Happiness †

 

So, here we are under the Big Blue Sky, asking, does God want us to be happy?

New christians

and 

long-time Christians want to know

According to Maeve Binchy's novel, "Scarlet Feather,"  life is a box of chocolates. Tom Feather gets by with the help of his fr - thinking outside the box. All his construction brothers are amazed Tom opted out. 

And All my friends know the low rider (Tom Feather).  
The low rider drives a little slower.  Low rider is a real goer. Hey. Low rider knows every street, yeah. Low rider is the one to meet, yeah. Low rider don't use no gas now. Low rider don't drive too fast. Take a little trip, take a little trip. Take a little trip and see.

Eventually, like a lifelong family friend, just goodwill makes Tom Feather's life a place of a gentle breeze where God greets us.  Our lifelong friend did go a little slower, but just with kindness, ended up being well understood. 

How does this match up Biblically.  John wrote all the Books of the world contain Jesus Christ.  The Light that overcomes the darkness.  And Biblically, we would have to discuss the passion of the 1990s Bible Studies, Jabez. 

1 Chronicles 4:10

Biblical quiz. Where is Jabez from?  Yes, Jabez, Israel.  And if you are a scribe, you know Jabez, Israel was already in existence.  However, if you are a Christian, you might wonder, hmmm, perhaps Jabez, the city, was actually named for this very blessed and fortunate Saint.  And then if you pair this with Bethlehem, you realize, yes, this is indeed out of chronological order, but very likely knowing the Nature of The Lord.

Consider the wording.  Strong's Lexicon:

and keep me

וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ (wə·‘ā·śî·ṯā)

Strong's Hebrew 6213: 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made 2) (Piel) to press, squeeze

from harm,

מֵּרָעָ֖ה (mê·rā·‘āh)

Strong's Hebrew 7451: adj 1) bad, evil 1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant 1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery) 1c) evil, displeasing 1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc) 1e) bad (of value) 1f) worse than, worst (comparison) 1g) sad, unhappy 1h) evil (hurtful) 1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition) 1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically) 1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts 1j2) deeds, actions n m 2) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity 2a) evil, distress, adversity 2b) evil, injury, wrong 2c) evil (ethical) n f 3) evil, misery, distress, injury 3a) evil, misery, distress 3b) evil, injury, wrong 3c) evil (ethical)

so that I will be free לְבִלְתִּ֣י

from pain.” עָצְבִּ֑י (‘ā·ṣə·bî)

Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular

Strong's Hebrew 6087: 1) to hurt, pain, grieve, displease, vex, wrest 1a) (Qal) to hurt, pain 1b)(Niphal) to be in pain, be pained, be grieved 1c) (Piel) to vex, torture 1d) (Hiphil) to cause pain 1e) (Hithpael) to feel grieved, be vexed 2) to shape, fashion, make, form, stretch into shape, (TWOT) worship 2a) (Piel) to shape, form 2b) (Hiphil) to form, copy, fashion

Pray with me,
we will all be so blessed
and Favored of the Lord!

Please, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

However, notice with me, the exact words are to not feel pain. And the whole of Scripture is about facing the situations of raging consequences, blindsided innocence and faith clashing with situations of Trouble. 

If we all went about drunk, stoned or oblivious and desired to live the Peace that Passes All Understanding. Philippians 4:7.  We wouldn't go far.  Don't misunderstand me, I believe in the Verse and Peace. But life flies forth in so many angles, arches and paths. 

Yet, clearly, the Bible says Jabez would live in Blessings and without pain. 

Literally, not feeling pain physically leads to the prospect of death by injury and bleeding to death.  We need to examine the concept of having the Blessings without the Pain and see what this might look like.

Fantastic, we can do this Biblically. Of course. 

Jacob. Of course, God took this unlikely and highly flawed blessings thief to name the Nation of God's Chosen People. Jacob is greedy and fell completely and totally Prodigal Son OUT with his father, Isaac, and his brother, Esau. So very out, now Jacob is no longer in communication with his favorite person, Rebekah, his mother. Banned.  And like the Prodigal, is assigned to work 9-5 with a career with few privileges or opportunities to make the career/life/family look promising. Not Happy.  Yet, Faithful. 

Jordan Peterson, Phd, remarked, lately, on family falling out. He said 1/3 of children do not really have an ongoing relationship with parents and have replaced family with careers and young children, and a spouse. Jordan Peterson said the parents must not stoop to grovelling and ask and jump in the way to be Loved.  Paraphrasing, Jordan Peterson, he said the Prodigal Father and Isaac and Esau have valid points in letting freedom be Love. Let it be. 

And we know Jacob is not very happy at this point.  Yet, Jacob abides in God and will soon be in love. And the hope of the future and His Blessings, make Jacob content and even joyful.

Does God want us to be Happy? Moses did think so.  The only prayer of Moses outside the 5 original Books of the Bible.  The Pentateuch is the only record of Moses other than the Transfiguration. 

Psalm 90:13-17

Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. 16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. 

