Barb's World

"I Just Want To Be Happy"

Ever say this?  EVERYONE has said it at some point in life.  What makes you happy?  I love chocolate chip cookies right from the oven and when I eat them I feel happy. The more I eat, the more I want.  I could eat them every day...maybe skip a real meal and eat them instead. A regular meal is what I should eat...but the cookies smell so good...Yes!  Sounds like a great idea! However, that feeling changes because I eat too many and feel sick to my stomach.  They tasted so good while I ate them...didn't feel sick until I ate too many.  Now what.  I need to find something else to make me happy, so I can forget how unhappy I am because of those cookies...wait...how can something that made me so happy make me so miserable now? 

Our small group has been studying the Beatitudes.  Each lesson is titled "Happy Are The ..."  The one that sticks with me is Happy Are The Hungry. What are the Beatitudes, anyway?  They come from the opening verses of the famous Sermon on the Mount given by Jesus and they are found in Matthew 5:3-12.  I found this definition at about.com:

The word "beatitude" comes from the Latin beatitudo, meaning "blessedness." The phrase "blessed are" in each of the beatitudes implies a current state of happiness or well-being. The expression held powerful meaning of "divine joy and perfect happiness" to the people of the day. In other words, Jesus was saying "divinely happy and fortunate are" those who possess these inward qualities. While speaking of a current "blessedness," each pronouncement also promises a future reward.

To enter the kingdom we must be poor in spirit, mourn over our sin, come into meekness, hunger and thirst for righteousness, show mercy to others, and desire purity of heart.  As followers of Christ we aspire to become like Jesus, but there are times when we are less faithful and sometimes we are blatantly disobedient.  These qualities are still a part of who we are, so how did we fall into this pit of disobedience?

We all seek happiness and fulfillment, and both unbelievers and believers seek it in the wrong places.  Worldly happiness is based on emotion and emotions change like the wind.  They're unstable, fleeting and unpredictable.  Emotions can make us vulnerable and Satan loves that!  We spend our days looking for what God already wants to give us. When we come into God's presence on His terms, not only are we in His will but He gives us the very things we tried to get on our own anyway.  Why knock yourself out trying to get something that only HE can provide?

I know I really need to hunger for what is in God's heart, so He can transform mine. But for this to happen I have to let go. Ever try to resolve something on your own? Try to work your way out of a trial in life?  You'll wear yourself out, end right where you started but more exhausted and confused, and very likely worse off than before.  Even if we're in a trial because of our own choices, God is in our trials and is working His perfect purpose for our lives.  Hard to see this when we're in it, but when we surrender our struggles completely, and acknowledge that He can do anything, this is when His power shines. Complete surrender.  It depends on perfect trust in his ability to change us.  He CAN and WILL do it, but He can't change me unless I let Him...I have to let go of what I think I have control over.

We can satisfy our hunger for happiness with the wrong things, but what we think makes us happy changes and often times can hurt us.  True happiness comes from only one source. Until we realize the only place we can find true happiness is in Christ, our hunger will never be satisfied, and we will never find peace and happiness. What do you hunger for?

 © 2009 Barb Weatherwax

 

Kids Serving Others

This past Sunday our church (both campuses) took to the streets to serve those in our community.  Our small group visited patients in the hospital, which can be kind of an uncomfortable place for some.  Our Promiseland kids have been coloring get well cards for weeks, which we distributed to each person we visited.  Two of our families participated with their boys. Will was the "card-giver", explaining to EACH patient where they came from - he's only 10! Here's a note from his dad:

"Please share with the group how kids can make such a difference in brightening up someone’s day. The patients really took to Will during our visit - it must be the dimples. Oh by the way, Will came away with a big smile on his face too. It wasn’t what he expected and he had a lot of fun putting smiles on the patient's faces. I think he also enjoyed meeting what he called...the 'you can call me anything you want' lady. He was amazed at what a card and a few minutes will do for someone!" 

