I'm in My Happy Place

Just look at those smiles! Those are my grandchildren who all live here in Austin, their new "happy place", after having been strung out from Georgia to Seattle. What an amazing turn of events. I can’t begin to express the joy of their dad and mom, Ryan and Shawntel, having their boys (and our Ruthie, Braden’s wife) close to them. When I arrived on Friday, everyone was here at the Wuerch’s for dinner – laughing, sharing, contributing advice, offering genuine understanding to each other and such sincerely respecting each other. It is a "happy place".

After going to church together (sweetest “happy place”) yesterday morning, we went out for lunch and then back home for “my” famous chocolate cake. It was once called “Granny’s cake”, but now it’s been renamed “Nana’s cake”. I finally mastered the recipe. Lord, have mercy – it took me long enough. I could never get the icing to the hard fudge icing. But practice makes perfect – I did it!

My son is in his “happy place”. I witnessed it when I heard his big boys seeking his wise counsel. I witnessed it when the boys acted on that counsel. I love the relationship of Shawntel and Ruthie – finally, another girl to add to the mix of all that testosterone!! Such a happy place!

I share these personal highlights today to emphasize “happy place”. Do these family members agree on everything? NOT! Do they have the same likes and dislikes when it comes to food or movies or games or sports events? NOT! But they all agree they are in a “happy place” when it comes to celebrating each other and their achievements. They agree that they are here for each other – no matter what!

We all want to be happy and have places of happiness, but sometimes trying to find happiness can be a challenge. Often times we search for it in all the wrong places or ways, when the answer is much simpler. The places, the people, the sweet times can represent being in a happy place, but far more important is wherever we are and whoever we are with, shouldn’t determine our “happy place”. Psalm 144:15 says "Happy are the people whose God is the Lord." And, Psalm 119:1,2 says “Happy are those who live pure lives, who follow the LORD’s teachings. Happy are those who keep his rules, who try to obey Him with their whole heart.” Our “happy place” is wherever we are when our WHOEVER is God and we listen and heed His wise counsel.
Welcome to MY "happy place".

Happy Days Are Here Again

My first mistake yesterday morning was to scroll through some of my newsfeeds and saw “renewed hostility and determination” between the donkeys and the elephants to win their political wars. I thought, "What sad days!" But that attitude changed: "Wait just a minute! I am a child of God and I know God is still in charge of it all! Suddenly, the words “Happy Days” flashed through my mind. I knew God was helping me “renew my mind”.

I remembered the lyrics of an old song: “Happy days are here again, the skies above are clear again, so, let's sing a song of cheer again, happy days are here again!” I traced down the song's origin and found that it was written in tribute to the Armistice of November 11, 1918, which was the agreement that ended fighting on land, sea, and air in World War 1.

Then that wonderful “Oh Happy Day” song, rang in my ears – a song that many artists recorded, and the movie “Sister Act”, made it popular again. It was even a crowd pleaser when our Masters IV Quartette belted it out.

In these times, it almost seems that those songs and endeavors for peace, love, and happiness are impossible. But, "nothing is impossible" with God. What’s going on in politics and our world doesn’t define our happiness. Those thoughts pale in contrast to those of us who rise to the 30,000 feet view that our Father has when He looks at us and this world. I found a “happy days” scripture for us in Psalm 144:15 “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” Because of the resurrection of Christ and the good news that we will live in peace and harmony forever with Him, should cause God’s people to be the happiest people on the face of the earth!

It is sad that there are a lot of unhappy, discouraged, miserable, and hopeless people in this world. But that should never describe God’s people. There is truly nothing to be discouraged about in this life if He is part of it! But that’s the key, Jesus has to have the lead role, the starring part and be our main focus!

Yes, things happen, problems come and go, as they always do, but there is nothing, in any of our lives that can’t be overcome with the Lord’s help. He is an overcoming, death-defying, grace giving, problem-solving, all forgiving, amazingly awesome good God! As Christians, we of all people should be happy about our lot in life. We should be ecstatic! We have been forgiven of all the sins, we have ever done or will do, only by the precious grace of Jesus that God sent to us oh so long ago.

It makes you wonder, why in the world aren’t more people able to get their hearts wrapped around this life-giving, life-changing message that Jesus has given to whosoever will believe? It was a message, that was so important for God to get to us, that He was willing to sacrifice and give up His one and only Son, so we could have it! I’m telling you today if you know, and I mean truly know the Son of God, you have a reason to be singing continuously, "Oh Happy Day....when Jesus washed my sins away!"