Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category

Words of the Day

“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!

kid hiding on pillows

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!

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We returned recently from a three week trip to Switzerland …
and the togetherness with our daughter, DeAna, was magical!

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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.

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

blogging, Christmas, Faith, Family, friendship, God, Life's Challenges, relationships, writing

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Time with Family

Hello, my WP Friends!
How are you this lovely December weekend?
I hope your Thanksgiving was everything you dreamed of…
and your December has started off nicely.
What are you looking forward to?
We just enjoyed a 3 week trip to Switzerland
where we spent quality time with our daughter
and her family… highlighted by meeting our
Number One Swiss Great-Grandchild.
Now we are anticipating our Christmas trip
to California where we will spend quality time with
our son, our daughter-in-law, Monika, and our grandchildren.
Here is our daughter-in-law, Monika,
with our great-grandchild, Mable. Aren’t they a cutie?

You can see how Grandma Monika is enjoying her granddaughter.
We expect to get in on some of that love in just a couple of weeks.
Christmas needs to be “FAMILY TIME”
Don’t you agree?

How about you?
Do you have fun plans for this holiday season?

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season
filled with all your favorite people, events, and treats.
Be sure to celebrate “The Reason for the Season.”
Go to church. Worship the One who gives us HOPE.
Pray for peace in our war-torn world.
Attend those special events that are happening in your community.
Bob & I went last night to our local “Christmas Stroll”
and enjoyed the “Parade of Lights” in our little town.
What special events do you anticipate in your town/city?

I couldn’t get my video of last night’s little parade
to show up here… so here is one generated by AI.
It’s obviously in a larger venue that our little town.
But, you get the idea, right?
Christmas is a season of celebrations!
I hope you and your family enjoy every opportunity
that your community offers you.
And don’t forget the “Reason for the Season.”

Enjoy family time as you pass along the
REAL Christmas story to the next generation.

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Christmas, Faith, Family, Jesus, Montana

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Family Time

Thanksgiving is coming here in the USA.
It’s a time to especially thank God for:

Your children and their father,
Your dear husband
who puts up with you every day
(or for you dads out there:
Thank God for the mother of your children
who puts up with you every day)
Are you fortunate to have a spouse and kids?

Thank God for your in-laws:
For your son-in-law
and your daughter-in-law,
And for their parents.
Are you fortunate enough to have
a good relationship with you in-law’s parents?

We are blessed to have this
sweet, nutty, fun-loving daughter
in Switzerland. As we approach
Thanksgiving, we especially are
thankful that we had the strength
and the stamina to visit her this month!

If you have a child who
married someone from another country,
I hope you know the joy of being able
to travel to see him/her.

God is so good to bless us
with the ability to go to Switzerland.
We now are planning our Christmas trip
to spend time with our son, Ty, and
his family in California.
Thank you, dear Lord, for the
resources and the strength and the help
with choosing our flights
and being able to have that
Family Time.

C’mas 2020

That CA family has grown by two more
great-grandchildren since that photo.
It includes Bob & me with our son & his wife,
her parents, 3 of our grandchildren,
and one great-granddaughter, Cosette.
Family Time is so precious!

I pray that your holidays coming up
find you surrounded by loving family
and friends who are like “chosen family.”
God bless you!

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Christmas, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, Love, relationships, Travel

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Prioritize

Today’s prompt asked me about my #1 priority for tomorrow. Why tomorrow? I need to live today first. Take each day as it comes! Carpe’ Diem!!

Daily writing prompt
What’s your #1 priority tomorrow?
View all responses

Ann Kaplow posted a blog today on the subject of aging.

Day 4288: Age

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!

God bless you!
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Bible Lessons, blessings, blogging, Faith, Family, Gratitude, happiness, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, optimism, relationships

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Hard Work

In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?

Hah! Hard work? How about YOU do that? I just wanna enjoy my retirement!

Maybe work on some creative project … but not too hard!

