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Archive for the ‘Bible Lessons’ Category

Where Ya Lookin’?

Where are you looking?
Let’s forget the former things –
Don’t dwell on the past.

Remember the good,
Learn from all of your troubles,
And focus on the now.

Strength and Grace,
a daily devotional from Guideposts,
is one of my morning rituals.
My last post, “Whatever is Lovely,”
also was inspired by this publication.

Today I am exploring
the subjects of love and memory,
and asking myself,
“Where ya lookin’?”

I am remembering the time
I was lookin’ to the right
when I shoulda been lookin’
straight ahead.
I walked into our car’s hatchback.
It was comin’ down –
and obviously I didn’t realize it!!

I am remembering the time
I was dashing out of the car
to go into a local restaurant
to meet my granddaughter
and her children.
I was looking ahead
when I should have been
looking down … at my feet …
at the curb.
I tripped over it.
Broke my pinky finger big time!

Ouch!
I am remembering the time
I was stepping up into the house
from the garage
and I didn’t step up far enough.
I fell backward and hit my head
on the metal hitch of the trailer.
Eight stitches later
I shoulda been lookin’
where I was steppin’!!

Look up for your purpose!

There’s a time to look up.
There’s a time to look back.
There’s a time to look ahead.
But ALL THE TIME we should
Look out! Look at the NOW.
Live in the present –
And look to live longer,
healthier, happier, safer.

a yellow slow down for wildlife signage
Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

Slow Down for Your Life!
And look where you are going.
Where are you looking?

Photo by Wallace Chuck on Pexels.com

Father, in Your mercy, rescue me
from myself, from my carelessness.
Help me look to You for guidance
and help me slow down,
live in the now,
and watch where I’m goin’!
Amen

Have a blessed day!
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Bible Lessons, Faith, health, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, Memories, mental health, Poetry, prayer

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Keep Hope Alive

If you have followed my blog in the past, you know I used to post sermon notes every Sunday afternoon. I’ve not done that for a while. Today I decided, on a snowy May 23rd in SW Montana, that I have nothing better to do than to share with you my notes from last Sunday’s sermon… because with winter weather in late May, I need encouragement to “Keep Hope Alive”… and I thought maybe you could use a little encouragement, too. So here’s what Rev. Mary Grace Reynolds preached last Sunday (as filtered through my ears to my brain to you)…

Sunday’s sermon on hope was inspired (not by Jeremiah 29:11 which is one of my favorite scriptures) but by Romans 8:22-27.

Romans 8:22-27
New International Version

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

(Bold print added by me)

Paul wrote this a couple of decades
After Christ descended and ascended.
Paul addressed the anxiety of
Those who questioned Christ’s return.

We who have the First Fruits of the Spirit
Are saved by the HOPE of what we do not see.
God, who searches our hearts, knows…
God knows our every mood and emotion.

And with that scripture in mind, Mary Grace shared her sermon. Here are my notes:

KEEP HOPE ALIVE

Calvin Coolidge’s young son
Passed away because of a toe infection.
It was over 100 years ago –
Before the discovery of penicillin.

Today we have the promise of
A new vaccine to retrain cells
Of a brain tumor to attack the tumor.
The narrative of lives is being changed.

People who walked with Jesus
Had interpreted Him as saying,
“I’ll be right back…”
But Jesus was taking too long!

Paul wrote to tell the early Christians,
Who had been given the Holy Spirit,
To be patient … and keep HOPE alive.
Maybe Hope isn’t a whisper, but a shout!

Hope is more active than faith.
It is a fighter and a screamer.
The world is groaning, crying out in pain,
And people who’ve been stepped on must also.

Don’t accept the pain life throws at you.
Cry out in pain. Bark as a threatened dog.
Hope is harder to lose than faith
Because it is louder… and persistent.

We hope for things beyond our reality.
Hope gives us the strength to wait –
To be cheerleaders who, with discipline,
Keep HOPE (through the Holy Spirit) alive.

Hope feels like pain, burns like passion
When we see all the world’s injustices.
But HOPE is alive and will not give up.
Keep it alive in you. Expect its miracles!

I love this meme!

Keep hope alive!
If you have time, go to YouTube
and select one of the renditions of
“It Took a Miracle”…
and absorb those words.
So profound!
(For whatever reason,
I couldn’t imbed that song here.)
I love it…

moon in wonderful blue sky in evening
It Took a Miracle

To hang on to HOPE in a fallen world may take a miracle…
But that miracle is yours for the taking.
Take HOPE
And keep it alive!
Amen?

