There is a party going on. Two years of celebrating a beautiful place to gather each week and love on each other. This week I popped in after being absent for months. This community opens its arms and says “welcome back”. This is Five Minute Friday and the people are the best and the writing is just plain fun. Click here to learn more and join the fun.
Happy
GO…
Happiness is in the air. It floats in when you least expect it, but covers you with its warmth and beauty. It looks you square in the face gives you the chance to choose whether to take the dare that is unspoken in its look. If you choose to move forward into its outstretched arms you will find a peace that is beyond all others.
You see, happiness is ours to grab, ours to hold and ours to keep. It is not just a one time glimpse into what others have but a real opportunity to make it our own. Happiness is everywhere and in everyone. Do you recognize it? Is this something you believe can be yours too?
[Tweet “Step into the arms of God and become the “you” you were meant to be. #happy #fmfparty”]
God is the happy that reaches from morning until night. He is the light and the dark and twilight in between. God takes our lives and wraps them with His in an embrace of utter happiness. God delights in us, loves us and believes in us. Nothing we do will ever separate us from God’s love.
Take a minute today and look God squarely in His eyes and seek the happiness that He is holding out to you. Open your eyes and heart to the joy that comes from being known by a God who would love nothing more than to walk by your side. Allow the precious gift of grace to fill the hollow cracks of despair with the gift of happiness. Step into the arms of God and become the “you” you were meant to be.
For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17
STOP
Signing off happily tonight!
A beautiful new book launched into the world this book. It will open your eyes to happiness if you dare to take a chance. Order your copy today. Click here.
I love the idea of looking God squarely in the face :). Oh, what a beautiful thought that we are invited to do that!
Amen. Let us look God in the eyes and draw on the happy that He has waiting for us. Blessings and congrats on being a new grandma!
Through this you triggered a question for for me: Does happiness occur when we live the undivided life of being exactly who God meant us to be? Lovely words! Thank you.
That is a great question. I’m not sure if I have the answer but it is one to ponder. There are times in our lives, even if we are doing what God meant us to be that we are challenged and we might question whether we are really happy. But with that said, Jennifer Lee, in her new book, The Happiness Dare, describes our happy sweet spots. You have given me a reason to reflect on this further. Thank you and happy week to you.
Mary, I love your words, especially this: “Step into the arms of God and become the ‘you’ you were meant to be.” Amen and amen! Your perspective is refreshing and uplifting. Hope your summer is going well! Have a blessed weekend.
Thank you Julie! I appreciate your sweet words. This summer has gone by faster than any other I can remember. It has been good and now I have my older son’s wedding coming up September 3rd. I hope you have a blessed weekend too.
What a delight to have you with us this week, Mary! I’ve missed you! 😉 Thank you for your wise and thoughtful challenges! I appreciate the sincerity of your words. xx
It was like coming home, Kate! I missed you and the FMF Twitter party gang. Thank you for your encouragement and for faithfully hosting Five Minute Friday for two years! Love you!
“God is the happy that reaches from morning until night. ”
This reminds me of Moses, when he refused to take the people into the Promised Land if God wouldn’t go with them. He knew that the Lord Himself was the treasure. As you put it, God is the happy. Love that!
Great analogy. Moses teaches us so many lessons of faith and trust doesn’t he? Let’s remember that God is the happy and we just need to remain open to Him and His beautiful plan for our lives. Blessings!
Mary, beautiful post, my friend. I love that we are known by a God who wants intimate fellowship with us. To walk by our sides. To let us know Him and be known by Him. I love the image of God’s grace filling our hollow places. 🙂
Thank you for these sweet words, Jeanne. It is a blessing not only knowing God but being able to receive the gifts He so lavishly shares with us. Grace, peace, hope, and happiness are ours when we open ourselves to all God created us to be. Happy weekend friend!
Beautiful words, Mary. And I love that Scripture. These words hit me today: “Open your eyes and heart to the joy that comes from being known by a God who would love nothing more than to walk by your side.” I get so “busy” doing one thing after another and all the while I heart that little whisper that says “stop, slow down, rest with me and let me lead you, gently”.
Thank you for your sweet words, Anna. I pray you stop and listen often for the little whispers that are always there. Be still, rest in me, and I love you. Happy weekend to you!
I adore the Zephaniah scripture. I “pinged” you in my post…did you get notice of it? So happy to see you last night – it’s been an age since your wrote an FMF post!!!
No “pinging” over here but thanks for the mention. It has been months since I last wrote a FMF post but it seemed very fitting last night on the Kate’s 2nd anniversary as host! Happy weekend!
That verse in Zephaniah is such a gift – the happiness, the music, the warm approval! I am SO going to show up for that FMF party one of these days. And I love all the emphasis on happiness that Jennifer’s book is bringing to the blogging world these days. I also have read a book on happiness by Larry Crabb (of all people). We forget that we love and serve a HAPPY God!
I love knowing that God delights in me. It feels like a warm, fuzzy blanket. Jennifer’s book is making a difference and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I am laughing over the author Larry Crabb. I hope it was a good book! May we look to God for happy knowing that He will always come through.
So true, we have to step into the hands of God and become the one he made!!
Amen! May we both freefall into God’s arms and become everything He created us to be. Blessings!
Mary, so good to see you here. I’ve missed you. So much THIS: “God is the happy that reaches from morning until night. He is the light and the dark and twilight in between. God takes our lives and wraps them with His in an embrace of utter happiness. God delights in us, loves us and believes in us. Nothing we do will ever separate us from God’s love.” These words are so poetic friend. I’m your neighbor at FMF this week.
Thank you and it makes me happy to be back at Five Minute Friday. The community, friends, and welcoming spirit are what make it such a beautiful place to be. Your encouragement over these words is a gift. Blessed to have you here and to “see” you at the #fmfparty
Beautifully said, Mary. And I love your signature!
And I love even more that you’re back. I’ve missed you here.
#1 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/08/your-dying-spouse-190-mustard-seed-of.html
Hi Andrew! Such a pleasure to be back and to see you joining me here in this space. I have been keeping track of you and continue to pray for you friend. Blessings to you!