HAPPINESS RECIPE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Eleanor Roosevelt said "Someone once asked me what I regarded as the three most important requirements for happiness. My answer was:

·       A feeling that you have been honest with yourself and those around you;

·       a feeling that you have done the best you could both in your personal life and in your work;

·       and the ability to love others.

That is a good recipe.

Unpack it a little as you set out for your day.

Embrace honesty.

Be honest with yourself.  Set some healthy boundaries.  Operate with integrity and character. John Wooden once gave the blueprint for this when he said, “Character is what one does when no one is watching.”   

And that leads to the second ingredient in Eleanor’s happiness recipe, doing our BEST!  GOD is also a big fan of this and He long before Eleanor understood the need for and the benefits of “best practices”.

Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others.

For we know that we will receive a reward, an inheritance from the Lord, as we serve the Lord… Colossians 3:23-24 (TPT)

Lastly, love.

I would add to LOVE GOD in the ingredient list along with others.

That is why I like the way the Passion folks have translated this familiar passage from 1 Peter 4:8

Above all, constantly echo God’s intense love for one another, for love will be a canopy over a multitude of sins.

Echo GOD’s love!

Echo GOD’s love for YOU in the way that you LOVE OTHERS.

Do that and not only will those sins be covered, but as LOVE is expressed and grows so too will happiness!

Love — it makes us smile, it makes us giggle and it makes us rejoice in the little moments we share together. In other words, love creates happiness in us as human beings. – Vallent

So, there you go!

Operate today with honest and integrity, demonstrating GOOD CHARACTER

Do your best!

Love!

And happiness is sure to show up!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

LOVE YOU ALL

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE