 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
How to Find Happiness
Part 1
Have you ever noticed that just as your cup of happiness is full and you finally settle back to enjoy it, somebody bumps your elbow? Happiness can be an elusive thing. I don?t know how you would measure this, but according to one study only 20% of the people in the U.S. claim to be happy. For some people it is that bumped elbow upsetting their cup of happiness. For others, it can be that thing that never happens that upsets their happiness.
What is your picture of a happy life?
Take a moment before we start to fill in the following blank, “I would be happier if ____.” That statement you just thought about says a lot about what you believe. It might even say something about your approach to life. I want you to compare the statement you thought about and your beliefs about happiness with some of the words of Jesus describing the happy life.
Jesus gave us a picture of a happy life that was very different. Jesus told us you can find happiness in strange places. He described these strange places to find happiness at the beginning of his ministry when he gave a defining message, his Kingdom Manifesto, a message that is commonly called “The Sermon on the Mount.” This sermon begins with those familiar words “blessed are.” Modern translators have often used the words “happy [are]” or “fortunate [are]” instead of “blessed [are]” as a translation to the term Jesus used.
This section of Jesus' message is referred to as the beatitudes. The beatitudes are not a series of commands, but blessings that are described and the promises associated with the attitudes that are rewarded with these blessings. The beatitudes describe the kind of person who will receive the blessings of God. The beatitudes identify a series of qualities that produce happiness, even though happiness is not readily apparent.
Updates
- The 2012 Annual Fellowship Conference will be held at Lake Point Resort State Park in Eufaula, AL on June 28-29. More information can be found in this brochure.
- The 2012 Camp Meeting will be held at the Governor's Inn in Pigeon Forge, TN on July 9-13. More information can be found at this website: http:// campmeeting2012.blogspot.com/
