Wednesday SHINE.....

Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 27:1-28:14

Happy Worship Wednesday, SHINE girls! I hope your week is going well. You sure have been in my prayers this week...every single one of you.

I have been praying specifically for your covering, protection and favor as your week continues on. Each of you have been drenched in prayer this week. I sure hope you have been feeling His peace.

Today, we have a very special SHINE girl's story about her Mother. Sarah Frachiseur is a precious friend and SHINE prayer warrior. She has prayed over all of you and continues to daily.

I am so thankful for this girl! She has an incredible story to share with us about her Mother. I know you will be inspired! {and you will be inspired to LAUGH!} How fun is that?!

This post is especially dear to my heart because I love Sarah's Mama, and I LOVE to laugh!

Be blessed, friends.

My Mama

by: Sarah Frachiseur

Sarah, Savannah {Sarah's daughter}, and Terri {Sarah's Mama}

Hey y’all! Jill asked me to write about my Mama. As I was praying and thinking on what to share, 

my Mama’s laugh kept coming to mind!

If you know my Mama, you know that she loves to laugh! And she likes to laugh loud. J

Her laugh was heard at any basketball game in any gym I was playing in, across any softball field I was playing at, and everywhere in between! It’s loud y’all! It’s real funny too. J

I played sports all through school, and my Mama and Daddy did not miss games. They were there, every time, cheering me on. I usually rode the bus with my team to my games. I would glance at the stands during warm-ups to make sure they had arrived safely.

I always knew when my Mama was there because I could hear her laugh! Sometimes my friends would even say, “Oh my gosh! Was that your Mom?!” They all knew the laugh too! J

My Mom and I have always enjoyed laughing at my Dad and my brother! My Dad is hilarious and he doesn’t know it, and my brother came out of the womb as an entertainer.

My Dad is a Vietnam Vet, so loud noises startle him. I learned at a very early age not to jump out from behind a bush and yell, “Boo!” Her laugh has always startled him! And after she startles him, she laughs even more at his reaction!

My brother can bring this laugh on by just being himself. If you know him, you know he brings the entertainment!

She is also known for sending animals into hiding, and stopping them in their tracks as they crouch to the floor looking for an escape route. Especially cats!

Here’s a little story of how she “weathered the storm” with her humor! My Mama signed everyone up to go deep sea fishing while vacationing at Myrtle Beach years ago. We were MILES off shore, and you could see no land. A bad storm came about and we were caught in 8 foot swells. Huge swells. This was not fun. Other boats around us were going out of sight. I was terrified of going overboard no matter how hard I held on (we had no life jacket on!). We were holding on to the boat and each other for dear life, with waves coming over the side of the boat and crashing down on top of us.

In the middle of the “up and down, up and down” my Mama had lost her lunch (sorry for the details, we were all so sick!), my dad lost his, and the deckhand who claimed he never got sick was hanging over the side.

My sister-in-law (Tonia, my brother’s wife) and I had our heads on our husband’s shoulders holding on to them, and trying not to go overboard or lose our lunch. And my brother-in-law (Zack, my husband’s brother) was eating Oreos…he’s a different breed! His stomach is made of steel. Hahaha! J

After she lost her lunch overboard, she was trying to console everyone around her and had a smile on her face and was laughing! I kindly asked her to move out of my face since she had part of her lunch left on her shirt, and proceeded with closing my eyes and picturing myself on shore.

The Lord delivered us safely to the shore that day. I kissed the ground. J

Please laugh today! I urge you to find the humor in something! Even when everything seems to be crumbling down around you, or you are in that 8 foot swell of a storm, find that special someone that you can share a chuckle with. It will lift your mood, change the atmosphere around you, and change your mindset.

We laughed a lot growing up in my house, and it was usually at each other! Our home was not perfect, we all had our struggles, and laughter seemed to lighten the load.

Laugh with those you love, and let that joy fill your home. I can still hear my Mama’s voice saying, “Just laugh about it!”

Jill shared something awesome with us a couple of months ago about the Proverbs 31 woman. “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25 

We know who is in control! No matter what, He’s got our back. Don’t let the weight of this world steal your joy.

“But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” Psalm 68:3

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful” Proverbs 15:13

My guess would be that the enemy hates laughter. He wants to see us miserable, beat up, and without joy. “The thief comes only to kill and steal and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 Don’t let the enemy steal your joy!!!

My prayer for you today is that the weight of depression, anger, frustration, hurt, or anything else that is pulling you down would be lifted in Jesus name. And I pray that His joy would be released on you and into your life! And on your children, family, and your home!

“I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” Jeremiah 31:13

Happy Mother’s Day to each Mother out there! Share a laugh with your children or your mother.

And if Mother’s Day is one of those holidays that is so tough for you because you have lost your mother, you never knew your mother, or your mother wasn’t there for you, I pray for peace for you today.

I ask in Jesus name that He would fill that void in your life, and bring you joy and peace that surpasses all understanding. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phillippians 4:7 In the way that only He can do!

Much love to each one of you! 

Love, Sarah Frachiseur