This article was written by my Dad. I thought it was really good, and I wanted to share it with y'all.
"Happy or Miserable?"[/i][/b]
In the Gospel of John chapter 13, Jesus provided one of His greatest object lessons on what it means to be a Christian, a follower, a great leader, and a happy servant of God.
After He finished, He asked the question, "Do you know what I have done to you?" We also need take a good look at this lesson, hold up our lives in contrast to it and answer Jesus" question personally.
After washing the disciples feet and carefully wiping them dry with His own towel, He said, "You call me your Lord and Teacher and you say well, for so I am. If I then am your Lord and your teacher and I have washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another"s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. If you know these things, happy are you if you do them." (John 13:12-17) Jesus says the blessing of happiness comes when we, from our hearts, become servants to others. It is very clear that God considers our relationships with each other very important. The heart of our love should be our desire to be of service to one another.
On the other hand, The Lord teaches us in the words of John in Revelation 3:14-21, that even the children of God can be most miserable. He tells the church in Laodicea that because they were luke warm in their love and service to Him and one another, they were receiving the fruit of their service. He said, because they were filled with self confidence and pride "have need of nothing", they were "wretched, poor, blind, naked and miserable." Jesus counseled them to "buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich and white garments, that you may be clothed that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed." So what does all this mean? It appears that the Lord is teaching that the blessing of happiness or the curse of being miserable is a matter of personal choice. He says we get to choose for ourselves to live in happiness or misery.
If it is a persons goal to be miserable most of the time, the following actions and attitudes will ensure you are successful: Think about yourself. Talk about yourself. Dwell on what you want, need and desire. Pay very close attention to what other people think and say about you and order your life according to what they want and say. Always expect to be appreciated. Be sensitive to criticism and don"t ever trust anyone. Insist on special treatment and demand others agree with your point of view. Do as little as possible for others and never accept responsibility for your actions.
If your goal is to be happy most of the time, do it the way Jesus says. Do something to help solve your own problems and always accept your obligations. Plan ahead, set realistic goals, and welcome new experiences with optimism. Use your God-given talents and put your best effort into everything you do. Share your joys and sorrows with your brethren and reach out to them with a helpful spirit. In matters of opinion resolve, "I don"t always have to be right". Learn that we can be content in whatever state we may find ourselves. Love like Jesus loves, without expecting anything in return. "In lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself."
What"s it going to be? Do you choose happiness the Lord"s way or Misery doing what seems right in your eyes?" Let"s press on brethren! Jesus can make me and tomorrow better than today. Sam Durden
Great post Brother Goose. I've been counseling some excons, I try to explain to them they are what they think. Meaning if wedwell on evil thoughts, we become those things, on the other hand if we think on things that are pure and true we become those things (Phil 4:8). We can't always be in control of circumstances, but we can be in control of our thoughts!!!! Again, great post!
People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be. Abraham Lincoln
great post moose, i have read "the power of positive thinking" several times, and even though this book was written in the mid 50's, it is amazing how true and accurate the sayings are, you can think yourself right into or right out of most any situation
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John 3:16
things are more like right now than they've ever been
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
William James
AMEN Our social skill this week in school was on self-control. I have 3rd graders. I told them alot of us purpose to overcome in certain areas and yet fall so easily. I told them that I would give a treat to the child that can come up with the best reason for why we fall so easily. I liked 2 and here they are from 2 different little 9 year old girls.
1. Ashley..because people are angry inside because of their hurt so they act the way they do because of hurt..
2. Lauren...Because people are not thinking on the right things.
1. Ashley..because people are angry inside because of their hurt so they act the way they do because of hurt..
2. Lauren...Because people are not thinking on the right things.
I love teaching
children are a lot smarter than we sometimes give them credit,how could you not love teachingwith something like those statements to give you hope for our future
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John 3:16
things are more like right now than they've ever been
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
William James
I also had to comfort a teacher at 3:00 as a student left slamming her door calling her a big fat B----. Fourth grade.
this doesn't surprise me in the least, at least you were able to comfort the other teacher, as for the student in this case, could you imagine what kind of home-life that child must have, if nothing else it gives me more gratitude for the current things in my life, daily i encounter people that i am not really fond of how they behave, but i feel like God has put them in my life for a reason.......
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John 3:16
things are more like right now than they've ever been
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
William James
Yeah ....my wife through taking classes has learned that out of 700 students are ESE. Mentally Retarded. We remembered back in our large high school we had about 12 for the whole school. What has happened to the children?
Happy or Miserable? Your Choice.
