Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for the ‘Living in Christ’s Family’ Category

Quench Thirst With Living Water

timelapse photography off water fountain
Photo by Gabriel Peter on Pexels.com

Quench my thirst, Lord,
With Your Living Water clear.
Bring me peace from you to help me
Feel Your love and know You’re near.

crop woman sitting near sea
Photo by Dmitriy Ganin on Pexels.com

Drench me in Your Living Water;
Wash my sins from head to toe.
Help me know Your saving Grace
Make me pure as fresh, white snow.

person holding white heart decor
Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Pexels.com

Quench my thirst for Living Water
By sending me Your love anew.
Help me feel Your healing power
And share with others my love for You.

person cleaning hands under water
Photo by Samad Deldar on Pexels.com

John 4:13-15
ESV

Jesus said to her,
“Everyone who drinks of this water 
will be thirsty again,
but whoever drinks of the water 
that I will give him
will never be thirsty again.”

Come down to the Living Waters. We welcome you!

Have a blessed Tuesday evening – and a Wonderful Wednesday!

Love,

JanBeek

A Place to Unwind

Today’s JetPack Prompt:

How do you unwind after a demanding day?

My home is my unwinding place
It’s a restful, peaceful haven
I can stay in my pj’s til noon
and my hubby can lounge unshaven

But if I lived near the sea,
I’d find a lighthouse nearby
I’d climb the stairs and vegetate
And watch the ships sail by

There’s something calming, something sweet
About the crashing waves against the shore
This scene soothes away all distress
Makes me long to go once more.

How sweet to know I can imagine
A lighthouse from my Montana home
His light shines bright and helps me unwind
I don’t have very far to roam.

The scene outside my window shines
God’s soothing light on me
A lighthouse out beyond the snow
Brings calm; God’s Grace unwinds round me.

Exodus 14:14

“The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

God can calm the storm in your life and in your heart. 

How do you unwind after a demanding day?
I hope you have a soothing solution.

Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
See ya tomorrow.

New Great-Grandbaby

Yesterday our granddaughter
gave birth to our great-grandbaby #5,
a perfect little girl.
Hope and Drew named her Charlotte.
Don’t you love that name?

  • Psalms 127:3-5 3 Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

Dear Baby Charlotte, this poem is for you:



Bob & I have two children, Ty & DeAna.
Also God blessed us with
a beautiful, smart, loving daughter-in-law, Monika,
and a clever, fun-loving, creative, talented son-in-law, Andre’

From those two children and their spouses
we have seven grandchildren
and now five great-grandchildren.

We feel so blessed to have lived long enough to
see our family expand in such a beautiful way.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

This is some of the California crew
two Christmases ago
before our granddaughter, Faith (in the white hat),
had our great-granddaughter, Mable.
But, you can see great-granddaughter, Cosette, in there.
Bob & I are on both sides of our
daughter-in-law, Monika.
Monika’s parents are behind us.
Our son, Ty, is at the back.
Only granddaughter, Hope,
the new mommy,
is missing here.
Also, missing are DeAna,
our daughter and her family…
they are in Switzerland.

That’s our oldest grandson, Mike, with his wife, Tania,
in Switzerland. We went last year to their wedding.
We are looking forward to their gift of great-grandchild #6!!

Here’s De, with her hubby, Andre’,
who is THE CHEF EXTRAORDINAIRE in their
chalet (hotel/restaurant).

We love going there to enjoy our daughter and her family (three boys) !!!


Let me know if you ever decide to travel to Switzerland.
I’ll put you in touch with this wonderful
Relais des Mélèzes.
(You can check out their facebook page, too).-
Just type that name in the search bar.

Here are Andre’ and our DollyWolly, DeAna.

Oh, and if you are blessed as much as we are,
you have adopted other “kids” to be part of your family, too.
Here is our dear Daughter #2, Lainalainalaina, with us!!

Yes, we are blessed indeed!
She is such a sweetheart…
and she has blessed us with two other granddaughters, as well.

Children are such a blessing.
Babies are such fun, aren’t they?
Are yours all baptized?


Here I am with DeDe.
Ah, what a sweetheart she is, too!

Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
See ya tomorrow.

Silent Saturday

I can’t remain silent
On this day when Christ was killed.
I can’t swallow my sorrow
Though His death was God-willed.

Imagine you are Mary
Arriving at the tomb,
Ready to prepare the body,
Not finding Him in the rock room.

It was Silent Saturday –
Soon to be Sunday morn.
I want to ask someone
Why aren’t His linens torn?

I am speechless,
Sad, confused and alarmed.
The gardener asks me,
“Why are you crying?”

Are you crying, too?
Can you imagine that day
Of horrific persecution?
Seeing Him, what would you say?

Do you understand His sacrifice?
Why did His death bring despair?
Were you, with Mary, among the puzzled?
Did you join His loved ones there?

In a world of pain and sorrow,
In a land of corruption and hate,
Did you travel the road to Golgotha?
Did His death secure your fate?

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday,
A day when loved ones meet.
What is its significance?
Is it the Easter eggs you eat?


