Last week we talked about “Ifonly Ida” Ida was a wonderful lady that never really enjoyed life because she was always thinking about how things could have been.

          In preparing this message initially I wanted to talk about finding better ways to express our thanksgiving. Finally it occurred to me that I was assuming we are not thankful! It was time to look for a positive approach.

          That was a good choice! I had a wonderful time looking for happy people! I headed for our hospice office thinking all of them would claim the title. Much to my amazement they did not! They finally nominated Wanda, who works for one of the nursing homes. She was surprised and honored, but could not figure out why someone would recommend her. She said, “I guess I have learned to hide my sadness. However when I told her the reason she was recommended she readily agreed that she loves people.  People believe we are happy when we love others, and the truth is that we do!

          The next stop was a local restaurant – Roberta was out of town. When a happy looking waitress brought out my food I asked her, “Who is the happiest person in this town?” She responded, “That would be me!”

          After congratulating her I asked her to tell me more. She responded, “Because of Jesus Christ. I celebrate 3 birthdays every year… my belly button, when I got saved and 3 years of sobriety.” Because of her drinking problem she had lost everything and was homeless for 3 months. Not knowing what else to do she went through a rehab program then relocated to Tulsa for a while. She moved to Kingfisher to be near her family, and “Now I have this wonderful job and a place of my own.” She explained that she is 40 years old now and has finally got her life together.

Armed with this success I went to the Lions Club meeting. Two of the men there (members of our church) had no problem saying that they were the happiest people they knew.

     Having visited with a number of people I have reached 2 conclusions.

1.             Most of us are happy, but society and television commercials take away a lot of that joy! In fact one of our hospice nurses said that after thinking about my question overnight she decided that she would be happier if they sold everything and went to the mission field.

2.             The truly happy people in life are those that have gone through major trials and have won. They have learned a better sense of values. 

A fascinating study on the principle of the Golden Rule was conducted by Bernard Rimland, director of the Institute for Child Behavior Research. Rimland found that "The happiest people are those who help others." Each person involved in the study was asked to list ten people he knew best and to label them as happy or not happy. Then they were to go through the list again and label each one as selfish or unselfish, using the following definition of selfishness: a stable tendency to devote one's time and resources to one's own interests and welfare--an unwillingness to inconvenience one's self for others." (Rimland, 'The Altruism Paradox,' Psychological Reports 51 [1982]: 521)

In categorizing the results, Rimland found that all of the people labeled happy were also labeled unselfish. He wrote that those "whose activities are devoted to bringing themselves happiness...are far less likely to be happy than those whose efforts are devoted to making others happy."

Rimland concluded: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." (Ibid, p. 522). Martin & Diedre Bobgan, How To Counsel From Scripture, Moody Press, 1985, p. 123.

      The happy waitress really inspired me (I left her a nice tip). She hit the nail on the head. Our joy is to be in Jesus! As St. Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

     And then he reinforced it, “I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines rejoice as “To be glad, happy or delighted; to be full of joy.”

One can go through the motions of praising God – saying all the words, and even raise their hands, but never really feel praise in their hearts! Somehow we need to find a way to get excited about all of the things God has done for us!

Last night I heard Joyce Meyer say, “Be thankful you have hot water in your house. Be thankful you have a toilet to sit on!”

She is exactly right! Many people do not enjoy such luxuries.

We usually think about King David and his successes. We often forget that he spent several years running for his life. His father-in-law, King Saul wanted to kill him.

          That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances: "'Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands'?"

David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.

Achish said to his servants, "Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?"  1 Samuel 21:10-15 

Psalm 56 is David’s response to God rescuing him!

Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack. My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride.

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?

All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me. They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life. On no account let them escape; in your anger, O God, bring down the nations. Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll -- are they not in your record?

Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise--in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling; that I may walk before God in the light of life.

David knew the way to be the happiest man in town! He learned it on the hillsides when he was a teenager watching his dad’s flocks. His joy came from a close relationship with God. That relationship was honed through many years of singing to the Lord, of writing notes of love to God.

     David’s happiness came from a total commitment to God. Yes, he stumbled and sinned – we all do! But he always went back to the basics of asking for forgiveness and praising God for his love.

Psalm 100:1-5  (A psalm for giving thanks.)

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God. It is He, who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

                   

Ten rules for happier living

1. Give something away (no strings attached)

2. Do a kindness (and forget it)

3. Spend a few minutes with the aged (their experience is a priceless guidance)

4. Look intently into the face of a baby (and marvel)

5. Laugh often (it's life's lubricant)

6. Give thanks (a thousand times a day is not enough)

7. Pray (or you will lose the way)

8. Work (with vim and vigor)

9. Plan as though you'll live forever (because you will)

10.Live as though you'll die tomorrow (because you will on some tomorrow)

Source Unknown. Found at www.sermonillustrations.com

 

The awful truth is that we all know a few persons that are not happy if they aren’t unhappy about something!

May I tell you the truth? I had asked between 12 and 15 people who they thought was the happiest person they knew when someone said he thought I might be! He said, “I’m not just saying it because you are sitting here. But one of the hospice patients was commenting that you had really encouraged him because after all the health problems you have had this year, you still have joy in your heart.”

     That was not my goal, but it certainly sums up what I have learned. 

The happiest person:

1.     Knows Jesus Christ as Savior;

2.     Has gone through a tough time and survived;

3.     Has a joyful spirit; and

4.     Serves others unselfishly.

 

Therefore each of us can be the happiest person we know if we choose to be so!

     What is your choice today?