Titus 2:10. (Live good lives)…so that in every way (you) will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. NIV

Think about a person kids are attracted to. This person is going to be positive, fun and have an attractive approach to life! Kids were attracted to Jesus.  Jesus knew how to smile and have fun. The other adults were annoyed by these kids but Jesus invited the kids to come.

The average child laughs 400 times per day while the average adult laughs about 15. Somewhere in life we get way too serious. Lighten up! Loosen up! Buy a joke book and make your family meal a more enjoyable time together!

1 Thes 5:16 Rejoice always.

Life has tough stuff but you can make the choice to rejoice!

Prov 17:22  A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries out the bones.

Gelotology is the study of laughter. Medically speaking, laughter is likened to internal jogging. Research suggests that even faking laughter provides some of the same benefits as the real deal. Forced joy is better than genuine depression any day of the week!

This is why giving thanks is so important.  It keeps your focus where it needs to be.  If you count your blessings you’ll simply not have time to number your complaints.

This very important characteristic of God is largely overlooked in religious circles. After all eternity tends to be very serious business.

Neh 8:10 “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” NKJV

When you discover God’s joy you discover new strength. Jesus gave his life so you could have life. Don’t squander it away thinking some serious religious attitude is what pleases Him.

John 10:10  “…I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”  (Amplified)

A smile is an attractive invitation for others to participate in what’s giving you joy. Making efforts to laugh together does wonders for relationships. Laughter produces happy hormones. Many successful companies embrace having fun in the workplace as a promoter of creativity, lowering stress levels & increasing overall productivity.

What if every Christian went to work tomorrow convinced their call was to bring Love, Laughter and Fun into the lives of others? The Destiny staff does a great job working hard and keeping a great attitude. Sometimes breaking out of the serious routine for a 15 minute laughter break can do wonders for the rest of our day. This comes from visiting an office with a joke, story or surprise cup of coffee. Some members of our team have the ability to take 15 minutes to produce something we can show in staff to get a good laugh that week.

Erma Bombeck said it well: If I had my life to live over again I would have waxed less and listened more.  Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadows over my feet, I would have cherished every minute of it and realize that the wonderment growing inside of me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.  I would have never have insisted that the car windows be rolled up on a Summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.  I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.  I would have eaten popcorn in the good living room and worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.  I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.  I would have burnt the paint candle sculptured like a rose before it melted while being stored in the garage.  I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn with my children and never worried about grass stains.  I would have cried & laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.  I would have shared more of the responsibilities carried by my husband which I took for granted.  I would have eaten less cottage cheese and more ice cream.   I would have never bought anything just because it was practical. When my child kissed me impetuously I would never have said, “Later now go up and get washed for dinner.” There would have been more “I love you’s” & more “I’m sorries” and more “I am listening”.  But more if I was given another shot at life I would seize every moment of it.  Try it on.  Live it.  Exhaust it until there was nothing left of it.