Wednesday 22 June 2011

Love, laughter and friends


Even in laughter the heart may ache.... Proverbs 14:13


A friend recently shared on Facebook how Spurgeon thanked God for the gift of laughter:

“Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, the celebrated Brooklyn divine, was visiting the famous London preacher, Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon. After a hard day of work and serious discussion, these two mighty men of God went out into the country together for a holiday. They roamed the fields in high spirits like boys let loose from school, chatting and laughing and free from care. Dr. Cuyler had just told a story at which Mr. Spurgeon laughed uproariously. Then suddenly he turned to Dr. Cuyler and exclaimed, ‘Theodore, let’s kneel down and thank God for laughter!’ And there, on the green carpet of grass, under the trees, two of the world’s greatest men knelt and thanked the dear Lord for the bright and joyous gift of laughter.”

I likewise thank my God for the bright and joyous gift of laughter. It has been my absolute joy to laugh along with my dear friends in recent days. It has been a pure tonic for my soul, and I trust it has for them too.

For we are living in strange times. I have come to the point where I hesitate before turning on the news, almost bracing myself as I wonder what I’m going to discover has happened in the world overnight. Uprisings in the Middle East, western nations on the verge of economic collapse, natural disasters affecting every part of the globe.

I live in a nation which has turned its back on the ways and statutes of the Lord God Almighty, where the idols of the land are sport and celebrity, and I have never felt more like an “alien and stranger in the world” (1 Pe 2:11).

I watch the church turning its back on the Holiness and Awesomeness of God Almighty in favour of embracing God All-matey and a burden grows in my heart that cannot be shifted. Finding like-minded pilgrims seems to be a much harder task these days, and a loneliness grows in my spirit.

I read of the increasing persecution of the church worldwide, I see pictures of the faces of families living in fear of their lives for claiming the Name of Christ in a land where Islam is the dominant religion, and I am haunted by those faces and I suffer with them.

Closer to home, I daily battle against indwelling sin, even whilst knowing that in Christ I have died to sin. I witness loved ones struggling to cope with the everyday routines of life, and I long for that day when there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain.

I have often wondered whether our Lord, who was a “man of sorrows” (Isa 53:3), laughed with his friends. Matthew Henry notes that "We never read that He laughed, but often that He wept".  RC Sproul takes this view: "In the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament—for example, in Ecclesiastes—we’re told that certain things are appropriate at certain times. There’s a time to plant, a time to reap, a time to build, a time to tear down; there’s a time to dance, a time to sing, a time to laugh, a time to cry. Since God has, in his seasons, appointed appropriate times for laughter, and Jesus always did what was appropriate, it would seem to me that when it was time to laugh, he laughed
."

I thank 
my God that in His great mercy and love He has provided me with a group of friends whom I love dearly, for we share a tie that can never be broken - the precious blood of Christ; who share the same sorrows; and yet with whom I can share the occasional moment of laughter, sometimes even with tears rolling down my cheeks whilst I do so.

But as for the burden and the ache in my heart, that will remain until He returns or calls me home.

17 comments:

  1. My dear friend, what a wonderful post. What a joyous way to celebrate the gift of our friendship. I cherish you all in my heart and bless God who brought each one of you to my life.

    Diana, yes, " let’s kneel down and thank God for laughter!"

    Sharing your joy and burdens today,

    Love you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Diana this was just wonderful! I smiled the whole way through, nodding in agreement. My own sins and the fallen nature of society can get me down and out mentally some days, laughing and thinking about how God has provided us humor and good friends to walk this path we are on helps me put things in such great perspective. Just like Becky's blog says, daily we are on our way to Heaven, and how the journey has been sweetened with wonderful friends like you. I love you Diana!

    ReplyDelete
  3. "I watch the church turning its back on the Holiness and Awesomeness of God Almighty in favour of embracing God All-matey and a burden grows in my heart that cannot be shifted. Finding like-minded pilgrims seems to be a much harder task these days, and a loneliness grows in my spirit."

    Feeling that same loneliness with you, dear friend. Yet I am so thankful for friends like you who encourage me with the truth, such as this post.

