Finding True Happiness

Someone once said, “A bad attitude is like a flat tire - you can’t go anywhere unless you change it.” Oh how true that is. Happiness is a choice. You can look at life’s challenges as a learning opportunity and stay positive or you can slump into the dumps feeling sorry for yourself and lamenting about how life just isn’t fair. But herein lies the danger: as long as you continue to swim in an ocean of self-pity, you will be immobilized and guess what? Your future will be no different than your past. Instead of concentrating on all that you “don’t have,” concentrate on what you “do have.” You never have to fear the storm no matter how fierce or turbulent because God is with you always. God sends the storm to show that He is the only shelter. The Bible says in Psalm 94:18, “When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.” Thank God for the tough times for it is in your darkest hours that you lean on Him the most. Heavy rains remind us of challenges in life. Never ask for a lighter rain, just pray to God for a better umbrella. 

© Brenda Walsh Ministries

Fear Not

Over and over again the Bible tells us not to be afraid. In fact, “fear not” is the most repeated command in the Bible. God does not want His children to live in fear, and yet most people, if they are being honest, struggle with facing their fears. People fear all sorts of things, such as snakes, spiders, flying on a plane, elevators, heights, or auto accidents. Others have more personal fears, such as rejection, failure, public speaking, or dying. But there’s a reason that God doesn’t want His children to be afraid. Living in a constant state of fear will prevent you from accomplishing your goals, being the person God wants you to be, and most of all, it will keep you from trusting God. When David was fighting the Philistines and started to feel afraid, instead of succumbing to paralyzing fear, He turned to God and said in Psalm 56:3-4, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” Putting faith over fear can sound like a cliche or something you put on a t-shirt, but you really can claim this victory by releasing all your worries and stress to Jesus. Choosing to trust is just that - a “choice.” When fear and anxiety threaten to overcome you, claim God’s promise in Psalms 23:1.

© Brenda Walsh Ministries www.brendawalsh.com

Shut your mouth

Judging others is easy because it distracts us from the responsibility of judging ourselves. That’s why God tells us in Matthew 7:5, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” When you’re tempted to criticize, pray for Holy Spirit strength to shut your mouth tight before saying anything negative about anyone. You’ll not only be pleasing God, but you’ll feel better too! 

© Brenda Walsh Ministries www.brendawalsh.com

God's purpose for your life

Do you suppose you arrived in life, a blank slate, with no sketches or advance planning in the mind of the God who chose you? No, David exclaims in this psalm. The Divine Artist who shaped us in our mother’s womb is the Divine Historian who recorded our lives before they were even lived. A provocative thought wondering is it not?

In this prayer David celebrates an individuality so unique that God’s life and mission for you can be lived and accomplished by no other individual in history —but you!

So are we bound by God’s destiny? Hardly. The tragic life of King Saul is proof enough that all of us are free to choose our own way. But why reject the destiny of the one whose love from the beginning has shaped us to soar with him to our highest potentials in life?

Gossip

Your words have the power to destroy someone’s self esteem, their reputation and their life! In fact, the Bible says in Matthew 12:36, “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.” Wow! It doesn’t get more serious than that because your words could cost you eternal life! God has no use for slanderers, gossipers, or people who spread lies - period! In fact, He wants you to stay away from those who do. Proverbs 20:19 says, “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.” When someone confides in you, it is because they trust that you’ll keep their secret. Whether or not you keep their confidence says a lot about your character. A person who gossips is not a person with integrity, a person to be trusted, or a person you want to be friends with. The Bible says in Proverbs 11:13, “A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.” You can speak things into existence so be careful with your words. If you truly understood the evil just the slip of a tongue can do, you might stop and think before you open your mouth to say anything at all. You are responsible for not only what you say but also what you listen to. The only way to stop gossip is to refuse to listen. Don’t allow someone to disturb your peace by telling you what other people said about you or anyone else. Ask them to keep it to themselves. If they continue to talk - walk away. You can’t stop people from gossiping but you can control what “you” say and what “you” choose to listen to. Follow biblical advice in Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Text: Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 17:9, Psalm 141:3

© Brenda Walsh Ministries www.brendawalsh.com

The night you were conceived.

From a strictly statistical point of view, your presence on this planet is a miracle! At the very dawn of your life you had to overcome overwhelming odds- odds higher than any you will ever have to face in any other situation. No matter what you may think of yourself now,…no matter what ills may befall you in life, no matter what suffering you may be forced to endure, no matter what family or financial problems you may eventually have to face, it is imperative that you understand this: You came into this world a Champion. Why? Because God chose you! God chose you the night you were conceived.

