Daily Splashes of Joy: 365 Gems to Sparkle Your Day [Hardcover ed.] 0849916801, 0020049016800

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Church Bulletin Blooper: Offertory Solo: "O Holy Nighty'

December 3

God gives some in

life

how

people the ability

and enjoy

short

life is,

their work.

because

.

.

.

to

accept their state

They do not worry about

God

keeps them busy with

what

they love to do. (Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 ncv)

Our

firstborn son, Tim,

who had

was a

serious, conscien-

humor than the rest of us. His idea of something hilarious was to bring home the bows from the funeral home where he worked. Later our dogs would show up wearing "REST IN PEACE" or "GOD BLESS GRANDPA HIRAM" on bows around their necks. One day Tim took his little brother, Barney, to the mortuary. When no one was around, Tim let Barney tious kid

a different sense of

climb into an empty casket just to see what

Tim shut

Then

(just for fun)

yelp,

and Tim opened the

lid

the

—

lid!

it

Barney

after he'd

felt like.

let

out a

had a good

laugh, of course.

The next day during

circle

time at Barney's school,

Barney shared what had happened. Barney's teacher called is

me later to say, "Mrs. Johnson, I'm afraid Barney

starting to

tell lies.

He's coming up with stories that

just can' the true!"

Life is

what happens

after

you make other plans.

December 4

Fix your thoughts on what

is

true

and good and

Think about things that are pure and

on the fine, good things can praise

God for and

lovely,

Think about

in others.

be glad about

right.

and dwell all

you

it.

(Philippians 4:8 tlb)

|ver the years I've learned ' is

of joy

when life

ways

turns into a cesspool.

through Philippians 4:8, the verse

removal service/

bage from

7

It's

my mind

noxious junk so

I

the verse

and get

can replace

it

nourishing, fresh, and healthy.

on

to find splashes

I

I

call

use to

my " rubbish-

dump

with thoughts that are

A lot has been written everybody

two thousand years ago with Philippians to

to a

the gar-

rid of useless, rotting,

"positive thinking/' but Paul scooped

he wrote in prison chained

One way

4:8,

Roman guard,

which

waiting

be executed. In a JOY-LESS place, in JOY-LESS

cumstances, Paul was JOY-FULL because he the difference between splashes of joy

pool often depends on

pening

how we

cir-

knew that

and the

look at what

is

cess-

hap-

to us.

A smile is

a wrinkle that shouldn't be removed. It

lighting system of the face

the heart

is

the

and the heating system of

December

5

[Jesus said,] "Blessed are those

(Matthew

ope

is

quit

in

life. It is

that's

own

it

When

strength to solve

when you can start to have REAL

what God can

the mistakes, sins,

make

the anchor of the soul.

depending on your

your problems,

hope

don't doubt me."

the essential ingredient to

through

you

who

11:6 tlb)

do! Think of your

and woes

in a ball of yarn, knotted

life

with

all

of the past like the tangles

up with "whys?" and endless

loops of frustration. Especially during the holidays,

may become

such a mess that you

could never begin to straighten

it

out.

God

alone can untangle the threads of our lives.

fort

What

it is

to

tangles of

God's

a

com-

drop the life

hands

then leave them That's all

into

and there.

what hope

about.

is

it

December 6

If people love me, they will obey will love them,

and we

will

my

come

to

My Father

teaching.

them and make our

home with them. (John 14:23 ncv)

—whether

hatever you and your house are like

your housekeeping system

is

the casual stow-

and-slam method or the super-organized

home where

up evenly under

the bed, the

even the dustballs

line

most important thing

What

a blessing

diately feel

it is

thing

is

your home with

is joy.

home and imme-

my home, I've tried to make the col-

and the furniture

that

wherever

that bring a smile to

We make a

given lately?

I

fit.

But the most important

look in our house,

I

see things

my face and warmth to my heart.

"We make a living by what we LIFE by what we GIVE/' What have you

Winston Churchill get

fill

surrounded by a bubble of laughter and a

blanket of love. In ors blend

to

to step inside a

said,

December 7

I cried like

became

a bird

and moaned

like

a dove.

