Happiness Versus Holiness

He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. Hebrews 11:25

Have you ever heard the verse above before? Sin is enticing yet in the times we live in many forget sometimes what is wrong and thus sinful and what is right or in other words Holy  and pleasing to God. Our goal in life should not be to just be happy but to be happy as well as Holy. There are those who make fun of the acronym WWJD or 'what would Jesus do' but in fact maybe that is a good thing to ask ourselves sometimes. 

Today many things are justified as okay and more people are concerned about being politically correct more than 'God correct'. This is a dangerous and sad state of affairs. When trying to make your own interpretation of what you think God meant by marriage for instance. Another one would be marriage vows taken so lightly even by Christians. Deciding that is it okay to do away with life in the womb. Just so many areas where we have no business determining right and wrong. Now everyone has sinned and no sin is the big one. Also we are not to judge but indeed stay on your knees and ask God to help you discern good from evil.

Whatever you have done you can go to God and He can and will forgive you and can set you free to live a life of righteousness. You can be happy and be Holy too!

PRAYER: Lord I know you love the sinner and we are all sinners. Help those people caught up in so many lies that cannot see the real truth in your word. Open blind eyes to live a life of Holiness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

HIGH FIVE

The "high five" sign or "give me five" or "thumbs up" seems to be the universal language of goodness, happiness, or congratulations. My foreign readers will have to let me know if it is used in the country they reside in. When you say hi often you say "Give me five"!

tami

This "giving of five" is done when people feel joyful or happy. Do you feel joy or happiness in your life? Joy should not be dependent upon what is going on in your life but deep down you can experience the joy of the Lord no matter what is happening around you. "Now Becky don't be ridiculous! You are saying people in Moore, Oklahoma who have lost loved ones can actually have joy?"

Scripture says in Nehemiah 8:10 'Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Is The Lord your strength? Do you or can you feel His presence? When you get a moment read the entire chapter of John 15. Verse 11 says 'These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.'

Joy comes from God. You need to meditate on His word and His love for you. Do not allow your circumstances or people to rob you of joy. Joy could also stand for an acronym which is "Jesus First, Others Second, Yourself Last". Think of that for a moment. If you did concentrate and put Jesus first each day you would have a much better chance for maintaining your joy.

PRAYER:Lord I thank you that in you is found true joy. I know the enemy tries to defeat me daily and steal my joy. I will not allow things to spoil the joy of the Lord.Comfort those who are grieving today and bring them joy in their sadness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link and worship God in praise and song.

http://youtu.be/ibPUbKW5Sak

ARE YOU CONTENT?

What makes you happy? Do your possessions make you happy? Does your "stuff" bring you joy? If all your "things" blew away in a tornado,were destroyed in a flood or fire, or were stolen could you still be content? If everything you owned were gone in an instant would you not know what to do with yourself?

In Philippians 4:12(NIV) it says 'I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.' Can you make this verse sort of your "marching order" and try to live a life bringing to glory to God without worrying about your possessions?

1 Timothy 6:6(NIV) reminds us 'But godliness with contentment is great gain'. In Luke 12:18-21(NIV) we see a story of a the rich fool who seemingly was not worried as he had things set aside to make him comfortable. These verses say 'Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Where is your heart? Are your things or your hobbies more important than serving the Lord? Only you can answer that question.

PRAYER: Father forgive me when I have worried about my "stuff" and not been content with just the fact that you will take care of my needs. Help me remember things will not get me into heaven but loving you and being willing to take up my cross and follow you will. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below for an awesome song to get your day going! Happy Saturday! Be blessed!

http://youtu.be/JQqXKzhtBYE

EXCITED ABOUT YOUR GIFTS?

This time of the year we are winding down and de-stressing from the
rush of the Christmas season, more than likely. As stated in
devotions leading up to this special day where we celebrate Jesus'

miraculous birth, the focus needs to get off the man made traditions

and onto our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Many may have spent way
too much money for gifts people do not even like or appreciate. For
me personally some of the best gift giving times have been when I have
made time in my schedule leading up to Christmas to make a homemade
gift. For some this is cookies but for others it is a craft for the
home such as a basket, a painting or something similar. Some give
afghans or quilts. Perhaps doing some ceramics or pottery. Maybe your
thing is mixing up some spiced tea mix. The look on a person's face
when they realized the time you took is not why you do it. I know when
I have received gifts like this it makes me almost cry. Do not get me
wrong, as store bought gifts can be just as heartfelt. But did you go
overboard and now have a tremendous credit card bill coming your way?
If so this means January and February may be stressful as well.

Time to regroup and get ready to do it different next Christmas. One
thing that has helped "yours truly" is making my traditional family
photo card as a New Years card instead. I work on them in the month of
January. Maybe your cards come in bunches and you hardly have time to
read them. This is a fun way to skip that.

There are some reading this where Christmas may have been very unhappy
due to a recent death or anniversary of a death and my heart goes out

to you. Perhaps you have lost a job or a marriage has ended. Whatever

caused the unhappy feeling makes you less than joyful. Elderly people
often have no one to really do things with or help them, especially
those who live in nursing homes. The world has many lonely souls out
there. Maybe there was just no money to spend.

If you fall into the category of needing some joy and peace, do not
wait until the New Year to make a resolution to do things
differently. Start now and make Jesus part of your day and the major

part of this "holy day" as, after all, it is his birthday.

