Laughter is Good for the Soul

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..." 

Proverbs 17:22

 

"A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance....." 

Proverbs 15:13

 

"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad."

Proverbs 12:25

 

 

My late husband, Phil, had a very merry heart and could see the humor in almost all of life's situations. He made me laugh...a lot.  I have always been a very serious person and he would always say to me - "You need to lighten up, Donna, lighten up."  He was so right.  He brought a lot of fun to our family and taught me not to take myself or life too seriously. 

Laughter is so good for the soul.  Because we are made to see humor in life and because we enjoy laughter, I believe it's also in God's character to do the same because we are made in His image.  He has a terrific sense of humor.  Just look at all of His creations (not humans - but animals, fish, even some plants).  Life, even at it's best, is hard.  To find things to laugh about each day helps to lighten the load.

 

A former pastor of mine used to always say, "If you're happy, let your face know."   

 

I felt impressed by the Lord to write this blog today.  Those of you who know me, know that isn't always the way my mind bends.  But as I was out walking the other day, I took some pictures that brought big smiles to my face and I even thought of captions to put under each one.  So today, I just want to make you smile and maybe even laugh. 

 

Lighten up, smile, it's good for your soul!

 

 

 "A little help here.  I'm stuck!"

 "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!"
 

 "Raptured? Seriously?!? Nobody told me!"

 I have no words for this one!

"Harpo, have you seen my cigar?"

"I'm not coming down unless you promise me full amnesty!"

 

I think I just heard some of you groan!  Really, that's all you got?  Hey, we have to take it where we can find it!! I challenge you to find some humor in your day today.  You might have to look hard depending on how your day is going, but look anyway.  Remember, it takes less energy to smile than it does to frown, so if you're tired, that might be why!!!  :)

 

 

Hope you enjoy this video and song.  I really have not lost my mind!! Just enjoying the medicine of a merry heart!!

 

Remember:

 

God is always good and you are always loved!!

 

 

 



 

 

 



Abiding in Him

"Abide in me, and I in you. 

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine;
no more can you; except you abide in me. 
I am the vine, you are the branches. 

He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit;

for without me you can do nothing." 

John 15:5, 6

 

 

Abide - the dictionary defines it as - "to remain; stay; to dwell."  Remain in me; stay in me; dwell in me......except we remain, stay, dwell in Him, we can bear no fruit.  Hmmmmm......  So, then, how do we abide, remain, stay, dwell in Him? 

In my quest to be more aware of the Lord's presence in my life every moment of every day, I am discovering that in having my eyes open to receive every thing in that day as a gift from Him, I begin to sense His presence in all things.  To open my eyes to His presence and recognize Him in the small things of my day - the blue of the sky, the smell of chicken soup simmering on the stove, the green light, the sun breaking through to make shadows on a cloudy day, manna from His Word, the wind blowing in my hair, clean dishes in the sink, I am dwelling in Him.  Sound crazy?? 

Recognizing His gifts in EVERYTHING is seeing His hand extended to me in love; it's recognizing Him in every moment of my day.  Those things that delight my heart?  The sound of crunching leaves, the taste of peanut butter on hot toast, a flower peeking out of a pile of dead leaves, a face on a tree - these things that delight my heart?  These are gifts from Him, wooing me into a love relationship with Him.  As I recognize these as the gifts they are, my heart fills with thankfulness and joy ---- joy in the fact that He is speaking to me personally with those things that He knows delight my heart.

 

When that joy (a fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22) overflows in my heart, it can't help but affect all aspects of my life and overflow into my relationships with others.  Joy comes from seeing Him in all things, thanking Him for all things and receiving this day and all it holds for me as a gift.  This, then, is abiding, staying with Him in the moment, each moment of my day.

Am I always successful at this?  No, I am not.  But I am practicing.  I am practicing slowing down, looking for Him, living in the moment, seeing the Giver behind all the gifts and beholding His heart's desire for me.  I desire to be fruitful in my life, producing fruit that will remain and the Word tells me I can only do that if I abide in Him.

Fruit even in the midst of decay and rotting leaves.  Lots of fruit, good fruit, quenching fruit!!  Lord, abide in me that I may abide in you - daily, moment by moment.  Create in me an awareness of you in ALL things!  May my joy be full!!

 

"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you,

and that your joy might be full." 

John 15:11

 

"...in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." 

Psalm 16:11

 

 

 

Encouraged by the Word

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."  Philippians 1:6

 

I thought of this scripture yesterday.  I woke up feeling very far from a "good work".  The attitudes of my heart have needed quite a bit of work lately.  I was thinking I'm certainly not very confident of my ability to change my heart or to be able to do anything about my attitudes.  I've felt very impatient with myself and everyone around me lately and truthfully, I despair when I think about what's needed in my heart to affect change.  Sometimes I feel like such a fraud as a Christian.  I wholeheartedly thank God that no one can see the ugliness of my heart, but then I remember - He can!!  When I remember that, it's hard for me to believe that He still loves me in spite of all that ugliness.  But then I read that Scripture again, and remind myself that "He which hath begun a good work....will perform it", not me, and I am encouraged again.  The Scripture tells us that David encouraged himself in the Lord, and I find I have to do that continually.  My heart IS deceitful above all else and I can't trust it, but I can trust the one who sees my heart and I can trust that He will work in me to change it.

