A Good Word Wednesday #39

A little bit of goodness in your mailbox today -- FREE 🐦🐤🦅

Word of the Day - FREE

I have something FREE for you today. We all love free stuff. This gift is a list of words that can change your life. Keep reading for details on how to get yours today!

FREE - adjective:

1. Not imprisoned or confined.

2. Not controlled by obligation or the will of another.

3. Not controlled by another country or political power; independent.

Free as a _____. What word would you insert? I quickly think of free as a bird. (Apparently this was a Beatles song.) This is a word we as Americans love. Free. Freedom. Independent. Another popular song lyric comes to mind: “Proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.” As a country, we were founded with the mindset of independence from the overreaching interference from the mother country. We don’t want anyone messing with our First Amendment rights. And rightfully so. We as Christians don’t want the government, social groups or local organizations to infringe on our freedom of worship and to share our faith. And rightfully so. What do you love most about freedom as an American? As a follower of Jesus? How do you feel when your freedoms are limited or threatened? Please share your thoughts. Your insights and experiences encourage all of us.

We find much about freedom in the scriptures. I’ve listed a few in Wednesday in the Word below.

I also wrote a blog years ago about freedom and how my thoughts on freedom were shaped by growing up in the American South in the 1960’s. Find that piece in Good Unseen People below. I have a few other recommendations listed below as well.

So why all this talk about freedom today? We are still three months away from July 4th celebrations and fireworks. I’ve thought about freedom this week for a few reasons:

• The freedom we have in Christ because of what he did for us on the cross and on Easter morning.

• Our church discipleship groups are reading through the Gospel of John, which is my personal favorite gospel. There is much in this book about freedom and good news. Speaking of good news, check in next week for a good word about The Word.

• And…. drumroll please… because I want to give you a FREE gift today. Since you’ve read this far like I requested, I want to give you this resource: 7 Good Life Changing Words. These are words we’ve featured on a Wednesday including scripture and the link to that specific Good Word Wednesday. If you will click on the Comment button or send me an email and just say: FREE… I will send you this pdf to your inbox. And will you consider doing one more thing? Will you forward this newsletter to someone you think might enjoy receiving encouragement in their inbox each Wednesday? Thank you! Let me hear from you!

deannalynnsanders@gmail.com

I wanted you to know about this free resource first. Soon, I will share on social media the link to my website where new folks can sign up to receive A Good Word Wednesday AND the free 7 Word resource. I will soon create a free resource list on the website including:

• A Good Word 31 Day Guide

• The Introduction to Unseen People

• 7 Good Life Changing Words

If you would like any of these free resources now, just let me know. I will happily forward them on to you.

Wednesday in the Word

 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 31-32

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

Good Unseen People

This piece will be published in my upcoming book Unseen People: Sharing Light and Life with your Neighbors and the Nations. Click the button below to follow along with the progress of the book. Here is just a taste:

Journey to Freedom It seems to me that people who name the name of Christ should be the first ones to speak up for freedom for all people… regardless of skin color.. regardless of location… because we know the truth. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32.

So today… Celebrate freedom. Share the truth. Demonstrate love.

Good Words I Recommend

A Good Newsletter: I’m honored to write content for this amazing anti-trafficking organization. Take a look at this freedom edition.

A Good Song: Death Was Arrested. I love this song. We sing this at my church often. We sang it on Easter Sunday morning as a celebration of what Jesus did on the cross for us. We are forever free. Take a few minutes to listen. Just for fun, count how many times the words free or freedom are mentioned. Let me know and let’s see if our count matches. Here are some lyrics to whet your appetite: Oh, we're free, free, Forever we're free. Come join the song Of all the redeemed Yes, we're free free. Forever amen When death was arrested and my life began.

A Good Book: Here is a classic on freedom in Christ by Martin Luther.

A Good Facebook Page: I failed to mention last week that this speaker/writer/friend posted one of my stories on her very popular page. Mine was posted on April 1st. It’s a story about my son when he was a boy and said, “Mom, are you worrying?” I will include it on my website as well.

NOTE: Some of the links above are associate links. That means, when you click and purchase, I receive a small percentage of that sale. Those funds, as well as funds from paid subscribers, supports my writing this piece each week. Thank you! I commit to forwarding a minimum of 10% to the amazing nonprofits: She Is Safe and The Red Cord. They help raise awareness of sex trafficking. They help prevent, rescue and restore victims to new life.

A Final Word

When do you feel the most free? Where do you go to find freedom? What words of freedom bring you comfort?

It’s a big word loaded with deep meaning. Thank you for thinking about freedom with me today. I hope on this good Wednesday that you experience faith, hope, love and a new breath of freedom.

As always, until next week, share a Good Word with someone today,

Gratefully yours,