You Matter
I hope you know
How much you matter to me
Your presence in my life
Whether real or virtually
Makes my life better.
Thank you!
Have a really Merry, Healthy, Happy, Blessed Christmas!
Sending lotsa love,
JanBeek
Archive for December, 2023
Just for Fun
Today’s prompt was, “What was the last thing you did for play or fun?”
The last thing I did for fun was to hold my newest great-grandchild, Christian Beekman (born yesterday) and revel in his tiny hand holding my finger. Life doesn’t get more fun – more special – more blessed than this!!
What joy to welcome this little boy into our Beekman family!
Here’s our son (Grandpa Ty) and our daughter-in-law (Grandma Monika) with their newest grandchild. They have six now!! that makes six great-grandchildren for us. Can you believe it??
Doesn’t that look like fun to you?
Here are Christian’s mom & dad (our grandson, Jordan with his wife, Josniah). God bless them! And God bless Christian’s big sister, Cosette. She’s gonna love having a baby brother … and has to learn he’s not a dolly she can toss around!!
What have you done for fun this week?
Sending love your way. Merry Christmas!
Hugs, JanBeek
Lessons Learned
Yesterday’s prompt was:
What skills or lessons have you learned recently?
My answer:
“It took four accidents
in a three month period,
but I finally got the message,
I think:
SLOW DOWN
AND
LOOK
WHERE YOU’re WALKING!!”
It’ll take a lot of divine guidance,
but I think I can slow down and watch!
Avoid any further falls!!
How about you?
What lesson have you learned recently?
Today the sermon topic was based on the Bible story of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s awe-inspiring birth of baby John (later known as John the Baptist). Zechariah learned not to doubt God’s messenger who told him that he & Elizabeth would at last have a child (they were in their later years of life… maybe as old as their 90’s).
When Zechariah doubted, he was struck dumb… unable to speak for the 9 months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. But, even though Elizabeth questioned, she accepted and believed. So, she learned that great lesson, “With God all things are possible.”
Do you suppose she was awe-struck? How could she NOT be??
I would have painted them with gray hair… but nevertheless, I love this painting of Zechariah & Elizabeth. I can only imagine how awe-struck they must have been!
What causes you to be in awe these days? Have you learned to slow down and let awe envelop you?
(If you’ve followed JanBeek for awhile, you know I love taking notes in poetry as I listen to the sermon each week). So, on that awesome topic, here’s today’s encouraging sermon delivered by Rev. Mary Grace Reynolds at our Madison Valley Presbyterian Church.
I love the size & sound & the creatures in the ocean
I love climbing over the sand dunes to the beach
It is sitting on the grassy knoll by the shore
Knowing the salty water and waves are within reach
I love oogling at sunsets and standing in the river
The world gives me reason for wonder and awe
Everywhere I look, I see evidence of God’s wondrous creation
Regular bouts of awe are mine – they drop my jaw!
Elizabeth’s healthy baby boy brought awe
To all who saw Zechariah write and confirm “John”
Entering into the world of awe raises us up
Out of night’s darkness, into day’s dawn
Awe can be found every day from sunrise on
If we slow down and take time to really see
So don’t drown in the tedious mundane of life
Intentionally seek the awe – here for you and me
Let no day go by unmarveled at
Appreciate the luxury of every single day
We are so blessed to be here - alive
Let awe and amazement be yours today
Be the #1 Marvelor today!
Love and be loved – feel the pull
That helps you notice all in awe
Change awful to awe-full!!
Awe-men?
It may have been awful to be unable to speak for nine months. But, I’ll bet Zechariah learned new lessons every day as he watched Elizabeth grow large with child …. and as he marvelled at how amazing this turn of unbelievable events was!
Find something to marvel at today!
Learn something new.
Tell me about it.
Hugs,
JanBeek
No more falls!!
I Can Be a Light – You Can, too
In a world filled with war and hate
I can shine a light of love from me
In a world filled with animosity and division
I can shine a light of unity
In a world filled with hopelessness and despair
I can lift the light of hopefulness
In a world filled with fear and worry
I can shine a light of faithfulness
I can be a light in the darkness
Because the love of Christ shines through
The grim shadows of despair
And that light also is in you
As a wonderful God-created child
You are part of a magnificent whole
So let that Spirit buried in you
Shine forth from your blessed soul
Your light shines from your creator
Just as mine sparkles brightly, too
So fill this world with the light of love
Let’s let Love’s Light shine from me and you!
Psalms 18:28
28 You, LORD, keep my lamp burning;
I find joy in sharing that light.
my God turns my darkness into light.
I hope you do, too!
Bee well…
and Bee a Light!
Have a wonderful Sunday!
My love and a lotta hugs
are tucked in here for you.
JanBeek
Power Up!
You have access to all the power you need
You just gotta be sure to plug in
Connect to the source of your power
It’s available to you even if you’re shut in
Like a mighty wave or hurricane
Power can evoke awe or cause destruction
What’s the source of your power?
There’s a ready source… what’s your deduction?
I bet you know where I’m going
With this line of reasoning.
Yup, the power I have in mind
Is filled with the best spiritual seasoning!
“And they were filled with the Holy Spirit…”
Acts 2:4
In yesterday’s
Mornings With Jesus devotional
comments by Karen Sargent,
she shared an experience she had with power cords.
She was preparing for a presentation
using various technology.
Thinking she might need an extension cord,
she added it to her equipment.
However, after setting everything up,
she realized she didn’t have
the part she needed.
Sargent wrote,
“… There was a problem. In one hand I held a three-prong plug on my laptop cord. In the other, a two-prong plugin. I checked the projector cord. Three prongs. Without the ability to tap into the electrical source… my technology was useless. I couldn’t power up.”
Sargent extrapolated, “That wasn’t the first time I’d failed to tap into a power source. Sometimes I function on two-prong faith. I know Jesus can do anything… And through Christ who strengthens me, I can do all things (Philippians 4:13). But how often do I connect to the power of the Holy Spirit, the mighty third prong?”
Karen Sargent’s message spoke to me.
Yesterday friends helped us install
Our Christmas tree here at home –
Tucked in along the north-east wall.
We plugged the lights in after
A lot of struggle to assemble it.
Look closely at the lights there
A section is missing … do I resemble it?
Do I lack a portion of my power
Because I’m not plugged in totally?
The message hit me with a jolt.
It fit my plight anecdotally!
Karen Sargent ended her reflections with these thoughts:
“After His resurrection,
Jesus breathed on the disciples
and said, ‘Receive ye the Holy Spirit’
(John 20:22).
But it wasn’t until Jesus ascended into heaven
that the Holy Spirit empowered them.
Unlike that useless extension cord…
the ultimate power source,
The Holy Spirit,
is always on hand.”
What stops you from plugging in?
Sargent invited her readers to
“Ask Jesus to reveal what being empowered
by the Holy Spirit would look like in your life.”
Enjoy the most awe-inspiring
Christmas season ever
as you fill yourself with
the Holy Spirit.
And let Him provide you with the
strength you need to reach out
in love to all those you connect with.
Power Up, my friends!
Love & Blessing to you,
and hugs from
JanBeek
