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Archive for August, 2021

Embrace Answered Prayers

Have you had a worry today?
Something you have no control over?
I have!

My daughter, DeAna, in Switzerland
had surgery this morning.
When I went to bed last night,
I prayed to God.

“Take care of my girl, God.
Be with the surgeon.
Guide the anesthesiologist.
Make the results perfect.
Keep the whole process in Your capable hands!”

I set aside worry.
I slept soundly after giving it to God.
This morning DeDe sent me a text.
“It all came out ok.
I am fine!”

Praise God for answered prayers!

Do you turn your worries over to God in prayer?
Then, do you remember to thank our Heavenly Father
when the things and people you pray for turn out OK?

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Every day I sit in my rocker up in my sanctuary
and I pray for my family and friends.
I pray for my neighbors and my church friends,
I pray for my pastor, my cousins who live in other states,
my son and daughter and their families, and
I pray for you, my Word Press friends.

If I have know specific needs
(like DeAna’s surgery this morning),
I will make my requests specific.
But most of the time I just ask God,
“Please take care of these beloved people.
You know their needs. Be with them, Lord.”

Like a river cutting through rock.
my prayers are tenacious.
I know God hears my prayers.
I know the Holy Spirit speaks to me
and reminds me of the people I need to remember.
I know God expects me to be persistent in prayer.
I am inspired by the way Jesus prayed.

This painting of Jesus praying
sits in front of me in my sanctuary.
So, as I pray, I know Jesus intercedes for me.
I know He hears and He models prayer for me.


Luke 6:12

“It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray,
and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.”

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Prayers for Yourself

Not all prayers are for others.
Sometimes we need to pray for ourselves.
We need to ask God to provide for our needs
and we need to thank God for the way He provides.

Bob and I will celebrate our 60th anniversary next February.
Every day I pray to God for Bob’s health and safety
and I thank God for sending him into my life.
Every day I spend with him as my partner
is an answered prayer.



Every day
our lives are blessed
by the power of what love can do.
Our love grows richer
year after year.
Are you so blessed, too?



We are grateful for the love we share
and the way our friends and family
love us in return.

Thank you, friends.
Thank You, God…
for answered prayer!!

We found a love
only few ever find.

If life should end tomorrow,
I’d leave this earth a millionaire –
Because every day with you, my dear,
Is a day of answered prayer.

I love you, BobbyBee.

What answered prayer
is your “million dollar gift”
my friends?

Embrace This Moment

Embrace this moment;
It is all we surely have.
Make the most of it.

The best Olympic Games song in history (1988 Seoul, South Korea.).

Simone Biles did it:
She conquered her challenges.
Bounced back on the beam!

In this one moment,
I can feel eternity.
Congratulations!

Simone Biles

Embrace this moment.
You faced your fears; conquered them…
We all learned from you.

Don’t hang your head down
And ignore your mental health.
Stand up. Be honest!

We all have valleys –
Life’s not all on mountain tops.
Own your emotions!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Don’t cry for the gold.
Winners aren’t always first place.
Winners just show up!

Be in the moment.
Let your spirit soar and smile.
Guard your mental health.

Thank you, Simone Biles,
For being so courageous.
You are our hero!

Embrace This Moment!

We are proud of you, Simone!

I’ve lived to try my very best.
I’ve learned to accept defeat.
But, when all of my dreams
Are a heartbeat away,
I just take a deep breath
And keep on trying.


I AM more than I thought I could be…
God knew I could be all this and more…
After all, He made me!
Give me one moment in time…
And I will be all He made me to be.
I will be free.

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Embrace this moment!


Love ya,
JanBeek

Embrace Deep Doodling

I’m on an art kick these days. Can you tell? Various artists out in WordPress Land have been relating to my blogs in the last couple of days about our Ennis Arts Festival and the 50+ artists who exhibited their talents there.

I am not a person who identifies myself as an artist. An art supporter, yes. But an artist, wellllll … that’s questionable. But, music is an art – and I play the accordion and clarinet and I love to sing. My love of and pursuit of music makes me an artist, right?

Also, I love to cook. Culinary arts count, right?



How about writing? Is it an art? You know I love to write.

Photo by Startup Stock Photos on Pexels.com

In addition to writing, I do love to doodle. I just discovered a new term: Deep Doodle!!

What is a deep doodle?

Well, it is a sketch or drawing that comes from your unconscious mind without your conscious mind interfering. Think of it as what doodles usually are but in an extended way and coming from a deeper place.

How about you? Are you a deep doodler?

A useful comparison is the idea of automatic writing where writers just start scribbling down ideas in a kind of flow state without thinking intentionally about what they are writing. Deep doodling is the artist’s version, allowing for a spontaneous flow of art free of organization and forethought. Does that sound weird or fun to you? Perhaps both!

Have fun expressing your artistic inclinations in whatever way that makes you feel creative! You know we all are formed as creative beings, endowed with talents we have not begun to explore. Do you have a latent talent? What is it?


You are born to be creative.
Where does your untapped creativity lie?

Maybe it is Deep Doodling!
Release it!
Embrace it!

Listen to this Ted Talk about the “Hidden Path to Creativity.”

When you can look with fresh eyes at old data,
the creativity occurs.
Surrender your old preconceptions!

Deep Doodling allows you to look with fresh eyes –
pushing forward into heretofore uncharted territory!

Deep Doodling connects you to Ah-Hah moments –
Let the scales fall from your eyes.
Develop the ability to hold
focused awareness!

Let what is unclear become clear
as you let that still small voice
emerge in your doodling!
Explicate & replicate!

You can create powerful change!
Create something that produces wellness!

Invoke and pull out the insights
that allow you to make choices
that prepare you for a better future.

Unleash your creativity!
Unleash deep doodling
and let it draw you in
to uncharted waters!



Photo by Guillaume Meurice on Pexels.com

Tell me about the ways you
use your creativity to enter uncharted waters.

Happy Deep Doodling, my friends.
See you tomorrow (God willing).

Love,
JanBeek

Embrace What’s Not There

The world always seems brighter
when you’ve just made something
that wasn’t there before.

― Neil Gaiman


More than 500 people came to enjoy the display of art
at the Madison Valley Arts Festival yesterday.

Sue Kinn-Brown created something new with pottery.
I love her poppy motif.
Another artist created unique purses with beautiful fabric.
I love this elegant belt as its closure.
Joe Gillispie used old wood to create a unique table (Thanks, Joe! )
This artist used her photography skills to capture unique images.
Then she enlarged and framed them.
Aren’t these fox kits adorable?
As a seamstress, “Joy” creates personalized gifts.
You can capture meaningful phrases and
create unique wall hangings.
This is personalized fishing gear.
Those rod cases and fishing nets
include etched names –
personalized for your favorite fisherman!
Start your children young – enjoying art festivals
and creating their own art…
Who says giraffes can’t have red eyes?

This children’s art area also gave kids a chance to paint rocks.
Why not?
Always good to have a spot where
young artists can create their own
unique items that weren’t there before.
Let your photography enhance other folks’ homes!
Do you have a wall that needs something that wasn’t there before?
Thanks, Margie Reck, for ordering our 25th anniversary cake.
Baking and cake decorating is another way to
create what’s not there.
And within a half an hour it’s not there again!
Festival customers enjoyed this dessert –
celebrating with us!

Before these artists created their cakes, photo images, colored giraffes and painted rocks, rod cases and wall hangings, stockings and tables, purses and pottery, those items obviously were not there.

Use your God-given talents and unique inspirations to create what’s not there yet.

The world would be a very different place, a much less interesting place, an environment with much less beauty if we didn’t have artists. Thank God for our artists!

Embrace What’s Not There.
Create it!


Thanks for visiting JanBeek.

See ya tomorrow (God willing).