Enjoy the way cooling temperatures bring an early autumn, and…

smile with little Oliver because his twin, Noah, is coming home from the hospital today. His mom gave birth a week or so ago to two little angels – each nearly 8 lbs. – now, that’s hard work!!

Here’s Noah. Pray for him. Pray hard. He’s been having seizures. Pray for his complete health and happy future.

That’s Oliver, smiling because you’re hard at work praying for his brother!

God hears us. He cares. He answers prayer. Keep on praying. 🙏🏽

Are you hard at work praying? That makes me feel fulfilled: to encourage others and to help us all keep the faith. Yes! God bless you. Have a fulfilling day!

Noah & I thank you!

Love, JanBeek

Category:

children, Faith, God, Love, optimism, prayer, relationships

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Answered Prayer

Today I thank God
For His faithful answered prayer
We feel very blessed

Imagine waking
To a toilet filled with blood
And a scared husband

A trip to ER
Three hours with competent staff
Myriads of tests

Here are your results
Please come back tomorrow, Bob
Our hospital’s full

Good thing it’s only
Less than five minutes from home
Very convenient

While I sat with Bob
In the emergency room
I texted family

From California
To DeDe in Switzerland
I contacted friends

Everyone sent prayers
Asking God to oversee
And of course He did

We are encouraged
The loss of more blood has ceased
Yes, friends, God is good!

;o)

Psalm 66:19

“But truly God has listened; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.”

Keep on praying, friends
And know God is listening
He hears and answers

Love ya,
JanBeek

Our 59th anniv. in 2021 –
Now happily living our 62nd year together. God bless Bob!

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, Haiku, health, Life's Challenges, Love, Poetry, prayer, relationships, Serving One Another

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God’s Love

Contemplate His love
Let it seep in to your soul
Then let it spill out

Have a love-filled day!
Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Faith, God, Haiku, happiness, Love, mental health, Poetry

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Words Words Words

How shall we use our tongues?
That was the question posed by
James McGuire in today’s
devotional in “These Days.”

These Days, Daily Devotionals for Living by Faith,
published especially for Cumberland Presbyterian Church.


James 3:10 says,
“From the same mouth comes
a blessing and a curse.
My brothers and sisters,
this ought not to be so.“



Ah, my friends, t’is so true…
we all are a combination
of good and evil!
Capable of great love
and alas, of ugly hate.
Which dog wins?
The one we feed!

James McGuire elaborated on the subject.
“The development of speech was a unique human accomplishment,”
he wrote. “Other creatures communicate by grunts, growls, and touch.
Humans use many languages.”

He went on to ask,
“How shall we use our power of speech?
Shall we bless others, or shall we curse?
What shall we do with our ability to write?”

That last question brought me to my blog.
Here I write with the purposes explained in my heading:
I intend to spread “Love, joy, peace, faith and unity.”
I believe there is too little of each of those in our world.

James McGuire asked,
“What about the ideas that pour forth
through television and videos?”


Here in the USA, this week more than 67 million people
tuned in to the Harris-Trump debate.
Lordy, Lordy, what a fiasco!
What is this world coming to??

James McGuire ended his devotional with this prayer:
“Holy God, forgive us when we misuse our tongues.
Teach us to choose words wisely as we communicate
with each other and the world.”

Like Old Testament proverbs, the Letter of James
offers wise teachings for Christians of every age.
We who write (and speak publicly), teach, and lead
have a particular responsibility for our use of language.
We who read and who listen to public speakers
must be attuned to the Holy Spirit as we read and hear others.

“Moreover,”
James McGuire and James reminded us,
“we must be wise in choosing
what we view on big and little screens.”

Words, words, words!
They are so important!!
A BLESSING OR A CURSE?
Do both come out of your mouth?
“My brothers and sisters, this ought not be so.”

Join me, won’t you?
Let’s try to use our tongues
and our arms
and our lives
to spread
Only Love.

