Laughing

"HAHA"
"Squeal"
"Snort"
"LOL"
"belly aching"
"cheeks hurting"
"silently"
all ways or results of people laughing!

If you know me then you know that I have a very unique laugh. I squeak, or squeal. Whatever you want to say... and I love to laugh. I am joyous and find enjoyment out of many aspects of life. You could just call me "happy day girl" or at least that is what my parents still call me. I'm sure many people would agree with me when I say that laughter is one of the best remedies to sadness, that humor is needed in many situations, etc I like to think our god has a great sense of humor.

There are some things... that are just not funny though.
I know what youre thinking, everyone has a different sense of humor- no arguements there.
As followers of the Son of an Almighty God... there are certain things we shouldnt be laughing at. Things we shouldnt find humor in, even if we used to. There are certain things Yah hates, and sin is something He hates. Any kind of it.

Just for the record, I feel like a hypocrite writing this....

How do you laugh? What kinds of things do you laugh at? Do you forcefully fake laugh? Or most the time does it come naturally? both? Who do you laugh at?

I remember being asked those questions a couple years ago by a woman who discipled me (yeah, Amy Halterman!)

Today I was reminded of them again when I listened to this song:
Please click on the link and listen as you read this post.

Laughing With- Regina Spektor
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late And their kid’s not back from the party yet

No one laughs at God
When their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they’re mistaken

No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their doorAnd they say we got some bad news, sir
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine or fire or flood

*Chorus*
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious Ha haHa ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’ve lost all they’ve got
And they don’t know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes
But God can be funnyAt a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny, When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious No one laughs at God in a hospital

No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughing at God in hospital
No one’s laughing at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God

When we laugh at sin. When we laugh at perversity. When we laugh at Satan's control over this world. When we laugh at other's misery or uncomfortableness. ETC. We arent laughing with God. We are laughing at Him, at the very things He hates.

There will come a day when every knee will bow before this God. Whether we call Him our Master or not. EVERY knee WILL bow. (Romans 14:11, Isaiah 45:23)
People that didnt kneel during their lifetime, will not be laughing at Him then...
People that did kneel during their lifetime, will be laughing because of eternal joy, forever.

I am not supposing that we dont laugh and have a good time.
I am suggesting that we be very careful about what kinds of things we laugh at.
Live life. Enjoy it. We dont have to be stuck up and unrelatable. We do have to defend our faith. Defend what we believe in.

Next time someone tells a dirty joke. Next time someone is hurting. Next time, defend your faith silently... by not laughing at the very things our God hates.

A(apply)- Start paying attention to what you laugh at.

R(reflect)- Examine areas of your life. What do you laugh at? Who do you laugh at? What kinds of things do you find funny? If our Messiah were in the room with you, would you be laughing? Would He be laughing?

M(meditate)-
"Let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, not foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting."Eph 5:3-4.