I wholeheartedly agree. I love it when a child has that "aha" moment and realizes that they can make a difference in someone's daily life with a simple gesture. It reminds me of one of my favorite verses, I Timothy 4:12: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."  

How are you making a difference?

© 2009 Barb Weatherwax

Prayer #10

... for President Elect Obama:

"Pray that our nation will enjoy God’s peace and blessings during the President Obama administration. The apostle Paul instructed early believers to pray for all authority “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1Tim. 2:2 NASB). God’s will is for America to experience peace and prosperity so that we can continue to export the gospel to the nations. As we cry out for God’s mercy on our wayward nation, pray that He will allow us to be a light to the world as we finance global missions, feed and heal the world’s poor and share Christ’s love at home and abroad."

Excerpt from: 10 Ways to Pray for President Barack Obama, by J. Lee Grady

Prayer #9

... for President Elect Obama:

"Pray that President Obama’s door will remain open to the church. The loudest voice of secular culture—from Bill Maher in Hollywood to atheist in academia—would be happy if religion were removed from public life. Pray that President Obama will unapologetically welcome Christian leaders into his company and seek their counsel. And pray that false religious leaders (who claim to know Christ but deny His power) will not have his ear."

Excerpt from: 10 Ways to Pray for President Barack Obama, by J. Lee Grady

Prayer #8

... for President Elect Obama:

"Blind all evil forces assigned to manipulate our president. The specter of Islamic terrorism looms over the United States, and dark forces are ready to infiltrate. Our only hope lies in prayer to God who is able to expose and outwit the schemes of the wicked. This is truly a time for spiritual warfare! We must stand strong against the spirit of antichrist that promotes dictatorship, persecution of Christians and hostility towards Israel."

Excerpt from: 10 Ways to Pray for President Barack Obama, by J. Lee Grady

 

 

Prayer #7

... for President Elect Obama:

"Pray that President Obama will adopt pro-life convictions. Many politicians have changed their views on key issues while in office. In the 1800’s some leaders who favored slavery later denounced it. In the 1950's some who opposed racial integration later became champions of it. Even though President Obama won approval from many voters because he sanctions abortion, God could soften and change his heart."

Excerpt from: 10 Ways to Pray for President Barack Obama, by J. Lee Grady

Prayer #6

... for President Elect Obama:

"Ask for he spirit of reconciliation. Some segments of our deeply divided society want nothing to do with President Obama now that he has won the presidency. Even some Christians will be tempted to harbor resentment and nurse political grudges throughout his term in office. Pray that God will grant forgiveness and healing so that leaders on all political levels can have constructive dialogue."

Excerpt from: 10 Ways to Pray for President Barack Obama, by J. Lee Grady

Talking about prayer...

Recently in Promiseland I was talking with a teacher in the Babeez room. I think we were talking about prayer and the almost 2 year old she was holding, Sean Cullen, folded his hands and bowed his head.  I asked him if he could pray and he babbled a few words and said "SAY AMEN!".  It was precious. What better reward for the teachers who faithfully serve our children than to hear a child pray. For those of you who serve our sweet children in Promiseland, Sean is just one of many whose lives are influenced by your love. Thank you for making a difference! 

Prayer #5

... for President Elect Obama:

"Pray for wise and righteous advisers to surround him. Godly leaders cannot do their job alone. Even the best leaders have failed because they trusted the wrong people. Pray that President Obama will not select his counselors based on party, race, pedigree or political cronyism but on godly character and proven wisdom."

Excerpt from: 10 Ways to Pray for President Barack Obama, by J. Lee Grady

Prayer #4

... for President Elect Obama:

"Ask God to keep our president humble. Many great American leaders became corrupt after they moved to Washington. The fatal attraction of game, wealth and power proved irresistible. The only thing that will guard a man or woman from this pitfall is humility. May God deliver President Obama from the curse of pride."

Excerpt from: 10 Ways to Pray for President Barack Obama, by J. Lee Grady