Tag Archives: complaining

Wasted Breaths

Posted on June 1, 2017 by expressyourself4him

Recently, I have noticed an unpleasant change in my life. Whenever I find myself in a no win situation, complaining consumes my vocabulary. While venting frustrations may feel good initially, I came to the conclusion I was wasting my breath.

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, Philippians 2:14.

While there is nothing wrong with expressing disagreements, the Bible seeks to resolve and improve situations. Grumbling or questioning others doesn’t help. Rather, if I only can find a common ground, perhaps I won’t waste my breath anymore.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you, 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

In a letter addressing a community known for hostility, Paul encourages people to give thanks in all circumstances. Thinking every thing in life will go your way in life is unrealistic; some sort of pipe dream, but the opposite is true. In view of this, the next time you have the urge to explode in the form of wasted breaths, may God bring these verses to memory to avoid saying something you might regret.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Truth and tagged complaining, encourages, frustrations, Give thanks, resolve, self-control, self-discipline, The Bible, wasting my breath. Bookmark the permalink.

The Joseph Parallel

Posted on April 2, 2016 by expressyourself4him

The logical individual thinks life should be a series of straight lines from point A to point B and so on. While everyone may experience progress and natural progressions at times, life is full of detours, road blocks and phases of construction. Therefore, the next time you find yourself in a period of transition, remember the Joseph parallel.

And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him; and they took him, and cast him into the pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it, Genesis 37:23-24.

Joseph son of Jacob, had high expectations, receiving dreams and visions of the life God intended. However, envy, jealousy and pride led Joseph down a path of disappointment. Despite a series of heartbreaks, Joseph remained optimistic, leading to favor from God and man. Apparently, Joseph didn’t care how long it took to fulfill God’s will. Rather, Joseph kept plugging away at life until God opened doors that he was ready to walk through.

And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But Jehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison, Genesis 39:20-21.

As I look at my own life, its not that different from Joseph. However, when I experience trials I spent too much questioning God instead of making the best of each situation. Subsequently, I have wasted countless days, weeks and years complaining instead of currying God’s favor. In view of Joseph’s parallel, I need to be transformed, embracing hardships like James 1:2-4. Although the Lord is waiting to bless his children, too many are having pity parties instead of taking God’s hand in faith. May the Joseph parallel broaden your perspective and inspire you to keep serving the Lord until you reach your final destination.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Truth and tagged bless, complaining, coping with disappointment, embracing hardships, envy, faith, favor, fulfill God's will, heartbreaks, jealousy, natural progressions, overcoming trials in life, pride, progress, Questioning God, remaining optimistic, serving the Lord, The Joseph Parallel. Bookmark the permalink.

When God Turns Out the Lights

Posted on October 1, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Always is one of those words that is regularly spoken, yet rarely applied. Similarly, patience is a trait people know they need, but refuse to pray for it. Consistent, unfailing and unconditional are terms that characterize God’s love. However, when God turns out the lights during a trial, many respond with complaining, doubt and frustration.

On the other hand, the last thing individuals who experience death, gloom or tragedy need to hear is their loss is all part of God’s will. While answers might be provided over the course of time, broken and wounded hearts need time to sort through the pain inside. Yet, when God does turn out the lights, always is a good place to start.

According to the author of Psalm 105, when you don’t have the energy to press on with life, look toward the Lord for strength, verse 4. However, this isn’t something you can do occasionally. Rather, the Psalmist urges his audience to always seek God’s face. If you want answers, sometimes or most of the time doesn’t cut it. Therefore, the next time God turns out the lights, illuminate this darkness with faith ignited by God’s Word, Psalm 119:105.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Truth and tagged Always, broken, complaining, consistent, coping with loss, death, doubt, energy, fail, faith, frustration, God's love, God's will, heart, illuminate, love, pain, patience, Pray, rare, refuse, responding to trials, seek God's face, strength, tragedy, unfailing, wounded hearts. Bookmark the permalink.

Another Hypocrite Behind the Driver’s Seat

Posted on August 9, 2014 by expressyourself4him

When I get behind the wheel of my car, something happens to me. Like an out of body experience, a spirit of impatience changes my personality inside. All it takes is a few slow drivers, especially in the left hand lane and I become another hypocrite behind the driver’s seat.

