Loving One Another

Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category

It’s Not Fair!


Sermon Notes
August 9, 2020
Rev. Steve Hundley
Jan’s poetic notes taken while listening
to Steve’s message based on John 21:15-23

“A Side-Long Glance”

Jesus was with His disciples on shore.
Peter thought Jesus didn’t believe him.
Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep.
The answer failed to relieve him.

Have you ever felt misunderstood?
Ever had your sincerity questioned bare?
Peter told Jesus, “You know I love You.”
Jesus had asked him three times there.

Was Jesus expecting too much of Peter?
Does He expect too much of us?
A tithe is a tenth of what you make.
The visible return’s not much to see – why fuss?

Well, Jesus expected even more than a tenth.
“What about him?” Peter asked.
Like Peter, we question others’ faith.
We want Jesus to take ’em to task.

There has to be a difference between
Faith and foolishness – so it’s not fair
Those rich folks don’t seem to give –
They don’t seem to do their share.

We cast a side-long glance across the aisle,
And we ask, as Peter did, “What about them?”
And Jesus answers us as He did Peter,
“What is it to you?” From where does fairness stem?

Jesus says, “Feed My sheep -just love!”
Your side-long glance has no place here.
You do your fair share and don’t worry about
What others do. Give, love, and have no fear.

No side-long glances allowed.
Look ahead at the One who stands
Before a hurting world and says,
“Feed My sheep in all My lands.”

Just follow Jesus –
And what will happen today?
To tell the truth, I don’t know!
Just do it anyway!!

Amen!

After church today we had a barbecue. It was the kick-off of the fiscal year’s drive for finances to fund the Pastor Search Committee and to consider our pledges for the 2020-21 church budget. Jesus said, “Feed My sheep!” and these sheep were fed in grand style out on the church lawn.

Plenty of space to socially distance
Bob with Kathy & Lucy
Here’s Pastor Steve with his wife, Elaine
The darling Nelson family: Murray, Nick, Nellie & Megan
Don’t you love that green bow?
Children like Murray are our church’s future!
Roy (on the left) was today’s scripture reader.
Charlie and his wife, Judy, were our greeters.
Ray and Barbara enjoyed the food and fellowship.

After the church BBQ, we went to my friend, Sue’s. Her birthday is tomorrow. We needed to sing “Happy Birthday!” while we socially distanced. She and her husband are being really careful around this COVID-19 … especially with Montana’s case numbers rising. They are being kept really busy at their beautiful home. Just look at their gardens!

Happy Birthday, Sue!!
Quite the flower bed!!
Impressive garden!
Represents a lot of work!!
This back of their house faces out toward the gorgeous Madison Range.

Sue and Jerry joined the Madison Valley Presbyterian Church on the same Sunday Bob & I did nearly 15 years ago. We have been fast friends ever since. The two of them built this gorgeous house themselves! Just this summer they added that deck outside their bedroom window on the right.

Here is the front of the house:

It’s so beautiful!!
Behind the house to the south side is this cabin.
They lived in it for a couple of years while they built their house.
We had more than a couple cozy dinners there.
It is such a darling, little place. Wanna rent it for a week or so?
Tell me in the comments section below.
Beautiful “Bee Plant” on the south – outside their sun room.
The road (Trail Creek) headed back home from Sue & Jerry’s.

Yes, we are blessed. We live in the gorgeous Madison Valley. We have a terrific church, a wonderful pastor who gives great sermons, beautiful friends, and a picture-perfect setting with glorious August sunshine and enormous “BigSky” drama. Ah, my friends, life is good!

No need for side-long glances. Keep your eyes on your own blessings, your own giving, and your own business. No need focusing on what’s “not fair!” Remember while you’re counting your blessings to share your love with others with your whole heart!

Do have a fantastic week ahead.

Thanks for visiting
and for sharing with me the sermon
and our visit with Sue.
Happy Birthday, Sue!!

This was a couple years ago at our house.
Love you, Sue!!


Virtual Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Bible Lessons, children, Faith, Family, friendship, happiness, Jesus, Living in Christ's Family, Love, Montana, mountains, nature, Poetry, relationships, sermon notes

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That Happy Feeling


Stay in the moment
To avoid anxiety
NOW is what we have

While we’re in the NOW,
Lord help us to be aware
Of what DOES matter

Tune our eyes to see
And our ears to really hear
What is important

Take away our bent
To frivolity of life
Give us Your wisdom

Photo by Eduardo Braga on Pexels.com

PHILIPPIANS 4:8
8 Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things.

