My Happy Baby

Gracia is such a happy baby by God’s abundant grace. She is fascinated by things around her and is generally smiling and laughing. She has these big wide eyes that exude happiness. When we go out for a walk or for a trip or to a show, we love to look at her face. She would start laughing and squealing and starts clapping her hands. And it makes us really happy to know that she is happy and is enjoying herself. And when she enjoys something we try to do that over and over again. Just to see her smile and laugh.

She enjoys every simple thing around her and is fascinated by everything. When we go out for a walk, she looks around at the trees and flowers and the cars going by… she loves the birds and their chirpy sounds. She enjoys all of this. I see her make those happy sounds and it makes me very happy and I want to take her out more.

And when we go out, we enjoy watching her face more than whatever is around us. We had been to an IMAX to watch a show on animals and we enjoyed watching her face more than the show.

Now God is our father and our parent and I’m sure God also does that. I am sure whenever he sends blessings our way; he looks at our faces, to see our expression. To see if it makes us smile. To see if we are laughing. If we are squealing with delight. What does God see when he sees our faces? Does he see happiness? I think for a parent the biggest happiness is to see their children happy. When I wake up in the morning, does God see me happy for this new day? As I have my breakfast, does God see a smile on my face?

Everyone has problems. But there are so much more good things in our lives than problems. But the problem is we have been receiving the good things so freely and so abundantly that we have begun to take it for granted. The Bible says – Whatever things are beautiful think on these things (Philippians 4:8). More often than not, we tend to think of the few things that are not going good for us, rather than the abundant good things we are surrounded by.

Every time you wake up, God looks your face. Every time the fresh air hits your face, God looks at your face. Every time the birds chirp, God looks at your face. Every time you have food to eat, friends to hang out with, family who care for you, God looks at your face. If I begin to list our blessings, both you and I know, there would be no end. But the point is – When God looks at our faces, what does he see? Does he see happiness… joy… smile… baby G’s wide eyed wonder? Or does he see frowned foreheads who are too busy thinking of that one or two things which is not going well for us?

For the things that are not going well, remember everything will work out for our good. God will go before us and fight our battles. The problems will go away and in the end we WILL be rewarded. But till then, be happy. Because it means so much to God. It also is good for our health and looks nice on our face but most importantly it means so much to God. And when God sees us happy, he feels like doing more and more for us. I think the best form of gratitude we can give God is by being happy.

We need to start opening our eyes to the wonder and the beauty around us. And flash that smile cause our Father is looking at our faces to see if we are enjoying the life He so beautifully gave us. And just like my heart swells with abundant happiness when I see Gracia enjoy and be happy, God’s heart swells with abundant happiness too when He sees we are happy and having a good time. Does God see his happy baby when he looks at you and me?

Psalm 92:4 - For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your works; at the deeds of Your hands I joyfully sing. (AMP)

Proverbs 16:20 - … whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord--happy, blessed, and fortunate is he. (AMP)

Proverbs 17:21 - A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. (AMP)

Problems and Blessings

If God were to ask you – ‘Is it okay if I allow some problems to come your way today?’ What would your response be?

Take some time to think about this before you proceed…

If God were to ask you for your permission to allow some problem in your life, what would your response be?

We dislike problems. We fear problems. We want problems to go away and never come back.

What we sometimes don’t realise is that every problem draws us closer to God. We pray more, we study and meditate on God’s word more, we wait for and on God more, we trust God more… And all these attributes bring us closer to God. Problems are always temporary. Once they are gone, they leave us closer to God. We become more spiritually mature.

The advantage of being more spiritually mature is that we become eligible to receive more of God’s blessings.

It’s like in a video game, every level you cross opens up more and more features and benefits that you get to enjoy.

My baby is at a very curious stage. She is very observant, very inquisitive… Her eyes look around at all she can see and when she finds something interesting she reaches out and wants to take it. I love her very much and want to give her everything. But I cannot. Why? Simply because she is not ready. She reaches out for her soft toys and I give it to her. She reaches out for a pen and I don’t give it to her, because I know she could poke herself or harm herself. But when she is a little older and is mature enough to use a pen, maybe in a few months, I would buy her all kinds of pens – sketch pens, crayons, glitter pens… I will pour out whatever kind of pens I could give her so she enjoys them. But she needs to grow to that level. Right now, I buy her all sorts of soft toys. She likes Winnie the Pooh and I have to buy Winnie the Pooh wherever I see him.

It’s like there is this level chart. Every spiritual maturity level you reach qualifies you for certain blessings. It’s different for different people. For one it could be a better job, for another it could be good health. God designs the charts according to our desires and according to the plans he has for us. Every time we reach a new level, he will pour out all the blessings we can handle at that maturity level (much more than I could pour out soft toys or pens).

Problems, detestable though they may be, take us to the next level. So actually problems should make us happier that we are getting to the next level and we are getting ready to receive more blessings.

I read this book ‘Hind Feet on High Places’ and to help a girl reach the top of the mountain which is called the heavenly places, the good shepherd gives her two companions and guess who they were… They were Sorrow and Suffering!!!

Job lost everything. EVERYTHING. His spouse is not supportive and just wants him to die. His friends are out to prove he’s wrong. He goes through terrible grief, sitting in a corner like a beggar scratching his wounds. But when his problems are over, he is directly gone to the level where he is now ready to handle immense blessings, which is a double of everything he previously had. Some of us want to be blessed like Job. But are we ready to face problems that will take us to the level where we are ready to handle such blessings.

Remember if God blesses us beyond what we can handle, it will prove to be our undoing. God loves us too much to let that happen to us. He will bless us only when we are ready for it. Problems get us ready and make us mature to handle blessings.

Joseph was sold by his brothers, worked as a slave, accused of rape, thrown into the prison… I mean, could it get any worse??!! Then from the prison, he is directly lifted to a position which is next to Pharaoh himself. All the problems worked to make him mature to handle an entire nation, save them from famine, save his family and forgive his brothers.

The best part is we don’t have to go through the problems on our own. God promises to be there every step of the way.

In Genesis 15: 1, God says not to be afraid and that He himself will be our shield and protect us through the storm and He will compensate for everything you lose and He will reward you in an exceedingly great way. In John 16:33, God says that no matter what tribulation and frustration and distress and trials may come your way, be confident and undaunted and in perfect peace for God has conquered the world and has deprived it of its power to harm you!! Wow!! How amazing is that!!

1 Corinthians 10:13 says God can be trusted to not let you face anything which is beyond your ability and strength. He will also provide you a way out. Romans 5:3,4 says Suffering (Pressure, Affliction, Hardship) produces Perseverance (Patience, Unswerving endurance), Perseverance produces maturity of Character and Character produces Hope (the habit of joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation). 2 Corinthians 9:8 says that God will give us Grace in abundance in all circumstances for every good work.

So when Problems come our way, let’s just face it head on. It’s okay to sometimes feel sad or overwhelmed but don’t just sit there feeling like that. Get up and Get going!! Remember to remain in God (pray, sing, read God's word, meditate on it). Keep pushing forward reminding ourselves that we are reaching the next level of spiritual maturity and Big Things are coming our way!!!

Genesis 15:1 - AFTER THESE things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I am your Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great. (AMP)

John 16:33 - I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] (AMP)

1 Corinthians 10:13 - For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. (AMP)

Romans 5:3,4 - Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. (AMP)

2 Corinthians 9:8 - And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. (AMP)

2 Corinthians 12:9 - But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! (AMP)