{"id":35343,"date":"2023-05-12T03:30:09","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T10:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=35343"},"modified":"2023-05-08T15:57:54","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T22:57:54","slug":"may-12-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2023\/05\/12\/may-12-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"May 12, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Smiles and Laughter<\/strong><\/h2>\n

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me<\/em>.”\u00a0Psalm 103:2 NLT<\/p>\n

I had a difficult day recently. It had to do with something I was trying to get done that was challenging. In the midst of it as I was asking the Lord to help me, He reminded me of two things.<\/p>\n

The first was to “count my blessings.” When I took a few minutes to do that, it was amazing how my whole outlook shifted from the problem to all the good things in my day, in my life.\u00a0It brought perspective! From big things to little things, I saw all the wonderful blessings in my life.<\/p>\n

The second thing was a reminder that “laughter is the best medicine.” Smiling and laughing brings joy and helps lift the burdens we are carrying. I recently came across a video that makes me laugh every time I watch it. It’s labeled “what to do with your electricity bill.” A little baby girl interacts with her father in tearing up the bill\u2014while she giggles continually. I don’t think anyone can watch it without at least smiling, and probably laughing. I love it! Something so simple\u2014but so full of joy.\u00a0Click here to watch the video.<\/a><\/strong>*<\/p>\n

So, needless to say, after counting my blessings and laughing…the burden of what I was dealing with was much lighter! I still had to plow my way through it, but it wasn’t as overwhelming.\u00a0I love how God reminded me of these truths.<\/p>\n

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable \u2013if anything is excellent or praiseworthy\u2014think about such things\u201d<\/em> (Philippians 4:8). I LOVE this verse. It covers it all. When we think on those things, it puts anything else into the right perspective. I have so very much to be thankful for!<\/p>\n

Father, thank You for giving us so much to be joyful about. May we find the smiles and laughter in all things. Show us how to think about all that comes our way, for You are our faithful God who will always do good. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n

* “Baby Laughing Hysterically at Ripping Paper.” YouTube, uploaded by BruBearBaby, 24 January 2011, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc.<\/h6>\n<\/div>
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