Blog Archives - The Remarkable Blog

Be Complaint Free

12/17/2019

Throughout the entire month of January I will be sharing on being Complaint Free, so expect to find tidbits throughout this Blog to help you stay complaint free. I will shorten the Blogs slightly so you can pray and meditate on what I share for a few weeks. Also, I realize you are busy with the holidays. Be present and enjoy them.

How can you tell the difference between a complaint and a fact? A fact is neutral. It ha no emotion. When you and I can keep our feelings out of something and note a fact. Then, it is just that, information about a subject or person or situation.

ACTION STEP: Whatever you do or say today, ask yourself does this bring glory to God? Am I making others better or simply dumping on people and letting off steam? Does the hearer feel better about the person I just spoke of or worse? Can they help the situation? Why am I talking (WAIT)? Wait to speak. "Be Complaint Free!"

Part 2 Why we are ungrateful and complain.

12/16/2019

Greetings. We are going to look at the other two points from last week. We are taking the challenge to "Be Complaint Free". i am grateful this challenge is catching on and we are becoming a more grateful people. See previous Blog to catch us with us if you are just tuning in.

3. Make a Personal Choice To Rejoice

It may be difficult to be thankful at certain times we need to make a personal decision that we are going to be grateful people even when we do not feel like it or when it is hard.

The apostle Paul wrote these words from prison. "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say it rejoice."

Notice Paul says rejoice twice.

Paul made a personal choice to be grateful despite his circumstances. He decided that even though he was in prison it didn’t matter. He was going to praise and thank God anyway, and it transformed his perspective.

Doctors Minerth and Mier have a book entitled, Happiness is a Choice. And I would add to that. That gratitude is also a choice. We have to make a conscious decision that we are going to be grateful despite the circumstances of our life. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Francie Swartz in her book Chicken Soup for the Soul tells about a guy named Jerry who was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. And when asked how he was doing he would always say, "If I was any better I’d be twins." Jerry was a restaurant manager who everybody loved to work for because he was so positive. And Francie said, "I don’t get it Jerry, you can’t possibly be upbeat all the time how do you do it?" And Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself Jerry you have two choices today: you can either choose to be in a bad mood or choose to be in a good one. And I choose to be in good mood." "Oh its not that easy," I protested, Swartz writes. "Yes it is," Jerry responded, "life is all about choices." Well several years ago, Jerry’s restaurant was robbed. The thieves panicked and shot him and he was rushed to the emergency room. He spent 18 hours on the operating table and several weeks in intensive care but he survived.

And later she asked him how he did it. He said, "When I was laying on the floor I remembered I had two choices, I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live. The paramedics were encouraging, but when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the looks on the faces of the doctors and nurses I got really scared. Because in their eyes I read he’s a dead man and I knew I needed to take action." And there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me and she asked, ’Are you allergic to anything?’

’Yes,’ I replied. And the doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. ’BULLETS,’ I answered. And over their laughter I yelled ’I’m choosing to live, operate on me as I am alive not dead.’ And Jerry lived thanks to the skill of the doctors, to his attitude, and to the grace of God. And Francie Swartz says, "I saw Jerry six months after the accident and asked him how he was doing and he replied, ’If I was any better, I’d be twins." And much of life is determined not by circumstances but by personal choice.

It matters how you choose to live. And so, I challenge you to begin to make a personal choice and decide that you are going to rejoice in the Lord no matter what.

4. Develop The Daily Discipline Of Giving Thanks

In order to be thankful people we need to start to give thanks everyday.
We need to discipline ourselves to find something each day that we should be thankful for to God.

In Daniel 6 we read that Daniel got down on his knees three times everyday and prayed and gave thanks to his God. And how many of us do that?

We often think we’re good if we give thanks once a day. So, I want to challenge you to begin a regular routine of finding something everyday to give thanks for. Turn a complaint into Thanks!

No matter how small your blessing is, you learn to search out the positive in the midst of the negative and give thanks for what you do have.

An old hymn says, "Count your many blessings, name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

The story is told of two old friends who met on the street. One of them looked sad, almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, "What has the world done to you, my friend?" The sad fellow said, "Three weeks ago, an uncle died and left me $40,000." "That’s a lot of money." "Yes, but, two weeks ago, a cousin I never knew died, and left me $85,000 free and clear." "Sounds like you’ve been blessed...." "You don’t understand!" he interrupted. "Last week my great-aunt passed away. I inherited almost a $250,000." Now he was really confused. "Then, why do you look so sad?" "This week... nothing!"

The choice is ours an attitude of gratitude or just an attitude! The choice is ours….everyday…..no one else’s. Just ours. Our attitude determines our life….ours….no one elses.

ACTION STEP: There are lots of ways to be grateful. Ask the Lord how you have perhaps been ungrateful? Then, listen to Him as He speaks to you about what His will is for your life and those you love.

Why are we ungrateful and complain?

12/13/2019

You would think that all the blessings we have would make us the most grateful people on earth. But, often all this affluence does is really just make us more and more discontented and ungrateful, because often the by-product of having so much is a desire for more.

It is very hard to be grateful when we cannot learn to be happy with what we already have.

Reasons we are Ungrateful
1. We Are Ungrateful Because of Affluence
2. We Are Ungrateful People Because of Pride
3. We Are Ungrateful People Because Of Who We Hang Around With
4. We Are Ungrateful People Because of Circumstances

So, here are four steps to reaching the highest level of gratitude. I will give you two today and the other two steps on Monday.

1. Remember How Much Gratitude Pleases God

Gratitude makes God happy.

2 Chronicles 5:13-14 says, “They raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang, ‘He is good; his love endures forever. Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.”

God’s presence came to the temple in response to the thanksgiving that was coming out of it.

God loved to hear the praise from the temple and so He drew near. It appears that thanksgiving and praise are the key to manifesting the presence of God. It pleases him.

2. Avoid Complaining At All Costs

Complaining and grumbling are the biggest barriers to gratitude. And we need to learn to catch ourselves when we complain and stop it right away.

Numbers 11:1 says the Israelites “complained about their hardships and when God heard it his anger was aroused.” And we need to avoid complaining like the plague because God hates it and it ruins our spiritual lives.

Psalm 77:3 says, “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.”
Bob Russell writes, “I really believe the most important step in developing inner peace is to quit complaining and start praising.”

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:14, "Do everything without complaining and arguing 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."

ACTION STEP: Pray the prayer above and continue to "BE COMPLAINT FREE" in Jesus name. Amen.

Four levels of living and staying complaint free.

12/12/2019

Someone one said that God lives in two places.
He lives in heaven and in a humble grateful heart.

I have been reading a book by Will Bowen on learning to be "Complaint Free." It is not an easy challenge but one I am ferociously tackling. I want to live a life that glorifies God. I believe that our attitude can literally transform our life. Here are four levels of living. See what level you are living at currently?

1. People in the Lowest Level constantly complain. These folks are always griping and complaining. Rather than being humbly grateful they're grumbly hateful.

2. The Second Level is just a tad higher. These are not people who are constantly complaining, they just never give thanks for anything. They take things for granted.

3. The Third Level are those who thank God for the obvious blessings, when things are going good and everything is fine.

4. But the Fourth Level is the highest level. These are those who give thanks always and for all things. This is the attitude that will change your life.

Here are 5 principles of gratitude:

1. Proper-Gratitude is proper. Everything good comes from God so it is the right, good and proper thing to give thanks and be grateful

2. Perpetual-Everyday of our life we are to be grateful. Psalm 68:19 tells us that God daily loads us with benefits.

3. Pervasive-In every area of our life we are to be grateful. Spiritual things, simple things and sorrowful things because God works all things for our good. God is a good God and loves us.

4. Pleasurable-Thankful people are happy people. Gratefulness can turn a prison into a palace just as easily as ungratefulness can turn a palace into a prison.

5. Possible-Living a life of gratitude is not natural it is supernatural. Being grateful at all times for all things is only possible when we are living a spirit-filled life. The Holy Spirit is the substance, source and strength of living a life of gratitude.

ACTION STEP: "Be Complaint Free!" Start today. I am on Day 3 again. Not complaining just remaining neutral and stating a fact. Complaining has emotion in it. Facts are neutral. Catch yourself today in your tone of voice and see if you are complaining or stating a fact. "It is cold outside." This is a fact. "Ugh, it is sooo cold outside!!!**." Now, that's a complaint. See you tomorrow, and be complaint free.

Be the "Game Changer"

12/11/2019

I made it 3 days "Complaint Free", then I started on Day 1 again. For those of you just coming on as a reader of RPMDaily I have taken the challenge started by Will Bowen to be a "Complaint Free" person. I wear a wristband that says, "Be Complaint Free." Every time I complain I change the wristband to the other wrist. The goal is to become aware of how much we complain and then stop being a complainer all together. I am determined to be the "Game Changer" and I refuse to get on the Complaining Bandwagon of life. I truly believe the Bible. My tongue is the smallest member of my body but, it can set a huge fire. (Check it out James 3:5 NIV "Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.") We have choices everyday. I choose to be above and not beneath. I choose to be the head and not the tail. I choose to say what I want more of in my life. I choose to say less of what I don't want in my life. I choose to say what God says, about myself, others, and circumstances.

1 Corinthians 10:10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

Numbers 14:36-38 Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.

Numbers 16:3 They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?"

Numbers 16:30-32 But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord." Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.

Paul exhorts the church at Corinth about grumbling and complaining. He reminds the believers of the judgments that befell the 10 spies who brought a bad report of the land – and were struck down by a plague, and terrible fate of Korah and those aligned with them that came against Moses and Aaron, and were swallowed up by the ground under them.

How easy is it to fall into grumbling and complaining?

It reminds me of an old muppets skit with two old men, Waldorf and Statler.

Waldorf: That was wonderful!
Statler: Bravo!
Waldorf: I loved it!
Statler: Ah, it was great!
Waldorf: Well, it was pretty good.
Statler: Well, it wasn't bad...
Waldorf: Uh, there were parts of it that weren't very good though.
Statler: It could have been a lot better.
Waldorf: I didn't really like it.
Statler: It was pretty terrible.
Waldorf: It was bad.
Statler: It was awful!
Waldorf: It was terrible!
Statler: Take 'em away!
Waldorf: Bah, boo!
Statler: Boo!

It didn't take long for these two to turn something that was good, into something they could complain about.

It's especially easy for us to fall into this type of behavior – especially during this holiday season!

However, our calling is to exhort, uplift and bring encouragement to the world!

So let's not descend into murmuring or complaining – it did not go well for any who did.

ACTION STEP: Here you go. Just follow these instructions below:

Philippians 4:8 " 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."

Pack your own lunch!

12/10/2019

If you have been following me you know, I am trying to become Complaint Free. I am on "Day Two"....yet again. I plan to get to Day 3 today! Here is a Link to learn more about Will Bowen and becoming "Complaint Free" https://youtu.be/j4Wj1qK5_8k Will Bowen makes me laugh. I have learned to make my own lunch! Stay with me and get others to join us at RPMDaily.net

“The mass of men and women lead lives of quiet desperation. Great leaders don't succeed because they are great. They succeed because they bring out the greatness in others."

The reason I do what I do is, to help people.

If I am complaining, then people are not going to want to hear what I have to say. I want to help people become better people-who make people better. So, here are three things that we need to know about ourselves, which in turn, will change our thoughts, and then our lives.

