But You'll Love It

I have a friend who seems to have many irons in many fires, and never stops for a rest. In some ways I envy his energy and enthusiasm, but not totally. When a few of our friends get together, he will always have something or some place we should visit or attend. It can be anything from a conference to a light business affair, and everything in between. Hardly a time goes by without him bringing up his thoughts of what he ’knows’ we would all like.

In most instances, everyone declines gently, but sometimes we have to be more emphatic and say, NO! This is always followed up with a repeat invitation as though no one had heard the first time. These things are not everybody’s cup of tea, but then he brings out the big guns, and with some excitement in his voice will raise his voice and say, “But You’ll Love It!”

I was thinking about this in respect of the Christmas celebrations and holidays we all ‘enjoy’. Or do we? The big assumption is that we will love it, in the same way that others enjoy the time which surrounds the Christmas season. But we don’t, do we? Not everyone looks forward to Christmas. Because of the generally expected hype, some will join in as much as they can, but their whole heart isn’t in it. So why doesn’t everyone love Christmas?

Think about the recently bereaved and the empty chair. The wayward child who doesn’t want to be home for Christmas because they are hurting too. The young couple who recently lost their hope for a baby, through no fault of their own. The destitute and homeless. The wife, whose husband just walked out on her and their children. The unhappy list could go on.

Please don’t miss the message when someone talks about a Christmas activity, and seeing the silent response, they say, “But You’ll Love It”. Be sensitive. Be a friend, and try to understand the heart behind the reluctant smile. Chances are they would love to be able to love this time of year as much as you, but they may not be ready. Not yet. Maybe sometime soon, but then again, maybe never in this life.

Happysad

My daughter coined the word ‘happysad’ recently which fits in so many ways and places. You will know that as a Christian, I spend a lot of time at church and in the company of other Christians, although I have to say, not exclusively. I enjoy the company of all sorts of people, whether believers or not! So, where does this word ‘happysad’ come in?

The kind of church service I enjoy best involves and includes: reverence without gimmicks, a group of friendly people from all parts of society who make the stranger welcome, hearty congregational singing that lifts the roof, the sound of people whispering an ‘amen’ or even speaking it out loud, a tear wiped away when an eternal truth makes someone emotional by word or song, a tear wiped, a clear Gospel message which leaves the listener challenged to the point of making a life changing decision to follow Jesus more closely, the right hand of fellowship and the occasional hug. I was at such a church service today.

The occasion was made better in the fact that it was not my usual church or group of believers, but the sense of fellowship was acute and unmistakably a good, clear, Christian, Gospel witness. An hour well spent. I left encouraged in my faith, and challenged to be a better person while I live and enjoy the little time I have left on this earth. This kind of church service doesn’t happen every week, or in every church.

Oh, didn’t I say? I was at a celebration of a life well lived, a lady who is literally a saint in the courts of heaven. Her eternal destiny was, and is, known, confirmed, and secure. A church where pastors can speak freely without compromise, hesitation or choosing their words carefully in case they offend someone. They presented the Gospel of the saving Power of the Lord Jesus Christ and they were respected for their candour without exception.

Yes, I was at a funeral. My only question is this: Why should I attend a funeral service, to hear the Gospel where it is not taken as an offence to the listeners? And as for that word ‘happysad’? Does it make more sense now?

HappySad

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Romans 12:15-16

This is one of those easy to understand passages, and quoted often, especially when we get alongside those who are going through a hard time. We tend to stress these tough times, mainly because we are comfortable helping others when their humanity is weakest and most frail. This makes us feel good and helpful. However, the verse has another side, and we ignore at our peril.

It has been said often that pride is the greatest sin, and at the root of many, if not all, other sins. Maybe that’s why we don’t find it easy to talk or preach about being happy for others in the happiness of their achievements. When our friends do a great deed, especially for the Kingdom, we don’t usually rush to congratulate them because sometimes we think: Why all the attention, after all I did that same thing ages ago and nobody made a fuss of me? Oh yes, pride goes before a fall, can be unseemly, and very un-Christian.

(By the way, ‘HappySad’ is a word coined by my daughter Heather, and I have used it often!)

Content?

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Philippians 4:11

It seems that we have to work at being content. That’s not the same as being happy one day and depressed the next. It’s more than that. It’s a settled state of contentment which is sometimes referred to as ‘joy’ in the Bible. Paul had more reason than most to feel discontented. He was beaten, shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, and left for dead after a particularly bad mob attack. That didn’t stop him from learning contentment.

The plain fact is this: Paul wanted to live a contented life because he had more reason to be positive about life than being negative. After all, he knew that God had a plan for his life, and that plan was not concluded yet. Having learned to be content, he stuck with it, and this is the important part for me, “..in whatever situation…”. Life wasn’t finished throwing bad things at Paul, but no matter what, he was going to be content. It was his choice.

As another apostle said in 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world”. I for one, need to grasp this truth and hold on to it. What about you? What gets in the way and stops you from being content? We don’t have to stay down. The clear message is that we can rise above it, and live a contented life. Let’s make that one of our God driven goals.

Happy

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:3-12

Jesus says ‘Blessed’ nine times in as many verses, so should we not take note? Firstly the word ‘blessed’ also means ‘happy’. I don’t know about you, but there are some things in these verses which any of us would find hard to be happy about, but that’s the command straight from the lips of the Master, the author of our faith.

You will have been in the company of some positive, and happy people at some time and it is impossible to come away sad or discouraged. The happiness is contagious and their smile spreads to your lips and eyes without you even noticing. You can’t help it. The best thing you can do is to pass that happiness on when you meet the next person. The message I get from these verses is that your circumstances should not be bigger than your ability to be positive and be happy, or know you are blessed! Is that hard to do?

What about the opposite situation then? How do you feel when you share some time in the company of someone who runs everybody and everything down? Someone who hasn’t a kind or good word to say about anything, and who has a face like a ‘Lurgan Spade’ as my dad used to say. For those who don’t know, a Lurgan Spade is a long, thin spade for digging deep but narrow furrows. Get the picture? I guarantee you can’t get away soon enough, and when you do come away you feel depressed, unhappy and saddened. You don’t need that, so you make sure you avoid contact with that person as much as you can. Not easy if that person is family!

What do you want people to think of you as you are in their company? Yes, it makes a big difference when you are ‘blessed’ or ‘happy’ as Jesus wants and asks. It is no coincidence that the best witnesses for the kingdom are those who shine the happiness of salvation, and your friends or family will not be trying to avoid you either. How good is that? You get to witness and enjoy their company often, and that makes us blessed indeed.