Wednesday Thoughts

"Our greatest happiness in life does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits" - Thomas Jefferson

I saw this quote and wanted to share it with everyone. After all Jefferson was one of those who wrote that one of the fundamental rights of all people is the right to pursue happiness. Happiness, and the right to pursue it freely, to Jefferson was what distinguished a free society from one which was not.

One of my goals in life is to maximise my happiness every day. Every minute spent on being happy is one less minute spent on not being happy or content.

Sadly too many embrace being discontent or dissatisfied instead of finding out what makes them happy. What makes us happy is something only we know. But in our pursuit of happiness we should never ever tell another that they have no right to be happy or that their dreams are not worth pursuing.

Jesus was so right when He said to be first in His kingdom we need to be last in our lives. Does this mean we will never achieve happiness because we place others first? Not at all, in fact Jesus was telling us how to be happy and content. By learning and understanding Him we would learn and understand what makes us happy.

Just look at Philippians 4:8-9 for further proof:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Surely finding peace is finding happiness. We can all start our pursuit of happiness anytime we want. We can start fulfilling a dream anytime we want. We will be faced with setbacks, doubters and words of negativity from ourselves and others but we know that with God anything is possible. The impossible just takes a little longer!

So don't wait for the New Year to start something new and joyful. Start that journey and may you one day really understand what Jesus, and Jefferson, knew all along.

God Bless

Wonder

Psalm 118:23-24

23This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Every day I learn more and more about how God is active in my life. Maybe it's one small thing, or something that wasn't meant to happen but did, or a feeling of love and strength that is powerful and extraordinary that comes from nowhere.

I can be a far better servant of God in so many ways. After all God sees everything we do, the good and the bad. I know that what makes being a Christian difficult is that it is difficult to work on many things at the same time. Especially as a bloke, we blokes are terrible at multi-tasking!!

But one thing for sure is that I will always be in wonder of what God does in life. He is my greatest teacher. The Word of God has so much knowledge in it that we shouldn't get things wrong. But alas we do.

And yet His grace, His faith, His hope, lifts us up in even the darkest of moments. Oh how I love Him!!!

I know God has much wonder planned for me, but I also know that to enjoy that blessing there is some hard work ahead. But I also know when that time is over, it will be all worth it as I will be able to rejoice in the knowledge of how much wonder God has brought to my life.

Thanks for reading and God Bless.

Thank you...

Thank you to all those who gave their lives to allow me to have freedom and choice in the world's greatest country.

Grand dad your sacrifice will never ever be forgotten.

Lest we forget.

God Bless.

Storm and Thunder

1 Corinthians 27-31:

27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Storms are amazing things to look at. Thunder. Lightning. And then rain. Big rain drops that wash away all the dust.

I want a storm to wash away all the dust in my life. I want to be closer to God. To learn from Him. To learn not to sin as much as I do. To embrace His way. To seek Him first and all else second.

I want to soak up His word as a person soaks up the rain when the storm breaks on a hot day, to gulp down His words like a person with their mouths open when the storm hits.

Jesus is my provider. He is all that I need. He has blessed me so greatly and yet He is so patient with listening to my wants and needs when He probably knows that they are so close if I just reach out to Him closer. Stronger. Longer. Deeper.

And if I can do all this, survive the storm, then I know my paddock, my life, will be green!

Thank you Jesus for all that you do and all that you are.

Thanks for reading and God Bless.