McNeese professor publishes book of faith-based affirmations
Gregory Alan Clark, head of McNeese State University’s Social Sciences Department and a deacon at Starlight Baptist Church, was inspired to write his new book while out for a morning run. As he ran, he was listening to the gospel song, “Oh Happy Day.” That song brought another one to mind: the 2013 hit “Happy” by Pharrell Williams.
Because of these two songs, Clark, says he was lead to search through the Bible and to reflect on just why his days are happy.
The result of his efforts is his book, “It is a ‘Happy’ Day: A Faith-Based Approach to Transforming Your Mind Set.” The sub-title is “Positive Affirmations That Will Transform Your Mind, Body and Soul.”
The book of short affirmations is divided into four sections: Clark’s personal reflections, biblical “happy” meditations from the Old Testament, more from the New Testament, and inspirational lyrics from hymns.
Clark said the best part about writing this book was the opportunity it gave him to grow spiritually.
“By examining the books of the Bible, I was reminded that God’s word is the same yesterday, today, and forever more. Through this journey, I transformed my mind-set to believe that every single day is a ‘happy’ day. It is a ‘mind’ thing. We all need to ‘think’ happy, ‘be’ happy, so we can ‘live’ happy,” Clark wrote in an email to the American Press.
Each entry in the book begins with “It is a happy day when…” or “It is a happy day because…”
A few examples:
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“It is a happy day when my fears, troubles, and trepidations do not become harbingers of things to come, but rather stepping stones to a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.”
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‘It is a happy day when I can put my grudges with others in the rearview mirror and say, ‘Bye-bye, issues, bye-bye, stress, and bye-bye, negativity.’ I will not spend time dwelling on my problems. I will let it go.”
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“It is a happy day because I am declaring that the Lord will be giving me the petitions that I prayed for my child (1 Samuel, 1:27).”
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“It is a happy day because the sweet name of Jesus soothes my sorrows, heals my wounds, and drives away my fear. (verse from “How Sweet the Name of Jesus,” in “The New National Baptist
Hymnal.”
“It is a ‘Happy’ Day” is a book that can be read cover to cover or cracked open to any page and enjoyed. In it, Clark encourages the reader to look beyond their present situation, good or bad, and to be happy.
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“It is a ‘Happy’ Day: A Faith-Based Approach to Transforming Your Mind Set,” by Gregory Alan Clark is a 57-page paperback book published by Christian Faith Publishing. It costs $12.95.
“It Is A ‘Happy Day’: A Faith-Based Approach to Transforming Your Mind Set,” by Gregory Alan Clark.