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Archive for the ‘Spiritual Gifts’ Category

Valued Trait

Today’s prompt on WordPress was:
What’s the trait you value most about yourself?

Each of us is given special gifts.
The trick is to recognize yours.
When you find it, then
make it your favorite trait.

And use it to the fullest!

This scripture is one of my favorites…
and it reveals a trait I cherish:

Hebrews 13:2

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for by this some have entertained angels
without knowing it.”

My special gift is hospitality.
I love having family and friends
come to spend time with us.
Here is our dear 1980-81 AFS son,
Christian Zufferey (ZuZu), from Switzerland.
No, he’s no stranger to us!!

(Our DeAna married his first cousin!!
What a love story that is!)

This week DeAna, and her hubby, Andre’
surprised us by arriving with ZuZu
and his wife, Celia, for a four day stay.
Here they are this morning… leaving us (boo-hoo!)

But, we were blessed to have them
come and spend those days
(just not nearly long enough) –
and to have Chef Andre’ prepare great meals!

How wonderful it was also
to have our grandson, Mike,
and his wife, Tania, with us for a week
this month. They were so helpful!!

Now this hospitality business
would have a full opportunity
to be put into practice IF our son
Ty & his wife, Monika, would come!

The good news is that Peter,
one of Bob’s wrestling students
from back in the 1970’s in CA,
will be joining us in October for awhile.
Yay!

Why don’t you consider
Letting me use my favorite trait,
HOSPITALITY,
On you one of these days?

What’s your special gift – your favorite trait?

Love to you,
JanBeek

A Prayer for Humanity

I am sharing this post today from a new blogging friend because I think it is so beautifully written … and so powerful. S/He wrote it about three months ago, but it is timeless. Read on and see if you agree…

… I was inspired by a podcast episode that I was asked to be a part of concerning prayer. I chose …

A Prayer for Humanity

No Authority

The prompt today was:

“On What Subject are You an Authority ?”

We just said good-bye to our guests from Switzerland who stayed with us for a week. We did a lot of sharing with one another while they were here. But, even though each of us has had a lifetime of experiences in various fields (technology, social work, teaching, coaching, and beekeeping), none of us tried to come across as an authority on anything! What a turn-off that attitude would be!!

If you have the attitude that you have more knowledge than anybody else around you on a certain subject, and you speak with unabashed authority, I hope you’re being asked to do so, and you’re paid a lot for your opinion! I hope that knowledge gives you an opportunity to have authority with your authority! But…

… in my experience, the one who flaunts his authority (rather than living as an open-minded, humble, life-long learner) seldom finds life very satisfying. Tim McGraw spells it out pretty clearly in his song, “Always Stay Humble and Kind.” You can listen to it below.

Proverbs 22:4 
ESV

“The reward for humility
and
fear of the Lord 
is riches and honor and life.”

I am rich in friends
I am rich in love of life
Christ is my life’s authority.
Where do your riches lie?

It was an interesting prompt today.
How would you have answered it?

Look up for your purpose!

Keep looking up!
Keep learning.
Stay humble and kind!

Thanks for your visit today to
JanBeek

Telling Taglines

Today’s JetPack prompt was:

If humans had taglines, what would yours be?

Hah! Time passes –
taglines change –
mine used to be
“Rabble-rousing Hummingbird!”

But now, my tagline
might more appropriately be
“Chirpy!”

I’m sitting in my rocker,
up in my sanctuary,
listening to peaceful gospel music,
singing along,
and inviting my guardian Angel
to slow me down,
help me watch where I’m going,
and guide my steps carefully.

No more rabble rousing!

Just sit on my perch and chirp!

What’s your tagline?

Has yours changed for you
through the years, too?

This week my nephew, Liam,
and his mom (my niece)
and dad from PA
and good friend from UT
are visiting us.

Yesterday after church,
Liam tried his hand at chirping on the saw!
He is an adventuresome 16-year-old.
I’d give him the tagline of
“Soarer!”

He’s interested in learning –
Interested in trying everything.
He is learning to fly;
he’s going to flight school
as a high school junior.
An amazing kid!
He soars!

Oh my!

Sure hope my chirps are a bit more pleasant!
Takes a lot of practice
to make music that’s pleasing
while fiddling on a saw!

But if you have an adventuresome spirit,
you are ready to try something new –
and if it doesn’t work out
perfectly on the first try,
you explore …
and keep trying.
Eventually you can soar, too!

What does my tagline say about
my true identity?

Am I a chirping bird?
If so, what song do I sing?
Does it glorify my maker?

What’s your tagline?

neon signage
Photo by Ivan Bertolazzi on Pexels.com

Colossians 3:12 

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones,
holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts,
kindness,
humility,
meekness,
and patience,


Let’s all sing a happy song 🎶
and imagine our “Telling Tagline”
while we dream of soaring
to the best self we can be.
You with me?

