A Good Word Wednesday #106 PLANS
A little bit of help, hope and goodness for you each Wednesday 🗓️🛑⏱️
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Proverbs 12:25
Good Word of the Day: Plans
Are you a planner? Some of us have calendars on our phones, on our laptops, on our bulletin boards, and on our fridge. And our checklists are on all these things too.
Or maybe you are a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type of person. No lists needed. It’s all in your head. Until it isn’t.
But however you keep up with your schedule, life has a way of showing up unexpectedly and making havoc of our plans. Such as, when some of your family needs to spend the weekend at your house because their air conditioning goes out and it’s 87 degrees inside their home. Or, when you have a car wreck and everything stops because life is teetering on the edge. It has a way of getting your attention. It lets you know you really aren’t in charge. Who really is?
Scripture has much to say about plans. I’ve included some of those for you below. One of my favorites that I’ve carried around with me in my heart since I was a teenager is:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
What do you do when life goes topsy-turvy? How do you deal with changes in your well-made plans?
I’ve been making plans for quite a while about launching my book into the world. (Schedule included below.) And as much as I want it to go well and get Unseen People to as many people as possible, I know this book is in God’s hands. It was written to help us see the people He has made — many of whom are faceless, voiceless, unknown. That is my desire, my plan, my prayer that this book leads us all to see the unseen and point them to Christ. Will you join me in dedicating this book to the Lord?
Wednesday in the Word
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. Proverbs 19:21
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16
Share Your Good Words
Good Question(s) of the Week: How do you feel when your best laid plans get changed? What is the best advice you’ve received about how to deal with plans have changed?
Photo: She Is Safe
Good Unseen People
A few years ago, I posted this story in Stories for Global Good. It is also included in Unseen People. Here is a bit of that story:
But that season of my life was coming to an end, and I knew it. Each day as I sat in my office and looked over my planning calendar, I dealt with an unsettledness that I couldn’t explain. Yet, I didn’t know what was next. And then, I read a book. And I couldn’t get the stories out of my head and they found their way into my heart.
Read the whole story: A Book and a Burden
I invite you to read stories about how God calls us to see the unseen. Click the link below to read more on my website about Unseen People: Sharing Light and Life With Your Neighbors and the Nations.
I have three free gifts for you when you preorder Unseen People: (1) A Discussion Guide (for journaling or use in a small group setting); (2) I See You ebook; (3) The link to an exclusive Unseen People playlist. Simply order the book. Send me your order # to deannalynnsanders@gmail.com. It’s that easy! I will send these resources to you electronically for you to enjoy today. Watch the video explaining the process: Thank you!
You are invited to the Book Launch Party! Please save the date — August 6th! Join the Facebook event page ONLY 6 DAYS AWAY!
Here is my book launch schedule. I would love to see you at some in-person events:
This schedule is also the featured video in This Week in Unseen People. Episode 25: Book Launch Schedule
Good Words I Recommend
A Good Song/Video: Trust in You, Lauren Daigle — When plans don’t go as scheduled, this is a great song to turn to.
Another Good Song/Video: It is Well With My Soul, Chris Rice
Another Good Book: Wait and See: Finding Peace in God's Pauses and Plans
A Final Good Word
Monday was a challenging day for me. One of my church discipleship group daughters and her two young boys were involved in a devastating car wreck. While no life was lost, needless to say, it alters how they will live their coming days and weeks as they recover. It is also the day one year ago that my sweet sister lost her husband, just as they had entered a season of retirement. Instead, a season of grief has ensued. As I was thinking about these changes in their lives, I read these words my sister posted about this past year,
“Through all of this, I have grown in my walk with Jesus, our Lord and Provider. He has always been there when I felt alone or when sadness and loneliness seemed to overwhelm me. It has been through the prayers of many that I have been able to face each new day with hope and determination.”
I know those lessons were learned at a deep cost. But through the tunnel and dark days of mourning, the light of Christ shines. I hope when I face those days, I can proclaim, “It is Well With My Soul,” because I know Who is in control. That’s my prayer for you too.
Thank you for reading these words. I’m deeply honored to share this time with you each week.
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: “Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.” Jeremiah 30:2
Gratefully yours,
