Facets of Faith

Conversations about life, faith, and friendship.

The Gifts of Joy and Humor in Life

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Hi, friend! You came to visit, and I’m so glad you did! This month the FACETS are sharing about God’s sense of humor and joy, so August is peppered with chuckles. Tracy shared last week, and you’ll want to get your eyeballs on that one! You won’t want to miss Kim’s contribution next week. Then one of my dearest friends will share a guest post. You definitely need to read Jenna’s post the fourth week. Please hop into the flow and share your funnies, too!

The platypus. If someone wants to know how I (Jennifer) am absolutely sure God has a sense of humor, I could point to the most distinct critter on the planet. An egg-laying mammal is unusual. This toothless creature has no stomach; he has a gullet like a bird and relies on gravel to eat and digest food. He has a duck bill that can detect electrical fields—that’s a superpower. Retractable webbing allows him to change from web-footed water critter to sharp-clawed land rambler like a Transformer®️. And the best part? Mr. Platypus (and only the mister) is—wait for it!—venomous! God’s creativity incorporating unique characteristics from every part of His mind definitely reveals something of His sense of humor. There’s so much joy for me in platypi.

But God doesn’t stop His fantastic originality with critters. Do you know someone who shows off God’s seed of humor in their lives? I have been big-time blessed with two sons, and that (as some boy moms will agree) is fodder for all kinds of laughs. Though, I admit my laughs often had some delay—minutes, days, or decades. *Grin* Take this example: a few weeks ago my brother-in-law shared snippets of the video from his wedding about ten years ago. One clip was PRICELESS!

Imagine: A roaming videographer is capturing best wishes for the newlyweds. This is so perfect and sweet. The video will be the best reminder of all the friends and family on a very special day. What a precious way to walk Memory Lane together after decades of life together.

Fast forward to the part we saw…

My husband’s happy face stared right into the lens and shared nearly two minutes of encouraging words. I was interested in hearing what he had to say, since I hadn’t heard it the first time around. And then…

The “Hambone.” My preschool-aged son’s face appeared in the lower right corner of the screen behind his daddy. First one side, then the other, and back to the first side, making faces the whole time. (We all laughed at the boy playing for the camera while the very happy, encouraging daddy had no idea.) It was one of those adorable moments captured for all time, and it was hilarious!

Eventually, the adorable boy with neatly spiked hair in a tux lost interest in the camera and moved on. Tony kept encouraging the newlywed couple, but I drifted from the words. I noticed, behind him several feet away, I was having a conversation with a cousin. The conversation paused—

The boy had found an open area on the carpet in the lobby and shifted to his favorite activity: breakdancing. In the middle of the lobby. (Have I mentioned he was wearing a rented tux?) Honestly, he had some impressive moves for a preschooler, including spins. Conversations continued around him—except his mom’s.

I had trouble focusing on his dance moves in the video because the next thing I saw was my ASL non-verbal communication kick in. (I had to laugh.) To my husband’s left on the screen is a spinning dance move. Over my husband’s right shoulder is me, signaling what most people know as “SAFE!” in baseball. Back then, I just hoped my son could remember it meant “Don’t!” I probably I hoped the accompanying look filled in any gaps.

Now all of us were laughing at the video, and I was laughing so hard the tears were flowing!

Friend, I can’t tell you how perfectly-timed my brother-in-law’s video was. Sometimes life can be tiring and just too serious, can’t it? Sometimes we desperately need to laugh, and it’s hard to know where it will come from. Maybe it’s the joy in the platypus. It could be in watching someone enjoy life to the full (breakdancing in a tux and all!). Maybe you begin to laugh at yourself. I know this: we really need to laugh! I’m glad sometimes we have the gift of laughter when we need it.

If you’re a mom of littles, you might enjoy laughs several times a day (little people are funny, after all). But maybe that’s not your life—the littles, the laughs, or the frequency of them. If I could do one thing differently, I think I would search harder for the humor in the everyday. The spray-starched sheltie’s 90-minute bath would have been fun. The two-year-old on the refrigerator would have been funny. The ridiculous tendency to get lost would be hilarious. Stress’ kryptonite is laughter, I think.

When life is challenging and you’re feeling pressed by the stuff of life, it’s time to laugh. Who do you know that can bring you back to your giggles, chuckles, and all-out belly laughs? That’s a good place to start.

God’s gift of humor and joy is precious during the hard times. Where we ultimately want to get to is the place of joy—the upbeat, peacefulness blanketing us when we stand in the messy kitchen or the eye of the hurricane. Can you find humor in some of it? Can you find your joy even if the humor hasn’t arrived yet?

Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come. Proverbs 31:25 CSB

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice, let them forever shout for joy! Shelter them; and they will be glad, those who love your name. Psalm 5:11 CJB

How have you seen God’s gift of humor or joy in your life? Take time to thank the friend who gifted it to you when you needed it. Be sure to gift it to others when you can.

Thanks for reading, friend! Would you gift me and the readers with your humor or joy today? Share below or at the Facebook Page.

Signature, Jennifer Howe

How Has God Brought Humor and Joy to your Life? (God’s Got Jokes!)

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This month we thought we’d lighten things up a bit. We tend to dive deep. Sometimes, it’s good to come up for air, breathe from the belly, and let out a few laughs.  Selfishly, I needed a break from all the sanctification that happens when we tackle the serious topics. This month we chew on some lighter fare.  After all this is FACETS and we have multiple facets to our personalities too. Right? Image bearers of Christ have lots of dimension. (No, I didn’t say dementia!)

I’ll be curious what chuckles Kim, Jennifer and our guest contributor bring this month. Oh goodie! A month full of funny. I can handle that!

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.─Proverbs 31:25 NIV

A friend spoke this verse over me several years back.  When she publicly proclaimed its truth over my head, it was fiction, not fact. I hadn’t laughed, really laughed, from a place of exuberant joy and peace in a long, long time. I’m not sure I’d ever felt strength other than the puffed up pretend kind, and dignity would never have been an adjective you’d have assigned to me.

But God’s got jokes! He is the ultimate Author of irony.

  • Little David, here’s a slingshot, and a few stones. Now take out that giant.
  • Here you go Joshua. Grab a trumpet and march around the city. Jericho falls.  I know it makes no sense. Trust me.
  • Rahab, tie this red ribbon in your window. You don’t realize it yet, but Christ will be in your lineage. Today this would be a reality show: From Prostitute to Princess.
  • Gideon, I am going to reduce your numbers. You’ll have less and less help. But what do numbers matter? Haven’t you ever heard less is more? Don’t worry. I’ll bring victory. Quit biting your nails.
  • Virgin birth (come on now!)
  • Skunks. They look cute and cuddly. But stumble upon one and you’ll be singing a different tune (as you head to the store for tomato juice, planning on a good scrub in the tub).
  • A girlie girl who will one day apparently love motorcycle riding. Even better, she’ll be a Bible-loving Biker. That’ll raise a few eyebrows, probably on both sides of the fence.

God’s got jokes! If you would have asked me, even one short year ago if I’d be a motorcycle mama (ha ha) I would have laughed and said, “Not a chance!” But what do I know?  Once again, this confirms I don’t know my left from my right (which isn’t such a good thing for a Bible-loving Biker who needs to lean into the curves).

You want to know at least one thing that’s awesome about God’s irony? I get to embrace it and learn a bit more about how He made me. Just when I thought I was figuring me out. Even in that God says, “I know you better!” Of course He does. He designed me. Apparently, He designed me to love awesome shoes, fashion, and the rumble of an engine as I glide along tree covered country roads on two wheels.

He was right! Go figure.

If you think I’m exaggerating about the irony, consider this:  Mint green jeans and matching scarf, of course. White riding jacket with coordinating helmet. (I may have started a Pinterest board on how to avoid helmet hair. Maybe. Shhh! Don’t tell anyone.)

Now consider all of the above riding up to a biker rally greeted by a sea of black on black attire. That takes some inner strength! I know who I am. Who cares if they’re judging me for my mint green pants? Okay, so maybe I was a little self-conscious. But then I thought, who cares? I’ll do me, grinning knowingly.  Before Christ I would have tried to conform. Now? Me and Jesus will make them curious!

Yesterday, I rode my motorcycle to work for the first time. It was glorious! God has given me a scenic route, literally an official Scenic Drive (thanks God!). I’m surrounded by nature on every side. Since this is one of the most powerful ways I connect with God, my whole ride to work is like worship.

Thank You, God, for this awesome gift I didn’t know I’d love. Thank You for the escape so I feel refreshed and restored, ready to take on each day with You. What a blessing to have such a beautiful ride – and no way for anyone to get ahold of me over the rumble of my engine. Woot Woot!  Peace inside my helmet. A voice echoing inside that same helmet a little off key.

How great is our God. Sing with me how great is our God. And all will see how great, how great is our God.

And then a little giggle escaped between me and my God. Isn’t He awesome?

