Happiness

By Ana Renee

What makes you happy? A nice, warm mug of hot cocoa? A big hug from your baby sister? A long hand-written letter? In our modern world, there are many things that make us “happy” and many things that steal our happiness. But what is happiness according to God’s Word?

                                      

In the Old Testament, one form of being happy is esher, meaning “how happy!” What things does God consider adequate to make us happy? How can we truly be happy?

1) Have God as our Lord

          Psalm 144:15, “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.”

2) Fear God

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          Psalm 128:1-2, “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”

          Proverbs 28:14, “Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”

3) Trust God

          Proverbs 16:20, “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.”

4) Keep God’s Law

          Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

5) Seek God’s Help

          Psalm 146:5, “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:”

6) Accept God’s Wisdom

          Proverbs 3:13, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”

7) Show Mercy to Others

          Proverbs 14:21, “He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.”

In the New Testament, the Greek Word for happy is makarios, meaning “Supremely blest, fortunate, well off.” Added to the Old Testament’s list for happiness, we can have happiness with the following:

8) Serve God and Others

          John 13:16-17, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

 

9) Suffer for Christ’s Sake

          1 Peter 3:14, “But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;”

          1 Peter 4:14, “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”

True happiness is not merely a mushy, warm feeling, but a secure faith and trust in Christ Jesus, a heart wholly dedicated to serving Him.  

Are you happy?

What Path of Life?

By Ana Renee

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence if fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." 

(Psalm 16:11)

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I am seeing something in young people today that greatly saddens me: the search for worldly pleasures and their desire for me to join them. According to this verse, I need not college to understand the "path of life," I need God. I need not relationships, clothes, or career to give me fullness of joy, I need God's presence. I need not parties, games, movies, and activities to give me pleasure, I need closeness to God. The world (ultimately satan) wants to make us believe that praying to God is boring, a life spent going to church dull, and reading/memorizing God's Word is a chore, but the more time we spend with our Heavenly Father, the more we see the truth of the hymn, "And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, by Helen H. Lemmel)

As a new year dawns, may our desire be to grow closer to the Lord and separated from the world.

Why Are You So Far Away, Lord?

By Gail Purath (read her blog here)

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“Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” *

Psalms often begin like the one above. This tells us:

We can honestly share our feelings with God.

Even the best of God’s children have doubts and confusion.

The Psalms are good to read when we're troubled because the Psalmist always moves from doubts and confusion to faith and hope.

"Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.” *

Psalm-like prayers will:

change our perspective

remind us of God’s past faithfulness

assure us of God’s present and future faithfulness

Are you feeling discouraged? Tell God about it honestly, then change your perspective by reminding yourself of God’s past, present and future faithfulness in your life.

*Psalm 10:1,14

(There is only one of the 150 Psalms that does not end with hope: Psalm 88.)

About Gail:

Gail Purath has been married to her best friend for 41 years, has two married children and seven grandchildren. Her blog Bible Love Notes (http://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com) features one-minute devotions each weekday.

My Jesus, I Love Thee

By Ana Renee

A few Sundays ago, we sang the hymn, “My Jesus, I Love Thee.” As I thought through the words I was impressed at how the hymn-writer poured out his heart with adoration for Jesus Christ. I began to ask the question, “Why do I love Jesus?” The answers came quickly, and many of them echoed the hymn-writers’ words. I love Jesus because He died in my stead. I love Jesus because He made it possible for me to have a personal relationship with Him. I love Jesus because He cares for me. I love Jesus because He shows His love for me in so many different ways. And the list goes on . . .

Today, do you love Jesus?? Why do you love Jesus?

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Here are the lyrics to the hymn, “My Jesus, I Love Thee.”

Words by William R. Featherston

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou:

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,

And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;

I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow:

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,

And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;

And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,

I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;

I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.

 Has a certain hymn spoken to you recently? What was the hymn? What does it mean to you?