My eyes

Lord,

tired as I looked to the heavens.

troubles. Please help me. (Isaiah 38:14

I

have

ncv)

come equipped with stress, but keep reminding yourself that you WILL survive.

olidays

When stress overwhelms me, I try to focus on the wonderfully relaxed future Jesus has promised us when we will live in heaven in peace with Him and there will be no more

stress or pain.

Experts say that exercising and soaking in a

bath are two great stress-relievers. But here's rite:

laughing.

A medical

warm

my favo-

expert once said, "Laughing

body

the kind of

workout you'd get from three minutes

of rigorous

for

twenty seconds

rowing/'

.

.

Now THAT'S

gives the

.

a holiday gift

professor suggested that arrive to

home from work

walk

plaint.

in

when

can use! The

stressed-out people

or holiday shopping, they try

with a funny story

"And be on

I

to share instead of a

the lookout for the kinds of experi-

ences that are not only funny (and relaxing)

happen but Can

it

spelled

will

make good

be an accident that

backward?

com-

when they

stories later."

"STRESSED"

is

"DESSERTS"

December 8

And

were in the same country shepherds abiding

there

in the field, keeping

watch over

by night.

their flock

(Luke 2:8 kjv)

When

Larry was ten he was assigned a solo,

"While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by 7

Night/ in a church Christmas program. practice,

I

and sometimes he'd get silly and

shepherds washed their socks by night the ground, the angel of the Lord 'Will

sing,

all

"While

seated on

came down and

said,

you wash mine?'"

We

were kidding around one day when Larry kept

singing Finally

sing

helped him

it

wrong way, just to get me laughing. offered to give him five dollars if he would

it I

the

that

way

at church.

Larry laughed and said he

wouldn't, of course, but on the night of the program he either forgot or

front of

all

changed

the people

his

mind!

and

He

got out there in

started singing,

shepherds washed their socks by night

"While

." .

.

Instead of being shocked, the audience got tickled,

and soon everybody was laughing and clapping. The we had that night and since then, remember-

fun

—

—was well worth the money!

ing

God gave us memories so we could have roses in December.

December 9

If you believe,

prayer.

you

(Matthew

will get

anything you ask for in

21:22 ncv)

thought to help you through the holidays with laughter:

The Four Stages

of Life

1.

You

2.

You don't believe

3.

You

4.

You look

believe in Santa Claus. in Santa Claus.

are Santa Claus. like

Santa Claus.

"What other time of year do you in the living

sit in front

of a dead tree

room and eat candy out of your socks?

— December

First, there is

and

to

nothing better for a

man

than

to be

10

happy

enjoy himself as long as he can; and second, that

he should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of his labors, for these are gifts from God. (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 tlb)

VOO PRE

H£f?£

X

tsxssaessi&. ElV/IN Reprinted courtesy The Lion magazine,

For Sale

November 1996. Lions Clubs

International. All rights reserved.

Complete twenty -five-volume set of encyclo-

pedia. Latest edition, never used. Wife

knows

everything.

December

11

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

(Luke 2:7 nkjv)

Little Andy was miffed when he didn't get the part r

eant.

he wanted in the Sunday school Christmas pag-

He had hoped

for the role of Joseph, but instead

got stuck being the innkeeper.

He decided to pull a fast

one and get even.

As scheduled, Mary and Joseph came seeking shelter.

room," he

"Come right in, folks.

to his place

I've got plenty of

said.

Mary and Joseph do as he showed them around his

Perplexed, the children playing didn't inn.

know what to

Then Joseph, equal to the is a dump. I'd

"Hey, this place in the stable."

'Tis the

season to be chubby.

occasion, said to Mary,

rather go out

and sleep

December

Our hope

Dr.

in the

is

protect us.

He

Lord.

is

our

help,

our shield

12

to

(Psalm 33:20 ncv)

Karl Menninger, the world-famous psychia-

trist,

was answering questions

after giving a lec-

on mental health when one person asked, "What would you advise someone to do if he felt a nervous ture

breakdown coming on?" Most people expected the doctor psychiatrist." Instead

he

said,

across the railroad tracks, find

do something

to say, "Consult a

"Lock up your house, go

someone

in need,

and

to help that person."

