A Good Word Wednesday #47 Scattered 🪴💦🚗

A little bit of goodness in your mailbox today

Word of the Day - Scattered

Here we are — the beginning of summer — 90 degree LONG days. I have to admit, summer is my least favorite season. I wrote a blog about it a few years ago that I listed below. It was written at the end of summer instead of the beginning. It’s not just the heat I don’t like, I don’t like feeling scattered. My weekly routine isn’t affected very much now except for extended time with our grandchildren who have more free days. But people are scattered. Work gets postponed while vacations happen. People are gone from church. Regular life will wait until summer break is over.

ALL of the children are out of school and ALL of them are in Wal Mart when I have to shop. And if you aren’t in Wal Mart, you are on vacation. Just this week I’ve seen photos on Facebook from Philadelphia, Montana… zoos, museums… and the inside of cars as families try to smile on their road trips.

I see you. Not that I blame you. We all need a change of pace and a break from the routine. So we scatter ourselves across the states and around the world.

And that’s a good thing. Pastor Bryan says at the end of every Sunday service, “We’ve been the church gathered. Now, as we leave, we will be the church scattered.” It’s good to be scattered on purpose. We get to take the love of Christ with us wherever we go. Just like in the book of Acts in the New Testament. The church went from Acts 1:8 to Acts 8:1. See those references below. Persecution forced believers into all the unknown world and they scattered the gospel as they went.

It reminds me of the parable of the sower and the seed. You can read that in Matthew 13. It matters that you intentionally scatter seeds. And it matters about how those seeds are received.

So… go. Do all the things. Enjoy it. Be intentional about shining the Light of Christ as you go. Just know you are missed. And I will be ready for you to come home and be unscattered together.

Wednesday in the Word

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” Acts 8:1

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed…” Matthew 13. Read the whole chapter!

Share Your Good Words

Question(s) of the Week: Where have you been on vacation lately? Where do you plan to go? What are some ways we can share the love of Jesus as we are scattered?

Good Unseen People

Photo: She Is Safe

The following excerpt is from a story that will be included in my upcoming book, Unseen People: Sharing Life and Light with Your Neighbors and the Nations. Click the link below to see the progress of the book.

I’m all for people taking a break and enjoying family vacations to Disney World, Epcot, the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, Six Flags, the ocean, the mountains, the country, the city… where ever. It’s fine. I’ve seen your photos and you are smiling and relaxed and you wish we were there. It’s fine. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.

Read the whole story: It's Time

Good Words I Recommend

One more freebie for you on my website: Intro to Unseen People: Sharing Light and Life with Your Neighbors and the Nations. Grab it here: Free Intro to book

A Good Blog: Sometimes you just need to stay home and do nothing. What to do on a Staycation. This will also be in Unseen People.

A Good Song/Video: I feel like it’s appropriate to recommend “On the Road Again.” If you’re a Willie Nelson fan, go for it. “On the road again. Goin' places that I've never been. Seein' things that I may never see again. And I can't wait to get on the road again.” On the Road Again

A Good Podcast: Well, I hope it’s good. I was a guest on my first podcast this week. My son invited me to be on his show, Faithfully Engaged. He’s a great host! It was recorded and now in post production. I will let you know when the air date is so you can listen or watch!

A Good Book: Can’t beat this classic by Dr. Suess. (The title was the inspiration for my original blog. More about that in A Final Word below.) Oh The Places You'll Go. Right now, the hardcover is cheaper than the Kindle version. This is a great one to have on hand this summer for all the children in your life!

NOTE: Please share with me some of your favorite blogs, songs and books. I’d love to know.

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

Throughout my life, I’ve loved to go and I’ve loved to come home. And I’ve loved books. From my first blog in 2011: Great Places.

I’m a huge Dr. Suess fan — have been since I was about five years old when my mom signed me up for the book club. I remember looking forward to those boxes of books arriving in the mail with my name on them. While my older brother and sister were at school, my mother would read me the book a few times and I would memorize the story before dinner time.

When I became a mother, I passed on those books and my love of reading to my children. They have also both become Dr. Suess fans. I even gave Oh, the Places You’ll Go to my son when he graduated from college with this personal note: “I don’t know where God will take you–just ask Him for the next step. ‘In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.’ Proverbs 3:5-6.”

That Proverbs scripture has been my life verse. (Interestingly, it was in our church Discipleship Group reading yesterday!) Let me hear from you this week. What’s on your mind? How has God directed your steps throughout your life?

DeAnna’s email: deannalynnsanders@gmail.com

Thank you for taking your time to read my words. And if you would, please share a good word with someone today. Invite others into our Good Word community.

Gratefully yours,