Despite my prayers prior to entering my vehicle, the influences of the sinful nature leave my feeling like the apostle Paul in Romans 7:15. The slightest error made by my fellow drivers erupts into an explosion of complaining, emotional distress and an occasional honk of the horn. In my quest to fulfill Matthew 5:48, most trips behind the steering wheel often result in conviction, a painful reminder that I have a long way to go, Romans 3:23.

The imagery of 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 illustrates the fact that everyone has room for improvement. Each soul has major flaws, needing to be transformed from a child into a mature Bible believing adult, Romans 12:1-2. Unfortunately, there will always be growing pains and along the way, don’t be surprised if you see another hypocrite behind the driver’s seat.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Truth and tagged bad drivers, complaining, conviction, driving pet peeves, driving quirks, emotional distress, explosion, flaws, hypocrite, immaturity, mature, pain, Prayer, sinful nature, spirit of impatience. Bookmark the permalink.

The Shopping Test: Who is Naughty and Nice ?

Posted on March 29, 2014 by expressyourself4him

If you go to the grocery store or shopping mall, you will likely be tested to see just how patient you are. Finding a parking spot can be an adventure as oblivious individuals will walk in front of you car, others rush to get the last close spot and the lazy leave shopping carts in parking spaces to make your blood boil. When you finally locate a cart, trash is often left in the bottom, filled with expired coupons.

As you make your way into the entrance, speeds vary, like a Nascar race going 4 wide into a corner. However, the fast lane isn’t always the left, requiring zig zag maneuvers to navigate your way to finish your check list. Non planners talk on the phone the whole time, stopping right in front of you without warning. Meanwhile, the carefree window shoppers, seem to block your intended route every other aisle. Courtesy separates the naughty from the nice, in a hurry to get to no where, as the self absorbed carry on, going as fast as possible.

Today, I failed the shopping test, bickering, complaining and talking to myself the whole time. My idea of shopping is like a quick splash and go on pit lane, trying to stay out in front of the crowds. Instead of enjoying the journey, impatience has made by grumpy, frustrated by a lack of urgency demonstrate by my fellow shoppers. On my way out to the car, the Holy Spirit convicted me of Philippians 2:14-15. Although I didn’t directly voice my beefs, I was naughty, not shinning the light of Christ as God calls, Matthew 5:13-16. See where your patience falls on the Shopping Test Scale.

Level Attributes Meter

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

1 Calm & Relaxed Pleasant

2 Sarcastic & Slightly Irritated Okay

3 Rolling your Eyes / Frustrated Selfish

4 Gossiping / Grumbling Angry

5 Ignorant / Rude Naughty

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Where do you fall on the scale? Any thoughts on how to become more patient?

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged Australia, being in a hurry, bickering, China, complaining, courtesy, God, Holy Spirit, impatient, Jesus, lazy, learning patience, maneuvers, Nascar, navigate, NCAA, oblivious, patients, pet peeve, planning ahead, self absorbed, shopping, tested, the pitfalls of shopping. Bookmark the permalink.

Blocking Yourself

Posted on March 24, 2014 by expressyourself4him

On November 26th, 2013 something unusual was caught on film during an NCAA college football game between the University of Florida and Georgia Southern. If it wasn’t bad enough losing to a I-AA football team, a replay revealed 2 Gator offensive lineman were actually blocking each other as if their eyes were closed on one play. When the national media got a hold of this clip, these 2 players were further embarrassed, weekly making ESPN’s Not Top 10 low lights. Blocking yourself or in this case you own teammate ranks up their with Mark Sanchez’s butt fumble, returned by the New England Patriots for a touchdown during the 2012 NFL regular season, a legendary not top 10 moment in sports.

In basketball, players are allowed to set picks, also known as screens to help others get open. As long as an individual has set their feet without moving, the play is legal. However, when someone get’s careless or sloppy with their body position, the play is deemed illegal as a foul is called resulting in a turnover or foul shots. Unfortunately, life is filled with examples of blocking yourself. The loud mouth often talks too much, ruining their reputation with uncalled for remarks. The gossiper can’t resist the temptation of distorting the truth, caught up in a web of lies that will one day explode in their face. Meanwhile, negative people will lose favor among co-workers, family and neighbors limiting their full potential on earth.

