Laughable

Proverbs 14:13a Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, ...

Isn't humor, after all, one way we cope with a tough situation? It's how I deal with tough situations best. I was hilarious in the labor room--or so the doctor and nurses kept telling me. I always have replied to that, "I would rather laugh than cry." And I'm thinking, "If I start crying, I'll loose it-I won't make it through this with any dignity intact." Lately, I let river of tears flow when the dam overflows. I'm just careful it only happens when God and I are alone. It is that fear of anyone knowing I haven't got it all under control. If it weren't for my relationship with Jesus, I would have given up long ago. "But, God.", has so much meaning to me. Regardless of how bleek the situation looks--But God! It makes me laugh. I laugh out loud when I think of all the times the devil tried to show me the circumstances and tried to tell me it was hopeless. But God came in and changed everything with the wave of His hand.

In Genesis 21:6 Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me." I love that story of Sarah and Abraham. He was 100 and she was 90. They wanted children. The women around her all laughed when she told them God said she would have a child. Afterall, Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90. I have imagined Sarah may have snickered a little herself at the first thought of it. She was 90 and the desire of her heart seemed lost but God had not forgotten her or His promise; had He? The laughter at the thought of them having a child that swept through the village was turned to awe of God when Isaac was born. God has a sense of humor waiting until they were that age to bring forth a child and Abraham and Sarah did too--naming the baby Isaac which means laughter.

Job 8:21"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting.
This would make a perfect inscription on a Mother's Day card. The picture might have a boy fully clothed washing the dog in the tub with soap suds and water overflowing everywhere. A kodak moment where you are laughing and shouting all at the same time. Do you suppose God does that when you or I do crazy things? He is a loving Father so then He sent Jesus to help us clean up the messes we make. I am ever grateful He did that for me.

Psalm 126:2Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations,"The LORD has done great things for them."
Through the tears come shouts of praise. That could be my mantra over and over throughout the pages of the story God has written me into. Over and over I have declared that I will live and not die and that I will live to declare the wonderful works of the Lord. Yes, He has done great things for me. He continues to do great things for me. It may not always look like it to those around me. To those who forgot to put on their "God glasses" on before looking at the circumstances. Sadly, I must admit I misplaced mine for a while too. I found them again today while I was doing the Beth Moore bible study on Esther-It's tough being a woman. My laughter started slowly. You know how it starts--a little snicker seeped out. Then a slight chuckle. Then a laugh. Then the sparkling eyes belly laugh. The ridiculously loud until the tears run down your face and your stomach hurts laugh is next. I am working up to it. Jesus is filling me up again with that living water that flows forth. I am preparing for rain--a torential downpour. When we all see the way He turns this thing around, it is going to be a catagory 5 hurricane of laughter. What do you think we should name it?

Jesus Take The Wheel

28"Come to Me,

all who are weary

and heavy-laden,

and I will give you rest.
29"Take My yoke upon you

and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and

humble in heart,

and YOU WILL FIND REST

FOR YOUR SOULS.

30"For My yoke is easy

and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

I've been listening to this video over and over and it has been ministering to me. Jesus take the wheel. I can't do it on my own. But then He never meant for me to even try to do it alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky4rfA_tebY

Thorns and Roses

A Thorn in the Flesh

7Because of the surpassing greatness of the (N)revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a (O)thorn in the flesh, a (P)messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!

8Concerning this I implored the Lord (Q)three times that it might leave me.

9And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for (R)power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather (S)boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

10Therefore (T)I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with (U)distresses, with (V)persecutions, with (W)difficulties, (X)for Christ's sake; for (Y)when I am weak, then I am strong.

Think of a beautiful long stemmed rose. Picture the velvet petals. Imagine their softness between your fingertips. Smell the sweet aroma. What a wonderful loving gift from God of beauty to encourage our souls. But if you don't approach it carefully, with the respect it commands, the thorns will prick you and blood will flow.

