Since everyone else is posting this to their blogs, I decided to post it to mine as well. It is a video of Rachel Barkey giving her testimony. She has terminal cancer and, barring a miracle, will not live to see her 38th birthday. She is married and has two young children.
I watched the video on Saturday. Her testimony is incredibly powerful. You can watch the video here and listen to the audio here.
Showing posts with label Happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Happiness. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Evil
"Evil is when we believe that God will not satisfy us and therefore pursue happiness in transient things. That’s the essence of sin." ~Jon Bloom, (Jesus and Buddha on Happiness)
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Jesus and Buddha on Happiness: DesiringGod.org
I enjoyed this article comparing Jesus' and Buddha's views on lasting happiness at Desiring God. I'd definitely recommend reading the whole article, but here are a few of my favorite comparisons.
"The Buddha taught that nothing lasts, so be attached to nothing. Jesus taught that One Thing lasts, so at all cost, be attached to that!"I want to pursue happiness in God. I don't want to 'hew out' my own 'cisterns' to try to satisfy my desires. I want to be entirely satisfied and find my treasure in Him, 'the fountain of living waters'."Jesus knows that our desire for happiness is designed by God and so is our desire for permanence.... We are designed to be satisfied with the one eternal, permanent God."
"Jesus and the Buddha agree that pursuing happiness in transient things is futile, but they direct us to opposite solutions. The Buddha says satisfaction is treasuring nothing. Jesus says it is treasuring God...."
"Evil is when we believe that God will not satisfy us and therefore pursue happiness in transient things. That’s the essence of sin."
Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:12-13)
Monday, February 18, 2008
Be Thankful=More Happiness ☺
The following is part of a short message I gave in youth group entitled, Steps* to True & Lasting Happiness (in no particular order). *this list is not exhaustive My four main points were (1) Excercise self control, (2) Enjoy correction, (3) Fear God, & (4) Be thankful. I had a lot of fun speaking this message and I enjoyed the time I spent acting as youth director.
The message was originally entitled something else and was somewhat scattered and unclear. I had all sorts of ideas but couldn't really figure out what I was trying to say. I asked my dad to look over my notes and he said a few simple statements that helped me to direct my thoughts around the simple them of true and lasting happiness. Here is point #4 of the message:
"One of the greatest things I've learned in life is to be thankful in all things. In Romans 1:21 the Bible describes futile and foolish people with darkened hearts as, “neither glorifying God nor giving thanks to Him.” In the Old Testament, God judged the Israelites when they weren't thankful:“Because you have not served the Lord your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you”. Deuteronomy 28:47-48 (NLT) God does not like it when we complain.
The definition of complain is: to express grief, pain, or discontent; to make a formal accusation or charge. How bold! When we complain we are saying that God is not good. That somehow He has not done something right for us. We are telling Him that we know a better how He should handle things. Really when I think about it God has given me so much—that he's saved me from eternity in hell should be enough!! I can just stop right there. I don't have to spend eternity in hell. Jesus died on the cross and paid the penalty so I don't have to. Amazing. And not only that but He offers me His Word to live a good and happy lives on this earth!!
The definition of thankful is kind of neat, it means, conscious of benefit received; aware and appreciative of a benefit; grateful; well pleased. David, the Psalmist, I think sometimes had trouble being joyful. In Psalms 103 he tells his soul to rejoice and then he begins to list all God's benefits. I'm sure he was smiling by the end (and so was God!)!! We have been given so much. Make an effort to be thankful and grateful for all God has given you!! If you have trouble, tell your soul to be happy and then start listing all God's benefits to you.
Further, we are even to rejoice and be thankful in the trials and difficulties. We can take hope in difficult times knowing that God is working for our good. We can even be encouraged in suffering and trials. James 1:2-4 (NIV) says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”. Maturity, completeness, not lacking anything? Sounds like a pretty happy place to me!
The message was originally entitled something else and was somewhat scattered and unclear. I had all sorts of ideas but couldn't really figure out what I was trying to say. I asked my dad to look over my notes and he said a few simple statements that helped me to direct my thoughts around the simple them of true and lasting happiness. Here is point #4 of the message:
"One of the greatest things I've learned in life is to be thankful in all things. In Romans 1:21 the Bible describes futile and foolish people with darkened hearts as, “neither glorifying God nor giving thanks to Him.” In the Old Testament, God judged the Israelites when they weren't thankful:“Because you have not served the Lord your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you”. Deuteronomy 28:47-48 (NLT) God does not like it when we complain.
The definition of complain is: to express grief, pain, or discontent; to make a formal accusation or charge. How bold! When we complain we are saying that God is not good. That somehow He has not done something right for us. We are telling Him that we know a better how He should handle things. Really when I think about it God has given me so much—that he's saved me from eternity in hell should be enough!! I can just stop right there. I don't have to spend eternity in hell. Jesus died on the cross and paid the penalty so I don't have to. Amazing. And not only that but He offers me His Word to live a good and happy lives on this earth!!
