Bible Study Irony

I began a new women's bible study group - through our church, Cove - and we've met now two times. Great group of ladies, and our study is one I'm excited about, because I think it's a really worthwhile one. It's called, "Lord, Change My Attitude." Everyone needs an attitude adjustment from time to time, and I'm no exception. I try to have a thankful attitude, but it doesn't always shine through like it should.

So, as I've done a few days of homework now, looking more into the story of the Israelites wandering though the wilderness, their grumbling and complaints hurled toward Moses and God on more than a few occassions, I find it so ironic that I'm just super frustrated with two situations currently affecting our household:

1. our air conditioning unit has been broken for four days now...A serviceman diagnosed the problem Friday, and told us we'd have the part Monday -today. The temperature has reached mid 90's every day since the a/c went out; our house teeters around 88 degrees during the warmest part of the day - no fun. So you can imagine our disappointment when we checked in with the ac company this morning, and they said it's likely be tomorrow. But, God provides...and our lovely friends the Becker's are out of town in St. Louis and basically "loaned" us their house to use when we need to cool off ;-) And from now on, once our a/c is working, I'll be sure to always include "working a/c" in my list of things I'm grateful for ;-)

2. loud, barking dogs, which surround us on nearly all sides of our house. And I'm not talking about "during the day barking." I have a dog, who barks sometimes during the day, too; I understand dogs are dogs and they will bark, but what I'm frustrated with is that there are two dogs who are kept outside, full-time barking, WAY past a decent time to have your dog outside, barking. The other night it was the worst...10:45pm and still outside barking, and the owners don't do anything until Jason goes outside and yells across the yard for the dog to stop. Only then, do they promptly come outside. Since it was near 11 o'clock, Jason asked them to just take their dog inside. Duh! THey didn't even apologize, clearly exhibiting they don't even think there was any wrongdoing on their part. That same night, a small fluffy dog who lives two houses down was yapping in his yard at 3:45am. I heard and know these exact times because I was awake, unable to sleep because of the hot temperature of our house and the anxiety that keeps coursing through my body at the most inopportune times. The sounds were even amplified because we had every window in the house open, trying to take advantage of the coolest temperatures of the day. Just a no-win situation. But, I just can't understand how dog owners can be so irresponsible...doesn't the dog barking annoy them too?!?

Oh well, I'm off to pray for a more complacent attitude, and to see what today's study holds for me. If there's scripture in the bible where Jesus had to deal with loud, barking dogs, that'd be super helpful ;-)