We were hanging out as a family. We agreed how much more fulfilling life is when we are ministering to others. I know that when I am teaching others I grow.
While we were talking I was reminded of an illustration. "What is the difference between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea?" The sea of Galilee is beautiful and clear. The Dead sea is putrid and ugly.
The Sea of Galilee has water flowing in and out. The Dead Sea only has water flowing in, with no outlet of the water. Many times our lives can be filled with input. We can become spiritually stagnant. But if we apply what we learn, and we pass what we learn on to others our spiritual lives tend to thrive. Ministering to others brings freshness and vitality to our walk with God.
Steve and Comfort, our son-in-law and daughter, teach a college age Sunday school class that has brought them a lot of joy. I love teaching and sharing with our foster children and have loved leading a Bible study at work.
Showing posts with label fulfillment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fulfillment. Show all posts
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Joy vs. Happiness
There is a difference between happiness and joy. I heard a simple little thought that I liked. Happiness depends on "happenings", joy does not.
When things are going well it is fairly easy to be happy. When I get an A on a test, I have a new friend, someone gets married or has a baby, it is easy to be happy. But what sustains me when a friend dies, I get overlooked for a promotion, or I have bad news financially?
Joy is deeper and more foundational. God is fundamentally joyful. Galatians 5: 22,23 gives joy as one of the fruit of the Spirit. Joy is knowing that I am loved (by God). It is an underlying sense that everything will ultimately be worked out by God for my good. It is a deep and abiding belief in the goodness of God.
Joy remains even when I am not happy. Jesus wept. He felt deep emotion of pain for his friends. He was brutally killed. But at a deep level he felt the joy of the Father's love, had a sense of destiny, knew he was doing what was right.
We can claim His joy as our own if we have Jesus as our Savior. He lives inside of us.
There are days where I am not happy, but I sometimes have to ask God "Please give me your joy today." Even in my sadness I am given a foundation of God's joyful presence.
Today I am happy and joyful. Sofia is the first follower of my blog. That alone makes writing this blog worth the effort :-)
When things are going well it is fairly easy to be happy. When I get an A on a test, I have a new friend, someone gets married or has a baby, it is easy to be happy. But what sustains me when a friend dies, I get overlooked for a promotion, or I have bad news financially?
Joy is deeper and more foundational. God is fundamentally joyful. Galatians 5: 22,23 gives joy as one of the fruit of the Spirit. Joy is knowing that I am loved (by God). It is an underlying sense that everything will ultimately be worked out by God for my good. It is a deep and abiding belief in the goodness of God.
Joy remains even when I am not happy. Jesus wept. He felt deep emotion of pain for his friends. He was brutally killed. But at a deep level he felt the joy of the Father's love, had a sense of destiny, knew he was doing what was right.
We can claim His joy as our own if we have Jesus as our Savior. He lives inside of us.
There are days where I am not happy, but I sometimes have to ask God "Please give me your joy today." Even in my sadness I am given a foundation of God's joyful presence.
Today I am happy and joyful. Sofia is the first follower of my blog. That alone makes writing this blog worth the effort :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