The definition of thankful is kind of neat, it means, conscious of benefit received; aware and appreciative of a benefit; grateful; well pleased. David, the Psalmist, I think sometimes had trouble being joyful. In Psalms 103 he tells his soul to rejoice and then he begins to list all God's benefits. I'm sure he was smiling by the end (and so was God!)!! We have been given so much. Make an effort to be thankful and grateful for all God has given you!! If you have trouble, tell your soul to be happy and then start listing all God's benefits to you.
Further, we are even to rejoice and be thankful in the trials and difficulties. We can take hope in difficult times knowing that God is working for our good. We can even be encouraged in suffering and trials. James 1:2-4 (NIV) says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”. Maturity, completeness, not lacking anything? Sounds like a pretty happy place to me!
“Happy indeed are those whose God is the Lord”. Psalm 144:15b (KJV)
Fear God=Happiness
The following is part of a short message I gave in youth group entitled, Steps* to True & Lasting Happiness (in no particular order). *this list is not exhaustive My four main points were (1) Excercise self control, (2) Enjoy correction, (3) Fear God, & (4) Be thankful. I had a lot of fun speaking this message and I enjoyed the time I spent acting as youth director.
The message was originally entitled something else and was somewhat scattered and unclear. I had all sorts of ideas but couldn't really figure out what I was trying to say. I asked my dad to look over my notes and he said a few simple statements that helped me to direct my thoughts around the simple them of true and lasting happiness. Here is point #3 of the message:
"Fear means: respect, reverence, awe. Another definition is the following: “The fear of God is that awesome reverence of the LORD deriving from being sensitive to His glorious, holy and majestic Person resulting in respect and obedience”.
There is a tendency to emphasize the love of God, and how He was humble and became like one of us, and that He gives second chances because that is the most comfortable, but Romans 11:22 (NLT) says, “Notice how God is both kind and severe”. In addition to being loving and forgiving, He is also holy, just, a consuming fire, and righteous judge.
We must respect that God makes requirements of us. Over and over throughout scripture God promised blessings and friendship for those who obeying his Word and curses and trouble for those who disobeyed His Word (see Deuteronomy 28). In our studies in 1 John we learned that “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands”. 1 John 2:3 (NIV) We must have a respect for God and His commandments. We must try to learn them and hide them in our hearts like Psalm 119:11 (NIV) says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you”. Sin makes God very angry. Though it's difficult to comprehend, people will go to hell for their sins if they do not repent and believe.
Jesus himself said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Mat 10:28 (NIV) It's scary to think that God has the power to throw me into hell! The Bible says in Isaiah 64:6, “We are all infected and impure with sin. And all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” We can never do anything good enough that will save us. Aren't you thankful that “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Romans 5:8 (NIV) Thinking of where I should be going and what Christ has saved me from makes me very happy!!
Philippians 2:12 (NIV) urges us to “work out [y]our own salvation with fear and trembling”. The fear of the Lord is also described as “the beginning of wisdom” Proverbs 9:1 (NIV). And in speaking of people who fear God the Bible says in Psalm 25:12-14 (NLT) “Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the Promised Land. Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant.” Friendship with the Lord sounds pretty good to me!"
The message was originally entitled something else and was somewhat scattered and unclear. I had all sorts of ideas but couldn't really figure out what I was trying to say. I asked my dad to look over my notes and he said a few simple statements that helped me to direct my thoughts around the simple them of true and lasting happiness. Here is point #3 of the message:
"Fear means: respect, reverence, awe. Another definition is the following: “The fear of God is that awesome reverence of the LORD deriving from being sensitive to His glorious, holy and majestic Person resulting in respect and obedience”.
There is a tendency to emphasize the love of God, and how He was humble and became like one of us, and that He gives second chances because that is the most comfortable, but Romans 11:22 (NLT) says, “Notice how God is both kind and severe”. In addition to being loving and forgiving, He is also holy, just, a consuming fire, and righteous judge.
We must respect that God makes requirements of us. Over and over throughout scripture God promised blessings and friendship for those who obeying his Word and curses and trouble for those who disobeyed His Word (see Deuteronomy 28). In our studies in 1 John we learned that “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands”. 1 John 2:3 (NIV) We must have a respect for God and His commandments. We must try to learn them and hide them in our hearts like Psalm 119:11 (NIV) says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you”. Sin makes God very angry. Though it's difficult to comprehend, people will go to hell for their sins if they do not repent and believe.
Jesus himself said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Mat 10:28 (NIV) It's scary to think that God has the power to throw me into hell! The Bible says in Isaiah 64:6, “We are all infected and impure with sin. And all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” We can never do anything good enough that will save us. Aren't you thankful that “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Romans 5:8 (NIV) Thinking of where I should be going and what Christ has saved me from makes me very happy!!
Philippians 2:12 (NIV) urges us to “work out [y]our own salvation with fear and trembling”. The fear of the Lord is also described as “the beginning of wisdom” Proverbs 9:1 (NIV). And in speaking of people who fear God the Bible says in Psalm 25:12-14 (NLT) “Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the Promised Land. Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant.” Friendship with the Lord sounds pretty good to me!"
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