HAPPINESS IS THE LORD

There are days I just walk through my house thanking God for all the little things that fill the rooms.  Then I thank Him for all of the people that walk through the doors; people that I am blessed to “share life with.”  It was such a day as this last week, as I walked from one room to the next, singing songs of praise, it hit me, “Susan, you have had a happy life!”  The little song I had learned in Sunday School, so many years ago began to echo in my mind:

“Happiness is to know the savior

Living a life within his favor

Having a change in my behavior

Happiness is the Lord”

Oh yes, I have had a very happy life.  Am I more blessed than most or do I just recognize the blessings?  Is the happiness a fleeting emotion unleashed because of a momentary pleasure or is there something  that bubbles up from deep within, when I “Think of the Goodness of Jesus?” 

People are constantly searching for something to feed the “Happiness Gene” that seems to exist in a perpetual state of hunger.  Millions of dollars are spent on the latest gadgets, luxury automobiles, houses and vacations trying to finally satisfy the longing for happiness.  It remains unsatisfied because the gadget doesn’t remain the latest, a newer car model will be released and someone will build a bigger house.  Men and women opt for divorce and go after another man or woman, convinced that God wouldn’t want them to be UNHAPPY!  SO, DOES GOD WANT YOU HAPPY?  I believe that He DOES want you happy, but God’s definition seems to war against our definition of happiness and the search continues.

The Bible gives us clues to follow in our pursuit of happiness, Psalms 37:4 says “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”  An unexpected thing happens to our mind as we begin to “Delight ourselves in the Lord,” all of the things we just thought we “couldn’t live without,” suddenly seem to slide down the priority list and our hearts begin to desire anything that will strengthen our relationship with God.  We suddenly find we have moved and are living in the STATE OF HAPPINESS.

There are other “Keys to Happiness” in the Word of God.  Some of them are definitely NOT items I would choose to place in my “happiness bag.”  Job: 17 says “If we allow God to correct us, we will be happy.”  Psalms 128:2 declares “a person is happy when they eat from the labor of their hands.”  Then of course we read in Proverbs from the wisdom of Solomon; “Happy is the man who finds wisdom and gains understanding,” “Heeds the word wisely and trusts in the Lord.”  Proverbs goes on to tell us that a “reverent man is happy,”  as is the one who “keeps the law.”  Back to my little song;  “Happiness is to know the Savior. Living a life within His favor.”  So it would seem that God does indeed want His Children to be happy. 

God doesn't dangle happiness like a carrot at the end of the stick to manipulate and entice you in to following His plan.  He offers you happiness as a gift and allows you to choose.  Happiness by GOD'S definition or the temporary and fleeting happiness derived from following your own plans, pursuing your selfish dreams and building your own little kingdom, which will all eventually crumble and fall.

1 Timothy 6:6 "Now Godliness with contentment is great gain."

I think the writer of the Sunday School song had finally figured out real happiness.  "HAPPINESS IS THE LORD!"

I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO.....

Before I begin this blog, I must establish two facts:

1.   I have lost the same weight at least 10 times over my life.

2.  I raised 2 boys that see life through a reality lens and have never sugar-coated anything.

It was a Monday morning and so of course my mind was on the start of a new week and maybe trying to start another “healthy eating” plan.  Because I am one of the world’s greatest multi-taskers, I was finishing up a cup of coffee, scanning face book and watching the morning news all at one time.  A familiar testimonial ad for a diet plan was playing on the television and the thought entered my caffeine-awakened brain, “I would do anything to look like her.”  Instantly, the phantom voices of my two boys interrupted my musings with, “No you wouldn’t Mom, because all you have to do is eat healthy and exercise.”  Well there went that fantasy and the voices were absolutely correct….after counting the cost, I was found to be a few dollars short!

A few years ago, I was walking with my daughter-in-law, when I saw the most beautifully landscaped lawn.  I remarked, “Oh I would love to have a yard like that.”  She replied, “Yes, me too, if I had someone to take care of it.”  (Amazing, my realist son has a realist wife.)  Obviously, the cost of the beautiful landscape was one she was not willing to pay.  Too many times we yearn for the finished product, after the price has been paid, unwilling to draw from our own treasures to cover the cost.

In the Word of God, there are many examples of men and women who COUNTED THE COST, then made their decision.  Matthew, Mark and Luke relate the story of a “Rich Young Ruler.”  He had a desire to prepare for the future and so he asked Jesus how he might inherit eternal life.  Jesus spoke to him of following the commandments, to which he proudly replied, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”  But the ledger was not yet balanced, so Jesus continued, “Sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow me.”  Luke 17:23 records the young ruler’s decision, after counting the cost, “But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.”  After counting the cost for eternal life, the Rich Young Ruler made the decision; Eternal Life was not worth the price!

The Bible also records the story of a beautiful young Jewish woman named Esther.  She had been taken captive by the Babylonians and she lived with her uncle, Mordecai in the citadel of Shushan.  The king was looking for a new wife, so after a year of preparation, Esther was presented to the king.  The king looked upon her with favor, choosing her to be his new wife.  It came to the attention of Mordecai that one of the kings trusted men was plotting to kill all of the Jews and he had to be stopped.  Mordecai convinced Esther to petition the King for favor and to save her people, the Jews, from annihilation.  After fasting for 3 days, Esther went, unbidden, into the king’s presence, knowing her action could carry a “death penalty.”   The story continues with the king holding out the golden scepter to Esther and consequently saving the Jewish people, living in the kingdom.    The last line of Esther 4:16 tells the real story of Queen Esther, “And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”  Esther had Counted the Cost and was more than willing to Pay the Price!

Throughout our lives, it is so easy to look at a possession or the achievement of a friend and think to ourselves, “I would give anything to….” And all the while, we have no idea the cost of their perceived success. If we could see their “Ledger,” would we consider the cost too great?  Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—Before you make any decision for your life, obey Luke 14:28; Sit down, count the cost, then make your decision! 

The next time you utter the words, “I would give anything…” do a little digging, what is the ASKING PRICE and what are you WILLING TO PAY!!!