Many hurting parents have found a way to share joy during the holidays by volunteering in homeless shelters,

soup kitchens, or doing other volunteer

activities.

not to

mope around, waiting for

an invitation

get out there

and find someone who's

even worse

than you

The important thing

—

off

is

are, or invite a lonely

person to

share a holiday meal with you.

Heed a

lesson

from man's best friend: When someone

having a bad day, be

silent, sit close by,

is

and nuzzle them.

December

13

Great peace have they

who

love

your

law,

and nothing

can make them stumble. (Psalm 119:165)

onsider these steps for reducing stress and sadness during the holidays: •

Accept the

fact that

you

ARE

stressed

and

depressed while the rest of the world seems merry •

Tell yourself this is

NOT a permanent thing.

It

too

will pass. •

Set a deadline for your dark days to end. Tell

yourself that

on

that date

you

will put

your sadness

behind you and step out in joy. •

Set priorities,

and

practice saying no. Don't be

afraid to change traditions

if

you

can't cope

with

doing things the old way. •

Be gentle with yourself. Spend time with people

who •

love, support,

and accept you as you

are.

Take time out from the hustle and bustle to be alone with

God

—your hope, your strength, and your

promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Grief can be your servant, helping you to feel more com-

passion for others

who hurt

December

I will

14

not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the

palms of My hands. (Isaiah 49:15-16 nkjv)

he blessings that come from reaching out others cannot be overestimated.

every year around Christmas.

dozen families who have from AIDS,

year, either

So over the years

(my birthday and

I

I

learn this

anew

We usually have several

lost a

loved one during the

suicide, or

some other

tragedy.

have started around December 14

in case

set aside

I

to

you want

to

send

me

a present!),

everything else and start telephoning

who have experienced a loss. when I get them on the phone

the families

Usually

it

takes a

them

to connect

ME

with the person

writes the books.

Then they

call

another person to the

minute

for

who

phone, and soon every phone in the house has a family

member

talking.

They appreciate

that

someone

cared enough to remember their loss at holiday time. Their reaction proves the truth of that adage:

People don't care need to

how much you know. They

know how much you

care.

just

December

15

Whatever you

working for

t is

do,

work

at

with

it

the Lord, not for

make

a real effort to

your

all

heart, as

men. (Colossians 3:23)

those calls at Christmas

J time, but soon the splashes of joy that

back

to

boomerang

me fill me with so much love, my heart smiles.

can't help but share their excitement in

someone loss is I

really

still

I

knowing

CARES about their feelings when their

so fresh.

love to remind

them

that

GOD

IS

STILL IN

CHARGE OF God

to

grant

IT ALL. Then I pray with them and ask wrap His comfort blanket around them and

them His

wrapped

in

peace.

Somehow

the idea of being

God's blanket of love reminds them they

—and not splattered

are contained in His care

all

over

the ceiling.

Making back as

when

these calls

my

is

a

boomerang

personal Christmas

there's

been a

loss

gift to

—whether

ness, death, estrangement,

comes

joy that myself.

it's

I

know

caused by

moving, or whatever

—

ill-

holi-

days can easily bring more heaviness instead of happiness for those

At yuletide, in smiles.

who

are already depressed.

the best holiday decoration

is to

be wreathed

December

You

hear,

O Lord,

the desire of the afflicted;

encourage them, and you

\6

you

listen to their cry.

(Psalm 10:17)

Even a

little

results. I

I

affirmation can bring us the greatest

thought of that recently

when

Bill

stayed in a lovely old bed-and-breakfast place.

It

and

was

furnished with lots of antique things for us to examine

and

enjoy. In

our room,

we found

a contraption

made

wooden stick with a bellows sort of thing at one end. It was hanging beside the bed, and when I asked the hostess about it, she said it was a quilt fluffer. When you slid it inside the covers and worked the bel-

of a long

lows,

it

blew puffs of

air

between the

quilts to fluff

as light as a feather. What a difmade to snuggle into those fluffed-up covers!

them up, making them ference

it

One of the ways we

share God's love

is

through encour-

agement The word encourage means "to fill the puff it up, to enlarge

it/'

heart, to

By encouraging a friend, we give

that person a special, heart-felt gift.

