A RECIPE FOR "HAPPY"!

We all want to be “happy” right? Well, if happiness seems to evade you and if you are feeling particularly unhappy and you've bought the lie that Christians can't always be happy and it’s left you craving something more…I have just the recipe for you! Some say that you can have joy without being happy but I say not so. Why settle for that? If we are going to have the full course life that God has prepared for us…we need to have happiness on our plate. Joy without happiness is like mashed potatoes without the gravy or French fries without ketchup!

Our problem is that we've misunderstood what happiness really is! The world and our flesh can give us all sorts of recipes for happiness but here are the ingredients for it according to God’s word. Enjoy!

A RECIPE FOR HAPPY:

Get saved!

Deuteronomy 33:29
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

A generous portion of correction and chastening-

Job 5:17
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

Children-( If you don’t have any, borrow the neighbors or help in the Children’s Church!)-

Psalm 127:4 &5
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them…

A healthy dose of fear…a whole walk…and work, work, work-

Psalm 128:1 &2
Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Do some finding & getting...this one's a specialty item!-

Proverbs 3:13
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Invest in the tree...it'll keep-

Proverbs 3:18
She (wisdom) is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Enough mercy to go around-

Proverbs 14:21
…he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Tap into your “trust” fund, this one’s on Him!-

Proverbs 16:20
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

Do what’s right because it’s right…that’s what my pastor always says & don’t forget to season it well with grace!-

Proverbs 29:18
…he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Be ready to serve…this recipe is for everyone! Jesus even cooked it up at the last supper!

John 13:12-17
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Good meals come to those who wait…or is it endure?-

James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure.

Suffer…suffer…suffer! This thing requires more than an oven mitt and a pat of flower to the cheek…if you know what I mean...-

1 Peter 3:13 & 14
And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

Allow it to stand through times of reproach!-

1 Peter 4:14
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Seconds anyone?

It seems as though...what I thought I was ingesting as a good healthy helping of happy...and what I've really been eating are two very different things! Nothing more than a "sugar high" really! I think I'm going to go get some ingredients for a real "happy" meal!