Happy Friday Everyone!

Hmmmm let’s see… how do I top yesterdays INSPIRATIONAL message? We set some records with that one… most unique visitors in a single day! And already today… record numbers of new visitors are standing in lines to see what all this hoopla is all about! Who would have thought that we would be able to take out MINISTRY to ANOTHER LEVEL by opening our bathroom door to the world! 

Ok so what’s going on with you guys? I write all these SUPER spiritual blogs every single day and we have moderate levels of interest… and then YESTERDAY, I blog about three brown demons wrapped in paper turbans blowing up our innocent little potty and the WHOLE WORLD PUSHES IN FOR A WHIFF! It must be the compassionate side of you guys… or the fact that YESTERDAYS BLOG WAS WAY TOO CLOSE TO HOME for EVERYONE! I mean, one can only imagine the UNTOLD potty rescues SOME OF US have experienced in our lives! LOL

Thanks for LOOSENING up and allowing yourselves to LAUGH OUT LOUD YESTERDAY! It was HEALTHY for all of us… don’t you think? I was a little nervous that some CONSTIPATED Christian would try to get all grown up on us and spank me for being so childish. So I had my trusty PLUNGER in hand all day long just in case I needed to UNCLOG a few clogged souls along the journey. But I must say how IMPRESSED I am with your levels of HUMOR these days!  

One of the very best ways to defeat stress is to SMILE and LAUGH on purpose! The only problem with this strategy is that we never FEEL LIKE laughing when our lives are falling apart do we? In fact, we get mad at people for trying to CHEER US UP don’t we? That’s right… we just want to be left alone to feel defeated and be angry. And in doing so, WE TURN OFF THE STRENGTH that breaks the chains of our oppression!  

Nehemiah 8:10 And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Many times when I scold my daughter Heaven… she looks at me and says, “Daddy you’re so handsome when your mad” and she smiles at me REAL BIG! Yes, I realize this is probably some form of manipulation… but its very effective and I believe there is a spiritual principle locked up in her actions. It’s very difficult to defeat her as long as she keeps on smiling! If she gets nasty and starts falling apart and defending herself… things get real bad for her. But EVERY TIME she turns up her smile and says things like, “Daddy, I think you’re so handsome when you’re mad… and Daddy I know I was wrong and I should get in trouble here… but I’m not going to let this steal my joy…” I am drawn into her PEACE and JOY and things go SO MUCH BETTER for Heaven!   

Even though JOY is a spiritual fruit of the Spirit of God… it flourishes only in a HEART THAT REALLY TRUSTS GOD. My daughter can keep on smiling because she tells herself a few very powerful things when she is in these kinds of circumstances. She has JOY because she knows that Daddy LOVES her! She has JOY because she knows that Daddy is just! She has JOY knowing that the pain is only going to last a short time! And she has JOY trusting that this whole thing is only going to make her a better person!

In all our circumstances of life, whether disciplinary, or hardship, or sickness, or personal attacks… we cannot change things that have already happened… but we CAN change our attitude and that WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING! As long as we keep our SMILES SHINING, problems cannot TAKE US DOWN! So much of our victory is WON right here in this attitude realm. As long as we keep trusting and smiling… we WIN! Look everyone, I’m still smiling… I’m still happy… I’m still trusting God in this… I’m not going to get grouchy and mean spirited… I have the JOY OF THE LORD because I trust that he is working all things out for my good and the good of his divine purposes! 

I hope this blog helps you through your next painful circumstance… try this out you guys! You’ll be AMAZED at how well it really works! 

Oh… Don’t forget – Destiny Family Center 10am Sunday morning… come LIVE or tune in to the LIVE webcast!