Keeping Philippians 4:8
in your heart and focusing on the
positivity of the NOW
will make you smile!

Are you smiling?

Stay in the moment
Take notice of little things
And you will be blessed!

Tell me, what are you focusing on NOW??
What’s making you smile??

Do you have sunshine in your pocket?
Do you have that happy feeling in your body?
I dare you to watch this video without smiling!!


See ya tomorrow.
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, contentment, Faith, Haiku, happiness, Living in Christ's Family, Love, mental health, music, peace, Poetry

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Little Kindness


A little kindness
Can make a great big difference
Shine a light today

Photo by Rahul on Pexels.com

You can shine a light
That permeates a dark room
It’s a glow from God

Since LOVE dwells in you
A light is shining brightly
Beams out of your heart

Made in God’s image,
You will radiate kindness
And make a difference

Where there is darkness
Let the love of Christ sparkle
Let it fill the space

You can shine love’s light
And spread positivity
Yes, you live to give!

Photo by Binti Malu on Pexels.com

Your kindness matters.
What will you do to shine light
In today’s darkness?

See ya later!

Sending love and light your way.
See ya later…
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Faith, God, Haiku, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, Poetry, relationships, Serving One Another

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Wonders & Miracles


Job 5:9
“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.”

Every day is a
MIRACLE!

The fact that I was able to go on that ATV ride yesterday on those bumpy, rocky trails is in itself a miracle. You know I had hernia surgery on my mid-section last month. To enjoy yesterday with Bob & our friends was a WONDER, for sure! And today I am no worse for the wear… Thank God!

Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com

The miracle of the sea and the tides,
the daily rising and setting of the sun and moon,
these are miracles that never cease to amaze me.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com

And if miraculous healing, sunrises and sunsets are not enough for you,
look in the mirror!!

YOU are a miracle!!

It’s a wonder that
We can see the miracle in us
And in others, too.

Keep searching for them
Wonders and miracles are
Everywhere you look!!

Photo by Oliver Sju00f6stru00f6m on Pexels.com
Photo by Philipp Birmes on Pexels.com

Just keep looking up.
God will show you His wonders-
And you will share them.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Thank you to Pexels
For putting God’s wonders here
At our fingertips!

Photo by Erik Karits on Pexels.com

I may not travel
To Thailand to see this sight
But Pexels shares it

Where do you want to
Go – and what do you want to see?
What interests are yours?

I may not see Guam
In person in my lifetime,
But I can Google.

I can imagine
The miracle of the flight
That takes me to Guam.

Photo by Sheila on Pexels.com

“Why Guam?” you ask me.
“Why not?” I respond to you.
It fascinates me.

Photo by Richard Segal on Pexels.com

Why does Pexels show
An undersea photograph
Of a Guam turtle?

Surely there is more
To Guam and its miracles –
More than sea turtles!

Did you know that Guam
Is U.S. territory?
I am in wonder!

I wonder when Guam
Became part of the U.S.
It’s a miracle!

A miracle that
I chose that place to learn more –
Not having a clue!

The inhabitants
of Guam are American
citizens by birth.

I must have learned that
When they had a hurricane –
‘Twas devastating!

Photo by Denniz Futalan on Pexels.com

I remember now
The terrible destruction
And our lack of help.

I wonder why we
Didn’t do more to assist?
Do you wonder, too?

Google says,
“The Micronesian
nation offers beautiful
white beaches, exotic wildlife,
and intriguing culture and history.”

Through the miracle of You.Tube you can take a virtual trip to Guam and you can learn about its history and see its beauty… and you will WONDER how many of these gorgeous places might have survived or been destroyed by that hurricane. This video was created in 2016 and the hurricane was in 2019.

Like me, you will WONDER why this site doesn’t list the PEOPLE who died in this tragic event. Certainly they are more important than the $3.3 million in damage. And you want to hear stories of the MIRACLES of survival in the midst of such devastation, right?

As I quoted from the Bible at the beginning of this post,
in Job 5:9 it says,
“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.”

Everywhere we look in this world, there are wonders and miracles to behold.
Open your eyes to them, my friends.

I told you some of the ones I see
and some I would like to travel and see.
How about you?
What miracles do you see?
What wonders do you want to see?