 

I thank God for His Word that also tells me:

  

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."  I Thessalonians 5:23-24

 

 

Boy, I want to put an exclamation point at the end of that!!  I am so thankful that He is faithful - faithful to even my failing heart.  Faithful to pour out His grace when I reach out for it, instead of choosing to stay in my pit of despair.  I look up and give thanks to "Him  that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."  (Ephesians 3:20)
 

 

 

Be encouraged in Him today; be encouraged by His Word that is truly "manna" to your soul!

 

God is always good, and I am always loved!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



This Day Is A Gift

"This is the day the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Just got back from a quick trip to the Post Office which I should have done yesterday, but forgot.  As I drove home, the sun came out and reflected off the leaves wet from last night's rain.  It's still so beautiful here in Vermont.  The colors in my local area are still vibrant and they glisten in the early morning sun.

As I drove home, I thought about the things I needed to do today, places to go.

make croutons

make phone calls

visit Dad at the nursing home

make deposit at bank

go to the grocery store 

etc, etc. 

All was good until I thought about where I have to go tonight.  I really do not want to go.  It's one of those social situations I feel most awkward in because I am not part of a couple.  I really would rather just stay home.  But I've promised and before the Lord, I cannot break that commitment, so I will go, but "Lord," I softly pray, "change my heart regarding this.  Help me to see this as a blessing.  You know how this invitation came about and you engineered this from the beginning, so I believe you have purpose in it.  Help me to be open to that, Lord.  I surrender it to you."

Then I remember - each day is a gift, given to me by God, to open and do with as I choose.  When I give somebody a gift, I want and hope that they will - open it, be surprised by it and love it.  I also hope that they see the love that has gone into preparing it for them.  Beyond that, I have no control.  They can do what they want with it at that point. 

I see that God has given me this day as a gift.  He wants me to - open it, be surprised by it and embrace it.  He wants me to see the love that has gone into His preparation of this gift for me.  Now, what I do with it, is up to me.  Do I receive it as a gift from Him and cherish every minute of it or do I rail against all that He has prepared for me in this day?  Hands open to receive or hands closed to decline?

THIS is the day the Lord has made.  I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.  Thank you, Lord, for the choice.  Thank you for this day.  Thank you for the seemingly hard thing you've asked me to do this day.  I CHOOSE to rejoice in this, knowing you have chosen it for me.

I am ready now to meet this day head on and am even excited to see what God unfolds through this day, and yes, even this evening, for -

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."  James 1:17

 

 

 

Rejoice in the gift of this day!  Rejoice in HIM!

 

Embrace the Seasons of Life

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"  Ecclesiastes 3:1

I set out on my walk today somewhat reluctantly. I hadn’t been on a walk for over a week and wasn’t really sure I wanted to do one today. But as I walked I started to revel in the moment. The wind was blowing hard from the south and really messing up my hair. I love the wind!! As I began to put myself in the moment, I started thinking about the fall season - what is it about fall that makes me feel so alive?? Then I progressed to thinking about seasons - fall - winter - spring - summer - and I remembered a candle holder that a dear friend gave me many years ago. It says “Every new season brings its own special blessings.” I’ve thought of that candle holder many times over the years and it’s caused me to reflect on the seasons of my life.

The season of youth, the season of falling in love, the season of married life, the season of babies, toddlers, adolescents, teenagers, the season of empty nest, the season of widowhood, the season of retirement and I’m sure there were others and still more to come.

 

Every season does have its own special blessings if we will open our heart to receive them. We mourn the season past while holding hand open to accept the season to come.

As I was walking down the road, the wind was at my back and I thought - some seasons of life are like that. The wind is at your back, blue skies above, smooth sailing ahead, God is on His throne in heaven and all is right with the world. But as I turned around to head back home, the wind was blowing hard against me and I thought, yes, some seasons are like that, too. Sometimes it takes so much effort just to take the next step, sometimes you don't even know what the next step is but it feels like everything is pushing against you and you just don’t know how you will make it. But, you know what?  God is still on His throne during this season, too. And His love is always reaching out to us, through all the seasons of our lives.

We, most of the time, do not know the path our journey will take us on when we embark on a new season in our life. Sometimes the road looks straight ahead and we know where we are headed, and sometimes there is a curve in the road and we can’t see beyond that and we have no idea what’s ahead. Sometimes we can't even see the road!!  But this we do know, wherever that road takes us, God is with us as we walk it.

