How to Add More Hope and Humor to Your Life

Although you know that I never make New Year's Resolutions--I set goals instead--I'd say the perfect goal for 2015 would be to add more hope and humor to our lives! 

One way we can do this is by popping over to James N. Watkins' blog and reading a post or five. His wacky sense of humor and deep wisdom will make you laugh and think at the same time.

And while you're there, please read my comical article, Who Invented Humor, Anyway? 

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.

Making Money as a Writer

"Just thought you'd want to know you got something in the mail from your publisher."

I grinned into the phone, as if my DH could see me. "Open it, open it! I'll bet it's my first royalty check!" I planned what missionaries I'd help, what cruises I'd take, and what model of new car I'd buy for Mom in the time it took him to rip the envelope open.

His voice changed from sparkling cider to skim milk. "Oh."


"What? Is it that dinky?"


"Well, honey, it's only the check for the books people pre-ordered on Amazon the month before your book came out. Don't make any big plans. We'll be able to put some in the offering at Vacation Bible School this week,  and then go out for ice cream--but only one scoop."
Oh, well.

I don't write for money, anyway. Don't misunderstand. I have no qualms about making lots of money. But that's not my motivation to write.

I write because I have this vibrant garden-full of seeds in my soul, shouting at me to plant them on the page and get them into others' hearts, so they'll sprout and blossom and grow. If I make some money along the way, splendid. Then I can help more people meet my Jesus, take some trips, and get Mom a new car. If not, then at least I know there are some gardens out there that that would be barren deserts unless I'd planted some hope and humor into them.

Maybe my next royalty check will afford me a gift to a missionary. And Two Scoops. As long as we have Chuckles on Top, I'm good.

And you? How do you feel about Christians getting rich from writing, singing, or using other gifts? If someone offered you a book deal for ten million dollars, would you turn it down?