Happy Am I
1. Happy And Rejoicing!
We just finished a month of praising the Lord and we continue with our voice of praise in our new series, "Happy Am I." The very first time the word, "Happy" is found in the Bible is from Leah at the birth of another son into their growing family. "And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher." (Genesis 30:13) (This was the son of Leah's handmaid, but Leah was happy to love him as her own.) Winter is almost over, and the birds are singing their happy songs of praise. Please join us as we look for reasons to rejoice in the Lord!
2. Happy Easter!
On the third day the Lord rose up from the grave. If we had no other reason to be happy, that should be enough to make us shout the glory all the way to heaven. Jesus defeated death, hell, and the grave so that we can have eternal life. So today I want to wish you a "Happy Easter!" And because He lives, we can trust in His promise of everlasting life.
"52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (I Corinthians 15:52-58)
3. I Sing Because I'm Happy
My sister lives beside a church and her cow pasture runs behind the graveyard. She has a beautiful voice and one year she was asked to sing during the sunrise service on Easter morning. Karen said that once she began singing, the cows all heard her and they knew her voice. They all came right up to the fence where she was and started mooing along with her as she sang. I don't think she was ever asked to sing at another one of their sunrise services.
Isn't it great that God gives us singing to voice our praise and joyful sounds! It was such a blessing to hear my daughter's family sing on Easter morning at church. Jedidiah, who will soon be six years old, sang with them. Susanna was about his age when she began singing specials with us at church, and she is still using her musical talents for the Lord. Now, her family is singing with her. You may not think your singing voice is good enough to sing at church or in front of others, but the Bible tells us that we can sing to ourselves and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;" (Ephesians 5:19) Go ahead, sing because you're happy, even if the Lord if the only one who hears.
4. I Know He Watches Me
I borrowed my title for the devotional yesterday from a line in the song, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow". It was written in 1905 by Civillia D. Martin. Our scripture is found in Matthew 10:29-31 and shows that God cares for His own. That promise lets us sing because we're happy.
"29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."
"His Eye Is On The Sparrow"
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
5. I Am Happy To Break Up The Fallow Ground
Winter seems to linger on and on. It has been too cold and the ground too wet for me to start any preparations towards my garden. That is, until Tuesday. Michael helped me and we tilled the ground for about 5 hours. We don't have a tractor, and using the tiller is hard, but it brings me so much joy to work in my little garden. And reaping the vegetables is better than any we could buy in the store. Our verse today is found in Hosea 10:12. "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you" I can't help but think of these verses in a spiritual sense. When Jesus told the parable of the sower, He explained that the seed is the Word of God, and the seed fell on different types of ground. Some produced fruit and others did not. We are to sow the Word of God and tell others about our Lord and Savior. We may not always be fruitful but we can always be faithful. We have this promise, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:6)
6. Happiness The World Doesn't Understand
At our Wednesday night church service Pastor Jack Tripp taught from I Peter 1:8. His focus was on the first part of the verse, "Whom having not seen, ye love" and the sermon was really good on our love for Christ. Since I have been talking about happiness, I want to look at the rest of the verse. "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" In believing in Jesus Christ, we "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." God gives us joy that the world does not understand. God gives us faith to trust in Him and that trust gives us peace, and increases our faith, so that we can have joy even in the hardest of situations. That is how we can say with Paul, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4)
7. Happiness In Reading God's Word
Sometimes when we visited my Grandparents we would go in and Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Eva would all be in their own chairs reading their Bibles. We had to wait until they were finished before we could talk with them, so I think my sisters and I usually played outside for a while. That was many years ago, but it happened often enough that I still remember. Grandma had a bookmark in her Bible with many, many talley marks on it and I was amazed at how much she read each day. Aunt Eva, and we pronounced it like "heavy" without the "h", was Grandma's sister, and she helped raise my Mom and her siblings while my Grandparents worked in the cotton mill. Sometimes she watched us while Mom and Dad worked in the garden and I can remember how she hummed a little tune as she rocked back and forth in her straight legged chair. I was amazed that she could read her Bible through because she only went to about the third grade in the little one-room school house. I don't think she even learned to write, except for her name. But reading her Bible was important to her and I admired that.