1. You are valuable for who you are, not for what you do.

You were created exclusively by God and for God. And because of that, you are valuable. There were no flaws in your design and no errors in your construction. You are hand-made, custom-designed, and fully loaded by God; and because of that, you have immeasurable worth.

You are valuable for who you are, not for what you do.

“There's nothing more powerful than a humble person with a warrior spirit who is driven by a bigger purpose.” That is who we can be! We each have a purpose.

2. You have gifts. The definition of a gift is a natural endowment. An endowment cost us nothing. We don't do anything to deserve or get it.

1 Corinthians 12:5-6 English Standard Version (ESV) "... and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone."

Corinthians 12:5-11 The Message (MSG) "God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:

wise counsel
clear understanding
simple trust
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.

All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.

Embrace them. Every person has gifts or strengths. If you don’t know yours, I’d encourage you to ask five family members and friends this question: “In one or two words, what do you think is my single greatest strength?” They’ll all probably give you similar answers. Those answers identifying your area of giftedness will help you understand the truth that you are valuable and have a lot to offer your family and the world.

3. You weren’t meant to do this alone.

If you’re constantly putting on a front that you have it all together, other people will start to believe that you really do have it all together. So, I challenge you to be honest with trusted friends and family. Share your struggles with them and let them help carry your burdens and encourage you. Because the truth is, you were never meant to do this alone.

Genesis 2:18 KJV “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 New International Version (NIV)6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

We all struggle with feelings of worthlessness at some point or another in life. Instead of staying trapped in the mindset of thinking you have nothing to offer, remind yourself of these 3 important truths.

Don't complain but refrain. Think about how important we are. Think about how great God is, and how much He loves you. Begin to say what God says about you!

ACTION STEP: Watch this video. https://youtu.be/MxOdRtDnsv8 Decide to have a great day. Take the challenge to become "Complaint Free." Remember we can't complain about our lunch when we are packing it ourselves.

STOP G_R_I_P_E_in it's tracks!

12/9/2019

Last Blog we talked about how to stop complaining. I started the subject with "Why?" people gripe. We did the first three letters of GRIPE. Today, we will do the last two letters.

P-Power -People complain because they want power! Just give it to them.

E-Excuse Poor Performance- When someone did a job and really failed they come up with all sorts of complaining. "I could have done better but so and so dropped the ball." "It was too hard working with the printing department.""It wasn't really my fault. I wasn't given enough time." In this scenario ask, "What will you do better next time?" Allow it to be a learning experience.

I am still on Day 1. Remember every time you complain you change wrist band from one wrist to the other and start over again! I made it to Day 2 twice! Then it was back to Day 1. Research has documented it takes 4 to 6 months to "Be Complaint Free". I am determined to be a positive individual. Time is going to go by anyways! I may as well improve myself and then be a catalyst for others to improve as well. However, let me remind you that if you complain about someone else complaining you are on Day1 all over again!

ACTION STEP: Here is to a "Complaint Free" Holiday and New Year and maybe even Summer....when I get there! Are you in?

Remember contact me here for your "Be Complaint Free" wrist band.

How to diffuse a complaint.

12/6/2019

Yesterday, I shared some information I learned from Will Bowen, about complaining. I used the acrostic GRIPE to teach the five reasons people complain. Today, we will look to see what to say to someone in each of these five cases.

G-Get Attention. This person might want to bring attention to themselves by downing someone else for example. So, compliment the obvious. They say, "Debbie is always late." We say, "Bill it is so nice that you are always on time."

R-Remove Responsibility. This person when you ask them to do something, gives you all the reasons it can't possibly be done. They come up with all sorts of scenarios that could occur. We can say, "If it could be done, how would you do it?"

I-Inspire Envy. These folks want you to know what they got so they complain about it. "My new iphone is just so big." "My new boat just uses so much gas." "Oh, I had to hire maid to clean the house." We say, "Well, that's great you got that new house." Give them what they ask for, but don't take the bait.

Tomorrow I will give you the other two.

