Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4 NIV
Rejoice
The 2026 World Happiness Report will be released any day now. Last year the crown was awarded to the same country for not the sixth, not the seventh, but the eighth year in a row. That country is Finland. The UN-sponsored World Happiness Report, which assesses GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, freedom, social support, generosity and perceptions of corruption, produces a comprehensive ranking of 147 countries. In 2025 Canada slipped down the list, ending up in 18th place, behind many European countries as well as such countries as Israel and Australia.
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There are a lot of things in life that bring joy – our wedding, a graduation, a job promotion – I could go on and on. We love joyful events – they bring special moments to the normal humdrum of life. There is a joy, however, that is eternal and carries us through even the most challenging times in life. The joy that comes with experiencing Jesus, the joy that comes with having our sins forgiven, discovering that we are created with a purpose, and our Creator is with us always, never ends. No wonder the apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” To rejoice is to express joy, letting the world know that we live with the constant sense of God’s goodness to us in every way, and every day. This joy is not an emotion that comes and goes depending on our circumstances. It is a deep-down sense of God’s presence and power. If Jesus is your Saviour, rejoice. Let me say it again. Rejoice. Worship him today, praise Him today, and every day.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley