Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for the ‘Bible Lessons’ Category

Oh My! T is for Trouble!!

T is for Trouble!
KT is for Kenny Trouble!!
How long do you think it took Kenny to remove these 8 tassels?

Where did they come from?
Oh, my poor pillow!!
Four tassels gone from each end!!!
I was up in my sanctuary having my peaceful time in prayer, Bible study, and devotionals. And Kenny?
He was barking at Bob to come play with him!
Bob didn’t see him sitting by the door asking to go out. A dump in the floor was the consequence.
Oh my!!!

Kenny sure can get into trouble when we don’t pay attention to him.

We need to keep our noses alert to Kenny trouble!

How about you?
Do you spell trouble with a capital T when you’re ignored?

Yup, me, too!

Facing Trials

In the journey of faith, we encounter various trials that test our strength, resilience and patience. The Bible reminds us that facing troubles is part of life, and rather than shunning them, we can embrace them as opportunities for growth. These challenges, while tough at the moment, can refine our character and deepen our reliance on God. By reflecting on Bible verses about troubles, we can find encouragement and hope, realizing that God walks with us every step of the way. Our “Oh My!” can change to “Oh Thanks!” as we turn in prayer with those trials. God, will You play with Kenny?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” – James 1:2-3

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” – 1 Peter 5:10

Ah yes… God will make us strong and steadfast. But God, will You restore my pillow?
And what about this rambunctious Kenny? Oh my, will You send over a playmate for him?
Oh, and while You are at it, will you send over a buyer for our kayak? It’s too heavy for Bob to manage it these days. We took it down from its hooks on the garage ceiling… and it’s sitting outside waiting for the right person to come and buy it … and enjoy many years of kayaking fun (just as we have).

Kenny would love to go out on Ennis Lake with it. Wouldn’t you?
Oh my! I need to do my French lesson
and this pup wants to play.
Come play with him!!

Sending playful fun your way.
Hugs, too…
from
JanBeek

Category:

Animals, Bible Lessons, Faith, humor, Life's Challenges, Love, pets, prayer, Serving One Another

Tagged with:

Happy Monday

Ah yes, April showers bring May flowers.

How about March showers
and hail and snow and rain
bring April’s flowers?

April is one of my favorite months.
Our family has so many April birthdays!
What was going on 9 months ago?

This month of March was filled with challenges.
March madness included our granddaughter, Faith,
who fell ill while vacationing in Switzerland.
“I’m a million times better” she says…
“today compared to yesterday.”
Yay! Answered prayers 👌🏽❤️🙏🏽

That’s my dear granddaughter in a hospital in Switzerland.
Please pray for Faithy…
She’s moving out of ICU and into a regular hospital room today.
Looking forward to continuing her vacation
with hubby, Kyle, 3-yr-old Mable, and Kyle’s mother.
They hope to visit our daughter, Faith’s Aunt DeDe, this week.
They currently are about 4 1/2 hours away.
God is so good!
This is an answer to more than I dared hope for!
I just was asking God to heal her enough
so she could safely fly home to California.
Auntie De will be so happy to see them
and meet Mable for the first time.

God is amazing, isn’t He?
He hears our prayers
and answers with even more than we dare ask!

Here’s my daughter, DeDe, in Switzerland.

I’ve always believed Mark 11:24

In it, we are reassured that God answers our prayers:
24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

But I didn’t ask God for Faith and family
to be able to resume their vacation.
I thought that would be asking too much.
I just wanted her to get well and be able to travel home safely.
Instead, Faith told us today that she expects
to be able to resume her Swiss travels.
Amazing!!

2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you,
so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times,
you may abound in every good work.”

What have you asked God for recently?
Has He answered your prayer?

Have you ever asked for something
and been given more than you requested?
Tell me about it!

And have a Happy Monday
and a Blessed April!

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, Family, flowers, Giving, God, Gratitude, Living in Christ's Family, Love, prayer, relationships

Tagged with:

Trustworthy Support

Have you ever felt this frustrated?

“We cannot escape the frustrations of this life.
It is wise to lean on the Lord for help and guidance…”

Message from When God Thinks of You, He Smiles,
a book of 365 devotions from Broadstreet Publishing.
I received this as a gift last week from my
“dear bonus daughter,” Elaina.
Each page has a scripture,
a commentary,
and ends with a prayer.
Boy Howdy, I needed this one today!

“Don’t worry, because I am with you.
Don’t be afraid, because I am your God.
I will make you strong and will help you.
I will support you with my right hand that saves you.”

Isaiah 41:10 (NCV)

Ah yes, reach your hand out.
Touch me. Assure me. Encourage me!
I am frustrated and need to remember
no one is promised a seamless life.
But the strange thing is:
I invited this frustration into my life!!

img_9944

What was I thinking?
The dead of a Montana winter is not the time…
not the time to get a new puppy
who has not been crate-trained,
let alone house-trained!

img_9949

Oh, I can be all smiles when he’s in my lap
and feeling lovable and wanting to be cuddled!
But, believe me, Kenny is a 6 1/2 month old
12 pound ball of energy
who has decided his crate is his bathroom
and our floor is his toilet – –
Help!

