Happiness of Sharing

One last thing I would like to touch on the topic of happiness. Happiness comes when we perceive others the way we perceive ourselves. All of us have a good perception of ourselves that we are right, we are intellects, we are good people at heart and more importantly, we are God's children. When we have the maturity to look at others in the same way we look at ourselves then we will have happiness. Only when we are able to appreciate the positive things in others we will be happy.

Sometimes, in spite of we being able to appreciate others' individuality, talents and good traits the other individual may not like us. In such cases we need to understand that it is fine if the other person does not like us though we may be good to them. It is absolutely alright. It is not necessary that we have to be likeable by all...

But once we develop the attitude of loving others, accepting others and appreciating others for their individual positive traits, God will definitely bring into our circle those people who appreciate the love and the friendship we give and share with others selflessly without restraint.

As Smith Wigglesworth the 20th century evangelist says "when you have the love, joy and the presence of the Lord in you, you cannot stop yourselves but emit the same when you meet others". The love and the joy of God is contagious. It will be accepted by those whose heart is ready for it. A heart that is open without deceit, hypocrisy and manipulation.

When we are able to experience the love, joy and the presence of God we cannot afford to hold it ourselves but leak it to others...

Matthew 22:37-40The Message (MSG)
 Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them

Mental Maps for Happiness

We are currently talking about the way we define happiness. In others words, happiness is a by product of our mind's definition. We can lose our happiness if we see our current situation with unpleasantness and hope for an alternative. I am not referring about problem solving here. I am referring about the mental maps we make about the definition of happiness. For instance, I can say to myself...'I will be happy if I go for a trip this vacation'. I can also decide ' I am going to be happy this vacation by spending time with my family by doing lot of activities like watching movies together,  playing board games, cooking special food, visiting friends, etc.'

Both are definitions of happiness. But we ultimately decide between what gives us happiness or how we can choose to be happy. There is a vast difference between the two and the secret of defining happiness depends on our heart's maturity. If we learn to be content with any situation in our lives, i.e. learning to be happy with our current situation then we can learn to make mental maps of happiness by choosing ways to be happy. Rather than saying I will be happy if I get this or I will be happy if I find love/friendship/relationship, then we are basing our happiness on something or someone which is not directly under our control. By doing so we will fail to be happy at all...

Paul learnt this secret...He quotes this in Phil 4:12-14 (The Message)

I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.

I learnt this lesson from my dad...

The Way We Define Happiness...

In one of my previous post or another blog, I had mentioned this phrase. "Happiness is what we define for ourselves". Each of us define what brings happiness in our lives. For instance, I may define that by having more writing projects I would be happy as it would help me financially and satisfy me psychologically; and hence may base my happiness on my work prospects. Similarly, another person may define that getting married may bring happiness or change of job or building a house or having an offspring can bring or add happiness to their lives. While this is true to a greater extent and we may be praying hard or waiting desperately for a breakthrough, our minds might be so fixed on the future that we may fail to live in the present. This is a common phenomenon to all and has to happened to me as well...and I am no exception.

One of the things that we may forget in the process  of waiting for our defined future happiness is to live in the present. By doing so we can get so lost in our mental struggles that we miss out on small joys of the present...like a good time with the family, few moments of fun with spouse or children or parents or friends...Since we are so engulfed in our minds to live in our defined future happiness (which we see only in our daydreams) we loose to focus on the present.

We cannot change our present either by bargaining or negotiating with God or even by fighting with Him. We cannot achieve by making God change His mind.  We have to face the reality and wait with hope and prayer. We are left with no option. However, we can change the way we handle our present life instead of unnecessary mental struggles....that is by learning to live the present life by changing our definition of happiness.

Unless we learn to be happy in our current situation, we cannot assume that we will be happy in our future as per our defined happiness that we perceive. What guarantee do we have that we will be happy tomorrow without any kind of problems or worries. For the Bible clearly says,

Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I got the message...

Maintaining Our Mental Serenity

In my last post I was talking about inner peace. Another way to find inner peace is to have a healthy thinking process...our thinking patterns is an very important ingredient for our mental serenity. Psychologists call this positive thinking. However, what I am referring here is not with respect to having a positive thought process about ourselves, our lives and future. A majority of us do have positive thinking when it comes our present lives, ourselves, our family and our future.