How do you see yourself?
Do you know YOU ARE A MIRACLE?
How alert is your funny bone?

Are you ready for the miracle of laughter
that brings healthy endorphins into your body?

Are you laughing?

Keep on laughing.
It does wonders for your mental health!
Love ya,
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, friendship, God, Gratitude, Haiku, health, humor, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, nature, photography, Poetry, Sharing, Travel

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Was It a Miracle?


Today’s sermon by Rev. Steve Hundley was titled, “It’s a Miracle” BUT, he started his message by telling us how upset his congregation was (when he was a young boy) by a sermon debunking the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

Here are the notes I took while hearing the sermon this morning. The scripture inspiring it was Matthew 14: 13-26.

It makes me nervous
To remember this text
Because my memory goes back
Fifty-four years. What’s next?

I was eleven when I heard
This story of five-thousand men
Being fed with five loaves and
Three fish. What happened then?

The disciples passed their meager rations
Out to the multitude of folk,
And all those who packed a lunch
Were inspired to share as Jesus spoke.

The quantity of sharing was such
That twelve baskets were left behind.
Was it in fact a miracle, or
Generosity of an immense kind?

My eleven-year-old congregation
Was disturbed by “Miracle Debunked!”
It wasn’t Jesus multiplying food,
But multiplying compassion. Who woulda thunk?

Jesus’ resource of compassion wa such
That, like the Energizer Bunny, He kept
Giving and sharing and healing.
His love further demonstrated as Jesus wept.

Jesus’ compassion was apparent
When He told His disciples to give
The five-thousand something to eat –
And so doing, He showed us how to live.

Live with the generosity and love
Jesus was about. Live what He taught.
He said, “You go and feed them.”
Share what you have, as you ought.

Jesus could have multiplied the bread
And the fishes by Himself –
But He knew that mass of folks could
Overcome hunger and share their shelf.

Open the door to the shelf of your heart,
And give from your meager things.
Watch how the Lord gives you a sense of plenty-
And share your gifts as Jesus sings:

Thank YOU…
and
AMEN!

You are the disciple who gives
From your shelf to those who need.
Thank you for being the miracle
Who obeys Christ’s command: Go and Feed!

God bless You!

See ya tomorrow.
Have a beautiful Sunday evening.
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, Faith, Giving, God, Gratitude, Love, Poetry, sermon notes, teaching, writing

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Deep Peace


Deep Peace I wish you.
Deep Peace flowing out to you
From love of children.

Deep Peace they bring us
With their angelic voices.
Let us sing along.

Deep Peace from Christ’s light
Shining on the earth’s beauty –
Music pours it out.

For the earth’s beauty,
For the purity of song,
I thank You, O Lord.

Have a blessed Friday night, my friends,
and a lovely, peace-filled weekend.
I hope this music blessed you.
It did me!

I’ll see you tomorrow.
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

children, Faith, Haiku, Jesus, Love, music, peace, relationships

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There Are Angels Among Us


Angels are with us
In every walk of our life
Most have hidden wings

My angel friend, Terry, sent me this Jana Stanfield video.
She said I am her angel.
Truth is: she is mine!

Can it be that we serve one another
As angels here on earth?
Can it be that you are one, too?

Look at these darling children.
Each of them is an angel here on earth.
They just keep their wings hidden!
(Except for the cymbalist… I think I see his wings peeking out!)

“Somewhere amongst them,
or betwixt them,
or gazing adoringly up at them
just like you,
here I am.”

That was a sentence I captured
on a blog yesterday, but didn’t get the author’s name.
I apologize. If you know who wrote this,
please tell me in the comments below and I’ll add it.
It is angelic writing, don’t you agree?

Sending God’s love
to you, my friends.

I have a host of angels here on earth
who bring God’s love to me on a daily basis.
I bet you do, too.
Think about them today.
Reach out and thank them today
for the joy they bring to you.

Some of my Angels

My daughter, De
Our #2 daughter Laina, and my hubby, Bob

This is Bob’s older brother, Bill, with his wife, Margie.
Bob’s family members are angels in our lives.

With them is our son, Ty, and daughter-in-love, Monika.
We are so blessed to have Tyroneee and Moni as angels among us.

Here is Terry
(the friend who sent me Jana Stanfield’s angel song)
with her husband, our friend, Jim.
Can you just see what angels they are?
We call Terry “SPARKLES!”
She sparkles with love and compassion.

