Sunday Message: The JOY of life

People want to be happy. We want that happiness to be present in everything we do and in everywhere we are. We want happiness in our office, in our family, in our circle of friends and in our inner self. It's good to want happiness.

But JOY is different. Happiness is dependent on things and events that favors you but joy is something within, something deep, that no matter how difficult your situation may be, you know you have that "peace" inside you that says everything IS okay.

Joy depends on God not on things.

Kaya maraming tao ang walang kagalakan sa buhay kahit pa tila nasa kanila na ang lahat. Hindi lahat ng mayaman ay masaya. Hindi lahat ng meron ay may kagalakan. Gayundin naman, hindi lahat ng mahirap ay dapat magpakalungkot o tingnan ang sarili nyang mababa. Sapagkat ang kagalakan ay nakukuha sa pamumuhay ng simple at may kakuntentuhan. Sabi nga sa isang commercial sa TV: "Life's satisfaction does not depend on what you have but in what you do with what you have."

Isa pa, kaya marahil maraming tao ang walang kagalakan dahil ang simpleng buhay na bigay ng Diyos sa kanya ay ginagawa nyang komplekado. People should learn to prioritize things and live life simpler. Joy can be found on the simple things around you if you just learn to appreciate life as it comes. Ang simoy ng hangin, ang kape at pandesal sa umaga, ang iyong pamilya, lahat ng yan ay maaaring maging bukal ng kagalakan na hindi mo nakikita o tinitingnan. Instead, we focus on our deadlines, sidelines, paano kikita, paano yayaman, money, money, money. We end up disoriented, stressful and unhappy. Hindi ko sinasabing masamang magpayaman, pero hindi lang yan ang dahilan kung bakit ka nabubuhay! Look around you, baka marami kang nami-miss. At the end of each life, baka marami tayong pagsisihan sa huli at sabihin nating "sana nagawa ko ito, sana napuntahan ko yan." Pero di na maibabalik ang panahong lumipas.

The time to be joyful is now!

Ecclesiastes 3:12

I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.

So how can one have JOY in his life?

Put...

1. Jesus first.
         Unahin mo ang Diyos. Hindi lang sa salita, ipakita mo sa gawa. Acknowledge naman your Creator and give thanks to what He's done, what He's doing and what He's going to do. He loves you more than you can imagine and yet, di mo yun pansin. Nagpasalamat ka na ba na buhay ka ngayong umaga? Nagpasalamat ka na ba na may hininga ka pa? Na nakakapaglakad ka, nakakakain, nakakabasa? It must be really painful to feel neglected, imagine how God feels na wala man lang Sya sa eksena ng iyong araw-araw na buhay.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

2. Others next.
         Jesus said, "Love each other, just as I have loved you." Paano pinakita ni Hesus ang Kanyang pagmamahal sa atin? He died on the cross so we may live. He died for all. Without condition. No "ifs", no "buts". That then is how we should love other people. Hindi yung mahal mo dahil mahal ka din. Binigyan mo ng "something" dahil binigyan ka rin. Love unconditionally.

Matthew 22:39

'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

3. Yourself last.
         Wag kang swapang. Wag madamot. Wag puro ikaw, ikaw, ikaw! Akala ng iba, by gaining everything and being the first is what will make them happy. Tandaan natin na mas mataas ang lipad ay mas masakit ang pagbagsak. Sadyang may iba na walang pakialam sa kanilang mga nasasagasaan at nasasapawan marating lang at maabot ang kanilang mga "selfish desires". Life is not about being first on its race or winning for that matter, but it's about playing fair. Joy can be found if we see the people around us happy and successful. Nasaan ang joy dun kung ikaw lang ang masaya and everyone else is suffering?

Mark 9:35

"If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

Conclusion:

How to be joyful? Live simple. Know your priorities. Appreciate life. Kahit di ka mayaman o sikat o cute. God created you for a purpose! :)