But what I am referring to is with regard to our thought process or thinking patterns that we have towards others. In my opinion this is the most significant or crucial mindset that determines our  serenity. If we can afford to hold positive perception towards others (can be anybody we come across in life or related to us either professionally, workwise, relatives, friends,  neighbors, acquaintances, associates or members of the community) we will hold our serenity. When we hold negative thoughts towards others in terms jealousy, criticism, bitterness, anger, hatred, etc. the resultant is that we will lose our serenity. This is backed by Biblical scripture.

Galatians 6:7 (NIV)
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

If we hold jealousy, anger or bitterness towards others we cannot afford to gain a good harvest in our lives and thus will lose our mental serenity. To best of our consciousness and awareness may we learn to think only good things for others so that we may have inner peace and serenity for a happy and healthy living.

The Secret Ingredient

What is the best way to keep inner peace? I am sure we all know that working inner peace like Po (protagonist-Kung Fu Panda) either through meditation or through the tummy wouldn't work for us all...But recently, I have come to see a way of working inner peace unlike Po's...Definitely it is the secret ingredient for the chicken soup for the soul. I have come to experience that the ideal way for resilience is giving up things into God's hands no matter what and to ask God to help us have the mind of Christ...

Once we have the mind of Christ, we are able to see life's circumstances, instances, people and situations from the Lord's perspective. I am unable to explain this very clearly...But what I can tell you is : 'when you go through times where you feel that things are not under your control and you can do nothing about it...just give it up or give it over into His hands and you will see that you are still able to maintain your inner peace'.

Trying to take hold of things over which we have no or little control is what can make us feel miserable and angry. And getting hold of the mind of Christ to accept things as they are and able to carry on life with positivity is one way to hold the peace that He gives...

The secret ingredient of the Chicken soup for the soul has worked for me...I hope it works for you too...Amen.

For Paul says in Philippians 4:7 (J.B.PHILLIPS)

Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.

My Life Lesson...

Yesterday, I had a troubled heart as I tried to contemplate on things that is yet to take place. No matter in whatever ways I tried to figure a solution it didn't seem workable. Without realization, I was allowing despair to set in. Suddenly, I looked into the Lord and prayed, "Lord you know my burden, you know my worries, counsel me at this time of the hour. Give me a word that could help me find rest". I took my devotion and read.

The verse from Philippians 4:11 (NIV) read:

...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

The devotion narrated about different kinds of trees a king had in his garden. One evening when the king took a stroll in his garden, he heard the oak tree comparing itself with the beautiful pine and being tired of being an oak. Similarly, the pine was dissatisfied that it could not bear fruit like the grape and the grape was unhappy for not being large like peaches.

The king finally comes across a violet who appears to be happy. When the king inquires about the reason for violet's joy, the violet replied, "My dear king, I know I am small and I may not be prominent like the oak or pine or grape or peach. But since you decided to have me in your garden,  I decided to be the best violet I can be". The king was touched...So was I.

No matter our life circumstances, God has placed us exactly where He wanted us to be...though our situations or circumstances may not be favourable or what we desired, I realized I have to learn to be content in where He has placed me...

I learnt my lesson. Thank you Jesus.

Living in His Ways

How do you think can we keep as per God's laws and ways? People have tried over thousands of years from the Old Testament times to follow God's laws, rules and ways. Yet they have only realized that they have failed to keep them all. If one has had been successful in keeping certain laws, he/she would have failed at keeping others. The only way one can keep God's laws and ways is by the grace of Jesus Christ and with the help of the Holy Spirit...

There was once a man of God who always gossiped. He tried hard to quit this habit. But he couldn't. He fasted and prayed. It didn't help him in any way. Finally, he submitted his spirit, body and soul to the Holy Spirit of God. He asked the Holy Spirit to take control over him everyday before he began His day. Slowly he came to see the difference. The Spirit of God helped him change. He became more sober and a quite man, good at listening and less with talking. He did not indulge in any talk that was unwholesome or something that did not edify the other person. The Holy Spirit of God helped him to go through this transformation. Though the change was gradual it was consistent. The man was happy to be changed. He began to thank God and ask the Holy Spirit to make him more like the Lord.