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

So, Jacob is in Love! And this young woman is beautiful and interested in the same, not very great career of shepherding.  Yet, in practicality, this might lead Jacob out of being the lowly goat herder.  Her dad is the Boss and uncle. 

Real Life enters into this feel no pain Blessing.  Rachel likes being a girl. And she foists her sister Leah into covered-up wedding garments, goes along with Jacob drunk, and Jacob finds Leah, the bride, the morning after the wedding is consummated. 

Real Life.  Rachel is not all that. Leah is so very complaining. Proverbs is written about the complaining person, far better to be alone.  The Rock and the hard complaining place. Jacob adapts to Faith with the Solution of winning Rachel in a few YEARS.  And he finally has Rachel as a wife, but now it is twice the complaining and Rachel offers up a stolen thief household god with God's Curse.  This is not the bride of consequence. But she is chosen. 

We are most unhappy when we have lost Love.  Jacob is the chosen one to represent Israel.  Jacob moves to the day, the work, the hope, the day, the work, the hope and moves past the pain. 

This is the Day The Lord has Brought. Let us find Reasons to Rejoice in This. 

If we were to examine the Happiness factor of Jacob?  

Probably fairly happy. The chosen people in the very uncomfortable Exodus of 40 Years, Believe God is Going to Shine Forth.  And He does. 

Jacob shines forth. All of his sons are given an incredibly honest and profound blessing at the time of his passing. t

Jacob works outside the reality of ditching all the complaining women and instead finds ways to be Joyful.  Jacob did not join with Laban in household gods. His God came first. Laban did not have the best relationship with the not slap you on the back Jacob.  Jacob did not forsake trying to make these women happy. Jacob did not join with household gods to make them happy.  Jacob didn't run home to see if there was a shield for him. And he took joy in his children he had not planned to have to take care of so many.  Knowing eventually, he will go home to face the music. Still living in faith and a lot of hope.

Decades down the path of life, They are all starving in a desert. All believe they can work together and overcome this. Painful events happen, but they do not desert one another.  Prodigal Father Style.

Prodigal Father Style today.  Seeing more Heaven on earth. Looking to find the Joy of God's Kingdom today. Being more Heaven on earth.

Dearly Beloved

We are gathered here today

To get through this thing called "Life"

Electric word, LIFE

It means forever

And that's a mighty, long time

But I'm here to tell you 

There's something else:

The Afterworld

A world of never ending happiness

You can always see 

The Son 

Loving God First.  Today.

It don't have a job, don't pay your bills
Won't buy you a home in Beverly Hills
Won't fix your life in five easy steps
Ain't the law of the land or the government
But it's all you need
And love will hold us together
Make us a shelter to weather the storm
And I'll be my brother's keeper
So the whole world will know that we're not alone
It's waiting for you knocking at your door
In the moment of truth when your heart hits the floor
And you're on your knees
And love will hold us together
Make us a shelter to weather the storm
And I'll be my brother's keeper

Abba, Father,

Who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you 

with love and compassion

With Your Help, 

believing Jesus walks on water.

Praying for the healing

of the entire Kirk Family,

both of Charlie's parents,

his wife Erika

and their 2 small children.

Charlie's sister,

his extended family.

And HIS Extended family

in

The God of All Salvation.

Healing, Lord Jesus.

God Bless you

and The Lord

Keep you.

The streams of

political 

freedom

lead to

The Source

of Life

Jesus Christ. 

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

And we will finish well, in Jesus Christ. 

HEAL OUR NATION

For Children in their Schools, all safety.

For those who protect and defend the USA,

protect us from evil.

Let evil and practicing evil

depart far from us

and our children.

Thank You, Father,

for Your Good Will.

And hearing our prayers.

Keep our food supply safe.

Support the Police.

For Worldwide Peace.

And the Peace of Israel. 

Those who protect

and defend

All The Word of God.

Freedom in our Churches.

Wholeness

Holy.

Goodness.

And the Nations of the world,

Your Good Creation,

Calling upon You.

Lord Jesus Christ,

Worldwide Peace

Prosperity and

Peace.

We pray that as a Nation,

as a Community,

as a Church,

as a Neighborhood,

we share what You would have us share.

And in this communal sharing,

Your Good Creation would see

better weather.

Rain shared instead of flood.

Removing drought.

Warmth shared

instead of unusual cold

storms.

Prayer does work,

the 20 degrees 

forecasted for 

September 22, 2025

NY, Massachusetts,

Vermont, New Hampshire

did not happen

and the low was 39'.

Thank You, Father.

Prayer does work,

Thank You, Lord

 for hearing us.

Today, Texas was forecasted for a drought

Gov. Abbott requested a ready fire detail,

and 

we had a gentle rain today.

Bless this

Good Creation,

Father,

let the storms of

destruction

pass us all by.

And prayers

for my back

are greatly appreciated

Thank You.

We ask in the Name of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord

 is the Spirit, 

and 

where the Spirit of the Lord is, 

there is freedom.

And in Jesus - this Hope, 

Faith and Love - we will rise up believing Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus

†