If we remain silent,
Even the very rocks will cry out.
Tomorrow we will know
He is Risen. Join me. Let’s shout!

Hallelujah! He is Alive!
Let’s celebrate!!

Sing with me:

Happy “Silent Saturday!”
So much for silence! Hah!

Love,
JanBeek

Got Wisdom?

Photo by Jean van der Meulen on Pexels.com

They talk about the wise old owl –
But is he really wise?
He looks menacing to me –
Just take a gander at his eyes!

Did God make some birds wiser
Than the rest of birds and folks?
I know He made some funnier –
Some share the greatest jokes!

Animals do the darndest things –
You know God made them smart.
Where do humans get such wisdom?
Where do we go for a start?

The Bible is full of ideas
for finding wisdom and where.
I think a lot of different books
Suggest that wisdom’s there.

You can search the shelves forever
And find words to the wise, for sure.
But if you want to GAIN that wisdom,
Go first to the Book that’s pure.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

No, it doesn’t take a lot of searching.
The Book is the most ever sold.
Every word in it is God breathed –
It’s the wisest story ever told.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

James 3:17-18

“But the wisdom
that comes from heaven
is first of all
* pure, then
* peace-loving,
* considerate,
* submissive,
* full of mercy, and
* good fruit,
* impartial, and
* sincere.
Peacemakers who sow in
peace raise a harvest
of righteousness.”

Righteousness = free from guilt or sin; justifiable; genuine & excellent.

Hah! There are Bible coloring books,
But they are for beginners who want to start
Getting used to those Bible stories
Before taking them to heart.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

If you want an apple from the Teacher,
Don’t search Google for the book.
Just go to your own Bible, my friends.
You’ll find wisdom there, if you look.

Don’t let it sit upon the shelf
Gathering cobwebs, dust and dirt.
Take it down, dust it off, and read.
Gaining a little more wisdom never hurt!

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Kristyn Getty has such a pure and sweet voice.
The words to this song are wise indeed.
I hope you’ll take time to listen and enjoy.
Gaining God’s wisdom is an every day need.

God bless you, dear friends.
May His wisdom increase in you every day.
May you dress yourself daily in His strength!

Sending you love, hugs, and best wishes
for a happy, healthy, and wise Friday.

JanBeek

Show Up and Never Give Up!

Let all that you do be done in love.  

1 Corinthians 16:14

Above all,
keep loving one another earnestly,
since love covers a multitude of sins.

 1 Peter 4:8

May the God of hope
fill you with all joy
and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit 
you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13

For God gave us a spirit not of fear

but of power and love and self-control.  

2 Timothy 1:7

John 14:26 
ESV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
He will teach you all things
and
bring to your remembrance
all that I have said to you.

Romans 8:37 
ESV

No,
in all these things
we are
more than conquerors
through Him who loved us.

Get up – dress up – show up!

And never give up!

Galatians 6:9 
ESV 

And let us not grow weary
of doing good,
for in due season we will reap,
if we do not give up.

I’m never giving up
I want to be proud
Of who I’m becoming
With God’s help
I’m reaching for the sky
I’m gonna get up
Dress up
Show up
and
Never give up

You, too?

I pray you have
wonderful neighbors/friends
who come, help, encourage
and inspire you
in your Daily Walk,
like we do!

Yes, count your blessings!

I made green eggs and ham
yesterday for St. Patrick’s Day
and then we shared
corned beef and cabbage
with those dear neighbors
who inspire us
to get up, dress up,
show up, and
never give up.

What have you done recently
to thank those who inspire you
to show up everyday
and never give up?


I send my love and encouragement to you.
Thanks for showing up at JanBeek
and encouraging me to keep on
keepin’ on!

I love you!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Here is some very soothing music
to calm your spirit
as you get up,
show up,
and
never give up!

Enjoy!!

Have a blessed weekend!
Hugs,
JanBeek

Where Ya Lookin’?

Where ya lookin’, my friend?
Do ya got yer head in the sand?
Are you avoidin’ some things
By keeping blinders on hand?

Some of us think if we shut off
The news about strife in our land,
If we just stream in what’s good,
We can avoid the newsstand.

Let’s just pray and read our Bibles;
Let’s join hands with like-minded folk.
Let’s ban anyone we disagree with.
Lock out the sorrow they evoke.

Let’s focus on the good ole days
And remember pure life gone by.
No social media. No Fox News or CNN.
No log in my own eye.

I see the sliver in your eye.
I see the faults of all those other folk,
So I choose to build a cocoon
And just carry my own yoke.

Do you relate to such thinkin’?
Are you so selfish you’re stinkin’?
When ya gonna come outta yer cave
And discover the poison you’re drinkin’?

Ya can’t find Utopia here on earth
By shuttin’ out all that’s a disgrace.
Ya gotta look and see and recognize
The mud splattered on your own face.

The sin of this world splashes up
To make guilty sinners of us all.
We can’t avoid it with blinders.
We can’t be thinkin’ so small!

We gotta look at all those in trouble
With compassion and a heart to see
How each of us is in this together.
Their misery and pain touches me.

