Man and Happiness

Have you ever done something because you thought it would make you happy?



Of course you have. We all have. In fact, every cognizant human being who has ever lived is driven by the desire to be happy. Therefore every human thought, word, and action is thought, spoken, or done in hopes of the immediate or future happiness it will bring.



"All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended by different veiws. The will never takes the least step but to this effort. This is the motive of every action of man, even of those who hang themselves." ~Mathematician Blaise Pascal



Rather shocking for us to consider that suicide is the act of someone trying to be happy...But it is so, and sad. We as humans are incredibly driven by the need to be happy and fulfilled and satisfied. Sometimes we become foolishly desperate. If only we were spreading the truth...for in the Gospel there is only hope, and not despair.



God created us to be happy in Him. He designed us to seek happiness and to only be able to find true lasting happiness in Him.



"The chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying Him forever." ~Theologian John Piper



There is a direct correlation between our joy and the glory of God. Our only happiness comes from seeing and worshiping and sharing glory. Sadly, man wilfully ignores this design and seeks worldly pleasures.


"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised us in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mudpies in a slum because he cannot immagine what is meant by a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." ~Author C. S. Lewis



Lewis' words are quite bold, and quite true. If you play sports or work hard at a job or in school or at religion for that matter for earthly recognition, you work for a recognition that is forgotten before the next game or payday or semester. If you participate in sexual activities outide the boudaries God created for some illicit pleasure, you participate for a pleasure which is gone before the night is over. If you drink or do drugs and party for a good high or to escape reality, you party for a high and an escape that are gone in the morning and replaced with a hangover and disillusionment. Oh, but we as humans have no idea of the genuine happiness that God is offering us!



Look at the sources of joy in the following passages: Pro. 10:28 "The hope of the righteous brings joy." Christ is our hope, which produces our joy. Ps. 71:23 "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed." Christ is also our redeemer, we are able to have true joy because we have been rescued from sin and death. Ps. 16:11 "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fulness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore." The presence of God produces joy in us! And we are promised eternal pleasure in his presence!



Think on that a while, and please find me if you have anything on your mind. All my love that I can give you.

Learning How To Die

I'm gonna miss you, I'm gonna miss you when you're gone.
She says I love you, I'm gonna miss hearing your songs.

And I said, please don't talk about the end
Don't talk about how every living thing
Goes away. She said, friend

All along, thought I was learning how to take
How to bend not how to break
How to live not how to cry,
But really I've been learning how die,
Been learning how to die.

Hey everyone, I 've got nowhere to go.
The grave is lazy, he takes our bodies slow.

And I said please don't talk about the end
Don't talk about how every living thing goes away
She said friend

All along thought I was learning how to take
How to bend not how to break
How to laugh not how to cry.
But really I've been learning how to die
I've been learning how to die...die...
I've been learning how to die.

Learning How to Die ~ Jon Foreman ~ Winter-EP


Started rubbing sticks together
Thought a spark would take forever
Never dreampt this fire would appear
Moses saw the bush in flames
And heard the branches speak his name
I wonder if he felt this kind of fear?

Cuz I'm burnin'. Yeah I'm burnin'.

And I know I'm gonna blister in these flames.

But I'll stay here till this smoke clears,

And I'll find You in the ashes that remain.

Used to be that I could say
My faith was one arm's length away
From any flame that ever felt to warm
I asked for matches I recieved
A gallon full of gasoline
Now my cozy campfire days are gone.

And I'm burnin'. Yeah I'm burnin'.
And I know I'm gonna blister in these flames
But I'll stay here till this smoke clears,
And I'll find You in the ashes that remain

Knock with caution at the door.
They said, beware of what you're praying for,
So I'll stand with my whole desire
In the middle of this forest fire
Till I've nothing left to show
And new life begins to grow.

Cuz I'm burnin'. Yeah I'm burnin'.
And I know I'm gonna blister in these flames.
But I'll stay here till this smoke clears,
And I'll find You in the ashes that remain.

Burnin' ~ Nichole Nordeman ~ Wide Eyed


These songs have become my spiritual theme songs over the past few weeks. My greatest desire is to be on fire with passion for the glory of Christ, and to do that I know that I will have to die to my old self and have my impurities burned away. I am not satisfied to remain the way I am. Hence "Thought I was learning how to take...but really I've been learning how to die" and "...I'm burnin'. And I know I'm gonna blister in these flames." Both Nichole Nordeman and Jon Foreman have some music that is really good for quiet time preparation. God is really working on me. I am so grateful that He relentlessly pursues me. Even in my wretchedness, He sees only the work of Christ His Son and continues what He began in me.

I feel I ought to mention that (1.) this is finals week, and so is next week. I have it pretty good, none of my classes are terribly difficult or require excessive studying. But please pray for me anyway becuase I am still a bit stressed over it. And (2.) Ecuador is fast approaching. May 22 through June 5 (or possibly 6) are the dates for the trip. If you are interested, please let me know so I can get you in contact with Daddy. My heart is really burdened for the Tsachila. I feel like I have gone on trips to be with friends on the team, but this year, I am really concerned for their salvation. I pray that God will make me useful for His work on this trip. I want my life and my words to shine the light of Christ into the darkness of this people group.