by George | Jul 20, 2021 | Community News, Newsletter
A Word Fitly Spoken
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.”
Proverbs 25:11
“Fitly.” Outside of the Bible, we don’t see or hear this word very much.
Dictionary.com defines fitly as: “in a proper or suitable manner.”
The New American Standard Version may help us understand this verse:
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.”
Oh, so this means that saying the right thing, at the right time is a good thing!
Got it.
Let’s travel back to the days of King Asa. He was the great-great-grandson of King David.
In II Chronicles 14, an army of a million soldiers came up against Judah. Asa cried out to God, and He defeated an army that was much larger than Judah’s!
Right after that great victory, a prophet named Azariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke to the king.
“And he went out to meet Asa and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”
II Chronicles 15:2
He then gives King Asa a reminder from history, and finishes up by saying:
“But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!”
II Chronicles 15:7
Hearing these words, the king took courage and set out to remove the idols, which led to a Spiritual revival.
Isn’t it interesting that God led Azariah to say these words right after a great victory?
When things are going well, we tend to let our guard down and get lazy.
God knew there was a lot of work for King Asa to do.
He used a little-known person named Azariah to provide a word “fitly” spoken.
Let’s ask God to use our words in the same manner- to give us the wisdom to say the right things. Maybe together, our words will become like a bushel of “apples of gold.”
by George | Jul 16, 2021 | Community News, Newsletter
Speak Life
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”
Psalms 43:5
Do you ever talk to yourself? I always heard “It’s ok to talk to yourself, but if you start answering yourself, you’re in trouble!”
I think we all talk to ourselves at times. This is also known as self-talk.
Healthline.com defines it this way:
“Self-talk is your internal dialogue. It’s influenced by your subconscious mind, and it reveals your thoughts, beliefs, questions, and ideas.”
The psalmist was talking to himself. He was asking himself why he was feeling down, feeling depressed.
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?”
He felt miserable and was “disquieted” within. Clearly, he lacked peace in his soul.
Instead of staying there, wallowing in self-pity, he decides to trust God, to “place his hope in God.”
Then, he decides to speak positively, to praise God.
“…For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”
When you feel down, you can either speak negatively, or you can speak positively, praising the Lord.
Like the psalmist, we have a choice.
Toby Mack, in the song “Speak Life” says:
“So speak life, speak life
To the deadest, darkest night
Speak life, speak life
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted
Watch ’em come alive as soon as you speak hope
You speak love, you speak
You speak life…”
Your words not only affect you, they affect others.
So “speak life” to all you come in contact with.
Praise the Lord!!!
by George | Jul 14, 2021 | Community News, Newsletter
Running With Purpose
“Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Many years, and many pounds ago, I ran cross country in high school.
My first coach was Mr. Johnson. He was a good coach, very knowledgeable, and fair.
One of the duties of a coach is to try and correct flaws in an athlete’s performance. I had a flaw that I wasn’t aware of. As I ran, my arms were spread out. In other words, they were not in alignment, closer to my body. This caused wasted energy that could have been used to help me move forward.
One day at practice, he gave me his stopwatch, which had a long cord. The idea was to hold on to the cord with both hands while running, thus keeping the arms closer to the body.
I remember feeling quite embarrassed and even crying. But, I never forgot that lesson, which helped me to run more efficiently and more disciplined.
Paul uses the analogy of a runner in 1 Corinthians 9:26-27.
Paul says “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim. I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
He ran with a purpose. He ran a disciplined race.
What is your purpose or aim as you run the race today? What is the “why” in what you do?
Perhaps like me, your arms are not in alignment, and you are wasting energy on things that keep you from running efficiently or disciplined.
Run with purpose, run with discipline, asking God to help you move forward towards the finish line.
