triumph Archives - Daily Thoughts about God

I love God’s sense of humor.

The number of times it is a beautiful day outside and out I go for a walk, but within 10 minutes of leaving home it is pouring with rain and I don’t have an umbrella. Other times I am sitting under a tree and a gumnut drops right on my head. It could have dropped anywhere around me, but no, it lands square on my head. Whenever these sorts of things happen to me I always smile to myself and imagine God is laughing along with me.

To laugh is so good for us.

It changes our mood and allows us to see the world through new eyes. We also need to laugh at ourselves as we tend to take ourselves too seriously at times. We should allow the laughter to bubble up from our depths and so infect others with this incredible ‘medicine’. I always thank God that we have been given this gift of laughter.

I also think the Creator must have laughed a lot when I came into being as I have done, and will do, so many silly things throughout my life. Now I am not advocating that we go around making fun of every situation and laughing at inappropriate times. There are so many times when we are overwhelmed with what each day offers or perhaps the sadness in the world weighs heavily on our shoulders and we find ourselves bereft of even a smile. It is at those times that we need the strength, the compassion and the incredible unconditional love that only the Lord can give us to help us through, but there are also times if we can smile or laugh the situation will be so much clearer to see.

I have always loved this verse from Genesis after Sarah had born a son, Isaac.

Genesis 21:5-6 (NIV)
“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.”

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of laughter. Show us times when we can make someone else smile and so make them feel special, just as you make us feel special. Help us to laugh at ourselves and that in so doing we may infect others with this release of stress and pain. Thank you, also, for your infinite patience with us. Amen

By Terry Stead
Used by Permission

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17

She passed the coffee order to him with a cheery, “Have a good day!” His tone of annoyance was evident in his reply, “Whatever!”

I was next in line. The girl grimaced as I stepped forward and smiled. We both had taken note of the stagnant answer. I wondered if the young man was counting the days until Friday. Some days can have that effect when life seems to settle into a pattern with little or no expectation of adventure.

Sipping my coffee I read those words from Colossians and thought of the short encounter I had just witnessed:

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

The “whatever!” answer to the coffee girl gets turned on its head by this verse. God Himself asks us to say and do “whatever” as if we are representing Him; as if we are doing or saying it in His name and with a heart of gratitude!

The challenge is intriguing. It’s practical and could be very powerful. Could it actually put a sense of adventure into our days? Could you envision doing your routine, unexciting tasks of this week as a representative of the Almighty God? Could you do them with a grateful heart even when the doing does not particularly inspire you? What if your words were spoken and then you added “and I am saying this in the name of Jesus”. Would it change what you were about to say? Would it impact how you would act?

O Lord, please give me Your wisdom as I do the “whatever” today. Would You help thanksgiving to rise up within me? Thank You that I do not need to be tossed about by the dramatic nor the mundane things going on around me. Help me to do what‘s in front of me, and speak to those around me with the awareness that I am representing You. Change my focus as I fill my mind with Your wisdom. Let peace and joy spill over in this week’s chapter of my story and may others be touched by You, through me, in the “whatever” of my week. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Thought: Make a choice. Today choose to use the mundane, stagnant “whatevers” as a launch pad to change the way you do and say what you do and say. And then give thanks for those mundane tasks and encounters. You just never know where this change of attitude could take you, especially when you invite Jesus to empower those sayings and doings with His strength. There is adventure waiting as you write the chapter in your story this week through a conscious awareness of the “whatever”.

By Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

Laughter

I love God’s sense of humor.

To laugh is so good for us.

Further Reading

Whatever

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17

Further Reading

Tag: <span>triumph</span>

Laughter

I love God’s sense of humor.

To laugh is so good for us.

Further Reading

Whatever

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17

Further Reading