A Good Word Wednesday #73 VALUE
A little bit of goodness, encouragement and hope in your mailbox today
Good Word of the Day: Value 💲🎁👓
What do you truly value? The word is used in multiple ways in our language today in both the noun and verb forms:
“What is your company’s value statement?
“I value your opinion.”
“Our new logo is value-added to our brand.”
As we are now deep into Christmas gift shopping, we are looking for great value for each purchase. We scan fast food restaurant value menus. In this challenging economy, we definitely need to look for the best values.
What are your personal priorities? What is most important to you, your family, your business? Those are your values. Obviously, the values in our country have disintegrated through the years. In the past, our nation as a whole, has held dear the values of decency, civility, honesty and respect. Of late, those good words have been replaced with anger, rudeness, hate, greed, lying, selfishness.
Our country’s forefathers including Washington, Jefferson and Franklin, were keenly aware that our democratic form of government would only survive when morals were maintained. Without a strong moral fabric, they knew our nation would unravel from within.
Value comes to the forefront when discussing the topic of human life. Value of life is important to consider both inside the womb and outside. We need to value and protect the unborn. God has a plan for each life as he or she comes into the world. The most important part of that plan is for that person to know Him. It is our job as followers of Jesus to make Him known to those who do not yet value Him.
We know that devaluing human life begins by not seeing the needs of others. Not letting others be heard as we drown out their voices. By living as if we and our families are more important than those around us. We are all clamoring to know we are a person of worth. Of value. Sometimes we forget that God loves everyone equally and has given each person life, purpose and value.
The parables of Jesus describe what God values. Read Luke 15 to see the value of life in the stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
Let us be the people who value life by going to great lengths to share good words of eternal life.
Wednesday in the Word
“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Matthew 6:26
“A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.” Mark 12:42
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10 NIV
Share Your Good Words
Good Questions of the Week: What is of great value to you? Who do you value most? How do you protect what you value?
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. When you get to the page, scroll down to THE UNSEEN PROCESS — How The Book, Unseen People Is Being Born.
Before I prayed for them, I said, “Indah, (or Intan, or Melati), please know that you are Precious. Chosen. Loved.” I needed them to know it and know that it was true.
We all need to be reminded of this truth from time to time. That we are dearly and deeply loved by our Father. And He wants us to live our one precious life in a way that honors Him. In a way that reflects Him. In a way that serves others.
For me, that means to treasure my gift of family, of home, of fulfilling work. And guarding my daily time of solitude with Him.
How are you living your one precious life? Do you understand that you are Precious. Chosen. Loved?
Read the full story here: Your one precious life
Good Words I Recommend
A Good Children’s book: The Berenstain Bears Values and Virtues Treasury
A Good Book: The Book of Virtue, William Bennett A dear friend and mentor gifted me this book when my children were little. It’s packed full of wisdom to pass on.
A Good E-book: 7 Simple Ways to Show People They Are Significant. This is my gift to you. It’s free! That’s a great value! Please reply to this email and let me know you would like to receive it and I will happily send the pdf to your inbox.
The Best Book: The Bible
A Final Good Word
I remember having this conversation with a local ministry partner in Indonesia when I worked for She Is Safe:
“They don’t know.”
“They don’t know what?” I asked.
“They don’t know how precious their children are.”
Each time I went there, I heard stories of little girls, who often times were considered the lowest of society, who were overlooked, undernourished, uneducated and good only for working in the home and for one day producing Indonesian sons. I heard how those girls were violently violated by male members in their homes and villages. And it made me angry, sad and sick to my stomach. And I think of these sweet faces and can’t imagine how anyone could bring harm to them.
And I think of the sweet faces of my five grandchildren. I remember them before they were born when my daughter and daughter-in-law carried them within for nine months. And I’m reminded of these words in Psalm 139:13, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”
My challenge to myself and to you this week is to let all children know their true value. That they are Precious. Chosen. Loved.
Thank you for reading these words. I’m deeply honored to share this time with you each week. I am compelled by God to share my gift of words with you.
“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
And this…
“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. Jeremiah 30:2
I’d love to hear from you. This is your chance to share with me whatever is on your heart today. Please share. I value your thoughts!
Contact me privately: deannalynnsanders@gmail.com.
Please share a good word with someone today. Invite others into our Good Word family.
Gratefully yours,
