WORD OF THE WEEK - ONLY -4-20-2025

Definition: unquestionably the best; as a single fact or instance and nothing more or different; the final result.

Scriptures:
2 Samuel 7:22 - "Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears."
Psalm 62:5 - “My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.”
Proverbs 19:21 - “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Website:  www.wow-newton.com

Website: www.wow-newton.com
Email:  osnewton@wow-newton.com

Transcript

Definition: unquestionably the best; as a single fact or instance and nothing more or different; the final result.
Scriptures:
2 Samuel 7:22 - "Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears."
Psalm 62:5 - “My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.”
Proverbs 19:21 - “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
THOUGHT:
ONLY GOD

No one knows what my fate will be — ONLY GOD.No one knows my destiny — ONLY GOD.When life has lost every gleam,And when all hope is gone, it seems,When man has gone to his extreme,No one can help — ONLY GOD.ONLY GOD, with all His might,When things go wrong, can make them right.ONLY GOD, with His great power,Can determine each minute, each day, each hour.Anytime, anyplace, anywhere,In my heart, there will always be a prayer —To the One who always cares and shares.That One is GOD — ONLY GOD.

This hymn, written in 1959 by Geneser Smith and featured in The New National Baptist Hymnal, has been my go-to song when life feels out of control — which, to be honest, is often.

Let’s face it: How can we assert control over governmental changes? Or alter the weather when a storm is brewing? Or change that crucial play that causes our favorite team to lose? It is during moments like these that we realize how little control we have over our circumstances.

It is in moments like these that we come face to face with a hard truth: our control over life is limited. We can respond with anger, despair, or frustration — or we can surrender our burdens to the One who calms our fears and renews our perspective. That One is God. ONLY GOD.

I am reminded of my days as a Human Resources professional during the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Most adults can vividly recall where they were during those devastating hours.  I was preparing for work when my sister called, urging me to check the news. I became glued to the television, horrified as the Twin Towers fell and the Pentagon was struck. It was the most jarring reminder I had ever had of how quickly life can turn — and how powerless we are to stop it.

America suffered a chain of destruction that felt unprecedented since Pearl Harbor, when the Japanese attacked the Island of Oahu. But this time, the reality of global war came to the mainland, audaciously striking the heart of global trade in New York City.

It was the first time I understood what it means to have no control. As a Human Resources Director, it became my responsibility to help others confront a difficult truth: There is extraordinarily little in life over which we have control.
Yes, we make daily choices — which route to take, what to wear, what to eat — but the outcomes of those choices remain out of our control.

A chosen route might help us avoid an accident—or lead us directly into a flooded street from a busted pipe. A delayed train might cause us to miss an important meeting—or prevent us from being caught in a workplace shooting. Ultimately, we do not control the outcomes. ONLY GOD does.

Faith in God gives us the strength to accept whatever life brings. Trust in Him allows us to surrender the illusion of control and rest in peace, no matter the result. The exclusive right to guide and govern our lives belongs to the Creator.
That One is God.  ONLY GOD!