A Good Word Wednesday #11 🌸

Because we all need words of encouragement, hope, healing and purpose

Good Word of the Day — SEE

Add to that: Seen, Known, Loved

Don’t you imagine Hagar, the Old Testament slave of Sarah’s, who became an outcast, felt unseen and unloved? You can read her story in Genesis 16 — 21. When she was alone in the desert, she cried out to God in distress. He answered through his angel and brought her hope and healing. Hagar knew she had been seen and loved by the God she had never known before. She spoke back to God a descriptive name, “You are a God of seeing.”

There are many instances throughout scripture when God sees people and calls them by name. Think of the stories of Adam, Samuel, Peter, Zacchaeus, Mary, Martha, Saul. He saw them where they were. Called them by name. And changed them forever.

Do you remember where you were when you first felt like God saw you and called your name?

It’s a challenge to us to be aware that we too, in the midst of loneliness, pain, and despair, that God sees us, loves us, gives us a purpose, and a job to do.

It’s also a challenge to us to see those who are typically unseen in our ordinary lives and bring them the hope we’ve been given.

Wednesday in the Word

So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Genesis 16:13 ESV

Words I Recommend

A Good Quote:

“It turns out, people don’t want to be impressed. People want to be seen. People want to be known. People want to know they are not alone.” How Not to Save the World: The Truth Above Revealing God’s Love to the People Right Next to You, Hosanna WongAmazon-How Not to Save the World

Another Good Quote:

“There is but one good; that is God. Everything else is good when it looks to Him and bad when it turns from Him.” C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce Amazon The Great Divorce

A Good Video — He Knows My Name, Francesca Battistelli YouTube He Knows My Name

A Good Blog Stories for Global Good-Next Door Neighbor Challenge

What if we started seeing people and calling them by name beginning with our next door neighbors? What if this is the first step toward showing them the love of Christ and leading them to a relationship with Him? Next Door Neighbor Challenge.

This week, as I was walking in my neighborhood, I met Michele that lives in a house on the cul-de-sak near me. She likes to work in her yard, so I paused from my paces and introduced myself. It’s only taken me 1 1/2 years to do that. Good grief. Why did that take so long? Time to seize the moments God gives us. Who have you gotten to know recently? Did you learn their name? Tell me about it.

A Final Word

This coming Saturday is the day I share with the women’s group at Harvey Road Baptist Church, Seminole, OK. Sneak peek, just in case anyone in that group is reading this section: I will share with them about seeing unseen people next door, in our nation and around the world. But first, I start with building a bridge and sharing who I am. I will ask them to write down three words that describe themselves. I will leave them with the challenge to consider how they as a group can see the unseen in their neighborhood and the nations. I appreciate your prayers. I will let you know next week what God has done through this event.

Grateful for you. Until next week, share a good word with someone today.

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