December

17

Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has

overwhelmed me.

I said,

dove! I would fly

away and

"Oh, that

I

had

be at rest."

the

wings of a

(Psalm 55:5-6)

During the hectic holiday season,

it's

sometimes

encouraging just to be told we're not going crazy

when we

feel

ourselves slipping over the brink

into La-La Land. That's

what a hospice nurse did when

she reminded a grieving

woman that the stress of sim-

ply trying to survive her loss might cause her to do

"crazy things." The nurse told the expect the crazy things to

some

she should

happen. "You're going to do

you at all," she said. woman, "That's okay.

things that aren't like

Then she reminded all,

woman

you're

and you're

NOT lost.

the

After

yourself right now. You're hurting,

So don't be too hard on yourself when

house keys or pay the phone

you

lose the

put

salt in

car.

Be patient with yourself. Gradually, your upside-

your

down world

will right itself,

bill

twice or

where you parked your

tea or forget

and

you'll find

your

life

returning to almost normal."

Every cloud has a stiver lightning.

lining.

And sometimes

a blot of

December

J

have wandered away

for I have not turned

like a lost sheep;

18

come and find me

away from your commandments.

(Psalm 119:176 tlb)

W&'S *{

THAT*S rUe TV RfMQTE CONTROL Y0U*fi6 A/OT THZ GARAGE Doo* QP£/ve*.~

© 1990 John Included

in

McPherson. Used by permission

of

John McPherson.

McPherson's Marriage Album (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991).

I'd like to live life in the fast lane, but

speed bump.

HOL0M6,

I'm married to a

December

Let the

19

little

children

them; for of such

(Matthew

I

'he

is

come

the

to

Me, and do not forbid

kingdom of heaven.

19:14 nkjv)

youngest children enrolled in a church pre-

school always steal the

show

at the

Christmas program. Last year the children

annual

—none of

whom could yet read—held up brightly colored threefoot-high placards that spelled out Christmas words.

The highlight came when one foursome walked onstage in reverse order

and proudly spelled

RATS Christmas

baby

in

is

when God came down from heaven with a

His arms.

December 20

Then you

and

will call out,

the

Lord

will answer.

You

will

cry out, and he will say, "Here I am." (Isaiah 58:9 ncv)

hat

God had an answering machine?

if

"Hello, thank

you

for calling heaven. Please select

one of the following four options: Press

1 for requests,

2 for thanksgiving, 3 to complain, or 4 for

all

other

inquiries."

No matter what you press, you hear, "All angels are members

helping other

on the

Please stay

in the order

it

"To find out a pin, press "If

God's family right now.

and your

call will

be answered

received.

how many angels

dance on the head of

5.

you would

you, press

line,

was

of

like

King David

to sing a

"To find out

if

your

for

relative is here, enter his or her

date of death and then listen to the

list

that follows.

"To confirm your reservation, press the

H-N and

psalm

6.

the

numbers

3-1-6."

Thank goodness we have God's promise Operator who

is

letters J-O-

that

He

always standing by!

Cordless phones are great If you can find them.

is

THE

December

21

Early in the morning, before the sun

and pointing out how much

is

I trust in

up, I

am

praying

you.

(Psalm 119:147 tlb)

many women find that the quiet hours before dawn give them

|uring this ultra-busy time of year,

and study and

a time alone to pray

been an early

riser,

so

when someone

early risers in the Bible

I

sent

was cheered by

much

that the time of

day

special time for

God's children.

I

plan. I've always

love so

If

me a

list

of

the thought

has always been a

you're reading this

during the predawn hours on a frosty December morning,

I

hope you're encouraged by

tinuing a godly tradition that

realizing you're con-

began centuries ago. For

example, Exodus 34:4-5 describes Moses arising early in the

morning

to

climb

Mount Sinai, where he met the

who had "descended in the cloud" (kjv). No matter when you do make time each day dur-

Lord,

it,

ing this hectic season to honor the reason for the season,

who may have been born

in the early

hours of the

morning.

