WORD OF THE WEEK - "FUN" - 6/16/24

Definition:   “light-hearted pleasure, enjoyment, or amusement; boisterous joviality or merrymaking; entertainment".
Scriptures:
Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 
Proverbs 15:13: "A glad heart makes a cheerful face."
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

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Transcript

Definition:   “light-hearted pleasure, enjoyment, or amusement; boisterous joviality or merrymaking; entertainment".

Scriptures:
Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 15:13: "A glad heart makes a cheerful face."
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

THOUGHT
Ten years ago, I was an emotional mess.  I loved my husband, but we were struggling to find our “happy place”.  My father was diagnosed with dementia and needed constant care. My business was taking up all my time. My children were moving farther away from me. My church family was overloaded with debt, dissension and indecision that negatively affected my service. I was constantly surrounded by people but felt isolated and alone. 
My laughter was strained, my head was always full of thoughts, and I slept little. I was filled with anxiety and my engagement with what others called “fun activities” felt like an obligation where I had to be “Miss positivity”.  In reality my joy was gone, my faith was stretched, and I was so totally overwhelmed with living, that I began considering negative alternatives to continuing my life.  In short, I was NOT HAVING FUN! Where was the fun when there was so much negativity to face? 
Like me, many of you are struggling through insurmountable situations, oftentimes with extremely difficult people.  Life can seem unfair, and impossible to live with a glad heart, full of joy. 
“Fun” though is not far away.  Not only do you have the word of God to sustain, you, but you have the love of God that contains the gifts of joy, peace and happiness.  These gifts are to be enjoyed despite your struggle.  It is the desire of God that his children have fun and fully enjoy the life he has granted to each of us.  
To get to fun you may need to:1. Change your definition of “fun”.  If your definition of fun includes making “fun” of others, inventing ways to get over, stealing or indulging in perversion; your definition is in conflict with the spirit of God.  When you are in conflict with God your requests for  comfort, guidance and joy will be ignored. You need to “check yourself, before you wreck yourself”.  Pray and ask for your will, thoughts and actions to be brought in alignment with the will of  God. 
2. Accept your reality.  Acceptance means acknowledging where you are without denying it.  It is…what it is. How you got here is irrelevant. 
3. Change your attitude to one of gratitude.  “In ALL things give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you”. (I Thessalonians 5:18). When you become grateful for the person, trial, test, or obligation, your experiences will strengthen your conviction that God has your back. Your focus shifts from what we lack, to the blessings we have.  4. Give yourself some grace.  Despite your self-confidence, you are not perfect, inhumanly strong, nor are you the ultimate problem solver….God is! God knows what you are going through and how to get to you the blessings of joy. 
5. Learn to have fun discovering God’s little blessings, like the gentle breeze that cools you during the scorching summer heat, or memories of mama singing “Count your blessings”.   Fun is always yours to have; you just have to stop refusing to enjoy those unexpected moments of joy that can happen right where you are.  
Remember that God want to bless his children with gladness of heart and unspeakable joy.  
Fun and joy may not have come to you doing it your way ….so what do you have to lose if you try God’s way?