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The Sacrament of Happy

What a Smiling God Brings to a Wounded World

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The Sacrament of Happy

By: Lisa Harper
Narrated by: Lisa Harper
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About this listen

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
Christian Living Christianity Happiness
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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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