Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for September, 2019

In the Same Boat

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SERMON NOTES

Bible Reference

Rev. Steve Hundley’s sermon topic today at the Madison Valley Presbyterian Church in Ennis, MT was “We’re All in the Same Boat.” It was inspired by the story in Matthew 14:22-36. Jesus commanded the disciples to get in the boat and sail out to sea while He went off to be alone for awhile. Then – in the darkness of a stormy night – He walked on the water to go out to them. Seeing Jesus walking on water toward them, Peter asked to be able to do likewise. The Lord told him to come ahead – and he did. All went well until he looked down at the growing waves, became fearful, and started to sink. “Why did you doubt?” Jesus asked him as he helped Peter back onto the boat.

Ah, courage and faith – that’s what it takes.
But only God can walk on water.

Sermon notes taken while Steve shared his message:

We’re All in the Same Boat

Jesus is the Loving Shepherd
But He is also our Commander.
He is gentle and kind, we know,
But we realize He’s a Great Demander.

Why did Jesus order His disciples
To go and get in the boat?
It was midnight, afterall!
Was that a good time to go for a float?

The earliest idea of the church
Was the image of a boat’s belly.
We’re all in this boat together.
It’s dark, stormy, and chilly.

We’re rowing as hard as we can –
And don’t seem to make any headway.
We’re busy trying to make it on our own,
Too busy to hear what God has to say.

But God comes walking on the water,
And He says, “Fear not, it is I.”
We look and doubt and test Him saying,
“If it is You, save me!” Oh my!

Only God/Jesus can walk on water.
Sometimes our job is just to cling
To the boat and don’t presume
We can go it alone. Just trust and sing!

Following the sermon, we sang this song,
“We All Are One in Mission.”
See the song’s words below the sermon notes.

First we gotta get in the boat.
Then we gotta stay in it.
We gotta trust God is here with us.
We gotta gather and pray in it!

Help me, Lord, to remember
You will draw near to me – no fuss-
If we stay and pray and know
You’re here in the boat with us.

“We All Are One in Mission”

“We all are one in mission; we all are one in call,
our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.
A single great commission compels us from above
to plan and work together that all may know Christ’s love.

We all are called for service, to witness in God’s name.
Our ministries are different; our purpose is the same:
To touch the lives of others by God’s surprising grace,
so every folk and nation may feel God’s warm embrace.

Now let us be united, and let our song be heard.
Now let us be a vessel for God’s redeeming Word.
We all are one in mission; we all are one in call,
our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.”

Words: Rusty Edwards (Matthew 28:19-20; i Cor. 12:4-6
Music: Finnish folk melody

I am with you.
I’m praying you have a blessed Sunday...
and a week filled with God’s grace.

See ya later

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Living in Christ's Family, Love, Poetry, prayer, writing

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Time in a Ball

This was Russ Towne’s post this morning on FaceBook. I love the poem and the fulfilled promise.

I love the message at its conclusion, advocating what JanBeek is all about: “🎶❤️ All we need is love, ❤️ 🎶” and “Make the world better by the beauty [you] share.”

Russ Towne wrote, “The local chapter of the California Writers Club selected my poem below for inclusion in their publication ‘WritersTalk.’ This poem has had two titles over the years: ‘Broken Promise’ and ‘Their Time in the Ball.’ Which title do you think fits this [poem] better?”

Broken Promise

An unopened bud
A leaf left unfurled
A loss of great beauty
To a beckoning world


Withered by fear
From memories and pain
Won’t risk rejection
Shame and disdain


Unrealized potential
Hidden deep in a ball
They suffer in silence
A broken promise to all


Kindness can open
Closed buds over time
Heal shattered hearts
And ease fearful minds


A bud can be opened
By the love of a friend
Who believes in their dreams
So their spirit can mend


Sometimes it takes
The smallest of sparks
A word to encourage
Those alone in the dark


Nurturing love
Can go a long way
To help beautiful petals
Feel the light of each day


Bask in the glory
Of knowing they dared
Make the world better
By the beauty they shared


Often late bloomers
Are most lovely of all
As their beauty is deeper
From their time in the ball


–Russ Towne

Thanks, Russ, for your shared poetic talent!

Which title do you think fits it best?

Category:

flowers, life, Life's Challenges, Love, Poetry, Promises

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Everyone Needs Help Sometimes

This is the end of National Suicide Prevention Week,
But it is not the end of our need to reach out and help.

Everyone needs a little help sometimes –
And some of us need more help more often than others.

So print this chart of help providers
And have it ready to give to a friend in need.

We are told that the best help we can give
Is just to be there, to care, to listen.

No one should be left to feel unloved, unnecessary,
Unwanted, unappreciated. Every life matters!

You matter. I matter.
Don’t doubt it for a moment!

See ya later.

Category:

friendship, Giving, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, Serving One Another, Sharing

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Quote

Learning Trust — Amputation, Rehabilitation And Miracles

I love this post by Jim.
It’s too good to keep to myself.
I am sharing it with love –
and with the trust that you
will love it, too.

blur bracelet conceptual female

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

My journey from amputation through rehabilitation on to recovery has taught me many lessons. One of the most important is the difference between belief and trust. For most of human history, just about everyone believed in some version of a god. In Europe, the existence of God was accepted as given. What divided people was […]

via Learning Trust — Amputation, Rehabilitation And Miracles

Written

on September 13, 2019

Are You Superstitious?