My devotional today said,
“Prayer gives us strength when trials… come our way.”
Believe me, I have prayed at length about this pup!
The devotional said, “When you struggle,
it doesn’t mean your faith is lacking.
Even when you faithfully follow God…
life can still be rocky.”

I need to put this pup struggle in perspective!
It’s not life or death.
We will survive.
Count your blessings, Jan,
because he is smart and will learn…
and you are smarter and can teach!
Be patient!

I may have told you earlier that my friend, Terry,
sent me this book: “How Dogs Think.”
The cover photo looks just like Kenny
must have looked at 2 or 3 months…
and the subtitle of the book is:
“Inside the Canine Mind.”
It’s a TIME special edition.
Surely this will have some good advice
to add to all the things my friends are saying…
and Isaiah said it, too:
“I will make you strong and help you…”

img_9947

The prayer at the bottom of the devotional today was:
“Gracious One, thank you for the faithfulness of your love…
I don’t want to spend my life worrying or full of fear.
Empower me and encourage me when I struggle.”
Amen!

Now, my friends, that is
Trustworthy Support!

Love ya,
JanBeek

Category:

Animals, Bible Lessons, books, God, learning, Life's Challenges, Love, pets, prayer

Tagged with:

Quiet Time

Gone from home for three weeks
Wonderful holidays and birthdays
Shared with family and friends
Missed my daily sanctuary quiet time

Back home and falling into routine
Up around 8: and make coffee
Climb the stairs to my “sanctuairee”
Spend time with Jesus and His Word

Spend time with David Jeremiah
Spend time with Guideposts devotionals
Spend quiet time with God in prayer
Ask God to be with each of you

Meditate with “All God’s Creatures”
Contemplate love and life with Bob Goff
Compare scriptures with Eugene Peterson
“The Message” paraphrasing inspires me

What’s your favorite way to spend
Quiet time?
Do you carve out space for it
everyday?

Where?

When?

With whom?

Regardless of when, where, and with whom,
May your day always include space for
Quiet Time


Pray with me, will you?
For all those who are in distress:
the homeless, the sick, the frightened,
the lonely,
those who feel helpless or hopeless.
“Bee” the Light.
Shine His Light
wherever you go in this world.
Lord, help us to reach out
and
to love as You love!
Amen

God bless You!
Love,
JanBeek

img_9531

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Family, Giving, God, Jesus, Living in Christ's Family, Love, music, Poetry, prayer, relationships

Tagged with:

Greatest Gift

What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

Love

Love, joy, peace… the greatest of these is love.

Show love in your food preparation & presentation. Yummy dessert at The Fish Wife in Pacific Grove, CA last night.

The Red House Restaurant in Pacific Grove showed love this morning!

Bob shows his love to me every day. What a gift!

My friend, Lisa, gives the gift of love as she allows us to travel vicariously with her.

Bob’s older brother, Bill, gave the gift of love as he picked the oranges and squeezed fresh orange juice for our breakfast yesterday.

Our bonus daughter, Laina, gives the gift of love with daily communication.

Thank God for the Internet! It allows us to share love with one another daily across the world!

And the greatest gift of all is God’s love ❤️

Happy, peace-filled, love-filled New Year to you all. God Bless You🥰

Love,

JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, friendship, God, happiness, Living in Harmony, Love, relationships

Tagged with:

Who Am I?

“I am a Treasured Child of the Most High God.” That is what Steve McNitt wrote in his book, Simple. Enormous. Love.

I adopted that definition. I agree 100% with Steve’s next statement: “The more I learn about that, the more I feel like I understand myself, my God, my roles in life, and how I make a difference in this world.”

I am a Treasured Child of the Most High God.

Steve McNitt elaborated: “Where did I learn about who I am? The Bible holds a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome. The eighth chapter of that letter… revealed a boat-load of life-changing stuff about me. In Romans 8 I found out about God, about myself, and about how , when we mesh together, I live a better, more purpose-filled life. Yes, I said God. He is the key to this whole thing: my life, my purpose, my role in the world, and who I really am.”

That’s me… with my lovely sister-in-law, Margie.

As a Child of God, I am called to be a loving sister, a loving wife, a loving friend, a giver of love and compassion to all. Not just to the Margies of this world, but to everyone! Even those I might choose otherwise to dislike or to ignore. God’s greatest commandment, according to His Son, Jesus, is simply that: “Love one another.”

So, that’s who I am. I am a lover! I love you!! And I wish you a 2025 filled with nothing but LOVE ❤️ You, too, are a Treasured Child of the Most High God. Let’s live to show the world our love everyday. Okay?

Happy New Year!

Love,

JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, friendship, God, Jesus, Living in Christ's Family, Love, relationships

Tagged with:

Dec. 17 – Word of the Day

The @sanctified art word of the day for today is:
MAGNIFY

Of course AI would show you a magnifying glass!
What image might you select for the word?
Here is mine:

God magnifies.
God’s plans are perfect.
I trust His magnificent magnification.
Do you?

