Choices We Make

Yes, life is a series of choices. It is very difficult to make wise decisions when you are angry, hurting, confused, bitter or unforgiving. You can do it though. How you respond to lifes disappointments can destroy your faith or it can strengthen you spiritually.

So many people leave God out of their tragedies. Maybe they don't believe in Him or they don't understand His ways. But instead of turning to Him in their need, they look for human solutions.

Some may ask, Why would God allow or do such a thing? Is He really in control?

There is nothing wrong with these questions, yet if your answer is that He has turned away and left you to fend for yourself, then you are looking in the wrong direction. Thinking like this will lead only to anger and guilt. some people even search for a way to blame God or someone else for their misfortune. This never brings healing.

What is the right choice you should make in tragedy? You can choose to believe God is sovereign over all. Job is an example of righteousness, through whom the Lord displayed His faithfulness. (Job 1:6-22) He has the right to do the same in your life too, doesn't He?

Choose to believe that because God is in control, he will comfort and assure you. (Job 42:2) Trust Him in your hard times, though you may not understand it (Isaiah 55:8-9), and believe He will bring something valuable out of the heartache.

God can produce good from eveen the worst situations. Don't dwell on what you have lost, but on the blessings for which you are grateful. Don't waste your pain and sorrows. Learn something to better yourself and help others. Meditate on the Scriptures instead of feeding on the pity others have for you. The best person to turn to in tragedy is not your neighbor or a close friend ~ it is the Lord.

God does not deny our pain, He wants us to turn to Him for healing. (Romans 8:31-38)

When we trust Him and walk in the center of His will, we will be blessed. (Job 42:10-17)

When we make right choices in the midst of painful situations, our heavenly Father will see us through.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

Be Rooted In Love

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge...that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)


There's nothing more fun in life than looking for the attention and personal love of the Father. He is waiting to show off His love and character to us in totally fresh and unique ways. He is such a genius, our God is! It would most likely bore Him to be anything but incredible and mysterious in all His ways.

I have been absolutely delighted in exploring the boundries of His love. I have not reached the edge of the width or the length, nor have I experienced the height or depth. Have faith and start looking for His love. If you have already found it, then there are still many more surprises ahead for you.

Just as love between a man and a woman will result in the conception and birth of a life, this love of God to you will spring forth life in you.

Experience His love today and forever.

Laughter

A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)

Most of the time we live in the calm stage, but the times of extreme hilarity have value too.
Laughter is like internal jogging...it improves emotional and mental health.

We need to learn how to laugh. Laughter and smiling are outward evidence of inward joy and they definitely make you feel better.

Joy is defined: to rejoice, a very glad feeling, happiness, great pleasure, delight. The expression or showing of such feeling.

SMILE ~ Many Christians are so sour~faced that they look like they were baptized in vinegar or lemon juice.
You are the light of the world, your smile is the switch to turn it on.
There is not much chance of laughter if you don't start with a smile.

We can be all by ourselves and smile and we don't even need a particular reason.

When we have a frown on our face, the corners of our mouth turned down, it begins to drag us down emotionally. But, when we smile, we sense a lifting of our countenance.

How long has it been since you laughed ~ really laughed? You will find that you feel better all over after a hearty healthy laugh. It's like your pipes are being cleaned out after a good laugh.

When tired and weary from dealing with daily life issues, a good hearty laugh seems to clean out the dusty, stale closets.
When God provides an opportunity to have a real good laugh, it seems to refresh you and lift the load off of your tired mind.

Rejoice in the Lord. Again I say, Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4) Here we are told twice to rejoice.

James 1:2 tells us ~ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials...he tells us the final outcome will be good.

Despite your problems, your trials, and temptations, you can be assured you will benefit in the end. Look ahead to the end and rejoice now! We need to laugh every day as much as possible. Laughter makes life more enjoyable and also keeps us HEALTHY.

God wants laughter interwoven into the rest of life. We need both, the serious and humorous sides.

We sanction crying in church as a holy and godly response, but laughter in church often is offensive to many people. We need more insight into the nature of God. Jesus laughed a lot more than most of us do.

According to Ecclesiastes 4, there is a time to laugh, so don't be afraid to laugh ~ even in church.

It is contagious!! When we are around someone who is depressed and negative, if we don't resist it, that person's depression and negativity starts to effect us. The same with happy, positive people. they make us feel better, help us forget our troubles for a while and their joy is contagious.

Are you too busy being serious and intense? When opportunity comes your way, enter in and get the most out of it. You may as well laugh when you have the opportunity, because you don't know how long it will be before you get another opportunity.

Jesus talked about joy and the fullness of joy.

Enter into the joy of the Lord. (Matthew 25:21)
Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing...(Romans 15:13)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...(Galatians 5:22)
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials...(James 1:2)
...you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1Peter 1:8)
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. (1John 1:4)
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. (Jude 24)

It takes a conscious effort to keep your heart merry. The enemy is always willing to steal or block our joy, and he will if we allow it.

The world cannot see our heart, they need expression. Our attitude should be pleasant, abundant with smiles, and we should laugh whenever possible

WARNING: Extreme hilarity has been known to cause smiles, decrease stress, and promote a good~ole time.

Try it...right now, frown and see how you feel...now smile and see how you feel.