“IS EVERYBODY HAPPY?”

“Is everybody happy? The short answer is no, according to a recent UMR survey taken over the past couple of years on the state of happiness in New Zealand.” ( That is the beginning of the commentary “Finding our happy place” in the LISTENER March 3 2012 )

Why the negative answer?

Because we are not to seek for happiness, we are to hunger after righteousness.

WE ARE NOT TO SEEK FOR HAPPINESS.

Why are we not to seek for happiness?

Is not the whole world seeking for happiness? Yes, the whole world is seeking for happiness ……. and does not find happiness. Happiness always escapes discovery.

WE ARE TO HUNGER AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Why are we to hunger after righteousness?

The BIBLE says in Matthew 5:6 “Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperoues [that is, in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation] are those  who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!” [Isaiah 55:1,2] (THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE)

Martyn Lloyd-Jones says this:

“According to the Scriptures happiness is never something that should be sought directly; it is always something that results from seeking something else.”

PRESENTS THE 2012 JUNIOR DEPARTMENT MUSICAL

“THE AMAZING GRACE RACE”

“Think about what it is like to run a race…”

“Tie your shoe strings and begin your race with the HIGH-ENERGY kids musical. When facing tough stretches through places like the Valley of Despair and Badlands Bog, these kids learn the value of love, forgiveness, perseverance and the value of working as a team.”

When I read about recognising physical hunger and recognising emotional hunger in the publication called “Keeping in touch,” (Spring 2012), spiritual hunger came to my  mind.

1. Physical Hunger.

“Physical hunger is when your body needs fuel – it’s an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach.” I am reading there.

2. Emotional Hunger.

But I am really interested in Emotional Hunger and this is what it says there about Emotional Hunger:

“EMOTIONAL HUNGER

is when you feel

a. stressed,

b. angry,

c. lonely, or

d. bored and

find yourself reaching for food to numb these uncomfortable emotions.”

I am reading there also about turning to food for comfort and suppressing emotions with food.

How do we deal with our emotions? What is a healthy way to deal with our emotions?

3. Spritual hunger.

Let us read what it says in the BIBLE, in Matthew 4:4 and let us also remember who is speaking:

“BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, IT IS WRITTEN, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH  OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.”

Oswald J. Smith, Founder of The Peoples Church in Toronto writes in his book called THE SALVATION OF GOD:

“THE BIBLE IS THE GREATEST BOOK IN THE WORLD. 

NO MAN IS EDUCATED UNTIL HE KNOWS IT.”

Yesterday – SUNDAY – I attended the Morning Family Service 10am

Avondale Baptist Church

“OUR VISION – our dreams for the future:

To be a Community of Hope, Belonging and Worship

OUR MISSION – our main task:

Growing a Community of Believers through the love

of God by worshipping Him, sharing our lives

in community, discipling, serving each other, and

giving priority to reaching the unsaved.”

“MY FAVORITE THINGS IN LIFE DON’T COST ANY MONEY. IT’S REALLY CLEAR THAT THE MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE WE ALL HAVE IS TIME.” – Steve Jobs

OUR TIME COMES FROM GOD:

— Let us pray to God.

— Let us read his word, THE BIBLE.