May 4, 2021

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying the day…a beautiful sunny day but cooler. This morning I studied and  made a G.F choc/zucch cake and pork chops with Spanish rice.  Thursday Al will be starting Bible Study here at our apt. complex, as we have not had one since Covid. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Do we truly believe God is on our side and wants the very best for us? He is our closest friend and the One who is always there for us, but at times we may have doubts when negative things happen to us. Often what results is complaining and grumbling. Last Sunday we had a guest speaker, Pastor Wade Mobley, who is President of our Free Lutheran Bible Seminary and College. His sermon title was “Grumbling against God” and his words continue to speak to me. We hear kids grumble but he showed us how we adults are also guilty of grumbling against God when we complain against others. The children of Israel had just experienced the miracle of the waters of the Red Sea being parted so they could walk on dry land and the wiping out of the Egyptian army. But soon afterwards when they were thirsty, they grumbled against Moses which was ultimately against God. They were really questioning if God was among them or not. Providing water was not a problem for God and He simply had Moses strike a rock and water flowed out. It was the grumbling that was the problem. They were really blaming God and wondering, is He really good?  When one of our kids was quite young, he often complained when I had him do chores. So, one day I told him I would give him another chore to do each time he grumbled. This went on and on until he was even scrubbing the kitchen floor before he realized mom meant what she said about complaining! Our lives are in God’s hands and we have no reason to complain for He knows everything that touches our lives. He can provide or change the circumstances according to His will. Our grumbling is serious and can keep us from God’s purposes for our lives. We may get bitter as we dwell on the situation rather than having our eyes on Him. Paul said in Phil 2:14-15 (ESV). “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Let us not get robbed of God’s blessings and grace to us by grumbling, but have hearts of thanks, knowing He is always good!

Challenge for today: When tempted to grumble, stop and remember His goodness and grace.