A Sure Way to a Happy Day

A SURE WAY TO A HAPPY DAY

by HELEN STEINER RICE



HAPPINESS IS SOMETHING,
WE CREATE IN OUR MIND,
IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU SEARCH FOR
AND SO SELDOM FIND-
IT'S JUST WAKING UP
AND BEGINNING THE DAY
BY COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS
AND KNEELING TO PRAY-
IT'S GIVING UP THOUGHTS
THAT BREED DISCONTENT
AND EXCEPTING WHAT COMES
AS A "GIFT HEAVEN-SENT"-
IT'S GIVING UP WISHING
FOR THINGS WE HAVE NOT
AND MAKING THE BEST OF
WHATEVER WE'VE GOT-
IT'S KNOWING THAT LIFE
IS DETERMINED FOR US,
AND PURSUING OUR TASKS
WITHOUT FRET, FUME OR FUSS-
FOR IT'S BY COMPLETING
WHAT GOD GIVES US TO DO
THAT WE FIND REAL CONTENTMENT
AND HAPPINESS,TOO.









MY DAYS ARE LIKE A SHADOW THAT
DECLINETH; AND AM WITHERED LIKE GRASS.
BUT THOU, O LORD, SHALT ENDURE FOR EVER;
AND THY REMEMBRANCE UNTO ALL GENERATIONS.



PSALM 102:11-12
KJV



YOU HAVE PURIFIED US WITH FIRE, O LORD,
LIKE SILVER IN A CRUCIBLE. YOU CAPTURED
US IN YOUR NET AND LAID GREAT BURDENS
ON OUR BACKS. YOU SENT TROOPS TO RIDE
ACROSS OUR BROKEN BODIES. WE WENT
THROUGH FIRE AND FLOOD. BUT IN THE END,
YOU BROUGHT US INTO WEALTH AND GREAT
ABUNDANCE.



PSALM 66:10-12
TLB



YOU MADE ME SUFFER A LOT, BUT YOU
WILL BRING ME BACK FROM THIS DEEP PIT
AND GIVE ME NEW LIFE. YOU WILL MAKE ME
TRULY GREAT AND TAKE MY SORROW AWAY.



PSALM 71:20-21
CEV



YOUR KINGDOM IS BUILT ON WHAT IS
RIGHT AND FAIR. LOVE AND TRUTH ARE
IN ALL YOU DO.



PSALM 89:14
NCV



BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOM THOU CHASTENEST,
O LORD, AND TEACHEST HIM OUT OF THY LAW;
THAT THOU MAYEST GIVE HIM REST FROM THE
DAYS OF ADVERSITY, UNTIL THE PIT BE DIGGED
FOR THE WICKED.



PSALM 94:12-13
KJV



YOU SHOW ME THE PATH OF LIFE. IN
YOUR PRESENCE THERE IS FULLNESS OF JOY;
IN YOUR RIGHT HAND ARE PLEASURES FOREVERMORE.



PSALM 16:11
NRSV



O SEND OUT YOUR LIGHT AND YOUR TRUTH;
LET THEM LEAD ME; LET THEM BRING ME TO
YOUR HOLY HILL AND TO YOUR DWELLING.



PSALM 43:3
NRSV



YOU BLESS ALL OF THOSE WHO TRUST YOU,
LORD, AND REFUSE TO WORSHIP IDOLS OR
FOLLOW FALSE GODS. YOU, LORD GOD, HAVE
DONE MANY WONDERFUL THINGS, AND YOU
HAVE PLANNED MARVELOUS THINGS FOR US.
NO ONE IS LIKE YOU! I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE
TO TELL ALL YOU HAVE DONE.



PSALM 40:4-5
CEV



AS FOR ME, I WILL BEHOLD THY FACE IN
RIGHTEOUSNESS: I SHALL BE SATISFIED,
WHEN I AWAKE, WITH THY LIKENESS.


PSALM 17:15
KJV