advice for Life

It’s somebody else’s fault. One of the lies I’m often tempted to tell myself. A psychological defense mechanism that prevents me from accepting responsibility for my actions or thoughts. I don’t relish the oncoming consequences I see swirling around in my mind, so I attempt to escape them by blaming another person or set of circumstances.

Complaining, grumbling, judging, blaming. All four are intimately related and can occur at the same time and in the same place. If I’m complaining, I’m grumbling. If I’m grumbling, I’m normally judging someone or a situation. And if I’m judging, I’m putting the blame on something or someone else. I do a good job at this. How much easier to complain about only three among 20 registers being open than enjoy the company of others while waiting in line. How much more comfortable to grumble about how much I don’t earn than thank my employer for the job. How much easier to judge the young lady who comes to church with liquor on her breath than to love her as Christ would. How much more convenient to blame circumstances for my inability to repay the loan I secured than accept the consequences of a poor decision. Read more...

Tweetable: Are you a complainer or a truster?

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Throwback Tuesday - God Can Handle Complaints - Martin Wiles

God Can Handle Complaints

God gives us permission to tell him exactly how we feel.

“God, I just don’t understand. We give our tithes and offerings, we attend church regularly, we use our gifts in your church, we share your love with others. We do all the good things a Christian should, but we never seem to get ahead.”

My wife has made some or all of these statements at one time or another. If I haven’t said them, I’ve at least thought them. Having taken on another part-time job, I hoped we’d finally get our heads above water. My wife did too. That was before she discovered she had inadvertently entered a bank deposit twice. Now there wasn’t enough to cover the rent check, and we were almost one hundred dollars in the red. So we complained to God. Read more...

Tweetable: Do you have complaints for God?

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Don’t Let the Complainers Win - Martin Wiles

Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. "If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!" they complained. Number 14:2 NLT

They were at it again.

Growing up as a preacher’s kid, I’d thought I’d heard it all—until I became one myself. People who complained that Dad preached too long, or not long enough. People who claimed to be his friend yet complained about him behind his back. People who wanted him to resign but chose to grumble instead of approach the proper authorities with their gripes.

My journey as a minister wasn’t any different. I heard some of the same complaints made against me—plus dealt with others. Individuals who couldn’t get along complained about everything the other did and wanted me to fix the problem. Complaints because I had a toilet repaired without going through the proper channels. Too many changes. Not enough changes. Music too loud. The wrong type of music. Money spent on the wrong things … according to their way of thinking.

Of course, I’m not perfect. I’ve complained more than a few times about things I should have kept quiet about. Moses did too. He complained about the complainers. The millions who fussed because they were tired of the manna God fed them in the wilderness. They didn’t have the various foods as they did in Egypt (Even though in Egypt they were slaves.). Not enough water. And the Promised Land that God led them to? Sure, it was a land of milk of honey, but giants inhabited it, and the cities were walled. Complaints, complaints, complaints. Millions of them.

God’s blessings often come in a different way than I imagine. When I complain, it blinds me to the blessings—and can even cause me to miss out on receiving them. The Israelites needed food and water but complained when they had to eat the same food day after day. They also didn’t expect water to flow from rocks.

Complaining demonstrates a lack of thankfulness for God’s provision—in whatever form it comes. I should give thanks in all circumstances because God controls them, and He always acts out of love and for my benefit. Complaining shows I don’t trust Him to meet my needs in the way He chooses.

Complaining also runs off friends. No one enjoys being around someone who complains all the time.

Let God teach you to look on the bright side. Rather than complaining, thank Him in all circumstances. You’ll be amazed at how your life changes.

Tweetable: Are complainers ruining your life?

Prayer: Father, create in us thankful spirits so there will be no room for complaining spirits.

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Throwback Tuesday - The Whiner’s Corner - Martin Wiles

The Whiner’s Corner

“Could I really be a 1,” I wondered. And not because number one was actually number one in this scenario. I wanted to be a three. 

I sat in the webinar listening to the speaker describe teachers. One’s, two’s, and three’s. We were categorized. The question was which one. And more importantly, which one did I huddle in. “Three’s,” he said, “rarely whine.” They take each day in stride, love the boss, get along with peers, love students, and embrace change with a smile. Two’s do all of those things most of the time. But the one’s? They do them rarely. They’d rather whine…and complain. All of a sudden, I felt guilty. I wasn’t a one, but some days I didn’t feel like a three either. Read more...

Tweetable: Are you a member of the complainer's corner?

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's Word.

Lessons from a Waiting Room - Martin Wiles

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 NLT

Important lessons can be learned in waiting rooms.

My wife and I have been frequent flyers at the local emergency room lately. We visited for my wife because of unexpected fluid gain and abdominal pain. Her last visit led to a brief stay in the hospital. My visit was due to a minor bleeding issue.

Although we learned some lessons from waiting in the emergency room, both of us agree we are sick of going there. But I don’t have to visit an emergency room or even a doctor’s office to experience the benefits of waiting. Life is filled with waiting rooms of various sorts. It was when the psalmist wrote the above words.

In life’s waiting rooms, I’ve learned things don’t often happen as quickly as I wish. This predicament develops what the psalmist calls patience—a worthy virtue but not one that’s always enjoyable to develop. A typical emergency room stay in our small town is four hours. As much as one hour in the waiting room itself and then three more waiting on doctors and nurses to do what they are going to do.

Waiting rooms have taught me life is unfair. When I see people who don’t have and can’t afford insurance. When I see people who’ve been abused by others or who’ve had crimes committed against them. And when I see people addicted to drugs who are making a visit to get a pain fix. Or when I see bodies mangled by wrecks.

Waiting rooms develop compassion in me. When I see and hear about the various conditions that bring people in for emergency care, my heart reaches out to them. I wish I could intervene. I thank God for His grace that has kept me from being in a similar situation.

In the waiting room, I learn unfortunate situations often get better. Yes, some die in the emergency room, but many more are tended to in a way that eventually leads to their healing. Trials have an end, and God determines it.

Waiting rooms also remind me I affect only a few of my life events. God, however, controls them all, and I must trust Him with the trial, the length of the trial, and the outcome.

When life puts you in the waiting room, take time to learn important life lessons.

Prayer: Father, give us the faith to trust You when You allow us to spend time in the waiting room. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.