OKAY?

Hugs and Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, kindness, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, relationships, writing

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Roll With Life

Relax! Everything’s gonna be okay.
Rest … things are coming your way.
Open your heart; love’s here to stay.
Everything’s coming together on this day.

“… to those loved by God the Father,
called and kept safe by Jesus Christ,
Relax! Everything’s gonna be alright.
Rest, everything’s coming together.
Open your hearts; Love is on its way.”

Jude 1:1-2 (MSG)

Relax and roll with the waves of life.
Let go of any tensions or strife.
Go hug your husband or wife,
Or find a neighbor whose troubles are rife.

Sit and do nothing at all.
Let your mind wander and sprawl.
Relax and dream to enthrall
The birds who come to your whistled call.

In these days of political strife
With pundants telling us how to think
It’s easy to get drawn off balance
Easy to feel we’re drowning – gonna sink!

BUT, we’re not!!
Read on…

Guideposts devotional, “Mornings With Jesus”
elaborated on this theme today.
Suzanne Davenport Tietjen wrote,
“My soaking tub isn’t very big, but it’s deep –
deep enough to float in.
Floating might be my favorite thing now –
but that would surprise my mother.
She thought I’d never master it when I was a child.
I was fine if my parent’s or swimming teacher’s arms
supported me, but I panicked whenever they tried
to transition me to floating on my back solo…

“Finally Mom convinced me to
practice in the Gulf of Mexico,
saying that I’d float higher in salt water.
The difference was probably miniscule,
but … I relaxed enough to lie back,
rock on the waves, and float.
All I needed to do was not do anything…

“It seems like a paradox, this doing something
by relaxing into doing nothing.
And paradoxically, I struggle with this
in my walk with Jesus. I want to do.
Jesus wants me to just be.
To relax and roll with the waves of life.
There is no need to be tense or on guard.
… Lean back, let go, and trust Him that
everything’s going to be all right.”

Today you are invited to lean on Jesus.
Trust Him to help you roll with life.
Lean back. Let go.
Everything’s gonna be alright!

God bless you!
Love,
JanBeek

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Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, contentment, Faith, God, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, peace, Poetry, relationships

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Your Fragrant Scent

In today’s Ever Faithful 365 day devotional
by David Jeremiah,
he asked his readers,
“Have you heard about the man
who smelled good no matter
where he was or what he was doing?”

His skin and clothing and very being
seemed to exude a pleasant fragrance.
He worked in a perfume factory
and breathed its aromas every day.

The aromas filtered into his clothing,
penetrated his skin, and even filled his lungs.
He became a walking perfumery.

David Jeremiah said,
“That’s the way we should be as Christians.”

The Bible says,
“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ
among those who are being saved
and among those who are perishing.”
2 Corinthians 2:15

“We exude the aroma of joy,
for in His presence is fullness of joy.”
Psalm 16:11

You might have heard that “Jesus wept” (John 11:35)
is the shortest verse in the Bible,
but that’s only true in English.
In the original New Testament Greek,
1 Thessalonians 5:16 is shorter –
“Rejoice always.”
The two verses are related.
Because Jesus wept, we can rejoice.

In today’s world with all the hate,
divisiveness, floods, hurricanes, and wars
it’s easy to get bogged down.
But, David Jeremiah reminds us,
“Jesus doesn’t want us to live
in perpetual discouragement, sadness or doubt.”

“The joy of the Lord is the strength of our days,”
Nehemiah 8:10

We have reason to rejoice.
Count your blessings, my friends.
Be a walking perfumery!
Exude the aroma of joy.
I pray that you will
let the love, joy, and peace of Christ
shine through your face
and radiate from your clothing everyday!
Let your fragrant scent invite
others in to the love, joy and peace
that can be theirs, too.

You are lovely.
You are loved.
You smell good!
God bless you!

Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, God, happiness, Jesus, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, relationships

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