Jesus is often portrayed as a Man of Sorrows, carrying the burdens of the world, and He was. But, He also was a man with a great sense of humor and I would even bet He had a hardy laugh. I believe we often miss His humor because we don't see His facial expressions like His smile and the twinkle in His eyes or the sound of His voice.
God, last family members, nature's beauty and peaceful settings. The birth of babies, children growing, Mom's, Dad's, and Grandparents. This book is full of inspirational thoughts regarding daily life.
InLive & Die Laughing,comedian/singer Mark Lowry pulls his wild-and-wacky train of thought into the station with musings about everything from God's character to church potlucks. Using material from his email newsletter, along with responses from its nearly 40,000 subscribers ("reMarkable,"www.marklowry.com), Lowry underscored the idea that God tirelessly loves and looks after his believers, no matter how quirky we are!
No one thought anything about the limp that Don Strahorn began to walk with in the Spring of 2006. But as the months passed and the limp got worse, it became clear something was going on. At the beginning of 2007, the Strahorn family got news that would change them forever; Don had ALS-a disease with no cure. We Laughed 'til We Cried is the story of the seven years following Don's diagnosis, told by his wife, Lynda Strahorn. This isn't your regular diagnosis story, however. This memoir-esque account of what may have been a family's darkest times is full of as much laughter as it is tears. It serves as a testament to the way we all have choices to make when we get devastating news. The Strahorn family, although heartbroken, shows us how to make the most out of the hand we're dealt. Not only is this an inspirational book for anyone facing similar circumstances, it is also a call for a cure and a handbook for all those who will hear the same words Don Stahorn did in early 2007; "you have ALS." Author Lynda Strahorn offers insights into the many processes of dealing with ALS, from the slow progression of the disease and what each new stage entails for an ALS patient, to the emotional impact the disease has on the entire family. Lynda also offers some advice that she learned from her own experiences dealing with the disease, and she explains the way faith carried her family through the most difficult time they ever faced. Mostly, Lynda teaches readers how to laugh when they want to cry, to know when it is time to cry, and how to trust in Jesus through it all.
Do you find it more difficult to think of Jesus Christ as a human, like you, than to think of him as God? You may believe in God, and you may believe Jesus is God, but many Christians find it difficult to think of him as a real person--fully human as he was fully divine. Award-winning author Max Lucado reveals in this video Bible study that in order to really know God and understand the Gospel, it's essential that we take a closer look at Jesus' humanity. The concept of Jesus' human and heavenly nature is difficult to wrap our minds around. He's the God who formed the universe and, at the same time, knows your personal struggles...because he went through the same things. For thirty-three years Jesus felt everything you have ever felt. Weakness. Weariness. Sadness. Rejection. His feet got tired. His head ached. He was tempted and his strength was tested. The purpose of this study is simple: by journeying through these six lessons with a small group, you will get to know Jesus--and, therefore, God--like you never have before. And by learning more about the person Jesus was and is, we come to understand more clearly the people we were created to be. The Jesus Study Guide includes: video teaching notes group discussion questions and activities Bible exploration and prayers and weekly personal study and reflection materials. Get ready to study who Jesus was while he walked this earth and what that means for your life today. In doing this, you will get to know God, his purpose for you, and his love for you like you never have before. Sessions include: God with Us Friend of Sinners Compassionate Physician Great Teacher Miracle Worker Victorious Sacrifice Designed for use with the Jesus: The God Who Knows Your Name Video Study available on DVD or streaming video, sold separately.
A compassionate, shame-free guide for your darkest days “A one-of-a-kind book . . . to read for yourself or give to a struggling friend or loved one without the fear that depression and suicidal thoughts will be minimized, medicalized or over-spiritualized.”—Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church What happens when loving Jesus doesn’t cure you of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? You might be crushed by shame over your mental illness, only to be told by well-meaning Christians to “choose joy” and “pray more.” So you beg God to take away the pain, but nothing eases the ache inside. As darkness lingers and color drains from your world, you’re left wondering if God has abandoned you. You just want a way out. But there’s hope. In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better. Beautifully written and full of hard-won wisdom, I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die offers a path toward a rich, hope-filled life in Christ, even when healing doesn’t look like what you expect.