The older I become, the more joy I get from reading God's Word. My verse for the Devotional web site is Psalm 119:105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." The more I read, the more Light God's sheds on my path. My joy is described in Psalm 119:103. "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
8. "Be Happy"
Micah and Maggie came to stay with us on Friday and Maggie had a cute shirt with a big colorful butterfly and the words, "Be Happy". She was happy making chocolate chip cookies, happy shooting basketball with Micah and PawPaw, happy showing me the baby doll stuff in her diaper bag, happy playing beauty shop and fixing my hair, and happy setting up the sleeper sofa for the night. It even made her happy to help with the dishes and vacuum the rug. Having the grandchildren here makes me happy! Looking at the beautiful butterfly on Maggie's shirt reminds me of II Corinthians 5:17. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Before we are saved we feel closed in and trapped by our sin like a caterpillar in a cocoon, but Christ gives us new life and freedom like a beautiful butterfly. Maybe it would help us all to remember our new life in Christ and "Be Happy!"
9. "Happy Am I"
My daughter, Susanna, sometimes sings the song, "Happy Am I". I was thinking of this song when I began these devotionals. The song was written by Mickey Holiday in 1971. I hope that this little song will give you a smile today. "I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High." (Psalm 9:2)
Happy Am I
"Happy am I
Jesus is mine forever
Never to leave
Always in each endeavor
Leading me on in a life ending never
Giving a smile every mile
Happy am I"
10. When We Can't Be Happy
We are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, as we travel on, looking for a better country. Sometimes the sin and despair in the world can bring us sorrow and we have trouble singing the Lord's song. This was true with the Children of Israel that were carried to Babylon into captivity.
"1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?" (Psalm 137:1-4)
One day God will wipe away our tears and restore our joy!
"2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:2-4)
11. Happy For Those Who Get Saved!
I was able to go to a Baptism service on Sunday. It was a great blessing to me to see that God is still saving lost sinners and that there are still people who are choosing to follow Him. God's Word tells us that there is joy in heaven when a lost sinner is found. The news that another lost sheep has been found is the happiest good news there is!
"4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." (Luke 15:4-10)
12. Sunshine Makes Me Happy
If the groundhog's shadow scared him back into the ground on February 2nd, then he must have gotten petrified because his six weeks of winter should be over by now. I don't really believe in the prophecy of the groundhog, but I am so ready for spring and summer weather. Sunshine makes me happy! I have my garden spot tilled, my seeds ready, and my garden plan all marked out on paper. I am just waiting on the sunshine to warm the ground enough to plant. I am looking forward to being out in the sunshine planting the seeds, and watching for the new life to shoot out of the ground. I am ready to use my hoe to dig out the weeds, and pull dirt to the young plants. Yes, sunshine makes me happy! In the beginning there was darkness. "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." (Genesis 1:3-4) I am so thankful for the light. I am also thankful for the Light from the Son, God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who said, "...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) He also said, "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." (John 12:46) Isn't it great that we don't have to live in darkness? "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Corinthians 4:6)
13. Trusting In The Lord Makes Me Happy
In the midst of the praises found in the book of Psalms we can find peace and joy and happiness. Today in my daily reading I read Psalm 16. I was reminded of so many things that cause me joy in this short Psalm. I am happy because "I have a goodly heritage." I was brought up in a Christian home with parents who loved and served the Lord. I am happy also because the Lord is "always before me" and "at my right hand." This makes my heart glad. In the last verse, and in my daily walk with the Lord, I am happy when I am on the right path of life, because "in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." There is no greater joy than knowing you are in the perfect will of God!
"5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
14. The 23rd Psalm Makes Me Happy
I continued in the book of Psalms today and I came to the 23rd Psalm. As I read this Psalm I thought about how it has been with me all my life. And that made me happy. It was probably the first scripture I memorized, because I can't remember a time when I did not know Psalm 23. I taught it to our children and made little puzzle pages and activity pages for each verse. It is such a simple lesson to teach to young children, yet the older I get the more I know and want to know about my Good Shepherd. I quoted it in my head as I waited for surgery many years ago. This Psalm brings peace to my heart when I go through trials, and it brings blessings to my soul as it lifts my mind and spiritual well being. When is the last time you read the 23rd Psalm? You may want to read it again today, and listen with your eyes, your ears, and your heart to hear what the Good Shepherd is saying to you.
"1 <<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Psalm 23)
15. "No Greater Joy..."
We spent the entire month of March in preparation of Easter celebrations with our devotional series on "Praise The Lord". Now, we have come two weeks into April with "Happy Am I". I hope that these thoughts have been uplifting and encouraging to you. There are many more reasons of praise and worship in the Bible and the Lord has blessed me in so many ways. I want to close this theme with a verse that has been one of my favorites ever since I became a mother in 1980. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (III John 1:4) It was wonderful to hear when my children showed kindness to others in school. Now that they are grown, it really is a blessing to hear that they are living for the Lord and raising their children in church. It makes me happy to see families pray in restaurants before they eat. I love to see children in church. God established the first family when He put Adam and Eve together and it is such a joy to see Christian families serving the Lord.
