THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

September 29, 2021

LIFE IN THE FOLD:

When is the last time that you laughed? I mean like a real belly laugh, not just a cursory little chuckle or smile?

Many times we go through our days, filled with activities or work, and we get so caught up with what we are doing that we forget to laugh. Perhaps we even think, "Well, there's nothing really funny in everything going on in our world today or anything to laugh about."

We forget about the importance that laugher has on our health and mental frame of mind. In fact, it is so important that there scriptures speak about the need for laughter and joy.

Probably the one that comes to mind is from Proverbs 17:22. "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." There are benefits to having a cheerful heart! It makes us feel overall healthier of mind, body, soul and spirit.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there is a time to cry and a time to laugh.

Another verse in Ecclesiastes says, "So I recommend enjoyment, because there is nothing better for humanity under the sun except to eat, drink, and enjoy it. So this joy will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life that God gives him under the sun." (8:15)

Proverbs 15:13 says, "A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit." Verse 15 of that same chapter says, "For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast."

David writes in Psalms 30:11, "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy." I'd much rather be clothed in joy, than in mourning and sorrow... or stress... or worry... or fear.

Jeremiah wrote a similar verse in chapter 31, verse 13: "The young women will dance for joy, and the men -- old and young -- will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing."

God even created the earth to rejoice! Isaiah 55:12 says, "You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!" Psalms 96:12 says, "Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy." Psalms 65:12-13: "The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothes with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!"

Job endured great hardship and testing! He lost his family and everything that he owned. Yet he was given a promise: "He (God) will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." No matter how awful things seemed during that moment in his life, God wasn't going to leave him there to suffer forever. Even after that season was finished, Job wasn't going to just endure the rest of his life, but he was going to enjoy it -- with joy and laughter -- and thrive.

God never intends for us to stay in a perpetual place of sorrow or sadness. He never desires for us to live in a constant state of worry of fear or stress. But He has promised us joy and laughter! We need to allow Him to restore those things to us, if we find that they've been lost in our daily life.

Solomon is writing about the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31:10-31. One of her assets is, "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." (verse 25)

When the angel came to announce to the shepherds the good news of the birth of Christ, he said, "Don't be afraid! I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people." That great joy wasn't just for that one single moment of time, but the fact that Jesus came to earth to become a sacrifice for our sins and be our Savior is still good news that should bring us great joy today.

In John chapter 11, Jesus is teaching that He is the true vine, and the Father is the gardener. It's necessary that we abide in Him, and allow Him to abide in us. He goes on to say that we need to keep His commandments and abide in His love.

In verse 11, Jesus gives us the reason why this is important: "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full." He desires us to abide in Him and His love. Why? So that His joy will be in us and our you will be full!!

1 Peter 1:8 says, "You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy." Another version says that you are filled with a joy that is glorious beyond words.

It's difficult to be filled to overflowing with joy, but not smile and laugh and be content. Even in the midst of turmoil and difficulties, we can still find that the joy of the Lord is our strength. We don't necessarily find joy in our circumstances, but we find joy in the God who holds our hand and walks through each moment with us. We find joy in the hope and peace that He gives. We find joy in knowing that He will never leave or forsake us. We find joy in knowing that when this race of life is finished, we have have eternal life in heaven with our Father.

We all need to check our joy meter regularly and see if our worry is greater than our joy. We need to see if complaining and grumbling has become our norm, instead of allowing joy-filled words fill our conversation. Is laughter ever a sound that emits forth from our mouth? If you are feeling weak and losing strength, perhaps it's because you've lost your joy.

Joy is so vitally important! If you've lost your joy somewhere along the way, ask God to restore it back to you. That is His desire -- to fill us each with overwhelming, overflowing joy!!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

A lot of people have gotten to think it is disrespectful to be happy when someone else is sad. They tend to hold back and avoid being happy simply because someone else somewhere might not have it so easy.

Others tend to think that happiness is the opposite of wisdom. They think that if you giggle, it makes you look childish.

Both cases show up a lot at funerals. Before and at my dad's funeral, we shared a lot of stories about Dad. Some of them were funny. And yes, we laughed. I think there were a few people who thought that sounded horrible: that we would laugh at a funeral. Sure, we were sad to lose him. But he had known how to enjoy a good story and how to chuckle at a good joke. And in heaven, I'm sure he is laughing a lot. So when we shared something funny about his life, we laughed. It felt much better.

Sometimes, we get in such a habit of holding back laughter that it does sound unfamiliar or feels out of place. But it is always good for us... as long as it isn't at someone else's expense.

ON THE MENEWE:

Creamy Tacos

Brown beef and onion; drain.

Add in remaining ingredients and heat until cheese melts.

Serve over chips or use as a dip.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

A while back I was babysitting my nephew's two toddlers, who are age 3. My niece was also needing someone to stay with her 11 year old daughter that same day, so she was hanging out with us. After finishing her school work for the day, she was playing with the little ones. She turned the TV to play kids dance videos. It had kids doing simple dance moves and those watching were supposed to try and follow. I got the biggest kick out of watching my little 3 year old niece trying to follow her "big" cousin and the video. She was shaking her backside and bouncing up and down and trying her best to follow along. In was incredibly cute and funny, all at the same time.

If you need a good laugh, watch kids at play or watch funny videos online or find something that makes you smile and laugh!! We all need to loosen up and enjoy life and learn to laugh more!!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

GOD CAN...

Give you what no other person can give you. Be to you what no other person can be to you.

Do for you what no other person can do for you. Restore to you what no other person can restore to you.

- Christine Caine

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org