Mary Jo.
happiness isn't the truth
Sorry Pharrell, I can't stand with you on this one. Because I don't think happiness is the truth. I believe that Jesus is.
But boy...He sure does make me happy sometimes. Like right now. When I'm just overwhelmed by how amazing He is and how much He loves me. Or the fact that tonight was the start of my favorite week of the whole year - missions conference - and you know, it's gonna make me really happy.
But guess what. Christians aren't always happy. They don't have to always be. Because when you follow Jesus, you go through trials. Things aren't always peachy. (If a phony preacher tries to tell you otherwise, please don't listen. Just read the Bible. Paul suffered.) But what Christ's followers do have is joy. And the great thing about joy is that it's constant, while happiness isn't. Because you see, joy - Biblical joy - isn't happiness. However, joy is with you through happiness, but it's also with you through sorrow. Joy is hope. The hope that things will get better. That we have a God who LOVES us and has a greater plan for us. See, people refuse to believe in God because they don't understand how a God who's supposed to be so loving would allow bad things to happen to His sheep. But no. God let's these trials happen because He loves us. It's according to His wonderful plan! Sometimes God needs to test us so we will learn to lean on Him more. Focus on what's important. Come back stronger. Wanna know something? I can't think of any bad thing I've gone through where something positive hasn't come out of it. I'm grateful for all of it. Oh, and guess what else. We get an eternal reward for our trials. James 1:12 says "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
Um, wow you guys. God is amazing. Look, living for Him is WORTH IT! And if you don't believe any of it, why not? Don't you think there's a greater purpose in life? Or do you think that purpose is to do whatever you want? Your own happiness? Permanent happiness is impossible to achieve. And doing whatever you feel like isn't gonna cut it on judgement day. I believe in an afterlife. And I believe the afterlife is Heaven or Hell. Eternal life, bliss...or eternal death, suffering. You choose.
--
So, there's that guys. :) This is a really old photo but I haven't taken anything and I just had to share that! So if you read this, well...then that makes me happy. :)
happiness isn't the truth
Sorry Pharrell, I can't stand with you on this one. Because I don't think happiness is the truth. I believe that Jesus is.
But boy...He sure does make me happy sometimes. Like right now. When I'm just overwhelmed by how amazing He is and how much He loves me. Or the fact that tonight was the start of my favorite week of the whole year - missions conference - and you know, it's gonna make me really happy.
But guess what. Christians aren't always happy. They don't have to always be. Because when you follow Jesus, you go through trials. Things aren't always peachy. (If a phony preacher tries to tell you otherwise, please don't listen. Just read the Bible. Paul suffered.) But what Christ's followers do have is joy. And the great thing about joy is that it's constant, while happiness isn't. Because you see, joy - Biblical joy - isn't happiness. However, joy is with you through happiness, but it's also with you through sorrow. Joy is hope. The hope that things will get better. That we have a God who LOVES us and has a greater plan for us. See, people refuse to believe in God because they don't understand how a God who's supposed to be so loving would allow bad things to happen to His sheep. But no. God let's these trials happen because He loves us. It's according to His wonderful plan! Sometimes God needs to test us so we will learn to lean on Him more. Focus on what's important. Come back stronger. Wanna know something? I can't think of any bad thing I've gone through where something positive hasn't come out of it. I'm grateful for all of it. Oh, and guess what else. We get an eternal reward for our trials. James 1:12 says "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
Um, wow you guys. God is amazing. Look, living for Him is WORTH IT! And if you don't believe any of it, why not? Don't you think there's a greater purpose in life? Or do you think that purpose is to do whatever you want? Your own happiness? Permanent happiness is impossible to achieve. And doing whatever you feel like isn't gonna cut it on judgement day. I believe in an afterlife. And I believe the afterlife is Heaven or Hell. Eternal life, bliss...or eternal death, suffering. You choose.
--
So, there's that guys. :) This is a really old photo but I haven't taken anything and I just had to share that! So if you read this, well...then that makes me happy. :)