When it rains it pours doesn't it?
California which had been fighting a once-in-a-generation drought is now fighting a deluge in the form of rain and snow. That's a literal application there!
We are in the middle of December, everyone worried about shopping and yet in my house the bills just keep coming. The car is in the shop, other bills are due and what am I worried about? Shopping, who I have left to buy for.
This gave me, not just a pause for concern, but a whole inkling of why we in America are in trouble. The fact that we have 2 cars, a house, a cellphone per person, insurance, heat, running water should give us more cause to be happy yet we are more miserable and self-loathing than most. Why? Materialization.
Because we have so much we think happiness comes in the form of more. When in actuality it comes in the form of less. Happiness must come from within. Why is it that studies show that those who are "religious" are happier than those who are not? Why do the poor seem to be inwardly more happy than those who have most?
Happiness does not now nor will it ever come from things. That new boat, new car, new dress, will not bring lasting happiness. True happiness comes in the joy of giving and serving. When you give a gift and the recipient is so overcome with joy, that is happiness. When you witness that is joy. When you help someone out who could never pay you back and you do it knowing that it is out of a desire to give not the payback, that is joy.
Our joy, our happiness comes not in the things we have, the lasting happiness comes in the things we do. Being a blessing, helping people - that is joy. Serving God, working to further His Will that is joy and happiness. Not because we want man to see us but because we know God sees us knows our hearts and we have made Him happy. We have made Him first thus doing His Will and His Work- it is a circle but one well worth the doing.
Peter was doing miracles in the book of Acts. He was preaching seeing thousands convert yet he was broke by man's standards. He was in the Will of God furthering the Work of the Lord. He (Peter) and John were walking when a lame man called out to them. The lame man was in the gate asking for alms, hand outs. Peter having no money assessed the situation and gave a much greater and far more lasting gift.
Acts 3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
California which had been fighting a once-in-a-generation drought is now fighting a deluge in the form of rain and snow. That's a literal application there!
We are in the middle of December, everyone worried about shopping and yet in my house the bills just keep coming. The car is in the shop, other bills are due and what am I worried about? Shopping, who I have left to buy for.
This gave me, not just a pause for concern, but a whole inkling of why we in America are in trouble. The fact that we have 2 cars, a house, a cellphone per person, insurance, heat, running water should give us more cause to be happy yet we are more miserable and self-loathing than most. Why? Materialization.
Because we have so much we think happiness comes in the form of more. When in actuality it comes in the form of less. Happiness must come from within. Why is it that studies show that those who are "religious" are happier than those who are not? Why do the poor seem to be inwardly more happy than those who have most?
Happiness does not now nor will it ever come from things. That new boat, new car, new dress, will not bring lasting happiness. True happiness comes in the joy of giving and serving. When you give a gift and the recipient is so overcome with joy, that is happiness. When you witness that is joy. When you help someone out who could never pay you back and you do it knowing that it is out of a desire to give not the payback, that is joy.
Our joy, our happiness comes not in the things we have, the lasting happiness comes in the things we do. Being a blessing, helping people - that is joy. Serving God, working to further His Will that is joy and happiness. Not because we want man to see us but because we know God sees us knows our hearts and we have made Him happy. We have made Him first thus doing His Will and His Work- it is a circle but one well worth the doing.
Peter was doing miracles in the book of Acts. He was preaching seeing thousands convert yet he was broke by man's standards. He was in the Will of God furthering the Work of the Lord. He (Peter) and John were walking when a lame man called out to them. The lame man was in the gate asking for alms, hand outs. Peter having no money assessed the situation and gave a much greater and far more lasting gift.
Acts 3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
Now I know that we can not heal in this day and age the way Peter did, but we can follow his example by praying, by witnessing and giving a far greater gift than any could ask for. We are the chosen of God. We have been grafted into the family of God. We can give the gift of eternal salvation through a few simple words and the price? Free. It will cost us nothing but the time and breath it takes us to tell of a Christ who died for them. That is the happiness. That is the Joy we are seeking.
Stop being overwhelmed with the bills, credit cards, shopping etc,,,,
Start being filled with the Spirit and giving the gift that can not be tarnished or ruined, broke or misplaced.
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