The Pursuit of Happiness

Happiness means something a little different for each of us, and yet it is something we all desire and expect. A famous line from one of the most popular comic strips of all time was the statement Charles Schultz attributed to Charlie Brown: “Happiness is a warm puppy.”   If you’re not a dog-lover, you’d probably prefer a human relationship. Socrates said, "By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher." 

Some of us think happiness comes as a result of education, a good job, a husband/wife, enough money to buy all the things we want, constant entertainment, physical beauty, a perfect body, fame, prestige, position, power, or any number of things. But if we think these things will bring happiness, we need to think again.

If you don’t agree, don’t take my word for it. Read for yourself about King Solomon, the richest, most powerful, wisest, and most coddled man who ever lived. With his choice of women, he chose 700 wives and 300 concubines. Crazy man!

Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 2 that he had more money than he could spend and bought himself anything he desired. He had beautiful homes and grounds with gardens, cattle, horses and stables, pools, and luxurious furnishings. He had oodles of servants, including some who played music and entertained him. He had great wisdom more than any man. As king, he had absolute power and control over his life and the lives of others. He also had health and youth, yet none of these things satisfied him.

Solomon’s conclusion in 2:17 was that nothing satisfied him and he “hated life,” because everything was “vanity” (emptiness) and “vexation of spirit” (troublesome). In verse 18, he admits that he actually hated all the things he had worked to achieve, because he didn’t want to leave them for someone else to enjoy after he died. What selfishness!   

The very things that Solomon (and many others have) sought after only bring emptiness and depression. It’s a fact of life that things simply do not satisfy. Part of the human condition is that, no matter how much we have, there is still an insatiable desire for more. Why? Because we are spiritual beings, and only God can fill the emptiness of our hearts and satisfy our souls.

What we are really seeking is fulfillment. To be fulfilled, our lives must have purpose. Some people never determine what their life's purpose is, or even consider that they should have one. They simply drift through life waiting for the next thrill, with no real goals or achievements. Others may find a purpose, but when they come to the end of life, they realize they've lived for the wrong purpose. They only regret having spent their lifetime on things that brought no satisfaction and had no real value. The happiest people on earth are those who know why they are here, and they are determined to live out that purpose.

A worthwhile life is the one spent doing things that have meaning and eternal value: For instance cultivating friendships, building character, helping those in need, meaningful work, sharing knowledge and wisdom gained over time, and establishing a personal relationship with God.

Happiness can be an elusive dream or a reality. It’s something we cannot find by struggling and grasping for it. Rather, it comes as a result of applying our time and effort toward achieving worthwhile goals. Having a sense of accomplishment is what gives life meaning and fulfillment. If we pursue happiness, it will continue to evade us. But when we set out to make others happy and fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, happiness comes automatically, without a struggle.

You see, happiness a gift, rather than a feat. It is the by-product of a living a balanced life—the balance of accomplishment, good relationships, a spiritual connection, and emotional stability.

The best things in life really are free: Salvation, love, family, friendship, truth, work, character, the beauty of the natural world, health, etc. But we must be willing to accept these things as God’s gifts and appreciate them rather than casting them aside as though they are not valuable enough for us.

What makes you happy? If you think about it, you may realize that your happiness is connected to your spiritual health. That's the conclusion Solomon eventually reached after a life time of struggling to find happiness. 

After discussing everything that he had achieved, Solomon’s conclusion of the whole matter was: “Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”  Ecclesiastes 11:13 

I think we should learn the easy way...from King Solomon's experience.  Remember, he WAS the wisest person who ever lived!

What do you think?

One Father’s Impact

William Jackson Smart and his wife Ellen Victoria lived a simple life in Arkansas in the late 1800’s. Smart was a member of the First Arkansas Light Artillery unit which fought in the Battle of Pea Ridge during the Civil War. As new land began opening up in the west, the Smart family moved to Spokane, Washington, where William worked as a farmer.

Their oldest child Sonora was sixteen when her mother died in childbirth. She helped her father raise her five younger brothers, including the newborn baby. She saw what a heavy load her widowed father carried, and held him in great esteem. While listening to a sermon in 1910 about the newly recognized Mother’s Day, Sonora felt very strongly that fatherhood should also be recognized and celebrated. She approached the Ministerial Alliance of Spokane with her idea and suggested June 5, her father’s birthday, as the day to celebrate.

