Morning Devotions: How to be Happy

Romans 4:1-13 ‘echar (bliss)

Romans 4:4-8 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,  just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
  "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. (Psalm 32:1) "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT." (Psalm 32:2)

     Did you catch what Paul said in Romans about David? He was quoting King David from Psalm 32:1. If you want joy (blessedness) then stop working at it. (Psalm 32:1-2) 

Lavorrya M Nightingale Photo

     The word translated “blessedness” comes from a derivative of the Greek word “makarios” which was translated from the Hebrew word ‘echar, H835. It means “bliss-happiness.” It is a word that comes from finishing the race without taking short-cuts or cheating. Normally, blessed means receiving the favor of the Almighty, but this is different. You hear believers talk about tragedies in life as a blessing in disguise. A sick child, loss of income, even cancer is said to be “a blessing in disguise.” What they are telling me is that they have something impossible to endure, but they have the favor of God on their lives and that they can both see as well as feel it. Blessedness, ‘echar is similar in origin (knowing the favor of the Almighty) but is the word that describes the unexplainable happiness, the bliss we experience, as a result of His favor on us when there is no earthly reason to feel good about what is happening. Whoever wrote Hebrews, spoke of this bliss, this joy. 
 

Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us (Read Hebrews 11:32-40), let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. nasu

     No one said it would be easy. There are things in life that are hard, they must be endured. We have a cruel enemy, filled with hate. He wants us to become a slave to his view of our world (again…. because that enemy, that prince, is what we were saved from). It would come close to being delight for him if you threw in the towel, stopped enduring and cursed God for your circumstances. If the Serpent were capable of feeling delight then he would feel it if you lashed out in anger, “Why me!”

I have discovered that the answer to “Why me?” is not for me, but for the Serpent. How do I know this? I realized it when reading the opening chapter of the Book of Job.

Job 1:8-12YHVH said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job?
 For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil."  Then Satan answered YHVH, "Does Job fear God for nothing?  "Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed (the favor of The Almighty)  the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.  But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has;
 he will surely curse You to Your face."
 Then YHVH said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of YHVH.

     Satan thinks that believers want only comfort and happiness from the Almighty. If the things that make life easy are removed he believes (from long experience) that we will curse God. The Almighty trusts us to endure difficulty in this life because of the hope of what comes in the next life (Hebrews 12:1-2) turning away from evil, not for the things of the world, but for the bliss (blessedness) of being a child of the Almighty)

     I had to ask myself, would the Almighty trust me enough to say, “Have you (Satan) considered my servant Deb?” Is my happiness tied up in happy, obedient, believing children, a lovely marriage where I am the cherished princess to my lord, a healthy body, a comfortable home, friends who like being around me, and answers to life from the Bible that inspires others to believe?

     What if, in a single season, you lost your children (one of mine became addicted to Meth and alcohol and went to jail).

     What if, in that same season your marriage was put to the test as you both look at each other with accusing hearts, because you know that you did everything you could to drug proof your precious child, so the problem with your beloved child must be with your spouse. (In case you want to cast blame for your child's problem, remember that if you or your spouse were in charge of choices, you child would NEVER put a cigarette, the overwhelming gateway drug, to their lips; that was the child’s choice, not yours or your spouses.)

     What if, in that same season, your health and home went away. In my case it was panic attacks that would overwhelm me. We sold our home to pay for all the expenses that an extended stay in jail puts on a family, a good lawyer, rehab, a car that was destroyed, etc

     Friends dropped like flies, just in case what happened to us was catchy, though there were a few of “Job’s friends” who would come around to tell us that our sin is what caused all of this. Something we spent time before the throne of God confessing, but the conviction did not come from the Almighty (who does not ask us to earn our way to His Kingdom but gives it as a free gift that Y’shua-Jesus earned for us). No one came to my Bible Studies any more (twenty-ish used to be the average size of my classes). We nearly went under emotionally, but we never once felt an urge to “curse God to his face” not that there were not unbelieving family members who encouraged us to give up the whole “holier than thou church scene”

      Sitting in court one day, drained, unable to pray anything, but to only repeat the word, “Mercy” to the Almighty, waiting to hear the fate of our beloved child, expecting years of prison time in spite of all we had done (from the day he was born), we gleaned a fresh understanding of the meaning of blessed, having the favor of the LORD, and of blessedness, the bliss that you cannot earn.

,,,,God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13b

Endurance is not easy. But it is worth it! 

Mrs. Hagerty, May 24, 2016

Today’s reading

Romans 4:1-13What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 

"ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." 

Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
 "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. (Psalm 32:1)"BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT." (Psalm 32:2) Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Morning Devotions: John 13:1-17

Our word of the season is  'esher. It is a Hebrew verb that communicates what we do with endurance that will (or does) bring a sense of bliss (extreme happiness). The same word translated into Greek is  makarios (mak-er’-ee-os) The Apostle John chose this word to describe the feeling we get when we serve fellow servants in secret-love, without fanfare. 

Y’shua got up to serve before the Passover Celebration. He knew who he was, He knew where he came from and the glory that he was about to return to. He knew the suffering he would endure before the glory… and still he arose and served the servants.  After returning to his rightful place at the head of the table, He asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? You are not greater than me… I gave you an example to follow.” Without an announcement, without asking for recognition, serve the servants. You are being sent out to serve because that is what Y’shua did for you. If you understand this then you are ‘esher (blessed and filled with happiness).
     

 "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them." John 13:17 nasu

I did the math. Only 8% of those that Y’shua-Jesus served in John 13 even noticed what he was doing. One of twelve, the one who did notice, wanted more than he was offered.

How beautiful upon the mountains  are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."    Isaiah 52:7 

And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!" Romans 10:15

Do YOU understand? 

Mrs. Hagerty, January 21,2016 

John 13:1-1813:1-11 Now before The Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you." For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "You are not all clean."

 13:12-17 When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.      rsv

Morning Devotion: 'Esher (happy)

Blessed are you if...

If? Sometimes I have the odd thought. I wonder things like, isn't "if" a flag word for a cause - effect relationship? So I wonder, aren't blessings by the "grace of God"? Was  Y'shua-Jesus telling us that there are conditions to blessing?  And why do some people insist that the word translated "blessed" should be translated "happy"?

Back to Hebrew. Did you know that there are two Hebrew words that we translate "blessed"? The one most of us are familiar with is  barak something given to another in worship. It means to kneel, to praise. It is the exact opposite of curse. The other word for blessing, the one that is often translated "happy" is ' esher.

' Esher is an action verb. You are doing something when you ' esher. It is something you do with a goal in mind. The reason it is sometimes translated "happy" is because you do something that leads to bliss. It is a human (believer) word about our choices and the bliss-joy that follows those choices. While it is not "unmerited favor" it is important.

Here is today's sample  'esher verse.

Proverbs 8:32   Listen (shama) children, bliss--joy comes to those who guard The Way.

What choice must we do to be happy? Guard The Way, the path of life. Do not let anything into your life that is not of the Almighty.

Does that mean you will feel joy not watching the movie that everyone else is going to see? Maybe not. But when you see  Y'shua face to face , the joy you will experience because you do not need to hang your head in shame will be bliss!
Mrs. Hagerty, January 9, 2016