God’s word tells us it is attainable.
How?
Here are a few scriptures I found that tell us how to:
Find wisdom and get understanding: “Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13 AKJ);
Have mercy on the poor: “He that despises his neighbor sins: but he that has mercy on the poor, happy is he.” (Proverbs 14:21 AKJ);
Fear the Lord: “Happy is the man in whom is the fear of the Lord at all times; but he whose heart is hard will come into trouble.” Proverbs 28:14 Bible in Basic English)
Making the Lord your God: “Happy is the people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is the people, whose God is the LORD.” Psalm 144:15
Have the Lord as your hope: “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God “(Psalm 146:5 ERV)
Trust in the Lord:”…and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.” (Prov 16:20 AKJ)
Webster’s thesaurus describes “joyful” as a synonym for “happy”. Read with me Acts 13: 50-52: “Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. And the believers were filled with JOY and with the Holy Spirit.” (They were filled with JOY…HAPPINESS and with the Holy Spirit.”
Yes, happiness is attainable.
Debi has done a great job, using scripture for how to attain happiness.
i looked up the definition and origin of “blessed” on web dict. and sure enough HAPPINESS is within its meaning. Well, Sara asks if happiness is attainable and if so, how do we “get” it? Debi & Needles covered a lot of ground concerning Happiness.
I also thought of Matthew 5, Jesus’ Sermon On The Mount. The AMP BIble clarifies it considerably in telling us what Happiness consists of and How to attain it. Here are some of the things that Jesus said. He almost always indicated blessing in these terms…”blessed, enviably happy; life-joy; satisfaction; spiritually prosperous; favor and salvation; enviably fortuante; given revelations of His grace; gladness and supremely joyfui….all these terms are used in the descriptions of the Beatitudes or the blessings of happiness and joy.
But now here’re the ways to attain and obtain that long list of powerful, spiritual benefactions. We must strive to be ….meek; mild; long-suffering; hunger and thrist for righteousness; be merciful; keep our hearts pure; make and maintain peace; hold up under unwarrented persecution…and these are just some of the ways to obtain and maintain happiness. AND… It cannot be done without the help of the Holy Spirit. He is our Helper, Stand-by, Counselor and Advocate. Only through His energizing and powerful assistance can we can manifest any and all these virtues that Jesus names.
HOWEVER! Oh ,the rewards of a beatific life! These are some of the promises HE makes in Matthew 5; inherit the earth; be completely satisfied;obtain mercy for ourselves; will see GOD; be named sons of God; Kingdom of Heaven will be ours; great rewards in Heaven.
He doesn’t mention the crowns and the signature stones and the other wonderful rewards we shall inherit.
This is true happiness and Jesus went to the cross to atone for our sins and for us to be able to attain true happiness…not just a temporal kind of happiness that the world knows about..but forever and ever happiness. Eternal happiness wedded to Jesus CHrist the Messiah.
Footnote Needles’ just gave us real hope in being happy and having joy. Reject the ones around us that just play around and say they want to know God, etc. etc. and never do anything but stay in the same old sad sack, self-piety, poor me stage of life. Move on and find some new friends. That is what I got from Needles footnotes.
Debi and MG gave excellent directions in knowing and learning how to be and stay happy from a highly proven skillful source.
I agree that one can be happy! And, one can maintain happiness. I see happiness as a seed. Plant it, grow it and enjoy it! One of my very favorite Bible verses comes from Galatians 6:7, “…whatever a person sows, they reap…”If we make good choices we receive the benefits from sowing good. If we make wrong choices, we reap those benefits. A weed is not a LILY!
Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. Proverbs 29:1 NLT Happiness has gone forever. That is how I see it. I don’t even think footnote Needles’ will be able to change beyond recovery. Another translations says, “…will suddenly be broken beyond healing,” (ESV)
The Lord God has certainly given us His Word on HOW to be healthy and happy. In Psalms He says that there is STRENGTH in being happy and Joyful…as in “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” That means not only the joy of knowing almighty GOD but HIS JOY, the KIND OF JOY & STRENGTH the LORD has…that’s OURS!!
I read in a MOODY lesson, today, “The precepts of the Lord are right giving JOY to the heart…sweeter than HONEY” (Ps. 119). Moody says, Rather than thinking of it as a chore, to read and memorize and meditate on the Word, “Consider it a TASTE of HONEY in the pursuit of JOY.”
