Category: family

Wedding Crashers

Proverbs 17:22 says, “Laughter is like a good medicine.”

Everyday we need to take our medicine. Find something that makes you laugh. See the humor in life. Put a smile on. Be friendly. Be good natured. Learn to laugh! Laughter is powerful and free accessible medicine, all natural. I like all natural remedies. Some of the benefits are: It lowers stress hormones, increases immune cells, reduces disease risk and boost cardiovascular health. It relaxes muscles through the release of endorphins, which is a natural pain relief. It increases serotonin and dopamine, causing a better mood as well as giving us the ability to see things in a new perspective when approached with challenging situations. When we share laughter with others we are able to connect better and resolve conflicts.

I have a newfound love for laughter. When I am faced with a heaviness or a difficult situation, mostly a place where I just can’t see past it at the moment, finding something to laugh about brings a calming effect and then I can focus on whatever it is that I am needing to deal with. I just have to loosen the load so to speak. Every time you are able to find some humor in a situation, you win. I love to joke around not in a malicious kind of way, but one that brings others to laughter, I feel a sense of connection when that happens. Everybody needs someone to make them laugh when they think that they’ll never smile again. In Proverbs laughter is portrayed as a gift from God, a sign of joy, and a therapeutic force. When we laugh, we neither think, grieve, or feel. In Eccl. 3:4, it’s a natural part of life’s rhythm, “a time to weep and a time to laugh.” Laughter is the best medicine but if you laugh for no reason, you need medicine …LOL. My husband and I love to laugh, we laugh at some of the craziest things, but the best times are when we are laughing so hard we are crying and trying to stop but can’t and end up laughing even harder and longer. I also love it when I hear someone else laughing uncontrollably, it causes me to start laughing and I may not even know what it is about it just becomes contagious.

I challenge you today to think about something really funny, whether from your past, an experience that was really bazaar, just something …and begin to laugh. I promise you will feel so much release from the mundane, or just happier than you already are.

Learn to Laugh …Life is much better when you are ~

Thick Skin

You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn him the other also. And if anyone sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. (Matt. 5:38-40)

Tough hide and a tender heart. True love is an essential component of thick skin. God guards our hearts and gives us the power to forgive those that have wronged us. I’ll just let you in on a little secret, it is going to take Jesus residing in your heart to be able to do this. This is a supernatural kind of love that comes from Him. It is our greatest defense against feeling overwhelmed when being criticised or having someone attack us personally. We need thick skin to not hold a grudge or try to retaliate. “Jesus said love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44) You are developing thick skin and a soft heart all at the same time when you pray like that. Prayer doesn’t just change the situation, it changes us. I have prayed for people for long periods of time, years even, not feeling like it …sorry, but true. But then one day God replaced the grudge, animosity, with compassion. Regarding prayer; just keep doing it, the weaker our prayer life, the thinner our skin, and the harder our heart. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41). Prayer will change the attitude of you heart if you don’t give up. I also am not saying that this anger will not creep back in at times, that’s why we have to learn to master this thing called prayer, temptations to fall back in our old ways are always there. Learn to leave a closed door closed. Here is a little prayer you can pray for yourself to help you walk with a spirit of humility and compassion.

Lord Jesus ….Forgive my hardness of heart and my selfishness. I am weak, but you are strong. Strengthen and protect me from my natural ways of responding to situations. Teach me how to walk in the Spirit rather than in the flesh. Grant me your peace, wisdom, love and compassion. Wash away my sins with the blood you shed for me by the Holy Spirit, make me more like Jesus every day. Please give me thick skin and a soft heart, especially when my natural impulses flare up under pressure. In your holy name I pray. Amen.

Legacy

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged (Proverbs 17:6a)

The three children in this photo are the first of (12) of my grandchildren. This sibling group from left to right are now, 20, 22, and 21 years old, later came sibling number four, and might I add the 21 year old is now a father himself. Now I have been given another generation of grandchildren to pray for, to set examples for, to speak Godly wisdom over. Life is full of so many things to influence our children’s minds, that is why it is so important that we grandparents are being diligent in our prayer life. We are called to pray for our children and our children’s children, to pass down a legacy of faith, protecting our future generations from the influences of this world and the world to come. Training them how to be powerful and effective, with something that will sustain them into their old age, that thing is the Word of God and through relationship with Him. That they would learn to have a reverential fear of God all the days of their life. That’s where blessings come from. Teach your children to pray. I want my children; all of them, BLESSED. I want to know that I have done all I was instructed to do by my heavenly Father to leave a legacy that can be carried out through generations. We can read all about this kind of obedience in Deuteronomy 6. I am approaching the end of my years here on this earth, so I am living my life with a whole lot more intentionality. I use to pray for little things, now my prayers are for bigger things, eternal things. My love for my children has not changed, but what is truly important has. Psalm 92:14 mentions that the righteous “will still bear fruit in old age”, that’s me, the praying grandmother, the one they call Mimi. I was called by God to be a spiritual leader and I do that through prayer, word and example, that they too may live a long and prosperous life. Leave a Legacy they’ll remember.