ACTION STEP: In the garden of Eden, Satan caused man to complain because of the one tree they were not able to eat from. But God had given Adam and Eve the whole garden to eat from. They became dissatisfied and disobeyed God. Then Adam complained that it was partially God’s fault because of the woman.

The people of Israel had been in Egypt for 400 years. They were complaining about the conditions they were under. God heard them and raised up someone to free them. Moses’ complaint was that he was not a good speaker and that his people would not listen to him. But God got him through this. And the people were freed.

Learn from others in the Bible and refuse to let history repeat itself. Check in tomorrow for more on the subject of living "Complaint Free."

Why do people complain?

12/5/2019

I have been studying materials by Will Bowden. He is the guy that made "Be Complaint Free" a phenomenon. He shares that as a nation complaining has become an epidemic. The he shares an acrostic that helps us remember why people complain. GRIPE stands for G-Get attention, R-Remove Responsibility, I-Inspire Envy, P-Power, E-Excuse Poor Performance.

I ordered wristbands that say, "Complaint Free" and handed them out to our congregation. Then, I challenged them to live complaint free for 40 days. When you catch yourself complaining you move the wristband to the other wrist. Then, you start over gain with "Day 1". I did not tell them it takes the average person four to eight months to break the habit of complaining; but I will get there as I complete the series. If you'd like a wristband write me and I will send you one. They have become a great witnessing tool. I am still on Day 1....

I will explain GRIPE in more detail tomorrow. For today remember this, most people complain to get attention. It is part of being human to want attention. Complainers want us to pay attention to them. Complaining is like bad breathe--we notice it when it comes out of other people's mouths more than our own.

Here is a video you can watch: https://youtu.be/iB6m7Wz_5yw

ACTION STEP: Look into some of Will Bowen's materials. He has a book and several You Tube videos. Practice being "Complaint Free." Stay with me the rest of the week as I share with you tools to help us all, become a more grateful people individually and corporately as the Body of Christ. Tomorrow, we will find out what to say to diffuse a complaint, so stay connected to RPMDaily.net. Get up and get your day going with me!

How do we know what to do?

12/4/2019

I am sorry that the video's I have been attaching are not coming through. I found out today that my server has changed the way they do things. I attached a Michael Jr. video yesterday and most people did not get to see it. Weebly (my server) suggest I put the link up instead, for you to click on. Here is the link for yesterdays blog. If you go to Browser to read the Blog you will not have any issues, the video's show when you use your browser. The issue is only when it is sent through MailChimp. (https://youtu.be/LbP4KttZOcc) .

So, today I want you to be still and listen to the Father's voice, because He loves you and He loves me. All we need to do is open up our eyes and see Him. Open this video and watch it starting around 26 minutes, and watch it until the end. I will be sharing on this very subject Sunday at our main campus. https://youtu.be/RqhidTrkfrw December 10, 2019 at 9AM and 10:45 AM and December 7, 2019 at 6PM in Monongahela, PA. I would love to see you there.

We are all created with a God shaped void in us. And, in order to find out the "What" and the "Why" we need to find the "Who". We need a loving relationship with the one who created us. We need to know we have a Father that loves us, forgives us, and makes us brand new. Micheal Jr.'s life was changed and ours can be too. We don't have to try to figure everything out alone. There is someone who wants to help us and show us the way.

Whoever finds God truly finds life. John 11:25-27 tells us, "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” The Father is calling out to all of us. The noise, the pain, the unknown circumstances of this world often scare us into believing we are alone. We are never alone. If we just reach out, He is ready to take our hand like little Portland took her Daddy, Micheal Jr.'s hand in the video above.

ACTION STEP: How do you know what to do? Right here-Right now, find out your "Who?" That's what Christmas and the Christian life is all about, the "Who". The "Who" that loves you and died for you and calls you by name, is Jesus. Jesus made you for a purpose and He wants you to fulfill that purpose. Reach out and take His hand and listen for His voice.