SEVEN WAYS TO BE HAPPY....  

Often people make their own lives miserable and
other people help them find misery.Abraham Lincoln once said "most folks
are about as happy as they make up their minds to be". 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HAPPINESS:
1.  TRUST IN GOD:  THE PERSON WHO PUTS FAITH IN GOD HAS A SOURCE OF 
STRENGTH AND DELIGHT THAT A NON-BELIEVER CANNOT UNDERSTAND,  see Prov. 3:5,
16:20.  If we fuss and stew about everything it shows a lack of trust.
Jesus told Martha she was "troubled about many things". 

2.  RELISH THE SCRIPTURES: See Psa. 1:1-2,  "HOW SWEET ARE THY WORDS UNTO
MY TASTE! YEA, SWEETER THAN HONEY TO MY   MOUTH", Psa. 119: 103. The
scriptures always shoot straight. Tax laws change, the weather changes,
politics are ever changing but God's word never changes.  See II TIM.
3:16-17.  The sacred pages give hope, comfort, gladness to the lovers of
the truth. 

3. LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY:   (I don't mean self righteously.. or right in yourown
eyes,) "MANY SORROWS SHALL BE TO THE WICKED, BUT HE THAT TRUSTETH IN THE
LORD, MERCY SHALL COMPASS HIM ABOUT, BE GLAD IN THE LORD AND REJOICE, YE
RIGHTEOUS: AND SHOUT FOR JOY, ALL YE                                       
                   THAT ARE UPRIGHT IN HEART..", PSA.  32:10-11. See PSA.
64:10. Titus 2:12 shows that clean  living contributes to deep rooted joy
and contentment.  People may mock you and throw off on you and deride you,
but you possess something they do not have.                                
 

4. WORSHIP GOD WITH REGULARITY:  In Acts 20:6-7 the brethren "TARRIED" so
they could worship with other christians. In Acts 2 it      describes the
disciples as having common among them "great joy" and "praising God'. 
David said "I WAS GLAD WHEN THEY SAID TO ME, LET US GO INTO THE HOUSE OF
THE LORD...", Psa.122:1, see also 95:1, 96:9-11.  WORSHIP IS FOR THE GLORY
OF GOD AND THE HAPPINESS OF MAN.

5. KEEP A CLEAN CONSCIENCE: Acts 24:16, I Tim. 1:19, II Tim. 1:3 There can
be no true happiness when one violates his conscience.  See Gen. 42:21,
Joseph's brothers' consciences made them miserable. 

6. LEARN CONTENTMENT: THE GRASS IS NOT ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE.
Some people continually fret and complain about the cost of living, their
job,  wife, husband weather, politics.,
Christians grumble. Phil. 4:11 says a contented person is a happy
individual. Without contentment joy is only superficial. 

7.  STAY BUSY AND CONSTRUCTIVE: IDLENESS BREEDS DISPLEASURE, RESTLESSNESS, 
DESPONDENCY, MISCHIEF, HAPPINESS COMES TO HIM WHO WORKS PERSISTENTLY,
CONSISTENTLY, DILIGENTLY. See Romans 12:11. Effort expended and
accomplishment materialized bring inward fulfillment. Beneficial work keeps
the mind away from thoughts that are negative and inwardly destructive.
I Cor. 15:58 says "ABOUND IN THE WORK OF THE LORD"

Things that will not gaurentee happiness: WEALTH,  FULFILLMENT OF EVERY
GOAL IN LIFE, A MANSION, REVENGE, ALCOHOL, A SECOND WIFE OR HUSBAND, A NEW
CAR.   Closing thoughts: How did Paul find joy? Paul found joy in seeing
and hearing about  other christians doing good, read Philippians chapters
one through three and count the times you read the word, "rejoice or joy". 
...John Gurtler