We should never take life so seriously that we fail to see the beauty, the
joy and the love that surrounds us in it. Many times we lose focus of all 
the blessings that surround us because we allow a temporary setback or 
discouragement to change our demeanor and make us forget all that we have 
to be thankful for. What we must remember and keep in mind is that we are
a blessed people. We have been given gifts that we don't deserve and we 
have been given an abundance that we are not worthy of. The Lord has 
blessed us in ways that we can't even begin to count and it is for this 
reason that we should be thankful at all times and have a rejoicing spirit 
within ourselves because of all that we have been fortunate enough to 
receive. (Ephesians 1:3-4) (Psalm 5:11-12)

My best encouragement to anyone facing a difficult time is to have a 
proper perspective and know that just as you have persevered in times past,
you will persevere in this present time as well. Having a good attitude in
the midst of the trial will determine how fast you will go through that 
situation. For me, I have always chosen to see my glass as half full to 
even overflowing no matter how empty it may have seemed at that moment of 
discouragement. I have made it a rule to be at peace at all times for two 
reasons; the first is that I trust God in everything and the second is 
because He has never failed me before. (Job 13:15) (Psalm 18:1-6)

I encourage you again to go through your days with a faith filled attitude.
Laugh more, enjoy your surroundings, appreciate your blessings and see how 
truly favored you are in the eyes of the Lord. See yourself as blessed 
and carry that same countenance no matter the storms that rage around you.
Be filled with His perfect peace that surpasses all understanding and know 
that because you have chosen to believe God, you will come out of every 
negative situation better, wiser and stronger than you were before it. 
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad that your faith is getting stronger day by 
day. (Philippians 4:6-7) (Isaiah 26:3-4) (Psalm 68:3-5)

I hope this message inspires and challenges you to have a lighthearted 
attitude in every circumstance and enjoy life to the best of your ability 
every single day.


SERIOUS HUMOR

I've known several morticians over the years. Without exception, they've 
each had a rich sense of humor. The ability to laugh is probably necessary 
in some professions, and those who work with corpses likely head the list. 
Otherwise, how could they stand the grief and pain felt by every family 
that walks through the door?

I once heard of a mortician who liked to sign all his correspondence: 
“Eventually yours.” That gets right to the point.

Humor is something I can get serious about. It is nothing less than an 
extravagant gift - to be frequently used and shared. It was the evangelist 
Billy Graham who said that “a keen sense of humor helps us to overlook the 
unbecoming, understand the unconventional, tolerate the unpleasant, 
overcome the unexpected and outlast the unbearable.” That's serious stuff.

In the summertime, I like to ride my 150cc scooter instead of driving the 
car. I enjoy the breeze in my face and sometimes find myself smiling for 
the pure joy of it as I zip along.

But my scooter has a major flaw. It was not made for uneven surfaces. Its 
single, mushy shock absorber is almost useless as the bike grinds and 
scrapes at every unexpected bump and hole in the road.

A life without humor is no better at getting through life's bumps and jolts
than my scooter. It groans and complains at any unanticipated obstacle 
thrown in the path. And there is plenty of debris along the way. There 
will be obstacles in life's road at every turn.

The problem is not that there are problems. There will always be rocks in 
the way. And where there are no rocks, watch out for a pothole. No one 
ever promised a smooth ride. As Katharine Hepburn said, “Life is hard. 
After all, it kills you.” Problems are not the problem. It's that when we 
think the way should always be smooth, every stone we hit feels like a 
personal assault.

We need resources to absorb life's shocks. And a good sense of humor is one
tool we can't live without. The ability to lighten up is invaluable when 
we encounter teeth-rattling jolts. It helps us “overlook the unbecoming, 
understand the unconventional, tolerate the unpleasant, overcome the 
unexpected, and outlast the unbearable.” And it's just plain fun to carry 
along on the ride.

Maybe musician Corky Siegel got it right when he said, “Life is too 
important to take seriously.”

By Steve Goodier


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Romans 8:31-34 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, 
who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him 
up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that 
justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, 
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh 
intercession for us.”

Psalm 139:1-6 “O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my
downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off. 
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my 
ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest 
it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand 
upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot 
attain unto it.”

Romans 5:8-10 “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we 
were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified 
by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we 
were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more,
being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

1 Peter 2:9-10 “...ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy 
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the Praises of Him 
who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: Which in 
time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not 
obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. 


Today’s Selected Poem: WHAT CAN I DO?
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem175.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: GOD HEALED ME FROM EPILEPSY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony91.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry