January 2020
ARE YOU A HAPPY PERSON?
Well, the year 2019 is over. Now that American Christmas is over, we, the Armenians, are blessed to have two Christmases to celebrated, December 25 and January 6th. I have no space to explain to you why the 6th? Thank God the merchants are not aware of it, otherwise they would use the opportunity and bombard us with their “Specials” again.
As we confront 2020, I am sure some of us are getting ready to make our New Year’s resolutions. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
Along with well wishes to each other, we wish “HAPPINESS” most. But what is real happiness? Is that something that comes from outward
circumstances, such as prosperity, position and power? Or we can be happy and have the joy of the Lord regardless of our present conditions and circumstances.
HOW CAN WE BECOME A HAPPY PERSON SOMETHING THAT MONEY CAN’T BUY?
Some of us think that money can buy anything. Contrary. Those who cannot handle money properly become the most miserable people on earth. The more they have, the more they want and that wanting leads them to greediness which makes them unhappy people, so they look for their happiness and satisfaction in other ways.
A few years ago I read an article, about a man who hit the three hundred eighty-million-dollar lottery. He said; “I wish I tore the ticket that day and not cashed the money, which ruined my life and my entire family.”
To my surprise, in TIME Magazine there was an interesting Article with the Title; “The science of happiness.”
I found it very interesting. Everything that the Bible is telling, the scientists are trying to research and scientifically understand and tell us how to apply it in our lives.
Some people are still trying hard to understand God through science. They will never be able to, as Paul writes,
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. as it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness,’ and again, the Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” (I Cor. 3: 19-20)
The Article starts with series of questions;
“What makes the human heart sing?”
“What makes us happy?”
“What one thing in your life has brought to you the greatest happiness?”
“What are the major sources of happiness?”
Please allow me to ask you a few questions.
Are you now a happy person?
Where do you find your happiness?
What makes you happy?
Some 2000 years ago Jesus gave us the “formula” for THE WAY TO OPTAIN HAPPINESS.
Real HAPPINESS starts from within. A HAPPINESS that will not vanish in poverty or in sickness, or even when you lose your loved ones.
The HAPPINESS that Jesus has promised will not be taken away by any person, power or circumstance.
You must have heard of the “BEATITUDES” which were given by Jesus. There are eight progressive qualities that the Christian must try to achieve.
It is not something that we do to earn HAPPINESS. but something that we allow God to work in us and through us.
Just to give you some hints.
When Jesus preached THE BEATITUDES, in Mathews chapter 5, He gave us the “formula” for how to be HAPPY AND JOYOUS.
Jesus said; “Blessed and happy, to be admired are the poor in spirit.” (Amp. translation)
What did Jesus mean by saying “Poor in spirit”?
To be poor in spirit means wanting God, in everything, depending and relying upon God. The Bible says, we cannot be saved from our sins and expect to go to heaven by trying to be a good person, serving God and even financially helping others. (Romans. 3:24-28) That is what Jesus said; to be poor in spirit means is, “To love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and strength.” (Matt. 22:36)
Scientist has found a gene in the Human brain cells that makes the person “Searching for a Supreme being, God.” Think about this.
The second formula Jesus gave was, to mourn over our sins.
“Blessed and happy are those who mourn for their sins repent and find forgiveness (Matt.4:5) You cannot imagine how burdensome unconfessed sin is. Just try once, go to God, admit the fact that you are a sinner, confess your sins and ask forgiveness through Jesus Christ
see how “You will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (phil. 4:7)
I will give you one more “formula” that Jesus, the source of happiness gave us.
“Blessed inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, are those who are gentle, kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5:5)
If we want to obtain happiness and peace of heart, we have to be HUMBLE AND MEEK IN HEART, toward others, just like a child, forgiving “their trespasses against us.” I know It is not easy, but it is not impossible with God. If we allow Him to work in our hearts. The more we hold a grudge in our hearts toward others, the more miserable we become.
Try these God given formulas. You might like them. You have nothing to lose except happiness and peace.
Sorry, I don’t have the space to go over all the eight blessings that Jesus gave, I suggest you read the Gospel of Mathews chapter 5.
During 2020 I wish you and your loved ones a very Christ given Happiness.
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WHAT IS CHRISTMAS?
(No, is not a typo. Armenian Christmas.)
GOD IS WITH US
“What more can we ask?” The apostle Paul says: “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)
As we are witnessing these days, politicians are against each other, nations are against nations and people are against the authorities. Sometimes we see even the authorities finding themselves defenseless.
I am sure, sometimes, one way or another, we all have felt lonely and isolated, thinking that people are against us and no one cares for us.
Cheer up! Christmas is the time to once again remind ourselves that God, through His Son Jesus Christ, has assured us that in spite of our disobedience He has promised to be with us and live in us. What a great promise and affirmation that the Creator, the Almighty, the all-powerful ONE some 750 years before Christ, promised, with an infallible promise, that, God would send His Son Jesus to assure us that He would be with us and, if we allow Him, He will also dwell in us. God told Isaiah to write something that still some people today do not believe: “The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us.” (Is. 7:14) (Please read and compare with Mathews 1:23) Even when the angel told Mary “[She would] be with a child and give birth to a son, and [she would] give Him the name JESUS,” even Mary, being a devoted young girl questioned, “How will this be, since I am a virgin.” The angel answered, “[Mary,] nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
My dear friend, this is our problem these days: We forget that Christmas is more than exchanging gifts and having parties.
A_ As we celebrate (the Armenian) Christmas, we MUST remember that God Himself came down incarnated, became just like us in order to save us from our sins, understand our sorrows, pains and afflictions and by becoming our “IMMANUEL” to do the impossible for us. Paul says; “Though He (Jesus) was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:6-8) Yes, Jesus was born in order to be crucified just for YOU! Can you imagine a greater love than this? Every Sunday the Armenian church confirms this by reciting the Creed; “Who (that is Jesus) for us, mankind, and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate, became man, was born perfectly of the holy virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. By whom He took body, soul and mind and everything that is in man, truly and not in semblance.” (The Nicene Creed)
B. _ During this (Armenian) Christmas, if you allow Him, God wants to become closer to you, to be your IMMANUEL” and live in you. Jesus said: “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” (John 14:23) When Jesus was about to be born, the Bible says that, “And [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)
Won’t you open your heart and make room for Jesus this Christmas? After all, He is your Creator and wants to be your IMMANUEL?
Wishing you and to your loved ones a very Happy, Healthy and a blessed Christmas.
Prayerfully,
Rev. Fr. Archpriest Aram Stepanian
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