The Alliance elected to use the third Sunday in June instead, and on June 19, 1910, Sonora Smart Dodd’s idea became a reality. The first Father’s Day was celebrated, with the mayor of Spokane and the governor of Washington officially supporting the event. But Father’s Day didn’t begin as a national holiday.  It began in ONE town, with ONE father. You could even say it began in the heart and mind of ONE daughter whose father’s impact in her life was overwhelming.

Back when women stayed home and did all the cooking and housework, there was an old saying, “Man may work from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done.”  I can imagine that Farmer Smart’s work was truly never done, because he was both father and mother to his children.  

Imagine being a “stay-at-home” dad in 1898. Anyone who knows anything about farming knows it is a sun-up to sun-down, seven days a week, 365 days a year job. And as if farming wasn’t enough, Smart had six young children to provide for and look after in addition to his farm.

To measure the impact of fatherhood, we only have to consider the negative side, the children raised in fatherless homes. According to the Center for Disease Control*:

·         85%  of children with behavioral problems are in fatherless homes.

·         71%  of high school dropouts are in fatherless homes.

·         85%  of all youth in prison were in fatherless homes.

·         75%  of all youth in chemical abuse centers were in fatherless homes.

·         63%  of all youth suicides are children from fatherless homes.

Fathering a child may be easy, but being a real father is something quite different. With marriage on the decline, so many men live elsewhere and are absentees in the lives of their children, creating a void that seemingly nothing else fills. Living without a father breeds insecurity and rebellion in the lives of kids.

The spiritual impact of fatherlessness is also a problem. A father should give us an example and a perception of what our Heavenly Father is like. But so many children are deserted by their fathers. They have no concept of a Heavenly Father because they don’t have a loving, nurturing father who is present to provide for them, guide them, and help them deal with the issues of life.

I am proud of my husband Jim, who is a wonderful father, grandfather, and role model. I am in awe of all the things he has done over his lifetime and still does. He was a great pastor for 40 years; served on local, state, and denominational boards; built church buildings; and more importantly, has built lives. He has been a faithful provider, guide, and positive influence on our three children and seven grandchildren, all of whom think he hung the moon!

I want to honor my son Randy and my son-in-law Scott Berglan, both great fathers, pastors, and spiritual leaders of their families. They each serve as a wonderful example to their own three children. I also applaud Steve Keiffer, my grandson Adam’s dad, who is a Christian and a positive role model. Of course, I can’t let Father’s Day pass without celebrating the life of my Dad, Cecil Combs whose influential life story is detailed in my book, Living by Faith.

Fourteen years after the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, President Calvin Coolidge publicly supported plans for a national Father’s Day. It would be another 32 years before it was recognized by a joint resolution of Congress in 1956, and President Lyndon Johnson made it official proclaiming an official national holiday in 1966. More than sixty years after Sonora Smart Dodd’s idea was presented, President Richard Nixon established the first Sunday in June as Father’s Day by law in 1972.

Today, Father’s Day ranks as the fifth most popular card-sending holiday. Before the days of cell phones and free long-distance calling, it was the holiday with the most collect phone calls – kids calling their Dad’s and letting them pick up the tab. I doubt there was a dad out there who ever refused a call, or a kid who doubted that they would do so.

If you are a successful, or even a semi-average, functioning adult, your success is greatly due to the impact and  influence of ONE father. So tell him that on June 19.

“Hello, Dad? Just wanted to wish you a Happy Father’s Day, and tell you that I love you and appreciate all you’ve done for me!” Say it now, while you still have your father with you.

* Article Source - statistics: http://EzineArticles.com/2441660

Life Without Limits

As you can see in the space above left, I have a link to the website Blogging for Books. The book I'm reviewing here was sent to me in exchange for sharing my review on their website. I found it to be such a blessing that I wanted to share it on my blog as well as sharing the review on their site. Here is my review:

“Nicholas, you need to play with normal children, because you are normal. You just have a few bits and pieces missing, that’s all.” That’s what Nick Vujicic’s mother insisted when he was very young, instilling in him “…the belief that I had every right to life free of labels and restrictions.”