Friday the 13th is a day

When some people shy away

From everything; they stay

Locked up – keeping fear at bay.

Superstition can immobilize

People who hear the cries

Of danger and the lies

Of fear in others’ eyes.

Psalm 56:3 “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”

Today’s Daily Guideposts devotional by Erika Bentsen told her story of overcoming fear of riding her horse without a bridle.

Whatever fear you may have that can be linked to superstition – or to lack of trust – let it go! Give it to God today.

The cross hanging above my head in my sanctuary reminds me to “Be still and know that I am God.” It’s a reminder to me everyday to take time to be with Him. Ask Him for courage and direction. Plan my day with His voice in my ear and then step out with His purposes guiding my way.

Friday the 13th? “Phooey!”

It’s just another day to live and serve Him.

Step out! Thank you on this, my 333rd consecutive day of blogging, for taking time to read and respond to my blog, dear friend.

I pray God inspires you today to trust Him – knowing you’re safe in the shadow of His wings.

God Bless You!

See ya later!

Category:

Bible Lessons, God, Jesus, Living in Harmony, Love, Poetry, Serving One Another

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The Trinity

The Trinity – My Motivation

 

Looking around for motivation I see

A glorious cross looking back at me.

Its stem and crossbars represent

The trifold Diety – the trinity.

This unique symbol of my faith

Was a gift from a student dear to my heart.

He created it as a thank you to me last year —

That was nearly 50 years since we had our start.

He was my kindergarten student

When I began teaching in 1961;

And I was so enamored with him

That in 1965 I used his name for my son.

.

Now, some 50+ years later,

He and his wife came to visit us here

In Montana where we’ve retired.

His thank you cross keeps him here – ever near.

Do you have folks from your past

Who remain ever near in your heart?

If so, have you reached out to them lately?

Do it now! It’s never too late to start. .

Have a good night… And a wonderful weekend.

Tell me about someone who has remained near to your heart for as long as you can remember!

See ya tomorrow.

Category:

blessings, children, friendship, Love, Memories, Poetry, Sharing

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Not My Responsibility

z-Responsibility

These are things that are
NOT my responsibility
Look around

Other people’s:

  • ideas
  • opinions
  • actions
  • consequences
  • beliefs
  • mistakes
  • words

These are the things that
ARE my responsibility
Look within

My:

  • ideas
  • opinions
  • actions/efforts
  • consequences
  • beliefs
  • mistakes
  • words

Today
Today
Take Responsibility
for the things
that are yours to control.

Be thoughtful
Be active
Be prayerful
Be kind
Be creative
Be passionate

aged ancient asian buddhism

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Be all that God made you to be.
Ask Him to help you meet
the people He wants you to meet.
Ask Him to help you know what
He wants you to say.
Ask Him to help you do
what He would like you to do.
.
Take responsibility
for
yourself.

Bee loving!
pray-to-see-best
See ya tomorow.

Category:

friendship, Giving, God, Living in Harmony, Love, prayer, Serving One Another

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In Order to Shine

Just what does it take
In order to shine?
Must you be complete?
.
Just what does it take
To light up a room?
Must you be perfect?
.
I asked that question
Of the sliver of a moon.

z-moon - not whole.
So on this gray day –
Sad memories haunting me,
I let my light shine.
.
You can, too.
Reach out!

backlit clouds dawn dusk
See you tomorrow.

Category:

blessings, Giving, Haiku, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, Poetry, Serving One Another

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Difficult Day – 9-11

pexels-photo-1655998.jpeg

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“Today was a Difficult Day,” said Pooh.  

There was a pause.  

“Do you want to talk about it?” asked Piglet.  

“No,” said Pooh after a bit. “No, I don’t think I do.”  

“That’s okay,” said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.  

“What are you doing?” asked Pooh.

 

“Nothing, really,” said Piglet. “Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don’t feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days either.  

“But goodness,” continued Piglet, “Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you’ve got someone there for you. And I’ll always be here for you, Pooh.”  

And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs…he thought that his best friend had never been more right.  

Mental Health Matters

This is National Suicide Prevention Week. Do you have a friend who needs you to just sit there and be a quiet supporter? Reach Out!

Let’s just love one another.

See ya later!

Category:

Heartache, Life and Death, Love, mental health

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National Suicide Prevention Week

Bob Goff, one of my favorite people on this planet, e-mailed his friends today asking, “Did You Know? This Week Is National Suicide Prevention Week.”

He went on to explain, “Life can be overwhelming, no matter who you are or what you’re dealing with. For some, that feeling can be debilitating, overwhelming, and isolating.

Bob Goff has a podcast. He shared, “As our guest this week, Jamie Tworkowski, says, ‘Pain causes people to isolate.’

Hopefully the link below will take you to his podcast. It’s worth the time to take a listen. And then take a tip from Bob Goff who has a wonderful organization called “Pure Love Does.” Love is a verb! Go out and just do it!

https://dreambigframework.com/podcast-1/jamietworkowski?utm_source=Master+List&utm_campaign=6ca8294678-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_04_08_10_48_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_be8b3e9633-6ca8294678-13288711

Reach out today.

Just love one another.

See ya later.

Category:

Love