I gotta take off the shutters and open
The doors to my heart for their pain
To permeate my soul and my conscience.
I gotta step out in the rain.

I gotta look ahead to the future
And see what I can do to make peace
With those I find disagreeable.
This head in the sand’s gotta cease!

My word for 2023 is “Ready.”
Am I ready to take my own advice?
Break outta the cocoon and fly upward
To help others? At what cost? What price?

The price of compassion is nothing
Compared to what it costs to ignore
The people in need all around us.
Where ya lookin’ my friend? The floor?

Let’s turn to the windshield and see
What’s right in front on the road.
Let’s pick up our yoke and share it
To help others lessen their load.

Matthew 11:28-30
NIV

28 “Come to me, 
all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
 29 Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me, 
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. 
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

See that smile up there on that guy?
It ain’t that easy; I won’t lie.
But with time and love and care,
You’ll find peace. Reach out and share!

Sending love your way…
from the Ennis Food Bank!


Sharing is Caring!
JanBeek

We Are One

Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

Together we’ll spread the news
That God is in our land
And they’ll know
We are Christians
By our Love

God will make a way.
He works in ways
We cannot see.
With love and strength
for each new day
He will make a way.

We are One!
His Word promises
He will do
Something new
Today.

He will be my guide.
He will hold us close.
With love and strength
For each day
He will make a Way.

We are one!!
Believe it!

Have a Fabulous Friday.
Spread love and unity.
Go now and hug someone!

We all need
Unconditional Love.

I believe John recorded
in chapter 17
this conversation
Jesus had with God saying:



“The glory that You have given me I have given them,
so that they may be one,
I in them and You in me,
and they may become completely one.”

John 17:22-23

We are “THEM”
So accept that glory, my friends!
Be completely ONE!

Thank you for visiting JanBeek today.
Thank you… for your love.
I love you!

JanBeek

Being Human

“Humans don’t always know how to be human.”
That was the sentence that caught my attention
In last Sunday’s sermon about love.
Is loving one another our sincere intention?

Most of us know the Bible’s definition;
We’ve heard the scripture countless times.
But reading it, saying it, and doing it
Aren’t the same – not even sometimes.

Mary Grace Reynolds took the topic
Of love on Super Bowl Sunday
(The week of Valentine’s Day)
And related it to a movie and play.

The movie was “Remember the Titans.”
The play was football and dance.
Some newly integrated football players
Were brought together by chance.

Photo by football wife on Pexels.com


On the football field they never joined
Together and danced as one.
During practice their coach
Sent the players out on a run.

The coach stopped them at
Gettysburg – a place of war –
A place where 50,000 men died
Fighting the fight we’ve fought before.

Take a lesson from the dead;
Come together on hallowed ground.
Learn to play in harmony.
Set aside prejudice; let oneness be found.

Push yourself aside for the good
Of the whole – learn to love.
Display the honest hope and possibilities
Born of God – born to hug and not shove.

The Galatians had the same problem –
Fighting, arguing, not loving.
Paul wrote a letter to them,
Encouraging huddling, not shoving!

Galatians 3:19-29

Paul says we are wearing the identity of Christ
and while we come from difference,
and difference is beauty.
We are nothing except Christians

Galatians 5

Like the Titans, we have to change our actions and attitudes.
We have to put on the uniform and come ready to win.
Recognize we as the players need one another.
Remember we are the players,
not the coach.

Photo by Kampus Production on Pexels.com

Come ready to play the game
Of patience forgiveness, and love,
Do not be a slave to estrangement.
Take coaching from our God above.

Faith working through love frees us –
So be careful you don’t get eaten up
By the ways we differ – find unity.
Play to win – not to get beaten up!

Let God teach us to be human.
Christ is our coach – always!
He made us to play together in peace.
Let’s claim that identity and give God the praise.

Amen?

You will know I am human –
You will know I was made by God
to love you and guard your dignity
by my love!

Love to you…
and hugs in unity
from
JanBeek

Kindness

The Septolet is a poem consisting of seven lines containing fourteen words with a break anywhere in between the two parts. Both parts deal with the same thought and create a picture.

.
.
.
Kindness
Lovingly given
Gratefully received
Reap what you sow

We rise
Lifting others
Carry
.
.
.

What picture did those words create for you?




Here
is
the
picture
that
came
to
my
mind.



:o)

And this is the scripture that came to mind:

Luke 6:25
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”

Jesus is my inspiration.
God’s Word is my go-to for direction.
It inspires me to be kind,
not just to my family, friends, and loved ones,
but also to those who annoy me…
maybe most to them!

Thank you, David, from skepticskaddish.com,
for introducing me to this new (to me) poetry form.
It was fun to give The Septolet  a try.

Hey, WP Friends,
why don’t you try it, too?
I’d love to see your word picture.


Tim McGraw sings the message in a most beautiful song.
This is new to me, too.
Have you heard it before?
The images that accompany it
are so inspiring.
You’ll be glad if you
take time to see and listen!

Hugs to you…
Have a Wonderful Weekend.

Always be Humble and Kind!

Love,
JanBeek