Daily Encouragement

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Friday, March 22, 2019

Buttermilk waffles with hot maple syrup!

"Words Fitly Spoken"

Message summary: Today's encouragement is a reminder of the power of our words to encourage others.

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"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" (Proverbs 25:11). "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29).

Twenty years ago today, March 22, 1999 was one of the hardest days of my life. My Mom, who was living in Missouri met up with Brooksyne in San Francisco to attend the wedding of a young man who grew up in our church. They were staying with my older brother, Mike, in California. Following the wedding my mother had a bad fall which led to a very serious brain injury and required emergency brain surgery. Her life hung in the balance. Ester and I were home which was Massachusetts at that time. That same day I also experienced a personally painful dose of denominational politics in its nastiest form. Figuratively speaking it felt as though I had received several hard blows right in the stomach, knocking the wind right out of me.

The healing, as is so often the case, began almost immediately with a word "fitly" spoken. I recall my pain and dismay at the events occurring in my life and was somewhat slumped over under the weight of it all. A friend, sensitive toward my difficulties, approached me and placed his hand on my shoulder. In his own words he reminded me that God was in control and that He surely had a plan that I could not see at the time.

The next several months would be a time of overcoming as my Mom slowly recovered; eight days in the main hospital, then in a rehab hospital in California for eight weeks, and then months of recovery in our home. In spite of the severity of her injury she lived another 6½ years and did remarkably well. Of course God worked out the other issues in my ministry as well and I'm still plugging along or as I often say "staying faithful".

When you've experienced times of hardship or perplexity in life I hope you've received the wonderful encouragement of "a word fitly spoken". Or perhaps God has used you from time to time in giving "a word fitly spoken". The concept is taught in the New Testament as speaking words, "helpful for building others up according to their needs, benefiting those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29).

The daily Scripture verse is a proverb, which is a "short pithy saying" (pithy is a not a word I use a lot but recall from a Bible College definition). "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." The word "fitly" in the text translates a Hebrew word found only once in the entire Bible which conveys the sense of "in season", (translated "aptly" in the NIV). The New American Standard Version uses the phrase, "a word spoken in right circumstances". The Amplified states, "A word fitly spoken and in due season". The CEB version states, "The right word at the right time".

These are God-ordained words that go right to the heart that meet the need for a particular circumstance. I can specifically recall several other times in my life when I have received a "word fitly spoken". Once, shortly after we were married, I was greatly discouraged in regard to closed doors of ministry and Brooksyne spoke eleven meaningful words, "God will never lead us where His grace cannot keep us". It didn't change the immediate circumstances but it gave me a much more hopeful perspective that I still remember 42 years later.

When we offer words of encouragement or words of wisdom to others we're usually unaware of their effect! As I reflect on times when I have been the recipient of these needed words it occurs to me that generally they are very brief. I encourage you to reflect on times in your own life when someone has been a blessing in sharing such words with you. We mull them over and over in our minds and it deeply impacts our attitude or even our behavior.

Today's encouragement is a reminder of the power of our words to encourage others (whether spoken or written). Every one of you will have numerous opportunities throughout the day to build others up. For some that may be just a sentence or it might be a lengthy "formal" discussion.

Most encouragement is brief and may even seem rather inconsequential at the time. Who needs to hear (or read) such a word from you today? As you ask God for divine appointments in your workplace or your surroundings this day, may you be mindful of the needs of those around you. As the Lord enables you, be sure to offer "a word fitly spoken".

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, You know the exact number of words that will flow from my lips today, some of them meaningful and others meaningless. Would You help me to be conscious of the words I speak to others and make me sensitive to those who need caring words. Help me to look not only to my own interests but also to the interests of others as I offer words fitly spoken to those desperately needing to hear a word from You through a servant like me. Amen.

Brooksyne's Note: It's interesting to consider expressions of care, thought-provoking words, Christian music and other positive influences that have greatly impacted me over the years. Many of the messengers God has used in my life are unaware of how God used their "fitly spoken" words at various times. Occasionally it was a word of correction spoken not directly to me, but God applied it to my heart. As I am reading through Proverbs in my personal devotions I see the prevailing theme of using our words wisely and weighing our actions very carefully. I've committed quite a number of Proverbs to memory but wish I had made a habit of doing so when I was very young. Some Christians are in the habit of reading a Proverb everyday to coincide with the day of the month. For example on March 1 they read Proverbs 1 and today, March 22, they read Proverbs 22. It's a great exercise and no doubt much memorization will take place with little effort for those who do this faithfully.

Here are several other Scriptures with a similar theme.

"A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word!" (Proverbs 15:23).
"The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary" (Isaiah 50:4).
"For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes" (Jeremiah 31:25).

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"May The Words Of My Mouth" Video Tim Hughes

"To Be Pleasing You" Video Maranatha Singers

"Until Then" Concert: This coming Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM the Calvary Church Choir and Orchestra will feature a concert with the theme of heaven. I (Brooksyne) have sure enjoyed our rehearsals and look forward to singing in this concert. Selections include time honored hymns sung with the congregation and several newer selections with the theme of heaven. When I was a teenager "Until Then" was a choir number that we sang often in church and revivals. I never wearied of its message or tune, as a young person, and am thrilled to be singing it again in this setting since the words now seem more meaningful than in my youth. I still attend many concerts aimed at the younger crowds and enjoy them, but I'm also glad for a concert that has the older generation in mind. I hope many of our local readers can come out and be blessed by this concert. Come early because it will likely be very crowded. Here's another song we will be singing "Heaven Medley", a compilation of familiar songs. This time we'll provide a video of this medley by the Calvary Church Choir and Orchestra from a service last fall.

Update: For any who want to watch the concert will be live streamed at www.calvarychurch.org and the link will be on the front page. It will appear there 10 minutes before the concert begins.

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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