The world needs your cheer Be excited for today Be inspiring
You can lift others Out of their pessimism Make joy contagious
Faith is the power That helps you stay connected To joy that abounds
So, just keep the faith Keep letting God shine through you He’ll keep you upbeat!
Cheers!
What are you feeling positive about today? Share your good news! We all need your smile.
(My good news is that my hand is healing. The swelling is going down. I was able to get my watch on today… It fit over my hand for the first time since the fall and broken finger April 20th. The fingers are learning to bend again. That’s my good news. What’s yours?)
Some people seem to have aged like fine wine. I aged like milk…. I got sour and chunky.
Is 82 old? I’ve spent my life and my blogging career (over a decade now) denying “old” and encouraging vim & vigor!
Now, all of a sudden, as I nurse my bruised and broken left hand, try to type with one hand, and I struggle to cut my pain meds in half so I can welcome normal bowel movements again, I am feeling sour, chunky, and sorry for myself. Ever been there?
I have blogged only once or twice in the weeks since my careless trip over the curb and my broken and dislocated left pinky. I try to make light of it.
But I challenge you: Tie your non-dominant hand to your waist. Make it inoperable/immobile. Then leave it like that for two weeks. Try taking a shower, washing your hair, changing the sheets on your bed, slicing meat for a stir-fry, putting on socks, or pulling up your pants. How’s it working?
Believe me, it’s worse than having a finger in a trap! The whole arm and hand are out of commission! But… true to form, I find comfort in knowing it could be worse!
I drink a toast to the blessings! It coulda been worse! It coulda been the dominant hand or the head or a hip! It coulda been permanent damage. This, too, shall pass!!
So, after all, count your blessings, Jan; you had just gotten a manicure – and you didn’t even break a nail! Now I ask you, how lucky can you be?
Happy Cinco de Mayo came and went! Our granddaughter’s birthday came and went! Mother’s Day came and went! Neighbors and friends came and are still coming to help with meals and household chores. So, I’m smiling and grateful.
I’m aging pretty well! Don’t you think? How about you?
See ya tomorrow, God willing… Have a Terrific Tuesday. I send my love, JanBeek
Guess what? Looking on the bright side and putting on a happy face is NOT the end of your generation!!
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Thank you for continuing to pray for Bob as we work together trying to get the medication he needs for his heart ailment. Did I tell you that after co-pay the first month of the medication costs over $3,000 ?? Pray that we can get assistance from Pfizer, the manufacturer of the medication, OK? This is a life-saving treatment plan that we need… God knows that!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek See ya tomorrow (God willing)
No reason to be afraid! Take peace… He’s in control!
Where do you find your peace, my friend? Ihope it’s in your heart today! Let faith rise up in you…
Psalm 34:10b “Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”
Isaiah 26: 3-4 “Those of steadfast mind You keep in peace— because they trust in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.”
My Ideal Day is filled with:
Enough
Peace
Trust
Faith
Love
Friendship
Affirmation
Health
Music
Writing time
Reading time
Blessings …. to fill my cup to overflowing so I can share.
Share hugs and love
An Ideal Day ends with:
Gratitude for today
Peace of mind
Hope for tomorrow
Joy abounding
Romans 15:13
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
And then I have a good, long, restful sleep- zzzzzzz
My ideal day ends with this peaceful music and these beautiful scenes (click on video/music below) as I fall asleep praying for you, my friend.
Bee well! Thanks for visiting JanBeek See ya tomorrow (God willing)…
Me with my daughter-n-law, Monika
P.S. We’re packing today and heading back toward Montana tomorrow after two weeks of recuperation time from RSV with our gracious, kind, generous son and his wife. God is good!
Although the flow May feel like a free fall, Embrace the flow. There’s Someone at your call.
He’s right there to catch you When you’re about to land. He won’t let you crash – He’ll hold out His hand!
Yesterday Bob & I dashed off to Bozeman for three reasons – and there ended up being four… oh actually five:
Drop off his pickup at “Dark Horse Snug Tops” to replace the hinge on his hatch cover
Go to an appointment with the nephrologist (what’s that? -the doctor who deals with the branch of medicine related to physiology and diseases of the kidneys-)
Keep an appointment with the cardiologist (you all know that’s a heart doctor), and an unexpected
X-ray of his abdomen… oh, and I was there for a 5th reason:
To shop for the veggies to make vegetable soup for tomorrow’s fellowship at church
We were hoping that the nephrologist would say his kidneys show no signs of protein or amyloid deposits – and so a biopsy would not be necessary. God answered that prayer!
We were hoping the cardiologist would say all the preliminary tests are done and show no signs of AL Amyloidosis (the cancerous kind) – and so no more labs and scans before our trip to Mayo Clinic in January. God answered that prayer.
The unexpected x-ray showed yes, the abdomen area is full of air (that’s why it sounds like a kettle drum when you tap on it) – but it’s not fluid – and he’s not showing signs like pain or vomiting – so we won’t deal with that issue right now. God is good! We trust His timing on this – (and all our other decisions).
I got my veggie shopping done (Thanks, CostCo, for your lovely fruits and veggies) – and …
The pickup latch cover hinge was fixed and BONUS: they replaced the key mechanism that was troubling (God answers prayers you didn’t know to mention … He’s way ahead of you!)
So, go with the flow…
John 7:38
“Out of the believer’s heart will flow rivers of living water.”
Today’s word in Unity‘s Daily Word is FLOW. The introductory thought is, “I flow with the nourishing life of God.” John 7:38 is the featured scripture. The devotional (quoting Lao Tzu) says, “The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things, without trying to.”
As believers, we know that “supreme good” is God. We know God is “The Flow.”
Unity‘s Daily Word goes on to say, “Whether I experience this flow as a current of a river, the swelling of ocean waves, or my body’s life-sustaining circulation, I am in sync with this flow, which by its nature knows which way to go and what to do.”
How refreshing is that thought to you? It nourishes my soul. By the Holy Spirit, I know God’s life is in me – moving, changing, dancing and singing. I am one with the flow. I need not dash and rush and worry about things happening on time! I need not worry about Bob’s heart and kidneys, his abdomen or his pickup. I need not worry about his lack of stamina on the drive home. Just go with the flow – and trust. Follow along in the car – and honk if his pickup drifts and he seems to be falling asleep!!
Sometimes the flow is slow and steady … and I am out there in a fiery mood, trying to rush it along.
Don’t be in a rush To try to get too much done. Let the smooth flow of God Stop you mid-run!
Delight in the sneakiness Of a red sunset’s glow, And take time to relish The soft taste of snow.
Embrace the joy Of vegetables’ texture and smell, The magic of herbs as they cook, And bid stressing farewell!
Embrace the flow Of God in your life. Let Him slow you down As you eliminate strife.
Don’t worry about health. Don’t stress over unfinished tasks. Just go with the flow – And take time for some laughs!
Overflow this Advent season with the love of Christ Jesus, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the easy flow of God answering prayers in your life.
Who am I to tell you How to live your life? Who am I to suggest Ways to eliminate strife?
Simplicity’s elusive In this world of more and more. Simplicity’s evasive For both the rich and poor.
When we live in a world of plenty We have more than we need, lots more. We have so much it pushes its way Onto the chairs and into the floor.
We go out shopping for others And find a book we can’t live without. No more room on our bookshelves – “Stop! Embrace Simplicity!” our houses all shout.
Embrace Simplicity!
We go out shopping for others And some absolutely essential gift Jumps off the shelf and tells us, “You need this for your own spirit lift!”
But living with less stuff and clutter Is the best spirit lifter you will find. Let’s embrace simplicity, my friends. It’s an important clearing of the mind!
Like weeds in an otherwise garden of beauty, Your mind and your home need clear space! Get rid of the clutter and give your brain room To live in simplicity and to exude love and grace.
Maybe this Christmas my shopping Should be in my own cluttered house. Instead of searching, stressing, and buying, I wonder who’d like that lovely red blouse?
I’m off to see if I can follow my own advice. Wouldn’t that be nice? But, I really like that blouse… Maybe I’ll have to think twice!
