THE HAPPINESS REPORT? ARE YOU A JOY GIVER?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
ARE THERE METAL OR MENTAL HINDRANCES TO JOY? I watched a circus employee stick a metal rod in the mud. He just pushed the rod in several inches with his bare hand. Then the man hooked a chain around the ELEPHANT’S ankle. The ELEPHANT was imprisoned by the small rod. I asked the ELEPHANT KEEPER can’t he easily pull himself free? The keeper said anytime he desires the elephant could walk away. When the 2,000 pound animal feels the tug, he stops TRYING.
The sad story is repeated over and over in our SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS. JOY IS NOT IN THINGS… JOY IS NOT EXTERNALS. JOY IS INTERNAL --- IT IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF US… A CHOICE…
WE NEED A PARADIGM SHIFT… A PATTERN CHANGE… WE BECOME EXPERTS AT BUILDING BARRIERS AND WALLS TO HINDER OUR REAL JOY. We pay dear prices for underestimating the value of joy.
The same fence we build to keep others out, becomes the trap that imprisons us and keep us in… those fences can be physical, mental and spiritual. JOY IS A DAILY CHOICE!
ARE WE JOY GIVERS? OR ARE WE JOY STEALERS? The world is full of negativity, fear, trials and misunderstandings. Joy can face any storm.
TEXT:
Psalm 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
WHAT DEFINES LIFE?
Life is not measured by how many toys you have?… Or by how much you own?
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
I RECENTLY RAN ACROSS A STUDY CALLED THE WORLD’S HAPPINESS REPORT THAT SURVEYED 156 NATIONS.
There is a study of the HAPPIEST PLACES ON EARTH. The report searched 153 nations to determine what was the happiest nation on earth. The USA has the richest per capita people of the world. The average American has the best LIFESTYLE and CONVENIENCES known to man. In the USA the average living situation is better than any other nation. THEREFORE THE USA MUST BE THE HAPPIEST NATION IN THE WORLD? NOT SO… according to this annual report.
ON THE HAPPINESS SCALE #1 FOR 5 YEARS IN A ROW WAS FINLAND. #2 was DENMARK. #3 was ICELAND … then the list goes SWEDEN, NORWAY, NETHERLANDS, and LUXEMBOURG… At #9 we find war torn ISRAEL. Then bringing up #10 was NEW ZEALAND.
CANADA IS AT 15. THE USA IS RANKED AT 17… While the USA has the highest economic standard and comfort lifestyle the USA IS RANKED AT 17. Stress, panic attacks, worry and fear all seem to keep the USA UNHAPPY?
The nation that comes in LAST PLACE, 153 IS AFGHANISTAN. For some reason since 2005 the USA has gradually fallen lower and lower?
PLEASURE? HAPPINESS? JOY? PLEASURE HAS A SEASON, BUT AT BEST PLEASURE IS TEMPORARY. ANSWER TWO QUESTIONS:
Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
1. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN HAPPINESS AND JOY? (Happiness is an emotion. Happiness is never enough. Emotions can be fickle. JOY IS A CHOICE OF ATTITUDES.
2. I WOULD BE HAPPIER IF: ___________________________________________________.
JOY IS A NET OF HOPE, PEACE AND LOVE BY WHICH WE SERVE ONE ANOTHER. Love brings joy. Joy brings lasting love.
WHAT HOLDS FAMILIES AND CHURCHES TOGETHER? Love never fails. Couple that with JOY and COMMON RESPECT AS THE GLUE OF LIFE BECOMES A BOND.
JOY IS LIVING WITH A SERVANT’S HEART. WOULD LIFE BE WONDERFUL IF EVERY PERSON THAT YOU ENCOUNTER LEFT BETTER AND HAPPIER THAN WHEN THEY FIRST MET YOU?
DO WE LIVE COUNTING WHAT I DON’T HAVE? WHY NOT COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS…? IN OUR FAMILIES HAVE WE LOST OUR JOY? WE CAN WARM BY THE FIRE OR WE CAN MAKE THE CHOICE TO LOVE THE SMOKE? DOES MY CUP RUN OVER?
Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psalm 23:5 (MSG) You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
A JUDGMENTAL, NEGATIVE AND CRITICAL ATTITUDE BECOMES A BONDAGE AGAIN SPIRIT.
I have been told the average birth of a baby that is born with OPEN HANDS… When a man dies he has closed fist!
PURPOSE? WHY DID GOD CREATE TODAY?
Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
JOY IS DESTROYED BY HALF-HEARTED EFFORT… LIFE TENDS TO DULL SHARP THINGS. LIFE TENDS TO TAKE HOT THINGS AND COOL THEM OFF. LIFE TENDS TO TAKE FRESH THINGS AND MAKE THEM STALE.
Have you heard of the DEAD SEA? The DEAD SEA is amazing. The water flows in but there is NO OUT-FLOWING. You don’t have to swim… you float. Our spiritual life needs incoming fresh water and a outflowing of JOY. DOES YOUR CUP RUN OVER…? DRINKING FROM MY SAUCER…
Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
CONCLUSION: Even the dog SNOOPY SAYS: KEEP LOOKING UP --- THAT IS THE SECRET TO LIFE.
I heard a story of a man FULL OF JOY serving the Lord in an atheistic communistic nation. He was warned several times to quit speaking in the name of Jesus. He was winning many people to the Lord. He was arrested and at the trial he was convicted and sent to prison. In prison the preacher was making converts of the convicts and baptizing many. The judge said this has to stop. The judge sent him to the worst prison labor camp in the nation. He was many hundreds of miles from his family and support system. No mail. No communication. HE ASKED GOD WHAT WAS GOING ON? This prison was the DEATH CAMP. Many were executed on a regular basis. The preacher was winning men to the cross in the death prison. One night an angel visited him in a vision. He asked the angel, WHAT IS GOD DOING TO ME HERE? The angel opened his eyes and showed him men going to be executed. They went into the death chamber handcuffed. They were tortured and killed. Then they were smiling and had their hand raised in praise. As they died the angels escorted them to the throne room of God. This dream occurred night after night. Finally one night after a dream the angel explained. Yes, it is cruel you being here, but you have taught Jesus to every man here. If you were not here, these men would surely go to HELL.
Psalm 51:12 (MSG) Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!
Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
BE A JOY MAGNET… TRUST GOD’S PLAN… WHAT IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST? HOW WOULD PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU?
GOD PLEASE BRING BACK OUR JOY! IN YOUR PRESENCE GOD WE WILL WALK IN JOY!
Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16:11 (NLT2) You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
MY FRIEND LET US DAILY WALK IN THE PATH OF JOY. May we have a smile and live in GREAT JOY. Remember when Moses had to wear a VEIL OVER HIS FACE BECAUSE MOSES HAD BEEN WITH GOD… MOSES’ FACE WAS RADIANT WITH JOY BECAUSE HE HAD SPENT TIME WITH GOD.
LET US MAKE AN ATTITUDE OF JOY BECOME HABITUAL SO OTHERS MAY KNOW…
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Check out: YouTube: Wade Hughes)
