Good Word Friday Theme: Refreshment and new life

Happy April! This month, we're focusing on the theme of refreshment and newness.

Think back to the last time your arms were full — heavy grocery bags maybe? A child on each hip perhaps? A backpack laden with textbooks? Maybe it was when you were transferring that boiling pot of pasta to the colander in the sink.

Not all burdens are bad. But, sometimes we feel weighed down in spirit, and we're not sure why. Today's verse asks, could it be sin?

Good Word Friday Theme: Charity

When was the last time you were reprimanded? Even if it was gently done, chances are good that it made you angry and defensive. None of us likes to be told we're wrong or that we're failing.

But, today's verse reminds us that correcting a fellow Christian who is overtaken in a fault is actually an act of love. Love! (Now, this verse isn't talking about correcting a person who slipped up once in a very small way, but someone who has given over a part of themselves to unrepentant sin.)

Today, we're returning to our regularly scheduled Good Word Fridays! We hope that you enjoyed the Israel 2020 series.

Good Word Friday Theme: Charity

What is today's proverb saying? That we should cover up people's indiscretions — like sweep them under the rug and pretend they never happened? Of course not.

The proverb is saying that when we overlook (or forgive) a person's mistake (especially an honest or well-intentioned mistake) that is an act of love. The second part of the verse says that when we gossip about it and spread it around, the result is offense. Idle prattle can drive a wedge between even the best of friends.

Good Word Friday Theme: Charity

Today's verse highlights one important way we can extend charity (love) to others. Have you ever heard someone say, "When it's well with you, please remember me"?

We all experience mountains and valleys in life. When you're on top of the world, feeling spiritually strong, and life is smooth sailing, then ask yourself, "Has God granted me this mountaintop so that I can focus on helping others through their valleys?"

It's the first Friday in February, and we're back to our regularly scheduled Good Words. This month's theme is charity.

What is charity?

Scripture tells us that the definition of charity is the pure love of Christ (Moroni 7:47). So, acts of love are acts of charity. Whether we're giving money to someone in need or fasting and praying on another's behalf, charity encompasses the broad, sweeping act of extending the love of God to one another.

Today is the last Good Word for 2019 and the final scripture in our series on "Wonder." This verse tells us that the counsel, teaching, and instruction of God is wonderful and amazing when we see it working.

Learning is great, but sometimes we become weary students. Reading God's Word can be tiring. Following His Word can be even harder. It doesn't seem all that wonderful.

As we approach the New Year, it's important to retain a sense of wonder in the face of God's counsel.

As we transition into Christmas week, we continue to highlight scriptures on our Good Word theme of "Wonder," especially this famous prophecy from Isaiah. It predicted that one of the Messiah's names would be Wonderful.

Anyone who cast a passing glance at Jesus on earth might beg to differ. He was a poor carpenter and itinerant teacher. Not of notable birth. Not comely in appearance or manners. Wonderful?

Today, we bring you another Good Word on the theme of "Wonder," (as in "awe-inspiring" and "astonishing.")

Have you ever seen a magician perform what looks like an impossible trick? If you discover how the magician accomplished the illusion, then your sense of wonder diminishes, doesn't it?

Many older children experience a similar disappointment around this time of year when they learn that there's more myth than truth surrounding a certain bearded fellow and his flying reindeer.

Today, we're introducing our final Good Word theme for 2019. This December, we're sharing scriptures related to "Wonder."

What is wonder? It's "a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable," as defined by Lexico.

The Christmas season is all about wonder, isn't it? Sparkling lights. Magnificent trees. Gorgeous food. Spellbinding stories. Charming carols. Warm traditions. They're all enchanting.

We're concluding this month's theme, "Boldness," with today's verse from Hebrews. It tells us to come boldly to the throne of grace. Two things are striking about this seemingly simple exhortation:

First, we're to approach God boldly, or with confidence. Do you remember the Old Testament temple? The Holiest of Holies was where God was supposed to meet with man. It was the innermost of several chambers, and the high priests were the only humans who could tread there, and even then, only by obeying God's instructions.

For Good Word Friday, we're exploring scriptures about boldness. Merriam-Webster defines "bold" as

• fearless before danger (intrepid)

This dictionary also includes the archaic meaning, which is "assured and confident," which, you can argue, applies nicely to today's scripture, too. In this light, boldness is good. It's something free from fear and doubt — how refreshing!

Today, we're continuing our Good Word theme of "Boldness." In this passage, Paul is explaining to the Ephesians that God has revealed to him and the other apostles a great mystery. (Ooh! What is it?!)

The mystery is that the Gentiles have access to the gospel of Jesus Christ and are being invited into the fold of God.

If you remember, this was a pretty seismic shift in the way Israel thought about God and man. It was huge. It was divisive. It was not an easy message for Paul to deliver no matter which way you slice it.

Today, we're talking Moroni 8, hoping to learn more about our Good Word theme of "Boldness."

This chapter contains a letter from Mormon to his son Moroni shortly after Moroni's ordination into the ministry. It's full of sage advice for everyone, especially those called to leadership.

We're looking at verse 16, which is almost an aside within a larger discussion about the abomination of baptizing children. Moroni condemns the baptism of little children with boldness — without fear or doubt, in complete confidence.

Today, we're starting a new theme for Good Word Friday. This month's theme is "Boldness."

First, let's define boldness. It means fearless and confident (not necessarily arrogant and impetuous). God wants a measure of boldness from us as His followers, and it's our goal to better understand this.

We're kicking things off with Acts 4:31. In this chapter, the apostles have just gone head to head with the high priest and other Jewish elders. (Eek!)

These religious leaders were upset with the apostles because the apostles were behaving with boldness for Christ. They were fearlessly and confidently proclaiming Jesus as Savior and healing people in Jesus' name. Verse 13 says that the boldness of these uneducated, common men astonished the councilmen.

Today is the last Friday in October, and we're presenting the last scripture related to our theme Fruitful. This scripture comes from Christ's parable of the sower.

A sower scattered seed (the Word of God) onto various types of ground (people):

• The wayside
• Stony places
• Thorns
• Good ground