That’s my granddaughter, Hope, with me…
and her daughter, Sienna,
my great-granddaughter, who will be 5 next month,
and our last Boston Terrier, TazE.
HOPE is alive and well in our family.
How about yours?

Love to you,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, children, Faith, Family, God, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, music, optimism, pets, relationships

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A Champion Still!

This is Hillsdale High School’s winning wrestling team back in the 1970’s.
Bob was the wrestling coach. He also taught in the classroom
(safety education and behind the wheel driver’s education).
Matt Martinelli has ahold of Bob’s right leg.
And our son, Ty, is down there looking up proudly at his dad.
Ty just had his 59th birthday… and Matt is now in his 70s!
Time flies, doesn’t it?

Here’s another of Bob”s former wrestlers from back in the ’70s.
Peter is another who keeps in touch
and lets Bob know that he made a difference in his life.
What a joy it is to maintain those contacts!

Here’s our son, Ty:

Life is worth celebrating!
Even though Matt is in CA (and so is Ty),
and Peter in in Arizona,
we are blessed to stay in touch with them.
They let Bob know that Dad/CoachBeek
is a champion still!
He made a difference in their lives.

Galatians 6:9

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Making a difference can sometimes be challenging, and it’s easy to grow weary. However, this verse reminds us to persevere in doing good. Even if we don’t see immediate results, God promises that in due time, we will reap the rewards of our efforts. Therefore, we are encouraged to press on and not lose heart in our pursuit of making a difference.

1958

Bob feels badly that he doesn’t have
the strength and stamina that he once had,
but hey… don’t we all have to accept that?
Our bodies change as we age, right?
Bob’s with his brother, Bill, there…
Looking mighty fit, wouldn’t you say?
Both of them are blessed
to be alive and functioning
as “Champions Still” in their
mid-to-late 80’s!!
Not everyone has that privilege, right?

Blessed to be alive!
Blessed to have one another.
Blessed to continue to do good.
Blessed to be a champion still!!

Who’s a “Champion Still” in your life?

Sending love your way,
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Family, friendship, health, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, mental health, relationships, self-acceptance, Serving One Another

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This n That

Today I am being prompted to post this n that… a little about a lotta things.
Today would have been my dad’s 113th birthday if he were still alive.
So, May 14th has a special ring in my heart. My daddy was a very special,
very kind, very positive influence on my life. Happy Birthday, Dad!!

He gave the best hugs in the world!!

And today he would have loved to have been here with us in Ennis, Montana
to witness the influx of antelope on our golf course’s driving range!

I am in touch each morning with our daughter, DeAna, in Switzerland,
and our “adopted daughter,” Laina, who lives in Glen Burnie, near Baltimore.
Today Laina sent me this photo of her “grand-dog” on her daughter’s lawn.
Laina said the grass was foot high. She just finished mowing it!
What a wonderful, thoughtful mama she is!

Our daughter, De, in Switzerland, sent us this picture of the flowers
her middle son, Nicky, gave her for Mother’s Day. Isn’t it nice
when our kids remember us on Mother’s Day and call or send flowers?

I was treated with flowers from De and Laina, and a phone call from our son in CA.
Bob & I treated ourselves to a Mother’s Day buffet at “The Mint” in Belgrade.
It’s a delightful restaurant not too far from the Bozeman Yellowstone Airport.
I highly recommend it. Bob gave me a lovely card and the restaurant handed out flowers.

Just look at that happy smile and the beautiful plate of prime rib, potatoes, bacon, and asparagus.
The Mint also had a section where there were salad fixings. All around us were families with their
young children. I love watching little kids with their attentive parents, don’t you?

While we were in the restaurant, our pup Owen, stayed in his crate in the car.
He is such a good traveler! On the way home he decided he wanted to travel on the floor
between my feet, He usually sits in my lap. Go figure! Owen is 9 months old!
He’ll be 10 months on the 24th. That’s the day we’ll get him neutered and have a chip installed.

Our waitress at The Mint was “Solaira.” Isn’t that a pretty name?
She said her mom made it up. I had never heard it before.
She was a very attentive, efficient waitress.

đź’‹ Today Owen was happy to be in my lap as we traveled to the Post Office
to pick up our mail. It’s a gray, cool (56 degree) day. We’ve had a little rain.
Can use some more moisture here. We haven’t seen the last of our snow yet!

Well, that’s enough of my rambling this n that for today.
I hope you had a Terrific Tuesday and the rest of your week goes well, too.
What are your plans for this week? What are you looking forward to?

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Tune in to God’s Plan. It’s definitely the one I wanna go with!
Have a blessed week.
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Animals, Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, Family, flowers, God, Gratitude, holidays, kindness, Love, Montana, relationships

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National Poetry Month

National poetry month is wrapping up. Where did April go? I am so glad I was able to hear our state’s poet laureate, Chris La Tray, this month. He certainly inspired me. Have you tried your hand at writing some poetry this month?

Our Advent study in poetry certainly enhanced that ADVENTure this year for me!

Proverbs 16:9

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

My morning devotionals in Dec. 2023 have guided my steps in 2024. The Advent team challenged us to “…hold space for our weariness and our joy… seek a thrill of hope in our hurting world… cry out for comfort… and find many ways to rejoice.”

This is the poem Rev. Sarah wrote to kick off the theme that has inspired my 2024 thus far:

So, unzip the weight you carry around, and let God inspire you also to rejoice in this weary world!

My response to that poem was to let Rev. Sarah Speed inspire me to write my own
“The Last Time I Saw God”

The last time I saw God face to face
I opened the bedroom shades.
God was every color of orange.
I was merely a mortal in awe of it all.

The sun was just rising over the Madison Range.
God was in the sunrise.
I climbed my sanctuary stairs.
God was waiting there for me;
He was the brightest yellow.

The time before that,
A three-year-old was explaining her
understanding of love.
God was the brightest red
in her precocious explanation.
Love is helping others – being kind.

And in between these small gifts
were glimpses of God
in the warm morning hug,
the gathering of church friends,
the joy of guitar accompaniment,
and the sound of congregational singing.

Why yes, we are blessed.
We are more than blessed
for the moments when
God appears and speaks
through the purple haze
in a voice sweet as morning dewdrops,
“Listen, my beloved,
I am with you.
See me, my beloved,
I am here in your every breath.”

That was not the first
nor will it be the last
time I will see
and hear God.

When is the last time you saw God face to face?
Write about it!
God bless you!

Happy National Poetry Month!
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, God, Gratitude, Living in Christ's Family, Love, Memories, Poetry, writing

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A Quiet Center

Finding your center
Can be a difficult task
Inside or outside

Is your quiet place
Inside your pure heart of hearts
Or out in nature?

Wherever it is
I hope you discover it
And go there often

Photo by Gary Barnes on Pexels.com

It may be inside
Looking out through clouded glass
Tuning in to YOU

Or it may be out
In the beauty of nature
Soaking in God’s grace

Wherever it is
Go to your quiet center
Away from chaos

Photo by Lisa on Pexels.com

I love the words of this hymn of grace.
If you are in a place where you can tap on the arrow and hear it,
I wholeheartedly recommend you do so.
But, if you cannot link to it and listen,
at least read these beautiful lyrics!

“Come and find the quiet center
In the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter,
Find the frame where we are freed.
Clear the chaos and the clutter,
Clear our eyes that we can see
All the things that really matter.
Be at peace and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us,
Cools the heat and slows the pace.
God it is who speaks and names us,
Knows our being, touches base;
Making space within our thinking
Lifting shades to show the sun,
Raising courage when we’re shrinking,
Finding scope for faith begun.

In the spirit let us travel,
Open to each other’s pain.
Let our loves and fears unravel,
Celebrate the space we gain.
There’s a place for deepest dreaming,
There’s a time for heart to care,
In the Spirit’s lively scheming
There is always room to spare.”

Words by Shirley Erena Murray
Music attributed to B.F. White

You can live at peace
Even in the midst of strife
Find center in life

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
He had also told His followers
“…in this world you will have many troubles.
But take heart! I have overcome the world”
(John 16:33).
So peace is not the absence of trouble;
it is the presence of God.

Come and find your space.
Yes, we have some room to spare!
Come and visit us!

God bless you, my friend.
You are in my heart of hearts,
My quiet center.

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, contentment, Faith, God, Haiku, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, music, peace

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April 1st – A Day to Choose

Choose wisely! Don’t let yourself be fooled!

