happiness.

December 31, 2016 by Kathleen Moulton

There are many wonderful things in life that make us happy.

We should relish those things and keep them close.

But life is not always happy.

When we face situations that make us unhappy, we feel empty. We don’t like our happiness taken away.

I believe with all my heart that God knows the next step and something good can come out of our unhappiness.

Your unhappiness has the ability to drive you to find happiness somewhere. This is why so many turn to “other” things to cope.

True and permanent happiness comes from God. I mean, he created happiness in the first place.

What does this mean? It means when you are alone in your sadness, reach out to God. Talk to him. When you draw near to him, he draws near to you. He will not force himself on you. But he gives you plenty of clues that he is around.

We all know we are happiest when all is well. This means that something in our lives is secure. We don’t have to worry. When things are out of our control, we look for something to make us happy again. Even if it’s temporary.

I read this today and this popped out to me:

Laments (deep grieving or sadness) lead to a deeper resting in Him for our happiness.

The happiness from God is deeper than any happiness found on earth. It’s not that we don’t enjoy the happy things that life gives us. It means when those happy things are not there we can still maintain a deeper, steady happiness that is like a slow burning candle deep within us.

The roots of a tree dig deeper into the earth when there is a drought.

We have to dig deeper, too.

~~~

photo from The Songs of Jesus by Timothy Keller

happy new year?

December 31, 2016December 30, 2016 by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 2 Comments

Do you cringe when you hear “happy” new year?

You’re not alone.

But here we are – the beginning of another year.

You can decide going into it if you’re going to look ahead with hope. Even if it’s just a small, glimmer of hope.

Remember how things got bad so quickly?

It can get good quickly, too.

Hope.

Expect.

Wait.

~~~

Photo credit: bitzcelt / DecorLove.com / CC BY-NC-ND

destiny.

December 23, 2016 by Kathleen Moulton

The baby in the manger was wrapped in swaddling cloths.

Even then, he was destined to be the sacrifice for the sins of mankind. The swaddling cloths would become grave cloths.

He entered the world and dwelt among us.

Love met sin and covered all who would believe.

Star of Bethlehem, Magi – wise men or wise kings travel on camels with entourage across the deserts to find the savior, moon, desert, Holy Bible, Etching, 1885

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Photo credit: Wonderlane via Foter.com / CC BY

it matters to this one.

December 7, 2016 by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 1 Comment

“While wandering a deserted beach at dawn … I saw a man in the distance bending and throwing as he walked the endless stretch toward me. As he came near, I could see that he was throwing starfish, abandoned on the sand by the tide, back into the sea.

When he was close enough I asked him why he was working so hard at this strange task. He said that the sun would dry the starfish and they would die. I said to him that I thought he was foolish. there were thousands of starfish on miles and miles of beach. One man alone could never make a difference. He smiled as he picked up the next starfish.

Hurling it far into the sea he said, “It makes a difference for this one.”– Loren Eiseley