{{{Donna}}} posted this on her blog 6 years ago at https://thefathersfeet.wordpress.com/ She quoted Matthew … and I decided to repost this today to follow up on my post from yesterday where I explored the subject of seeking happiness. What are you seeking? {{{Donna}}} chose this:
Matthew 6:33-34 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. … Each day has enough trouble of its own… Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live … So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. … “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.”
I asked Donna, “Do you know that song?” She replied, “I do!” and then she sent me the song she was singing.
Here’s the one I was singing:
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God…”
Here I am up in my sanctuary… early morning squished head!!
What is it you seek? Is it the Kingdom of God? Let’s pursue God first.
What are “all these things”? The scripture was referring to food and clothing… the basics… and reminding us how God takes care of the birds and the lilies of the field.
When I pursue the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, I am seeking His wisdom. I am seeking the peace that only He can give. I am seeking understanding and the deep compassion that God’s Son taught us. I am seeking to exemplify His love ❤️ and the joy that comes with Trust in His Promises. 🙏🏽 I seek His righteousness so that I may exhibit greater patience, kindness, gentleness, and goodness.
Seek Ye first the kingdom of God … and all these things will be given unto you.
Jesus prays with me each day!
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Pray for discernment I love the Lord’s perfect will Freckles and lashes!!
SnapChat can do wonders!
Hah!!
Do not let the world Trick you into seeking pride – It’s a dead-end street.
Do not let the world Trick you into seeking wealth – Not in hoarded coins.
Do not let the world Tell you what to dream about – Look in God’s Word.
Let the Son set you free. You shall know the Truth And the Truth shall set you free. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. In all your ways acknowledge Him.
I pray for you, my friend… For your health, happiness, safety, And for God to guide you in His Way.
Each morning, up in my sanctuary, one of the devotionals I read is “Turning Points.” The articles by David Jeremiah are inspiring. This month’s publication is titled, “Happiness – A Moving Target?” In his introductory article, David identifies happiness as the “bull’s-eye” on a target. He tells the story of Matthew Stutzman, the champion “Armless Archer,” who, for seven years, held the world’s record for the longest bull’s-eye shot by any archer. Yes, “Armless!” How did he do it? He shot the bow and arrow using his feet!
It’s an amazing story that points out the ability to succeed despite disabilities. The story says,
“When Matthew Stutzman was born in 1982, his birth parents put him up for adoption. At 13 months of age he was adopted by a Mennonite family in Iowa. When he was 28 years old, he took up the hobby of archery. In 2015 he broke the record for the longest bull’s-eye by any archer – 930 feet!”
Matt attributed his adoptive parents with motivating him to succeed despite his disabilities. At 43 years of age, he has transitioned to hitting a new target: competitive auto racing. David Jeremiah’s article explains that he drives race cars at 200 mph with his feet! Matt has aimed his target – the happiness of winning an auto race – high!
Using the metaphor of a target, this article by David Jeremiah explains, “The best thing about shooting a bow and arrow is that the bull’s-eye is stationary – it doesn’t move. But that is not true when it comes to hitting the bull’s-eye in life – that thing most people are aiming for. If I had to define that bull’s-eye in one word, I would call it happiness. Not money, not success, not power, not fame… but happiness. If they are being honest, most people would say that none of the other things they aim for in life – think of them as the concentric circles that radiate outward from the bull’s-eye – mean anything without happiness.”
Are you seeking happiness? Are you aiming for that joyful center bull’s-eye? The good news is that the bull’s-eye of happiness doesn’t move. Did you catch that? The Turning Point article goes on to say, “God’s best for mankind is a permanent target.” But we are warned: “The problem is that we think we can shoot for that bull’s-eye in a haphazard fashion. We think we can aim for the outer circles… pursuing the targets of this world, and gradually work our way to the center of the target where happiness is found. We think we’ll warm up to the bull’s-eye of happiness by aiming for the outer rings… thinking they will satisfy. The problem is they never do.”
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Some seek happiness by accumulating money.
Others seek happiness by collecting toys of all types and sizes. The one with the most toys wins??
But, we all know that the one with the most toys is not the happiest. In fact, that fleeting kind of joy is so temporal that ultimately it results in the discontent of greed and selfishness. Those certainly are deterrents to real happiness! So what does David Jeremiah write in his February 2026 Turning Points book titled, Happiness – A Moving Target?? He gives his readers a new target. It is centered in PURPOSE – God’s purpose for our lives. He concludes, “Aiming is all about avoiding distractions and blocking out those that are impossible to control.” He asks the question, “What are we missing when we miss the target God has for our life?” He suggests, “We are missing God’s will or God’s purpose for us.”
I think we all are seeking happiness. But many of us are looking in all the wrong places. Wealth… prestige… fame… toys… STOP! Trust and Obey!! Know that song? “Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Let’s sing it!
The joy He bestows is ours if we trust and obey.
Ready, Aim, Fire!
Ready? Trust God in circumstances where you might otherwise be tempted to “fire” without being “ready.” Find out what His will is for your life through prayer and meditation, Bible study, and association with others who are walking that same path, aiming at the same bull’s-eye!
Aim! Obey!! Obey what? Obey His commandments. Obey His will for your life. Aim to live your life according to God’s principles… the Ten Commandments. You know them!
Fire! Let your arrow fly to the center of the bull’s eye. “That center,” David Jeremiah writes, “is holiness… Being unholy is not consistent with being happy.We can’t miss the mark (sin) and be happy about it. We can be happy when we are trusting and obeying God. But firing also involves correction. What do we do if we miss the mark? We confess our errant action to God, restore our aim, and purpose afresh to hit the center of the target of happiness. (1 John 1:9)”
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” – Colossians 3:14
Let us pray: O Lord, Let us love one another with the purity of a child. Let us pursue happiness with the innocence of a child. And Lord, above all, let us walk in Your Will all the days of our lives. Amen!
