I’m multi-tasking
I’m typing and I’m breathing
You can do it, too
Concentration is
Overrated, don’t you think
You can split your time
Prove that you’re clever
Say, you can walk and chew gum
All at the same time
…
Spread your joy with smiles
How’s happy multi-tasking
Raising your spirits?
Be a multi-tasking champ!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek
Share a smile …
See ya tomorrow
Embrace Questioning!
Do we embrace all questions?
Like, “Are you stupid?”
No, it’s not questions,
But the act of questioning
That deserves embrace.
Not all questions are
Developed with pure motives.
Embrace those that are!
Embrace a pure heart
Full of inquisitiveness.
Ask because you care.
When you meet someone
Ask their name and remember –
Use it lovingly.
Ask about their life.
Listen with sincere interest.
Listening’s a gift.
Questioning’s one thing;
Listening is another.
They go hand in hand.
When I think of questioning with a pure motive and listening with an open heart, I think of Job. Even if you are not a Christian, seeped in the Bible stories, you have heard the expression, “The patience of Job.” (That’s pronounced Jobe… not job, like Steve Jobs, the American business magnate). What made the prophet, Job, come to mind?
Job is presented in the Bible as a good and prosperous family man who is beset by Satan with God‘s permission with horrendous disasters that take away all that he holds dear, including his children, his health, and his property. He struggles to understand his situation and begins a search for the answers to his difficulties. Searching for answers involves questioning. He does so without condemning God. He maintains his trust in God to ultimately work for his good – even when he is in the worst of his turmoil.
What a desolate looking man!
What must he be saying to God?
What questions would you be asking?
What does Job ask God?
“He demands answers from God Himself. Job wants to know why bad things happen to good people. He knows it’s not right, and will not accept the saccharine answers of his friends.”
God, “Why Have You Made Me Your Target”? (Job 7:20)
God explains to Job that to us mere mortals sometimes there are no words—no rationalizations—that can make sense of the unhappiness we endure.
Trauma happens and we have to accept it. Explanations may make us feel better, but they mislead. Ultimately, Job, like all of us, must endure suffering not knowing why … or if the question even counts.
Once Job accepts this, he somehow manages to live with his trauma without becoming its victim.
The Book of Job asks “why good people suffer,” but never actually answers the question. What it does do, is correct misconceptions about why we suffer. The truth of this wonderful tale is that man can’t know everything.
Again, let me repeat, “Once Job accepts this, he somehow manages to live with his trauma without becoming its victim.”
How does this story relate to your life and mine?
Have you ever questioned why life was
throwing stones at you that you didn’t deserve?
Or have you questioned why you didn’t get a job that you knew you deserved?
This happened recently to my son. He applied for a job that he knew he was qualified for. Another person was chosen instead. He got a form letter of rejection. Instead of falling into a fit of depression or raging in disbelief, he called the person who did get the job and congratulated her. He asked if there was anything he could do to support her in her assignment – and he asked her to keep an eye out in case she saw a position in the future for which she thought he might be a good fit.
Within a day, he received a call back and an extension of his responsibilities was offered along with a significant pay raise.
Now, I’m not suggesting that every time you ask the right questions with the right motive, you’ll get a pay raise!
No, it’s not that simple. But, what embracing questioning does is it changes your focus. The right questions – in the right spirit – make the difference between misery and openness. The difference between depression and expression. The difference between pessimism and positivity.
Embrace a pure heart
Full of inquisitiveness.
Ask because you care.
Don’t question, “Why you?”
Instead ask, “What can I do?”
“Can I be of any help?”
Your attitude counts.
Humility is the key.
Embrace questioning!
God is good.
All the time!
Even to the Jobs of this world!
Be patient in love.
Your pay raise is coming!!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek
Got any questions??
See ya tomorrow.
Humility Reigns
Its opposite is boasting
Let others do it!
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people,
holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with
compassion,
kindness,
humility,
gentleness
and
patience.
Luke 14:11
For all those who exalt themselves
will be humbled,
and those who humble themselves
will be exalted.”
With humility
Offer whatever you have
With a cheerful heart
Good to be brilliant
But bragging about your smarts
Dulls intelligence
Let the compliments –
Accolades about your job –
Come from other folks
So, be generous
With giving out accolades
Show your gratitude
Thanks for your service
Thanks for your affirmations
You give so humbly
Humility Reigns
It’s not easy to achieve
In a “You deserve it” society
Step out of your skin
And step into others’ lives
Everyone needs praise
You can find the words
Tell someone they’re marvelous
It’s not hard to do!
Proverbs 27:2
“Let someone else praise you,
and not your own mouth;
an outsider,
and not your own lips.”
We think you are marvelous!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek
See ya tomorrow.
Don’t you love that word?
