Frequent Flyer Bonus

When I turned 30, my mother informed me it was time to grow up. I drew blood when I bit my tongue to keep from reminding her that I had four children of my own—but she was right. (Yes, Mom, you were right, but you forgot to tell me the rest of the message. Or were you saving that for my 40th birthday?)

There is NO cash back for using your Whining Card. No bonus points. No frequent flyer miles to be gained. No nothing. Not that I would've ever seen those rewards because I was too busy burying my head in the sand, and you just can't see much with your head in a hole. Trust me, I know this from personal experience.

The main thing that whining is NOT: Rejoicing.

You cannot be a rejoicing Christian if you're busy whining.

By the way: Rejoicing DOES come with a frequent flyer bonus! When you choose to rejoice, you are filled with joy and peace returns to you. God's peace. A peace that passes all understanding. It's when you quit whining that Christ shines through you to those around you, illuminating their darkness and helping them through their own tough times.

Shout for joy, O heavens!
And rejoice, O earth!
Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted His people,
And will have compassion on His afflicted.
Isaiah 49:13

This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
Psalm 46:1-5

I will rejoice and be glad in Thy lovingkindness,
because Thou hast seen my affliction;
Thou hast known the troubles of my soul,
and Thou hast not given me over into the hand of the enemy;
Thous hast set my feet in a large place.
Psalm 31:7-8
I don't know about you, but the bonuses of rejoicing far outweigh those of whining. Not only that, but I never want to hide my head in a hole when it comes to rejoicing. I want to grab onto it and go along for the joyous ride. So the next time I'm tempted to whine I'm going to remember Habakkuk's words:

Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:18

author's note: This message is directed directly at myself. So if you've been whining: fear not. This came as a result of too much whining in my life. Now, I'm leaving that behind and pressing on--and if you hear me start to whine, send me straight to Habakkuk, no passing Go, no collecting $200.

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