Learning things in unexpected places

Today was my first day back at my church in three weeks, and i was convicted in the most unlikely place i could image. I volunteer at my church's children ministry and during music time we reviewed the verse Philippians 2:14 "Do everything without complaining or arguing". As i sat there with a little girl in my lap i realized there are very few things that i do without complaining. This is not the first time i have heard this or read this verse before. Even though i know God has commanded me not to complain or argue i do it daily and multiple times a day. I know that is my human and sinful nature in me, but it is frustrating that sometimes i can't just listen to God and obey him in simple things like not complaining or arguing. I know growing up i could not do a chore without a complaint and i still do it. I had to wash a lot of dishes in the sink today and as i was doing it was complaining to myself and then i remembered the verse. I realized i complain about chores, school work and even getting out of bed in the morning. As i washed the dishes i realized that i have nothing to complain about. I am lucky to actually have dishes to clean because that means i have had food to eat to keep me healthy. I am privileged to have school work because i actually get an education when only one percent of the world has this opportunity. I should be thankful everyday when i wake that God gave me another beautiful day to live. As i was doing dishes i just started to praise God for all things that i really do not like doing. I am going to try to not complain and this goes out to everyone if you hear me complaining or arguing about somethings i need you to please quote this verse to me or call me out on it. I know i am a sinner and i know there are going to be times when all i want to do is complain or argue, but i need to be reminded that i lucky and it is by the grace of God that i have all of these things. I want to do everything for God with complaining or arguing about it because He has given so many opportunities and blessing; that the least thing i could do for Him is to do without complaining or arguing. I just want to praise God for everything.

About the Daniel Fast today i have completed one week! This week has been so hard for me. I have had to turn down so many sweets and some of my favorite restaurants to eat at. One day on campus they were giving out free jimmy john sandwiches and i was so hungry when she came and asked me if i wanted one. At that moment i had to pray and quote Luke 12:23 "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing". That helped me so much that day and everyday after that i just have to pray and quote scripture until my cravings go away. Today after church, i was riding home with my friend Sammi and she did the daniel fast earlier this semester, and i was saying how it has been so hard, but she told me i could do it because she did. Then she told me that she has tried diets, but does not always finish them. She said the only way she able to finish the fast was due to the fact that is was the Holy Spirit in her doing it. That she was doing it for God and He was able to keep her going. I thought about that and how that is so true. The only reason i can do this is because the Holy Spirit dwells in me. The fact that i am doing it for God gives me the strength, instead of doing a diet for myself so i can look good for the world. I am doing this to become closer to God and i am doing it for my relationship with God which is going to last me eternity, instead of doing for worldly things which will only last me my time on earth.