Obtaining Happiness

"8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead... 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
Philippians 3:8-11 & 20-21

People will never be happy until they reach an answer to the question, why am I not happy? Nothings ever enough, and for that we complain. Surely we deserve more, Surely we deserve more, Surely NOT. So where does true happiness come from, and how can I get some???

True happiness is found in gaining Christ. Our comfort, clothing found on our backs, a flower blossoming, that perfect cup of coffee, the perfect essay response, anything that is good comes from God, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17). We're told in the passage above, in Philippians, to count everything as loss in view of our relationship to Christ, so that we may gain Him. This is basically telling us to draw closer to God, have better fellowship with Jesus. But how can we gain Christ? I believe we must first look at the word gain, and I'm going to argue the word can mean the same as redemption. From the passage above in Philippians, Paul explains what gaining Christ entails...

Gaining Christ is equal to redemption, and for three reasons:

1.) Righteousness through Faith (vs. 9) = Justified
2.) Sharing in His sufferings, become like Him in in His death (vs. 10) = Sanctified
3.) Transformation of our lowly bodies (vrs. 20-21) = Glorification

Therefore, we can assume, everyday we are/should be gaining Christ. Redemption happens everyday, every moment is forgiveness. So we should be gaining Christ everyday. We no that's no so, because that would mean everyone would always be content and completely at peace, i.e. happy. So what's keeping us from always pursuing and gaining Christ? I believe it's due to our total depravity as a human race. That brings me to a couple of key questions...How can one go about gaining Christ? Why is it important?


How can one go about gaining Christ, and why is it important?

Well since gaining Christ can also mean redemption...we gain Christ by living in Him daily. You ask, "How can I gain redemption?" You don't do anything to gain it! You love God, and honor Him with your life, because of the free gift of Christ. Therefore, in order to gain Christ, we love Him. Then we tell others about the love we've received. There isn't a set of ways we can draw closer to Christ (gain Him), we're called to Love God & Love People. It's not something we should have to think about doing, we just do. We do, because He already did. So where does that leave us, "11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation" (1 Peter 2: 11-12). Our good works don't save us, but they should be a result of His good work in us.

This is important because our lives depend, every second, on Christ blood. His redemption gives us life every day. We need to be gaining Christ daily, drawing closer with Him as we grow older.

Practical Ideas:
-Spend time with Him
-Pray
-Preach the good news

KA - seeking Him

Forever

With legs like grasshoppers;
Can I run to you?
Forever

I've traveled miles to see you;
Will you stay up with me?
Forever

Fast is the pace, don't try and stop her;
Why didn't you remember?
Forever

From roses to rebirth;
Why does pain always find me?
Forever

I will run to you God;
Will you stay with me?
Forever

Pain of a loss, it hurts;
I will remember your death,
Forever.

Past Journal Entries

February 2nd, 2009


It's always easy to be okay with God's will when His timing lines up with yours. But what about when all seems to be lost? Am I going to fall -like some helpless child or am I going to hold strong-- on the shoulders of my Savior?

It's easy to praise God when your happy. I'm learning, our reliance on Him, is critical for life here on earth. We are nothing. He is something. We are incapable..of living, getting a good job, dating, anything. If our view of God is small, what's gong to happen when we figure out we can't "live" without Him. Relying on God is key for surviving this world. We are nothing, He is everything. As a tree's roots give it strength and nutrients to grow, surely we must be rooted in Christ. We must trust in Him, we have no clue what to expect in our life's. My prayer is that my view of God would be big and I would see myself as very very very very small.

"Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off" Psalm 37: 34

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" Matthew 6:33

"Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases" Psalm 115:3

Our God is one of second chances; well second, third, and fourth chances...lucky for me because I sin every single day. "Every breath is a second chance" J-Foreman

"I, I am He
who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" Isaiah 43:25

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases" Psalm 103:2-3

Hosea 6:6

"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings"

Am in VA. God's love has been close by my side, as I've needed it to be. I've done nothing in my self to earn it, or deserve it. But I've also had to of done nothing to receive it. No change is required before entering into God's love. It snatches, changes, and forms us to His perfect image. I've needed this reminder now more than ever. As this summer goes on, Hosea will be on my mind. His faithfulness to an adulterous wife, just as God is faithful in His pursuit of me. Hosea never stopped loving, because he truly knew/experienced God's love. My prayer is that God would hold me close as I pursue students this summer. When I feel like your love is far from me, lavish it on me.

God is always good. After going through something very dramatic and frustrating, I arrived to find that the very first Sunday's lesson (I have to teach) is "Students will understand that it is possible to love and forgive others who have hurt us". Wow. That hits right at home. God is good for what He is doing. Being in Hosea is right where I need to be right now. God's never-ending persistence towards our hearts. My God makes the mountains tremble.