Counting, Counting, Counting

By Ana Renee

Thanksgiving is often a time when we actually STOP to think of the blessings God has abundantly given us. Let us not stop counting those blessings, but all throughout this week, next week, next month, next year, next decade, continue to count the blessings that God has given us and thank Him for all that He has done and is doing in our lives.

Seven things I am thankful for:
   1) My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
   2) My Bible - God's instruction book for my life
   3) Freedom to serve God and go to church
   4) A Godly family
   5) Abilities and gifts
   6) Another day
   7) Good health

What seven things are YOU thankful for??

Loving Each Other More Than Butter

By Julia (read her blog here) 

"We love our bread, we love our butter, but most of all, we love each other". :)

That was what the little girls in the Madeline stories always said before they ate their dinners. It's cute, and happened to be the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the topic - "Love Each Other".

But is that true for us? For you?

Okay, instead of 'butter', pretend that sentence includes something you love a lot. Like chocolate. Or your computer. Or your very favorite pair of adorable shoes.... or: ________ <-- insert your favorite thing there.

Now imagine your friend (or sibling) comes along and suddenly, accidentally, wrecks your favorite thing. They spill their glass of water right on your laptop. They knock your box of chocolates over, scattering them across the ground. Whatever your favorite thing was, it is now totally ruined at the hands of this other person.

What is your response?
Honestly, most days I would be sorely tempted to get quite upset at the other person who had damaged one of my possessions. I might even yell if it was something I was really attached to. The stammered apologies from my friend/sibling would not soothe the pangs of loss of my-favorite-thing.

But this is wrong.

My heart should be so loving and open and tender towards the other person that it doesn't matter what they've done. I love them anyway. I would wrap my arms around my loved one and whisper "It's okay. Don't worry. I forgive you." without an ounce of bitterness or anger lurking inside.

"Now hang on a sec!" you might be thinking, "Why would I want to be that much of a pansy? Give me one good reason I should act like such a pushover if somebody messed up my iPhone!"

(Oh, so it was your iPhone, was it?) ;)

We love Him, because He first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar, for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loveth God loves his brother also. (1 John 4:19-21)

Dear friends, the God of the universe who holds the world in His hand loves you more than anything. YOU are His favorite thing. Because He loves us, we show, give, and have love for each other.

This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

Let's focus on loving one another selflessly, the way He wants us to love each other.

Even more than butter. ;)

About Julia: 

Julia loves her Lord and Savior with her whole heart, and thanks Him daily for the blessing of her wonderful parents and two brothers. She lives in a log home in the country with a big garden and lots of chickens, although she grew up near the beach in South Florida. She designs handmade jewelry, crochets intricate afghans, and writes novels, among many other hobbies. An avid reader of Jane Austen, Julia adores English Country Dancing. Julia loves colors and sparkle, music and laughter. She blogs at http://www.jewelsbyjulia.wordpress.com/.

When Nothing Comforts

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By Gail Purath (read her blog here)

"I cried out to the Lord but nothing would comfort me. I remembered how much better things used to be and felt abandoned by God."

This is how the psalmist begins Psalm 77.

But the psalmist doesn’t stop there. He remembers God’s past faithfulness, reminds himself of God’s character, and remembers that God’s methods are not always visible.

So next time we feel abandoned and nothing helps, we can follow the psalmist’s lead:
     ~Write down ways God has helped and guided us in the past.
     ~Ponder God’s character: faithful, loving, holy, good, just, caring, all knowing, perfect.
     ~Reread the Red Sea account (Exodus 14) and realize how hopeless things looked up to the point where God revealed His “footprints.”
     ~And whether we’re discouraged or not, it’s a good thing to memorize this line:

“Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.” Psalm 77:19

~~~

About Gail:

Gail Purath has been married to her best friend for 41 years, has two married children and seven grandchildren. Her blog Bible Love Notes (http://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com) features one-minute devotions each weekday.