I have had a break from my blog for awhile. Why? Spending time with visiting friends and family this summer and early autumn has taken precedence. Also, for the last 300+ consecutive days I have been doing a daily French lesson on Duolingo. Can I speak French now? No… But I can read and understand some. Time to move on. So, I’m exchanging that focus for now. I’m returning to my daily blog posts. I hope you’ll join me.
Today, I reread a response from a friend who wrote to me back in 2021 with this comment:
“You lit a candle in my mind and heart this morning when I read your blog post … Thank you for spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity through your blog…”
I kept a copy of that blog response in my journal titled, “I Can and I Will, Watch Me!” The entry that day in 2021 was, “I CAN Be an Inspiration.” That is my mission… and I have been neglecting it here on WordPress. But, I’m back!
My journal has 124 entries, each starting with “I Can…” As the “Inspirational Leader” I read one a month last year to my friends at Madison Valley Women’s Club. They responded very favorably to the inspirations. For the next few months, let me share one a day with you, okay? Hopefully you will follow along, and “I Will” be an inspiration to you, too. “Watch Me!”
I CAN Inspire!
I’m not in retirement I’m in re-inspirement Each day a new opportunity To inspire and To be an inspiration grabs me!
What is the secret to being an inspiration?
Love people and Try to understand them.
Reach out in love today.
Sincerely tell at least three people today, “I Love You.”
Happy Thursday to you! 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:
When you think of that word, what picture comes to mind? I asked AI to generate a picture and this is what they sent:
I was happy to see AI’s first response was people connecting, not some mechanisms!
I imagine the image below is not the kind of connection that @sanctifiedart envisioned when they selected CONNECTION for today’s Word.
When I think of connection, I think about social media and about telephone connections and about the way we feel when we maintain long-distance relationships.
Media type connections can be a blessings or they can be a curse.
When we see people ignoring their companions-at-hand while they keep their focus on their cell phones, it feels like such a waste!
For me to make connections that really matter, connections that last over time and that satisfy my heartfelt needs, I need physical contact. I need hugs. I need face-to-face. I need kisses.
How about you??
What images does that word CONNECTION conjure up for you?
What connection in your life fills your heart with love hope and joy?
Besides my dear husband with whom I will celebrate 63 years next February, the other vital connection is described in this scripture:
I imagine myself as a Child of God, reaching out constantly to connect with God.
My fingers grasp His Hand just like a little child reaching for his or her father. My connection to God, my Heavenly Father, is my most important CONNECTION.
WHAT’S YOURS?
See you tomorrow with the next Word of the Day. Thanks for visiting JanBeek and following along. I appreciate my connection with YOU!
“A Sanctified Art” is the Advent program my friends at church and I are using this Christmas season.
It was suggested that we take or find a photo inspired by the Word of the Day and share it daily on social media. I have been remiss. We’re already nine days into Advent and I have not posted these words or photos for you to see.
But, I have colored the quilt pattern that contains the words… and I have contemplated the meaning of each of the words as they came due. It’s not too late to begin sharing. Today’s word is: “Embrace.”
You might expect me to post a picture of Bob & me embracing, but I’m not going to be so predictable!
It’s easy to embrace those we love, but learning to embrace the storms of life… that’s a different story!
Yesterday’s word was “Together.” That was a much easier word to embrace! It was our bonus daughter, Elaina’s birthday – and she was able to be together with her daughter and son-in-law to celebrate.
And a Happy Birthday to you, dear LainaLainaLaina!!
It was a party day for our son, Ty and his wife, Monika, and they were able to host a large group of leaders from their church. There is such joy in that kind of togetherness!
We returned recently from a three week trip to Switzerland … and the togetherness with our daughter, DeAna, was magical!
When you think of the joy of togetherness, what comes to your mind? And in terms of embracing the storms of life, what is a storm you are facing? Tell me about it… and I will certainly add your resolution to my prayer requests.
See ya tomorrow with the word of the day for beginning your December 10th.
The prompt for today asked me to identify my favorite pastime… I am doing it: writing. Especially writing on my blog, but also writing text or e-mail messages to family and friends and sending greeting cards for all kinds of occasions ie: Birthdays, Anniversaries, Get Well, Thinking of you…
Writing poetry is another favorite activity. If you’ve read my blog for awhile, you know I like to take sermon notes in church on Sundays. Sometimes they rhyme… but more often lately they are free verse. It’s my way of capturing the main message as I hear and understand it.
Rev. Mary Grace Reynolds used Matthew Chapter 5:13-16 as her springboard for today’s message. Here’s what the sermon said to me today:
Be Salt and Light
Salt preserves. As Christians, We, too, must preserve What is right in the world.
We must become Salt and Light. Salt that exists For a specific purpose.
Light that shines As a witness to Jesus. Salt that creates A thirst for what is Good.
Fight for each human’s Right to live in The light of Torchbearers – Lighting the way for others.
Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the peacemakers. Think first to help someone else. Be a light who blesses others.
Don’t lose your saltiness. Don’t cover your light. Create pathways to Wholeness in this world.
Amen? Amen!
Are you Salt for a specific purpose? Does that influence your choice of Favorite Pastime? Does your purpose shed Light on your pathway? Is it peaceful?
What is your favorite pastime? Don’t tell me you don’t have one!
In her blog she wrote, “Age is a topic that adults of different ages often talk about in my therapy groups. We have so many preconceptions and judgments about age. For example, women aren’t supposed to share their age. Why not? I’m proud that I’ve reached the age of 71.”
