Tammy and I are away to refresh and recreate this weekend. So I get up and go get us a Starbucks cup of coffee and I notice this 8 grain, whole wheat roll with raisins, so I bought it. But I noticed that it didn't come with butter, so I asked for some butter. But I noticed that it didn't come with a knife to spread the butter, so I asked for a knife. Being silly, as I often am, I said, upon receiving my knife, 'I'm not being too much trouble am I?" The server responded, "no, you are being very polite: It's the customers that say, 'where's my butter?! Am I supposed to spread the butter with my finger?!' that are trouble." Then he said this, "it's all about attitude." Then he said it one more time for affect.
With coffee in hand, I sat down to read my Bible. Naturally the text in Numbers 11 caught my attention. Verse 1 says, 'the people complained, it displeased the Lord.' They didn't have any meat to eat.
Numbers 11:5 & 6 We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!
There are a few things I notice. The Israelites were looking at what they didn't have instead of the promise. They focused on and exaggerated the past; 'we ate freely in Egypt.' Interesting, they ate freely. How can you eat freely when you are a slave? They were not thankful for what they did have, mana.
You know what? I get caught in the same trap. I focus on the BMW I don't have instead of the awesome monster truck that God has provided for me that is paid for and starts every time I turn the key and my golf clubs fit nicely in the canopy enclosed truck bed. I romanticize the good old days and forget about the guilt, shame, hangovers and loss of respect that slavery lifestyle brought. I forget to list the things I am thankful for while I am having my 50,000 thoughts a day.
Lord, I repent of having a bad attitude and not being thankful. Teach me Your ways, O Lord, and lead me in Your path. Do not hide Your face from me, do not leave me or forsake me. You, o God, are my salvation.
I don't know that I would say, 'attitude is everything.' But it is a close second to whatever is first.
Recreatingly Yours,
Pastor Tom