Happiness

While I'm not happy about the snow, there are many things that do make me happy. One of them is the pussywillows that my friend, Judy, gave me. She knows that I love them and brings me a bunch every spring. Here's a picture.

I asked the kids at church last night what their most treasured possession was that makes them happy. I heard everything from a 4-wheeler to pets. One little girl said, "God." I think she knew that was the right answer. (You know how kids sometimes always answer Jesus no matter what the question is.) We sang More Precious than Silver. The words are as follows:

Lord, you are more precious than silver;
Lord, you are more costly than gold;
Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds,
and nothing I desire compares with you.

I had to ask myself if that is true in my life. God has been challenging me to rejoice in Him no matter the circumstances, and I realize that in order to succeed in this God must be my focus. When I focus on me, it is easy to become discouraged, selfish, and have a complaining spirit. But when I focus on Him and desire only His delight and pleasure, I find that I can be happy (rejoice) even without the pussywillows.

Here's some scripture that has encouraged me in this areas:

Psalm 73:25, 26 (ESV) - "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV) - "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength;he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places."

Psalm 34:1-3 (ESV) - "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!"

Philippians 4:4 (ESV) - "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice."

I could go on and on. I hope these verses encourage you to rejoice in Him because He is absolutely worthy! May your heart overflow in worship and praise!