60 Days of Happiness: Discover God's Promise of Relentless Joy

I just finished reading '60 Days of Happiness: Discover God's Promise of Relentless Joy.'

I was excited to read this book because I loved Randy Alcorn's book 'Heaven' and thought this would be as inspirational and dynamic.

Sadly, I found it a bit dry. It seemed like he looked up happy quotes on the internet and scattered them throughout. And the chapters felt very repetitive.

I did take away one thought though that may have been worth reading the whole thing! And that was when he pointed out that we expect God to treat us by the way we perceive Him. So if we see Him as a harsh, controlling task master with no sense of joy we will fear Him and not get close. But if we see Him as a happy God then we can expect Him to want us to be happy too.

That made sense to me.

If you want Bible verses about happiness and joy or quotes from other writers and well-known people, then get the book.

Tyndale gave me a copy of this book for my review.

Joy

John and I went to Hickory’s Home and Garden Show this weekend and Carol Davis from WMIT was there. She gave a talk called “Joy is more than a dish detergent.”

She said when she was first out of school and in an apartment on her own she put Joy dish soap in her dishwasher. And then left. For three hours!

When she got home and opened her front door she saw bubbles and wondered, “What is Lawrence Welk doing in my house?” Then she came in and saw bubbles everywhere!

Her thought?

These won’t last forever! I need to have a party!

Joy

I’m going to go back to Rick Warren’s Book, God Can Change Your Life, because it’s so inspirational and so practical:

The second fruit of the spirit is Joy. And Joy is also a choice. It’s how we can stay positive when everything’s falling apart. As Christians, we have reason to be filled with Joy because of 3 things:

1. Our hope. This is our hope in Christ and remember, “hope” in the Bible is a done deal. It’s not a wish.

2. We have joy because God has a purpose in every situation. God uses everything that happens to us, even if it’s something bad that we’ve caused ourselves, and works it for good. Joy isn’t the absence of problems, but the presence of God. We can handle trials a little easier because we know they have a purpose, even when we don’t see it at the time: hurt can make us more compassionate, which is a step toward making us more like Jesus. Our problems also make us more mature. So our joy comes in knowing. We know God is in control. There is a reason. He is sovereign.

3. We can have joy because God is always with those who believe in Him. As believers we have been reconciled to Him through Jesus. Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through the deep waters, I will be with you! Your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned. The hard trials will not hurt you.”

This is a great verse to hang on to. It tells believers that no matter what happens, God’s going to take care of us. We will not go through it alone!

Rick Warren says you have to develop your inner joy. He says if you’ll do 4 things for the next 6 weeks, you’ll be a more positive, joyful person then you’ve ever been before.

1. Develop the attitude of gratitude. Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The most grateful people are the happiest people. So start by looking for ways to express your gratitude this week. Write a note to someone, make a phone call. Thank God.

2. Cultivate inner joy by giving. Malachi 3:10 is the only place in the Bible that says we should test God on something He says and it’s about tithing. He says if we give Him the first of our efforts just see if He doesn’t overflow our barns!

3. Develop inner joy through service. Joy comes when we get our focus off ourselves and concentrate on helping others.

4. Share Christ with others

All of this is counter to our culture, which is very “me” oriented. Gratitude? Most people feel entitled. Giving and serving? Volunteering has taken a real hit. There are lots of needy organizations. It used to be that women at least volunteered, but now they are all working too. To buy more and more things. (Which keeps them busy taking care of those things!)

Sharing Christ? That wouldn’t be very politically correct nowadays would it? Everyone else can talk about his or her religion, but not Christians. (I think that’s Satan’s doing. Christians are really the only ones he’s worried about!)

Click here for
Joy Clothing and Gifts

Commissioning Sunday School Teachers

Our church commissioned the upcoming year's Sunday School teachers in church last Sunday. They gave us all a pin connected to a Bible verse and prayer.

The verse is Proverbs 15:2 "The wise person makes learning a joy."

And the prayer, "O Holy Spirit, help me to teach with joy the most joyful message in the entire world. Amen."

That is so true!

Pray for the Fruits of the Spirit

More then earthly things, pray for the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit daily and at the same time ask God how you don’t reflect that characteristic. Also read the Beatitudes. God’s purpose is to make us more like Christ and to grow His church, not all the other things we may have on our wish list!

givitup has over 900 different products with your choice of the 9 Fruits of the Spirit on each: Christian Gifts

God gives us peace in times of trial

I heard a story on Christian radio today about a man who had lost just about everything and if he didn’t find some money before the end of the day he would lose what was left.

He prayed about it and while he was praying he felt an overwhelming sense of peace and joy come over him. Later that day a letter was found at his front door with a check in it. His reaction to this is what was so profound. He said, “I was so glad I felt the peace and joy before the solution to my problem.”

Suffering is a blessing because of the opportunity it gives to testify to God’s grace both by words and by life.

Joy

From the book ‘A Call to Joy’

"We only ever have one moment of happiness and that is the present moment, yet we are constantly surrendering it for some greater happiness that is always just out of our reach and is eventually stolen from us by death. Recognize that you are happiness. Then begin to share it with your spouse, your children and everyone you meet. The more you bring happiness to others, the more you will recognize the infinite treasure of happiness within you.”

See givitup’s entire Joy line of apparel and gifts in their Fruits of the Spirit section here