Cheerful Hearts and Laughter

 

     It has been a heavy couple of months for so many in our lives. A high school buddy reminded me last week how important it is to keep laughter in our lives. He lost his life-time love not long ago after decades of marriage. He still manages to cheer us up with jokes and humor. What does the Bible tell us about laughter and joy?

     Ancient Scripture has proven true over the ages in science, medicine, history and prophecy. Modern science concurs with one such truth in the benefit of laughter in our lives, physically, mentally and spiritually. Doctors now believe laughter helps lower blood pressure and stress.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:13

The days of the despondent are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3:4

     Laughter is good medicine. A positive outlook brings a continual feast of joy. We have all mourned and cried through times of loss and grief. We have all laughed and danced. May this week bring you some deep joy and laughter, no matter where you are on the journey.

Lord,

Give us cheerful hearts that find joy in You. Give us some laughter today to brighten our spirits. Fill our hearts with a continual feast that comes directly from You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Forever and Ever Amen!

 

     As we crawl, walk, run, and stumble throughout our earthly lives, we need God through the days, through the seasons, through the sleepless nights, often relying on His grace minute by minute. He is there, always. Getting through the days without Him would be impossible for me, even more and more as I age. His promises hold true, time and time again.

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

     Listen for His voice as He goes before you. Do not be discouraged and do not be afraid. He is watching over you now, tonight, tomorrow and forever.

The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8

     He is preparing a place for you. He knows the number of our days. He has overcome death for us! Take heart and believe in Him and His promises.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many rooms. If that were not so, would I have told you I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming back and will take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3

     Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, night by night, year by year, decade by decade, season after season, closer and closer to home. He is preparing the perfect place for you and for me What a reunion that will be!.

Father,

We wait with expectation for Your imminent return. There are days we long to be with You. Keep us steadfast, patient and working until we see you face-to-face. Keep us mindful of our everyday blessings on earth. Soon we will be with You forever and ever.

Amen

 

 

Into Old Age

 

     At a block party years ago, a young boy about 5, looked at an elderly neighbor and said, “You got old, didn’t you?”  She took the words well and smiled at him and said, “Well, yes, I sure did!”

     Not everyone will reach a ripe, old age. We all dream of living a healthy life into our 90’s and dying in our sleep. It doesn’t usually happen that way. For those of us who will reach old age as believers, God will continue to watch over us. He even loves our gray hair.

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16”31

     A crown of splendor. Isn’t that great? I recently allowed my hair to go gray.  I need this verse. If we are blessed enough to live into old age, God promises to take care of us.

Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

     How do we remain strong and bear good fruit into old age? I believe the following verses will give us instruction and promise.

But whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on the law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1;2-3

     Staying strong, bearing fruit in the last season of life comes from delighting ourselves in the word of God. His instructions are life-giving with streams of living water to quench our thirst, to give us renewed strength, to keep giving glory to God. May many of us be blessed with old age. He is in charge of our beginnings and our end on earth into eternity.

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8

Lord,

We praise You for the older men and women of faith, planted like living trees among us, teaching us great wisdom in following You. Keep us firmly rooted in the vine of life. It is Jesus, minute by minute, day by day, season by season.

Amen

Season by Season

 

     You may be in a difficult season of life. It seems impossible to embrace some of the seasons we are forced to enter and endure. The dive down can be excruciating and we hold our breath wondering if we will ever reach the surface again. God sees right where you are. 

     There may be others surrounding you right now, holding you up. Somehow, He will use this time of suffering, this season of loss, of fear, of loneliness. Often, He uses our tough times to give us experience to help others. It is His way.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

     There is hope ahead, in the season to come, a new song in spring, a warm summer sun, the beauty and color of fall, the sparkle of winter snow. Each season brings wisdom, love and light when we wait upon the Lord. If this season is a rough one, hang on. He will use this for His glory. If it is a season of joy, embrace it and share it with others. If it is a season of waiting, be patient. God’s timing is absolutely perfect.

Father,

Comfort those who suffer and teach us how to use our times of trouble to comfort others. You teach us through the storms of life and You fill us with the light of hope in the deepest darkness. We rejoice in Your presence no matter the season.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Minute By Minute

 

     Some close friends and family are going through a difficult time. Waiting for a diagnosis, praying for a cure, wondering how to take the next step. Grieving a loss. My prayer list is filled with those in crisis. Our minds take us to places we don’t need to go. God’s grace holds us close. He offers minute-by-minute support and, sometimes, that’s what we need to hang on to for dear life. The next minute.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

     Resting in Christ’s power is a good place to land when we don’t know or understand. When moving on appears to be impossible. His grace is sufficient for this moment in time. And His arms surround us when we are powerless and afraid to move. His shadow covers us.

Whoever dwells in the shadow of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4

Dear Lord,

Wrap your arms around our friends and others during difficult times and moment by moment You will meet their needs. I pray they will feel Your grace, Your love, Your protection as they move through this time. You are sufficient for the day.

Amen

Morning Noon and Night

 

     Is God your last resort? If all else fails, you cry out to Him? You think, why not just try God? Nothing else works. Or is He your first stop on any given day? It can become a wonderful habit to lean on Him, beginning the day in worship and prayer, giving Him all that is on our hearts and minds. He cares about all of the details of our lives.

     Pray as you move through the day. Pray for a friend on your mind. Pray for patience with the co-worker. Pray for the rain to hold off for a picnic coming up. Pray for God to lead you to the right job, to the right spouse, to a healthier diet, to make good choices, to please Him. Pray for comfort, for strength, for grace to meet the next hour.

     Pray before you sleep, asking for protection, for yourself, for your family, for your friends. Thank Him for the past day, and for the one to come. And most of all, thank Him for being your Lord and Savior. He is there listening to your continual prayers.

Pray continually. 2 Thessalonians 5:17

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice, in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

In the night, Lord, I remember Your name, that I may keep Your law. Psalm 119:55

     Pray with expectation. He will answer.

Lord,

We come to You morning, noon and night with our requests, with our fears, with our needs, with our praise. You are there every time, and we thank You. We look to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Ever-increasing Glory

 

     Beauty in suffering. Goodness from God before, during and following our times of need. The examples of women and men of faith are inspiring. Our struggles tell our stories. Our testimonies reverberate and lift up. Yes, Jesus is the answer. Yes, Jesus has changed my life. Yes, the joy and peace I hold deep within my soul are from Him and Him alone. Yes, He is the beginning and the end. Yes, He is alive and yes, He is my Savior.

     A faith we can trust through all of this life. A living redeemer who died for us. The one and only Son of God. It is all about Him, through the joys of this life and through the tragedies. It is all to bring glory to Him and that glory can radiate through us even now. He continues to change us into His image! Imagine that.

And, we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image, with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

     Hope in Him. Allow His glory to increase as you receive the Holy Spirit’s guidance and as you follow His ways. Miraculous…beautiful…filled with hope.

Jesus,

You are the final answer, the living hope that fills our hearts. In the midst of our lives, You are there, always there, never forsaking, never abandoning, never leaving our sides. We count on You.

Amen