Thanks for visiting
JanBeek.
See ya tomorrow.

Hugs!

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

Shared Talent

Today I was introduced to an artist I had never heard of before.
Tin Yan Chan’s art astounded me.
Here’s a sample:

Nature’s Wonders by Tin Yan Chan

To see more of his art, check out today’s post
at “Humoring the Goddess”
https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/4496017/posts/4509265488

Tin Yan Chans art is amazing.
I was inspired to create this poem after enjoying his works.

Deep within the Rockies
Where no traffic flows
Is a peaceful hidden lake
Where gorgeous lupine grows

The lake is filled with fish
And if you know your way,
You can walk to find real joy
Come join me friends, let’s play

The lake is beautiful in every season
You can visit it for no reason
Other than to enjoy its beauty
Ot wait til its trees are fruity

It’s an artist’s paradise
The scenery is always nice
Sit quietly and wait for the butterflies
Look carefully – they’re a sight for sore eyes!

Claudia at Humoring the Goddess did some research and shared the fact that Tin Yan Chan, a master artist, had his God-given talents recognized in Canada in the late 20th century. She wrote, “… at 16 he was admitted to the Wuhan South Central China Academy of Fine Arts.”

I am so fascinated by this artist’s work that I intend to do a little research of my own. His website shows several additional paintings and about a dozen in a section labeled “sold.” Wouldn’t you enjoy having one of his masterpieces in your home?

Tin Van Chan has developed his artistic talent and made his creations available to the world. What talent do YOU have that you’ve developed and generously shared?

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.” Erma Bombeck

Today I used my rusty talent (playing the accordion) at church. Our pianist was unable to attend, so I was asked to step up. My accordion has been dropped and some of the keys sound a bit weird – but I stepped up and did my best. Hopefully it was better than trying to sing all the hymns A Cappella!

An easier talent to share is the one that has a harder time getting rusty: Teaching! On Tuesdays I share my love of scripture with my 10-year-old friend, Hailey, and in the evening with my lady friends at our local nursing home. Through the years I have developed my spiritual gift of teaching, and as you have heard many times, I’m sure, “Once a teacher, always a teacher.” Like Erma Bombeck, I want to “use everything [God] gave me.” Our talents are given to us to be shared.

So, share your talent
Your talent’s God’s gift to you
It’s meant to be shared.

For many of you, it’s writing prose or poetry.
For some of you, it’s photography.
For others, it’s music or public speaking.
I really appreciate those whose talent is
fixing my car or unplugging the drain on my sink!
Some are math wizards or skilled carpenters>
All God’s gifts of talent are meant to be shared,
What’s yours?

Share with me what talent you thank God for giving to you.
How are you sharing it?

Musically Yours –
With Love,
JanBeek

Be Fruity!

Are you a fruitcake?
Filled with fruits of the spirit?
Let me hear a YES!!

Do you grant to God
Permission to infuse you
With His divine gifts?

Photo by Trang Doan on Pexels.com

What are those divine gifts?
Do you have them memorized?
Are they yours – living fruits in you?

Each day as I walk down
the circular staircase
from my sanctuary,
I repeat my 12 step program:

Thank You, God, for the
1) Love,
2) Joy, and
3) Peace
that are mine!

Give me help, God, with
these Fruits of the Spirit
that I need help to exhibit:
4) Patience,
5) Kindness,
6) Goodness,
7) Faithfulness
(which brings blessings).
8) Gentleness, and
9) Self-control.

Help me
10) live humbly
with an attitude of gratitude
and
11) a response of generosity,
forgiveness,
12) Obedience and Integrity.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen

When you pray daily
Asking God to give you fruits,
Trust, my friends, He will!


Be fruity!

Oh, and don’t forget to
keep smiling, my friends.
Fruity people are happy folks!!
Be a fruitcake!

Happy and content is how God created us.
Let’s claim that idea!

Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
See ya tomorrow (God willing) –
Hugs!

If you’re happy
and you know it,
you can be a little fruity
like Jack Hartmann
and sing along
with this song for
all kids and young at heart!

He’s a fruitcake personified!!

Embrace Faithfulness

Every morning I begin my day
with a cup of coffee and a climb
up the stairs to my sanctuary
where I spend time with my Bible,
devotionals, prayers, and Jesus.

One of my devotionals is “These Days,”
a daily devotion for living by faith,
published by the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.
Its format is scripture, devotional, prayer.

Today’s scripture was:

Isaiah 40:11

He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.”

In the devotional, the author, Hope Douglas Harle-Mould,
wrote about the comfort Jesus provides.
She included a poem she wrote to
Our God of all Faithfulness:

“We pray for a cure; God sends us healing.
We pray for continued life; God gives us new life.
We pray death will not come; God overcomes death.
We pray in anguish; God weeps with us.
We pray in fear; God teaches us to laugh.
We pray for ourselves; God gives us each other.
We pray for miracles; God fills us with love.
We pray for the future; God showers us with blessedness.
God, help me trust the voices heralding your hope.”

