Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • The Sacrament of Happy

  • What a Smiling God Brings to a Wounded World
  • By: Lisa Harper
  • Narrated by: Lisa Harper
  • Length: 3 hrs and 50 mins
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars (20 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Sacrament of Happy

By: Lisa Harper
Narrated by: Lisa Harper
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £15.99

Buy Now for £15.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Imagine hearing your physician tell you that chips and queso contain more nutritional benefits than kale and quinoa. Or opening an envelope that looks like just another bill, and unfolding instead an official document declaring you the sole beneficiary of an anonymous billionaire's estate.

In her new book, The Sacrament of Happy, Lisa Harper unveils a similarly extravagant, unexpected surprise, declaring that happiness - just plain feeling happy - is a gift from God that you can unashamedly enjoy.

Wearing the twin hats of seminarian and belly-laughing adoptive mom, Harper delivers a warm, vignette style built upon solid theological scaffolding. She observes, for example, that God's choice of wording for the first verse of the first psalm (a word often translated as "blessed") literally means happy - one of many biblical reasons for dismantling the old-school idea that joy, not happiness, is the truly spiritual one of the Christian family. In truth, they're more like fraternal twins than distant cousins, meaning we as Christ-followers are not called to jettison happiness - like a no-longer-needed set of spiritual floaties - as we learn to swim in the deep waters of intimacy with God. Beyond merely a circumstances-based, up-and-down emotion, happiness comes from a deep conviction in the unmitigated goodness of our Creator-Redeemer, freeing us to feel and express genuine joy, fulfillment, and contentment, regardless of personal or global tumult.

The author's personal story includes such happiness killers as sexual abuse, the deaths of near loved ones, a heartbreaking failed adoption, followed by the arrival of an adopted daughter from Haiti who is HIV-positive. Yet she writes on themes like:

  • The lost sacrament of laughter
  • Does happy have a personality type?
  • Tuning out the Pharisees who try to mute your happiness in the context of spiritual maturity

So this is obviously not a book of trite, untested clichés. It goes well beneath most people's surface understanding of happiness, gently guiding listeners closer to the heart of God...with naturally a few genuine laughs and grins to enjoy along the way.

©2017 eChristian (P)2017 eChristian
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

And Still She Laughs cover art
The Applause of Heaven cover art
Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table cover art
When God Weeps cover art
The Lucado Inspirational Reader cover art
Every Day Deserves a Chance cover art
Great Day Every Day cover art
Mended cover art
In the Eye of the Storm cover art
Funny How Life Works cover art
A Love Worth Giving cover art
When God Says "Wait" cover art
Too Blessed to Be Stressed cover art
Just Like Jesus cover art
Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl cover art
I Am cover art

What listeners say about The Sacrament of Happy

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    19
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    17
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this.

Loved every moment of this. Spoke to me at a fundamental level. The face that it was read by the author made it that much more special.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Sacrament of Happy

Lisa Harper is always real but a stunning woman of God. She takes me through all the emotions
I recommend this book you will smile. Laugh and cry

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful, accessible, fun theological text

A fascinating, thoughtful, easy listen which braids theological and emotional depth with warmth and humour. A treat for a heavy heart.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

short and sweet:)

Lisa Harper is one of my favourite teachers and it's always a joy to listen to her. this book has quite a few bible chapters but she explains in relatable terms of today.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely book

Lisa does well to a line her life stories with scripture. She is honest and humble throughout and you can tell she is the real deal. Thank you Lisa and Missy

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Real Soul Food

I don’t think I could ever tire of hearing the wise and encouraging words of this charming, warm and compassionate woman. A natural teacher, a caring Godly friend, she makes me laugh and she makes me cry while simultaneously drawing me closer and strengthening my relationship with Him, our loving Lord and saviour.
Thank you Lisa. From the bottom of my heart, thankyou.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!