The New Year is almost here. What will it bring to you this year? What do you want this year to bring? Most people tell me they want to be happy.
Here are some ways 2008 can be a Happy New Year.
1. Decide that you are going to be a happy person.
2. Don’t let circumstances control your happiness.
3. Don’t depend on others to provide your happiness.
4. Every morning decided that this day I will be happy regardless of what happens.
5. Look for ways to help others to find happiness.
6. Hang around happy people if at all possible.
7. Never let negative people steal your happiness.
8. Look for good in everything, and then smile.
9. Be a life time member of the “Happiness Club”.
10. Remember happiness comes from within not without.
11. Your happiness is of great value to you and others.
12. Happiness is contagious, so spread it around.
Chaplain Bud,
It is Christmas Day and the children are on the way
Time to share gifts and the grandchildren play.
The food from the kitchen has a heavenly smell
On Christmas we enjoy the moment, all is well.
The family at Christmas can make such a mess
The house was clean, but who would have guessed.
For the noise is coming from every room
Granny is trying to clean with her broom.
But oh when it’s time to open up the gifts and look
Some got clothes, games, toys, and some a book.
The tree is so beautiful regardless of its size
Because under it has the treasured prize.
So we give and don’t need a thing you know
We eat too much and the bathroom we go.
Now it ‘s time for games and talk
Some may go outside for a walk.
But we do it year after year without fail
Make some gifts and others came through the mail.
You see we humans love a party and a trip
When they come to grandparent’s house,
they let her rip.
But who would complain on Christmas Day
Diets and budgets are put away.
Let’s enjoy the family as we rally round the tree
And be thankful for the mess we see.
See ya in church,
Bud
The question to us as believers is this: Do we trust the Lord and do we believe Him? Now, read this scripture very slowly and digest it.
“Consider it a pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)
Now, what is James saying to us? We grow by testing and we mature by testing. Only when we completely depend on God are we really open to His leading and direction.
We are praying for a shepherd and God has one for this church. But, it must be God’s will and God’s man. When we become impatient, we will force something to happen that is not God’s will.
If we trust God and believe God, then we must act accordingly. He promised never to leave us or forsake us. Do you believe that? If you do, then we need to let God be God and we be true to Him.
Paul reminds us in the Philippian letter that “my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Our needs are being met. We are being ministered to and shepherded. It’s our wants that have us running ahead of God.
Paul also said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstance.” The secret to being content is in knowing that God will provide. Our job is to love one another and keep the faith.
Often when disappointed, we ask the question, “why?” That is not a fair question. The question should be “what do you want me to do now, Lord? How can I continue to keep living by faith and building up the Kingdom to bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ?”
Let me suggest two things we all keep doing. First, we continue to pray for God’s will to be done. And, pray sincerely and earnestly. Pray believing and trusting. Pray for patience and guidance. Pray for boldness and wisdom. Pray for one another and yourself. Pray may not change the situation but it will change you.
Second, invite people to your church. Talk to people about positive things, not negative things. Encourage one another in all things. Cling to the good and avoid the bad. Be more faithful that ever before. Volunteer for something to do around the church. Stay busy for God so that satan does not use your idleness to his advantage.
Does God want to bless us? Yes. Does God want to use us? Yes. Are we His children? Yes. Is this His church? Yes. Are there still lost people in our area? Yes. Then let’s get on with the Lord’s business as He wants us to do.
Don’t give satan a stronghold in the life of the church or your own life. Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-18 everyday this week.
See ya in Church,
Bud
How is your life measuring up? You say what kind of a question is that? What I mean is, are you satisfied? Are you fulfilled? Are you happy?
These are very important questions. People don’t know what you know or feel, until you say it or show it. We can be very good at what we do, but does what we do, fulfill us? Does our day to day activities and life style bring true joy and happiness?
Now, you know I am an attitude guy. It’s how you think, most of the time that determines how you feel. You see things as you are inside, not as they are outside.
It troubles me that our world is filled with so many unhappy, unfulfilled people. Is the problem in America because we have it so easy and have so much stuff? We just keep on working and just keep on spending and buying more stuff. We have storage bins full of stuff. We have attics, cellars, and closets full of stuff. Then, why are we so unhappy with what we have?
Things don’t make us happy. People do. Relationships bring fulfillment and joy. Good healthy relationships produce something stuff can not. You see, each of us needs to be needed. Relationships produce needs and needs produce relationships. Feeling needed bring purpose and fulfillment. When we fell we are not needed, rejections and loneliness set in. We lose our self worth and reason to work and provide. Then life starts becoming boring and meaningless. People give up on life or do some dumb thing that has serious consequences.
It’s been my experience that people who have a deep faith in God are happier and more fulfilled. They build relationships based on what they can give, not on what they can get out of it. Their faith in God helps them build good moral standards and character. They put more value in good friends and relationships than in material things.
So, why if we know this, are Americans such complainers and whiners? It’s because we fight being under control or accountable. We don’t like to be told what we must do. We are a very independent people with very selfish motives. Then the good we do is blanked out by our selfishness.
We are, in America, the best educated, best-fed, best employed, best traveled, best housed, best informed, best protected, best financed, (and I could go on and on) country in the world.
Maybe we who are so blessed need to stop and think where all these blessings come from. What it cost our ancestors, so we could have what we do. Since we took God out of our schools and courthouses, we have been gone down hill and everyone knows it.
Were we not more fulfilled when we had a church on every corner, outhouse, and woodhouse? We can’t go back but we can fix what we have.
Chaplain Bud