Whatever road you are on, in whatever season you are in, remember this, God IS on His throne, all IS right in His world and He has promised from His word -

"...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  Hebrews 13:5b

Embrace this season you are in - embrace it with all that’s in you and receive with hands and arms wide open, all God wants to give you in this very special season of your life.  EMBRACE IT - don't try to walk out of it, don't try to walk around it, don't try to avoid it.  God has so many special blessings for you right now, right here, in this season of your life!  It's no mistake or accident that you are where you are.  Take that first step and persevere to walk down the road He has chosen for you in this season He has chosen for you.

I would love to hear from you.  Would love to hear what season you are in and what the Lord is doing in your life during this season.  There is a space below to send me your comments.  God bless you!








 

Just Love Me

"What am I going to do with you?" he laughed.  And I would always respond, "Just love me!" 

Wow!  Where did that memory come from?  I was working on my Bible Study and adding to my list of gifts.  The key for the day was "gifts said".  As I thought of things that had been said to me, this one came to the surface.  It kind of stopped me and made me think.  Phil would always ask me that question whenever I had done something especially funny, quirky or even stupid and I would always reply the same way.  And love me, he did!  But today those words - "just love me" resounded in my spirit and I thought, isn't that what we all want?  Just to be loved.  To be loved through all our quirkiness, stupidity, difficultness, etc.  We just want someone to love us - just for who we are!

Every time I see a heart stone, I feel it is God saying to me, "I love you, Donna", and my heart feels full at that moment.  As I go through my day, sometimes I lose sight of the fact that He loves me through all the moments of my day, even when I feel and even act very unlovable.

His love is revealed to us in so many ways.  Ways that we sometimes are too busy to see or recognize.  It's in the smile of the man who holds the door open for you at the post office.  It's in the green light that is there when you are in a hurry.  It's in the sunrise of every morning.  It's in the beauty of His creation.  It's written in His Word for you to read as His personal love letter to you!  It's even in the rain that falls steady outside your window.

It's given to you every day in so many different ways.  Take time today to look for His love expressed to you!  Receive that love with hands wide open to all that means for you.  You are loved!!  You are loved!!  You are loved!!

"Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee."  Jeremiah 31:3

The Gift of Peace

"Memories - pressed between the pages of my mind.  Memories - sweetened through the ages just like wine."  I thought of that song today as I drove the familiar roads to the Sheldon Cemetery.  I had been wanting to get there ever since May, but then, I allowed myself to admit, I didn't really.  So many memories flooded my mind as I drove.  I remembered the very first time I traveled to Enosburg with Phil in his 1967 Mustang to meet his parents.  I reflected on all the other many, many times we made this trip over the years of our married life.  I had always loved the drive and I did today, too, but I was filled with a sadness I hadn't felt in awhile.  The journey of grief takes you on all kinds of dips, curves and turns and it is most unpredictable.  I can't believe it's been 9 years since Phil died and over a year since I visited his gravesite.  You would think after 9 years I would be okay.  Most times now, my memories bring me such comfort and joy, remembering Phil's zany side and how well he loved us - the girls and I.  I was surprised at my emotion today.  When I saw the gravestone, something broke inside of me and I cried - the first time ever crying right there at the grave.  It poured from somewhere deep inside me.  I cried for him, I cried for me, I cried because the gravestone was dirty and that felt like such a desecration.

 

But then as the tears subsided, I felt again God's peace.  This cemetery is so beautiful, with such a beautiful view; a real pastoral setting.  God's peace has been such a gift to me over the past 9 years.  The peace that passes all understanding - it really does.  I didn't feel any real words of comfort, any words of revelation, just a profound sense of peace.  And for today, that is enough.  Enough to know that, in the words of author Ann Voskamp, "God is always good and I am always loved." I thank God for His gift of peace.

It is such a paradox that life is full of death.  And yet we don't accept it as part of life.  Why is that, do you suppose?  According to God's Word, man was never born to die, but to live in Eden tending all God created.  God cried with me today.  He felt my grieving heart and He grieved with me.  I truly believe that.  That is what turns my "mourning into dancing"; to joy.  I thank God for His gifts of grace and mercy and my heart again is filled with joy and thanksgiving.  Thanks that I was given 33+ years with this man; thanks for all he was to me and I was to him while he sojourned here on earth.

 

As I drove into the cemetery, I was awed by this tree that had apparently either been struck by lightning or been felled by strong winds.  "Broken" was the word I heard in my spirit as I stared at it.  As I left the cemetery, I took a picture of it and again, I gave thanks to God - that even though I, too, had been "broken" at the moment of Phil's death, the astonishing fact was that I wasn't "broken" anymore.  The Healer touched my broken heart and made me whole again in Him.  Put back together - with scars, yes - but wholly together to live to praise Him, thank Him and delight in Him again! 

 

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.  His mercy endures forever." 

What do you give Him thanks for today?