A Good Word Wednesday #67 Celebrate!
A little bit of goodness, encouragement and hope in your mailbox today
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Good Word of the Day: Celebrate
This past weekend, my husband and I visited with our Sanders family to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 89th birthday. Imagine seeing 89 years of life on Planet Earth. That’s something to celebrate! There were gifts. Good food. A yummy chocolate cake. And lots of happy birthday wishes. Imagine what the celebration will be like next year on #90.
I enjoy celebrating my birthday. Not just the day, but sometimes a week. Sometimes a month. I have a story about that for you below. What do you like to celebrate?
We are about to enter the holiday season when we celebrate Thanksgiving (my favorite) and Christmas. What’s your favorite holiday or event to celebrate?
The word reminds me of the celebration of the father in the prodigal son story who welcomed home his wayward boy with a big party. I’ve included below a few of those verses from Luke 15:11-31.
But it also reminds me that small things are important to celebrate too. Like small potatoes.
I’m no farmer. I do like nurturing my house plants, but I’m no farmer.
I did grow up around farmers. In my humble opinion, my grandfather harvested the best watermelons and cantaloupes in south Arkansas. I remember hulling freshly-picked purple-eyed peas in a big pan on the back porch. My six-year-old fingers dyed in shades of purple when the chore was over.
But I’m no farmer.
I do remember walking through cotton fields in northern Alabama as a little girl. My Daddy had me and my brother and sister experience what it was like to pick cotton and put it in the big bag placed around our necks. I’m sure I looked ridiculous – six years old, with a giant bag around me that I dragged down the rows. But I haven’t forgotten the feel of the fibers in my little fingers pulling the white ball from its prickly center. I haven’t forgotten that it would be real sweaty, backbreaking work for the field hands — dependent on that labor for a living.
Doesn’t make me a farmer.
I’ve never been to Idaho where potatoes are pulled from the dirt. But I can resonate with this scripture:
“The hard things are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”
I’m also not a qualified theologian to tell you exactly what this verse of Paul means in all its context. (Although I do have a master’s degree from a theological institution.) A real theologian probably wouldn’t cite a verse from The Message. I don’t usually either, but this verse shows us visually what’s important.
I do know a small potato when I see one.
What hard things are in your small potato pile?
The next President.
Inflation.
Crisis in the Middle East.
In the BIG picture of things, even these large, looming prickly issues pale in comparison to what awaits us as followers of Jesus. A lavish celebration is coming. Fear and anxiety resulting from living in this world will be no more.
We will celebrate the disappearance of:
Strife in our families.
Division over ideologies and political division.
Volatile job market.
Insecurities of a normal day.
What a day that will be!
I’m no world leader, but I know what freedom feels like.
Lord Jesus, come quickly and deliver us from these small potatoes.
Wednesday in the Word
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 NIV
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:22-24
Share Your Good Words
Good Questions of the Week: What events/holidays do you like to celebrate?
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.
So, a few years ago, when I turned 60, I decided to designate it as my birthday week, not just a day. It seemed like a momentous occasion turning that age so I thought, why not celebrate all week? If there is no stopping the turning of the calendar pages, why not embrace it?
Seems a bit indulgent. I know. That’s ok.
Read the full story here: How to Celebrate Your Birthday Week
Good Words I Recommend
A Good Bundle: Better Together Bundle Are you feeling worn down and you can't quite put your finger on why? Do you wish you could go deeper in your friendships? Is your soul needing refreshed? In the Better Together Bundle you'll find eight relationship resources to help you thrive Socially, Emotionally and Spiritually. All ABSOLUTELY FREE for ONE WEEK!! I’m honored to offer a free resource in this bundle. Please check it out!
A Good Page: I’ve added a new page to my website: Guest Opportunities. I’ve gathered all my recent guest opps on podcasts and blogs. Please click and enjoy!
A Good Book: The Healing Practice of Celebration, Elaine A. Heath (Author)
A Good Song: And He Ran, Phillips, Craig and Dean
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
Every Sunday is a time to celebrate. We celebrate Jesus together in our corporate worship services. When we exult Him through music, learn about Him in scripture, and receive the Lord’s Supper together, we celebrate him. What are your favorite ways to celebrate Jesus?
I celebrate Jesus when I use the skills He has given me. Every day, 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
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,
