Words Aptly Spoken

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. – Proverbs 25:11 (NIV)

What are good words you have told someone else? Who has cheered you up with an encouraging word? While I am not sure what an apple of gold in a setting of silver is, I know it is precious; what about a kind word is precious?

There is a story about George Washington when he took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge. Upon his arrival he looked over a group of soldiers that looked to have no hope at all to most who would have seen them.
Some had uniforms and some did not. Some had guns and others only had sticks or not even that.
Apparently the regiment from Connecticut looked particularly bad. They were just a few poorly armed and poorly dressed men who did not even stand at attention.
Most of that regiment’s soldiers appeared to be discouraged. Many were hungry and had gone without a meal for days. They were a sorry lot.
As the regiment was drawn up for Washington to look at them, the general stood erect and, looking at them as if they were the finest regiment in the world, he said, “Gentlemen, I have great confidence in the men of Connecticut.”
One of the soldiers wrote home to his family and said, “When I heard Washington say that, I clasped my musket to my breast and said to myself, ‘Let them come on.’”

When Jesus was following Jairus to heal the latter’s little daughter word arrived that the little girl had died. “Don’t trouble the master any further,” someone told Jairus. Then Jesus grabbed the stricken father’s shoulders and looked him in the eyes, “Have no fear, only believe!” What hope, what joy! There are plenty who need to hear good words, and let us thank God that we can share them.

With hope and joy,
Garrett

The Grace and Truth Within

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14 (NRSV)

What does it mean to you that the Word became flesh? How have you witnessed Jesus live among you? Where have you seen his glory? Where is his grace and truth still on full display? How do you celebrate this event?

I once heard a story of a woman in her early 30s who went to a soup kitchen with some friends to serve the needy. It was Christmas time and they all felt the spirit of the season and knew they needed to do something to help others. The group of them arrived and began to help cook, and set up the coats that were to be given away, and prepare the tables for the people who were about to arrive.
The woman had taken off her coat and set it on a chair as she helped set things up. Eventually the needy people arrived and they were served a hot meal prepared with love, they were able to look through coats and take what they needed, it all went off well. As the afternoon kept going on, one of the woman’s friends came up to her and said, “I just saw someone go off with your coat! She must have thought it was being given away.” “Oh no that is my best coat, and it goes so well with my scarf.” “Well you should go run after her and get it back.”
The woman grabbed her scarf and ran off after the lady who had mistakenly taken her coat. A couple of minutes later she returned. Her friend asked, “Where is your coat? Was she unwilling to give it back?” “No, no, I didn’t ask for it back.” “Why not?” “I was running after her and then realized I can get a new coat. So I decided to give her the scarf too, because it goes so well with the coat.”

Jesus still lives among us. Jesus lives in every kind act, in every loving heart, in every joy filled laugh, and in every moment that is full of grace and truth. That woman was full of grace and truth when she made it back to the soup kitchen. Christmas is approaching. Let us pray that this Christmas is the one where we accept Jesus into our hearts so that he lives in us not just at this time of year, but all year every year. Then people might see his glory through us!

With hope and joy,
Garrett