A Good Word Wednesday #65 Seasons

A little bit of goodness, encouragement and hope in your mailbox today 🍁🍎🌻

Good Word of the Day: Seasons

Thank you. I appreciate you taking time to click, open, read, share and support. I know how precious your time is. I’m grateful you have invited me into your life for a few minutes every week so we can share A Good Word together.

Since this time last week, change has come. It’s officially a new season in my part of the world. It doesn’t feel much like Fall until there are cool mornings. Pumpkins on porches. Tomato soup for lunch. Ahhh… Fall is truly a breath of fresh air. And even cooler days are coming soon.

While I love all the seasons, and grateful we have a taste of all of them in Oklahoma, this time of year is by far my favorite. Bring on hot beverages all day long. Bring on Saturday afternoon college football. Bring on apple pumpkin candles. Bring on breathing deep and enjoying the fall colors. Hoodies and sweaters. Chili and cornbread. Crisp air and swirling leaves.

We experience the seasons of the calendar together, yet we all find ourselves in different seasons of life. We all move forward in our journey through life from childhood… to young adults/parenthood… to senior adults. We experience a variety of milestones in all those seasons. We may encounter seasons of change in our careers. Change in our health. Change in our families. Joy. Grief. Peace. And sometimes we find ourselves in seasons of waiting. Wondering when the wait will end. (I have a few items that I use to help me as I wait. I will list a few below.)

As I was out for a morning walk a few days ago, I paused to chat with a neighbor who was pulling her trash carts back up her driveway. I hadn’t spoken to her in a long time. Our friendship goes way back to when our children attended grade school together. “Hi! How’s it going?” I automatically asked and I expected to hear the normal response. Instead of saying, “Fine. How are you?” she replied, “Well… my husband has cancer, so we’re going through that. And my dad fell a few weeks ago and I’m not sure he’s going to make it.” I stopped. What do I say to that? I assured her I was nearby, my church was nearby. That she would be in my thoughts and prayers. What else should I say in the moment? She was clearly facing multiple trials at once. She was in a season of change. Uncertainty. Fear. Exhaustion.

What season of life do you find yourself in today?

Wednesday in the Word

“There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Share Your Good Words

Good Questions of the Week: What is your favorite season? What has been your most challenging and/or most fruitful season of life?

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 Light and Life with Your Neighbors and the Nations. Click the blue link below to see the progress of the book.

Even though I have been a wandering sojourner most of my life, I’ve entered a new season. Just as summer has slipped into autumn… so have I sensed the altering of time. And even though my job changed earlier this year that doesn’t require as much travel, I’ve still been anxious to know when I can go again… envious of my friends and co-workers making their plans and packing their bags while my itinerary is empty… just like my suitcases.

I grew up the daughter of a preacher in an evangelical denomination. It’s been our heart’s cry to go… go into all the world and preach… go and help… go and learn… just go.  So I did. For 30 years I’ve traveled locally and globally because of this call on my life. A good call. A godly call.

Until a few days ago. Sitting in my comfy chair reading, drinking coffee and contemplating life. Just an ordinary morning. And I hear something. It’s a whisper, but I hear it–

“It’s ok to spend some time with Me. It’s ok to be still.” And then it was quiet.

I didn’t say, “What was that? Can you say that again please a little louder? I didn’t hear you.” Because I did. The truth had already sunk deep into my soul — “Just be still for a season and listen. It’s ok to enjoy Me.”

Read the whole story: Did you hear that?

Good Words I Recommend

A Good Blog: Waiting Well in the Waiting Place. This story isn’t in Unseen People, but it describes the season of waiting that happens to most of us.

A Good Pen: Arteza Rollerball Pen. When I find myself in a season of waiting, I journal more and I use this pen. All the time. I buy them for stocking stuffers and gifts. Time to buy more!

A Good Journal: Lined Notebook Journal. Once again, in a season of waiting, I write in journals like this one with thick pages and a place to keep my pen. Love spending time with my thoughts and writing them in a journal. What’s your favorite type of journal?

Good Earbuds/Earphones: Beats Flex. I love to listen to podcasts and mellow cello music as I write. I also enjoy the fancier noise -cancelling earphones Beats Studio Bluetooth Headphones. Both of these are great during a season of life when you need peace and quiet, or hope and inspiration.

A Good Podcast: I find myself in a season of being a guest on podcasts. Here is the most recent one: https://inspiredstewardship.com/episode1362

A Good Book: Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life. This is a classic by Charles Swindoll. This devotional companion helps you grow closer to God through every season of life, in every condition of the heart.

Another Good Book: Life On Pause: Learning to Wait Well by Candy Arrington. I am in process of reading this one now. There is great insight here into what to do when a wait persists.

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, support 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 Good Word

My personal waiting season involves the publishing process of my book. Find out the current progress here Unseen People publishing process. THE UNSEEN PROCESS — How The Book, Unseen People, Is Being Born #14.

But when I get impatient and ready for things to happen on my own time frame, God gets my attention to remind me what is most important. Him. His Word. His people. Every year during this season, I put out little pumpkins that represent each person in my family. We’ve added a new little pumpkin in our patch this year. Baby Isaac. He was worth the wait.

Whatever stops, twists and turns come my way in this season of life, I am committed to doing this…

“And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.” Isaiah 30:8

Take a moment to thank God for life and for the season of life you are in. Then, please share a good word with someone today..

I’d love to hear from you. This is your chance to share with me whatever is on your heart today. Please share:

Contact me privately: deannalynnsanders@gmail.com.

Thank you for taking your valuable time to read my words. Please share a good word with someone today. Invite others into our Good Word family.

Gratefully yours,