It started a few weeks ago at Chick-fil-A. Now having been around this business for over 12 years, I've grown to expect a lot from them. CFA is top knotch in so many ways, so naturally when they are less than wonderful, I'm utterly disappointed. Well, while at the Lancaster Chick-fil-A, Titus & I were served some less than wonderful chicken strips: super dark, dried up looking & not too appetizing... Titus was going to eat them but I insisted on him taking them back because they should know that they are serving less than wonderful things. Then I waltzed over to the condiments counter & grabbed a nice little comment card. On the card I explained to the operator what we had experienced so they would know for their future of continuing their wonderful service.
Again, I was presented with the duty to fill out a comment card for a recent hotel stay where we experienced multiple issues with our room & then later at the circus when Time Warner Cable Arena presented poor crowd management & customer service. It seems like now any time I receive poor service or have a suggestion for a business, I'm all about a comment card.
When it comes down to it, all a comment card really is is just a nice way to complain. Of course you can also do them to highlight a good experience, but more often than not, they're negative and you want someone to know. Well today... I just wish I had a comment card for life. One to send right up to God for the future plans of His orchestrating my life. Truly, I just want to COMPLAIN. Complain that it is way too cold and miserably rainy outside (what happened to my beloved 70* weather we had yesterday?!). Complain that I didn't get enough sleep. Complain that the sweet kids I'm watching are screaming & giving me a headache. Complain that my dear sweet husband is still not home, & we have no idea when he will be. Complain that our plans of buying a house have been halted for the time being. Is there a comment card large enough for all this?
Well, what's interesting is that I have been studying about those Iraelites. And boy were they complainers. Reading their story in the wilderness sometimes I think- "Did you not just see what God did for you?! What's your deal complaining & whining about life in Egypt when He is taking you to the PROMISED LAND?!" I mean, really!! Quit the whining. Well, I'll admit that when I take a step back... I am acting a lot like them. Titus & I received a HUGE gift from God a few weeks ago when we found out Titus was being medically retired from the Air Force and expenses weren't going to be an issue. We also found out with his GI Bill, he doesn't have to work while in school. It goes a little further than I'll share online, but amazed doesn't even begin to cover how we felt about what God has done for us. We know we are so blessed & are truly grateful. But just 2 weeks later, here I sit in my "misery" and frustration complaining about our lives. Why can't we get this home loan to go through? Why do I have to continue to live in a rental when we want to own a home? Why did the stupid snow have to come and slow down my husband's out-processing so he could come home? Oh, what an Israelite I am. Getting that spiritual amnesia and forgetting all that God has done & provided. Forgetting His love and provision and perfect timing, never failing to take care of us in each of life's circumstances. What a mess I am.
Today I am thankful for a God who allows me to make my "comments" to Him all I want. He listens. He cares what I have to say. Even when I am asking him "why?" at times. Even Jesus asked why. I almost posted a very complaint-ridden status on Facebook today (which I guarantee you would have gotten some likes- after all, I'm still without my husband for goodness sakes!), but something stopped me. [Insert Holy Spirit's nudge here] Instead, that gentle voice in my heart encouraged me to take a step back & to not give in to complaining like the Israelites. I was encouraged to find joy in this season of wilderness. I was encouraged by what I learned in my study today about intimacy with God-- He longs for our closeness with Him during dry seasons. He wants us to press into Him when times are hard. His love for us is so much greater than any love we can imagine, even anything on this earth.
And today, I am so grateful for that calming, redeeming, faithful, and ever-patient love. I am praying today that God would take away my complaining spirit and give me a spirit of passion for intimacy with Him; something that far outweighs anything or any circumstance on this whole earth.
Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Covered by His grace alone,
Kailee
Today I am thankful for a God who allows me to make my "comments" to Him all I want. He listens. He cares what I have to say. Even when I am asking him "why?" at times. Even Jesus asked why. I almost posted a very complaint-ridden status on Facebook today (which I guarantee you would have gotten some likes- after all, I'm still without my husband for goodness sakes!), but something stopped me. [Insert Holy Spirit's nudge here] Instead, that gentle voice in my heart encouraged me to take a step back & to not give in to complaining like the Israelites. I was encouraged to find joy in this season of wilderness. I was encouraged by what I learned in my study today about intimacy with God-- He longs for our closeness with Him during dry seasons. He wants us to press into Him when times are hard. His love for us is so much greater than any love we can imagine, even anything on this earth.
And today, I am so grateful for that calming, redeeming, faithful, and ever-patient love. I am praying today that God would take away my complaining spirit and give me a spirit of passion for intimacy with Him; something that far outweighs anything or any circumstance on this whole earth.
Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Covered by His grace alone,
Kailee
I don't have words to express how AWESOME your devotion is - and how AWESOME GOD is! Keep writing! You need to write a book some day!
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