I hoped you enjoyed the word "My blessings are about to overtake me".  Your birth was no mistake or accident, and your life is no fluke of nature.  Your parents may not have had you in mind, but God did, and he has a plan for you.  You are alive because God wanted to create you.  The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness.  It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your greatest dream.  If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.

The reason I wanted to speak to you about joy is that as a people we have become obsessed with happiness.  Yet it is joy that gives us our feeling of fulfillment in life.  Being successful and fulfilling your life's purpose are not at all the same issue.  You could reach all your personal goals, and become a huge success and still miss your purpose.  Reaching your goals will give you moments of happiness but it will soon pass, but joy will last forever. 

In Philippians 4:8, the apostle Paul challenges us to seek out and dwell on the positives in our lives.  If you keep thinking of yourself the way you used to be, that is exactly what you will continue to be.  Too many of you base your self-worth on what others think, but it is not what they think but rather what God says that matters most.  When you incorporate Philippians 4:8 into every area of your life, you think, talk, and act as if you are really a new creation.  Then you no longer allow the small things to upset you.  You then begin to realize that everything is working together for your good, even the distasteful things and dissappoints are all working for your good.  Then you learn how to give thinks in all things and your joy will be full.  For the joy of the Lord is your strength.  Be thankful and joyful and live everyday as if this is your day.  Blessings.

Bishop E V Reeves