Our beautiful trip
Into Bozeman yesterday
Yielded great rewards
Reward #1:
Reward #2
Reward #3
Reward #4
Reward #5
Reward #6
Reward #7
Reward #8
Reward #9
Reward #10
Have you taken a beautiful trip recently?
What are some of your rewards?
Have a Terrific Tuesday!
See ya later.
Winnie the Pooh said,
“Sometimes the smallest things
take up the most room in your heart.”
Yesterday at church, the smallest people there took up the largest place in my heart… and the hearts of the congregants. I didn’t have my camera with me to show you a picture of the “Terrific Tuesday” children who sang Christmas carols to the congregation and recited a memorized Bible verse into the microphone. But, you just have to imagine these three darlings along with five others ranging in age from 4 to 10 – – – singing and reciting praises to our Lord. It was glorious!
Ruby, Cord, and Hailey were joined by five others yesterday as they sang, “Father Abraham,” and “Silent Night,” and synced hand motions to “I’ve Got Peace Like a River”… Oh my! Every face in the church was bursting with God’s JOY as we watched these darling little ones.
Elaine Hundley, our Pastor Steve’s wife, delivered the sermon. Steve is off in Virginia at his mom’s side as she lies dying. As we pray for Steve and his mom, Faye, our congregation also is mourning the death of Reverend Jean Johnson, who died after a difficult surgery and related difficulties. She had been the pastor here in the Madison Valley Presbyterian Church for 32 years.
If you have followed my blog for awhile, you know I take notes in poetry as I listen and internalize the sermon. Elaine called her sermon, “Second Chances” as she talked about Zechariah’s muteness due to unbelief – and the second chance he received after acknowledging his baby boy’s name is John. In my notes, I focused more on the message to Mary – and her response to Gabriel and to God. Here is what I wrote as I discerned the message yesterday. I called it Believe and Trust:
Based on Luke 1:26-56
Think about Gabriel’s messages
To Zechariah and to Mary.
He told each their child’s name
And spoke as if a voice from a fairy.
Zechariah was a priest and he
Should have believed the voice.
But he doubted – and became mute.
Like Zechariah, we have a choice.
We can believe as Mary did,
Or doubt as Zechariah chose to do.
The result of Mary’s faith
Was rich in blessings. So it is with you.
When God speaks to us, we know
Blessings are ours – if we trust.
Through faith, we are free to rejoice;
We are free to believe – We must!
Mary’s song speaks as if God
Already has done what He said.
She praises the gift of His Son.
She didn’t look on her fate with dread.
Sometimes, like Mary, we face unknowns.
Like her, we are called to accept
The challenges God gives us as gifts.
Know God’s in charge, so have no regrets.
Christmas is a season in which, as we light the Advent candle – there is a new focus each week. We await the birth of the Christ Child with a focus on JOY this week. I pray you find JOY in this day – and project nothing but HOPE, PEACE and JOY to all you meet.
As Pooh said, “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” What’s taking up room in your heart today?
Look for the smallest ways to believe, trust, and spread the Good News! Wheeee!! Take JOY into your heart! (It’s no small thing.)
Thanks for visiting JanBeek.
I hope it brought you JOY today.
See ya later.
While perusing FaceBook this evening, I came across this article that I thought was so well written. The author, Nancy Guthrie, said what many of us know, “… for those who’ve recently lost someone they love, the holidays can seem more like something to survive than to enjoy.”
Nancy Guthrie is a guest writer on the FB page, desiringGod.
You can click on the link below to see the full article,
She goes on to write,
“While those of us who surround grieving people
can’t fix the pain of loss,
we can bring comfort
as we come alongside
those who hurt
with special sensitivity
to what grief is like
during the holidays.
Grieving people wish
we all knew at least five truths,
among others, at Christmas.”
learn what those five truths are,
and learn a little more about Nancy Guthrie.
If you know someone who recently lost a spouse, a child, or a close friend, you may be interested in passing this article along to their loved ones. I found it very helpful.
Do not suffer alone.
Do not let your loved ones suffer in silence.
Reach out in love.
Have a beautiful week.
Let me know if you found this FB article
on desiringGod helpful.
See ya tomorrow.
Santa ’round the world
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Known by many names
In Pennsylvania
St. Nicholas was displayed
In his many forms
Santa Claus is also
St. Nicholas,
in the USA.
We have a song:
“Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,
lean your ear this way
Don’t you tell a single soul
What I’m going to say…”
Even if the display was “too early” in my estimation, if it had not been before Thanksgiving, we would not have been there to enjoy it and photograph it for you. I hope you enjoyed the display.
What are you up to today?
And which Santa- St. Nick – did you like best??
The season of Christmas is one of my favorites.
It’s a time to socialize with friends and to shop.