    Thanking God for you today.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Diana - What a lovely post, and I absolutely loved reading that story about Revs. Cuyler and Spurgeon. You're right, laughter is a tonic to the soul and a blessing from God. What a joy to share it amongst Christian friends. I have also enjoyed our silliness so very much. Like you, I long for heaven where there will be no more sorrow, pain, sin or death, and our shared moments of fun are a glimpse of that wonderful fellowship to come, unfettered by sin or earthly cares.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wonderful tribute to the way God has sovereignly worked in our lives, supplying friendship and laughter whilst stringing us together like a lovely strand of pearls handpicked from around the world! Only God!

    I have had this similar thought, Diana, but you have written about it in such a fine way...how, in the midst of such perilous times, we find ourselves laughing, being girls, silly and brilliant all at once!

    "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."
    -Psalm 126:2-3

    His blessing overflows,
    -E

    ReplyDelete
  6. I wish blogs had a "like" button for comments. I love E's..."supplying friendship and laughter whilst stringing us together like a lovely strand of pearls handpicked from around the world! Only God!"

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a beautiful post, Diana. So succinctly written, it brought a smile to my face and an ache in my heart. Thank you for the reminder. <3

    ReplyDelete
  8. Melissa I was thinking the same thing about what Elizabeth said, DOUBLE LIKE!!!

    This world is tough, brutal even but God's Grace in our lives is so much more powerful. I loved that scripture too Elizabeth, so fitting.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Make that triple like. Thank you so much for posting this. Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Quadruple like for Elizabeth's comment :)

    Thank you ALL for your comments,I guess this touched a nerve somewhere :) What a wonderful God we serve, to surround us with friends such as you are, to be a part of this string of pearls. Thank you for those scriptures, E and Diane. I also found this one today, such an amazing promise that Jesus gives us:

    "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh" - Luke 6:21.

    ReplyDelete
  11. "But as for the burden and the ache in my heart, that will remain until He returns or calls me home." I hear you loud and clear! Until then, let us never cease to thank Him for laughter and friendship!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh Diana, I'm late finding this today due to being on PST and being busy this morning.

    Like Melissa I love this:

    "I watch the church turning its back on the Holiness and Awesomeness of God Almighty in favour of embracing God All-matey"

    I just say a big hearty AMEN to everything you said and to everything all of our friends here have said. God so amazes me in the surprising us with His special gifts. He has truly brought this band of ragtag women who share a common faith scattered hither and yon and through a unique means to encourage one another.

    I too want to bow down and thank Him right now for laughter among sister in Christs (and those brothers are pretty hilarious too! :)

    Thanking God for each and every one of you.

    And Petra, I know you've dropped Facebook - believe me we ALL understand why - it can a time sucker among other things. But it has allowed us to have that little bit of laughter relief that we need. Maybe you'll join us again sometime?

    Much love to all of you!!!

    diane

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

    All I can say is "Amen" and thank you for articulating my heart! Blessed to have you as a friend and sister -- we are joined together in all eternity by the precious blood of a precious Saviour!

    Love you dearly Diana Lovegrove!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hello,

    Just found your blog through the Sola Sisters. Very much enjoy your posts and this particular post really hit home. Beautifully written.

    "Finding like-minded pilgrims seems to be a much harder task these days, and a loneliness grows in my spirit"

    And that line really touched home with me. Thank you for expressing that in this post as well.

    May God's blessings abundantly fill your heart.

    D

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello D, thank you for stopping by and leaving such an encouraging message! I'm not sure whether to be happy or sad that the line you mentioned hit home with you...happy that here is another pilgrim who identifies with it, but sad that the walk is a lonely one for you too. Thank God for the internet and that here is the opportunity for like-minded believers to meet and encourage one another! God bless you too.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you to all for sharing your views.Strangers will never be strangers if they become our friends,in fact good friends. It depends on our ideas, interests, likes etc. Thanks for sharing such a nice blog.You can visit us at http://www.mixinity.com/

    ReplyDelete