Needles, Sara’s and MG’s comments above are so helpful in how to cultivate happiness/joy. With spring on the way in the area I live, I love Sara’s statement, “Plant it, grow it and enjoy it.” Yes, good gardeners know there are definite guidelines and wise choices to follow to grow a healthy garden so it makes sense about the wisdom Sara writes involving good choice. Looks like happiness/joy are dependent upon them.
I can see John adding his advice on how to grow and maintain a garden of joy/happiness. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. “
Jonathan Haidt, Professor and researcher uses a phrase that I find so interesting in making life choices, “like-o-meter.” He says, “its influence is subtle, but careful experiments show that you have a like-dislike reaction to everything you experience, even if you’re not aware of the experience.” Now this gives up plenty to think about in making godly Biblical choices for happiness. Or, just making a choice based on like or dislike…
When we think about our childhood we many times as adults base our poor choices on poor parenting/teaching, etc., and we may be right. Why? We understand that human brains don’t fully develop the capacity to make wise choices until adulthood. God has placed us in homes/schools with adults to teach and train us to the ways of wisdom, hopefully. When the system fails us and we fail the system we all end up needing new directives If I, or others find ourselves on the wrong path we can reframe our way of thinking and doing. There is an avenue called, ‘right way’ and it is a highway/freeway available to all that chooses to turn around and go the right way.
We are all very much aware, I can tell, from our comments, that happiness is as deep as the Ocean and as wide as the Sea. I look up and see that happiness is as high as the heavens. Great study. Thanks for boosting me to a higher plane to glimpse a glow from the happiness of heaven!
” I have come that you may have life, happiness and unparalled joy and that MORE abundantly:____Jesus
When I was going to St. Joseph’s school we learned our catechism lessons well. The first question was always:
Why did God make you? And the answer that made Sister Mary Anthony very happy was: God made me to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him, forever, in Heaven. Now that I am a born-again Christian I am understanding more and more what that dear woman of faith was teaching her little students from the catechism. We never really learned HOW to do that except in a religious way….but now!!! Now that I do know the living God Whom I love and serve…WELL< ..I had learned WHY AND WHAT…but now I am learning more and more HOW to do that.
HAPPY? HOW? In my study this morning, it said that today we don’t offer up an animal sacrifice to God. Our sacrifice is in praise, care of this temple (example – not overworking it), faith (standing even when the outcome is not what we want).
Hebrews 13:15 (Amplified Bible) says
15Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.(A)
Yes joy in doing -joy in attitude – joy sharing Jesus, joy in singing His praises, walking in faith even as the winds blow. Knowing that Jesus is walking with us – He does not forget us. As I was listening to the Gaithers this a.m., Mark Lowry said, We are cracked pots and the master potter has put great value on us as cracked pots. He died on the cross for us. We are of value and as cracked pots – the water of the Word, the Holy Spirit should fall through Us into the lives of others. I like to think that the flowers along our path should be watered. Great songs to express this are song through the Gaither Vocal Group, “Know “I Am Loved” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_php4ChO34&feature=related
“
A Christian friend, Veronique, of mine introduced me to this song this week that expresses it all for her and her three daughters and those who love, obtain happiness in their walk with the Lord. May we count it all JOY as we walk through those heavenly gates.
Tye Tribbett & G.A.
Well Done lyrics
[Verse 1:]
On that great day when he cracks the sky
When the world hears the trumpet sound And the dead begin to rise
I wonder how it would be
Will I be walking down the street
Will it happen right in the middle of the day
Or at night while I’m asleep
[Chorus]
All I know is I want to be ready
I want to be ready
And I want you to say well done
I just want you to say well done
[Verse 2:]
I can already see the signs
Each day the world is getting worse
It seems the world itself is crying out
For someone to rescue her
The days are getting shorter
The years are passing by
It’s like I see the Lord preparing Himself to come and get His bride
[Chorus:]
All I know is I want to be ready
I want to be ready
And I want you to say well done
I just want you to say well done
[Repeat]
[Speaking: Tye]
Most of us have plans for this life
We have a blue print of our business and how we want our future to be
And it’s good to have a vision and a plan for with out a vision the people perish so that’s a great thing
But let’s be mindful as we pursue our dreams
And as we pursue our goals
That at the end of all this
The reality is I’m living my whole life
Just to hear two words
And that’s well done
Anybody with me
I’m living my whole life just to hear well done
That’s all I wanna hear
(I wanna hear Enter)
Enter… into… My joy… servant… well done
Enter… into… My joy… servant… well done
Enter… into… My joy… servant… well done
Enter… into… My joy… servant… well done
[X2]
Has anyone mentioned “joy in reprimand”? How do we respond to reprimand? Does the JOY OF THE LORD allow us to strengthen our resolve to correct any mistakes, mishaps or misunderstandings and joyfully go forth in newness of mind? To keep our joy in the midst of rebuke, reproof or correction helps uf in our maturation process if received with the appropriate attitude of gratitude, and repentance especially if the reproof is warraned and even more if it isn’t.