Luke 1:46 ESV

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord…”

My soul magnifies the Lord, too.
He is so faithful to hear us and to answer our prayers!
I was so concerned yesterday because
we are traveling today to spend the next three weeks
in California with our son and extended family…
and Bob was short on a medication that he NEEDS.
I prayed fervently to God for the medication to arrive
before we had to leave this morning.
And yes, you guessed it…
At 5:00 PM last night, it arrived at our door.
My soul magnifies the Lord.
He is My Savior.

I hope He is yours, too.
Magnify the Lord… and praise His name.
In His hands I place my trust.

What image comes to your mind with the word
MAGNIFY?

See ya tomorrow for the next
Word of the Day.
Meantime, please pray for our safe travel.
We are flying from Montana to California today.

Love,
JanBeek

Cheers!!

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, God, Life's Challenges, Love, optimism, prayer, Travel

Tagged with:

Dec. 16- Word of the Day

The word for today is:
REPAIR

All the AI images depicted
a man’s hands with tools.

Is that what image comes to mind
when you think of the word
REPAIR?

Since I am in a healing mode after my nasty fall when we were in Italy,
and my leg is healing from an ugly cut earlier this month,
my image for repair comes from a different place.
I am looking for God to repair my body!
Here is scripture assuring me,
He will do that!!

Jeremiah 30:17a

“For I will restore health to you,
and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord…”

God uses the healing hands of His servants
to help repair our bodies when they need it.
I am so grateful for the physical therapist,
the nurses, and the doctors who help
to repair our wounds, our breaks, our cuts,
our boo-boos!!

What comes to mind for you
when you think of the word
REPAIR?

Maybe it is the repair of a broken relationship.
If so, I willl pray that this Christmas season
with God’s help, you can do that!
God bless you with whatever repair you need.
I pray it will come to pass!

See you tomorrow for another
Word of the Day!

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, friendship, God, health, Life's Challenges

Tagged with:

Dec. 15 Word of the Day

Using the prompts from @sanctifiedart,
I am enjoying the opportunity to share
the “Words for the Beginning”
each day with you during this Advent season.

Today’s Word is:
WORTHY

AI generated that picture above when I put in the prompt.
The guy looks a little like my grandson, Jordan.
Jordy was adopted into the Beekman family as a 3 year old.
His birth mother couldn’t stay off drugs long enough to keep him.
What a shame, huh?
The courts took him away and put him in foster care more than once.
His birth mother was given many chances.
He was worthy of a loving, drug-free family.
So when I think of the word WORTHY, our grandchildren come to mind.
Our son and daughter-in-law adopted four worthy children.
We are so blessed!

Ty is on the left. Monika is on the right.
They are the “worthy” adoptive parents
who opened their homes and hearts
to those dear children…
and the blessings continue.
What picture comes to your mind
when you think of the word “worthy“?

“Worthy is the lamb”
came immediately to my mind…
but it’s not that kind of lamb,
It is the Lamb of God.
Do you know that song?

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
Revelation 4:11

You are loved.
You are blessed to be a blessing.
You are enough!
Have a blessed Sunday, dear friends.
And tell me,
what image comes to your mind
when you think of the word, worthy?

Come back tomorrow for the Monday Word of the Day.

Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Faith, Family, God, Jesus, Love, relationships

Tagged with:

Dec. 14 -Word of the Day

Using the prompts from @sanctifiedart,
I am enjoying the opportunity to share
the “Words for the Beginning”
each day with you during this Advent season.

Today’s Word is:
GOODNESS
When I put the prompt in AI, it generated
an assortment of blond, blue-eyed,
smiling 20-year-old females.
I kept asking AI to try again until finally it
generated something different.
I got this!

Goodness me!
That’s not what the word conjures up in my mind.
When I think of goodness, I think of the innocence
of babies and young children
and the unconditional love of our furry friends
(maybe that’s what that AI image is depicting).

These are the images that come to my mind
when I think of the word GOODNESS.

I also think of the goodness of a meal lovingly prepared
and shared generously with friends.

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

I asked Bob what image comes to mind
when he hears the word GOODNESS.
His answer surprised me. He said,
“Mothers… and the loving environment a good mother creates.
THAT’S GOODNESS!”

The goodness a good mother exudes
is certainly multiplied when she has
the support of her children’s father, too.
Loving families RADIATE goodness!

What does the Bible say about goodness?

There is more about the root word, GOOD,
than there is about GOODNESS.

So, goodness is a God-like quality in people.
It is a purity and innocence in children and animals.
It is a gift of delectable taste from a skilled chef.
It is a unifying force in a family.

You don’t have to be a 20-something, blue-eyed blond
to exhibit goodness!!
You are in the land of the living…
and goodness is in you
and all around you.
All you have to do is open your heart to it
and exhibit the goodness that is in you!

Aren’t you grateful for that?

What image does the word GOODNESS bring to your mind?

Join me again tomorrow for another
Word of the Day.

Love ya,
JanBeek

P.S. My maiden name is DeAngeles.
It means “Of Angels.”
Do you see the angelic goodness in me?

Category:

Bible Lessons, children, Faith, kindness, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, pets, relationships

Tagged with: