Happiness

Psalm 1 begins:

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the paths that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;

but their delight
is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law
they meditate day and night.

They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.

This text caught my attention because so often I ponder what it will take to make me happy...to make my family happy...to bring others happiness for which they so long?

I'm trying to take this in...it seems so antithetical to our typical thoughts about happiness...

If I don't take advice from those who don't live well, or in ways I respect...
If I don't follow behaviors of those who do wrong
If I don't stand in judgement of others or secretly look down at others
...this will bring happiness?

If I think about God's teachings...which Jesus said were summed up in:

"Love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
your mind, and your soul
and love your neighbor as yourself."

And if I take joy in such beliefs
...this will bring happiness?

THEN

I will be like a truly living creature
always near my source of life
and good, positive, creative, nourishing things
will come from me?

I'm still pondering this....O God, help me take it in.

Dedicated to the Task

Yesterday, at church, our Katrina Work Team was dedicated as missionaries for God! Wow! What a humbling idea, that people are going to allow us into their personal homes, their personal space and into their lives...without even knowing us! Again we go Oct. 8-14, 2006. Just a week away!

And so it is our prayer that somehow through our hammering, sawing, painting, smiling, and our presence, these folks will know that God hasn't totally forsaken them...and that God really does care.

Jesus said "I will never leave your nor forsake you." Please pray that we can be good witnesses of our Christ!

If you're interested in more info...see UMCOR.org. The United Methodist Commission on Relief is a world-wide relief organization. We are part of a local task force, of which there are thousands working with United Methodist churches in the south who are set up as Relief Centers for those in need after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.