Laugh Again

(Revelation 1:18) (NLT) “I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”   Title of Message: Laugh Again   (Jeff Allen CLIP)   (Proverbs 17:22)  “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Acts 27:13) “When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.”   (Acts 27:14-15) “Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "northeaster," swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along…” (Acts 27:18-19) “We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands.   (Acts 27:20) When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” (Psalm 34:18) “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”   Storm Warnings:   1. Storms are inevitable. (John 16:33) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”    2. Storms are unpredictable.(Jeremiah 4:20) “Disaster follows disaster; the whole land lies in ruins. In an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter in a moment.”   3. Storms are impartial. (Matthew 5:45) “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”   4. Storms are temporary. (Hebrews 10:35-37) “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.”   (Hebrews 10:39) “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”   How Do I Laugh Again?   1. Worry about nothing.   (Philippians 4:6) (NLT)  “Don’t worry about anything…   (Matthew 6:27)  “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”   (Matthew 6:34)  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”   2. Pray about everything. (Philippians 4:6)  “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”   (Philippians 4:7) “…And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”   3. Think about the right things. (Philippians 4:8)  “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”   “Joy is not the absence of suffering but the presence of God" -Corrie Ten Boom (Psalm 126:1-3) (MSG) “It seemed like a dream, too good to be true, when God returned Zion's exiles. We laughed, we sang, we couldn't believe our good fortune. We were the talk of the nations— ‘God was wonderful to them!’ God was wonderful to us; we are one happy people.   (Psalm 126:4-6) (MSG) “And now, God, do it again—bring rains to our drought-stricken lives So those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest. So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.”