Galatians 2:20 (New International Version)
20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Good morning!
It’s Wednesday already!
This morning on my drive into work I was thinking about happiness. What defines happiness? What is it that we cling to in our lives that we think will make us happy? Bigger question – if we were to receive the thing/things that we think would make us happy – for how long would we be happy?
Some of us think that if we had more money it would make us happy. If our husband or wife would tweak their actions a little bit then we would be happy. If we had a new job we would be happy.
These are all temporary highs. Say you were to receive a HUGE financial blessing but you don’t have the knowledge of budgeting money – you receive the money and in no time you spend it all… every last dime and have hardly anything to show. Your happiness went right out the window with the money.
You husband or wife does tweak their actions – but then that’s not good enough either. Once that issue is out of the way you pick out another issue that needs changing.
You receive the new job but you work with someone who is way worse than your old boss and you’re too weak to spiritually battle through your day.
All that to say – be happy where you are. God has you exactly where you need to be right now or else you would not be there.
Release any burden that you are carrying today – give it to God. He can handle it much better than we ever could. Jesus tells us that His yolk is easy and burden is light.
Read this small article that I found at bibletruths.net about happiness – very interesting:
How the Bible Pronounces “happy”
Those who fear the Lord are happy.
Happy are those who keep God’s laws.
Happy are those who have children.
Happy are those who do not condemn self.
Happy are those who trust in the Lord.
Happy are those who require wisdom.
“Our English word "happy" is simply defined as, "Fortunate or lucky…. cheerful…contented…characterized by or indicative of pleasure…." (Random House College Dictionary). The biblical presentation of "happy" is more substantive. For instance, the Bible does not present happiness as an experience that just happens because of luck or some shallow euphoric state of mind. One, according to the Bible, can be happy while being corrected by God, suffering for the sake of righteousness, and being reproached for the name of Christ.”
Is this not great news?? One can be happy while being kicked in the dirt! If any of you attended our bible study last year – you may remember the teaching that I did on Paul’s happiness (The book of Philippians). The book of Philippians continuously talks about being happy. So, here Paul is – in prison… persecuted and all he can talk about is how flippin’ happy he is! Are you serious!?!?! I want to be like that. I want to have such faith that is unshakeable. The more you share the Good News the harder this world is going to come down upon you – which is why you don’t see or hear a lot of people sharing. Even people who show up to church every Sunday – you don’t see them (and even I’m guilty at times) sharing the Word of God by words and actions outside of church.
Have you ever heard the song by Casting Crowns called “If We Are The Body”? Check out these lyrics -
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
Last night in my alone time with the Lord – I pulled my car to the darkest spot in our parking lot, I put a blanket over the trunk of my car and I laid there looking up into the stars. Realizing how small I am. How my God is the Beginning and the End, Alpha and Omega, Bright Morning Star, Bread of Life, Consuming Fire, Creator, The Great I Am, Prince of Peace, Living Water, Lord of All! He is everything. I am nothing and can do nothing without Him. Do you ever feel like your life is all over the place? Like you have no clue which direction you’re going and everything looks all cool on the outside but in the inside you feel like you’re going crazy!? You can’t explain it even if someone asks…. Whenever I feel like that, I have to check where I am placing God in my life and EVERY SINGLE TIME - I have moved Him out of the pilot seat and stuck Him in the co-pilot seat. I can’t fly a plane but He can. Last night I realized that He and I need to trade seats or my plane is going to crash.
Our human nature…. *sigh* …. We too often are so puffed up. More focused on ME, I, ME, MYSELF, ME, I, …. Rather than HIM and others. Our job is to love God and love each other. A good friend of mine told me yesterday:
“Getting equipped to minister to people and knowing God loves you and has a calling on your life are important. We are called to love God and love people. If everyone would do that to the best of their ability, we could really make a radical impact on the world.”
Those words are words to live by.
So – anyway …. I don’t think my Everyday Blessing emails are ever this long… haha! I had a lot on my heart.
I just want to encourage you today to be happy where you are, be humble, and exalt Him. Make sure He is flying the plane and not you. Grow deeper and branch out in His name. If anyone of you wants to grow deeper but doesn’t know how – please email me and we’ll talk about it. The greatest thing you can ever do is not only believe in Christ but to walk with Him daily. So many people go their whole lives and never experience the walking relationship with Jesus Christ. It goes so much deeper than just going to church on Sunday and saying your nightly prayers. Life doesn’t have to be this hard….we’re on the winning team! As Pastor Steve would say “I’ve read the end of the book and WE WIN!!!”