First February Festivity: the 11th for our 64th anniversary- A reason to celebrate and share a fabulous memory. The year was 1961 and Bob was stationed in Germany I was teaching a 1st grade in CA; he was in the US Army.
I married that handsome fellow when he flew home. I left my darling first grade class in Stockton, CA to go roam. Left my apartment, my language, Suzie, my roommate, My family and friends… all that was familiar. Not great!
The wedding was spectacular and the reception would make Family and friends smile & cheer us on and marvel at our cake. At our 50th anniversary we asked a bakery to duplicate it for us. One after another they said “Impossible” in an incredulous chorus.
I landed a job on the army base school in Germany, a first grade class, And finished out the year joyfully, learning a new culture. It was a blast! Back in California, I continued to teach the little ones in Turlock And then in San Francisco & Hillsborough… while Bob graduated from SF State.
We started our family during those SF years… a boy, Ty, and girl, De. They were a delight to us then … and still are a blessing each day to me! Here’s a picture of Bob & me with Ty when he was a sweet little babe… And one of DeAna with me in matching dresses I made!
As the years have gone by and our children have grown We moved from the Bay Area back to the place we had known As children and young adults; Bob joined the family with bees While I continued to teach and moved to principal and District Office with ease.
Our 50th anniversary was a time to gather five decades of friends & family For a weekend in Palm Desert where we golfed, ate, and reunited happily. The memories of that grand occasion are alive and well in our hearts, And we continue each February to connect with friends from our life’s parts.
When we retired, we continued to celebrate our February dates with flare! But we’re doing it in Montana. Twenty years ago we moved ourselves there. We love living in Big Sky Country, Ennis Montana, where the antelope roam. We celebrate life every day and invite you to come share the joy in our home.
February 11th is a day each year to celebrate the joy of being together. Valentine’s Day we celebrate at a Wine Pairings dinner – regardless of the weather. It’s at Madison Valley Ranches, a beautiful setting for sure, with great food and friends. Come join us if you wish… spaces are available … right out here where the river bends.
Time to celebrate! This February Festivity is my favorite one. Having you here to join us would make it extra fun. Call Manu at 406-660-2959 for your Valentine’s Day reservation. It’ll make us so happy to see you! Come share in our celebration!
Today’s message of hope was revealed Through the scriptures with deep joy And peace that passeth understanding: Do not become withdrawn or discouraged.
Keep the faith, reach out and serve. Set down what isn’t yours and pick up what is. Love those around you; lift others up. Psalm 27:1, 5 spoke to me today.
1) Texting with my daughter in Switzerland and enjoying the fun of watching her with her grandson & the neighbor’s little boy2) Communicating with Laina, our bonus daughter in Maryland, and watching her enjoy Leo, her grandson3) Volunteering at our local nursing home and watching the residents’ big smiles as they get dolled up for glamorous photos in front of this lovely backdrop4) Playing with my Boston “Terror” Kenny (he’s such a character)
5) Visiting with my dear hubby (Bionic Bob) and appreciating his recent improved hearing due to his cochlear implant
That’s the exterior that is magnetized to the magnet implant… and the new aid for his other ear. Amazing new technology! Learning to make full use of these? Not fun! A work in progress!What are your top 5 ways to have fun? My morning chats with De & Laina and my quiet time up in my sanctuary always start my days on a fun, happy note. I hope yours start happily, too.
Below is a letter I found in Grandma Foster’s Scrapbook. It was written in 1940 by Sheldon H. Kinney… the Fosters’ next door neighbor in Pasadena, CA… quite an accomplished young 25 year old. Here is a newspaper article published in the Chicago Tribune about him:
Interesting how they published his parents’ home address, huh? I don’t think we’d see that in today’s press, do you?
While at sea, during World War Two, Sheldon wrote this heartfelt letter to his parents:
How Grandma Foster got ahold of that letter so she could include it in her scrapbook is a mystery. But, it is there… preserved for me to share! I hope you find it as inspiring as I do. Makes me wish I had written something similar to my parents when I was 25! But, did I have the insight at that age to “see my parents as man and woman” the way Sheldon did? I doubt it.
How very precious to read Sheldon’s praise of his parents, and to feel the warmth they must have felt when reading those accolades!
As I continue to sift through the scrapbook’s treasures, I will gladly share others with you. I hope you are enjoying these as much as I am!
WordPress is trying to get us to use new formats. In the process, I lost connection with my real site. I have been a member since 2018 and all of a sudden it said I didn’t exist. I guess I was trying to set up a new e-mail since my yahoo account is so full of junk, I lose the things I want to see the most. Hmmm… I finally found JanBeek and for now I will stick with the yahoo email. I don’t want to lose touch with you, my favorite WordPress friends!
Yesterday I was reading through a scrapbook created by Bob’s Great-GrandmaFoster and I stopped to take a picture of this page. I love the poem. GrandmaFoster was born in 1852! She died when my husband was 12 years old. She was sharp as a tack at age 99!! Her scrapbook is a treasure! Here is the poem… it fits you, my friends. Thank you for being here.
Thank you for caring! Have a blessed weekend! Love, JanBeek (and Bob, too)
Traveling from Ennis to Bozeman along the Madison RiverI happily wait for Bob as he gets a haircutOur “Bonus Daughter,” Laina, has a pretty day in Maryland, too. And DeDe, our daughter in Switzerland, sent a picture of the scene from her balcony this morning. Laina is enjoying time with her grandson…While DeDe is reading to her grandson … so cute!Meantime, Bob’s Diggin’ in to our wonderful lunch at Dave’s SushiDon’t you wish you’d had this delightful Thursday with us?