Effervescence is bubbly;
Bubbly is delight.
Bubbles bring smiles –
They bring us celebrations.
We hear them giggle.
Effervescence helps
Make water taste lots better.
See our Soda Stream?
It is our new toy;
Changes our pure well water
Into bubbly treat.
Yes, I know the “J”
In Montana Majesty
Is replaced by “G”
That’s because MAGIC
Is the root word intended
Montana’s MAGIC!
And this new machine
Changes water magically
Into a great treat.
We have a dear friend
Whose special name is Sparkles;
She’s effervescent!
She lights up a room
Whenever she enters it –
Effervescent friend:
Like the fire there,
Her light is warm and friendly.
Have you such a friend?
What else in your life
Sparkles with effervescence?
Water, friends, and what?
The faith that’s in me
Sparkles with the love of Christ.
Bravely let it out!
I share the Good News
Through my blog and with my life.
It’s my Bubble Source!
Son Shine bubbles up –
Creates my effervescence!
What makes YOU sparkle?
Thanks for visiting JanBeek
See ya tomorrow.
By the way, did you miss my “Embrace” message yesterday?
It was “Embrace Rest” – and so I took a break!!
I really enjoy this Don Ho song.
It takes me to Hawaii.
Brings back bubbly memories.
Do you have a favorite song
that bubbles up happy memories in you?
EMBRACE EFFERVESCENCE!!
Let’s embrace blooming –
Both the blooming of flowers
As well as ideas.
Let’s embrace blooming –
Blooming of plants and ideas
As well as people.
Let’s embrace blooming –
Blooming of people today;
The world needs blossoms!
One is fully bloomed –
One is on its way to bloom –
A couple are curled.
To fully open,
We must face toward the Son Light.
Do not turn away!
You, too??
Blossoms need sunlight.
We need the light of the Son
In order to bloom.
Isaiah 35:1-2a
“The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
It will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.”
Your soul will sparkle;
It will bloom and grow in love
If you walk humbly.
As long as Christ leads
We can make it all the way;
We can bloom and thrive.
Let your blossoms dance!
Follow in obedience.
Let your spirit shine.
Your smile’s contagious
When you blossom from inside.
Let’s Embrace Blooming!
Your blogging sparkles
And your face reflects the Son.
You’re brilliant and bright!
Fertilize others
With words of encouragement.
Continue to bloom!
My heart bubbles over with gratitude for God’s Bright and Brilliant Light.
May it continue to bubble over in our hearts and lives.
“Open up your heart and let the sunshine in!”
Listen to the sunny song below –
It’s a favorite from my childhood.
Thanks for visiting JanBeek
See ya tomorrow.
So, what is mercy?
Is it something that you need?
No?! So you’re perfect?
Well dear, guess again!
We’re all in need of mercy.
It’s undeserved grace.
You ask, what is grace?
Well, it’s undeserved mercy!
Don’t you just love it?
Definitions are
Often so convoluted.
Good thing for mercy!
Mercy me! Oh my!
I sure need grace and mercy.
Both are found in prayer.
Prayer from Rev. Steve Hundley
PASTORAL PRAYER
prayed at
Madison Valley Presbyterian Church
ZOOM service
2-7-2021
“Loving God, we thank You that You treat us as if all were one; and each one as if there were only one. We thank You that we are all held together in Your love; and none are beyond Your caring reach. Thank You that You hear our prayers:
Thank You that You know us well enough to hear our thoughts, our yearnings, our stumblings, our grumblings, our secret hopes and fears, even when we dare not, or cannot put them into words. We are eternally grateful that anytime we turn toward you, the arms of Your grace and love are there to enfold us with Your love that cannot be bought, earned, or bargained for. Since it is the gift which You give and which we can only receive, give us wisdom to joyfully receive it.
O Lord, this past year has reminded us just how fearful and fragile; yet, precious and wonderful life can be. We need Your help. So Jesus, grant us this: the ability to as easily recognize and celebrate the beautiful as we are able to itemize the ugly. Grant us the ability to as easily praise as we are to condemn. Grant us the ability to as easily unite as we are to divide. Grant us the ability to as easily support and help one another as we are to ignore. And, grant us the ability to as easily express joy as we are to display our disappointment.
Grant us some sense of worth and accomplishment which places the mark of meaning to our days. In spite of the many limitations this pandemic has placed on our daily lives, grant us some sense of purpose, that tomorrow is something to look forward to, rather than to dread. Encourage us to reach outside of ourselves, and find ways to express our faith and love in ways that would benefit this world and its people whom You love.
Jesus grant us this: though life tumbles in, and almost everything seems to crumble around us; when the simple things we took for granted seem a distant memory; when hope frays and a simple touch, or a caring hug is something we remember we used to do; O Lord, find some special way to hold us in the palm of Your hand.
