Years ago, I went on a Touching Lives for Christ trip.  They taught us not to complain.  Sometimes, one of the young people would catch themselves.  “My!  It’s hot today,” someone said before they hurriedly added, “but I really like it that way!” 

Even though I don’t “really like it that way” when the weather gets hot, I understand the importance of being aware of the spirit of complaining and faultfinding that is in the world today.  It is a spirit that will suck us in if we let it.  And it’s dangerous!

A few years ago, I decided I was just through with the complaining going on in my house!  I mean I was just done with it!  I made envelopes with each person’s name and put $20 in each envelope.  Then I told the whole family that every time one of them complained, a dollar had to be taken out of their envelope.

I found it interesting that it wasn’t just the children who were losing dollars!  In fact, one of the parents (not naming names) lost as much, or more than, some of the children.

I also found it interesting how well one of the children was able to justify his complaints so that it really wasn’t complaining.  It was just explaining a situation. 

As the mother of my little tribe, I set the atmosphere in my house.  Have you ever tried griping and feeling God’s Spirit at the same time?

My church is in revival this week, and there are some things that I desperately want done spiritually.

Two main ways revival came in the Old Testament were repentance and praise.  Over and over these were the path to victory and an audience with God. 

The Bible has some reoccurring themes, and praise is one of them.    “Praise” is mentioned 259 times; “thanks” and “thanksgiving” are mentioned 100 times.  I think that means that God wanted us to be aware and intentional in our praiseful attitude.   

My pastor Bro. Johnny said that when we murmur and complain, we are creating an atmosphere of unbelief.  Unbelief is shutting the door to the mighty works of God!  He has likened this to our local Drum Creek that empties into the Verdigris…that empties into the Mississippi.  If you piddle around in these creeks, you’re going to end up in the river, then the ocean of unbelief.  It might not be where you are, but it will lead you there.

My path that led to the spiritual ground that I hold today had many detours of unbelief.  I cannot afford to go back down any of those detours!  I cannot afford to piddle in these creeks.  There’s too much at stake.  I must be watchful and guard against murmuring and everything that would lead me to that ocean that Bro. Johnny mentioned. 

This is directional.  Let’s choose to praise!

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

But beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Jude 1:16-21