Many are worried about the future, if you happen to live in the
United States, as politicians have drug us into bankruptcy and an
impending fiscal cliff because they could not stop printing money and

giving freebies out. No discipline in their homes would have resulted in

total chaos but it is okay to send the American people off a cliff. We
are told to trust in God and not in man so do not let this drive you
crazy. Once again focus on Jesus and his word.

Let me end with a scripture to mediate on found in Phillipians 4:6-7
and it says 'Do not be anxious about anything but with everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding
will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.' Can you do that?
Can you run to God and give Him your cares? Stop what you are doing
and purpose in your heart you will get up daily and focus on the
goodness of God and trust Him with your concerns. He is God after all!

PRAYER: I thank you Lord for living where I can openly pray and read
my Bible. I know many countries persecute and kill Christians so I do
not take this freedom for granted. Lord I confess sometimes I focus on
problems and not on you. Forgive me Lord. I choose this day to start

by reading the word and prayer. I know you will take care of me. In
Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below for a wonderful song of peace:
http://youtu.be/nO4uIyz_d90

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE UNHAPPY

As I sit writing at a crowded neighborhood coffee shop, the barista named Bob, behind the counter,when a customer said to him, "Boy are you in a good mood!" his response is my title above. It is so very true. Life is short. We do not know when God will call us home and our earthly service will be completed. He is the one who knows the day and the hour. It is important to stay happy. Turn that frown upside down. What good does it do to go around all gloomy? Try smiling and see if your attitude changes. People also say to me "How are you today?" My reply many times is "If I were any better I'd be twins." This gentleman working at the coffee shop answered the same question by exclaiming , "If I were any better the government would have to tax me twice."

Each day is a gift from God and an opportunity to shine for Jesus. If you love Jesus let your eyes sparkle and wear a smile! In the musical 'Annie' there was a song whose lyrics said "You're never fully dressed without a smile." Look around you. Do people around you display joy?

Matthew 24:6 says "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven or the Son, but only the Father." The time you have on earth should be used to serve others. Look at people you pass and give them a smile. Ecclesiastes 3:2 says " A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to pluck up what has been planted."

Many people dread their week especially those working in jobs they do not enjoy. They want Friday to hurry and be here. I heard an evangelist once say "It's Friday, But Sunday is coming!" so instead of being excited for 'Casual Friday' at work why not look in anticipation of the day you get to have fellowship with others.

So are you enjoying your life? If no,t find a way to help somebody. Volunteer at an assisted living center or a hospital. Go out and shine and radiate the love of God wherever your life takes you! Each day is a chance to start over if you have messed up seem way. Live every day to the fullest not knowing how much time you have left.

Psalm 90:2 says " Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
Talk to any cancer survivor and they will no doubt tell you they are thankful for each day they are alive here on the Earth. Sometimes a brush with death helps us think of life differently. I have come close a couple times myself once being when I was sucked out to sea by rip tides while I was snorkeling and believe me it taught me the value of being alive.

Psalm 39:4 says "Show me Oh Lord my life's end and the number of my days, let me know how fleeting is my life." Death will come to all of us and it is nothing to fear if you know the Lord. In the meantime why not start making it a point to bless someone each and every day you are alive and well.

Get up and thank God saying Psalm 139:4 "This is the day the Lord has made. Will rejoice and be glad in it!"

PRAYER: Lord Jesus forgive me if I eve walk around gloomy thinking only of myself and my problems. Lord I know you want the joy of your presence to radiate to others. From this day forward I am going to make it a point to shine for you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link below to listen to Nashville song writer Sonia Lee in a song of hope:

http://youtu.be/SXx1St1pdyY

BE HAPPY

 Do you want to be happy? Who doesn't? No one likes waking up and feeling the blues. But the happiness we seek should be from the Lord and living in His will also. It is not just about a non stop party. Things happen in life and we need to prepare ourselves to learn to be content in all situations and weather the storms of life. There may be pleasure in earthly pursuits but seeking the Lord brings ultimate happiness. Some things we think make us happy are wrong in God's eyes. There is pleasure in sin for a season but then deep down you know certain things are not right.  We are not to compromise what we know to be right. Mental anguish and a lack of peace will always follow those who are knowingly not living for the Lord. The Bible is the standard for right and wrong. Read it so you know true happiness.

Philippians 4:12 says " I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Psalm 119:1 says "How  happy are those whose way is blameless, who live according to the law of the LORD!" Have you heard the saying "there is a God shaped hole in all of us?" God did create us and wants us to love him. We may find the pleasures of the world making us happy for a while. But true happiness is found in Christ. The word happy could also mean joy, pleasure, blessing and just feeling content.  We know we can not base everything on feelings. That is dangerous. Feelings come and go.

1 John 2:15-17 tells us "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."  Psalm 144:15 says "Happy are the people whose God is the LORD”. Is Jesus Lord of your life? Does he have the controls? Is he your pilot or your co pilot? The saying "God is my co pilot" is catchy but shouldn't he be your pilot, the Captain and in the drivers seat?

Money will  not make you happy. Fame is not going to make you happy. A prestigious job title will not make you happy. Many forms of happiness are very fleeting .All these things are empty compared to knowing and walking with the saviour Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Lord I want to have happiness in the world but through you. I know when I feel like I have to ' do things' to bring happiness it will only be temporary. Block any things in my life Lord that bring the wrong kind of happiness or are sinful in your eyes. Help me to think of others before myself and find true joy in reaching out of my little world to others around me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Further Reading: Psalm 34 and Matthew 5:3-11(Take a minute and get into the word of God.)
Click on link below by artist Steven Curtis Chapman to enjoy a worship song to help start your day.
http://youtu.be/PprCvi3fvxs