Evening journal., 1908-01-01
CHRISTIAN
ENDEAVOR NEWS

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Topic for January 5, 1908. What is
True Blessedness? Psa. I Matt. 5;S-
70.
SOME BIBLE HINTS.
Read Psa. 1: IA man that is walk
ing in Gods ways is blessed already.
He does not have to wait for blessing
that can be given him. He is on the
road that leads to what is counted
success, but blessedness lies in what
one is without regard to what one has.
Read Psa- /: 6-The worst feature Of
much so-called happiness is that it is
so uncertain and so soon falls. True
blessedness lasts and keeps growing in
strength.
Read Psa. 1: IA man that Is
blessed is not one that is simply re-
signed, but without happiness. He has
so much joy that he finds delight in
courses that others cannot even imag-
inc as pleasant His love for God
gives him what seem like new senses
for giving pleasure.
Read Matt. 8: 1.-THE common idea
Of happiness is that t. hinges on cir
cumstances. If you can have wealth
or health. or beauty, or knowledge, or
fame. or influence. you will be happy
you think: If not. you will not be.
True bIessedness is weather-proof; its
worth is most realized when trouble is
found to have no power over it.
Thoughts on the Topic.
True blessedness is never found in
having or lost n not having. It is
found in being. In being happy, con-
tented, and loving. It is purely mat
ter of the heart within. II we are
happy in heart, as we can be, it mat
ters nothing what the outward con-
siderations are.
There are a great many things that
promise us blessedness. which do not
give it. Many people have often said;
"Oh. if I had only plenty Of money, to
do whatever Il wanted to do, would
be perfectly happy"
But wealth does not bring true bless
edness. for it brings as many cares as
it dispels Life teaches no lesson bet
ter than that true happinessis not to be
found in riches. In reading the Beati-
tudes we find that God does not say
anything about money, estates, knowi-
edge, successes. pleasures and power,
while the things we look upon with
dread, such as poverty and sorrow.
meekness, prosecutions and hunger are
lifted into a shining place on noun
tain top.
One man puts the emphasis Of hap
piness upon the things that fill the
barns, and tempt the appetites, and
multitudes follow him. But slowly the
hearts of the sorrowful, the hungry,
the poor and needy are turning to-
wards God. Our ideals are lifting and
Jesus is getting room.
To be Gods sons ana daughters IS a
blessedness before which all earthly
honors and all worldly good disappears.
The man that can pray truly is richer
and more blessed than others. There
is In man something higher than love
Of happiness, and that is love for God.
He can find blessedness without hap
piness, but he cannot find blessedness
without God.
There is only one safe and true guide
to blessedness, and that is God. He
is love. and If we love Him we cannot
help but be loving TO someone else. II
we are happy ourselves we will want
to make somebody else happy.
II we do not love and trust Him, we
shall be perplexed and troubled, and
the world will be a problem to us, and
we will often feel wearied and de-
pressed. And if we know God, but
forget Him. we can easily fall into such
moods. But when we learn TO lean
upon God. we know where true love is
found.
When we look back on the days we
have lived through. it is hard to avoid
asking the question, what have we
lost and what have we gained in the
days gone by? Yet when we look
back we see we have gained much But
are we satisfied? How much did you
learn about Christ last year2 Don't
you want to know more about him this
coming year?
Now at the beginning Of the New
Year is a good time TO say what we
are going to accomplish this coming
wear. Whom have we helped. and
comforted, and blessed in the past
year? Can you say that Christ is my
Master and with His help and strength
I promise Him sthat during this com