Whose Birthday is It anyway!?

Have you ever thought it peculiar that we celebrate Jesus's birth by giving gifts to each other! Isn’t that the equivalent to a birthday party where each person brings a gift for another party-goer, but not for the person whose birthday it is? Historians do not agree on the origin of gift-giving. Many date the custom to the 4th century Bishop St. Nicholas who gave to the poor on Christmas day, perhaps mindful of Jesus’ words, “Whatever you did unto one of the least, you did unto me” (Matt. 25:40). 

In recent years, there has been a trend to give donations to the needy in another’s name. For example, a few years ago, I received a card that said, “$50 has been given in your name to a buy Bibles for pastors in China.” The next year it was chickens to Africans. While such gifts fit the spirit of Jesus' words, there is something more: one thing He desires with all of His heart—“your” heart. You may be thinking,  “I've already given Him that.” Yet, it is the quintessential gift that keeps on giving. And He never tires of receiving.

My Bucket is Full

The term “bucket list” was popularized after the so-titled 2007 American movie about two terminally ill men on a road trip with a wish list of things to do before they “kicked the bucket.” (I think the term is an appropriate symbol for the emptiness of most people's lives!)    

On my personal profile page on this Dying to Live Blog, there is a place to ask a provocative question. Mine is: “If you knew this was your last day on earth, would you have to change your plans?”  Did I know how relevant that question would be!
 

As a person living on life's threshold (aren't we all!), do I have a bucket list?  Only this: to finish my race well and remain faithful. (2 Tim. 4:7).  Morose thoughts on this, my 65^th birthday?  I don’t think so.  What better day to reflect on God’s protection in a year of unforeseen events and to contemplate His promises as I look toward an unpredictable future. What better time than this to declare, I am well content, and my ‘bucket’ is full.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Happy Birthday Altha! Today many people will wish my wife Altha a “happy” birthday—not a successful or a lucky day, and certainly not a sad day, but a happy one. Why? because happiness is what we all want—for ourselves and others. As a matter of fact, we Americans consider it our constitutional right!

It is significant that Jesus began His sermon on the mount by proclaiming happiness—in what-we-call the beatitudes. The word “blessed” can be translated happy, and many scholars do. But the real meaning of “blessed” is “fully satisfied.” The English word “happy” derives from the old English word “hap,” meaning luck or favorable circumstances. This is the kind of happiness “earthlings” pursue—wealth, success, power, beauty, popularity… But Jesus teaches us to pursue the happiness that comes from being rightly related to Him, finding our satisfaction in Him. Pursuing God IS pursuing happiness!

Well I can assure that Altha does. Deeply satisfied by her pursuit of God, she knows that higher ‘blessedness.’ And as a result, she brings happiness to others.

And what's more, we have a happy God. Paul spoke of the “glorious gospel of the BLESSED God” (1 Tim. 1:11). David said “BLESSED be God” (Ps. 68:35). Do we make God happy? David thought so: “The Lord takes pleasure in those who honor Him and trust in His constant love” (Psalm 147:11). Our pursuit of God gives Him pleasure, i.e., makes Him happy. And our pursuit of Him is the only thing that will ever make us happy. I know Altha will be blessed today because not only is she happy with God, but because God is happy with her! So... have a happy day, all of you!