This book was a long time coming. God had to take me through a lifetime of learning to prepare me for writing this book. There are three areas that He impressed upon me to write about. The first was to write about the life lessons that He has taught me. Things like how to be a better, more loving husband, how to take control of my life by planning for and accomplishing things, and how to use the gifts He has given me. The second was to make apologetics understandable. Apologetics is rationally and credibly defending the faith. I’ve has a passion for this ever since I’ve been a believer. Christianity is not just subjectively true. It’s objectively true. It is factually true and can be proven so beyond a reasonable doubt. The third was to highlight some of the lesser-known Christians and how God used them to make a difference in our world. I hope the lessons contained in this book will bless you, as they have blessed me in learning them. But even more than that, I hope they will draw you closer to Jesus.
Have you ever wondered where the abundant life Scripture promises is, and how you seem to have missed it? Do you ever catch yourself saying, “Those were the best years of my life?” A failed relationship, a health crisis, a job loss, the death of a loved one—all can cause us to hide out, go numb, give up. Before we even know it, we’re simply coping with life instead of living it to the fullest. It happens to most of us at one point or another. For author and Bible study teacher Denise Hildreth Jones, it happened in the wake of her devastating divorce. But she fought desperately to reclaim her God-designed heart, and now, in her transparent, authentic style, Denise challenges you to do the same. Sharing stories from her own journey and others she’s walked alongside, Denise will help you identify ways you’ve given your heart to “lesser gods” like performance, people-pleasing, and control, and how to find your way back to God’s design for your life—to laughing, loving, and living life to the fullest.
It's Okay to Laugh with Jesus is about a God who loves to laugh because he's proud of his perfect world and loves the people he put in it. He laughs at the folly of humankind that rejects him and rewards faithfulness rather than success. He laughs at a mother as she cuddles her newborn, a baby's giggle, a father tucking a blanket under his son's chin and praying him to sleep. God laughs at the folly of humankind that rejects his love and at the devil knowing his doom is sealed. Those who laugh with Jesus enter a world of smiles and surprises. Starting the adventure costs nothing; living it costs everything. It's easy to become a Christian and difficult to live like one. Once the adventure begins, the awareness shifts from ownership to service, from selfishness to sacrifice, from world-thinking to heaven thinking. Goals change, values deepen, and variables that make no earthly sense develop eternal significance. Where did we ever get the idea that sorrow, sadness and skepticism represent the Christian religion? Not from God. He laughs with a world of people who live and die laughing all the way to heaven. When we laugh with God, the sorrows of life blend with joy; anxiety is calmed with forgiveness; and heartache balances against happiness. In a book of fun and surprises, It's Okay to Laugh with Jesus reveals how, and what, sharpens the faith that brings us closer to our God than we ever thought possible. And when we laugh with him, he knows we're getting it. What a delightful way to spend an hour, a day, a lifetime laughing with Jesus.
Be Intentional and Laugh Together to Enjoy a Happier, More Satisfying Marriage. Life can be a grind, but marriage can be a source of joy and refueling. When you intentionally look for the funny moments of life and enjoy them together, you’ll see that married life doesn’t have to be as hard as we sometimes make it out to be. In A Love That Laughs, you’ll learn that you don’t need to choose between work and play, duty and fun, laughter and responsibility. Use humor to lighten the load of everyday life, reduce stress, and grow closer together. Pastor and comedian Ted Cunningham will help you: Learn comedic skills, such as effectively using the “callback” as a laughter toolInitiate laughter by using two activities at the end of each chapterRate Your Laughter Score (and your spouse’s) by following the ten types of laughter explained in the book (hint: you can get points for a smirk)Tally all of your laughter points for a final laughter score A Love That Laughs may be your favorite marriage book that will help you enjoy your spouse more. It even includes a bonus chapter: “Extra Credit: Ten Fast, East, and Free Ways to Make Your Spouse Laugh.”
