Merry Heart CPR

"A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." Proverbs 17:22

When is the last time you laughed? I mean REALLY laughed? If you're anything like me, life gets pretty serious and there doesn't seem to be much time or energy for humor (how ironic: laughter actually gives us more energy). I have a sign on my kitchen wall that says, "Blessed are those who are pleasant to live with." Sometimes I get really convicted when I realize I must be kindof a grouch to be around some days.

Hee hee! Ha ha! Ho Ho! I'm having to make myself laugh while writing this article, because Mr. Blogmaster is not allowing me to have the things "centered" that I want "centered" or the things all in allignment just so (GRRR!). But isn't that life?!

Life isn't usually how we visualize or hope it will be.Yet, God created us with the capacity for, even the need for humor. A merry heart is His will because it is part of Who He is - and we are made in His image. To be Christlike is to have joy. In most cases, if we are too busy to laugh - we are too busy. Wise Solomon reminds us that there is, "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance:" (Ecclesiastes 3:4-5). Only God can give us REAL joy (which through all of life’s ups and downs is an incredible advertisement about our great God to the world)!

If you find yourself getting too serious, yelling at your kids, sharp pains in your chest and morbidly stuck in your routine - you need MERRY HEART CPR! If your battery is running low, here are some "Joy Jumper Cables" to help fix the broken spirit inside you:

1. Be a Kid at Heart
Remember God says to have the faith of a child ... children are like giggle boxes bursting with life - and they delight God's heart. Do something that delighted you as a child (swing, color, craft project, ride your bike) - take time to enjoy the life God has given you.

2. Take Six
Talk to God and pour out your heart to Him. Take a scrap of paper out of the garbage can and rip it into 6 pieces. Write your 3 top stressors on 3 of the pieces, pray over each one and rip them up/toss. Write on the next three: Your favorite quality of God right NOW, your main priority right NOW (let everything else fall from your mind: focus), and a promise of God you are holding onto right NOW. Carry these with you as you go about your day.

3. Jubilate
Turn up some praiseworthy music - the power of uplifting God-honoring music is unestimable. Sing outloud in the car with your kids - at the top of your lungs! "Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments." Psalm 119:164

4. Friends
Call a friend who makes you laugh. Or shoot out an emergency email/message, asking friends to pray for you. This is a huge help which has tremendous power to lift you up in dark times. Side benefit: you will bless your friends and get their minds off of themselves, reminding everyone that, "we're in this together."

5. Crazyness
Begin waltzng around the house. Your husband and kids will immediately brighten up and the stress will shoot out the window. Do something unexpected like use the dish towel as a "bull-fight cape" for your kids or start slapping people (lightly of course, he he) on the back end while you're doing dishes. Do something crazy! When things get glum at our house, someone raises their arms up and yells, "Praise the Lord!"

6. Mind Food
Make a list of verses about joy and laughter - take them in the car and meditate on them as you dart around town. If you have a musical bent, put the words to your own tune. Go to a used book store and buy some inexpensive books that will give you some great things to think about.

7. Perspective
Think of someone in need. Visit them, call or send a card. If you live nearby surprise them with something baked in your kitchen. Hospitality isn't just having people over to your house, it is an attitude of giving whereever you are.

8. Smile Notebook
In a notebook glue funny pictures, favorite cartoons ... anything that makes you smile. Add notes of encouragement you have received from loved ones, and verses from God's love letter to you, the Bible. Refer to it whenever you need to be encouraged.

9. Spontinaity
For today leave the housework (it will keep!) and head for the park, go on a shopping spree at Dollar Tree with everyone getting a dollar to pick out 1 item to give to a friend, kidnap a friend for a drive-thru ice cream treat, double your supper and surprise a friend with a special delivery, take time to relax and nap whenever you get a chance - a rested woman is a happy woman. Just this afternoon a friend came and kidnapped me for some Girl Time. She treated me to an Italian soda and wisked me off to the house where she is cat-sitting. We sat and talked and laughed for an hour before returning revitalized to our homes. My husband Tim commented on how refreshed I was when I came home! God bless that friend!

10. Emergency Basket
Put in a basket a Bible, a favorite book, tissues, chocolate, blank notecards & pen, journal, earplugs, lotion, lipbalm, verse cards ... things that bring you joy. When you need to get away - do take time to be with God and refresh yourself. Even if it's just for five minutes, you'll feel better and bless your family because of your mini-vacation.

11. Live In the Present
Get in the habit of starting and ending your day talking to God. Focus on the present. When I forget Matthew 6:33-34 and start worrying, I'm toast! From a thankful heart comes a joyful heart. Set your oven alarm for an hour, and when it buzzes think of three signs of God's love in your day. Reset the buzzer until you have a refreshed outlook on life.

12. Say "No, thank you!
You probably need a quiet night at home, or at least a family time to refocus and recooperate. Say "No, thank you!" the next time someone tries to fill up another evening. You don't need to feel guilty nor feel like you have to explain. Relax with the fam instead of running at break-neck speed off to another packed weekend!

Go ahead, pick your favorite of the 10 and impliment as soon as possible to get your Merry Heart CPR! And ask God to help you breathe and relax while He resets your joy.

"Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. And uphold me by Your generous Spirit." Psalm 51:12