MG, if I understand the perspective of joy that Sara addressed in an above comment: “Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. Proverbs 29:1 NLT”, our response would be to gratefully receive the advice and to respond to it by being teachable and making the necessary changes. Otherwise there is no joy or happiness.
Right, Debi, that’s what the Bible teaches. Look at Jesus! He was rebuked, reprimanded, rejected and yet, for the JOY set before Him, He yielded to them though their rebukes were unwarranted.
Even so, we should receive soberly, rubuke and correction in that we are set aright if we will change the situation when we are wrong and if not, we still share in Christ with JOY.
It’s a win-win situation in Jesus Christ.
i found this comment in Moody Devotional teaching from Philippians 1. “When Jesus Christ becomes merely a means to the end of PERSONAL Happiness, discipleship is dead. The pursuit of this kind of happiness can never lead to true joy, for it takes true discipleship to progress in joy in the faith.” This kind of search for only our own personal happiness….like the ‘we four and no more’ concept where souls are NOT brought into the Kingdom, when we see Christ as a PERSONAL, only, beneficent force in our lives to give us what we want when we are ‘good’ will never lead to pure joy. BUt joy comes from desiring the presence of GOD in our lives, yes, but also in the lives of those with whom we have to do, and utimately the whole world…for that’s why Jesus came. Being selfish in our quest for God and all that He has JUST FOR US in our faith is called
Moral Therapeutic Deism.
Our pastors continually cry out for their sheep to bring in the souls, to take Christ to those around us and to enable discipleship to come forth so that the Kingdom can increase before Jesus comes. Someone said that we treat GOD like a big, cuddly Grandpapa Who is just waiting to bestow upon us our every request. But true happiness and joy comes from obedience to the WORD…”Go into the nations and make Disciples of ALL peoples.” then happiness and joy will come and then the END will come.
We just finished Joyce Meyers: Battlefield of Mind. Joyce states AS YOU THINK, SO ARE YOU. Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree sound (healthy and good) and its fruit sound (healthy and good) or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad) and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.”Joyce quotes positive minds produce positive lives. Negative minds produce negative lives. Positive thoughts are always full of faith and hope. Negative thoughts are always full of fear and doubt……it shall be done for you as you have believed…. Matt.8:13. Joyce states to. Think about what you’re thinking about.Meditate on God’s Word, and on the Works of God. Be transformed by renewing your mind: Romans 12:2. We must stop our stinking thinking and we must have a mind of Christ….1Corinthians 2:16. Thinking the way of Jesus will bring faith, hope, joy, peace and happiness. According to Joyce we need to not only say What Would Jesus Do WWJD but also ask What Would Jesus Think WWJT.
Yes, chickenframer, I agree, negative minds produce negative lives.
I recall studying the scripture you refer to above (Matt 12:33) at The Daily Lily retreat last year in Sara’s book, “Dressing for His Glory”. Here’s what verses 34-37 of Matt 12 (AMP) say from the book pg 27. I think it helps further illustrate your point:
“You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.”
We learned from Sara’s study that life and death are in our tongues, that we need to ‘capture our words’ in order to keep our tree healthy.
It seems to me that we better guard our tongues as well as our minds…after all that tongue is only a few inches from the mind and our words help form who we are as well as affect others.
Also helpful from Sara’s book, pg 29 ,”The tongues of those who are upright and in right standing with God are as choice silver; the minds of those who are wicked and out of harmony with God are of little value. The lips of the [uncompromisingly] righteous feed and guide many, but fools die for want of understanding and heart.” Prov 10:20-21 AMP
The Scripture,Hosea 4:6, “My people perish, (are destroyed) for lack of knowledge” confirms Prov. 10:20 quoted above that says that fools die for lack of understanding and heart (for GOD).
thedailylily.com 
God’s word tells us it is attainable.
How?
