^{What makes you pout?}

<sup>This week I have been struggling. A friend reminded me that struggling might just be  a nice word for saying, I have been sinning. I am not sure I have been sinning in my  struggle or just tempted to sin. What I do know is that God is deepening my understanding of complaining.

It reminds me of a time when my daughter was little. If she did not get her way she would pout. My husband and I would try to distract her from her naughty anger by saying" Be careful or a bird might land on that big lip and poop on your chin!"As she got older she understood pouting would not change our minds. She would joke "but I the Queen!" and I would say No, you are the princess. I the Queen.

As a parent I really did want my kids to have everything that was good , but not everything they wanted was good. I believe it is the same with God. He  loves us and wants what is best for us.

In my complaining there is a part of myself that wants to been in control of my life, but if God wants what is best for me I should  want His will for my life.

And here I am again, Lord. Working on obedience in my walk with you. I know I think I am in control sometimes, but you are the King, you are  in control of my life. I will try not to pout or complain. Help me remember I am the daughter of The King. Help me to be like a Star in your universe. Amen</sup>

I realize In order to do this I must become less and God needs to become more in my life. I like what our pastor said this Sunday in his message...

It is not that we are sinless, we are trying to "sin less".

Philippians 2:14-15

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁴ Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

Philippians 3:7-11

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁷ But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:12-16

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Philippians 4:6-9

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.