She posted many quotes about aging. They got me thinking about that topic and how it relates to today’s prompt. Prioritize tomorrow? What about today? You’re one day older… How do you feel about it?
Do you look in the mirror and count your wrinkles? Or do you wink at the mirror and thank God for another day?
I commented about aging on Ann’s blog. This is what I wrote:
“Aging is a gift not all humans are given. It’s a privilege to age along side my 85-year-old hubby. I’m only six months behind him. We will celebrate our 63rd anniversary this February (and there were nay-sayers who said it wouldn’t last!). I can honestly say we love one another more now than we did the day we were married. It’s a well worn, comfortable, endearing, respectful love. If you are given the gift of aging, unwrap it, flaunt it, appreciate each day, share your gained wisdom, and thank God for each sunrise-sunset. Life is a gift!”
The Lord promises His continued love and concern for the elderly. “I will be your God throughout your lifetime — until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you (Isaiah 46:4)
Thank God for this new day. What is your number one priority for today? Carpe’ Diem!
I found this blog to be so fascinating and so well written that I just have to share it with you. Tell me, are you as enchanted as I am with the linguistic artistry of this post?
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 3:18
Today’s post was inspired by an entry in All God’s Creatures, a Guideposts publication. Shirley Raye Redmond wrote a commentary titled, “Keep Growing” for the November 27 entry.
She ended her thoughts with this quote by Oswald Chambers:
“Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of years, but by obedience to the will of God.”
Isn’t it interesting that when I search for photos related to obedience, the pictures all are of dogs? Not us human beings. No, the word conjures up obedient dogs! Would that we could be as responsive to discipline as a dog is! Or as committed to growth as a lobster!
Bee like a lobster Or a dog – Committed and Obedient…
One should not lose sleep over lost blogs, right? But here I am … sleepless in Montana … feeling very disgruntled. I wrote this blog titled “Triumphant Scars” and posted it, but then I received a notice that the draft was not posted. I knew I had finished and posted it… and many of you dear readers left lovely comments. So, I deleted the unfinished draft. Figured I didn’t need it.
Well, my friends, if you have both JetPack and WordPress, BEWARE!!
JetPack did not acknowledge the completed post, and when I erased the draft, I lost the post. Does that make sense? No!! Below is all that is left of my carefully crafted post about Eli and his “Triumphant Scars.“
…He showed them [scars on] His hands and sides. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”
John 20:20
X
X
X
Those x’s are what I put in to save room for text when I went from my phone (where I started the post because that’s where the pictures were) to my laptop where I completed the entry. I used lovely illustrations of why Eli’s scars (and yours and mine, too) are triumphant by quoting a very thoughtful and inspiring commentary in Guideposts “Mornings With Jesus.”
The bottom line: Jesus’ scars on his hands, feet and sides are proof of healing. His death and resurrection allows us, His followers, to be healed of our sins and look forward to eternity. Our scars, both the visible and the invisible ones, are proof of our healing, too. They are Triumphant Scars. That was the message.
Alas, I discovered when I deleted the draft in JetPack, I also deleted my finished post and the only thing I could retrieve in “Trash” was what you see above, the scripture, the photos and the x’s. Do any of you dear readers have any advice for me? I am so disgruntled that I’ve taken a break from blogging since then. Did you miss me? I need to get out of this funk.
Th good news is: Eli is home and recuperating from his surgery. His mom & dad and three sisters are in my daily prayers along with his grandma, Donna (whose blog, “The Father’s Feet” is where I met Eli). I hope you are continuing to pray for Eli, too.
This has been a miserable way to learn “Do Not Delete it when JetPack says your published WordPress post is still in draft form.” I’ve gotta get outta this funk and back to my positive self spreading love, joy, peace, faith and unity on JanBeek. And I’ve gotta get some sleep. This is no way to live.
Sympathy = “I feel FOR you.” Empathy = “I feel AS you.”
Ah, we need more empathy! We need more people who are willing to put themselves in another person’s shoes…
Not just feel sorry for the one who suffers, but feel his/her suffering – and try to do something to alleviate it. I discovered a new blogger today (new to me) – “Ly-die” – who wrote an eloquent post on this topic. I really appreciated it, and I think you will, too.
Have a terrific Thursday! Our daughter, DeAna, and son-in-law, Andre’ are with us this week. They surprised us by bringing along with them our 1980-81 AFS Exchange student (Christian Zufferey) and his wife, Celia. Chris (ZuZu) is Andre’s cousin… and he has not been to the USA in over 30 years! You can imagine our pure JOY at seeing him and his dear spouse at our door!
Yesterday we toured Ennis and stopped at “The Long Branch” for a few libations. That’s De & Andre’ on the left and ZuZu with Celia on the right. I’m the happy camper in the middle!
Bob stayed home and then joined us later when we a went to our neighbors’ place (the Ducsays) for “TMW” – (what’s that – you ask?) – Hah – “Too much wine!” The picture doesn’t show our joy! We were having a grand time!
Today our Swiss guests are spending time in Yellowstone Park. It’s a beautiful blue sky day here. What are you up to??
Enjoy your Thursday… I send my love and empathy your way.
In her blog she wrote, “Age is a topic that adults of different ages often talk about in my therapy groups. We have so many preconceptions and judgments about age. For example, women aren’t supposed to share their age. Why not? I’m proud that I’ve reached the age of 71.”