Here are a few scriptures I found that tell us how to:
Find wisdom and get understanding: “Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13 AKJ);
Have mercy on the poor: “He that despises his neighbor sins: but he that has mercy on the poor, happy is he.” (Proverbs 14:21 AKJ);
Fear the Lord: “Happy is the man in whom is the fear of the Lord at all times; but he whose heart is hard will come into trouble.” Proverbs 28:14 Bible in Basic English)
Making the Lord your God: “Happy is the people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is the people, whose God is the LORD.” Psalm 144:15
Have the Lord as your hope: “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God “(Psalm 146:5 ERV)
Trust in the Lord:”…and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.” (Prov 16:20 AKJ)
Webster’s thesaurus describes “joyful” as a synonym for “happy”. Read with me Acts 13: 50-52: “Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. And the believers were filled with JOY and with the Holy Spirit.” (They were filled with JOY…HAPPINESS and with the Holy Spirit.”
Yes, happiness is attainable.
Debi has done a great job, using scripture for how to attain happiness.
i looked up the definition and origin of “blessed” on web dict. and sure enough HAPPINESS is within its meaning. Well, Sara asks if happiness is attainable and if so, how do we “get” it? Debi & Needles covered a lot of ground concerning Happiness.
I also thought of Matthew 5, Jesus’ Sermon On The Mount. The AMP BIble clarifies it considerably in telling us what Happiness consists of and How to attain it. Here are some of the things that Jesus said. He almost always indicated blessing in these terms…”blessed, enviably happy; life-joy; satisfaction; spiritually prosperous; favor and salvation; enviably fortuante; given revelations of His grace; gladness and supremely joyfui….all these terms are used in the descriptions of the Beatitudes or the blessings of happiness and joy.
But now here’re the ways to attain and obtain that long list of powerful, spiritual benefactions. We must strive to be ….meek; mild; long-suffering; hunger and thrist for righteousness; be merciful; keep our hearts pure; make and maintain peace; hold up under unwarrented persecution…and these are just some of the ways to obtain and maintain happiness. AND… It cannot be done without the help of the Holy Spirit. He is our Helper, Stand-by, Counselor and Advocate. Only through His energizing and powerful assistance can we can manifest any and all these virtues that Jesus names.
HOWEVER! Oh ,the rewards of a beatific life! These are some of the promises HE makes in Matthew 5; inherit the earth; be completely satisfied;obtain mercy for ourselves; will see GOD; be named sons of God; Kingdom of Heaven will be ours; great rewards in Heaven.
He doesn’t mention the crowns and the signature stones and the other wonderful rewards we shall inherit.
This is true happiness and Jesus went to the cross to atone for our sins and for us to be able to attain true happiness…not just a temporal kind of happiness that the world knows about..but forever and ever happiness. Eternal happiness wedded to Jesus CHrist the Messiah.
Footnote Needles’ just gave us real hope in being happy and having joy. Reject the ones around us that just play around and say they want to know God, etc. etc. and never do anything but stay in the same old sad sack, self-piety, poor me stage of life. Move on and find some new friends. That is what I got from Needles footnotes.
Debi and MG gave excellent directions in knowing and learning how to be and stay happy from a highly proven skillful source.
I agree that one can be happy! And, one can maintain happiness. I see happiness as a seed. Plant it, grow it and enjoy it! One of my very favorite Bible verses comes from Galatians 6:7, “…whatever a person sows, they reap…”If we make good choices we receive the benefits from sowing good. If we make wrong choices, we reap those benefits. A weed is not a LILY!
Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. Proverbs 29:1 NLT Happiness has gone forever. That is how I see it. I don’t even think footnote Needles’ will be able to change beyond recovery. Another translations says, “…will suddenly be broken beyond healing,” (ESV)
The Lord God has certainly given us His Word on HOW to be healthy and happy. In Psalms He says that there is STRENGTH in being happy and Joyful…as in “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” That means not only the joy of knowing almighty GOD but HIS JOY, the KIND OF JOY & STRENGTH the LORD has…that’s OURS!!
I read in a MOODY lesson, today, “The precepts of the Lord are right giving JOY to the heart…sweeter than HONEY” (Ps. 119). Moody says, Rather than thinking of it as a chore, to read and memorize and meditate on the Word, “Consider it a TASTE of HONEY in the pursuit of JOY.”
