A joyous March greeting to you from Inspiration from a Blind brought to you monthly by www.ShirleyCheng.com !
If I grant you one wish, asking you, "Do you want money or joy?" which one would you choose? Yes, you can only pick one. Now, carefully think it over.
I know what's going through your mind; you're thinking, "If I pick money, I'll be able to have joy, too."
Certainly, money can buy you almost everything, but can it bring you true joy? Many years ago, a wealthy king named Solomon experimented on his riches and shared with others his findings in the most popular book—the Bible; let us see what this king discovered in order to help us answer this question.
The king, whose annual income reached into the hundreds of millions of dollars by today's standards, used his wealth to build great houses, pools, vineyards, gardens and parks; and in them, he planted all kinds of fruit trees. He possessed great herds and flocks; had singers and musical instruments; and servants served his every need. Of course, he had plenty of gold and silver and treasures from all the lands. In his own words: "I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Whatever my eyes desired, I didn't keep from them." (Ecclesiastes 2.9-10, WE
So what did he find after experimenting with his riches? He concluded, "Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
Austrian millionaire Karl Rabeder echoed King Solomon's thoughts.
Recently, Karl made the headlines. For what? For planning to give away every penny of his estimated $4.7 million fortune.
"My idea is to have nothing left. Absolutely nothing," said Rabeder, 47. "Money is/counterproductize—it prevents happiness to coma."However, he realized that he had become a slave to things he did not need. "It was the biggest shock of my life, when I realized how horrible, soulless and without feeling the five-star lifestyle is," he said. After selling some of his possessions, he said that he feels free now.
Karl's entire fortune will go to his non-profit MyMicroCharity, which offers loans to the needy in Central and South America, and encourages development and self-employment in the region. And after all his fortune is gone, Karl will move into a small wooden hut in the mountains or a studio in Innsbruck. What a man! In my opinion, he has found the true riches of life.
While money may bring us delights for our eyes, it cannot buy us lasting joy for our spirits, as Karl and the ancient king have learned. If fire meets money, everything that money could bring will shrivel into flames. On the other hand, if you possess joy, no fire can ever burn it. And since you will not be dependent on material riches with true joy, you will be able to be content in whatever circumstances you're in.
The apostle Paul said, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need." (Philippians 4:11-12)
Likewise, I have learned to be content in whatever situation I'm in. I have lost my eyesight and the ability to walk, and I face many daily challenges caused by my multiple disabilities, yet, I'm never scornful. I do not feel bitter, and I do not remember ever being truly depressed. I have never said what I have often heard from others: "Life is unfair." Instead, I am able to find joy and remain in it.
What was Paul's secret to his contentment regardless of his situation? What is the secret to my own joy?
Jehovah God is our secret to true joy, as the Bible says, "Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah." (Psalm 144:15, ASV)
My relationship with God brings me the greatest joy and contentment. When I know and have God, I have everything else. God is not just my life—He is more than life. After all, Jehovah is the Creator of life, so the Creator is always larger than the creation, regardless how grand the creation may be.
Why does having an intimate relationship with Jehovah bring you true, lasting joy?
Jehovah brings you joy, for...
• God is love. When Jehovah is the very representation of love (I John 4.8), we can be certain that we can entirely trust Him. When we can completely trust someone with our very lives, it not only brings security but the greatest joy, thus "whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he" (Proverbs 16:20, ASV)
• God provides direction. On our own, we are like travelers trying to find our way in a foreign country without a map and a compass; for this reason, many of us are being led astray, either by others or by our own self-efforts, as the Bible says, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12, WE Heeding the guidance from Jehovah, on the other hand, will lead us in the right direction in life, give us real purpose and provide us with the tools to achieve that purpose: "The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life." (Proverbs 22:4, ASV)
• God delivers us from troubles: "The fear of Yahweh [Jehovah] leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble." (Proverbs 19:23, WE This does not mean that those who have God as their Best Friend will live a problem-free life; rather, it means that if we heed God's Word, we will avoid much trouble in our lives. For instance, if we follow God's commandment to love others as we love ourselves, we would not have wars or terrorism.
