A Good Word Wednesday #49 ADVENTURE

A little bit of goodness in your mailbox today 🌄🛫🛄

“Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Proverbs 12:25

Good Word of the Day: Adventure

How do you define adventure? It can be:

“An unusual or exciting experience.” or… “An undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature.”

What kind have you had lately? Hopefully they weren’t too hazardous.

Since Johnny retired, he has deemed each Friday as the day we get out, go and do something different, fun, or exciting. Our first adventure a few months ago was to have lunch at the top of the Devon Energy Center in downtown Oklahoma City. It is a 50-story building with a lovely restaurant, The Vast, on the 49th floor. The food was amazing. The view spectacular. And I want to go back. It’s still at the top of my favorite adventure Friday locations.

We’ve had many more adventures since then, but let me tell you about our most recent one. Last Friday, I suggested we go to Quartz Mountain State Park. I have lived in Oklahoma 36 years, but had never made the 1 1/2 hour drive to this beautiful Wichita Mountains location. We planned on eating lunch at the Lodge and then hike around a bit. But no. The area around the lodge was closed due to their annual arts camp. Bummer. But we did get to see this and many other gorgeous vistas.

It wasn’t the adventure we had planned, but totally worth the drive. One thing I always told missions teams I’ve led, is to be flexible. You never know what will happen during the journey. Hopefully we will go back one day and I will check to make sure the Lodge is open!

What has been some of your favorite adventures? I’d love to know.

Some of my favorite local adventures happened with my Labrador, Daisy. She was a trained therapy dog and I wrote about several of our visits. I have them listed for you below.

I’ve shared with you about my fear of being in the water, yet, my work with She Is Safe in Indonesia, stretched my limits each time I boarded a boat and sped across the Indian ocean for three hours in one direction. God has a way of leading us to face our fears and deepen our faith in Him.

Of course, all of my adventures pale in comparison to what God called Abraham to do. Do you remember? God commissioned him to go and walk by faith. So he did. What an amazing adventure into the great unknown.

Wednesday in the Word

“The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

Share Your Good Words

Question(s) of the Week: What adventures have you been on lately? What has been your favorite adventure in your lifetime? What adventure would you like to take?

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 prayed as I drove, “God, please help Daisy and I to show Your love and be Your hands and feet… and paws… so we can serve You through this ministry.”

Read the whole story: The Adventures of Dr. Daisy, Th. D

Good Words I Recommend

Good Blog: Dog Days. This is one of my favorite stories about Daisy. Click the link to read the whole story.

Immediately a young woman in her 20s saw Daisy and rushed out to talk with us. She dropped to her knees and gave Daisy a huge hug.  “How did you know?” she asked Daisy. “How did you know I needed you today? I love dogs and I needed you right now. How did you know?”

The young lady looked at Daisy’s ID badge and looked up at me. “Thank you for bringing Daisy. I needed some therapy.”

I looked into the darkened room where her mother lay sleeping and her father holding his wife’s hand. “Your family is having a hard day?” I ask.

Still hugging Daisy, the young lady said, “It’s my Mom. She’s dying…

A Good Song/Video: Here is a blast from the past from Steven Curtis Chapman. The Great Adventure

A Good Journal: Let the Adventure Begin

A Good Book: Take your kids on a great adventure! The Adventure Bible

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

People probably wouldn’t describe me as a bold, daring, adventure-seeker. Yet, I can think of at least 39 mission trips both stateside and internationally that I’ve been either the team leader or team member. That’s not to say I’m anything special. It makes me point to the Person who gives strength, vision and purpose.

I’m preparing now to leave on trip 40 soon. Back to Toronto. Prayers are needed and requested for our small team from First Baptist, Duncan to be encouragers, co-laborers, and vision-seekers with our mission partners there. And pray for those at home who support our journey including our church and our families. Johnny has supported me on every one of these 40 trips. Couldn’t do it without him. Not just financially, but in praying, taking care of all the things at home and offering words of encouragement. Thank you, Johnny! One trip for every 40 years we’ve been married (almost!)

Now, time to finish packing and time for us all to experience a new adventure. Where is God leading you today?

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,