Devotional 3-17-10

Please read Psalm 126

"How we laughed and sang for joy and the other nations said,"What amazing things the Lord has done for them".

During the season of Lent is is a little difficult to think of singing for joy. It has also been a little difficult to find joy in our daily lives given the headlines we see in the papers daily. It seems there is anger, fear, death and distruction everywhere we look. About now you're wondering if you want to continue to read this. I don't blame you.

This Psalm is one of the "songs of ascent". The pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for feast days sang these songs to make their journeys pass easier. Now you and I are probabaly not going to walk through Wal-Mart singing for joy or sing our way through the mall. People would take a wide berth around us.

What we can do is to let the joy show in our faces. It is so hard to be miserable if you have a smile on your face. Likewise, it is difficult to be in a bad mood if the person you are facing is smiling at you. During this season of Lent could I suggest that instead of giving something up, you take something up. Why don't we try to smile every day. I know that sounds too simple but maybe it isn't. It's easy to smile when everything is going your way but how about when it doesn't?

Why don't we let the "son-shine" show in our faces everyday. We have received a wonderful gift. A price has been paid to make our lives worth living. Why don't we show others that we are thankful for the amazing things the Lord has done for us.

Smile !!

Debbie McGinnis