Week Thirty-Nine, 2023
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. (Psalm 19:8).
The Good News: All of God’s rules and commandments were made specifically to provide happiness to His people and followers.
They are out of vogue now, but I remember when I heard the chimes and music truck passing through the neighborhood. Children were flushed out of their homes with coins in hand, as they dashed for the treat of the day. It not only gave them sweets, but happiness as well.
Recently, I saw an Amazon truck emblazoned with “CAUTION, THIS TRUCK CONTAINS HAPPINESS.” I guess that suggests that “things” bring happiness to people.
What brings you happiness? Is it things… relationships …. power …. position …. publicity? Most studies on what makes people happy agree that family and relationships rank right at the top. Next come meaningful work, positive thinking, and the ability to forgive.
Studies focus on these activities that bring happiness:
• Family and relationships
• Meaningful work
• Positive thinking
• Gratitude
• Forgiveness
• Giving to others
• Religion
• Personal freedom
• Good health
• Watching TV
But for Christians there’s more. ”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
There is a difference between happiness and joy. We all want to be happy. So, we buy a great new house, or take a fabulous vacation or get the car we have always wanted. The trouble is that the house will need repairs, the vacation ends and there is a newer car with more stuff on it. All the things that bring us happiness are external and temporary. It sure would be nice to have that feeling all the time.
Joy is different. Joy is internal and permanent and becomes a reflection of who we are, not what we have. The good news, too, is that joy is free, and it never needs repair or ends or is outdated.
When we place our trust in Jesus Christ, we receive a gift from the Holy Spirit. That gift is a package of positive emotions and behaviors. Among them is joy. All you do is trust in Jesus and the Holy Spirit does the rest.
Why wait?
SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
“How do we put our faith to work?”
In response, these 5 things came to mind:
1) By living what we say we believe. That is by glorifying God through our day to day living… through our work… through our fun… even in the mundane.
2) By doing what Jesus did – loving others, helping others, sharing life with others. Not because we have to, but because He first did for us.
3) By going therefore – That is, by going to make disciples. Whether next door, down the hall, across the country or around the world. Put your faith into action.
4) By loving your neighbor as yourself (goes back to number 2). And who is your neighbor? Everyone – even if they don’t look like you. Overcome hate and disdain with love. Shine where you are.
5) By taking up our cross daily and following Him… loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength – loving him with all that we are. Love like Jesus. See as He sees. Respond like would respond. Allow His heart to become our heart.
Let’s be clear – Faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ, the Son of God is what saves us. But as we live and grow in our faith in Him, we are called then to put our faith to work. So others can see Him in us… so others might know of His great love, grace and mercy.
Now is the time for us to shine, to be a light in a dark world… or at least our little part of it. Go now… “Get off the bench and do something… get out of the pew and put your faith to work.” Marty Stubblefield
— o —
How does Moses make his coffee?
Hebrews it.
At what time of day did God create Adam?
Just before Eve.
How do we know Peter was a rich fisherman?
By his net income.
— o —
Reaching your goals and dreams takes more than just doing what is expected of you, as good and as hard as that may be.
Exceeding your goals and dreams is about doing what is expected and then some.
It’s about taking personal responsibility for it.
It’s about owning it.
It’s about more than just dreaming Big Dreams.
It’s about dedicating yourself to doing exceedingly more than what is expected.
It’s about striving to reach and exceed those Big Dreams.
It’s about attacking those Dreams.
Marty Stubblefield
QUOTES YOU CAN USE
When one who loves God’s principles of hospitality, He blesses his selfless service to satisfy his guests. Stephen Bernard
God’s silence doesn’t always mean no. Dan Shock
Is America destined to become permanently the “Divided States of America”? Jim Denison
In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. Theodore Roosevelt
The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were. John F. Kennedy
Never does a man stand so tall as when he is on his knees in prayer. Dwight Short
The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it. Henry David Thoreau.
The clash of ideas is the sound of freedom.” Lady Bird Johnson
Ideas have consequences, and bad ideas have victims. John Stonestreet
If Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world, we shouldn’t condemn the world, either. Instead, we should “believe the God we believe in. R. C. Sproul
The tragedy of today is that the church is pursuing happiness not holiness. Leonard Ravenhill
I never understood why it is greed to keep the money you have earned but not greed when you want to take away someone else’s money. Thomas Sowell
Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most. Abraham Lincoln
A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something. Wilson Misner
I was educated once, and it took me years to get over it. Mark Twain
***
Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.
Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2023