Fun

Hi and welcome back to another week on the Chrissie Murphy Designs blog. This week I’ve been reflecting on another of the words the Lord gave me to draw….. Fun. I think the Lord has a great sense of humour, because the last week has been anything but fun! It’s funny how things have lined up though….. You see, I thought I knew how this post was gonna go down, but it hasn’t turned out that way at all…. let me share with you what I mean.

I thought I’d see what fun means to people, and then I’d explore if it aligns to how we’re made

I came into this week wanting to explore what fun means to people, because I believe that fun means different things to different people. The dictionary defines fun as:

1. a source of enjoyment, amusement, diversion, etc
2. pleasure, gaiety, or merriment
3. jest or sport (esp in the phrases in or for fun)

But my definition of fun is “drawing, painting, colouring and blogging”.

Here’s what some other friends had to say about it:

Saundra Schultz, a friend in the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook group, says that fun “is camping with hubby and dogs, hiking to find a place to sit with coffee and my travel watercolour pouch, catching the sunrise over the lake…”

Claire Hastings, also in the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Group says that fun is “having a coffee and a chat with friends, not fun is housework”

Giselle Topper on Facebook says fun is “taking photos”. It is hey!!

Susan Stevens, also in the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Group says “Well…given that this morning I had dental and sinus surgery, tomorrow it will be fun NOT to have to do that again. But I will sleep in (ALWAYS fun!), maybe draw a little if I’m up to it, and definitely eat some chocolate! ”

I felt that these five completely different thoughts and definitions about fun, were pointing to the unique way we’re created.

The Bible says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made”, in other places we are referred to as “His masterpiece”. When an artist works on a piece of art, attention is given to everything.

Nothing is left unplanned.  I firmly believe that a sense of fun and delight has been deposited into each of us by the Master Artist at the time he was planning His Masterpiece. This deposit aligns with how we have been uniquely created and it’s a different deposit for each of us.

About here is where things began to take a different turn

So I started studying more about fun in the Bible. I began searching for verses that spoke of it and I was met with an overwhelming and unexpected response. Verse after verse spoke about making fun of people. I was quite upset by what I was reading, it was heartbreaking really….. Here’s a few verses so you get the idea – different Bible translations, but the same kind of message in all of them.

“The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses also made fun of Jesus. They said to each other, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself.” Mark 15:31 CEV

“So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children.” 1 Samuel 1:6 NLT

“But others poked fun at them and said, “They’re just drunk on new wine.” Acts 2:13 TPT

“He went up from there to Bethel, and going up on the way, little boys came out of the city and made fun of him and said to him, “Go up, you bald head! Go up, you bald head!” 2 Kings 2:23 MEV

Verse after verse about making fun of people, always due to some form of ignorance and/or a lack of understanding. Why do people feel that ridicule and making fun of others is appropriate when they can’t understand or appreciate someone else’s beliefs or behaviour?

Believe it or not, there’s nothing new to see here…

As Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” People making fun of people is not a new phenomen, it’s always been like that, and I believe it probably always will be. 2 Peter 3:3 says that in our last days people will be focused on themselves and their own selfish desires.

I anticipate that the focus and desire will be so strong in these people, that any person or thing that gets in the way of their desires or wants being fulfilled will be made fun of.  People will be ridiculed for acting, believing or thinking in a way that has a wider desire or want base as a foundation. In other words, be ridiculed for acting, believing or thinking of others instead of themselves.

As the saying goes, history repeats itself, nothing is new under the sun.  If heroes of the faith were “made fun of, beaten with whips, and some were chained in jail” (Hebrews 11:36), its safe to assume the same may apply for some of us as well.

So is there any hope if you’re being made fun of?

This Fun piece was made using lots of different shades of greens. Spiritually speaking, green is a colour that represents, prosperity, growth and life. And although I never planned it this way, now that I’m understanding what the Lord is saying through Fun, green is the perfect colour for this message.

If you’re enduring a time where you’re being made fun of, I want you to know the Lord see’s what’s happening to you and He’s with you. I know it doesn’t “feel” like it, but “faith” declares He is, so hold on by faith. He detests people making fun of others.  In Proverbs 19:29a it says that “punishment is made for mockers”. You can be assured that the Lord will, in His time, deal with those who make fun of others.

I’d also like to assure you that He uses every little thing for your good. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT.

What the enemy intends for evil, God can work for your good.  But there’s a part you need to play. It’s called “faith”, so you’ve got to hold on and believe by faith that He will use everything, including these awful experiences for your good.

That’s why Fun… in green… is right

You have to hold on to the promise that the Lord will work whatever you’re experiencing for your good. That it will ultimately prosper you and that it will ultimately grow you. Hold on to that by faith.  I pray that whatever you are enduring, the green reminds you to look up and remember where your help comes from. You are not alone.

I want you to truly know you’re not alone and I want to do that through upholding you in prayer. Jesus only ever did what he saw his father doing. My Father, the Lord, promises you are never alone, and I try to live my life doing what I see my Father doing. So if you’d like support through prayer for whatever you’re experiencing, leave me a comment or send me a private message (you can contact me here) and I will pray for you.  You will not be alone as you endure this.

Sometimes art resonates

Sometimes art resonates. Remember I shared about Resonate a little while ago… its when something resounds within you. If this blog post or piece of art resonates with you, leave me a comment and tell me how.

This one of a kind original piece of art is actually available to purchase. If it resonates with you, contact me and I’ll let you know how it can be yours.

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Until next time, listen to your heart and sharpen your coloured pencils. A masterpiece awaits!

Bless you my friend

Chrissie xx