ILLUSTRATION:
A grumpy old man and his wife . . .
While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant, and resumed their trip. When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table, and she didn't miss them until they had been driving for about forty minutes. By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance before they could find a place to turn around, in order to return to the restaurant to retrieve her glasses.
All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grumpy old man. He fussed and complained, and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive. The more he chided her, the more agitated he became. He just wouldn't let up for a single minute.
To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant.
As the woman got out of the car, and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old geezer yelled to her, "While you're in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card."
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Has anyone ask you what happiness means to you? While I was at Candler school of Theology in Atlanta my Professor ask the whole class to paint a picture in words to describe happiness. After we all finished with our brilliant painting of a perfect picture of happiness she told us all that we were mostly wrong. She called my name and said mine was a picture of contentment which could be a form of happiness along with what we all said. But we saw different ways of happiness. Some of what others saw were joy, bliss and one was ecstasy. The ecstasy was the joker in our group.
Today whatever we think happiness is – is seems like the other people around us and the news media are killing it off with as much effort that they can with negative talk and news they report.
We must remember that happiness isn’t simply the opposite of sadness.
Physiologist tell us the number one thing that makes us happy stems from the feeling of being in charge of as much of our life as possible. It's not about smiling all the time and it doesn’t come from money or health, but a self-belief you’re on the road you want to be on. This takes into account that you are on the road to somewhere. If you are a Christian you should know that God’s road and our road overlap to know happiness.
The first thing to realize: Be with others who make you smile. Studies show that we are happiest when we are around those who are happy. Stick with those who are joyful and let it rub off on us.
These are the teaching of the Jesus the Christ will keep us right with God. These teaching will give us peace in chaos, confusion, and feelings of being lost within ourselves and the world.
--These teachings will led us to a life of happiness.
Matthew 5:1-12
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Be satisfied with what we have. This doesn't mean we don't want better things but we should be satisfied where we are at present time. Share the good things we have with others because God wants us to.)
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
(God blesses those who have a tender heart," We may not understand why God allows tragedy to strike, but we can rest in his infinite wisdom and tender mercies. One look at Jesus' suffering on the cross, and we know he understands our pain.)
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
(The Romans of Jesus’ day described Meek by using a military example. The Romans had mounted soldiers. The horses they rode were described and qualified when their huge horses, like the Clydesdale today, with banging and screaming like in battle the horse answered every command of the man riding it.)
(The example for us is when everything is chaos around us we answer all the commands of Jesus and don't run away)
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
(Righteousness is living in a state of being right with God)
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
(Mercy is showing kindness and understanding. Not accepting their sin, condemning or judging them. We dont know the temptation they came under or the life they led or were forced to led.)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
(You open your heart up and become like Jesus as much as we can on this earth and in this body.)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
(a person who helps to prevent or stop an argument, a fight, stops confusion that causes chaos and can save lives)
[[[10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(You living a Christian life and you are right with God and people treat you bad and persecute you will led you to this wonderful heavenly life)
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.]]]
Our obedience to God brings true happiness. Putting Jesus and His teaching into action is where happiness is found.
You be that “Somebody happy somewhere” person by following Jesus' teachings!
