Reprise--You've heard of life savers. There are also "laugh" savers.

Hello, John and Doves,

You've heard of life savers. There are also "laugh" savers.

For those who know only of blood, toil, tears, and sweat,

it is written,

”You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”

Psalm 56:8 NLT

"Well, that's just ducky," you might be saying.

"What about all the good times I've missed,

having to slog through this mire called, 'life?' "

Has God got a special just for you!

It is written,

A song of David. A song for the dedication of the Temple.

1I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.

You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.

2O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,

and you restored my health.

3You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.

You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

4Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!

Praise his holy name.

5For his anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime!

Weeping may last through the night,

but joy comes with the morning.

6When I was prosperous, I said,

“Nothing can stop me now!”

7Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.

Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

8I cried out to you, O Lord.

I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,

9“What will you gain if I die,

if I sink into the grave?

Can my dust praise you?

Can it tell of your faithfulness?

10Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.

Help me, O Lord.”

11You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.

You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,

12that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Psalm 30 NIV

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Again, it is written,

5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 126:5-6 ESV

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And yet again, it is written,

25The Lord says,

“I will give you back what you lost

to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts,

the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.

It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.

26Once again you will have all the food you want,

and you will praise the Lord your God,

who does these miracles for you.

Never again will my people be disgraced.

27Then you will know that I am among my people Israel,

that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other.

Never again will my people be disgraced.

The Lord’s Promise of His Spirit

28“Then, after doing all those things,

I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your old men will dream dreams,

and your young men will see visions...."

Joel 2:25-28 NIV

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At last, God's people will have the last laugh:

9“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

13Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

for an everlasting sign,

that will endure forever.”

Isaiah 55:9-13 NIV

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So what is the foundation for my joy?

Read 1 John 1: http://nlt.scripturetext.com/1_john/1.htm

~Blessings,

Mike