“My parents held onto the conviction that my life would have no limits,” Nick writes in his autobiography Life Without Limits, subtitled: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life. To say his story is inspirational is a huge understatement, and he seems to love and appreciate his ridiculously good life more than the average person.

The thing that makes Nick’s mother’s comment so incredible is that Nick was born without either arms or legs. And despite the almost impossible odds against it, he has gone on to live a relatively normal life. He sees himself not as handicapped, but rather as a person who has to figure out a way to do things that other people can do easily. In keeping with this attitude, he produced a DVD entitled, “No Arms, No Legs, No Worries.”

Nick is a motivational speaker and the director of a nonprofit organization he founded called Life Without Limbs. He has traveled the world and spoken to hundreds of thousands of people, inspiring them to focus on what they have, not what they are missing.

Some of his accomplishments are astounding when you consider his missing limbs. Using a tiny foot that is attached to his lower body, he navigates his world via a motorized wheelchair, and even uses a computer. He swims and has been SCUBA diving. He even learned to surf in Hawaii with Bethany Hamilton, the famous surfer and subject of the movie Soul Surfer.



Surfing on Waikiki Beach with Bethany Hamilton



One of my favorite parts of the book is the story of a bully who kept threatening him in grade school. Amazingly, they agreed to settle their argument by fighting it out. Even more amazing, was the fact that Nick beat “Chuckie” and left him crying on the ground, with a bloodied nose. He was worried about going home and facing his parents, expecting to be punished for fighting. He had no need to be worried, as he recalls, “They simply did not think it possible that I’d beaten up a bigger, older, and fully-equipped bloke.”

After navigating the tumultuous years of early adolescence and wanting to commit suicide, Nick accepted Christ at age fifteen. He asked God to forgive him, direct his life, and give him purpose.  He quotes Helen Keller, who said true happiness comes through “…fidelity to a worthy purpose.” After seeing the reaction of his classmates when he shared his testimony, he knew he wanted to be a speaker. God answered Nick’s prayer and gave him a speaking ministry that fulfils his purpose and inspires people of all classes, races, and religions.



Baby Nick with his first wheels

In a chapter called Attitude is Altitude, Nick says that attitude is like a remote control for your life. If the program you’re watching doesn’t uplift you and help you, then change it. He says we can “pick a ‘tude,” and suggests that some of the most powerful and positive ones are: gratitude, action, empathy,  and forgiveness.

Reading the wise words this handsome young man his written is so empowering. It helps the reader to see how truly amazing God’s grace is, even though we sometimes feel we have nothing to offer Him. He can use whatever we have when we make it available to Him. Nick Vujicic is a wonderful example of someone who lives life to the limit and makes the most of his talents and abilities. His story will leave you with wonder, tears of joy, gratitude for all you have, and an amazing resolve to live up to the best you can be.

If you'd like to read this book or another and write a review, you can do so by signing up for the program at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/

Nick Vujicic's website http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/ offers DVDs and other products that tell more of his story. I think this man is simply amazing...tell me what you think!

Israel – My Glory

 

Israel has always been an important player on the world stage. But in the last two weeks, Israel has moved front and center, and is the main character in an unfolding drama. Several momentous things that have happened:

1. President Obama upstaged Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was already on the plane traveling to the US to address Congress. Obama had agreed to the speech, but waited until Netanyahu was in transit to deliver a new US Mideast policy.

2. In his pre-emptive speech, President Obama reiterated the Bush policy for a two-state solution (something I think is a mistake, but then no one asked my opinion).

3. The President also called Israel’s presence a “permanent occupation,” which amounts to saying they are there illegally. This is exactly what the Arab states have claimed, and it is wholly untrue. The United Nations gave the territory to Israel in 1948, in agreement with her Arab neighbors. The land originally belonged to Israel anyhow, but it was restored to her as part of the Balfour Declaration of 1917. 

4. Going against the long-standing US policy and even a promise that President Bush had made to Israel, Obama said that Israel should revert to her pre-1967 borders.

5. He also proposed giving Fatah and Hamas (terrorist groups) a base in Jerusalem. This is utter idiocy, akin to the US setting up an office in Washington, DC, for Al Qaeda.

6. Despite the cowardly actions and betrayal by Obama, Netanyahu spoke in front of news cameras, face-to-face with the President IN THE WHITE HOUSE, and basically told him to go jump in lake. Netanyahu correctly said that these borders would make Israel indefensible and that Israel would not go back to those borders. It would make part of the nation of Syria only a few miles from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.

