Tip # 1 To Finding and Staying Joyful Through The Storms of Life

 
First and foremost if you are currently not walking with God, please allow me to invite you to join this wonderful family of God that I belong to. God created us and longs to have a personal relationship with every one of us.  He doesn’t just want you to be a “Christian” by religion – It’s honestly not about religion, it’s about relationship.  God loves you so very much and longs to be your best friend, your father, your mother, your sister, your brother, your confidant, your savior, your provider, your protector, your king, your all. He is patiently waiting…

God’s desire is for us all to live and experience abundant lives in our daily walk with him. He wants us to grow in him and get to know him better every day. He longs for us to find complete joy in him, through his son Jesus Christ and the power of God’s Holy Spirit in us.

If you do not know Jesus Christ in the way I am talking about, please click here to view a video that will help you to have a relationship and find the One who is the provider of Joy we will be sharing in the coming week.

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12 Tips To Finding and Staying Joyful Through The Storms of Life:

                                                                                                                                                        

1.        1.  Smile and Laugh regularly.   Proverbs 17:22 tells us; “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

 

Years ago we ministered in a church that during the meet and greet time in the Sunday evening service the congregation would sing a cute little chorus that always would bring a smile to everyone’s face.

 

                “Smile a while and give your face a rest; Raise your hand to the One that loves you best.  Then shake hands with those nearby and give to them a smile.” (Author unknown)

This cute little chorus became so embedded in my head that I would sing the song to my daughter whenever she was down.  To this day, even though my daughter is now 34 I still sing this song along with funny little songs I make up; the only problem is I sing while she’s driving!  Not always a good idea to make someone laugh when they are driving.  But the key here is I try to make my loved ones smile and laugh because I love to see them happy.  Just as they love to see me happy as well.

               

A smile can do wonders.  Have you ever been out and smiled at a complete stranger?  Most of the time they will smile back at you.  A smile can be contagious.  So I thought to myself one day when I was down, if a smile is contagious with a complete stranger – then why not to myself?  Yes, that’s right.  Sometimes I will stand in front of the mirror and smile at myself.  If that doesn’t help, I will make a funny face.  (I know; I’m strange!  Ha-ha!)  Now sometimes it doesn’t work, my mood is still blue, but I keep trying to think of ways to change my mood.  I’ll watch a “clean” funny show, or video; or read some of my blogging friend’s humorous posts.  Or view pictures of loved ones. 

I’ve also learned not to be too hard on myself.  Between my chronic illness and medications my mind is not as sharp as it should be and I will say or do something that doesn’t make sense.  Instead of getting down on myself or depressed I have learned to laugh at the situation.  Life is too short – I don’t have time to get mad at myself or my situation; it’s much easier to accept it and laugh along with others. 

So when you are down, depressed, and have a need of finding joy – “Smile a while and give your face a rest!”

Thank you heavenly Father for the gift of laughter and humor you have given to each of your children.   Help me to stay joyful, but in days I am down, may your Words remind me to turn my frown into a smile.  In Your precious name, Amen. 

Stay tuned for Tip #2

For other Thankful posts, please visit Lynn over at Spiritually Unequal Marriage