Sometimes We Just Need To Laugh

Sometimes We Just Need To Laugh

This is in my heart today.

I’m getting ready to say something profound here.

As you know, the word “profound” means “deep.”

So here goes.

sometimes we just need to laugh

We can’t let the actions of some ruin our joy in the Lord and tamper with our Christian witness.

There are a lot of bad things going on in America, of course.

Additionally, there are still groups of people in this country who are trying to divide us and turn us all against each other.

I have to say that, and I’m also looking in the mirror at myself, we can’t let them steal our joy for any long length of time.

Where’s That Remote?

turn it off

There’s an adage that says: “Misery loves company.”

Sounds to me like a great reason to turn off the negative news when it gets to be too much.

In our fallen world, suffering, doubts, confusion, and the like are earthly certainties.

We can count on it.

Fortunately, these frustrations and times of sorrow are only temporary.

We can (thank the Lord) count on that.

Dear Christian, someday when we reach Heaven, our tears become a thing of the past.

And here’s an added blessing:

There’s no political infighting in Heaven.

I’m looking forward to that, aren’t you?

I love this take-away from John MacArthur:

God is not a cosmic killjoy. I know some people who believe He is.

They think God runs around saying, “There’s one having fun; get him!” They believe God wants to rain on everybody’s parade.

But that isn’t so.

God made you. He knows how you operate best. And He knows what makes you happy. The happiness He gives doesn’t stop when the party’s over. It lasts because it comes from deep within. – Pastor and teacher, John MacArthur, from Grace To You.

Meanwhile …

What can we do about all this Debby Downer “news” thrown at us every day?

Don’t lose our sense of humor!

We can remember with gratitude God’s gifts to us of joy and laughter.

Those gifts are still there, tucked in our brain closets somewhere underneath all the negative breaking news.

Joy and laughter can help us deal with this crazy world we’re living in right now.

Remember what makes you smile.

For me, it’s my silly dogs and husband. (Joanna Gaines and I have the “silly husband” thing in common.)

Also for me, it’s the close friends I have, who love to laugh just as much as I do.

Why do my embarrassing moments always happen in public?

What makes you laugh?

Perhaps an embarrassing moment?

C’mon, you know you have at least one.

You can tell me, no one else will know  😉

 

then sings my soul

Here’s one of mine from years ago.

One evening, our church was having its annual potluck dinner, complete with a Choir Special.

By “Choir Special,” I mean our choir sang about eleven rousing songs after the dinner portion of the evening.

It was a great night. We pigged out on delicious home-cooked food, cracked up at the tables, and then it was time for all of us who were choir members to get into place up front. We had five minutes to run and use the restroom.

You know how girls are. A bunch of us ran to the restrooms. 🙂

After that, we got into place up front in our designated spots.

As we all stood there facing the crowd about ready to begin, I suddenly felt self-conscious and subtly checked the zipper to my pants. They were zipped up, yes indeedy, but the zipper broke, and my pants began to flap open.

Two words.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Noooooooooooooooo!

It was too late; I couldn’t run or hide.

I crossed my arms over the broken zipper and held my pants up for eleven very long songs. Every other choir member was moving and swaying to the music, but I had to stand there motionless, or the crowd would have gotten more of a show than they bargained for!

That kind of thing seems to happen to me.

In public, in front of everyone.

Sometimes ya just gotta laugh.

God Created Joy And Laughter

I’m looking forward to “Eternal” joy and laughter.

How about you?

That will be a blessed day to come.

###

*John MacArthur quotation, as quoted, from Christian quotes.info.

Share

Christians Quit Cursing on Social Media

Let me start out this article by saying that we all know that no one is perfect, including me, you, and that person over there. Even so, Christians quit cursing on social media.

Christians quit cursing on social mediaWhen the Bible says that we, as Christians, become a “new creation” – it means something very important and we should try to remember that. Why do people forget so easily? Is there evidence of a transformed life in us, or are we living as we did before?

From 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV):

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

I’m Guilty Too

I’m not saying I’ve never said a curse word. I slip sometimes. But, I admit it afterward and then confess it in my heart to God.

We all fall short.

What really concerns me though is this “who cares” attitude from Christians on social media who, for some reason, think it’s okay to curse on facebook or in their web posts.

Are they trying to appear “hip”? Current? Relevant?

What gives? Do they think it helps their Christian witness? It does not. Recently, I stopped by to read a post on a Christian friend’s facebook wall. Ughh. There was a comment from another person calling someone an ugly name I won’t repeat.

Seriously, people.

Cursing Is Not Cool

I read a blog from a well-known Christian musician awhile ago who dropped an F-Bomb and “B.S” a few times in his posts.

Thing is, this musician still has a lot of fans – young people who may see that language and think that’s okay Christian behavior.

Well, it’s not. 

Our country is still free and that musician has the right to say or write whatever he wants on his own blog, but, he’s NOT doing anyone any favors in the mission to help lead people to Christ. Thing is, he probably doesn’t see anything wrong with using profanity. 

I choose not to buy his CDs or follow him.  I follow a lot of Christian musicians.  A sad thing is that some churches lack discernment in their contemporary music choices. They play songs in church services while neglecting to actually “check out” and see what some of those artists are saying in social media.

I think that is a big problem with contemporary Christian churches today.

One more example: another Christian I know recently shared a link on his/her (shall remain nameless) social media that dropped the F-Bomb along with a snarky personal comment about a news story.

It made my skin crawl. This person is someone with a bunch of facebook friends and he/she doesn’t appear to care that some of his/her friends are young, impressionable people.

it's not okay to curse on social media if you're a Christian

Enough With the Cursing

I don’t need to see F-bombs in my news feed. Thank you very much.

What is with people? Were they raised by wolves?

Shaking my head.

No, it’s not okay to curse on social media if you’re a Christian. In fact, it’s not okay to do it anywhere.

It’s also not okay to curse back at someone who is cursing you.

*Patient silence is the best reply to a world of cruel opposition. Calm endurance answers some questions infinitely more conclusively than the loftiest eloquence. The best apologists for Christianity in the early days were its martyrs. The anvil breaks a host of hammers by quietly bearing their blows. Did not the silent Lamb of God furnish us with a grand example of wisdom? Where every word was occasion for new blasphemy, it was the line of duty to provide no fuel for the flame of sin. The ambiguous and the false, the unworthy and mean will soon enough confound themselves, and therefore the true can afford to be quiet and find silence to be its wisdom. – Christian pastor, Alistair Begg.

We should all be mindful of our witness and I’m including myself in that reminder.

This is such a crazy and violent time in our society. Don’t these influential people realize they’re not going to plant seeds with the Holy Spirit and help reach people for Christ when their mouth utters or their fingers type such trash?

We would do well to remember Psalm 19:14 from God’s Word. It’s one of my scripture memory verses. When I slip up, I say this back to myself along with confessing my sin to God.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.           –Psalm 19:14 ESV The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

God bless you! Stay strong.

###

*Begg, Alistair, “Slow to Speak.”  Crosswalk.com. 02 April 2017, Web Access 06 April 2017. Copyright Truth For Life. Used with Permission.

Share