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May 18, 2009
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
I'll Be Happy When?, by Russ Lawson
We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get
married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the
kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are.
After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with.
We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell
ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his
or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we are able to
go on a nice vacation or when we retire. The truth is there's no
better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life
will always be filled with challenges. (My friend Jerrie sent me
this. I thought I would expand on it a touch.)
When you talk to most of the folks my age, sooner or later, the subject
of retirement comes up as does talk of what they plan to do when they
retire. The thought is that when they no longer have to worry about
going to work, then things will be different, and then they will have
time to do the things that really make them happy.
While thinking about this, I remembered what Jesus said, "Therefore do
not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each
day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34 NIV). I know we are
not necessarily considering worry, but also being happy with your life.
I believe the principle is basically the same. Also, notice what James
wrote.
"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or
that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.'
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your
life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then
vanishes" (James 4:13-14).
"What is keeping me from being happy?"
Perhaps the question we need to ask ourselves is, "What is keeping me
from being happy?" Am I waiting for some future event that I think will
change everything, make everything better, or make things different? Am
I waiting for someone else to change their life, their attitudes, their
likes or dislikes, believing that will make me happy?
The psalmist gives us some insight into finding happiness when he tells
us, "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is
in the LORD his God" (Psalms 146:5).
Where is your hope? Where do you try to find happiness? True hope and
happiness is based on and found in our relationship with our Lord.
May God grant you true happiness this day and forever!
---------
(c) 2009 Russ Lawson <rlawson@wclo.net>, Messages from the Heart
<http://mfth.net>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* Don't Worry about Tomorrow
http://www.heartlight.org/family/family_v259.html
* Totally Present for Today ...
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200711/20071108_present.html
* Tomorrow
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/0320-wjd.html
* Messages from the Heart
http://mfth.net
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200905/20090518_happywhen.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JESUS, by John MacArthur
What did Jesus mean when he said, "Follow me"? In this 20th anniversary
edition of his classic work, MacArthur warns against "easy believism,"
explains his understanding of biblical faith and works, emphasizes the
cost of discipleship, and ...
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?260
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