You will never truly enjoy Christmas until you look into the face of the Father

Christmas

gift!

and

tell

Him you have

received His

December 22

God never changes

his

mind about

the things he gives them.

(Romans

the people he calls

and

11:29 ncv)

One child is not enough, but two children are far too many.

December 23

was trembling with fear;

I

(Job 4:14

Ine

m

all

my

bones were shaking.

ncv)

of the scariest things

some men do

is

accom-

\^/ pany their wives to the mall, especially at Christwhen the traffic is hectic and the stores are packed. One researcher said the stress levels in some men skyrocket when they're faced with crowded stores. mastime,

The

scientist

compared

pressure "you

it

with the heart rate and blood

would expect

to find in a fighter pilot

going into combat/'

Knowing how driving

stressful

can be for

it

when he accompanies me

Bill, I insist

on

to the mall. I've

adapted a strategic plan someone suggested for finding

What you do is hang your head out the

a parking space. car

window

to turn over.

...

be very quiet

Then you

.

.

.

and

listen for a

motor

tear across the parking lot in the

direction of the sound, driving against the arrows, to try

and get

to that space

first.

and leaving you a parking

spot,

I

way

Men

are like parking spaces. All the

to get

know

of

any

good ones

are

don't

other

already

one during the holiday rush.

taken—and

the rest are handicapped or their

meters are running out!

\

Other than someone dying

December 24

And

suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the

heavenly host praising the highest, /And on

God and

saying: "Glory to

God

earth peace, good will toward

in

men!"

(Luke 2:13-14 nkjv)

^omeone told me about attending a holiday church service late

on Christmas Eve

church in the midst of a large city's office towers.

When

the Christmas

wooden doors

through the

air

to find

and the heart

city extraordinarily quiet.

snowflakes swirling

Suddenly the church's filling the

bells

empty

with the glad tidings of Christmas, their joyful

sounds echoing crete

Eve service ended

of the usually bustling

pealed out through the darkness, streets

buildings and

churchgoers emerged through

just after midnight, the

the old

in a beautiful old tall

and

off the

steel. It

was,

neighboring structures of con-

my

friend said, a

most breath-

taking moment, one she doesn't expect to equal until

she hears those joybells of heaven pealing out a wel-

come

to her.

Don't you hear those

bells

now

ringing? Don't you hear

the angels singing? 'Tis the glory hallelujah jubilee!

December

When joy.

25

men saw

the wise

They came

him with

to the

his mother,

the star, they

Mary, and they bowed down and

worshiped him. They opened their treasures of gold, frankincense,

(Matthew

were filled with

house where the child was and saw

gifts

and gave him

and myrrh.

2:10-11 ncv)

God had a If your picture would be on refrigerator,

If

God had

a wallet,

your photo would be in

He

it.

it.

sends you flowers every spring

and a sunrise every morning.

When you want to talk, He'll listen. He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. And that Christmas gift He sent you in

Face

it,

Bethlehem? friend, He's crazy

about you!

—Max Lucado Happy

birthday, Jesus!

December 26

Simeon

Holy

.

.

.

Spirit

was a good man, very devout, filled with

the

and constantly expecting

come

soon. For the

would not

Holy

Spirit

had revealed

to

King. The Holy Spirit had impelled him

Temple that day; and to

so,

Messiah

him

to

that he

him—God's anointed

had seen

die until he

the

to

go

to the

when Mary and Joseph

arrived

present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the

law,

Simeon was

and took

there

praising God. "Lord," he said,

Tor

I

the child in his arms,

"now

I

can die content I

me

have seen him as you promised

I

would.

I

have

seen the Savior you have given to the world."

(Luke 2:25-31 tlb)

Like old Simeon '

I,

too,

"can die content/' knowing

that thrilling happiness awaits

be joining God and Jesus, and

me in heaven.

I'll

my two boys.

Til also see

A friend wrote a beautiful poem for me about that day. The

last

But

two

lines are

my favorites:

when Gabriel blows his trumpet and when Toot and Scoot is here, .

.

.

