"If you're not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there." - Martin Luther

"Laughter through tears is one of my favorite emotions"---Truvy, "Steel Magnolias"

     When I woke up this morning my sides were sore and I couldn't figure out why.  Then I remembered...
Our women's small group met last night and although we are serious about our studies, last night began with laughter and joy.  Not just giggles, but side-splitting laughter! In between we had some serious issues and heart felt times, but we ended with more of that deep, cleansing, belly-laughter over some of the silliest things. What a God-given gift we have in laughter!

     A couple of years ago, my friend Tracey and I were coming back from an afternoon break for a little ice cream, we boarded the church elevator and were heading back to our offices, hit the button..and nothing.  No bump, no whirr, no lift that moves your tummy a little, nothing.... We looked at each other, hit the "door open"  button and NOTHING!  We looked at each other with our melting ice cream, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, called the church office 25 feet away and told them we were stuck.  Then, the best thing happened, we looked at each other and began to laugh.  At first it was a giggle, then a laugh, then the tears started running,  and we couldn't stop laughing.  We were safe, the fire department was a block away, we were on the first floor and there were maybe 10 or 15 feet below us. I am a little claustrophobic, but not that day.  For the next 30 minutes, we laughed about the good stories we would have for our families, the nice break we were having, and other than the need for the facilities it wasn't too terrible...after all, I never heard of anybody being stuck in an elevator for days on end, we knew the fireman and had great confidence in their abilities.  When we were sprung form our cocoon by our able firemen, we walked out to all of the concerned faces, then one of the firemen said, "You two sure were cuttin' up in there", and then we laughed even harder.  I am so grateful to our God for the joy of that memory.  It could have been terrible if we had not embraced the moment and chosen joy over fear.

  
    Last night was another one of those times.  We were bathed in God's most precious gift of laughter, joy,  and the  assurance that even though each of us are facing different and tough issues in our lives, He gives us the deep abiding joy in Him that enables us to laugh, smile and know that He smiles when His children are joyful!

    How many times in our lives has God rescued a painful moment with laughter?  Given us a memory that makes us laugh just thinking about it? My friend Debbie and I can't even say the words 'super glue" without laughing uncontrollably (..miss you girl!)  God gave us laughter at one of the most horrifically difficult times!   Snapshots of unspeakable joy!

---Feel His joy in your laughter today!

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy".--Job 8:21 

When my best just isn't enough...He's there

Throughout my life I have struggled with this issue; if something is wrong I want to fix it right then and if I can't, I have trouble letting it go.  But sometimes, my best just isn't good enough.  Many times it's not even close.  It drives me crazy to know that there are just some things I can do nothing about.
The words  failure, inadequate, unlovable, heartbroken and  unworthy  cloud my heart and soul.  Instead of trying to force a solution to appear,  I need to be still and let God go ahead of me.  Much easier said than done.  I can't stand the fact that my best just isn't good enough and may not ever be in someone else's eyes.

This week, a freiend used some bible verses as her Facebook post.  I have to admit that I often do not look up verses if they are not printed plainly for me to see, lazy huh? But for some reason, I grabbed my Bible and looked them up: It was from Proverbs and three of the verses just grabbed on to me like glue:

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Prov. 4:23
(Interpretation from the commentary of Heather:  "Stop chewing on it, get your heart right."

"Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you."  Prov. 4:25
(Interpretation:  "You Ninny, it's not up to you, its time to move forward and get busy about the kingdom, only God can fix this".)

"Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways." Prov. 4:26
(Interpretation: "It's time to move forward, learn from the past and be faithful and authentic in all you do.")

Now, my commentary may not mean much to you, but this is the impression I felt when I read these words.  I stopped, wrote them down immediately, and thanked Monty for posting them.

Here's the kicker, she said she posted from the wrong chapter...No she didn't..that was just for me!

The things I learned this week...When my best isn't good enough, His is, and that is really all I need to know.