He that is of a merry heart...Men's Campout

He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Prov. 15:15

a person with a positive outlook has a party-like atmosphere

The joy of the LORD is your strength. Neh. 8:10
...is your what? your strength!

The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom. 14:17

not joy in circumstances, not joy in 'luck' or 'good fortune', but authentic, genuine, sincere joy in the Holy Ghost

Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph. 5:18-20

...we have joy when we giv[e] thanks for all things unto God and the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ...I know a lot of pagans and unregenerates who are grateful but not unto the true God and Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ...they are grateful to the god of luck or fortune, grateful to people, some grateful to all the 'little people' who helped them where they are...oh, how God's people need to confess their deep, abiding gratitude in conjunction with the real source of blessing--the LORD JESUS CHRIST

I remember seeing Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser interviewed after winning the World Series against the odds-on favorite, talent-laden Oakland A's...it was a sort of 'miracle' that the Dodgers won that, having been catapulted by Kirk Gibson's late-inning heroics with the home run against Eckersly, then one of the very best relief pitchers....anyway, Orel, when asked for a response of how he felt began an a capella rendition of the BENEDICTION! I was shocked...there was a professional athlete singing in tune 'Praise God from whom ALL BLESSINGS FLOW...praise Him all creatures here below...praise Him above, ye hea'vnly host...praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost" I'll never forget it...what a testimony of thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, the object of our gratitude and source of our praise!

By him ... let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Heb. 13:15

...there it is again, giving thanks to His name...many equate that with pray without ceasing, some with vocal praise...nonetheless, the character of that speech is unending gratitude

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Hab. 3:17, 18

this is a great Scripture song...reminds us to rejoice even when times are economically adverse

Sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing. II Cor. 6:10

Paul could rejoice on the inside while wrestling with sorrow on the outside...

We glory in tribulations also. Rom. 5:3

Paul knew, somehow, how to glory in tribulations...as did our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God