GOOD MEDICINE
Suggested Reading: Proverbs 16-17
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
These Israeli spices were once used for cooking and medicine. According to our key verse, not only does a merry heart spice up our lives, but it is the true health food!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.
In the synagogue at Nazareth Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah (Luke 4:16-30). This was Jesus’ mission statement as He began three years of public ministry. He declares that “The Spirit of the Lord…has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted…”
When reading this book, it’s difficult to choose which proverbs to highlight. These words are dripping with wisdom! Examples — “Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established” (16:3) and “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18). Consider this, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (16:25). Then there are prescriptions for maintaining good health, our key verse, as well as, “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones” (16:24). All grandparents need to listen up, particularly grandfathers: “Children’s children are the crown of old men” (17:6a). Who are our true friends? “A friend loves at all times” (17:17a). This works both ways. Each one of us needs to ask ourself, “Am I a true friend?”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I’m not capable of carrying out the wisdom of the Proverbs on my own. I ask for Your daily grace. I’m singing as I type, the old hymn written by Joseph Scrivens of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus!” (click here for a rendition of this classic song when Guy Penrod sang it on 100 Huntley Street). Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
My reaction to the Proverbs is “WOW!” and “OUCH!” I have learned a little wisdom (very little I think sometimes), and I am learning more as I read, mark, remember, and inwardly digest what I’m reading. For example, I need to do better in sticking to my goal of 100 words in each section of this blog. The last verse of Proverbs says, “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, [keeps to 100 words in my case] he is considered perceptive.” That’s it! I’ll stop right now. My original idea in this blog was to be short, so busy people would find time to read the Scriptures daily and complete the entire Bible in two years.
Yours with the intention of dispensing the wisdom of the ages,
David
P.S. I found it hard to resist a few more words, given the topic of our key verse! Please check out this segment from 100 Huntley Street from a couple of years ago, when we featured a DVD offer of our made-for-TV seniors’ series called Really Good Medicine (click here). To order a copy from our Crossroads online eStore, click here.
I remember when I first became a Christian, I would practically ingest every word of a Biblical passage, frequently highlighting verses and would meditate for a lengthy time on the passage at hand. Little did I know just how important a practice I had entered into for life. Yes I was spending time in the Bible but more importantly, I was spending valuable time with God. As today’s Scripture reading will reflect, the Bible is a storehouse of valuable nuggets that will richly nourish your soul, don’t cheat yourself with a cursory reading.
I had no idea that “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” was penned by a Canadian just down the road in Port Hope! Thanks for that interesting anecdote David.
Amen, Scott! Each proverb could be a lengthy group discussion!
Joseph Scriven was from Ireland, and he wrote the poem for his mother in Ireland. My great uncle, built a monument to him, which you can see near Rice Lake. He was also from Ireland. I remember singing “what a friend we have in Jesus” with my father, as we viewed the monument, when visiting Coburg with my Great Aunt Nancy and Great Uncle Jim Skillen. Uncle Jim and his brother built many things around the area, including a monument for the “The Golden Plough”. They were stone masons, and worked mostly with granite. They learned their trade cutting granite in the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland.
Please keep sharing your stories and wisdom even if it is over 100 words. I don’t think anyone minds you going over 100 words and we are blessed by your sharing.
Amen to that!
No we don t mind you going over the 100 words l could listen all day to your live events ,
A merry heart is singing songs of praise on you tube I funnny movie I would recomend played by
Jimmy Darante {the great Rupert} its from 1950s
It costs 14.99 it will , make u laugh
There is no better medicine as laughter
So all my fellow blogging buddies keep laughing
Thats your meds for today
God Bless and grant you favor 😉
I’m sure that no one minds you going over 100 words. There are always extra nuggets that we enjoy so much. Welcome back from your tour of the Holy Lands and how pleasant it was to hear from you…..like you weren’t even away. How good and how pleasant it is when brethren live together in unity. Thank you, Jesus, for the unity we have in You.
Blessing be on all of you today.
Many of today’s proverbs contained practical advise for avoiding and dealing with conflict. I liked the “plumbers” avoidance approach … “The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore, stop contention before a quarrel starts.”
Also, dealing with wrongdoing, “He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.” So much in all we’ve read to ponder and reflect upon! Have a great day, to all!
My mother, who is 90, has a saying ” Laugh or cry it won’t change anything” and it some ways that is correct. If I get stuck in a traffic jam for an hour whether I fume about it or laugh it off neither one will make the traffic go faster, but my choice will determine how I will experience that hour. If I fume I will be miserable, my blood pressure will go up, I will flood my body with stress chemicals that won’t be easy to shake after the traffic moves again. If I laugh about it, use the time to pray, or to count my blessings, my mood will be better and the hour will most likely not seem as long as it would have been if I fumed about it.
Sometimes, a good cry is in order and God has nothing against tears, but a lot things in life we make worst than they are and Scriptures like today reminds us to keep everything in a perspective.
So if you are brokenhearted today and don’t have a merry heart rest assured God cares for the brokenhearted He will not leave you there. But if you are feeling miserable because you choosing a negative outlook when you don’t have to, then try to heed the wisdom of today’s reading and change your attitude by choosing to see the positives. It will not change the circumstance, but it will change how you experience them and often how others experience you.
Please keep sharing David I think you have alot of wisdom
I am a detailed person so it doesn’t matter to me how short or long it is .
Have a safe day the weather doesn’t look good.
Lianne Hogg
Glad you are back from your wonderful trip to the Holy Land. Please stop worrying about going over in your blog.
We like to hear your thoughts and experiences.
God bless and thank you Lord for taking care of David and family while on the trip.
I don’t mind at all if you go over 100 words!!!! I so enjoyed the segment this morning of “Really Good Medicine”. Your teaching is always interesting and thought provoking and I look forward to it each day.
What a beautiful snowy winter wonderland this morning in my neck of the woods!!!!
Dear Rev. David M.
What a wonderful timing Gods Words have today as I am stuggling with a fabulous FLU and yes humor is a fantastic medicine . I also agree with all my fellow bloggers that you should never be concerned about your 100 words extending themselves every now and then . They always are the cherry on the cake . Todays Proverb was just perfect for my caregiver and very good friend who felt broken hearted by a lot of past and present dissapointments in human beings that seemed not to have a heart that cares anymore . But what a joy for my dear friend to know that she can give all her dissapoinments and all her pain to the One and Only Jesus . Amen .
Have a safe and blessed day on this rugged winter day.
xxxx Carole.
Lovely! Thank You Lord:) welcome back my christian family !
I don’t mind if you go over 100 words, they are all interesting!! I love that Hymn, my favourite actually!!
Get back home safely!!
Love
Nancy xoxoxo
Thank you again, David for your faithfulness in doing this blog and I always enjoy it. Proverbs has so many truths to meditate on. Lots of rain in the Maritimes today. God bless everyone.
Please write what’s on your heart David, regardless of the number of words. My prayer is that hearts will be touched for Jesus by all who read. Your teachings have given me insights that are beyond compare.
I don’t mind at all when you go over 100 words!! I am relishing the insight you are giving me in so many portions of scripture and mostly for the helping me to persevere in the daily reading of the Word!!