There is one thing more I’m wondering─at least for now.  I know there are bikers who are Christian. The ones I know all were bikers first; Christianity came second.  Maybe God’s just showing me He made me a little weird (truth — but His word calls it unique), but I wonder what He’s going to do with a Bible-loving woman who became a biker second.  When God’s irony shows itself, you better believe we should prepare for more of the unexpected!

I have a feeling I will have some interesting encounters up ahead. It’s okay. We’re trained in motorcycle class to observe the road ahead. It’s more important what’s coming than what’s behind. Yeah, sure, you need to look for the tailgaters following too close for comfort. But the open, winding road ahead is where we need to focus.

Ahead is where adventure awaits.

How has God’s irony surprised you? What unexpected joy did you experience? What adventure awaits you?

Join the conversation here or on our Facebook page.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Surrender?

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Welcome to Facets of Faith, a space where three friends share their perspectives on a topic each month. For July, we’re chatting about surrendering our lives to the One who loves us. Be sure to check out what Tracy and Jen had to say by clicking on their names. Kim continues the conversation this week.

This isn’t the life I chose.

I remember walking through downtown London, having just turned 40 while on a trip to visit my oldest daughter on her semester abroad. Meandering my way from Notting Hill toward Big Ben, my thoughts ran faster than my feet would move.

This isn’t the life I wanted.

Every failure seemed to scream for attention. Every failure and poor choice stood glaringly in my way. Ever since my youngest daughter died in a fire that destroyed our home, I feared becoming a statistic, and there were many.

I was a second wife – second marriages fail.

I lost a child – marriages fail after a child dies.

I had just turned 40, lost over 90 pounds, and my marriage was falling apart.

There I was, on a mini-pilgrimage through England, not only a statistic, but a cliche`. I wasn’t sure which was worse. Disappointment clawed at every good memory until all I could see where shredded remnants of a life I thought would last.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11, NLT

How did I get here?

I didn’t read the Bible a lot as a kid. I knew a lot of the typical stories from Sunday School along with a few key verses I memorized, truths whose roots wrapped around my heart. The first was written in my childhood bible, given to me shortly after my family moved from Connecticut to Illinois. I remember feeling alone and anxious, wondering if I’d make friends, worried we’d move again and my life would be filled with more good-byes.

She is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25, NIV

I didn’t know about the Proverbs 31 woman then, I didn’t understand the lofty expectation this passage often set in women’s hearts. What I did know from the age of 8 was that a woman could be strong and not be afraid of the future. My expectation of life included strength.

A few years later, when I graduated from my children’s bible to a teen version, my mom set another verse in front of me.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV

Freedom shouted from these verses directly to my soul. I could walk in freedom knowing that God guided my steps. I could walk in freedom as I trusted His plan for my life. I could walk in freedom and surrender my expectations and understanding of how life was supposed to be.

Walking in strength with dignity, having no fear of of the future, trusting God and not my own ways, surrendering to His ways in order to gain direction.

Life. Liberty. And the pursuit of surrender.

Knowing these verses was one thing, living them out . . . quite another.

As I grew, my American experience intertwined with my faith. Instead of the pursuit of surrender, I believed that a life following God meant a life filled with good things. With ease. With happiness. With more sunflowers than rain.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9, NLT

When the storm of death crashed into my home, when the heart of my youngest daughter ceased beating, when breath was snatched from my lungs in grief, all that I knew needed to be redefined. All that I expected needed reworking. All that I understood needed a shift in perspective.

I returned to Scripture and dove in, head first. I sucked up its truth as it filled the crevices sorrow had carved. I returned to those verses of my youth and sat with them until they made more sense, until God revealed more of Himself, more of His heart and character. I realized I had to believe all of Scripture or none at all. I either had to believe God or determine He lied. I had to trust that Jesus did love me, or it was all just a childhood song.

I needed to surrender the life I wanted for the one that I lived, even though it included more heartache I ever thought possible to endure.

I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

It’s been six years since I walked the streets of London. Six years filled with a lot of wrestling and questioning, a lot of doubt and fear. Six years filled with hope and healing, with grace and mercy, with redemption and restoration. Six years of learning to shift my eyes to Jesus, the One who does love me, who is the Author and Perfector of my life.

And while there isn’t a grand “happily ever after”, there is a lot of goodness, a life filled with love. The more I surrender to God’s plan for my life, the more I embrace this life I didn’t want, the more I taste His goodness and experience His grace.

No, this still isn’t the life I chose, but I’m learning to walk in strength and dignity, to trust God to lead my steps, and to giggle along the way.

How are you learning to surrender? Share below or head over to our Facebook page. Either way, come join the conversation!