sticking with me

Robert and I listened to a sermon yesterday. I might paraphrase a bit here, but something that has stuck with me wasn't the main point of the message, which was good too, but it was when the pastor said this....

"Happiness is a cheap substitute for JOY." 

He said that happiness isn't bad, of course. It's good! It can be a product of joy, but we can't just settle for happiness. We just want to be happy...is that ALL we want?? GOD WANTS FAR MORE FOR US. 

Seek the JOY that only God can bring. When we have JOY it doesn't matter what comes our way, we will still have that JOY. It's bigger than us, it's not about us. It's about Christ. It's not about our fleeting temporary happiness on this earth. 

I saw this today and after I did, I knew I had to share what was sticking with me.

Also, a verse that keeps popping up again and again in my life, that I must share (seriously, it's been in emails...on facebook...this verse is after me! ha)

Phillippians 4: 6-8

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, in prayer and petition and with thanksgiving, submit your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

I've had friends going through hard things in these past couple months. Friends that I love, friends that shouldn't be experience anything but JOY. It's hard and it's hard not to question God's plan. But at the end of the day, I KNOW, that without praying, without knowing that God was with them and that HE is in control, there would have been little peace. 

How amazing is it that "the peace of God which transcends all understanding" can be with us when all we can do is be "anxious"??

Keep praying...keep believing.

tis true, my friends