Today is a special day in our family. My great-granddaughter, Mable, turns a big TWO today. She is the child of our chosen granddaughter, Faith. What a blessed day it was when she, as a newborn, was gifted into our Beekman family!!

Mable is such a love!!!
BUT, don’t be fooled, Mable.
Those blocks are not for eating!!

Also in the picture below is my “chosen” granddaughter, Kayla. Her 28th birthday is today. Mable and Kayla were born on this special day to be conduits of God’s love!

I am with our daughter #2, Laina, and her daughter, Kayla. Don’t be fooled… that was several years ago! But, hey… aren’t we a happy trio? Laina and Kayla (and her sister Katy) are dear ones we have chosen to be part of our family. We are so blessed by them!

Do you have “chosen ones” who have added love and joy to your family?

Do you know that YOU are a chosen one, too?

light person red art
Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels.com


In her message today, “Corine @ Therapy For Christians” cwilliams@therapyforchristians.com had this message for us about the idea of being “chosen”:

“…as you navigate the complexities of life, know that you are not merely a recipient of grace but also a conduit of it to those around you, you are called to bear fruit – fruit that will last. Just as God’s grace has chosen you, you are empowered to extend that same grace to others. 

This week, contemplate on practical ways to become vessels of God’s love and grace. Choose to share His grace through acts of kindness, words of encouragement, or simply being present for someone in need. In doing so, you actively participate in God’s redemptive plan, becoming a tangible reflection of His love in a world that often hungers for acceptance and understanding.

Allow His grace to permeate every aspect of your being, guiding you toward a life that bears fruit and brings glory to His name. Trust in His sovereign plan for your life, knowing that you are chosen, loved, and appointed to walk in His purpose. And remember, growth in any area of life, starts with growth in Him…”

So, on this April Fool’s Day, be careful what and who you choose. Be mindful! Don’t be fooled!

John 15:16 KJV
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

We are chosen! Hallelujah! Now let’s go out and spread the love!!

Happy April 1st!
It’s a day for choosing.
Choose love, not pranks!
God Bless You!

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, relationships

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Silent Saturday

In silent awe,

JanBeek ❤️

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Gratitude, Jesus, Life and Death, Love

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Daily Routines Help Us Cope

This week one of our writing prompts was:
What strategies do you use
to cope with negative feelings?

My daily routine helps me nip any negativity in the bud! I invite you to adopt this 12 step program, too. You don’t need a 12 step staircase like mine to do it. You can do it sitting in a chair! I say this 12 step prayer every morning on my way down the circular staircase from my sanctuary:

1. Thank You for the love
2. the joy and
3. the peace that are mine. Help me with
4. Patience,
5. Kindness,
6. Goodness, and
7. Faithfulness that brings blessings.
8. Gentleness and
9. Self-control.
10. Help me live humbly with an attitude of gratitude, and
11. a response of generosity, forgiveness,
12. Obedience and integrity.

In Jesus name,
Amen!

May your day be filled with love and joy!
May you adopt a daily routine that helps you chase any negative feelings away!

God Bless You!
Hugs,
JanBeek
(and Bob ‘n Owen, too)

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Gratitude, happiness, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, mental health, prayer, relationships

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Fate?

Today’s JetPack prompt was:
Do you believe in fate/destiny?

Fate or free will?
Destiny or our own decision-making?
Can we have both?

I want to believe in both!
Does the Bible teach us that God has numbered our days?

What does the Bible say about numbered days?

  • “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,” saith the Lord, “which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” ( Revelation 1:8)

    On the Bible app, it then tells us, “In conclusion, the fact that God has numbered our days should serve as a reminder of His provision and care for us.”
Is that what you conclude?
Does that scripture
say God numbers our days?
Does God really know
on the day that we are born
how many days we will live ?

Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

This scripture seems to tell us that WE need to number our days! And we need to treasure each one and live in wisdom. Making wise decisions!! What does that say about FATE?
young female astrologist predicting future with shining ball
Photo by Vika Glitter on Pexels.com

Another translation of Psalm 90:12

  • “Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass…”

    This one seems to mean that the number of our days are already determined.

If you believe in Destiny,
then it seems to me
you would think you have no control
over what happens in your life.

I can’t go with that theory.
I do believe God gave us free will.
Maybe that means we can deny our destiny.

What do you believe?

low section of man against sky
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I am free to live
With the choices that I make
Lord, give me wisdom

Amen

Love,
JanBeek
(and Owen)

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Love

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