7. Netanyahu delivered his courageous message to a joint session of Congress, “I stood before my people and said that I will accept a Palestinian state; it’s time for President Abbas to stand up before his people and say, ‘I will accept a Jewish state,’ " Mr. Netanyahu said to cheers from a hugely friendly crowd. “Those six words will change history.”

8. Although he got many standing ovations from the non-partisan Congress, Vice President Joe Biden was the only person not applauding. President Obama was not present, but on his way to Ireland when the address was given.

One advantage of being old is that I have experienced some of the history discussed in the news and have my own perspective. I remember the Six-Day War in Israel, when Syria had troops stationed on the top of the Golan Heights, firing rockets down into Israel, while Jordan and Egypt were violating her sovereignty, encroaching on Western Jerusalem, and disregarding her borders. They were effectively blocking Jewish access to their holy sites in East Jerusalem and blocking Israel’s access to commerce on the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.

Jim and I visited Israel about six years after the war, and saw Syrian tanks still sitting along the roadside. Israel had incapacitated them, and left them as a reminder to passersby of their victory. Since that war, Israel has granted access for their Arab citizens to their mosques, unlike the Arab countries who would not allow Jews access to the temple mount and the wailing wall. Israel has also conceded great portions of land to the Palestinian people for new Arab settlements in peace treaties negotiated by the US and agreed to as part of a peace effort. But no matter how much land they get, the Palestinians continue to attack Israel and many have spoken out calling for the destruction of Israel.  It is clear that land is not their objective, but the destruction of the nation of Israel.

The only way all religions’ holy sites will be open to the world is for Israel to control them. They have respected the rights of all people (Arabs included) to live in Israel and practice their faith. Unknown to most of the world, Arabs and Jews peacefully co-exist in Jerusalem. But the Palestinian leaders are not satisfied unless they are in control of the government. In a recent poll, 70% of Arabs living in Jerusalem said they would rather live under the government of Israel than under Palestinian rule. “In a region where women are stoned, gays are persecuted,” Netanyahu said, “Israel stands out.”

When the Jordanians occupied the Old City in 1948, Jewish synagogues and cemeteries were destroyed, and Torah scrolls were burned. Under Muslim rule, the Christian population decreased by half. “And this is why Israel, and only Israel, can be trusted to ensure the freedom for all faiths in our central capital, the united city of Jerusalem," Netanyahu said.

The destruction of Israel will never happen, and, as Prime Minister Netanyahu stated in his speech, “Jerusalem will never be divided.” God guarantees that Israel will return and remain in the land. It was His and He gave it to them. God predicted in the Bible that in the last days, Jews would return from the four corners of the earth and live once more in Jerusalem (Joel 3:17-20). In fact, God originally gave Israel ten times as much land as they now control. He will fight for them, and they will live in the land God has given them. What other nation has fought a war on three fronts and come out victorious in six days?

Because of President Obama’s rash statements, Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas has said that Netanyahu’s refusal to go back to the 1967 borders is a “declaration of war.”  A spokesman for Abbas said, “We will never accept an Israeli presence in the Palestinian state, especially along the Jordan River.”

The Palestinians say they want peace, but their actions prove otherwise. Many people expect a showdown this September. As Prime Minister Netanyahu says, “If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel.”

The Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Now more than ever, we need to pray, when the world seems to cry out for the dividing of the city and for giving the Palestinians more land. Obadiah chapter 1 and Joel 3 both predict judgment for those who come against Jerusalem and Jacob (Israel).

“For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.”  Psalm 122:5-7

Politically, we must stand with Israel, the only true democracy in the Mideast. And even more importantly, spiritually, we must align ourselves with Israel. God called her “Israel my Glory,” (Isaiah 46:13) and warned other nations not to touch Israel, the “apple of his eye.”  Zechariah 2:8  He promises to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse her in Genesis 12:1-4. Jesus said in Matthew 15:40, “I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren (kinsmen) you did it unto me.”

Tell me what you think by posting a comment below.

Thunder Up!! Rest Assured

Jim and I are glad to be home after spending Mother’s Day weekend with his 92-year-old Mother in Arkansas. We had a great visit, but you know how it is, especially as we get older. After a few days away we look forward to sleeping in our own bed and getting back into a familiar routine.

