I haven’t even poured the porridge yet!!!!

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. Psalms 116:7

To all those I love so much, I have recently returned from a vacation that allowed me to reflect on my life and my habits. As I look back over my life there was a time where I was truly content and without worry or anxiety. That is the place I am journeying back to. Over the years I have slowly allowed people, for lack of a better word vent to me all of their bad experiences, negative emotions, fears etc. While I love to be an encourager I have allowed this pattern, of me becoming a sounding block for everyone and anyone, to steal my joy and my peace. The word says that we are to bear one another’s burdens, and I whole heatedly agree but I am in a place where I must relearn and discern the difference between whining and complaining and a real burden. There is, I believe a difference. The Story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears come to mind. Goldilocks had before her three bowls of porridge and began to complain this ones to hot this one’s too cold finally she found one that was just right. In my life I have allowed the, this ones too hot and this one to cold to be my burden. That is not a burden to help others bear. That is a whining and complaining. A burden would have been if Goldilocks had no food at all. As a Christian I am more than willing to help others bear true burdens and to encourage them in that area however I am no longer willing to listen to the unceasing whining that has become the norm for the everyday person who claims Chirst.

The song “oh be careful little ears what you hear” also comes to mind. I believe that this generation has become so attuned to noise and clutter in our hearing that we are unable to sit in quiet reflection and allow God to speak to our hearts. 1Peter 3:4 says “let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” I have somewhere along the way lost my ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. My question to you today is how we can do this with so much noise in the world and in our minds. We have to get rid of the clutter that is impairing our ability to hear, and just be quiet before our God.

I have come to a place in my life where I am no longer interested in hearing about porridge that is to hot or cold. The Lord has dealt bountifully with you. Quit whining, these bowls of porridge have been put into your life to stretch and grow you into the mature Christian that God needs you to be for him. I think it is time that we as Christians grow up. I am more than happy to pray about genuine concerns and to help you bear true burdens, however I refuse to listen to any communication that is not edifying or that does not minister grace. I am not doing this to be unkind or hurtful. I desire to think on those things that are good and lovely and of good report. I am just beginning again this journey to peace and joy and contentment and I covet your prayers as I endeavor to change my outward behavior to reflect my inward heart.