We pray for this wonderful yet sometimes unhappy…this divided yet dependent…this brave but fearful, mixed-up world we live in. We have created enemies by the misuse of its power; and, what could have been a blessing for all has become a curse to many by our misuse of its abundance. O Lord, give us and the leaders of this great nation the will to break out of destructive patterns, and grant us peace in our time. “
Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we pray this prayer in the name of Our Father Who art in Heaven… Amen!
So, what is mercy?
Is it something that we need?
You bet! Every day!!
Have a wonderful week.
I pray for your health, happiness, and safety –
every day!
Thanks for visiting.
See ya later,
Love, JanBeek
Before you leave, take a few minutes to treat yourself to the story behind “The Prayer” and hear the most beautiful voices (my bias) in the world. Where do you see God’s mercy at work in this duet??
https://smarturl.it/ThanksForTheDance
Reach out to others
Make meaningful connections
Share your thoughtfulness
Did you click the link?
The link was “Thanks for the Dance”
From Leonard Cohen.
If you didn’t hear –
Didn’t see the video,
Go up and do it!
EMBRACE CONNECTIONS
Look into another’s heart
See the hidden pain
Learn to disagree
Learn to listen with your heart
Show your compassion
Connections can save
The loneliest from despair
Suicide is real
Express your concern
Let your compassion embrace
Those in depression
Depression is real
Too often it is hidden
Inside solitude
Leonard Cohen’s poem
Hit me right between the eyes
Took me to my niece
‘Twas nineteen years old
When her life appeared hopeless
Jumped Golden Gate Bridge
‘Twas two weeks later
When her decomposed body
Washed its way ashore
Only dental charts
Helped to identify her
Memories are raw
Never imagined
Her pain was so very deep
Didn’t see the signs
So much is known now
Nearly forty years ago
We just weren’t aware
Today it’s rampant
Especially Montana
Third in the nation
Growing suicides
It’s not a good statistic
Something must be done
These are images from Leonard Cohen’s impactful video. (Haven’t watched it yet? Go back up to that link. Take five minutes and then come on back.) The poetry and his raspy, musical voice will touch your heart. You’ll carry it with you.
You’ll ask yourself, “What Happens to the Heart?” and you will want to be more aware, more compassionate, more helpful. You’ll look in your friend’s eyes. You’ll study your loved one’s face. You’ll ask questions. You’ll care. And you’ll want to know WHAT CAN I DO? When you see sadness, despair, loneliness, you’ll want to help. How??
There are visible
Ways we can show how we care
Check out resources
Reach out to others
Make meaningful connections
Share your thoughtfulness
Embrace Connections
They can make the difference
YOU are important!
Thanks for dropping by JanBeek
Sending you love and hugs –
Stay Connected!!
See ya tomorrow
Hug a tree for me
Find one you can wrap your arms
Around and hang on
Trees are like people
Some are so big that you can’t
Quite get around them
Like giant redwoods
All you can do is admire
Their magnificence
Some are just loners
They stand apart from others
Saying “Look at me!”
Some are connected
So tightly to each other
There’s no room to join
Others form a line
Saying, “Come and join us, but
You must look like us.”
Others welcome all
They are so hospitable
You just flock to them
Some are quite fruitful
They produce enough to share
And do every day
Others hide their fruit
Above gnarled exterior
Daring you to touch
Some are cold, distant
Dark and often depressing
Warning, “Keep away!”
I love trees who shine
Like bright, colorful people
Beckoning us near
Prickly trees are
Ones we try to steer clear of
Lest we should get caught
The young and tender
Beckon us to hold them tight
And protect their growth
Trees that nourish us
Are like the fruit-filled people
Who say, “Let me share.
Come see what I have.
Come taste of its sweet goodness.
I am rich with love.”
“Come sit beside me
Please let me give you some rest.
Come and embrace me.”
“I won’t hold my love
High above and out of reach;
Won’t put you at risk.”
“I’ll spread out my arms
And keep you safe from all harm.
I’ll listen. You talk!
Tell me your troubles.
Sit beneath my shade and rest.
Come, embrace a tree.”
We come in colors
Bright and shining as the sun.
Bare – when summer’s done
Trees are like people:
We hide our troubles inside
Deceptive faces.
Let’s learn from our trees.
Let’s let true colors shine through;
Show your true beauty.
Unlike this odd tree,
Keep your roots firmly grounded.
Embrace a tree now!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
Tell me, what’s your favorite tree?
Which one is like you?
“Give some tree the gift of green again.
Let one bird sing.”
