My wife was out of town and I wanted to boil some eggs. Of course everyone thinks they can boil eggs, but I’ve seen enough cracked eggs rolling around in boiling water to know that it is not that easy. I called the wife of one of my elders and asked her how to boil eggs. She did not laugh. She said, “Put the water and eggs on and wait for it to boil. Let them boil for exactly three minutes. After the three minutes are up, set the pan with the eggs and water in them off to the side. Put a cover over them and let them cool down for 20 minutes.” I did and they were perfect. Since then I have shared the secret with others. Everyone tells me that it works perfectly every time!

There are two things I really like about this. (1) I love anything that helps me get anything perfect every time. (2) I love formulas. I wish all of life’s problems could be solved with a formula or recipe. While I recognize the following is not a formula, it is a set of guidelines that are sure to make you a more joyful Christian.

1. Begin each day with a prayer. “Pray without ceasing.” ( 1 Thess 5:17)

2. Be honorable in all your dealings. “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2)

3. Use your influence to help someone else. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:16)

4. Let time be a tool, not a tyrant. “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” (Eph 5:16)

5. Practice forgiveness daily. “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matt 6:14)

This is not a simplistic recipe for happiness, but rather a look at guidelines that lead to joy. They are not all of the guidelines on this subject. For more on this subject, let’s add a sixth guideline: Read your Bible daily. (Psalms 119:11), “I have hidden your Word in my heart.”

~Lonnie Davis

Dec 21, 2008

Psalms is filled with great texts that show attitudes a Christian should have. Over the years I have loved three  of these. I hope they touch you as they have me.

Psalm 84:10
“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”

Psalm 118:24
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 122:1
“I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."

Time after time people get frustrated with life. Life is filled with necessary and hard decisions. Should I change jobs? Should I get married? Should I get a divorce? Should I drop my friend? You get the idea. There seems to be more questions than there are answers. From time to time we all feel that way.

Exodus 3-4 tells the story of Moses and the burning bush. Israel was suffering as slaves in Egypt and God decided to deliver them. God spoke to Moses from a burning bush and tells him exactly what to do. Moses listens. Moses has doubts. Moses makes excuses. God gives answers, assurances, and direction.

We all want to find that burning bush. If only we could talk to it then we would know what we should do.

Really?

Moses tried not to listen to the burning bush and most people would respond just like Moses did. They would make excuses and try not to follow the voice of God. I know this because these same people do not listen to the voice of God they can hear. For example:

From His Word God says we should live thankful lives. “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:18)

Give as God has blessed you. “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.” (1 Cor. 16:2)

Live a faithful life. “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Repent of your sins and be baptized. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38)

Obviously we could list other commands from God to us. The point of all of this is that before you start saying that you wish you had a burning bush so you could hear what God wants you to do and then do it, ask yourself “are you listening to the voice of God you already know.”

Lonnie Davis