Saturday, September 8, 2012

Laughter: A Novel Invention



In a smelly, damp cave eons ago, someone concocted the thought that God is against laughter, and wants His kids to take everything seriously. That person is dead now, so we can toss out his or her notion of God as a disagreeable deity. Here’s the proof that laughter is the novel invention of God Himself:
1. “Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’” (Genesis 21:5-6, NIV).

So… God must think it funny to give a baby to a 100-year-old man and his 90-year-old bride. Because this meant the end of Sarah’s shame and the fulfillment of God’s promise to the couple, she laughed right along with the Almighty.
2. “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.” (Psalm 2:4, NIV).
This is the Lord’s response to heathen leaders who boast of freeing themselves from the kingship of God.  The Message says, “Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing… amused at their presumption.”
3. “For everything its season, and for every activity under heaven its time: ... a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time for mourning and a time for dancing.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4, NEB).
 
Oh, the splendid balance in the heart of God! His calendar allows for laughter as well as tears, dancing as well as mourning. Now, if I could just convince my husband that square dancing is a divine inspiration…
4. “And now, God, do it again—bring rains to our drought-stricken lives so those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, so those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.” (Psalm 126:4-6, The Message).

 
Do you feel that you life is drought-stricken, that you’ve planted crops of faith, hope, and love in despair? You are not alone. The Psalmist of three thousand years ago felt the same. Yet he dared to ask God to exchange despair for hurrahs, and heavy hearts with laughter. Let’s agree with him today, boldly marching to the throne of grace to ask the Inventor of Laughter to give us a huge dose.

14 comments:

  1. Jen: I have made a decision, I will be getting a copy of THE MESSAGE. You and a lady I am helping with a manuscript have convinced me that it's time to at least have a copy for my work.I like these thoughts.

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    1. Yes, Quiet, you do need a copy. It's fresh and fun. Not a literal translation, but a great perspective helper!

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  2. Our family loves laughing together.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  3. Good for you, Glenda--you'll all live longer!

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  4. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones!" Proverbs 17:22

    Good evening, Jeanette~

    If I couldn't laugh, I don't think I would be able to survive. My family uses laughter to keep us sane. It gets us through the happy times as well as the sad. When my mom passed away in 2004, my brothers and sisters and I burst out into hysterical laughter at her funeral service as we remembered and celebrated her life. She was a HOOT! Some thought we were CrAzY, but it was our way of getting through a rough time.

    Smiles, laughs, and ((((hugs)))) to you!

    Blessings~
    Laura

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  5. Laughter is definitely the best medicine.

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  6. I love this post. I would love to know how to laugh when there is nothing funny going around. I do try to laugh heartily when there is.

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    1. Nancy: I'm reading a great book right now: How to Become a Humor Being by Steve Rizzo. He tells how to find the humor in horrible situations. It's not a Christian book, but he has some great ideas!

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  7. We love to laugh here! Saves the kids, saves our marriage, and it's lots of fun. :)

    Thumbs up to your take on laughter, Jeannette.

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  8. Rhonda: Sometimes if you don't laugh, you'll cry, huh?

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  9. I agree, I do believe that God has a sense of humor. It's quite evident in our daily lives. :) Good post, Jen!

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  10. The sermon this past Sunday was the Abraham story--his laughter over God's promise. I too think God has an incredible sense of humor!

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  11. God definitely wants us to laugh and smile. If He didn't want us to laugh with enjoyment, He wouldn't have made us social creatures starting with the time of Adam when God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone." And if He didn't want us to smile, He wouldn't have made the glory that is Nature--sunrises, sunshine, rainbows and such.

    You keep laughing, my friend, and we will as well... :-)

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  12. Dear Laura:

    Oh, I HOPE my family laughs at my furneral, too! That would be a high compliment to me. I may plan some kind of practical joke ahead of time to take place during the service--perhaps the talking macaw I mentioned earlier.

    Thanks for coming by,
    Jen

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