Hello, thanks for joining me again.

Business first today. I am still having trouble with my comments page. I am getting some, although they might not look like it on your end. I will continue to work on it, but in the meantime, go ahead and comment in the box, and just hit enter when you are finished. Or you can sign up for emails as many of you have.  Thank you for your patience with this. My experience is that technology doesn’t always work as it should. Can you relate?

Through my efforts to write shorter blogs, today I will write about more that came to mind during yesterday’s blog. Namely my comment about the less fortunate and those of us who have more to give more. “For it is truly more blessed to give than receive.”

After time in the Word in my special quiet place, I lingered there. I decided to continue reading my “Art of Living” book by Norman Vincent Peale. Many of you are understandably unfamiliar with Mr. Peale. The copyright of this particular book is in 1937. His counsel using God’s Word, was instrumental in saving countless lives during the Great Depression. You may have heard of his book called “The Power of Positive Thinking”. This 1952 best seller encouraged millions and still does today. He tried to instill a spiritual renewal in America in those days. Does that sound like what is needed in America today?

In the “Art of Living” book I am in the chapter titled The Discovery of Happiness. I wanted to share some of the statements he made and a story he told that led straight to my statement “It is truly more blessed to give than receive”.

Norman started this chapter with a question. “If you could have the thing you most desire; if you could realize your dearest wish, for what would you ask?” He went on to say the wise man would conclude that the one great thing most to be desired in this fleeting life is that state or quality we call happiness. He states, “Happiness is something to be distinguished from pleasure”. In my Bible studies and blogs, I have pointed out the difference between happiness and joy. But as I read on, he describes happiness as a concept involving something much deeper, richer, more satisfying, more spiritual, and therefore longer lasting than pleasure.

This, in my opinion, describes joy. Joy/happiness is so much more than skin deep. It is bigger than and not reliant upon circumstances. And it is much larger than my emotions. I want the kind of happiness that comes from trusting God more than my circumstances, obeying God, and following God regardless of where that path leads, even if it is hard and means I leave my familiar comfortable places. This is the path to true joy/happiness. How about you? We do have a choice and we can settle for less. I admit, many times I have settled for less. But even at this age, I am learning to follow the Better Way. Thank You, Lord, Your ways are always better than mine!

In this discovery, Norman points out why the pursuit of other “good” things is why many of us are still discontent, unfulfilled, discouraged, depressed, and oppressed. “We seek God because our souls tell us the truth which our experience confirms that to find God is to find true happiness.”

So in order not to rewrite this entire chapter, I will get to his teaching that pertains to happiness in giving. I am paraphrasing some and italicizing his verbatim words. His teachings are simple but do not underestimate them because of that fact. He points out that  “the profound and the simple are first cousins”.  (This reminds me of my testimony of salvation as a 9-year-old girl. Thank You, Lord, for the simplicity of Your Truth.) He made the simple statement, “Happiness is not to be found in getting but in giving”. Does that sound familiar? It is not what you do for yourself that will give you the greatest happiness but, rather, what you do for others. There is no joy like it and it will make the whole world brighter for you”. “This was what Jesus was always trying to get people to do. Many Christians fail to do it, and their lives are like a twenty-five-watt bulb when they could shine with the brilliance of one hundred fifty watts.”   

He continues this message by telling of a distinguished writer who told him that “for years he had lived the selfish life, making money only to lavish on himself”. The man went on to tell how over time a feeling of boredom, weariness, and dissatisfaction overwhelmed him. The drabness of his days became oppressive. Pleasures were not to be found. The “love between him and his wife died and they divorced. Then it happened that he fell upon a strange secret. He learned that a Great Teacher was right when he said, “He that saveth his life shall lose it, but he that giveth his life shall find it a hundredfold”. This man truly had lost life, for little remains when happiness is gone. He was saving his life and he had lost it, but now he began to give it away, and wonder of wonders, he had it all back again, only this time much deeper and richer than ever before”. Later in his story he even stated, “Perhaps I’ve been converted.”

As I read this little, but powerful book, I can see why its title is so apropos. God is the Artist/Creator of our lives and by following the Artist’s instructions for life (His Word) our lives create a Masterpiece of artwork. The Art of Living! “There is no joy like it and it will make the whole world brighter for you”. Pretty incredible, wouldn’t you agree?

And before I could get to my computer to write my continuing thoughts from yesterday’s blog, today I read among many other things, Andrew Wommack’s daily devotional. There’s that word again, “devotional”. Lol!

Straight from the teacher’s mouth, or email in this case. 😊

February 19 Ministry In Action MATTHEW 8:14-17; MARK 1:29-34; LUKE 4:38-41

‘And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.’ Mark 1:31

How did Peter’s mother-in-law minister unto Jesus and His disciples? Did she sit them down and preach to them? Certainly not. Yet sometimes people think the only way we can minister to another is to admonish them with the scriptures.   Peter’s mother-in-law apparently ministered to them by serving them. The word translated ‘minister’ is the same word that was translated ‘deacon’ twice in the New Testament, and ‘serve, served or serveth’ eight times.   We can minister for the Lord by doing some of the menial tasks that many consider to be unimportant. Jesus said that even a cup of cold water given in His name would not go unrewarded (Matthew 10:42).   Many people are waiting for the important jobs to come along where they can make a big impact or receive a lot of recognition, while they pass by many lesser opportunities every day. But in the kingdom of God, we won’t be given any great opportunities until we are proven faithful in the small things (Luke 16:10).   Today, ask the Lord to show you ways you can minister to others by serving them. By Andrew Wommack

In 2017 I wrote a poem after missionaries from Haiti visited our church. The poem is based on filling the basic needs of a nation in starvation. It is in my book “Inspire Me” and the title is “Hungry Sheep”. Here are a few verses that express “Ministry in Action”. Beginning with verse three…
First we do like Jesus did, and show them that we care,
Feed them all we can with help from everywhere.
We go to where they are, turn our words into action
Doing what Jesus did, that’s the main attraction,… (skipping a few verses) Sharing God’s abundance and filling basic needs
Living out the Gospel, on Jesus more believe. The last two verses say…
Using those of us He calls, feeding hungry sheep together
Bringing the Gospel to the nations, glorifying Him forever!
You can read it in its entirety on page 32.

My dear friends, I could never put all of this together myself. And I couldn’t make it “less is more” if it wasn’t for your input, my desire to accommodate, and the Lord’s help in that also. I pray this has been worth your time to read and consider.

May our lights grow brighter through the art of living,

Reba