| |
|
|
 |
| |
 Be happy no matter what. Do everything with joy! |
|
|
|
|
| |
Learn more about Paul’s joyous letter to the Philippians |
|
|
|
|
| |
A
new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35
|
|
|
|
|
| |
YOU
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE |
|
| |
Like Paul and the Philippians, you can make a difference in the lives of others -- in your family, school, church, community, and world! The world needs you -- your ideas, your compassion, and your spiritual outlook. And, it’s never too late to start contributing. The best gifts are those from the heart.
Make a difference: |
|
| |
 |
Be happy no matter what; |
|
Do everything with joy! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Being joyful makes a huge difference in the quality of our lives and in the lives of those with whom we come into contact. We all know how fun it is to be around someone who loves life. “[J]oy is life in excess, the overflow of what cannot be contained within any one person,” Eugene Peterson explains in The Message in his introduction to Paul’s letter to the Philippians.
How do we find and experience this “life in excess,” this “overflow” of wonderful feelings? |
|
| |
|
Peterson explains that “happiness is not a word we can understand by looking
it up in the dictionary.” |
|
Rather, happiness is best learned or experienced by being around someone
who is a “master” at being happy. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Paul was such a master, and continues to serve as an example for us. In his letter to the Philippians, which he wrote from prison, Paul’s own happiness provides insights that can help us lead a genuinely happy life. This is what he says: |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
“I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess.… 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. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (The Message, Phil. 4:10-13) |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Be content with and grateful for what we have, rather than focus on or complain
about what we don’t have. |
|
Make the most of what we have, whether it’s a lot or a little. |
| |
|
Remember Jesus’ story about the men who were given the talents, or
the money. Those who improved them got more. The one who didn’t
do anything with the little money he was given, lost it (KJV, Matt. 25:14- 29). |
|
If we’ve been given a lot, share it. There is joy in giving. |
|
|
Realize that no matter what type of situation we’re in, we can make it through:
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (KJV, Phil. 4:13). |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
If Paul can find contentment in prison, we certainly can find contentment at home, school, work -- regardless of whether or not the situation we’re in is exactly what we want it to be. |
|
| |
|
Finding contentment does not mean that we settle for a bad situation or simply paste a smile on our face and pretend we’re happy. |
|
True contentment comes from understanding how much God loves and cares
for us. |
|
Paul reminds us, “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you
need” (The Message, Phil. 4:19). |
|
So, there’s no reason to get stressed out or feel unhappy since God is giving us absolutely everything we need -- including joy. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Paul’s example and words provide more help: |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
Brethren … this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
(KJV, Phil. 3:13-14) |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Forget what’s past. Often we get unhappy because we dwell too much in what
we should have done, what mistakes we’ve made, how we wish we would’ve acted with others (the list could be endless). |
| |
|
Dwelling on past mistakes does not make us happy. |
|
Dwelling on past happiness doesn’t always make us happy in the present. Sometimes it makes us feel worse, especially if we feel we’re not happy now and wish we could go back to the past when we were “happier.” |
|
But being grateful for past happiness and trusting that real happiness has never left us, is always with us because joy comes directly from God, revolutionizes how we feel and how we act. |
|
|
Be aware of what’s needed at the moment to bring joy to our present situation.
All we need to do is listen to God for direction. |
|
Be glad that we’re striving to understand and live the life Christ Jesus wanted
us to live -- a life full of the happiness of freedom and life. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Paul highlights the need to express our rock-solid sense of happiness in what we do and how we share it with others: |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, and energy deep within, you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
Do everything readily and cheerfully -- no bickering, no second-guessing allowed. Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air…. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.