Barb will jump the gate and grab her boys as Jesus dries her tears.

Heaven:

No

troubles.

No

trials.

No

tears!

December 27

Jesus said

.

.

.

,

"Go home

to

your friends

.

.

.

and

tell

them what wonderful things God has done for you; and

how

merciful he has been."

(Mark

5:19 tlb)

"OH, GLORY! OH, DELIGHT!

THE HOLIDAY HOUSEGUESTS HAVE GONE HOME!'

December 28

He who is

:

is

full loathes honey, but to the

bitter tastes sweet.

¥ 'm

hungry even what

(Proverbs 27:7)

not sure that physical fitness

is

all

that

it's

up to be. A few years back, Bill and I decided to work on our mutual weight problem by increasing our aerobic exercise. We set up a regimen and tried not to miss it. Here's what we did: At night,

JL

cracked

we would walk to

to the

Baskin Robbins ice-cream shop

have an ice-cream cone nightcap.

ing

we would walk

And

every morn-

Yum Yum Donut Shop for warm maple bars. We really

to the

our usual hot coffee and

enjoyed these workouts, but even though faithfully to this routine for several

us

lost a single

pound. Obviously,

we

stuck

weeks, neither of there's

something

these fitness gurus aren't telling us!

Here's a great incentive for doing sit-ups: Put

between your toes!

M&Ms

December 29

Look, he

is

coming with

him, even those the earth will

who

and every eye

and

all the

mourn because of him. So

Amen. (Revelation

When

the clouds,

pierced him;

Jesus

shall

it

be!

1:7)

comes

again, every person

on earth

Man coming on the clouds power and great glory. And he will

will see "the

of the sky, with

will see

peoples of

Son

of

send his angels with a loud trumpet

call,

and they

will

gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other" (Matthew 24:30-31).

Thinking of that day,

mind

He Comes, tures

my heart beats faster,

soars heavenward. Charles Wesley's

and

hymn

my

"Lo!

with Clouds Descending" perfectly cap-

my heart's desire:

O come quickly, O come quickly! Alleluia!

Come, Lord, come!

Sometimes when I'm humming I

add

my own

that beautiful tune,

little petition: Lord, despite

I've been splattered

on the

thankful, Lord, but

Ym

ceiling, I've

ready.

As soon

notes from Your mighty trumpet,

Ym ready for liftoff

I

I'll

all

the times

enjoyed this

life.

Ym

as I hear those first

be on

my way

I

December 30

We

believe that Jesus died

believe that

God

A

rose again

and

will bring with Jesus those

Thessalonians

fallen asleep in him. (1

he book

and

we

so

who have

4:14)

Place Called Heaven retells

one of the

favorite stories of the late Peter Marshall, former

chaplain of the U.S. Senate:

A

young boy who was

dying from an incurable disease asked his mother,

"What

is it like

Does

to die?

it

hurt?"

was like when asleep on the sofa

His mother reminded him of what

he had played hard or in the car

on the

all

day and

ride

fell

home from

it

his grandparents'

"When you awoke in the morning you were in your own bed because your daddy came with his big house.

strong arms and carried the mother told him.

wake up and

you home. Death

"You

fall

is

like that,"

asleep here,

and you

find that your Father has carried

you

home."

Those

who

last time.

live in the

Lord never see each other for the

December

31

But one thing

I do:

Forgetting what

straining toward what

is

is

behind and

ahead, I press on toward the

goal (Philippians 3:13-14)

hink

.

.

.

Of stepping on the shore and finding Of taking hold

of a

it

hand and finding

heaven; it

God's

hand;

Of breathing

a

new

air

and finding

Of feeling invigorated and finding

it

it

celestial air;

immortality;

Of passing from storm and tempest

unknown

to

an

calm;

Of waking and finding you're Home! Remember: You may

be older today than you have ever

been before, but you're younger than you will ever be again!

Other selections hy Barbara Johnson Did

God Realty Say

In this lively

That? (video)

video, Barbara shares her

gems. She brings audience by encouraging them to think about the "sweet-by-and-by while stuck in the

collection of hidden

laughter to the

live

nasty now-in-now."

