OUR DAILY BREAD : FOREVER JOYFUL

[cimi]

December 17
Monday


FOREVER JOYFUL

READ:
1Timothy 6:6-16
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Though He was rich,
yet for your sakes he
became poor, that you
...might become rich.
__ 2 Corinthians 8:9
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Wall Street Journal columnist Jonathan Clements offered his readers "Nine Tips for Investing in Happiness." Interestingly, one of his suggestions was precisely the same as that given in the favorite old hymn by Johnson C. Oatman. "Count Your Many Blessings." Clements urges us not to brood over the riches of our neighbors but to focus on the many blessings we actually do possess. That's wise counsel, provided that we realize our spiritual wealth in Jesus is immeasurably more valuable than any material possessions.

God didn't give us the Bible as a guidebook for happiness. Yet it tells us how we can be eternally joyful and how we can experience joy on our way to that eternal happiness. So it's enlightening to compare biblical truth with common-sense advice.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain," Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Tim. 6:6). The apostle wanted his protege to understand that being grateful for the basics of life would help keep him from the trap of covetousness.

So let's focus on the wonders of God's grace, training ourselves to make a spirit of gratitude pervade our lives. That's the way to experience joy today and to be forever joyful. __ vernon Grounds
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~~~~~~~When you look at others with their lands and gold,~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~Count your many blessings--money cannot buy~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~Your reward in heaven nor your home on high. __ Oatman~~~~
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Count your many blessings
and you'll soon lose count.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Timothy 6:6-16***********

6 Now godliness with
contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing
into this world, and it
is certain we can carry
nothing out. 8 and having
food and clothing, with
these we shall be content.

9 But those who desire to
be rich fall into temptation
and a snare, and into
many foolish and harmful
lusts which drown men in
destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money
is a root of all kinds of
evil, for which some have
strayed from the faith
in their greediness, and
pierced themselves through
with many sorrows.

11 But you, O man of God,
flee these things and pursue
righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, patience,
gentleness. 12 Fight the
good fight of faith, lay hold
on eternal life, to which
you were also called and
have confessed the good
confesssion in the presence
of many witnesses. 13 I urge
you in the sight of God
who gives life to all things,
and before Chrsit Jesus
who witnessed the good
confession before Pontius
Pilate, 14 that you keep this
commandment without
spot, blameless until
our Lord Jesus Christ's
appearing, 15 which He will
manifest in His own time,
He who is the blessed and
only Potentate, the King
of kings and Lord of
lords, 18 who alone has
immortality, dwelling in
unapproachable light,
whom no man has seen or
can see, to whom be honor
and everlasting power.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Contentment is learned by practice until it beomces a habit. Every
new circumstance can be a learning opportunity in contentment.
"I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Phil. 4:11).
__ HDF (Adapted from Strong's Concordance)