While we were gone, we missed Monday’s epic NBA Playoff game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies. The game was the talk of ESPN on Tuesday because it went into triple overtime and racked up lots of statistical records that sportscasters tend to focus on.

Fortunately, Jim had anticipated our missing the game and had set our TV before we left home to record it. We were tired when we got back on Tuesday evening  and looked forward to relaxing. So we grabbed a bite to eat and settled in to watch the exciting game. But as we got near the end of the second overtime, our DVR reached the end of its recording time, and we missed the last overtime and missed seeing who won the game.

If this had happened without our already knowing the outcome, we’d have been pretty upset and scrambling to find out whether the Thunder won or lost this pivotal game in the seven-game series. Fortunately, our kids and several others had already shared the happy news with us early Tuesday morning. They reported that, after struggling through two overtimes each ending in a tie at almost 1:00 a.m., the Thunder won by the comfortable margin of 133-123 in triple overtime! We were elated since we’re BIG Thunder fans. So when we watched the replay of the game, even when it looked as though we might lose it, we could rest assured. We already knew the outcome and the final score.

This scenario reminds me of how we as Christians can rest assured and face what we see happening in the world around us. If we just listen to the news, it seems there is nothing but horrible climate change, chaos, terrorism, awful sicknesses, perversion, and uncertainty. But even when it looks like Satan and his forces are winning, we can rest assured. Because we’ve read the whole story in the Bible (particularly the story of the end times in Revelation), we already know the outcome and the final score…Jesus 1 and Satan 0. Our team is the winning team!

Here in OKC, we often use the term, “Thunder Up!”  It can mean many things, such as “Get ready for a good game,” or “We’re going to win,” or “We’ve got the best team!” It might do us good to use that same positive thinking and speaking in our Christian life. We ARE getting ready for a good time in Heaven, we ARE going to win in the end, and we ARE DEFINITELY on the best team. It’s already been settled in God’s mind, and He never changes.

Back in my home church in West Virginia there was a man who often shared this phrase at the end of his testimony, “Thank God, I’m on the winning side!”  There’s nothing better than knowing you have nothing to worry about because you're the winner and everything is under control. We don’t know exactly what the future holds, but we know the God Who holds the future. If you’re a child of God, rest assured that He will take care of you, and your future is bright!

That's what I think...tell me what you think by sharing your comments below.

Motherhood is Awesome!

Life is Awesome!

Well, at least some of the time it is. Let’s face it, daily life in the 21^st Century can be overwhelming. We only have to read the entries of our Facebook friends to see that we all experience highs and lows, joys and sorrows. We triumph in the small successes of our lives and endure the painful times. What a great way to journal some of our most poignant moments, recalling the bitter and sweet experiences of each day.

In an adaptation of his blog, author Neil Pasricha records the simple pleasures of everyday living called The Book of Awesome. Focusing on both tangible pleasures and simple experiences, some of his entries are:

• The smell and sound of a campfire
• Finding money in your pocket
• Bakery air
• Wearing underwear fresh out of the dryer
• Sliding a key perfectly into a lock in the dark, without fumbling or turning on the lights
• Sleeping in new bed sheets
• A vending machine that gives you two things instead of one
• Watching a squirrel figure out how to invade a rodent-proof bird feeder
• The smell of tea that wafts up when you unwrap a brand-new box
• High-fiving babies
• When cashiers open up new checkout lanes at the grocery store
• Fixing electronics by smacking them
• Pulling off your wet bathing suit and putting on dry clothes after a long swim
• That one really good pen that never gets lost

Once you get into this mode of simple appreciation, you begin to pay closer attention to these magical moments in your own life and enjoy the little things that make life worthwhile. Forgive my sentimentality as Mother’s Day approaches and I contemplate some magical moments I’ve had as a Mother:

