Congratulations!
Let’s celebrate!
This (yiddish) word has several different meanings but the gist of it is a sense of congratulations followed by a celebration. The Black Eyed Peas use it right in their song, “I Gotta Feeling!”
It’s interesting that they use a word wrapped around Jewish culture—maybe the Peas ‘get it.’
Nah, but I do.
The Jews in the Bible were a people of festivals. They loved to celebrate and took more time off to do so than just about any people group around!—and still got more done!
Is there a lesson there?
Sure there is. Times are tough right now but is that all there is to the story?
Not if you’re a believer—not if you are a follower of the most high God! Listen to what the apostle Paul said about temporary tough times…
Romans 8:15–19
15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
Times are tough, but joy can be a powerful counter to the many difficult and painful things life throws at us. And, according to Paul, it can be tapped into even in the worst of times. In other words,
Happiness does not depend on happinings.
It depends on your closeness to the source of joy…JESUS!