From a spiritual perspective, Christians and non-Christians alike regularly block God from pouring out his blessings. According to Jesus’ earthly brother, complaining, grumbling and impatience serve as a barrier between God and mankind, James 5:8-9. Furthermore, any unwholesome comment that comes out of your mouth grieves the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:29. Instead of blaming God for your misfortune, get out of the way or you will continue blocking yourself from obtaining God’s promises in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:10. Although its hard to admit, often I’m my worst enemy, getting in the Holy Spirit’s way with self conceit, Galatians 5:25-26. May this blog inspire you to reflect, pondering if anything is causing you to block yourself from God? Whenever something comes to mind, please leave a comment below to help others in life’s journey.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in overcoming and tagged Australia, barriers to faith, barriers to success, basketball, blocking yourself, butt fumble, careless, China, college football, complaining, distorting the truth, ESPN's Not Top 10, Georgia Southern, God's blessings, gossip, grumbling and impatience, Holy Spirit, Jesus, limiting yourself, Mark Sanchez, mind, NCAA, negative people, New England Patriots, NFL, offensive lineman, ruining your reputation, sloppy, temptation, University of Florida, unwholesome, web of lies. Bookmark the permalink.

My Pain is Christ’s Gain

Posted on March 16, 2014 by expressyourself4him

I am not the first to ask why God allows bad things to happen. Nor will I be the last to demand a response. However, after one month of complaining, groaning and frustration, I sensed the Holy Spirit whisper to me yesterday, “my pain is Christ’s gain.”

As a former professional athlete, I’ve always been able to rely on my God given talents, to work harder than the next person, regularly experiencing success. Yet, when your ability to breathe, lift more than 5 pounds and walk is taken away, you become helpless. Thus, I was placed into a situation where I was vulnerable, forced to depend on Christ’s strength, 2 Corinthians 12:9, to ease my pain.

T-Shirt companies have created similar themes in the past, using God’s Gym instead of Gold’s Gym. On the back, Jesus is doing a push up with the weight of the world, the cross on his back. Nonetheless, a conversation on my first day back at work revealed the true reason for my accident. One of my co-workers was encouraged by posts updating my progress. Subsequently, without my fall, I wouldn’t have had the material to cover these topics. Thus, in the end, God allowed my injury, 2 broken ribs, a lacerated liver and internal bleeding to occur so that my pain was Christ’s gain for eternity.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged complaining, coping with accidents, coping with pain, demanding proof, encourage, frustration, God's Gym, Gold's Gym, groaning, helpless, Holy Spirit, relying on God, seeing the big picture, success, vulnerable, weakness, why God allows bad things to happen, working hard. Bookmark the permalink.

My Hidden Faults

Posted on January 31, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Behind the facade, mirage and show played out in real life, lies imperfections tainted by sin. In the emergency room on Monday night, I was confronted by images of reality television. In fact, I haven’t scene this much diversity since I went to traffic court in Ohio following a head on collision in college. To my surprise, 3 Amish teenagers were arrested for driving their buggy’s while intoxicated after crashing into a neighbors yard. All you have to do is spend 1 day in the court and emergency rooms to see faults that were once hidden now out in the open for all to see.

I guess you can say I am not the most patient person in the world as demonstrated by my lead foot driving. However, my patience was put to the test last night as I felt like a cast member on the Jerry Springer show. I was surrounded by a woman involved in a domestic violence dispute and a boy who crashed his brother’s car driving without a license or insurance. Between complaining, distress and periodical groans, I felt like saying, “shut up and suck it up!” Common sense kept me from speaking my mind, but my heart was convicted by my inability to handle this trial with maturity.

Instead of using my accident to be a loving example of Christ, I turned into Oscar the Grouch. Perhaps, I should have ate a Snickers Bar. When push comes to shove, character rises to the surface and for me, I still have a long way to go. This crisis opened a fresh can of worms, exposing my hidden faults of impatience and selfishness. In the future, I must live out Psalm 19:13, so that I will flee from willful sins that can separate you from God. May the promise of James 5:16 set me free from my once hidden faults.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged Amish, character, common sense, complaining, convicted, distress, diversity, emergency, emergency rooms, facade, faults, freedom, God, heart, impatience, Jerry Springer, Jerry Springer Show, lead foot drivers, love, loving, maturity, mind, mirage, Ohio, Oscar the Grouch, patient, reality television, selfishness, set free, sin, Snickers Bar, tainted by sin, willful sins. Bookmark the permalink.