• God gives us an eternal hope. What happens after death? Is death the end of it all? When we know Jehovah, we will know the answers to these pivotal questions. When we abide in God, we receive the greatest opportunity to live forever in fellowship with our Heavenly Father. Thus, instead of being the end, death will be the beginning of a brand-new life after we are resurrected (raised from the dead) on God's appointed time, someday in the future. This is why Jehovah brings lasting joy—eternal mega joy!
Would you like to experience immeasurable, eternal joy? Then welcome Jehovah and Jesus into your heart, for nothing and no one else can ever promise you the kind of joy only God can bring you!
~Q&A with Shirley~*~
Whenever natural disasters strike, I often hear people say, "It's God's judgment!" But are such disasters really judgments from God? This month, I would like to address this question.
Question: Are natural disasters, like Haiti's devastating earthquake, judgments from God?
Answer: God's judgments possess two characteristics: they are 1) selective, and 2) preceded by warnings. So if any disasters have these two traits, then it is God's judgment; if not, then it is not an act of judgment from God.
An example of the selective aspect of God's judgment:
Jehovah utterly destroyed the two evil cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, only after he rescued a good man and his two daughters from Sodom. Prior to destroying the cities, Jehovah promised that He would not send judgment on them if there were only ten good people in those cities. God is always selective in His judgments—He does not destroy the good with the evil.
An example of a judgment preceded by warnings:
Prior to sending judgment on the wicked city of Nineveh, Jehovah first sent a prophet there to warn them of the impending judgment. When all the evil people humbly and truly repented of their evildoing, Jehovah did not act upon His judgment plans.
Jehovah Himself said, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he shall even die therein. When the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby." (Ezekiel 33.11, 18-19)
Certainly, we cannot expect anything less than upright and righteous from the One who loves justice: "He loveth righteousness and justice: The earth is full of the lovingkindness of Jehovah." (Psalm 33:5, ASV)
~*~Shirley's Corner~*~
My book, "Do You Love Jehovah? God Almighty's Infinite Love & Wisdom to Propel You to Greatness" received another award, this time Second Place in the Spring 2010 Written Art Award sponsored by RebeccasReads.com, making it my 22nd book award thus far!
C'mon, celebrate with me! I'm cutting forty percent off the regular retail price for "Do You Love Jehovah" for the first three people who reply to this e-mail. First come, first serve... Want to learn more about my book first? Then I invite you to: www.shirleycheng.com
If you could send a Valentine to heaven, what would you write to Jehovah and Jesus? I know Valentine's Day has passed, but I thought I'd share with you a Valentine a gentleman wrote to God...
My heavenly Father, I thought I'd write you a line, Do you still recall when I was lost, and was blind, But now I am found, and now I am fine, Cause I know Jesus Christ is my Valentine. ~Tom Bosse, Author/Publisher
Isn't that sweet? What would you like to say to your Heavenly Father?
~*~A Biblical Ending~*~
"It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God." (I Peter 3:3-4, NCV)
Jehovah said, "I see not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh [Jehovah] looks at the heart." (I Samuel 16:7)
A good heart is the only important thing to Jehovah. A good heart is what we should therefore aim to have!
Enjoy your month; see you on April Fools Day!
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Award-Winning Author with 23 Book Awards 9-Time Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award Winner Mom's Choice Awards Recipient Miracle survivor, inspiring author and contributor to 31 books by age 26, poet, motivational speaker, self-empowerment expert, advocate, and a co-author in the bestselling Wake Up...Live the Life You Love book series Board member of World Positive Thinkers Club http://www.shirleycheng.com Having a bad day? Then meet Shirley Cheng, A.K.A. the modern day Helen Keller, to inspire, empower, and motivate you to go for the gold medal in life! "Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope haul you high!" Sign up to Inspiration from a Blind newsletter by sending an e-mail to: subscribe@shirleycheng.com Please sign the Parental Rights in Children's Medical Care: Give Parents the Right to Say No Petition:http://www.petitiononline.com/parentr7/petition.html
