A Russian comedian, newly arrived in the US, noted that we complain about the weather, the government, the roads, our jobs, our families, our food, then we call it HAPPY HOUR!

God’s opinion on food-fussing may be found in his response to the Israelites in the wilderness, “manna manna manna” they complained. God was providing around 2 million people with daily free food, shoes that never wore out, tents that never wore out, protection from their enemies, freedom from forced labor, healing all their diseases etc, etc. Then they complained about the boredom of it all. The blessings they were complaining about were the result of their own rebellion and refusal to enter the promised land. God wanted them in a land flowing with milk and honey, but they had refused to go and now God was kindly continuing to feed and clothe them.

GOD’S RESPONSE? He sent snakes to bite them until they stopped whining and looked to the symbol of Christ lifted up in the wilderness.

We often believe that whining over small things is OK but it isn’t. Instead we should do the opposite. What would that be?

Well how about deliberately seeing and praising God for all the things in life. YES ALL! God wants me to remember that he is in charge of everything that comes into my life and to SAY thank you even when I can see nothing to be grateful for.

Eph 5:19		Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
	Eph 5:20		Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

An evangelist was on his way to meetings in an old car that had bad tires. On the way he had a flat tire. Remembering his Bible he said “thanks for the flat tire”,  then thanks for the pouring rain, then thanks that the spanner won’t work and the nuts  won’t come off the tire, then thanks for slipping in the mud and banging my knuckles. (Like most of us he was probably having trouble feeling thankful but did offer gratitude as an act of worship, acknowledging that his God was bigger than all of these circumstances.)

Just then a trucker pulled up and said,”I’ll bet you’re having trouble getting your tire off, huh?”The man had the same car with the same problem and helped the evangelist change his tire. BECAUSE HE WAS PRACTICING HIS GRATITUDE HE WAS IN THE POSITION TO SAY, ” I don’t believe in accidents! God brought you to me to help me, I just happen to be a traveling evangelist, is there anything in your life troubling you that we could talk about?”

HE THEN LED THE MAN TO THE LORD.

LORD TEACH ME TO SAY THANKS, HELP AND SHOW ME YOUR WILL IN AL