Friday Slowdown - Kind Words

I enjoy the searches that I do, to find songs and hymns that work with our studies. This one has been in my ear since I found it . . . I hope that you enjoy this, on today's Friday Slowdown.

Let us Oft Speak Kind Words

Let us oft speak kind words to each other

At home or where'er we may be;

Like the warblings of birds on the heather,

The tones will be welcome and free.

They'll gladden the heart that's repining,

Give courage and hope from above,

And where the dark clouds hide the shining,

Let in the bright sunlight of love.

 

Oh, the kind words we give shall in memory live

And sunshine forever impart.

Let us oft speak kind words to each other;

Kind words are sweet tones of the heart.

 

Like the sunbeams of morn on the mountains,

The soul they awake to good cheer;

Like the murmur of cool, pleasant fountains,

They fall in sweet cadences near.

Let's oft, then, in kindly toned voices,

Our mutual friendship renew,

Till heart meets with heart and rejoices

In friendship that ever is true.

 

 

Proverbs 25:11-12 Apples of Gold, Part II

11 A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.  
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

On our second day of considering these verses, I thought I might bring in another of Solomon's proverbs, that we covered earlier --- Proverbs 18:21 tells us the "the tongue has the power of life and death." Our "death" words can crush a person's spirit and leave them feeling there is no hope. I'm sure that we can all remember times that someone has said something to us that hurt very deeply. Perhaps they said it in jest -- a "just kidding" kind of remark. But you know, that doesn't make it hurt any less.

Usually, we don't intend to hurt someone. It just pops out. I'm sure there have been times when you (and I) have said something that hurt someone. What a guilt that is. I always try to apologize the moment that I know, and then make up for it somehow. But that may not be entirely possible sometimes. 

Then there are the "life" words: the words that Solomon referred to as "aptly spoken." He told us in Proverbs 15:4 that "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life." 

We've probably all been in situations where a child needed a "good word" or some encouragement. Well, we adults do, too. Paul tells us that we, too are in the race and we need encouragement, we too need to hear those words that inspire, encourage, and give life.
Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us...”

And we not only have witnesses, we have each other:
Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

As I completed this study, I found myself more than ever praying this prayer:
Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Proverbs 25: 11-12 Apples of Gold, Part I

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11 A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.  
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

There is so much contained in these verses that we will visit them for two days . . . hang in there with me, and I hope we'll get a lot from this study.

We've talked and studied before about our language. We've discussed the words that we choose, and how we say them, and to whom they are said. Solomon is using some picturesque language here, comparing words "fitly" spoken to golden apples --- things of great value.

Words can mean different things to different people, can't they? Have you ever considered why a doctor in business calls it a "practice"? How about why when it's a road we drive on, it's called a "parkway" and when it's where we park our jalopy, it is called a "driveway"?

As a blogger, I've run across situations where someone who speaks a different language than I do, has left a comment that confuses me. Even after using a translation site, I'm not sure what they mean. And when I answer them, sometimes they don't know what I am saying! Here's an example of problems with translation: the Pepsi slogan "Come alive with the Pepsi generation" means "Pepsi will bring back your ancestors from the dead" to someone in Taiwan.  Similarly, years ago the General Motors car called the "Nova" didn't sell very well in South America. Why? The word meant "it won't go" in Spanish.

You can see that the words that we choose don't always have the effect that we desire. And sometimes we don't know what words to choose, and we can even choose words that end up doing more harm than good.
But there are times when the words we speak have very little meaning at all . . . Sometimes they are just plain shallow.
How many times have we asked each other "How are you doing?" "Good to see you." "Have a nice day."  Are we being polite, or do we really mean it?

Some words sound good but they really are bad for us --- they can destroy us. In Jeremiah's day, there were false prophets who simply said what the people wanted to hear; they didn't speak the truth. They ended up being punished for those false words.  Lots of people today have that same issue: when they go to church they want to hear words that sound good, and make them feel good, and they are not as interested in the truth. After all, the truth is sometimes uncomfortable.
God's word may not always tell me what I want to hear --- but it is always something that I need to hear.

Language is a gift from God, and can be so very powerful. Our words can hurt or heal, unite or divide, build up or tear down. They can make someone very happy, or make them very sad.
We'll visit this passage again tomorrow . . .

Proverbs 15 : 7 Do I winnow my words?

I know you may have looked at the title and said "Huh? What is she talking about?"  I'll try to explain.

Pro 15:7  The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

At first glance, this verse seems to kinda go against one that we studied recently . . . In verse 33 of chapter 14, we read: Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

You might recall that we talked about how the foolish person will go to great lengths, do everything in his or her power to find ways to bring the conversation around to what they want to talk about, or boast about. We discussed that the wise person will many times hold their knowledge "close to the vest," or at least not be over-eager to display what they know.  Well, this verse seems to be telling us to disperse or share our knowledge --- Hey, Solomon, what gives?

One of the synonyms that I found when I clicked on "disperse" was to "winnow." That brings to mind the tossing of the harvested grain into the air in ancient times --- the chaff, or useless portion, would be carried away on the wind, while the useful portion of the grain would fall to the ground to be gathered up and used. Perhaps what Solomon is telling us, is that we need to be guided by humility and prudence, and share our knowledge in a reasonable and measured manner.  To be certain when we share, that it is the useful grain, not the chaff --- something that will bless, and will edify or comfort the hearer.


It made me think about whether or not I "winnow" my words . . . am I careful to choose the grain? Or am I distributing chaff a great deal of the time?


Lord, please keep your arm around my shoulders, and your hand over my mouth.  :)

Proverbs 11:12 - 13 Thumper had it Right!

Hi! My name is Jacque -- tho my blogging friends know me by my nickname, Snoodles! I am honored that Tonya entrusted some of the posts to me, and I hope that you will not find my notes too dull! I am praying that the Lord will guide me, and that His Word will open our hearts to what He wants us to learn.

Read verses 12 and 13 of chapter 11, and then let's think on them....

Ready? Good!

I think these verses go together nicely, because they address almost the same issue. In each verse, there is a negative, and then a positive....first, the negative in verse 12. Solomon mentions a person who "despiseth his neighbor" and says he is lacking in wisdom. Then the positive --- a person of understanding who "holds his peace." 

Hang on, I'll get to Thumper in a minute!

In verse thirteen, he mentions a "talebearer" and then the positive: a person of a "faithful spirit" who conceals a matter. Hmmmm, I think it's time to let Thumper have his say!

You recall Thumper, don't you? In the movie Bambi?  Thumper's mommie has to tell him (pretty often, I think!) that "if you don't have sumpin nice to say, then don't say nothin' at all!"

I think he just summarized these verses for us! God's Word reveals that if we are a person of understanding, and have a faithful spirit, we will not despise our neighbors, or be a talebearer. Instead, we will hold our peace. I kinda get the idea that Solomon's choice of words here: "conceals a matter" doesn't mean we are covering up for someone --- the alternative was to be a talebearer.... I believe that it means that we are not carrying gossip and spreading it around. Whoa! That's a biggie!

One particular verse in the last chapter of Proverbs just popped into my head....verse 26 is what I'll leave for us to think about --- that, and Thumper.
"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness."
Let me know what you think about these verses. Has the Spirit reminded anyone besides me, of a time when a kind word should have been spoken, or just no words spoken at all?