Christless

Posted on December 22, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Seinfeld was one of the first sitcoms to mock Christmas, establishing Festivus for the rest of us. Meanwhile, Jewish holidays weren’t exempt as Saturday Night Live, known as SNL, created their own version of Hanukkah sung by Adam Sandler. At one point in American culture, certain topics were taboo, to avoid offensive language. However, a growing trend has erased the line eliminating boundaries, opening up every religion to verbal attacks except for Islam.

When you subtract the presents, songs and exchange of gifts, what else remains? Sure, there are decorations, lights and manger scenes, but is Jesus still Lord of this holiday? Or has the good news of a Messiah been X-out by cards too cheap to print the reason for masses across the country and throughout the world? As I look around the roads, shopping malls and desolate streets, cheers of good news is a rare sound. Rather, complaining, gripes and moodiness fill the air, opening the door for another Christ-less season.

If political correctness continues to be a guiding light for Americans, I’m afraid the days of Christmas may soon be over. In a recent interview, Christian singer Chris Tomlin vowed he’d go to jail if celebrating Christmas ever became illegal. For those who think, “that would never happen here,” don’t be so sure. For whenever a nation curses Israel or harms their ability to remain free, God promises to curse those countries that don’t stand with God’s chosen people. In the Silent Nights that remain, may the Holy Spirit touch your heart, persuading you to invite Jesus back into your home, neighborhood and perhaps local schools. If not, Christmas will be another day for the homeless and orphans, waiting for a brighter day.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged Adam Sandler, boundaries, Chris Tomlin, Christmas, Christmas at Denny's, complaining, cursing Israel, Festivus, gripes, Hanukkah, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jewish, manger, Messiah, moodiness, offensive language, Political correctness, presents, Randy Stonehill, religion, Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld, Silent Night, sitcoms, SNL, songs, taboo. Bookmark the permalink.

Empty Hands

Posted on December 11, 2013 by expressyourself4him

When disaster, tragedy or the unexplainable strikes an innocent soul, God often get’s the blame. Accusations, complaining and questioning follow as people search for answers beneath the rumble left behind. In the background, overhearing these conservations, the Lord is disappointed, by empty hands, always taking yet never giving.

Lost in history are the words at the end of Exodus 23:15, “no one is to appear before me empty handed.” During the good times in life, God is like a friend we lose touch with, too busy to carve out any time in our daily schedule. Pride puffs up our minds, thinking we are the reason for success. Solomon was right in Proverbs 16:18 as pride foreshadows our fall, as individuals come crashing back to earth.

One could make the assumption that part of Jesus’ teaching in the parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 relates to bringing God our best, not just the leftovers. Exodus 23:19 illustrates what full hands resemble, offering up your first fruits to God. Modern examples could be giving Jesus your first moments awake each morning, listening God’s Word first thing or giving your first paycheck of the month to the local church.

The next time you are tempted to grumble against the Lord, ask yourself this question. Did I give God my full, partial or little attention today? Depending upon your reply, maybe you need to fill your hands before you lift them up to the Lord in prayer. When you learn to give, God will pay it forward in His time, Ecclesiastes 3:11. As for now, gather before a poor witness causes countless to scatter from the faith, Matthew 12:30.

by Jay Mankus

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged Accusations, blaming God, bringing God your best, complaining, coping with disappointment, disaster, faith, giving God your best, giving to God, humility, innocent, Jesus' teaching, Parable of the Talents, pay it forward, Prayer, pride, Questioning God, starting off your day right, success, too busy for God, tragedy. Bookmark the permalink.

ExpressYourself4Him

Tag Archives: complaining

Wasted Breaths

The Joseph Parallel

When God Turns Out the Lights

Another Hypocrite Behind the Driver’s Seat

The Shopping Test: Who is Naughty and Nice ?

Blocking Yourself

My Pain is Christ’s Gain

My Hidden Faults

Christless

Empty Hands

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