A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
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.
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"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 6˝ 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.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).
"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
"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.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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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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