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A fews weeks ago, my sister and brother-in-law invited us to take a road trip to Branson, MO. What they really needed was our car. :) You see, it was my brother-in-laws birthday and he wanted to spend the day there. However, due to car issues with their kids, they didn't have reliable transportation. We were glad to chauffer and had a fun adventure together!
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While there, we stopped at a little French bakery for dessert. I found a table while the rest of them waited to place their orders. As Jason waited in the tight space by the counter, a lady entered and pushed up close to him, clearly agitated. It was way too close for my husband's comfort. The woman, with a very thick Indian accent, proceeded to point at the dessert case exclaiming, "That is cheating!!" Apparently, she had received a piece of pie with less toppings than the one on display, feeling slighted.
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The funniest part of this interaction was the fact that her plate was completely empty! She had taken it outside and eaten every bite before returning to voice her complaint. The whole situation was oddly humorous! The poor cashier was unsure of how to respond, not able to see what she had consumed. (lol) Then as quickly as she came, she left, dissatisfied with her amount of pie toppings, but satisfied with giving them a piece of her mind!
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We were all entertained yet baffled by this interaction. Why not address your concern before leaving to eat your pie? Was she looking for free pie/refund to make up for the lack of topping she felt she deserved - even though she clearly enjoyed the pie? So many questions about what provokes someone to behave in such a way! :0
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Have you ever felt this kind of dissatisfaction with God? You receive something good but feel like God withheld something "more" from you? Maybe you believe He promised something that He didn't deliver on? Perhaps you are driven to enjoy the good things but complain to everyone around you about your perceived lack?
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As we go into November, with Thanksgiving looming, we begin to hear reminders of our need to be grateful in all things. Gratitude doesn't come naturally to our flesh, and it has to be cultivated to grow deep roots and rhythms in our lives. We all fall into seasons of dissatisfaction over the life we are living. We also fail to see how the Giver of all good things has given us more than we could ever deserve. We eat the delicious pie but let everyone know how it could have been even better...if only...if life was fair...if God really loved us.
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A spirit of dissatisfaction is not from the Holy Spirit within us. It is a lie of Satan that steals our peace. There will be hard things as a reality of living in this fallen world with other ungrateful people (those who don't recognize the goodness of God), but even in this, we have a promise of 3 things:
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- God's faithful presence (Heb. 13:5).
- Jesus' persistent petitions (Heb. 7:25).
- The Spirit's power (Romans 8:11).
I would say those are pretty amazing gifts from a loving Heavenly Father, who through Christ, has passed on His entire inheritance to us, His beloved children.
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Let's remember these things as we go forward into November. Let's enjoy the pie and quit fussing about the size of the slice or the amount of toppings it holds. Let's rise above our temptation to despair and complain about God's provision in our lives and live in humble gratitude for who God is and what we are becoming in Him.
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"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation." Psalm 42:5 ESV
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Let's keep hoping together, friends.
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New on the Blog:
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Free Resource!!
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For new members and anyone who might have missed it, here is the 5-day study on dealing with spiritual frustration.
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How can we be intentional about cultivating a spirit of thankfulness toward God this month?
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I would love to hear your ideas to compile to help one another, so email me your suggestions! Journaling is a great tool for me to use.
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Online Book Club! Challenge Yourself!
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Join me on Instagram each Wednesday as I synthesize one chapter of RC Sproul's, The Holiness of God. As we are commanded to be holy and to keep God's name holy, we should seek to understand what that means. There are many negative feelings toward the word holy, but it defines who God is - "separate" from everything. Join me as we challenge ourselves to go deeper in our understanding of who God the Father is!
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Click the member archive to check out any free resources you might have missed!
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"May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands."
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If you need prayer, please send me a message, and I will be more than happy to intercede on your behalf. If you would like to help support my ministry and purchase a beautiful resource for guided prayer, visit this link.
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Do you follow my posts on Facebook or Instagram for daily doses of encouragement?
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