It is true for most people happiness depends on circumstances. Circumstances however depends on perspective. What are we looking at? I consider all things within the perspective of eternity. I agree completely Joy and happiness are not the same at all. Happiness comes from Joy. God has taught me that I am most happy when I am loving others. I practice loving others with the strength God gives me. Even when circumstances seem horrid, certainly I grieve, but the joy flowing through me continues even in my grief. IT is possible to be happy and grieve at the same time. My life is a pure miracle. I continually have joy peace love and happiness.
Consider this: I have a physical disability that gives me chronic pain. Just because I am in chronic pain does that diminish my ability to feel comforted physically? Sometimes my friends will brush my hair, or stroke my face, or snuggle with me or even massage my feet. All of these are physical pleasures. Spiritual things are similar. Grief does not reduce my joy and it only reduces my happiness if I focus on what is temporary rather than what is eternal. I live in the love of God which is Christ Jesus. I am clothed in Jesus. I see the beauty of God and love and truth and life and salvation. Holiness righteousness self control gentleness peace joy patience kindness goodness are continually within me and flowing from me by God's power and Spirit. It is in fact very difficult for me to not be happy.
This is purely miraculous because my condition has not always been like this. Even when I was 36 I was still living in darkness. Pain and misery marked my way. I hated life, hated living. I was hopeless. I was addicted to so many things.
God always wanted to give me just what I have now, and even more. My life today is completely blessed yet God just keeps piling on blessing after blessing. God's desire and mine is that all of you receive just what God has given me.
Why did I suffer so many years? I was practicing evil. My hands were clinched around things I did not know how to let go of. Many things I was holding I didn't even realize I was holding. I was slow to receive because I was slow to humility. I was slow to practicing God's way instead of my own. I did not obey. Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves, do what it says. It took years for God to pry my fingers away from all the destructive deadly garbage I was holding. Consider this: IF anyone desires to give you riches, spiritual or physical; yet your hands are clinched and full, you can not receive it. Even if you desire goodness and godliness and peace and gentleness and joy which God is continually giving to all of us, you can not receive it if your hands (or heart) are full of death. Light and darkness can not coincide. God eventually taught me, not because God was slow in teaching but because I was slow to learn and to let go.
All glory honor power and worship always to our God. I am your servant in Christ. Joseph
Consider this: I have a physical disability that gives me chronic pain. Just because I am in chronic pain does that diminish my ability to feel comforted physically? Sometimes my friends will brush my hair, or stroke my face, or snuggle with me or even massage my feet. All of these are physical pleasures. Spiritual things are similar. Grief does not reduce my joy and it only reduces my happiness if I focus on what is temporary rather than what is eternal. I live in the love of God which is Christ Jesus. I am clothed in Jesus. I see the beauty of God and love and truth and life and salvation. Holiness righteousness self control gentleness peace joy patience kindness goodness are continually within me and flowing from me by God's power and Spirit. It is in fact very difficult for me to not be happy.
This is purely miraculous because my condition has not always been like this. Even when I was 36 I was still living in darkness. Pain and misery marked my way. I hated life, hated living. I was hopeless. I was addicted to so many things.
God always wanted to give me just what I have now, and even more. My life today is completely blessed yet God just keeps piling on blessing after blessing. God's desire and mine is that all of you receive just what God has given me.
Why did I suffer so many years? I was practicing evil. My hands were clinched around things I did not know how to let go of. Many things I was holding I didn't even realize I was holding. I was slow to receive because I was slow to humility. I was slow to practicing God's way instead of my own. I did not obey. Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves, do what it says. It took years for God to pry my fingers away from all the destructive deadly garbage I was holding. Consider this: IF anyone desires to give you riches, spiritual or physical; yet your hands are clinched and full, you can not receive it. Even if you desire goodness and godliness and peace and gentleness and joy which God is continually giving to all of us, you can not receive it if your hands (or heart) are full of death. Light and darkness can not coincide. God eventually taught me, not because God was slow in teaching but because I was slow to learn and to let go.
All glory honor power and worship always to our God. I am your servant in Christ. Joseph
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