The Joy of the Lord

Are you happy? We are not to be governed by our feelings, but we all need the cheer of a heart that has been made glad. The joy of earth passes away; the joy of the Lord remains forever. If saved, this joy is for you; are you happy?

Happiness Makers

The world needs happiness makers. There is a great deal of sadness everywhere. The Bible is a book meant to make people truly happy; joy bells ring all through it. The mission of the Gospel is to make happiness. The angels' announcement of good tidings of great joy is going forth far and wide throughout the world. The story of the love of Christ is changing darkness to light, despair to hope, tears to laughter, sorrow to rejoicing in all lands. If you are miserable and unhappy it is because you have not believed the Gospel in its simplicity and fullness.

Gratitude

"In everything give thanks" (1 Thess. 5:18).

What can show more clearly the baseness of fallen man than the ingratitude which every saint may discover to exist in himself? How light would many a load become if, while carrying it, thanksgivings were offered under the conscious certainty that "All things work together for good!" The same hand which divided the Red Sea, raised the widow's son. In whatever state a Christian may be placed, he is the only happy one who is "giving thanks always for all things."

—The Annotator

Truthfulness

Satan is a liar, and the father of it. God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. We were sometime darkness, but now are we light in the Lord, and are to walk as children of light. As a rule, the unconverted person thinks little of lying. Except in its grosser forms, the world passes over it with a laugh. Even among the children of God (where they have not been brought up from infancy to have a horror of untruth) there may be carelessness as to the truth—in social intercourse, in business, or in "trifles."

If we realize how abominable it is to God, how grieving to the Spirit of truth, how dishonoring to our Lord who is the Truth, we cannot think lightly of untruthfulness. It will be our desire to walk in the light, practically. We will realize that in putting off the old man with his deeds, we are done with lying (Col. 3:9). As "members one of another" we will see the folly and the sin of falsehood (Eph. 4:25).

"Thou God seest me."

—Selected

What is Love?

It is Silence when your words would hurt.
It is Patience when your neighbor is curt.
It is Deafness when a scandal flows.
It is Thoughtfulness of others' woes.
It is Promptness when stern duty calls.
It is Courage when misfortune falls.

—Author Unknown