BARBARA J OHNSON

TOOT He's

Gonna Toot and Vm Gonna Scoot

Sharing outrageous humor, insights,

and

rib-tickling

inspiring, real-life

examples,

Barbara shows readers how to put life's trials into heavenly perspective. While we| wait on Gabriel's horn to sound, Barbara gives women an eternal telescope with Waiting which to view their often difficult world.

Vm So

-For Gabriel's

Glad You Told Me What

Horn

I Didn't

Wanna Hear

Bad news about your triple

whammy

"where did

children carries a

of pain, worry,

we go

and

wrong!" Drawing on

her personal experience and the letters she has received from hundreds of hurting women, Barbara shares hope and humor to encourage parents in seemingly hopeless situations.

More from The Geranium

Lady...

Leaking La ffs Between Pampers and Depends

Grab your giggle box! Here comes Barbara Johnson with another helping of joy for

and

women

of

all

ages, aches,

"architecture." You'll laugh at

Barbara's quirky strategies for emptynest de-cluttering, husband-handling, kid-corralling,

and parent-parenting.

Living Somewhere

Between Estrogen and Death

From savoring the "here and now" preparing for our glorious future

Heaven, Barbara for living

life

to

her familiar

a

lly on

Barbara

insists that laughing in the face

of adversity

is

not a form of denial, but a

managing stress, coping and maintaining hope. She zeroes directly in on the spiritual benefit of a smile, a giggle, and a good, proven

tool for

with pain,

old-fashioned belly laugh.

your

later

up with loads of laughzany style, Barbara

older with courage

Papa's Head!

delightful recipe

it

shows women how

Mama, Get the Hammer! There's

a

its fullest in

years and spices ter. In

offers

to

in

to survive

and

joy.

growing

More from The Geranium

Pack Up Your Gloomies in

Then

Sit

on

This book

Lady...

a

Great Big Box,

the lid and laugh! is filled

with bittersweet

stories of Barbara's journey through the

minefields of life, and her wise and encouraging responses to letters from hurting parents. Each chapter ends with a laughter-packed collection of

Gloomee

Busters.

Splashes of Joy in the Cesspools of life

Barbara's approach to uplifting,

therapeutic,

life is

and

RARBAMJOHNSON

positive,

fun. This

book offers an invigorating spurt of encouragement and a gentle reminder to splatter joy into the lives of others.

Mi

is

inevitable but

MLSEKVIS OPTIONAL

Stick a

This

BARBARA JOHNSON

is

Geranium

in

Your Hat and Be Happy!

the book that started

it

all!

Sharing her own difficult experiences, Johnson proves that while pain is inevitable, misery is optional. This powerful book has sold more than 1 million copies and made Barbara a perennially best-selling author.

Open this book each morning and let

/ :Vf ',

the "Queen of

Encouragement" splash your day

~m

with joy. Acclaimed encourager Barbara Johnson has survived become a merry missionary of mirth to those who need a little laughter in their lives—that is, to all of us! She knows firsthand how the smallest splash of joy can soothe broken hearts with the light of God's love. And she's seen how a simple message of hope uplifts a life that's left in tatters. In these pages you'll find a daily dollop of Barbara's favorite jokes, heartwarming stories, witty cartoons, and heartache-survival strategies. Share a moment each morning with the Geranium Lady and soon you, like Barbara, will realize you've been "blessed to be a blessing." tragic adversity to

Barbara Johnson is a beloved author and speaker se work has helped millions learn the healing

'•>:

Known

>ns of love

and

mium Lady

for her best-selling

as the book, Stick a anium in Your Hat and Be Happy, she has written numerous best-selling books totaling more than five million copies in print. She and her husband. Bill, founded Spatula Ministries, an organization -n'gned to peel heartbroken parents off the ceiling i a spatula of love. When they're not traveling with the wildly popular Women of Faith conference tour, Barb and Bill live in Southern California. laughter.

$16.99 US ISBN 0-8499-1680-1

51699

WORD PUBLISHING 780849 916809 Cover Design by James lebbad lUustration by Dennis Hill

Devotional (DE)