When I came home from the hospital after my recent hernia surgery, Terry sent Bob to get me at the hospital with this angel blanket that’s now draped over my bedroom chair. That’s what angel friends do: they wrap you warmly in their loving arms… and send you kisses!

This collage of photos from my sister, Sally, has several angels pictured on it. My dad to start with – bottom center – what an angel! My sis and my niece, Jodie with her son, Liam and husband, Bill. They are angels in my life, too.

And if you look closely, you can see Sally with TazE… our Boston Terrier. She was going to be named “Angel.” I had that name all picked out for her – until we met her!! TazE was a Tasmanian Devil (Taz) with E for Ears to match her bouncy personality and oversized ears. No, she was not an angel at all. But she has quieted down in her old age (she’s nine now) and maybe she qualifies as an angel in my life at this time. You think?

Chris is one of my three Swiss grandsons. He lived with us for a while last year … and was such an angel in our lives. Our seven grandchildren continue to be angels. Here is my youngest granddaughter, Faith (now 24) … Of course, she’s an angel in our lives!

I hope you have a BFF – (Best Friend Forever) – a long term angel friend – someone you can count on in all circumstances – someone like my friend, Marcie:

She just called me while I was creating this blog…
just to express condolences about my cousin, Cliff.
What a thoughtful, sweet, angel friend Marcie is!!

We all have angels in our lives. People we will love until the end of time… people who exude God’s love. They are compassionate and considerate. They seem to know when we need them and they are there at the most important times. God bless the angels among us!

Each of you who comes to JanBeek
and bothers to read and comment is
An Angel of Mine!

What you mean to me, you’ll never know….
You came at just the right time into my life-
and I want to share it with you…
I appreciate you so much!

Tell me abut some of your angels!

See you tomorrow.
((( Hugs )))
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, blessings, children, Faith, Family, friendship, Giving, Gratitude, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, music, Poetry, relationships, Serving One Another

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This Cliff-Dweller is Heavy-Hearted


My heart is heavy.
God answered my fervent prayer.
So why am I sad?

My cousin, Cliff, died.
I received the news today:
God answered my prayer.

I prayed for freedom –
Freedom from this earthy pain.
Our God is faithful.

His family gathered;
All his loved ones surrounded,
And God took him home.

God of Great Mercy,
Thank you for answering prayer.
Now, heal my heart’s hole!

Cliff & Janine
with their two daughters
and sons-in-law,
two sons,
daughter-in-law,
and three grandsons

Cliff and Janine are two of my favorite people in the world!
And now Cliff has left this world…
but he lives on in the hearts of all of us who will always love him.


Janine’s mom is my second cousin, Betty.
Her mom was my mom’s oldest sister’s oldest daughter.

That sounds rather confusing and maybe like a “distant relative”… but there is nothing distant about my relationship with Janine. I was twelve when my family drove from California to Washington to visit mom’s family near Seattle in Issaquah…
and to meet Aunt Evelyn’s first grandchild.

Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Hans were my first connection to the land of Switzerland which claimed our daughter DeAna about two dozen years later! Uncle Hans immigrated from the German part of Switzerland to the state of Washington. Their daughter, my cousin, Betty, with her husband, Nick, lived right across the alleyway from her parents. Knowing we were there, she came over with her new baby, Janine. You know my name in JAN – and so I immediately claimed JANine as my own!!

I was there for Cliff and Janine’s wedding. I claim Cliff as my cousin, too!

Cliff was “Opa” to his three grandsons.
A more doting and loving grandfather never graced this earth!
I am so sad that those three boys will not have
the presence of the Opa as they grow into adulthood.
And the youngest one is too little
to have lasting memories of him.
It makes me cry!

Cliff was a robust man
– a former University of Washington champion rower –
weighing over 200 pounds most of his adult life.
Cancer and the chemo treatments
wasted away his body and took away his strength
– and eventually his life.
But his spirit lives on.

He’ll remain strong and robust forever
in all of us who knew and loved him.

We are a vast array of Cliff-Dwellers!

