I’ll admit I used to be a person that complained to God about what I did not have, and what was wrong in the world more than thank Him for what I did have and the things that were right in the world solely because of His light and the salt-effect of the Bible’s teaching as they pervade people, homes, law courts and society (not for much longer by the looks of things). You know, instead of thanking God for breath in my lungs, blood in my veins, food on my table, a job, a car, thoughts and feelings, taste and smell – those kind of ‘unimportant’ things.
Food for thought
No, I was busy praying in one God-given breath then complaining to God about my circumstances, why I wasn’t married at 30 – then later at 40, why was I tied up in knots by business partners that were supposed to be helping me and better at emptying my pockets and sapping me of any energy to do my work. Why is it that people never tell the truth and look after them-self before you when The Bible clearly commands we put self last? Why do most of your ‘friends’ disappear when you need them to do something practical?
Why were my church leaders better at holding meetings and coffee mornings than caring for the individuals in the church? Why was ‘church’ more like a social club sandwiched between two rock concerts than a place to learn about God and be taught the things all Christians need really need to know about – you know, like the history of Christianity, how we got our Bible, and where denominations come from and all that crucial stuff we are never told, in my case even after sitting in a pew for 25 years. But thank God for food on my table, a job, a car?.. why thank God for that – everyone has those things!
Everyone has food and a job – right?
And then – then, I began to really study pictures like the ones you see on this page, and everything changed for me. It wasn’t instant – but my 25 year long battle with depression, largely caused by not being comfortable in, or able to conform to this difficult and God-less world, but also largely caused by my own sin of not being thankful to God for everything I did have (it really is a sin not to be thankful to God!) – my depression – or self-absorbed (as I call it now) thought life and lifestyle, began to miraculously evaporate.
It’s a cruel world – are we going to pretend Jesus promised something else?
Yes the world is cruel, yes very few people are really honest with themselves or others (myself included in or out of church), yes there are so many man-made doctrines created out of thin air by men desperate to rationalise their finite minds and sinful lives with an infinite God and the plain unvarnished teachings of The Bible; there are problems in the church, and yes half the world is poor while the other half plunders it, but the part I never grasped from The Bible (so common for Western Christians) was that ALL this was promised by Jesus. Not only that – he promised it would be worse – the more you follow God and conform to His son’s ways and narrow path. The path he also promised that FEW would find!
Next time you want to complain at God… try thanking Him you are blessed instead. It’s great to know that in the economy of God unlike man’s, things are reversed, and God says in the end; the first shall be last and the last first! Praise God there is hope for this child!
Drink from the real water of life by praising God for everything!
Now the following is easier said than done – and I am not suffering from any terminal disease yet (except for death itself of course) but if you can… when you feel down and lonely and desperate, bookmark this page and take a quick look at the pictures on this page and begin to thank God for what you have – even when you feel you have nothing, and I promise that the promise in the Bible will come true. Not as Joel Osteen might say’ “take control yourself”, name-it-and-claim-it nonsense that is so far removed from Jesus it’s not funny, or that money will rain from heaven and you’ll be problem free – but that the Lord will be with you and comfort you through the valley. He knows – He was in the valley when hanging on the cross!
I love God, Christ, The Bible. art, painting, playing music, improvising music, guitar (first instrument), drumming (not very good at it:), and anything musical or art related. Quick note – my articles are usually spun off in minutes so forgive any errors – hopefully you get the essence of the article and I’ll pick up mistakes later. If you want to write of 101ChristianMagazine and inspire and edify Christians with articles on faith, general news, hobbies or anything that interests you email me at: epgb101@gmail.com:)
