UGLY CHRISTIANITY

How do people pursue happiness?

God wants us to live an abundant, joyful life… …but… …most of us go down a dead end when we try to find it.

Proverbs 14:12

The Problem with Happiness From article by Todd Kashdan, Professor of Psychology, George Mason University Findings of a scientific study… People putting the greatest emphasis on being happy reported 50% less frequent positive emotions 35% less satisfaction about their life 75% more depressive symptoms 17% less psychological well-being The greater emphasis put on happiness, the lest successful they were at obtaining it.

ACHIEVED, RECEIVED. The surprising secret The ABUNDANT LIFE God wants for us cannot be ACHIEVED, it can only be RECEIVED.

Luke 9:23-25 NLT 23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

Luke 9:23-25 NLT 23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

Luke 9:23-25 NLT 23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

God created us to live selflessly— for God and others. When we live for ourselves—focused on pursuing our own happiness—we cannot enjoy the abundant life God created us to enjoy.

The Paradox of Happiness a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true. --Merriam Webster

How much do you trust God? Do you believe you are able to achieve happiness by your own effort? OR Do you trust that if you put God and his kingdom first, he will provide all your needs? Do you trust that if you abide in him (trust and obey), he will fill you with his joy?

Who should I vote for? “The person who will best help me maintain (or improve) my lifestyle.” If I am a disciple of Jesus, I will care more about… …who best lives out the values of peace, justice, mercy, integrity, and compassion? …who will do the most to champion the needs of “the least of these”—the widows, orphans, aliens, the sick (including the mentally ill), victims of abuse, prisoners, the poor? NO! I will care more about what is best for others than about protecting my own interests.

Table Sharing  Jesus said that those who seek to save their lives will lose it, and those who lose it for his sake will find it.  What do you think he meant by that? If you believed this with your whole heart, how would it change the way you lived?

Seek Ye First Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness And all these things shall be added unto you Allelu, alleluia Man does not live by bread alone But by every word That proceeds from the mouth of God Allelu, alleluia Ask and it shall be given unto you Seek and ye shall find Knock and the door shall be opened unto you Allelu, alleluia