Monday, July 23, 2012

What is true happiness?


What is happy about life?  We are born, grow old, and die.  But what truly is the happiness we are searching for?  For me, as a Christian, I find life hard to enjoy, especially when compared against being in Heaven with God.  I believe this is where true happiness is.

I know that Heaven will be an amazing place that my finite mind cannot possibly comprehend.  First, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will be there.  I look forward to the relationship building that will continue to grow with my heavenly Father and the other residents of Heaven for ever.  I look forward to seeing the New Jerusalem.  I think about all of the new experiences such as the sights, colors, emotions, and sensations that I will be able to have for eternity and wonder about the millions more that I can't possibly image.  I'll bet a few words that will continue on forever are Ooooo, and Ohh, and Ahh, and Wow! 

Can you imagine talking with your creator?  What it must be to listen to Him talk about you so intimately that it would make you wonder if you even knew yourself at all. How about sitting on His lap while He explains mysteries of the universe to you?  Or image getting an embrace from your Father who truly loves you unconditionally.  What must that feel like? What if you were afraid of flying your whole life and now you are freely exploring the universe?  What about being free of sin?  No more sin forever!  No more temptation, or guilt, or persecution, or pain but freedom and peace!  This is what I want.

I look at my life today, and in comparison to God and Heaven, how can I be truly happy?  To help you better understand my dilemma you must understand my situation.  I am a Christian not only in name but actions also.  I truly have a love for God and a relationship with Him too.  I am extremely happy being married to my beautiful wife who I have had three children with and adopted her oldest from a previous relationship.  I also have 3 other children from a previous marriage.  I can honestly say that it has taken God quite some time to get me to truly appreciate family but I am so grateful for all of them. I have a steady job that sustains our simple lifestyle and one vehicle that so far God has kept running for almost 10 yrs. without any real issues.  We attend a great church that has excellent leadership and the worship music is incredible.

Unfortunately, my three children do not currently live with us.  Although they have given their lives to Jesus it is difficult for them to grow their relationship because their mother and stepdad do not attend church.  Also, 2 of our babies have been diagnosed with ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder.  My oldest still live at home trying to get his life together.  He is a Christian but is frustrated with still living at home when he so badly wants his music career to take off.  We currently live on one income in a 2 bedroom duplex that still has the original carpet (40 yrs+ old), metal frame windows, and a single heating unit near the hallway that runs on gas.  We have one vehicle which makes it hard for my wife to get out of the house.  Our parents are unable to help with our situation because of distance, illness, financial woes, and neglect.  I don't make enough money to better our situation and we live in one of the most expensive areas in the United States, San Jose, California.  Because of my children with ASD I am limited in my job search for a better opportunity in lower cost of living state because of the lack of services and because of what my skill set is I a m limited in positions I can apply for, not to mention the economy is horrible.  My wife and I never get alone time and forget regular vacations.  Lastly, It is extremely difficult for us to participate in any church activities on a full time basis.  No community groups and no ministries.  Actually, we both wanted to serve as missionaries but that doesn't seem possible anymore without a miracle.

So in case I have misled you, my previous paragraph was not intended to explain why I am not happy with life.  In fact, these are things that I am dissatisfied with in life but truly, even at my happiest of moments I feel life dull compared to what awaits me when I die.  The point I am trying to make is that we, as Christians, need to go through life and realize that life does have its good and bad moments but it doesn't bring true happiness.  In fact, they are but distractions.  True, some people are happier than others due to their circumstances but even people who seem to have it all end up being the most dissatisfied.  If you have ever heard of Owen Wilson that you know he tried to commit suicide a few years ago.  But why you ask?  He had everything, money, girls, fame, attention, but he still felt empty.  He needs God to fill that void.  But even if Owen does find God he will still long for the day he can be with the Father.  As Christians, we all do!

I want to go home, but it is not my time yet.  So I go through life longing for that true happiness I will only know when I die (or raptured) and am in eternity with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and all of my brothers and sisters who gave their life to Jesus.  Therefore, until that day I will get through life by the grace of God.  I will never be satisfied until I finish the race.  I just hope that He will provide a few more happy "distractions" to help us with our current situation.

Verses for reflection:

Psalm 84:2

2-My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Philippians 3:20

20- But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 21:21through Revelation 22:5

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Coffee

I'm not a big coffee drinker but I hope when I'm in Heaven that coffee tastes like it smells.