Anthony DeStefano - Ten prayers God always says yes

The real joy of Christmas

The real joy of Christmas isn’t the gifts, the food or the parties - but rather the spirit of giving and a thankful heart. The best gifts won’t be found under a tree. The Bible says in James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Gifts from God are the most meaningful, such as our families, friends, good health, food on the table, and the joy of just being alive. 

Who you know

 

There are people who go through life “existing” but not really enjoying the blessings God wants them to have. At the end of life, they are faced with a bucket load of regrets wishing they had made better choices. But no one has to live a miserable existence for it’s never too late to start over. You can change the trajectory of your life by surrendering your heart to God and saying no to anything that isn’t bringing you closer to Him! But it’s a choice - God won’t force you. People can become so comfortable in their misery that even though they are unhappy, they resist change. But growth doesn’t happen when you are comfortable or things are easy. You can’t just “want” change, you need to take that first step to make it happen. It’s not enough to have feathers - you must dare to fly. Sometimes you have to make a decision that will hurt your heart - but heal your soul. Ask God to change you into the person that He wants you to be. You don’t have to be afraid because He is with you every step of the way and has promised in Psalm 55:22, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” For real change to take place, you need Jesus in your heart. Remember, it’s not “what” you know, it’s “WHO” you know, because “WHO” you know . . . will change you! 

© Brenda Walsh Ministries www.brendawalsh.com

Where is your treasure?

Could it be our prayer seasons have ended up becoming Christmas wish list inventories - all year long? "Dear God, blessed be your name. And thank you for your goodness. And be rich toward me, because I need....and....and.....and....in Jesus' name Amen. One day soon the little we have will be worth nothing. 

While he was away, John Wesley's home burned to the ground. When he received the news of the terrible loss, Wesley responded: "The Lord's house burned. One less responsibility for me!"

An Ugly Heart

 

There is nothing quite so ugly or destructive as a jealous heart. When you begrudge the talents and gifts that God has given others, you are actually accusing God of being unfair, believing that you are more deserving. You begin to think that God doesn’t know what He’s doing, is stingy, and has cheated you out of what should have been yours. If you allow the bitter weed of envy to grow, it will choke out every ounce of happiness you have on this earth and in the earth to come - because you won’t be there. There is simply no room for jealousy in a Christian’s heart. James 3:16 says, “For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil." And in Proverbs 14:30, we’re told, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." When your coworker gets that promotion that you were hoping for, your neighbor drives home with a new car, a family member inherits more money than you, or friends are given an exotic vacation - rejoice in their good fortune, instead of allowing bitterness to creep into your heart believing that it should have been your blessing. How God chooses to bestow blessings upon His children is His prerogative, not yours. The bitter weed of envy grows rampant in a soil of selfishness and pride. It is stubborn, tough, and resilient, and you can’t just “wish” for it to go away - you must purposefully “choose” to remove it. The only way to get rid of an ugly heart filled with jealousy is to ask God to change you. Pray David’s prayer in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me,” and then thank God for all the blessings He has given you - and be truly grateful! 

© Brenda Walsh Ministries www.brendawalsh.com

Complaining and Murmuring

Christians are set as light bearers on the way to heaven. They are to reflect to the world the light shining upon them from Christ. Their life and character should be such that through them others will get a right conception of Christ and of His service.

If we do represent Christ, we shall make His service appear attractive, as it really is. Christians who gather up gloom and sadness to their souls, and murmur and complain, are giving to others a false representation of God and the Christian life. They give the impression that God is not pleased to have His children happy, and in this they bear false witness against our heavenly Father.

Satan is exultant when he can lead the children of God into unbelief and despondency. He delights to see us mistrusting God, doubting His willingness and power to save us. He loves to have us feel that the Lord will do us harm by His providences. It is the work of Satan to represent the Lord as lacking in compassion and pity. He misstates the truth in regard to Him. He fills the imagination with false ideas concerning God; and instead of dwelling upon the truth in regard to our heavenly Father, we too often fix our minds upon the misrepresentations of Satan and dishonor God by distrusting Him and murmuring against Him. Satan ever seeks to make the religious life one of gloom. He desires it to appear toilsome and difficult; and when the Christian presents in his own life this view of religion, he is, through his unbelief, seconding the falsehood of Satan.