Needles, Sara’s and MG’s comments above are so helpful in how to cultivate happiness/joy. With spring on the way in the area I live, I love Sara’s statement, “Plant it, grow it and enjoy it.” Yes, good gardeners know there are definite guidelines and wise choices to follow to grow a healthy garden so it makes sense about the wisdom Sara writes involving good choice. Looks like happiness/joy are dependent upon them.
I can see John adding his advice on how to grow and maintain a garden of joy/happiness. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. “
Jonathan Haidt, Professor and researcher uses a phrase that I find so interesting in making life choices, “like-o-meter.” He says, “its influence is subtle, but careful experiments show that you have a like-dislike reaction to everything you experience, even if you’re not aware of the experience.” Now this gives up plenty to think about in making godly Biblical choices for happiness. Or, just making a choice based on like or dislike…
When we think about our childhood we many times as adults base our poor choices on poor parenting/teaching, etc., and we may be right. Why? We understand that human brains don’t fully develop the capacity to make wise choices until adulthood. God has placed us in homes/schools with adults to teach and train us to the ways of wisdom, hopefully. When the system fails us and we fail the system we all end up needing new directives If I, or others find ourselves on the wrong path we can reframe our way of thinking and doing. There is an avenue called, ‘right way’ and it is a highway/freeway available to all that chooses to turn around and go the right way.
We are all very much aware, I can tell, from our comments, that happiness is as deep as the Ocean and as wide as the Sea. I look up and see that happiness is as high as the heavens. Great study. Thanks for boosting me to a higher plane to glimpse a glow from the happiness of heaven!
” I have come that you may have life, happiness and unparalled joy and that MORE abundantly:____Jesus
When I was going to St. Joseph’s school we learned our catechism lessons well. The first question was always:
Why did God make you? And the answer that made Sister Mary Anthony very happy was: God made me to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him, forever, in Heaven. Now that I am a born-again Christian I am understanding more and more what that dear woman of faith was teaching her little students from the catechism. We never really learned HOW to do that except in a religious way….but now!!! Now that I do know the living God Whom I love and serve…WELL< ..I had learned WHY AND WHAT…but now I am learning more and more HOW to do that.
HAPPY? HOW? In my study this morning, it said that today we don’t offer up an animal sacrifice to God. Our sacrifice is in praise, care of this temple (example – not overworking it), faith (standing even when the outcome is not what we want).
Hebrews 13:15 (Amplified Bible) says
15Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.(A)
Yes joy in doing -joy in attitude – joy sharing Jesus, joy in singing His praises, walking in faith even as the winds blow. Knowing that Jesus is walking with us – He does not forget us. As I was listening to the Gaithers this a.m., Mark Lowry said, We are cracked pots and the master potter has put great value on us as cracked pots. He died on the cross for us. We are of value and as cracked pots – the water of the Word, the Holy Spirit should fall through Us into the lives of others. I like to think that the flowers along our path should be watered. Great songs to express this are song through the Gaither Vocal Group, “Know “I Am Loved” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_php4ChO34&feature=related
“
There’s going to be a Better Day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvUqUhiVzmE&feature=related
A Christian friend, Veronique, of mine introduced me to this song this week that expresses it all for her and her three daughters and those who love, obtain happiness in their walk with the Lord. May we count it all JOY as we walk through those heavenly gates.
Tye Tribbett & G.A.
Well Done lyrics
[Verse 1:]
On that great day when he cracks the sky
When the world hears the trumpet sound And the dead begin to rise
I wonder how it would be
Will I be walking down the street
Will it happen right in the middle of the day
Or at night while I’m asleep
[Chorus]
All I know is I want to be ready
I want to be ready
And I want you to say well done
I just want you to say well done
[Verse 2:]
I can already see the signs
Each day the world is getting worse
It seems the world itself is crying out
For someone to rescue her
The days are getting shorter
The years are passing by
It’s like I see the Lord preparing Himself to come and get His bride
[Chorus:]
All I know is I want to be ready
I want to be ready
And I want you to say well done
I just want you to say well done
[Repeat]
[Speaking: Tye]
Most of us have plans for this life
We have a blue print of our business and how we want our future to be
And it’s good to have a vision and a plan for with out a vision the people perish so that’s a great thing
But let’s be mindful as we pursue our dreams
And as we pursue our goals
That at the end of all this
The reality is I’m living my whole life
Just to hear two words
And that’s well done
Anybody with me
I’m living my whole life just to hear well done
That’s all I wanna hear
(I wanna hear Enter)
Enter… into… My joy… servant… well done
Enter… into… My joy… servant… well done
Enter… into… My joy… servant… well done
Enter… into… My joy… servant… well done
[X2]
Well done
Well done
Faith-ful ser-vant, well done
Has anyone mentioned “joy in reprimand”? How do we respond to reprimand? Does the JOY OF THE LORD allow us to strengthen our resolve to correct any mistakes, mishaps or misunderstandings and joyfully go forth in newness of mind? To keep our joy in the midst of rebuke, reproof or correction helps uf in our maturation process if received with the appropriate attitude of gratitude, and repentance especially if the reproof is warraned and even more if it isn’t.