It’s a time to enjoy the great outdoors on the slopes.
It’s a time for cards and cookies and eat ’til you pop!
What are you up to?
What’s your favorite kind of fun this time of the year?
Have some “Christmas Time Fun”
and tell me all about it!
See ya later.
www.facebook.com/sassyseniorlady/photos/a.673352836020852/3006345006054945
Is superstition
A part of your DNA?
No, it’s not in mine!
Today is a day
Like any other Friday.
Just live, love, and laugh!
I have a dear friend in California who is sending inspirational scripture with music and devotionals each day during this season of Advent. Today she sent a link to a song that started my day with a smile.
The song, composed in the minor key, is perfect for this season.
Do you know it? The choir and soloists are superb:
“Come to set us free, come to make us your own.
Come to show the way to your people, your chosen.
Open our lives to the light of your promise.
Come to our hearts with healing, come to our minds with power,
come to us and bring us your life.”
You can click on this link and hear it if you like:
http://catholichymn.blogspot.com/2015/11/come-to-set-us-free.html
For me, Advent is the season of Adventure – a season of reaching out to others in love while we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ child each Christmas.
I know many of my readers are people of other faiths, and I respect your right to worship the One God in your chosen way. But, I hope you feel a sense of greater love, more generous giving, and the promised peace during this holiday time of the year. I hope the drama, the stress, and the conflict are minimized in your life… and you can find JOY in the hustle and bustle of the season.
Gracious God,
Be with my Word Press friends this season.
Bring them JOY and PEACE.
Help them live with compassion
and reach out in love.
In His name I pray,
Amen.
See ya later!
Set Boundaries
In my conversation with my friend over lunch yesterday, she reminded me that I need to set boundaries. She suggested that if there is too much drama, conflict or stress in my life, it is because I have not set my own boundaries. I have allowed those elements to invade my peace.
Choices
Do you have drama, conflict, or stress in your life? Is there a way to eliminate those negatives and invite only positives in my life? What choices do I have?
Sometimes the stress and drama come from family, dearly beloved family. Does setting boundaries mean I should eliminate them from my life? Would that make me happier? Does having a cozy home, good food, and limiting my contacts to only “Happy People” mean I would have a better life?
No, my choice is to love those family members unconditionally – and invite them into my “cozy home” and share with them my “good food” and if they are not “happy people,” then pray that my patience, generosity, and love offered unconditionally can bring them some joy.
Sharing
Sharing what we have is what the “Christmas Spirit” is all about. You may not be able to eliminate the drama, conflict, and stress in your life. Not unless you want to alienate those people God has placed in your life … those people who create troublesome circumstances in their own lives as well as yours.
Is that what Jesus teaches? Only deal with happy people? Is that what He did? Think about it.
What do you think?
See ya later!
Are you running low?
Finding energy is scarce?
Go to your refuel.
Where’s your refuel place?
Is it visiting a friend?
I did that today.
Took time to converse
With a compassionate soul.
Did a world of good!
“Refuel” is a place
On the web by Bayside Church.
It’s one place to fuel.
Refuel by blogging.
Refuel by singing a song.
Refuel by walking.
It’s necessary;
Self-care’s a priority
Not a luxury.
If you’re out of gas,
You can’t help others or YOU.
STOP, rest, breathe and PRAY.
Let God fill you up
With His compassionate love.
It’s better than gas!
Our Ennis Arts Association supports a performance each year of Shakespeare in the Schools for our Ennis students. I was so impressed today with the performance of these young people.
Then members of our Ennis Arts Association gathered for a delicious lunch at the Sr. Center followed by installation of our 2020 Ennis Arts Association Officers.
The shortest one there is yours truly, installed as the new president. It’s a privilege to work with these folks (left to right): Chelsee Mahsman (Secretary) with her baby, Clementine, Sue Kinn-Brown (Vice-President and jury committee chair), yours truly, and Patsy Eckert (past president).
Unable to attend were Barbara Swan-Roger (treasurer), Jan Brooks (co-treasurer). Also in attendance was one who serves on the jury for our annual adjudicated Art Festival and serves as a member of the publicity committee, Margie Reck; Shirley Storey, one of our talented artists, and Barbara Gillispie, also on the jury committee and a key member of the Art Festival planning group. It takes a dedicated team to support the arts and artists in our art-focused Madison Valley.
Look for more art related posts as the year progresses. Last summer I wrote about our festival on this post: http://www.janbeek.blog/love-our-ennis-arts-festival
Have you enjoyed a Shakespeare in the Schools performance in the past? Tell me about it.
Hugs to You !!
Inspire to Love
Let the SonShine!
You inspire me to respond
Learning to Live; Living to Learn; Learning to Love; Living in Love
