daily prayer

     Good morning! How are we faithing? Something that is so widespread these days is the importance and the supposed right of happiness. The idea of the pursuit of happiness is said very well in our countries bill of rights. That document tells us we have the right to pursue it and not that happiness is guaranteed. What is happiness? Is it situational? Is it a sense of glee? Do we expect that feeling all the time and if we don't achieve that goal have we failed or do we walk away from that situation or person? I love my job but I am not gleeful every day and that's ok. I love my wife but sometimes gleeful doesn't describe situational feelings and that's ok. I have to take care of things that don't inspire pleasure or even agreeable modes of thinking and that's ok. What salvation through Jesus brings is that sense of gleefulness inside as we go through situational things, although terrifying or sad, we still have the hapiness inside that reminds us of the task at hand and that sucheth it may, we will come out the other side. It is interesting how things can make us happy but ever notice those feelings eventually wane? Then we seek that feeling over and over, bigger and better, higher and higher.  Here's the fatal flaw in that search and striving, all of it is fleeting.  Example, I buy a new care and am tickled but in two years, although I still like it, that thrill isn't there anymore. People do that with spouses and relationships too and that is dangerous because reality is we will have ups and downs and if you are in a down trend that hangs out longer than normal you start to look for the thrill again and rather than look inward we look outward. We over spend. We take more drugs. We drink more all to achieve that higher high. Man o man what a trap. The Mama'a and Papa's had a song about this;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qukk7ep3fc

1Jn 2:16
 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Pe 4:12-13
  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Mar 7:18-23
  And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;  Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Heavanly Father, 

 Thank you for hapiness that only you provide 24-7. Lord, we ask for clarity and insight when we face things. Help us never to lose sight of your love and grace. Teach us to be aware of situational unhapiness and that you are always constant and a place we can always rest. Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus...In Jesus name, amen