(The Message, Phil. 2:12-15) |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Being ready, willing, and cheerful in everything we do enables us to enjoy the
mundane tasks in life (such as washing dishes, cleaning our rooms, taking out
the garbage, etc.). These are things that must get done. Why let them make us
unhappy? It’s not worth it. |
|
Understanding that the energy we express comes from God, and therefore is
unlimited, makes it easy to be happy. |
|
Being “sensitive before God” enables us to be sensitive to others’ needs. |
|
Allowing God to work His work through us ensures that everything we do will
have a sense of beauty, symmetry, and pleasure. |
|
Expressing joy in our own lives provides a model for others and helps them find
joy in their own lives. |
|
Being that “breath of fresh air” fills others with joy, refreshes and rejuvenates
their lives. |
|
Being a transparency for God enables others to see God, and therefore
themselves, clearly. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
And if we’re ever tempted to let worry (about anything or everything) take away our joy, Paul has some great counsel: |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them….
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious -- the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (The Message, Phil. 4:4-9)
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Isn’t it wonderful that: |
|
| |
|
God is working us into “his most excellent harmonies;” |
|
God is making us happy; |
|
God’s wholeness settles any concerns we have and replaces them with joy! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
And as we dwell on the “best” in life -- on what’s “true … honest … just … pure … lovely … of good report” (KJV, Phil. 4:8) -- we can’t help but be filled with a joy that is overflowing, a happiness that is lasting and strong. What’s more, when we do as Paul suggests -- “Be glad in God” (The Message, Phil. 3:1); “Rejoice in the Lord alway” (KJV, Phil. 4:4) -- we know that our happiness can never be taken away: it’s ours because God has given it. How much easier and natural it becomes, then, to share it. |
|
| |
-- MFE |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Previous
Make a Difference Topics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Spread Freedom: Make Church, Christ, Central by Loving |
|
|
|
|
| |
Right Attitudes = Right Actions = Making a Difference |
|
|
|
|
| |
Write Letters about Your Life |
|
|
|
|
| |
Participate in the Resurrection |
|
|
|
|
| |
Step out from the crowd; be yourself |
|
|
|
|
| |
Express Creativity - learn the creative process |
|
|
|
|
| |
Make 3 Days Criticism Free |
|
|
|
|
| |
Find the Blessings this Christmas |
|
|
|
|
| |
Make November Kindness Month |
|
|
|
|
| |
Help those affected by the Hurricanes |
|
|
|
|
| |
September’s School Survival Guide |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, let’s write our own Recipes for Life and follow them. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Read Bible magazines, and gain spiritual insight on dating, individuality, community, music, and more. |
|
|
|
|
| |
We can have
the courage to stand up for
right even if we’re scared;
do what’s right even if it’s not cool; see people for who they are. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Pay attention to Joel and Amos; trust God amidst destruction; be humble; change lives |
|
|
|
|
| |
Support tsunami relief and pray |
|
|
|
|
| |
Be a leader
like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach,
Abed-nego |
|
|
|
|
| |
Take care of our Earth. Make the best choices. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Live the Golden Rule daily by loving others |
|
|
|
|
| |
Express
Christmas love -- love yourself
and others |
|
|
|
|
| |
Write
thank you letters |
|
|
|
|
| |
Strive
for wisdom; start "wisdom circles." |
|
|
|
|
| |
Pray
for the world; write and share a psalm |
|
|
|
|
| |
Stand
up for yourself, as Job did; be a good friend. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Be
an active volunteer in your community |
|
|
|
|
| |
Be
like Jabez-pray big, and expect your prayers
to be answered. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Be
a prophet like Elijah and Elisha; stand
up for God |
|
|
|
|
| |
Modern
Day Psalms |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Samuel and Nathan, you can serve God and
help others do right. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
David, you can defeat "Goliaths." |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Ruth, you can build a new life with God. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Put
the "Christ" into Christmas and
everyday. Help
de-stress your parents. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Gideon, you can help free others. Share
your gratitude. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Joshua, you can be a principled leader |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Moses, you can defeat terrorism |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Moses, you can use the commandments daily |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Moses, you can free yourselves and others |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Joseph, you can make the best of tough situations |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Jacob, you can forgive and ask forgiveness |
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Jesus, you can serve others with humility
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Isaac and Rebekah,you can strengthen all
relationships
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Like
Abraham, you can be a peacemaker, friend,
and healer
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Simple
things you can do to help make a difference
in others' lives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
