Pursuing Happiness

Psalm 2

Psalm 2 NET

Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail? The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the Lord and his anointed king. They say, “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us! Let’s free ourselves from their ropes!” The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust; the Lord taunts them. Then he angrily speaks to them and terrifies them in his rage, saying, “I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill.” The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: ‘You are my son! This very day I have become your father! Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property. You will break them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter’s jar!’ ” So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction! Serve the Lord in fear! Repent in terror! Give sincere homage! Otherwise he will be angry, and you will die because of your behavior, when his anger quickly ignites. How blessed are all who take shelter in him!

Colossians 1:1-14

Colossians 1:1–14 NET

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father! We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints. Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospelthat has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave—a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf—who also told us of your love in the Spirit. For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects—bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Rejoicing

Recognition of:

Who - Persona

What - Character

Response to:

Circumstances - The conditions (Defined by: A combination of Dictionaries)

Situations - A set of Circumstances, locations, and positions (Defined by: A combination of Dictionaries)

Rejoice - To feel, show great joy, and/or delighted (Defined by: Dictionary.com)

Thanking

Showing an appreciation for:

Lord - The Son of God

Jesus - The flesh of God (Both Fully God and Fully Man)

Christ - The role of deliverer/Savior

Showing pleasure in:

Faith - Built on memories and evidences of History

Hope - Built on the memories and evidences of the Future

Love - The attitude and action of Faith and Hope

Being relieved from:

Sin - The decision to rebel against the established order of God, the cause for a loss of position

Deceit - The concealing or misrepresenting the truth (Define by: Dictionary.com)

Praying

Requesting, petitioning, expressing thanks to God

Talking with God - Time, Alone, Learning, Keeping - (Ministry to Children)

Application

1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 NET

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all. See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not extinguish the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil.