On Sunday, my family and I spent an hour and a half sitting in a historical building, enjoying and laughing at a live comedy show. Yes, it was Mother’s Day and yes, that’s what I wanted to do.

Why?

Because I value laughter. Plus I know the comedian, she’s a sweet friend.

Do you value laughter? Why or why not? Did you know there are huge health benefits to laughing?

Here are just a few:

TO FINISH READING – Visit Laced with Grace  HERE.

So who is Lisa Buffaloe?

Lisa Buffaloe is an avid blogger, writer, speaker, and radio host for Living Joyfully Free. Her past experiences—molestation by a baby-sitter, assault, rape by a doctor, divorce, being stalked, cancer, death of loved ones, seven surgeries, and eleven years of chronic illness from Lyme Disease—bless her with a backdrop to share God’s amazing promises. She loves to tell others that God’s love is unending, and through Him we find healing, restoration, and renewal.

Wow, I’m so glad God has captured Lisa’s heart. Aren’t you?

Okay onto Lisa’s thoughts on Wrinkles and Pimples.

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The mirror doesn’t always make me happy. Wrinkles are now obvious, and to add insult to injury I still get pimples. Goodness, I think I’m trapped between puberty and menopause.

Spiritually I have the same problem. I think I’m getting older and wiser, but continue to make decisions which could be deemed childless. Maybe that’s just part of the growth process. The closer I move toward God, the more I see my flaws, and the more I realize His constant guidance and presence are needed.

As long as I remain on this earth, I’ll keep aging and unfortunately wrinkling, but hopefully growing closer to God.
I do wish that as we aged we would just get cuter and smarter. Perhaps with eternal reality that is true. Our earthly journey is only part of the picture. We age on earth, to be young and our best in Heaven. Oh my, I like that thought!

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (Philippians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV).

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To find out more about Lisa, please visit her website.

Lisa’s blog for writers, Fliterary. (my photo is the header, fun!)

Find Lisa on ShoutLife.

To listen to our conversation, please visit HERE

I love Lisa’s ministry and her blog. Please stop by and give her some love this week! Tomorrow I will feature Lisa’s words here, a devotion called Wrinkles and Pimples.

How do you measure your spiritual growth?

For many of us, we measure it by our church attendance, how much or how often we pray, or if we have read our Bible that day. All those things are great but there is a better way to measure our spiritual growth.

It’s simple.

It’s profound.

And if we really grasp it, we can change the world.

Our spiritual growth is measured by our love.

Love is the measuring tape.

So how deep is your love today? 

How’s your love life going? And I’m not talking about a significant other. I’m talking about the love of God inside your heart.

* Is it growing? Is it stagnant?

*Do you love God more this month than you did last month?

* Do you love yourself? How can we love our neighbors if we don’t even love ourselves?

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39

* Are you more forgiving and tolerant because of love?

* Do you love your spouse more than when you first married –or have you let bitterness or apathy take root instead?

* Do you truly care about the souls of others, even that maniac driver who just cut you off?

Do you long to love the world like Jesus?

I do.

But the truth is I don’t. I have conditional, temperamental love. Sure, I see love in my heart. Love for God, my family, myself, and others, but I also see things like resentment, jealousy and fear. I thought perfect love casts out all fear? Hmm.

My life goal is to have an amazing love life. You? I mean after all, who doesn’t love a good romance?

Love stories change lives. Think Titanic or Gone with the Wind or The Notebook.  Our love stories can change lives too. But first we must receive the depths of God’s love for ourselves.

Have you received God’s love yet? Do you believe Jesus died because of His love for you personally?

If not, what a perfect place to jump start your spiritual growth.

Start with love.

I am.

Father God, help us stop measuring our spiritual growth by the check lists, instead help us measure our lives by love and love alone. Your love, Jesus. Help us receive Your love for ourselves and then teach us to love. We want to live out amazing love stories that drawn others to You. Amen

( For further reflection or study, please read all about love from 1 Corinthians 13.)

In the busyness of our lives, we need a visual reminder to just be still.

May today be the day you set aside time to just be still and know God more.

Counting my gifts still:

426. The sounds of laughter – so healing

427. The fun personalities of my son, Justin, (brown hair) and his wacky friend, Jacob

428. Justin and his beautiful girlfriend, Brittany on Prom Night

429. My precious daughter, Hannah (dark hair) and her best friend sporting Justin’s new t-shirts

430.An amazing dinner with the family and Grandma on Saturday night

431. Date night with my husband – sushi on Friday night

432. the love of my husband – (pic from Estes Park)

433. Financial and prayer support from friends and family for my first 5K on June 2nd

434. helping a precious friend with her website today – love her dearly!!

435. celebrating a dear friend’s debut novel, Wish You Were Here.    Congrats, Beth.

436. rain today – buckets of much needed moisture

437. cheesecake – topped with blueberries

438. courage to start running – slow and steady I go. I don’t like it yet but I press on. I have a race to run in 4 weeks.

439. warm 80 degree Colorado days

440. getting letters in my mailbox from my aunt -  sweet words of love and encouragement exchanged

441. my kitchen chalk board – a creative place to write verses, notes or to draw pics

442. God’s great love that covers me daily

443. peace

444. the ability to hear

445. seeing daily paintings in the skies: pink sunrises, mid-day cloud formations and orange sunsets

446. my taste buds

447. the bubbling excitement of next week’s writer’s conference

448. the comfort of knowing God is always with me

449. knowing I am deeply loved by God just as I am

450. and on a playful note, my son’s newest prank video (JStuStudios) - crazy falling and banging into things. (yes, they clean their messes)

To start counting your gifts, please join Ann and friends at A Holy Experience

Need an answer for your problems today?

Seek God’s Word.

Nothing else is wiser.

Nothing else lasts forever.

Thank You, God, for Your everlasting Word.

Couldn’t we all use a little more fruit in our lives?

This week I’m working on cleaning out my photos on my laptop because I need to load a few hundred more from the weekend.(I took pics at the FYI Conference)

FACT: I have 16,000 pics on my computer and my computer isn’t happy.

Yes, I take too many photos.

Yes, I should print my favorites.

And yes, I should delete more.

Today I am sharing a photo that caught my eye and the Psalm that is on my heart.

Father God, thank You for the gift of being able to pray to You, for others. I find comfort in knowing I can come to You and You hear and answer.

Lord, so many people are grieving right now. I know of some personally and my heart aches with them. This life is hard and sometimes even cruel. We don’t understand. We get mad. We feel abandoned, forgotten, and alone. Sometimes You allow sorrow and loss to break our hearts and we want to know why. We need reasons. We need hope. But I believe we can trust You when our “why” goes unanswered. Often this life makes no sense. But I totally trust You are always, always good in spite of our suffering.

You are good.

You are God, sovereign over all.

You know what we don’t know.

Your ways are not our ways.

Your thoughts and plans are higher.

We see dimly through eyes of pain. We hurt because we once loved. And now we’ve lost that love.

God, please comfort and peace to those who are dealing with deep grief, loss, or tragedy. You know their names. You know their stories. You know where they live and the number of their days. You know the reasons they weep today. Your Word says You are our comforter, the God of all comfort. Jesus, You are the prince of peace. Your peace passes all understanding.I cling to hope that You can change our sorrows into songs of joy. I’ve seen that happen personally.

Almighty, all powerful God. I am asking for You to Hold those who are grieving close to Your heart today. Love them in a way they have never known. Let them feel Your amazing love. May Your love be more than enough during this time. Wipe their tears. Cuddle them. Rock them to sleep. Let them know they are never truly alone. Let them know You are always there. You are Emmanuel, God with us.

And when everything in this world is lost, Your love remains. Today, forever, always.

Thank You, Lord.

In Jesus’ powerful and healing name I pray, Amen.