MG, if I understand the perspective of joy that Sara addressed in an above comment: “Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. Proverbs 29:1 NLT”, our response would be to gratefully receive the advice and to respond to it by being teachable and making the necessary changes. Otherwise there is no joy or happiness.
Right, Debi, that’s what the Bible teaches. Look at Jesus! He was rebuked, reprimanded, rejected and yet, for the JOY set before Him, He yielded to them though their rebukes were unwarranted.
Even so, we should receive soberly, rubuke and correction in that we are set aright if we will change the situation when we are wrong and if not, we still share in Christ with JOY.
It’s a win-win situation in Jesus Christ.
Why not take the gold and not the bronze medal. Silver and bronze are great metals but Gold is the goal. Go for it!
i found this comment in Moody Devotional teaching from Philippians 1. “When Jesus Christ becomes merely a means to the end of PERSONAL Happiness, discipleship is dead. The pursuit of this kind of happiness can never lead to true joy, for it takes true discipleship to progress in joy in the faith.” This kind of search for only our own personal happiness….like the ‘we four and no more’ concept where souls are NOT brought into the Kingdom, when we see Christ as a PERSONAL, only, beneficent force in our lives to give us what we want when we are ‘good’ will never lead to pure joy. BUt joy comes from desiring the presence of GOD in our lives, yes, but also in the lives of those with whom we have to do, and utimately the whole world…for that’s why Jesus came. Being selfish in our quest for God and all that He has JUST FOR US in our faith is called
Moral Therapeutic Deism.
Our pastors continually cry out for their sheep to bring in the souls, to take Christ to those around us and to enable discipleship to come forth so that the Kingdom can increase before Jesus comes. Someone said that we treat GOD like a big, cuddly Grandpapa Who is just waiting to bestow upon us our every request. But true happiness and joy comes from obedience to the WORD…”Go into the nations and make Disciples of ALL peoples.” then happiness and joy will come and then the END will come.
We just finished Joyce Meyers: Battlefield of Mind. Joyce states AS YOU THINK, SO ARE YOU. Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree sound (healthy and good) and its fruit sound (healthy and good) or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad) and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.”Joyce quotes positive minds produce positive lives. Negative minds produce negative lives. Positive thoughts are always full of faith and hope. Negative thoughts are always full of fear and doubt……it shall be done for you as you have believed…. Matt.8:13. Joyce states to. Think about what you’re thinking about.Meditate on God’s Word, and on the Works of God. Be transformed by renewing your mind: Romans 12:2. We must stop our stinking thinking and we must have a mind of Christ….1Corinthians 2:16. Thinking the way of Jesus will bring faith, hope, joy, peace and happiness. According to Joyce we need to not only say What Would Jesus Do WWJD but also ask What Would Jesus Think WWJT.
Yes, chickenframer, I agree, negative minds produce negative lives.
I recall studying the scripture you refer to above (Matt 12:33) at The Daily Lily retreat last year in Sara’s book, “Dressing for His Glory”. Here’s what verses 34-37 of Matt 12 (AMP) say from the book pg 27. I think it helps further illustrate your point:
“You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.”
We learned from Sara’s study that life and death are in our tongues, that we need to ‘capture our words’ in order to keep our tree healthy.
It seems to me that we better guard our tongues as well as our minds…after all that tongue is only a few inches from the mind and our words help form who we are as well as affect others.
Also helpful from Sara’s book, pg 29 ,”The tongues of those who are upright and in right standing with God are as choice silver; the minds of those who are wicked and out of harmony with God are of little value. The lips of the [uncompromisingly] righteous feed and guide many, but fools die for want of understanding and heart.” Prov 10:20-21 AMP
The Scripture,Hosea 4:6, “My people perish, (are destroyed) for lack of knowledge” confirms Prov. 10:20 quoted above that says that fools die for lack of understanding and heart (for GOD).