King's News 27

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Pastor Colin & Joy Bond

So we all know what happiness is? Don’t we?! Well, do write and tell me what it is because I’m in trouble with this article. Is happiness the pleasure of having what we want? Or the realisation of a long anticipation? Of course it was what we got married for but did the dream, somehow, fade a little? Some of us chase the crock of gold at the end of the rainbow while others seek new experiences around the world. I’m at the age when we look forward to retirement, expecting peace and contentment. Well, what do you think? Do write in. It should be very interesting.

Jesus said things like, "I am come that you may have life and life abundantly," and "If I set you free you will be free indeed," and "My peace I give to you." And the Bible says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." I reckon these statements must be worth investigating - if they are true then they are tremendous and it’s foolish not to check them out. However, they are profound and will take some understanding.

My experience has been that asking Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah to come into my life when a lad of nine or ten resulted in His person, the Holy Spirit, entering and opening up an entirely new experience. First, my conscience seemed to light up and a new set of values developed. Then I had doubts about what had happened - whether I really was a new Christian, if I really had been ’born again’. Secondly the Bible became alive and interesting and I found prayer was ’talking to my Dad.’ He seemed to talk back through the Bible and convictions. Other Christians became my brothers and sisters (and sometimes difficult just like normal ones!); life certainly began to be ’abundant’ and a new sense of freedom developed because Jesus was my ’Father’, my ’Dad’. Peace became real as I found forgiveness and acceptance in God. Many accusations came and many failures on my part distressed me but the new peace remained.

Today there is a joy, a happiness deep down inside that comes from forgiveness and acceptance, from having a destiny and purpose to life, from fulfilment in serving the Lord Christ. Life has more challenges and dangers than ever but the victories and progress are part of the ’abundant life’.

I still haven’t told you what ’happiness’ is so I’ll wait for your letter or e-mail.

Pastor Colin

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