 Peter 1:13-16 (PHILLIPS)
So brace up your minds, and, as men who know what they are doing, rest the full weight of your hopes on the grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ reveals himself. Live as obedient children before God. Don’t let your character be moulded by the desires of your ignorant days, but be holy in every department of your lives, for the one who has called you is himself holy. The scripture says: ‘Be holy, for I am holy’.

2 Corinthians 13:14 (PHILLIPS)

The grace that comes through our Lord Jesus Christ, the love that is of God the Father, and the fellowship that is ours in the Holy Spirit be with you all!

Rules of God?

Yesterday I mentioned about living a life as per the will and the rules of God. Many of us know very well what God means by that...it is having a good heart (cleansed from uncleanliness) and following righteousness. I have come across many people who hold the belief that keeping the religious outlook is ideal enough to live the life that God wants them to. However, importance is not given to keep one's body, soul and spirit free of deception, hypocrisy, manipulation, jealousy, bitterness, anger, wrath, backbiting, hatred, cursing others, arrogance, pride, haughtiness, covetousness and so on... It would do no good by keeping a righteous and religious outlook when one's mind, soul and spirit is marred by these traits.

God has kept it very simple in His word...Micah 6:8 (NIV)

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

When we learn to walk humbly with God, He makes sure that our heart, mind, soul and spirit is kept free from the above stated negative traits. Even if it still there He ensures to pluck it out like a surgeon who does surgery on a human body. It may be painful but is a prerequisite for us to live as His child. Have we forgotten that He has come so that we can be made more like Him?

Blessing is Contagious

Do we all know that the blessings that we claim for ourselves are not temporary? What we claim and receive in our lives on this earth are also passed on to our children and theirs as long as we and our children commit to live as per the will and rules of God. The bible wonderfully states:

Psalm 103:17 (NLT)
But the love of the Lord remains forever
    with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children

When the salvation of God through Christ extends to our children and in return extends to theirs, this cycle goes on...what more do we need than salvation.

Really, we do not understand the full power of salvation until we start seeing the lives of those who are desperately in need for miracle in their lives and are in search of one. For everything in our lives (whether it is a need or a miracle) we have a saviour for us to turn to, for we know that He is there to help...

To remain in the love of Lord...to be an object of His love itself is a wonderful aspect of life. As for me I consider this as a privilege for I see that nothing can hold me if not for His grace which is the manifestation of His Love.

Prayer:
Thank you Lord for considering me...Am I so worthy that you thought of me? Certainly I am not worthy...I realize this as I see your cross.

Blessing- The Lord's Way

What a joy it is to live in the presence of the Lord. His presence and the way He works in our lives does make a lot of difference. I got up this morning like any other day. I had a few friends and well wishers who sent me New Year greetings. I answered them all a heart filled blessed year ...It was an usual day like any other...but there was a difference. I could feel the joy (from the Lord) in my heart. As I did my usual day to day chores, I could do it more joyfully. Speaking to a close cousin further enriched the joy. When somebody could tell you that they felt empty not talking to you for past two days what a joy...what more does one need? This love of Christ amidst His children is inexpressible...we don't need gifts, celebrations, money and vacation/trips to be happy...

As the day went by one more relative called to wish me and I hadn't even contacted them during the previous year. They reached out me to wish us New Year and I was amazed to see how the Lord used me to see their need and give them some direction that could help them to relieve from a health need. I felt a pressing desire to help them and wanted to go the extra mile to meet their need. This is not a monetary need but something done in a human way.

In this fast world when everybody is busy with their own life schedules, God brings us circumstances where we could be a blessing to others. Yes we all would have prayed for blessings for ourselves and our families. But beyond that God uses us to become a blessing for others. What more do we need than this joy of being a blessing to others.

Gen 12:2 (NIV)
“... I will bless you;... and you will be a blessing.

The starting day of the year has been a blessing to me... I hope the same has been to you as well, today and almost all the days of the year...