Have a Simply Happy Week, my friends. All I want for Christmas is YOU visiting me here!! See ya tomorrow (God willing) Love, JanBeek
Christmas is coming You see it everywhere you look these days. But… It’s not a “Merry Christmas” I am wishing for you! It’s a “Mary Christmas!” That’s in contrast to a “Martha Christmas!”
Luke 10:38-42
New International Version
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Are You Mary or Martha?
If I am not totally aware, it is easy for me to fall into the Martha role. Company is coming! I love entertaining.
But, if I am busy being Martha, I find at the end of the evening I didn’t engage in a meaningful conversation with anyone!
“Oh, Jan, Jan!” Jesus would say to me, “prepare for your guests in advance, so when they come, you can sit down and enjoy their company!”
But what if guests pop in unexpected? Should I be the Mary who lets Martha do all the work? Surely there is a happy medium here somewhere!
Work or Shirk?
If company pops in unexpected, drop everything and enjoy the surprise! They didn’t come to see your house. They probably didn’t come to eat your food. They are there to see you! So it’s not a question of work or shirk!
Put on a smirk – take off the apron – set aside the work!
If you convince them to stay and enjoy a snack or a meal with you, invite them in to your kitchen and continue to enjoy one another as you fix up some goodies together!
‘Tis the season to enjoy the love of company – ‘Tis the season to spread the joy and remember the reason for the season. It ain’t stressin’ yourself out with decorating, shopping, gift-wrapping, and entertaining like Martha!
It’s Mary – the Christ Child – the simplicity of the stable – the spontaneity of good friends – and the Good News!
Mary Christmas!
Have yourself a Mary Christmas!
Love to you… Pop in – and sit awhile! Let’s listen to some relaxing Christmas music and have a cup o’ tea or hot cocoa! Hugs, JanBeek
Your imperfections Are not the Creator’s fault. Know, no one’s perfect!
We all have our faults. And as we age, wrinkles show. Otherwise you’re numb.
It’s our emotions That birth our imperfections. So, just embrace them!
In today’s Daily Guideposts, Bill Giovannetti ended his devotional with this prayer: “Lord, You alone are perfect. Help me be good with that. Amen.”
Bill shared that perfectionism lurks in the corners of his heart, always ready to pounce.
Do you have that problem? Do you expect yourself to write the perfect article, paint the perfect picture, bake the perfect cake, or create the perfect garden? Does the fear of making mistakes nag at you? Do your imperfections make you question your worth? Do you ever feel like covering your troubling issues by hiding in a box?
Here are seven verses to help you lay down the idol of perfectionism and embrace your own weaknesses.
Romans 5:7-8. …
2 Corinthians 12:9. …
James 3:2. …
Matthew 19:21. …
Galatians 1:10. …
1 Thessalonians 2:4. …
Romans 8:15.
What does God say about perfectionism?
Romans 15:7 “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
God/Jesus doesn’t require your perfection, because He is the only one who is perfect. His acceptance of you can help you accept others with their flaws as well.
In this season of Thanksgiving, I invite you to sit quietly with yourself. Thank God for the way you are “wonderfully made,” And give yourself a break.
As you listen to these relaxing hymns of Thanksgiving and worship, count your many blessings. Embrace your imperfections, and know they simply prove you are human!
Are you familiar with “Kintsugi” or “Kintsukuroi”? This is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. The method is similar to the maki-e technique. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.
Like repaired pottery, Kintsugi style, our imperfections are those cracks that allow room for the power and grace of God to fill us with the gold of humility, repentance, and dependence on Him.
Bill Giovannetti wrote, “… my worth before both God and those I love doesn’t depend on me being perfect. It just depends on me being me.”
Me being me!
“Help me be who You made me to be. Help me accept myself with all my imperfections. Help me, Lord, to relax in Your promise of acceptance. Help me love unconditionally, refraining from judging others, just as You love and accept me – just as I am. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Thanks for visiting today. I pray you see yourself as God’s beloved creation – imperfections and all! See ya tomorrow (God willing). Love, JanBeek
janbeek 