Happy New Year

19/01/10 | Posted by ellen

I know New Year was a while ago, but because of the snow I have been a bit slow of the mark with my resolutions this year. But, here it is at last…my new year resolution is (wait for it) to be HAPPY…there that’s easy - isn’t it?

 the greatest thing that I possess

Does anyone else want to be happy?

Well, the question is – how are we going to be happy? What will make us happy?

Well, I looked to John’s gospel for some inspiration:

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
John 1.10-18

John tells us that we all have the right to become ‘children of God’. That is something that can make even the most grumpy amongst us a bit happy. We have to right to have a relationship with God that is very close indeed. Now, having spent a bit of time with my family over Christmas and new year I know that they make me happy - but families can be tricky things as well can’t they? Well, being God’s children is the most safe, secure, loving, accepting thing possible to happen to anyone. Being God’s child and having that close relationship with God is something that makes me happy. So, this year I want to spend more time being God’s child…relying on God for more, praying more, meeting more of God’s other children, helping out with the family business.

Another thing this passage talks about is God’s Glory. God’s Glory is like God’s reputation…and God’s reputation is very very good. It is the reputation of someone who made the world, who loved the world enough to offer some support, to put in place order and offer rules, but it is also the reputation of a God who loved us so much that he sent his son to come and live with us, to die for us so we might have a chance to become his children. God’s reputation is of justice and mercy – indeed this passage from John reminds us that God Glory is full of ‘grace and truth’. And what John tells us is that if we become children of God this can be our reputation as well. No matter how much we have messed up, how difficult we are, how difficult the last year (or even the last 10) have been John tells us that when become children of God then God’s reputation is our reputation – God’s Glory is our glory. Now that has to be another reason to be happy?

So, that’s where I am starting and I hope to keep you posted on how my happiness plan goes this year. I will also be taking tips from re:jesus’ happiness course which is a fantastic way to explore what happiness means, how it works and how it can be sustained. I hope you are happy and if you’re not then this year can be a new start for you and a chance to get some of God’s happiness that is an everlasting joy.

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