| Many people receive a message in a book. Many | | | | “Whew! I got a point today. I’m glad I |
| people enjoy reading books. specializes in Business | | | | gave it a shot.”, instead of looking at it all |
| and Christian Books from your favorite Authors. | | | | blank and murmur “Geez, I didn’t even hit |
| I love reading books especially the word of God | | | | a score today. I wish I had the guts to try out. |
| to get me through the hour, day and my life. | | | | We could have won!” and then walk away. |
| Life isn’t the sweetest candy. Sometimes, | | | | The Bible says the following: |
| when I feel like the world is just too heavy, I look | | | | For I command you today to love the LORD |
| around and find people who continued to live | | | | your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his |
| fascinating and wonderful lives. Suddenly, thoughts | | | | commands, decrees and laws; then you will live |
| come popping into my mind like bubbles from | | | | and increase, and the LORD your God will bless |
| nowhere – “How did their life become so | | | | you in the land you are entering to possess. |
| adorably sweet? How come they still can manage | | | | Deuteronomy 30:16 (NIV) |
| to laugh and play around despite a busy stressful | | | | Genuine happiness isn’t about driving the |
| life?” Then I pause and observed for | | | | hottest Formula 1 car, neither is it getting the |
| awhile… I figured out that maybe, they start to | | | | employee of the year award, earning the highest |
| work on a place called ‘self’. | | | | 13th month pay, or beating the sales quota. |
| So, how does one become genuinely happy? Step | | | | Sometimes, the most sought after prizes in life |
| 1 is to love yourself and God. | | | | doesn’t always go to the fastest, the |
| The Bible says the following: | | | | strongest, the bravest or not even the best. So, |
| For God so loved the world that he gave his one | | | | how do you become genuinely happy? Every one |
| and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall | | | | has his own definition of ‘happiness’. |
| not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 | | | | Happiness for a writer may mean launching as |
| My theology professor once said that “loving | | | | much best selling books as possible. Happiness for |
| means accepting.” To love oneself means to | | | | a basketball rookie may mean getting the rookie |
| accept that you are not a perfect being, but | | | | of the year award. Happiness for a beggar may |
| behind the imperfections must lie a great ounce | | | | mean a lot of money. Happiness for a business |
| of courage to be able to discover ways on how | | | | man may mean success. So, really now, how do |
| to improve your repertoire to recover from our | | | | we become genuinely happy? Simple. You |
| mistakes. | | | | don’t have to have the best things in this |
| Genuine happiness also pertains to contentment. | | | | world. It is about doing and making the best out |
| When you are contented with the job you have, | | | | of every single thing. It is also about finding the |
| the way you look, with your family, your friends, | | | | good in everything. When you find yourself smiling |
| the place you live in, your car, and all the things | | | | at your own mistake and telling your self “Oh, |
| you now have – truly, you know the answer | | | | I’ll do better next time”, you carry with |
| to the question “How to be genuinely | | | | you a flame of strong will power to persevere |
| happy.” | | | | that may spread out like a brush fire. You |
| When we discover a small start somewhere from | | | | possess a willingness to stand up again and try |
| within, that small start will eventually lead to | | | | – that will make you a genuinely happy person. |
| something else, and to something else. But if you | | | | When you learn to accept yourself, love the Lord |
| keep questioning life lit it has never done you any | | | | and accept that you are not perfect by accepting |
| good, you will never be able to find genuine | | | | your own faults. You pass step 1 in the project |
| happiness. | | | | “how to become genuinely happy”. For as |
| I believe that life is about finding out about right | | | | long as you know how to accept others, you will |
| and wrong, trying and failing, wining and losing. | | | | also be accepted. For as long as you love and |
| These are things that happen as often as you | | | | know how to love, you will receive love ten folds |
| inhale and exhale. Failure, in a person’s life has | | | | back. |
| become as abundant and necessary as air. But | | | | Again, throw me that same question “How to |
| this should not hinder us from becoming happy. | | | | become genuinely happy?”. I’ll refer you |
| How to be genuinely happy in spite all these? I tell | | | | to a friend of mine who strongly quoted- |
| you… every time you exert effort to improve | | | | “Most of us know that laughter is the best |
| the quality of life and your being, whether it is | | | | medicine to life’s aches and pain. But most of |
| cleaning up your room, helping a friend, taking | | | | us don’t know that the best kind of laughter |
| care of your sick dog, fail on board exams and | | | | is laughter over self. Because then you don’t |
| trying again, life gives you equivalent points for | | | | just become happy… you become free.” |
| that simple task - job well done. | | | | The bible says the following: |
| Imagine life as a big score board like those which | | | | When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son |
| are used in the NFL’s. Every time you take a | | | | of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. John |
| step forward, you make scoring points. | | | | 13:31 (NIV) |
| Wouldn’t it be nice to look at that board at | | | | Live, Love, Give, Have Peace and Be Happy! |
| the end of each game and think to yourself | | | | |