Scripture

A cheerful heart has a continual feast.

~Proverbs 15:15, Holman CSB

Quote

Sour godliness is the devil’s religion.

~John Wesley

The congregation Moses lead into the wilderness was a group of complainers. Carping and grumbling was what they did best. I began reading the gospel of Mark yesterday in the Passion Bible and in chapter two we find the Pharisees and Jewish religious leaders being critical, skeptical, indignant and complaining. They got angry because Jesus healed a man on the sabbath. When Jesus healed the paralytic, the crowd was awestruck, many praised God and some shouted, but not the Pharisees. They were upset with Jesus for pronouncing forgiveness on the man and upset with the crowd for celebrating his recovery. The very thing that caused some to shout and celebrate caused them to be angry and unhappy. You would think that worship would be a place for happy people but this is not always the case. I have encountered many unhappy souls among the congregation. While some are praising others are pouting. I learned many years ago that the discontented and the unhappy let you know when they are displeased. God forbid that we gather to celebrate Jesus without criticism and complaint.

The sad thing is: it doesn’t have to be this way. God has given us one string to play and that is our attitude. We will never be able to control what others do to us, but we can control our response. We have to relax and trust God to be God. I am not in control of anything. I don’t have any power. I did not create the first star and I have no influnce on the rotation of the earth nor its orbit around the sun. This is my Father’s world. He created it and He sustains it and to be frankly honest, He doesn’t need my help. If something happens to me, the world keeps turning. The rhythm of the universe will never miss a beat. Why waste precious time being unhappy about things in which we have no control? Why get bent out of shape over nothing? Psalm 46 gives us good advice, Let go of your concerns! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth. NOG It is a comfort to know that God is in control.

Extra

Off to Breakfast and the Bible. We met Tuesday mornings at 5:15 at Warehouse Coffee. Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.