Joy, Happiness, and Thankfulness

 

“Joy is not the absence of afflictions,

but having the Lord’s comfort to deal with them.”

“Happiness is not found in our material belongings,

but found in our personal relationship with the Lord.”

“Thankfulness is not having what you want,

but being content with what you have.”

 Philippians 4:12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share [with me] in my affliction. 

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness [actually] is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are
comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;

7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our
sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

2 Corinthians 7:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Matthew 6:25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what
you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you
will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not
sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds
them. Are you not worth much more than they?

27 “Andwho of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

28 “And why are you worried about clothing?
Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all
his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 “But if
God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow
is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You
of little faith! 31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’
or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’

32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these
things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33 “But seek first His kingdom and His
righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle [spirit] be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Lord Jesus Saves †

 

“TO ALL THOSE HURTING”

“TO ALL THOSE HURTING”

My prayers go out to all those hurting. I know God is listening to your cries. But know there is hope through God. He can make the worst tragedy turn into something good. The key is Christ. Through Christ, he will open new doors and show you another way, but it takes faith. If we put our total trust in him he will not let us down. Sometimes the thing you think you want or need isn’t the answer. God knows the answer. What we need to learn is our afflictions are actually blessings. As we learn to endure our afflictions and use Christ as an example we find favor with God. Christ went through much pain and suffering. People made fun of him and they ended up killing him. On the other hand, Christ never treated them the way he was treated. He endured it and prayed for those who hurt him. He showed love and compassion. When we pray it is good to ask for a heart that is pleasing to God. He tells us not to give up hope and persevere. If we love Jesus with all our hearts and ask for forgiveness he will cleanse away our sins. You could have been a prostitute, thief, murderer, or whatever. But a sincere heart asking for forgiveness will be forgiven. Jesus sees our hearts when man can’t. So if there are those hurting because someone is making you feel worthless endure it, pray for them, and God will exalt you. We need to leave judgment to God. He will take care of those in his time. I will be the first to say God’s way isn’t always the easy way but it is the right way and it will take you places you have never been.

Peace and Comfort Be With You!
Lord Jesus Saves!

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 That’s why we are not discouraged. No, even if outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are being renewed each and every day. This light, temporary nature of our suffering is producing for us an everlasting, weight of glory, far beyond any comparison, because we do not look for things that can be seen but for things that cannot be seen. For things that can be seen are temporary, but things that cannot be seen are eternal.