let's have fun

My brother and I were always looking to have fun. He had the best game ideas. He made up the game and the rules. I loved freeze tag. I had to teach my kids hot lava the way he taught me. We played basketball and volleyball in our bedroom, mom always loved that. We cracked the garden hose just enough to get some water without bringing attention to ourselves. We played making rivers for hours. I loved climbing trees and making forts at grandpa Moons farm.

​I dare to mention all of the times we played radio announcer and recorded ourselves with an old tape player. My dad loved when we played on that thing. Can’t tell you how many times he worked with us to settle down a bit. No doubt about it, our radio program was full of energy. Now my kids do the same thing. My kids can turn anything into fun. Last week the decided to play hide and seek in the rafters of the barn. Almost gave me a heart attack. Not five minutes later they were stacking rolls of insulation making a fort in the barn. Thank God they were encased in plastic.
God puts an innate desire in all of us and this desire is to have fun. Fun is bred out of us. It’s seems as though brokenness takes away our joy and society as a norm incites brokenness in all of us. Our singing and whistling disintegrates as life’s pressures and trials beat us down. Know that God wants you to have fun.

I see the “Live, laugh and love” inscribed on people’s walls in their houses, bumper stickers on their cars and other places, yet American people struggle with immense depression. Nehemiah chapter 12 discusses the dedication of the temple. This temple took years to build and was a sight to behold. Everyone in the area who took part in such an undertaking was excited to dedicate this to the Lord. This celebration wasn’t just going to be a ribbon cutting ceremony. Instead they had choirs singing on both sides of the wall. The celebration was so incredible it could be heard from miles around.

God endorses celebrations. Celebrations bring peace and happiness to our souls. We should be looking for ways to celebrate. The bible is coated with feasts throughout. These feasts were held for many reasons. There were feasts and celebrations for the year of jubilee. When the prodigal son returned his father held a feast. Every year at Passover there is a feast. Baptisms we reason for celebration. When Jesus healed a man he began walking and leaping and praising God. This was just another celebration.

We need to be looking for a reason to celebrate. Many people find excuses to be depressed, angry or hold a grudge. Can you imagine how much more fulfilling life would be when they would be looking for reasons to celebrate and be happy instead? Sadness comes from the devil and our God breeds life and happiness. Psalm chapter 47 tells us to clap hour hands, shout for joy, play music, sing praises, and celebrate what God has given to us. 

It says in Luke 2:11-13 (KJV) “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,” Notice this celebration which happened throughout heaven and earth at the birth of Christ.

                Notice Jesus sang hymns and worshiped with the disciples as noted in Matthew 26:30 (KJV) “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” 1 Chronicles 15:16 (KJV) says, “And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.” The bible is abundantly clear. Not only did many individuals throughout the bible sing and celebrate, but we are commanded to sing and celebrate. This includes instruments, clapping, shouting, dancing and worshiping the ever living God.

            Worship doesn’t mean to be obnoxious when you are celebrating. You will know when someone is in the heart of worship in lieu of just trying to perform or be outrageous because it will not bear witness in your spirit. The essence from Psalm 28:7 is to have the joy of the Lord fill your place and give you strength. Remember the recharge comes from the celebration and worship.

Sometimes the burden of the celebration removes the joy. Christmas dinner supposed to be fun instead the stress of clean house, making the right food and stressing over giving the perfect gift. Even churches can experience diminished joy in celebrations and special events because of scheduling problems, differences of opinions, cleaning, and planning.

Preparation does occur, but your attitude and heart behind it directly reflects the joy you will receive from it. Are we trying to be perfect or is Christ the perfection in us? Christ is the burden carrier. Remember this is the same with the church. We aren’t perfect and we never will be. We are a group of people giving our best and allow Christ to be our perfection. We offend, we upset, and we are offended. We are to forgive and overlook because we need the same grace extended to us in our imperfections.

It says in Colossians 3:16-17 (KJV) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” In other words, focus on worshiping together. We should enjoy it. Know the words of songs. Be excited. Find reasons to celebrate and enjoy gathering in church and worshiping.

We are to enjoy church. Church should be a weekly celebration. We are to be revived, rejuvenated and look forward to it. Whether its Christmas dinner or getting the privilege to worship in the sanctuary, we are to have fun. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Psalms 107:1-2  (KJV) says, “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
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Psalm 107 is us. It’s you. It’s time for your joy to come back, it’s time for you to feel more for filled, and it’s time to be happy once again. It’s time to enjoy church and you will have fun.