• The sight of my three beautiful, healthy babies just minutes after birth
• Unwrapping the blankets to look over their whole bodies
• Counting their ten fingers and ten toes
• Watching my baby’s chest rise and fall as he/she peacefully sleeps
• Little hands grasping, then letting go of my fingers as they balance themselves and take that first step
• An icing-covered face as they crammed their first birthday cake into their mouths
• Singing and recording silly songs together
• Watching their faces on Christmas as they discover their gifts under the tree
• Hearing them sing a song or quote a Bible verse I have taught them
• Coloring Easter eggs and their delight in filling baskets with the eggs they’ve found
• Overhearing their conversations as they mimic my instruction to each other
• Enjoying Halloween costumes and candy
• The sweet smell as we cuddle up to read a bedtime story after all three have had a bath
• Hearing their sweet, sincere prayers as we tuck them in at night
• Vacations and uninterrupted time we spent enjoying nature and scenic sites
• Teaching them to swim and realizing they no longer need my arms underneath
• Watching them perform at school plays and soccer games
• First dates and driving off in the car alone for the first time
• Watching them walk across the stage to receive their high school diplomas, and then graduating from college
• Knowing my children as adults, living out the values we worked so hard to instill in them
• Seeing my children become parents and proudly sharing in their joy

The joy of motherhood is a gift that keeps on giving, because as a grandmother, I'm experiencing some of those same awesome moments. Seen from a different perspective, they only reinforce my sweet memories of their own childhood and the privilege God gave me of being a mother.

"May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!"

Proverbs 23:25 (NIV)

A Royal Invitation

The Royal Wedding this weekend uniting Prince William of Wales and Catherine “Kate” Middleton is an important historic event in the United Kingdom and all around the world. Preparations have been made in meticulous fashion, with beautiful garments, venues, jewels, riches, and the finest earth has to offer. Pomp and circumstance is planned second by second to the very minute details.

I posted a joke on my Facebook wall saying:  “Jim and I have decided not to attend the royal wedding after all. When the seating chart came out, we realized he’d have to sit by Camilla, and I’d be sitting between Elton John and his boyfriend!”

That post got lots of comments, including one from Kathleen who said, “I’d sit by anyone or between anyone to get to go.”  The TV networks have pulled out all the stops to draw in what they expect to be 2.5 billion viewers. So, unless you’re willing to stay offline and watch no TV tomorrow, you will be a royal wedding guest in one way or another.

But some people simply aren’t the least bit interested in the wedding. Jim is one of the few who won’t be watching. As a pastor, he’s had to attend many weddings, and probably would have declined most of those invitations had he not been the officiating minister. It’s very low on his list of favorite things to do, right down there with grocery shopping and going to the dentist.

But he’s the exception. The truth is, most of us would be thrilled to get an invitation. After all, it’s being dubbed as the wedding of the Century. Kate is a commoner, yet she has been accepted by the Royal Family because of William’s love for her and her willingness to submit herself to the rigorous lifestyle expected of a royal.

Who among us wouldn’t have attended the nuptials of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip or Prince Charles and Diana, given the choice? We would be happy to rearrange our schedules (as the Brits pronounce it “shed-ules”) to attend.  We would make the necessary financial sacrifice to buy the best wedding attire we could afford so that our presence would be acceptable and a compliment to the bride and groom, not an embarrassment.

There is one royal wedding that we have all been invited to. But it does require some preparation on our part. First, we must accept the invitation graciously extended to us by the King. We must also be wearing a proper wedding garment, which has been freely provided to us—a robe of righteousness. We must present ourselves pure and clean when we arrive, a testimony that we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and are spotless because of his sacrifice.

The book of Revelation (19:7-9) tells us of the Marriage of the Lamb where the Bride of Christ, the Church, will be clothed in fine, white linen and joined to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What a great and glorious day it will be! The Bride is a common sinner and not worthy, yet she has been accepted into the Royal Family because of Christ’s love for her and her willingness to submit herself to the King.

Every preparation has been made, according to John 14:2. Heaven has been decked with jewels, riches, and beauty beyond our comprehension just for our enjoyment (1 Corinthians 2:9). All of our cares, sorrows, tears, and pain will be over, and unimaginable joy awaits us (Revelation 21:4).

Sadly, there are a few people who aren’t the least bit interested in this wedding either. They are unwilling to accept the invitation, though a great price has been paid to include them. They have discarded their invitation, trampling the blood of Christ that was paid for their admittance. They don’t feel the wedding garment suits them, and will not wear it. Oh, what a loss it will be, but once they realize it, it will be too late.

If you haven’t accepted your royal invitation, don’t wait another day. Don’t miss the greatest event in history!