Ears To Hear # 24

A DAY OF FUN
“God’s Kingdom of Fun and Laughter”

         “Fun!” “Fun?” What’s fun? Are we allowed to be Christians and have fun? Did God take that word out of our vocabulary the day He birthed us as new men and women into His kingdom?
         It’s true, God’s work is a serious business. God is serious about all He tells us in His Word. We are taught not to be foolish and use coarse  jesting.
         Ah, but as we come around the mountain, our Lord opens our eyes to see His Words in a new light. Experience has a way of moving us from the cold hard facts of life to a higher glory of release.
         My friend and spiritual mother, Charlotte, would say, “Well, we’ve come around the mountain again.” I had no idea what she meant. In the years that followed, I considered what it meant according to the Law. Today I’m seeing what it means to me, according to His Grace.
         As I’ve come around, over, under, or through that mountain, I don’t know which, but God has brought me into a Heavenly Kingdom of Fun…if only for today. Sunshine is appearing on my side of the mountain today. Would you like to join me?
         Let’s have FUN today!

FUN

         Have we forgotten how to have fun? Do we even understand the spiritual meaning and need for it? Fun is not necessarily going shopping, going out to eat, having a party, decorating our home, skiing, or dancing. It may be present in these events, but it must first be found in our heart. 
         Fun is not something to do to satisfy our physical self. Neither is it especially even creating fun for others. It is an element that God will help us develop in our hearts.
         Did you know we can have “fun” in everything we do if we seek (Jeremiah 29:13) after this special spiritual fun with all our heart? Who created FUN?
         “ALL things were created by Him, for Him.” (Colossians l:16b).

CORRIE 

         “Just have fun with Jesus.”, I still hear my young friend Corrie say while Ida Mae and I were visiting her in Holland. Surely the Lord was speaking through her that day because His Words do not return void. 
         At that point, I liked what she said so I began to have “fun” in a very natural sense…with Jesus. But His/her words were seeds that would continue to grow in my spirit.
         I admit that somewhere between Holland and the United States, I misplaced that word, as waves of what seemed like disaster seemed to threatened to destroy me. I became so intent on just keeping my head above water, that I no longer considered the possibility that I would ever have “fun” again, much less have occasion to use that word.

CHILD-LIKE FUN

              

         I repeat my question. “Did you know we can have fun in everything we do?” 
         Early during my morning time in prayer, the Holy Spirit reminded me of something. It was a funny little picture from my past. I must have been about six years old.
         There I sat on the sidewalk in front of our home in Kerrville, Texas. Mother was in bed with asthma. There was a round, iron, drainage cover in the center of the sidewalk. Ants came from somewhere. I was fascinated. I began to pick up each ant and place it in the hole of the iron lid. I don’t know why I did this except that I had found something FUN to do. It was just FUN.
         This picture led me to the scripture in Mark 10:15 where Jesus said: “Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”
         How does this verse relate for me to a child putting ants down a hole in the sidewalk? She had no worries, no fear, no time line, no one calling her, no fear of punishment, abandonment, bills to pay, people to care for. She was simply having “fun” doing something insignificant in the eyes of adults. No long history lesson about ants. No warning that they could sting, or questions about where they came from or where they were going. They were just there. She was just there…having “fun”.

VALUE OF HAVING “FUN”

Sharpen Your Funny Bone

         Friends’ needs as well as our own, show me the value of having “fun” in every situation of life. We do this by simply deciding that we want to.
         More than that, I see it as an essential element of a healthy diet. Greater than that, I see it as a mighty weapon against our enemy in days like this. God is gathering His Army and preparing His Bride with everything she needs to be ready for Christ’s Return.
         Yesterday, I heard a man on Christian television say that YWAM (Youth With A Mission…a very serious work of our Lord) really stood for Youth Without Any Money. If we are so religious that we are embarrassed to chuckle at such a statement, we are likely losing a valuable part of our armor.
        True, YWAM youth and adults have to provide their own finances to study and minister with this organization. And yes, many seem to be without money…but God’s Word goes forth through them. And they know how to have “fun”.
         As Paul said in Philippians 4:11b, “…I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
         I have many friends in ministry for our Lord. Some with money and some without, but our Lord always gets them where they need to go…because of their pure hearts and listening ears.
         From time to time some of these dear souls may feel they are sitting in the ashes of their life. They think they have used all the physical and spiritual weapons against their enemy. But, with God, there is always “something more.” Could it be?
         Yes, I believe this is a secret weapon reserved for just a day as this. I believe it is a weapon that Satan never counted on. A surprise attack.
         I can picture Satan now…looking angry and puzzled, probably thinking “What is going on down there? I told those Christians they were crazy and defeated. What are they doing now? It looks like they are HAVING FUN! I take this as an insult. How dare they make “fun” of me?”
         Excuse my vivid imagination (another gift from God). But, as you can see, I’m already practicing “Having Fun” and hope you are too.
         Now, when I tell you to “Have Fun”, you understand the power behind my words. In the midst of your greatest trial, which can be any day of your life, I pray that you are able to see an opportunity to sprinkle everything your hands find to do, with “fun”.
         Rejoice in the Lord always and when you’re feeling down, as though you have run out of weapons, find a way to sharpen your funny bone with the sword of “fun”, even if it’s only putting ants down a hole.

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:1

Words: William Clayton, 1846, alt. Clayton wrote this song after receiving word that his wife had given birth to a healthy baby boy.Music: From Sacred Harp, by J. T. White, 1844

 

Come, come, ye saints, no toil nor labor fear;
But with joy, wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.
'Tis better far for us to strive
Our useless cares from us to drive;
Do this, and joy your hearts will swell
All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?
'Tis not so, all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward,
If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins; fresh courage take;
Our God will never us forsake,
And soon we'll have this tale to tell,
All is well! All is well!

We'll find the place which God for us prepared,
In His house full of light,
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;
There the saints will shine bright.
We'll make the air with music ring,
Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we'll tell,
All is well! All is well!

And should we die before our journey's through,
Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again
To see the saints their rest obtain,
O how we'll make this chorus swell,
All is well! All is well!

                   
ALL IS WELL
HAVE “FUN”