Love you all so deeply,
April
20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Good morning!
It’s Wednesday already!
This morning on my drive into work I was thinking about happiness. What defines happiness? What is it that we cling to in our lives that we think will make us happy? Bigger question – if we were to receive the thing/things that we think would make us happy – for how long would we be happy?
Some of us think that if we had more money it would make us happy. If our husband or wife would tweak their actions a little bit then we would be happy. If we had a new job we would be happy.
These are all temporary highs. Say you were to receive a HUGE financial blessing but you don’t have the knowledge of budgeting money – you receive the money and in no time you spend it all… every last dime and have hardly anything to show. Your happiness went right out the window with the money.
You husband or wife does tweak their actions – but then that’s not good enough either. Once that issue is out of the way you pick out another issue that needs changing.
You receive the new job but you work with someone who is way worse than your old boss and you’re too weak to spiritually battle through your day.
All that to say – be happy where you are. God has you exactly where you need to be right now or else you would not be there.
Release any burden that you are carrying today – give it to God. He can handle it much better than we ever could. Jesus tells us that His yolk is easy and burden is light.
Read this small article that I found at bibletruths.net about happiness – very interesting:
How the Bible Pronounces “happy”
Those who fear the Lord are happy.
Happy are those who keep God’s laws.
Happy are those who have children.
Happy are those who do not condemn self.
Happy are those who trust in the Lord.
Happy are those who require wisdom.
“Our English word "happy" is simply defined as, "Fortunate or lucky…. cheerful…contented…characterized by or indicative of pleasure…." (Random House College Dictionary). The biblical presentation of "happy" is more substantive. For instance, the Bible does not present happiness as an experience that just happens because of luck or some shallow euphoric state of mind. One, according to the Bible, can be happy while being corrected by God, suffering for the sake of righteousness, and being reproached for the name of Christ.”
Is this not great news?? One can be happy while being kicked in the dirt! If any of you attended our bible study last year – you may remember the teaching that I did on Paul’s happiness (The book of Philippians). The book of Philippians continuously talks about being happy. So, here Paul is – in prison… persecuted and all he can talk about is how flippin’ happy he is! Are you serious!?!?! I want to be like that. I want to have such faith that is unshakeable. The more you share the Good News the harder this world is going to come down upon you – which is why you don’t see or hear a lot of people sharing. Even people who show up to church every Sunday – you don’t see them (and even I’m guilty at times) sharing the Word of God by words and actions outside of church.
Have you ever heard the song by Casting Crowns called “If We Are The Body”? Check out these lyrics -
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
Last night in my alone time with the Lord – I pulled my car to the darkest spot in our parking lot, I put a blanket over the trunk of my car and I laid there looking up into the stars. Realizing how small I am. How my God is the Beginning and the End, Alpha and Omega, Bright Morning Star, Bread of Life, Consuming Fire, Creator, The Great I Am, Prince of Peace, Living Water, Lord of All! He is everything. I am nothing and can do nothing without Him. Do you ever feel like your life is all over the place? Like you have no clue which direction you’re going and everything looks all cool on the outside but in the inside you feel like you’re going crazy!? You can’t explain it even if someone asks…. Whenever I feel like that, I have to check where I am placing God in my life and EVERY SINGLE TIME - I have moved Him out of the pilot seat and stuck Him in the co-pilot seat. I can’t fly a plane but He can. Last night I realized that He and I need to trade seats or my plane is going to crash.
Our human nature…. *sigh* …. We too often are so puffed up. More focused on ME, I, ME, MYSELF, ME, I, …. Rather than HIM and others. Our job is to love God and love each other. A good friend of mine told me yesterday:
“Getting equipped to minister to people and knowing God loves you and has a calling on your life are important. We are called to love God and love people. If everyone would do that to the best of their ability, we could really make a radical impact on the world.”
Those words are words to live by.
So – anyway …. I don’t think my Everyday Blessing emails are ever this long… haha! I had a lot on my heart.
I just want to encourage you today to be happy where you are, be humble, and exalt Him. Make sure He is flying the plane and not you. Grow deeper and branch out in His name. If anyone of you wants to grow deeper but doesn’t know how – please email me and we’ll talk about it. The greatest thing you can ever do is not only believe in Christ but to walk with Him daily. So many people go their whole lives and never experience the walking relationship with Jesus Christ. It goes so much deeper than just going to church on Sunday and saying your nightly prayers. Life doesn’t have to be this hard….we’re on the winning team! As Pastor Steve would say “I’ve read the end of the book and WE WIN!!!”
Love you all so deeply,
April
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