O.2 Corinthians 12:7 : Num 33:55; Ezek 28:24; Hos 2:6

P.2 Corinthians 12:7 : Job 2:6; Matt 4:10; 1 Cor 5:5

Q.2 Corinthians 12:8 : Matt 26:44

R.2 Corinthians 12:9 : 1 Cor 2:5; Eph 3:16; Phil 4:13

S.2 Corinthians 12:9 : 1 Cor 2:3; 2 Cor 12:5

T.2 Corinthians 12:10 : Rom 5:3; 8:35

U.2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2 Cor 6:4

V.2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2 Thess 1:4; 2 Tim 3:11

W.2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2 Cor 6:4

X.2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2 Cor 5:15, 20

Y.2 Corinthians 12:10 : 2 Cor 13:4

Hallelujah Anyway

Hallelujah Anyway. A precious friend says that's what she had to say when she was so sick with a bad stomach virus. No matter what comes she just praises Him--Hallelujah anyway. Then it spilled over into other trials. When those difficult times come she just says Hallelujah anyway. No matter what the circumstances you are surrounded by you have to trust God. Today has been a Hallelujah anyway day.

I'm sure you have seen a movie scene or two with people sitting in a boat shivering and hungry on a dark body of water on a moonless night with fog as thick as pea soup in a dismall situation. All seems lost and hopeless in that circumstance. It is a Hallelujah anyway situation. I like it when there is one person willing to have faith that they will be rescued and encourage the rest. Just then when it looks like they are defeated, the saving boat comes along or the sun rises and they see land. The boat or land were there even when they could not see them. The situation was being taken care of without their help. God was in control and taking care of the situation. Hallelujah!

No matter what we are going through God will see us through. We have the victory. So why shouldn't our battle cry be Hallelujah! Jump up and run towards God. Why doubt that He has good planned for us? Are you looking at the fog and darkness? Are you shivering in the cold? Or are you looking to His light and basking in the warmth of His love regardless of how deep the mud you are standing in at this time. Shout Halleluja anyway!

Puzzled

The waters have been rough for over a week now. It is actually like being in quick sand. The more I move, the more difficult it is to breathe. When I find myself in the middle of the muck up to my nose, I find it helpful to remember testimonies of all the times He has reached down and pulled someone else up out of that mirey clay. Then, once again, I find the strength He placed within me rise up so that I can lift my arm up to Him and cry out--or at least my spirit does.

The Lord is good. Last week I had an appointment and my dear friend drove me there. I was lying in the the back of the van on the mattress propped up on pillows. I was wheezing. She began to talk about all the good things our Lord has done in our lives. She said He is so wonderful and His timing and ways are never what we think they should be. We always want it easy and instant. She told of her husband's example of this. One minute she was driving him to the hospital and expecting a third back surgery as the doctors said and then without the surgery he was qualifying for full duty again and passing the physical fitness test. This is something the doctors were calling a miracle. Of course it didn't happen overnight but in a few short months to the surprise of many people God healed him completely . She said one day I am driving my friend who can hardly breathe and the next I know you will be driving to come visit me. It is a prophecy I am clinging to with all my faith. He can do that for me just as He has done for countless others. He is no respecter of persons.

We were talking about the big puzzle of life. That's what I call it. I was thinking about how I always wanted to know what is going to happen but now it is not so much a driving force in my life. I have become more trusting and patient. If I only have a few pieces of the puzzle and no picture to go by it is much more difficult to put together the million piece puzzle of my life. God has the picture. He knows which pieces go where and at what time to place them there. If I was left to put it together myself, I may make some wrong choices or try to force some pieces together that weren't meant to be and mess it up. When you are missing just one piece, it can never be finished properly. I am glad I have the most important piece--Jesus--in place. It is right in the center and all the other pieces fit tightly to it and build around it. Trouble is I seem to want to put the outside edges together first. Those clean cut edges that define the boundaries are tempting and easier to put together--much easier for me to put together by myself. Why is it so easy to slip into that fleshy way of doing things? It is so much easier to hand the reigns over to the Lord and let him drive. Yet, I keep trying to grab the wheel. It is such a foolish thing to do when only He has the map and knows my destination and all the stops I should be making along the way. What if I miss one of those important stops? How much different will the puzzle be? More importantly, how will it effect the lives of others? I don't feel my purpose is to just get out of life all it has to offer me. I feel my purpose here is to positively effect the lives of others. So, I get puzzled about a lot of things. Mainly, how can I be used by God lying here in this bed? Amazingly, He has and continues to do so in ways I never would have imagined. I don't believe it is His will that I be sick but He has worked out this "mess" for His good. Puzzled? Evidently, I grabbed the wheel and jerked my ship off coarse. It's time to let Him have complete control. Only He can set it all straight.