Love and condolences to
Hans, Stefan, Janine, Heidi, and Erika

God bless you, my Word Press family.
Thank you for praying for my cousin, JANine, and her family.
See ya tomorrow.
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, children, Faith, Family, God, Haiku, Heartache, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Love, peace, Poetry, prayer, relationships, Sharing

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Amazing Grace


I couldn’t sign off on this Sunday afternoon without sharing this:

Are you ready to be inspired?
Click on this amazing video
and get ready to be blown away!!

I had not heard this message about the pentatonic scale before…
(Be sure to tune in to Wintley Phipp’s whole message).

I have never heard Amazing Grace sung so beautifully!

I cried with the joy that only God’s spirit can bring through music.
How did this God-inspired song and this God-gifted voice affect you?

Have a blessed Sunday evening, my friends.
I send my love and more virtual hugs to ya,
JanBeek

Category:

Faith, God, Love, music, Spiritual Gifts

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Birthdays, Thanks, Worship, Music & Prayer


When is YOUR birthday?

Thank you for all the sweet responses and inspiring messages that helped make my 81st birthday so memorable. I love my WordPress community!

I had a “Selah Day” yesterday to pause
and absorb all the many gifts of cards, calls,
messages, cakes, cookies, and candles.
Yes, I’m spoiled!

It’s Sunday, so of course, Bob & I went to church this morning. Our worship service was outside. It’s a beautiful day here in Ennis, Montana. Thank you, God, for the sunshine and mild temperatures in the 70s. Everyone wore masks and socially distanced. The sermon topic was based on two New Testament scriptures: Romans 8:26-30 (A Wonderful Future for God’s People) and Matthew 13: 31-33 (The mustard seed and the yeast).

Hope in Difficult Times
(as usual I took my notes in poetry as I listened.
Here they are:)

Bombarded daily with bad news,
It’s hard to keep our spirits up.
But reading the Bible is a fresh breath
Of positivity and love that fills our cup.

The parables of the mustard seed and
The yeast that magically rises the dough
Are examples of Jesus’ storytelling.
They are hard to easily explain, though.

Trying to explain the parables is like
Describing photosynthesis to a four-year-old.
You can say all you want to explain them,
But we need simplicity in what we’re told!

See the mystery of God’s world.
Don’t try to explain it away.
Look at the wonders of creation
And let the mystery come into play!

It’s okay to read and not understand
How God makes the world work.
It’s okay to wonder and say “I don’t know,”
We can’t see it all – Some’s in the dirt!

Some of the greatest miracles
Of Jesus are buried from our minds.
We can’t see the way His mysteries
Play out – but we see the love that binds!

Look at how the mountains skip,
And the trees clap their hands,
And know that these exaggerations
Are part of the Power where God stands.

Read the Bible not with a microscope,
But with a telescope so that you
Can see the bigness of His Word.
He’s bigger than our understanding – That’s so true!

The music that accompanied our worship service today was so appropriate to this world we currently are trying to navigate. Sing along … the words are here for you on this You.Tube:

Lord, show me the Way, one day at a time!
Help me believe in what I could be – and all that I am.
Just give me the strength to do every day what You want me to do.
So for my sake, teach me to take – One Day at a Time.
Show me the Way!

The other song that we had printed on song sheets so we could sing along was “Mansion Over the Hilltop.” I had not heard it before. Have you?

In our call to confession, we read in unison these words from our bulletins:

“Let us trust in the words of the Psalmist who said,
‘The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,
and saves those who are crushed in spirit,’
as we lay our burdens before our God.”

The biggest burden on my heart today is this big guy pictured on the left in the photo below. My cousin, Cliff, is shown here with three of his rowing buddies from the University of Washington. Cliff is losing his battle with cancer.

I lay my burdened heart before God as I asked for prayers for my cousin, Cliff Hurn. He is in his last days of trying to fight off cancer. He has fought the good fight and he is tired. Hospice has been called in and his family has gathered around. Please pray for his wife, Janine, his family, and all of us who love him so much.

I posted about Cliff early on in his battle. The link to one of those blogs is: https://janbeek.blog/2019/11/09/prayers-for-cliff/ You can see him there surrounded by his wonderful wife and two daughters. Please pray for Cliff today.

Photo by Luis Dalvan on Pexels.com

Do you have something
that’s heavy on your heart today?
Tell me about it –
and I will add you and your request
to my prayer time.

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

God bless you, my dear WP Friends.
Have a blessed rest of your Sunday.
See ya tomorrow.
Love and virtual hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, Heartache, Jesus, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Love, music, prayer

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