Many, walking along the path of life, dwell upon their mistakes and failures and disappointments, and their hearts are filled with grief and discouragement. While I was in Europe, a sister who had been doing this, and who was in deep distress, wrote to me, asking for some word of encouragement. The night after I had read her letter I dreamed that I was in a garden, and one who seemed to be the owner of the garden was conducting me through its paths. I was gathering the flowers and enjoying their fragrance, when this sister, who had been walking by my side, called my attention to some unsightly briers that were impeding her way. There she was mourning and grieving. She was not walking in the pathway, following the guide, but was walking among the briers and thorns. “Oh,” she mourned, “is it not a pity that this beautiful garden is spoiled with thorns?” Then the guide said, “Let the thorns alone, for they will only wound you. Gather the roses, the lilies, and the pinks.”

Have there not been some bright spots in your experience? Have you not had some precious seasons when your heart throbbed with joy in response to the Spirit of God? When you look back into the chapters of your life experience do you not find some pleasant pages? Are not God’s promises, like the fragrant flowers, growing beside your path on every hand? Will you not let their beauty and sweetness fill your heart with joy?

The briers and thorns will only wound and grieve you; and if you gather only these things, and present them to others, are you not, besides slighting the goodness of God yourself, preventing those around you from walking in the path of life?

It is not wise to gather together all the unpleasant recollections of a past life,—its iniquities and disappointments,—to talk over them and mourn over them until we are overwhelmed with discouragement. A discouraged soul is filled with darkness, shutting out the light of God from his own soul and casting a shadow upon the pathway of others.

“Where Your Treasure Is”

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6, 19-21

“‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21, NKJV) is an appeal from Jesus. The full magnitude of this statement can be seen from the preceding two verses, which contrast storing our treasures on earth with storing them in heaven. Three words describe earth: moths, rust, and thieves (see Matt. 6:19), all of which imply just how temporal and transient our earthly treasure is. Who hasn’t learned just how quickly earthly things can vanish? On earth everything is unstable, uncertain, and insecure; it is subject to decay, destruction, stealing, and loss. Heaven is the opposite: everything is eternal, durable, secure, and imperishable. In heaven there is no loss.

Look at your possessions. Even if you have only a very few, sooner or later most of them will be thrown away. The exception might be an heirloom. But a wise steward should be concerned with putting treasures in heaven for safekeeping. There, unlike here, you don’t have to worry about recessions, thieves, or even plunderers.

Matthew 6:19-21 contains one of the most important concepts on stewardship. Your treasure pulls, tugs, coerces, draws, demands, allures, and desires to control your heart. In the material world your heart follows your treasure, so where your treasure is remains vitally important. The more we focus on earthly needs and gains, the harder it is to think on heavenly matters.

Professing belief in God but keeping our treasure here on earth is hypocritical. Our actions must agree with our words. In other words, we see our treasures on earth by sight, but we must see our offerings as treasures in heaven by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). Though we, of course, need to be practical and provide for our needs (even retirement), it’s crucial to always keep the big picture, eternity, in mind.

A Devoted Father

Some of the most devoted fathers are found in the animal kingdom. For instance, giant South African bullfrogs are so protective of their young they've been known to attack lions and elephants while defending their tadpoles. Emperor penguins are another great example of paternal sacrifice. After leaving the sea, couples walk and skid for miles across the desolate waste of Antarctica. Then they stop on a frozen plane and the female lays one egg onto the male's feet. He quickly covers it with the folds his fat, feathery fur and keeps it warm.

The mother helps briefly, but soon she leaves him to feed in the ocean while the father cares for the egg alone. This will be done in the middle of winter near the South Pole with its perpetual, darkness and bitter cold and fierce windstorms. For 64 days he stands there living on his body blubber and eating nothing, while temperatures might reach 65 degrees below zero.

The male penguins huddle in clusters of about 100 for protection from the frigid wind. They incubate and hatch the eggs on their feet. Like the catfish, he can't eat for the entire duration of his care for the eggs.

You know friends, the Bible says, "As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him."

You know, the Bible tells us that God is our Father in heaven. When Jesus said, "In this manner ye should pray," Matthew chapter 6, "Our Father...." He drew from one of the most tender, earthly relationships that we can identify with to give us some idea of how much God loves us.

The Bible tells us God so loved the world He gave His Son. And we think of the story when Abraham went up the mountain with his son, Isaac, and was willing to offer his son because of his love for God. You think how much, God, our Father, must love us; and yet, in the world, and it's also true sometimes in the church, there is division in the families where God wants there to be unity.