Laughter Is A Beautiful Thing

Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6

I love the sound of my two year old grandchild's laughter. There are few things that can so quickly put a smile on my face. Recently at my local Senior Center I said something humorous to a lady who was likely in her eighties. She let out a beautiful laugh that also put a smile on my face. It struck me that whether from a young child, or someone at the latter years of their life, laughter is a beautiful thing.

So much laughter in this world is crass or mocking. So much laughter does not bring happiness but pain at the expense of another. Yet when the laugh of joy from a good heart expresses itself, there are few things in this world approaching that beautiful sound.

I can imagine that heaven will be filled with the joyous sounds of laughter. How could it not be when pure hearts express joy and wonder and happiness at all that awaits the child of God when we feel the rapturous experience of heaven. 

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—1 Corinthians 2:9

One day I believe that pure laughter will fill the streets of heaven. Yet while we are on this earth, why not begin practicing the joy of laughter? It may not only lift your heart, but the spirit of others.

Prayer: Dear Lord, what wonders must await us on the other side of life. Yet thank You for the joy of laughter that brings a bit of heaven here on earth. Amen.

10 Years Of Life

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm— my great army that I sent among you. Joel 2:25

I’m coming up on the ten year anniversary of the operation that saved my life. In March of 2011 I was dying, and had been slowly fading and wasting away for more than a year previous. Crohn’s Disease nearly took my life.

Since that time, I have seen my daughter happily married, my granddaughter come into the world, and went from barely able to function--merely surviving--to someone living life again.

When God promised the Israelites that He would restore the years the locusts ate, I can understand what that must have felt like. Not only the promise, but seeing it actually happen.

There are times that are so bad in our lives that it can seem there is no end in sight, no light at the end of the tunnel. It is hard to comprehend living helpless and hopeless, and then see that turn around and find we have not only survived, but are seeing “fruit” once more in our lives.

Never, ever, underestimate the goodness of God, or His ability to turn things around. It may seem impossible, I know. But if you can find just a tiny seed of hope you will find that God can still bring a fruitful life in your barren situation.

Prayer: Dear Lord, only You know just how dark our lives can become, and only You can bring light in our darkness, and fruit to our dry, parched ground. Thank You Jesus for Your never ending grace and kindness to us. We will praise You for it forever! Amen.

Living In The Winter

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. Psalms 74:17

When we think about winter the words: cold, stark, bitter, frigid, and extreme come to mind. Winter is seldom seen as something good unless you enjoy skiing or other winter sports.

Yet winter is my favorite time of year. It is the only time I am free of warmer season allergies and the asthma flare ups that accompany the warmer seasons each year.

However, this winter I am struggling with the season. Having lost much weight in the summer, I now find myself struggling to stay warm. I lost too much “insulation” with my shedding of pounds. The cold is more biting this time around.

Winter is also used in reference to getting old. “The winter of our lives”. Getting old can also seem stark and cold. Finding ourselves isolated in the dark without the warming sun of our youth.

"How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year!"

--Thomas Wentworth Higginson

And so it is in our lifetime. If not for the trials and lessons learned in our youth we would have no experiences to draw upon for both the challenges and blessings of old age.

Winter can be a time for rest and reflection, just as with the last season of our life. For the Christian, we can use the winter months for growing closer to God, praying more, reading the Bible more, strengthening our relationship with God in the “slower season” of the year. It is a time when we are not so easily drawn away by the activities outdoors. If in the winter of old age we can likewise reflect upon our life, remember its lessons, and share our experiences with others. Then we can prepare for the spring of our rebirth.

The season of winter is difficult for many people in a variety of ways. Yet it need not be so. If we use winter well, it can bring blessings that arrive with spring, no matter what form spring takes in the season of our life.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we look at winter as something stark and cold. Help us to also see its beauty and that it is preparing us for spring. Amen.

Embrace The Changes In Life

He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21

Change scared me much of my life. With so many health issues I learned that change was almost always bad. A new symptom, a new issue arising, these things were almost never good. And that fear of change bled over into the rest of my life.

Anxiety feeds on fear, and when we fear change, almost anything outside the normal can be frightening. A new job, a new friendship, a move to a different location, anything and everything outside of our comfort zone could bring fear.

Yet as I have grown older and try to become less “set in my ways” and open to new adventures, fear dissipates. And I notice that many changes are very good. Especially if I remain open-minded about change.

A new year, a new member of the family, a new home, car, clothes, circumstances that bring challenges of all types, such things can become great blessings. Blessings come to the children of God who know that the Lord is working everything out for them. We just need a little faith and hope.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

And so it is for Believers in Christ. Many things look terrible, disconcerting, even frightening. Yet with God helping and guiding us through both difficulties and new challenges, we not only overcome, but are greatly blessed because of Jesus and our relationship to Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, much in this world is scary and troubling, especially unlooked for and unwelcome changes. Yet with Your help we are overcomers through Your power and Spirit. Amen.

His Fellowship In Our Suffering

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3

Jesus knows our suffering because He suffered for us.

We have a Lord who is well acquainted with grief. What He endured before, and when upon the Cross is beyond our reckoning.  Jesus sympathizes with us, and He understands our suffering. When we read about what He went through on the Cross we know He is one of us. Jesus is a fellow traveler on the path of pain.

One day we will see Jesus face to face. We will see the scars in His hands and on His feet. His scars were permanent, a badge on honor, proof of what he endured for us. They are the only scars that will be in Heaven.

Our scars and our suffering is temporary. These light afflictions will no longer trouble us in heaven.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17

That is a hard thing to keep in mind when we are hurting. 

Our Savior understands the pain we endure on earth. He not only understands it, through His Holy Spirit Jesus becomes one with us in our pain and misery. We have been given a Comforter because we need comfort on this earth. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit in each and every Believer, Christ is present with us in all things.

Prayer: Dear Lord, there is no greater gift You could give us. Salvation in Your Name not only delivered us from Hell, but gave us Your comforting Spirit for our trials here on earth. We thank You! And we will praise You forever! Amen.