Category Archives: complaining

Blogroll, choices, complaining, Control, emotions, Enlightenment, faith, God, Growing, Healing, Lessons, life, love, personal growth

The Purpose Of Pain!

In my life, I have had my fair share of pain. Live long enough and you will have more than your fair share as well. Pain is just a part of life and it comes and goes as it pleases, sometimes with a very direct purpose and sometimes, who knows?

Pain, heartache, frustration, disappointment, whatever you would like to call it, comes in all shapes and sizes and from all directions. As I age in this life, one of the things that I think this life is teaching me is that pain always has a purpose.

Sometimes it’s purpose is to act as a warning light that something is wrong and needs to be fixed. Other times, pain is a consequence of a bad or wrong choice or choices we have made. There are times when we are not sure what or why the pain is there, causing us to ask the question: “Why Me?”

When we read the Scriptures, it becomes clear that pain has a purpose and for whatever reason that it has come into our lives, there is great reward and blessing as we learn to handle it in the right way.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. -Romans 5:3-5

Below are three things I am learning about the purpose of pain and the benefits of dealing with it…

Pain Always Has A Purpose!

1.) Don’t waste your pain, if you have to endure it, then grow from it! The Scriptures teach that “tribulation worketh patience”. The way we grow from pain is to not get frustrated by it, distracted because of it, but instead focused in spite of it or maybe because of it. Pain has a way of getting our attention and the key is making sure that our attention is focused in the right direction. Next time you find yourself dealing with pain – ask yourself what is this pain trying to teach me?

2.) Painful things teach us things we didn’t know we needed to know! The Scriptures teach that as “tribulation worketh patience, the patience is giving us experience…” In other words we are learning something, if we are paying attention. It would be a terrible waste to have to endure pain and miss the lesson that it has come to teach us. Looking back on my life, pain has taught me many things: It has taught me that what does not kill you, makes you stronger. It has taught me that sometimes I am wrong, make bad choices and choices have consequences. It has taught me that the world can be cruel, but God is always good. It has taught me that no matter what that God will use even the bad for my good as I love and trust Him…

3.) The key to getting through it, is learning from it and moving on! Most people hate their pain and want to get rid of it, but then are often unwilling to let it go. The Scriptures teach that the “tribulation worketh patience and the patience gives us experience and the experience grows into hope…” Looking back on my life and seeing where I am today, one thing is abundantly clear: The pain, tribulation, frustration, disappointments and frustrations of life have all worked together to bring me to an amazing place of blessing.

Pain is a part of life, learn from it and GROW on!

Blogroll, complaining, Condemnation, Criticism, emotions, Excuses, Growing, influence, life, mindfulness, personal growth, self help

Only You Can Prevent Word Fires!

It’s absolutely amazing how careless we have become with our words. I guess we have always been this way, but it seems to have gotten worse with the advent of social media and I think that the ability to hide behind a mask has made some folks a little more brave and a lot more careless with their words.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! -James 3:5

Smokey the Bear taught us that a simple spark can set the woods on fire and destroy in minutes what nature took years to grow and develop. And James is explaining that our words can work in much the same way in our lives and living.

We can use our words to tear down or to build up. Our words will either break us or make us better. If we use our words to complain and spread negativity, then they will defeat and ruin us, as well as those around us. When we line our words up with God’s Word and seek the positivity of the Gospel, then they will lead us to blessing and victory.

I hate to say it, but sometimes, those of us who call ourselves Christians can be some of the most negative and pessimistic people you could ever run across. And before we get to busy thinking that it is someone else that we are talking about here, we would do well to look in the mirror and review some of our more recent conversations for revelations that the Spirit might use to surprise us with some gentle correction.

The bottom line is that we can use our tongues to set a fire that provides a warm, safe place. A place where people can be themselves without fear of retribution, judgement and condemnation. Or we can use our tongues to set a fire that will destroy the very blessings we were created to live in.

I can remember my Granny saying when I was just a little boy: “Think before you speak!” I have found that when I really take the time to do that, sometimes I don’t speak at all, because I know it is better to keep my mounts shut, than to light that fire. At other times, after thinking before I speak, I have found that I changed my words so that I might light a fire of acceptance and comfort of others, which changes their life and mine.

My prayer is that God’s words will be my words and provide comfort, healing, encouragement, joy and love to all around… So I will do my best to think about a couple of other forest animals and what Thumper shared with Bambi: “My Mother said: “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say nothin at all!”

Blogroll, complaining, Condemnation, Criticism, enemies, Uncategorized

Three Big “C” Enemies!

There are lots of different enemies that work to pull us of off track, away from our goals and out of the blessed life, but three of the biggest and most detremental are: Criticism, Condemnation and Complaining.

Criticism, condemnation and complaining is disapproval of someone or something based on the perception of faults are mistakes. They work against us in a couple of different ways. There is the criticism, condemnation and complaining that comes from others and is expressed toward us and this can impact us in a very negative way, especially if taken in the wrong way. And there is also criticism, condemnation and complaining which comes from ourself and is expressed toward others, which can distract us from what really matters and hurt our ability to work as a team with others for everyone’s blessing and success.

Criticism, condemnation and complaining can be productive and positive or destructive and negative based on how it is delivered and received. The key to overcoming The Big “C” enemies is learning to deliver and receive in a constructive way, with the goal of making things better and more effective. The problem is that most people in the world today are often selfish and ego driven and use the Big “C” enemies to tear up and tear down, rather than build up and make better.

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” -Galatians 6:1

You cannot decide for anyone else, but you can decide for yourself. So here are a few tips to help you overcome the Big “C” enemies in the giving and the receiving:

1. Ask Yourself The Important Questions: 1.) Is it true? 2.) Does it matter? 3.) What difference does it make? To gain real clarity ask and answer this question honestly: What will this matter a year, 5 years, 100 years from now???

2. Learn what you need to learn about yourself and about others. Allow the Big “C” enemies to open your eyes, ears and heart to what is going on around you and you will be better equipped to handle whatever life decides to throw your way. Remember: That which does not kill you, makes you stronger!

3. Do your best to cut the Big “C” enemies out of your life as far as it depends on you. What good does it do you to criticize, condemn or complain about someone else? If you are honest with yourself, then it might give you a good feeling, but that good feeling is only temporary and doesn’t do anything to really lift us up to a better place, but it can do a lot to push us and others down. If there is a problem, confront it in an honest, up front and meaningful way – with the goal of making things better for all involved and don’t wait, do it when it needs to be done, so everyone can move on to better as soon as possible. If someone criticizies, condemns or complains about you, then be honest with yourself about it’s legitimacy or illegitimacy, learn what you need to learn and move on.

The Big “C” enemies are ugly, but not really all that powerful, unless and until we make them that way. So fight the good fight, learn, grow and overcome. You will be glad you did…