—From “When Autumn Came” by Faiz Ahmed Faiz
translated by Naomi Lazard
Can’t bring lasting light
If the light is not in you
External light fades
The light that sustains
Is internal light from God
Your face reflects it
It shines from your soul
Whose batteries are from God
They never expire
Matthew 5:16
“In the same way,
let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Freely share your light
With all those who are near you
Let it shine brightly
May your light inspire
Those who need to know your Source
Let your light shed peace
You can let the Light
Shine through your soul to others
You have that Light, too
As a Child of God
His peace infiltrates your soul
Let that peace escape
Embrace the Light!
My 1962 kindergartener, Ty Stiles, after whom I named my first child, died yesterday. I told you about him in a previous post: https://janbeek.blog/2021/01/09/embrace-hope/ on January 9th.
We have been praying for Ty. He had stage 4 liver cancer that metastasized. He was home on Hospice Care with his wife, Roxanne. Ty was a Child of God whose faith was strong. He told Roxanne that he wanted to – and was ready to – go to Heaven.
In my “Embrace Blueness” post 3 days ago, I shared how a broken heart resembles angel wings… and I wrote, “Ty is ready to let go pain. God is asking me to let go my blueness. Release the melancholy that blue sometimes represents, and instead, embrace the “delicate hues of sapphire, turquoise, and indigo” – and the promise of the vast blueness of Heaven where “Healing power pulses” and God is ready to transform the broken heart into angel wings.”
My faith informs me that
Ty has seen a great light.
He is in heaven…
and one day I will see
“My Favorite Student” again.
May light shine from you
As easily as birds’ songs
Cheering all near you
Thanks for visiting.
I pray you feel the warmth
of that LIGHT within you.
Let it shine!!!
Let it sing of God’s love in you.
See ya tomorrow.
Hugs, JanBeek
What?
Embrace Extravagance?
I have to be kidding, right?
Extravagance is kin to outlandish.
Extravagance means excessive.
Right?
Wrong!
Extravagance doesn’t need to mean outlandish.
It can be thought of as abundance.
Extravagance is
Abundance of some good food –
Okay if it’s shared!
Extravagance is
An abundance of pure love –
Beautiful when shared
Extravagance is
The overflow of blessings –
Lovely gifts from God
When the night sky touches your soul,
When other bloggers touch your inner core,
It’s a sign of the extravagance of others
That keeps you longing for more
Today, January 24, 2021, Rahul Gaur wrote a blog so powerful that I HAD to share it. First I tweeted it. I have never shared someone else’s blog by tweeting it before. I have reblogged a few. This one is so impactful that I need you to click on Rahul’s name and go to it. See it for yourself. It is extravagantly beautiful! Here are a couple of sentences that particularly touched me:
“The soul is the lost intuition
and the listening switch of your body.
When you need to see things beyond as they are,
to see things as they were meant to be,
you listen to the orchestra of your soul.”
Sermon by Rev. Steve Hundley
at the Madison Valley Presbyterian Church
Ennis, Montana
Thy Kingdom Come
“Thy Kingdom Come” is
a political statement –
Except we believe
in a heavenly kingdom.
It’s not a worldly kingdom.
It is “THY” kingdom come.
Let God’s Kingdom reign,
Not MY domain – not MY will.
As a pastor, I am sometimes
Guilty of saying, “Look at me!”
I do the “my” and not “Thy” message
And have to learn to lose self.
We all need to learn to be
De-throned … and let
God’s Kingdom be the focus.
Peace, reconciliation & hope are God’s.
God’s Kingdom is not attainable
On our earth. It is not!
Utopia here in our world
Is not within our reach.
No earthly political order
Will ever be the Kingdom of God.
God’s Kingdom is like a seed.
It’s like a net in the water.
The seed one day will sprout.
The net will gather fish.
God’s work on earth is extravagant,
But the Kingdom is elusive here.
The Kingdom of God is at the door.
It takes eyes of faith to see
What lies beyond the threshold.
It is there though we see it not.
When we say “Thy Kingdom COME,”
We might more easily say GO.
Go from You into me…
God’s Kingdom lives in each of us.
It’s an awesome fact that
The Kingdom of God is in you.
We must not lose hope or faith
And we must not live in satisfaction.
Never be satisfied with what is.
Only when we submit to God’s Kingdom
Does it really COME. So care!
Care for the poor; release greed and pettiness.
It’s liberating to know when
We turn our lives and our futures
Over to our Extravagant God –
We’ll see His Kingdom coming into the world.
Amen?
“Listen to the orchestra of your soul.”
Rahul Gaur
Keep you ears open to soulful listening…
Thank you, Rahul, for your blog.
Thank you, Rev. Steve, for your message.
Thank You, God, for your Kingdom of Love.
Thanks for visiting JanBeek
See ya tomorrow
Hugs to You !!
Inspire to Love
Let the SonShine!
You inspire me to respond
Learning to Live; Living to Learn; Learning to Love; Living in Love
