MESSAGES
In just a few days the calendar will change, once again, to a brand new year. We will be leaving the year 2000 and entering 2001. People all around the world are, as I write, planning their New Years Eve parties. Family, friends and business associates will come together, uncork their champagne, offer a toast, and make their New Year resolutions— "I'm going to start doing this" or "I'm going to stop doing that." At midnight many people will suck face with a person they don't even know, and then wish each other a Happy New Year!
They'll be all excited looking forward to the new year ahead, hoping that many of their dreams will come true in order that they might be happy. Because after all, the one thing people want more than anything else in life is to be happy. They want to feel secure and not have to worry about the future, and they, in their heart-of-hearts, believe that money, good health and pleasure is the key to true happiness.
Happiness is defined as, a state of well-being, satisfaction and contentment, and it can come in many ways. Not every person is the same, and for different people it takes different things to make them happy. For some people it might take finances, for others a certain hobby, a new computer, new car, new home, a new job, and still for others a new relationship.
There's no question that these things can make a person happy, at least for a while. However, the reality is none of these things can keep us happy. We all know that after awhile these things begin to wear out and get old, and then it's time to find something better that will make us happy.
Its been said that happiness depends on happenings. If that's true, and it is, then unhappiness is also dependent on happenings. If it takes a person, place or thing to make us happy, then it's fair to say if we lose that person, place or thing, we will be unhappy.
Perhaps for many of you, the year 2000 has been a very good year. You've received a promotion, a pay raise, a new home, or have gotten married. Perhaps you were finally able to take that vacation you've always wanted. Right now, you're happy, and that's wonderful, and I'm happy for you. But what if these things had not occurred. What if you had not received that promotion, or pay raise, or new home? What if you had not gotten married, or were able to take that vacation? Would you still be happy, or would you be disappointed, discontented, dissatisfied— unhappy!
Here's my point: If you're looking for true happiness; a happiness that will never leave you; a happiness that will never disappoint you; a happiness that is not dependent on happenings; a happiness that will stay with you for all eternity, then let me tell you how. The Bible gives us the very simple answer - "Happy are the people whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 144:15; emphasis added). Make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life and you'll experience happiness, and a Happy New Year, as never before.
I pray that 2001 will be the Happiest Year of your life, at home and at work, as you enter in to a deeper relationship with the God who loves you.
"He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
and whoever trust in the Lord, happy is he"
–Proverbs 16:20 (emphasis added)
God bless you,
Pastor Steve |
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| SHIELD OF FAITH |
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For more information,
call (951) 687-6902
Attention Juanita
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