I am assured
as I read and pray
and study God’s word,
that just as he
carries the lamb
in his arms,
he will be faithful
to carry me.

As I descend the twelve stairs
at the end of my devotional time,
I recite my personal
TWELVE STEP PROGRAM
Thank You, Jesus, for the:

  1. Love,
  2. Joy, and
  3. Peace (that are mine). Help me with
  4. Patience,
  5. Kindness
  6. Goodness, and
  7. Faithfulness (which brings blessings),
  8. Gentleness, and
  9. Self-control.
  10. Help me live humbly with an attitude of gratitude, and
  11. A response of generosity, forgiveness,
  12. Obedience, and integrity.
    In Jesus name,
    Amen!

When I get to the 7th step,
I see the metal sculpture
that says, “Blessings” above my door.
It was a gift from our dear friends,
Jim & Terry, so I pause to thank God
for their faithful friendship.
When I get to the bottom of the stairs,
I see this cross on the wall:

It was made by Native Americans.
I pause to pray for them
and their peace and prosperity.
I send occasional gifts to
schools for Native American children –
– places like St. Labre’ and St. Joseph’s –
and they faithfully write back
acknowledging my small donation.

A student at St. Labre’ School
for Native American children

Faithfulness is a two-way street.
We pray to God faithfully; God answers.
We give to people who touch our hearts;
they give back with gratitude & smiles.
We read God’s Word faithfully each day;
He gives us wisdom and discernment,
understanding and blessings.

Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com

Check out this different version of that old song, The B-I-B-L-E… I love it! What a way to learn to names of the books of the Bible, huh?

How do you begin your day, my friends?
What does FAITHFULNESS mean to you?

Thanks for visiting today.
I hope your Friday is blessed, indeed!

See ya tomorrow (God willing)

Love,
JanBeek

Embrace Creativity

When are you the most creative?
Where do your creative juices flow most freely?
What’s your God-given creative talent?

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I am not a painter.
I may have some latent talent there, but I have never developed it.

That’s Bob –
He’ll tell you he developed
his painting skills by
painting beehives for 30 years!
Now he’s painting the pastor’s house!!

Do you have hidden talents that you have not fully explored?

Photo by Roman Koval on Pexels.com

When children are given the tools
and the examples early in life,
often that becomes the springboard
for a life of artistic talent shared.

Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com

No one told me that my scribbles
might lead to a creative talent
that would be appreciated by others!

But, I was encouraged to sing as a child.
That was a talent that did not go unnoticed.
How could you ignore it when
I was a 3-year-old singing
“Appo-Tee, Appo-Tee, AppoTee”
all the way through the hymns at church.
Singing loudly and joyfully!

Hah!
It was during the time of WWII
and a popular song was
“Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree
(with Anyone Else But Me).”

You’re probably not old enough to remember it!!
Go ahead, click on it here.
You’ll love it!!

So how did my “Appo Tee” singing
graduate into a full-blown creative talent?
Like any talent, it takes
involvement,
participation,
practice.

I have been a member of a choir
for as long as I can remember…
… always in school, then in church,
and eventually our community choir.
I am not a soloist,
but I love singing in a duet
or trio or with a large group.
Recently our church choir
was able to start up again…
it is such a joy!


Once I even got to sing
with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
during one of their dress rehearsals
for their Christmas concert!

The rendition below of
“The Lord Bless You and Keep You”
was sung by the University of the Pacific Choir
at Bob’s and my wedding 2/11/62.
Here is the Mormon Tabernacle singing it.
I love it so much!

If your talent is not singing or painting,
maybe you developed a talent in another area –
like cooking or woodworking or metal sculpture.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Of course, one major talent I forgot mention
Is instrumental music …
the piano or a woodwind or string or brass instrument…
Such talent brings so much joy to the player
as well to a world of listeners.

I played the accordion and the clarinet
as a child and continued to do so
until just recently.
My accordion is not functioning,
there’s a hole in the bellows.

Perhaps I will find another
small accordion that I can handle…
and will resume that creative endeavor.
The children at the day care center
and the residents at our local
Nursing Home enjoyed it!

Here’s just a small clip –
(it’s only 10 seconds!!)
of me playing for the residents
at my sister’s place in PA
a couple of years ago.
(I won’t burden you with too much of this!)
Hah!

My cousin always used to send me comic strips
about the accordion.
One was a guy entering heaven
and the angel said,
“Welcome to Heaven,
here’s your harp.”
The other was a gal entering Hades.
The angel greeted her and said,
“Welcome to Hell,
here’s your accordion.”

Hah! I miss Cliff and those jokes!!




The question remains:
What are your God-given talents?
Have you developed an area of creativity?

I forgot to mention writing!!
Us bloggers imagine ourselves to have that talent
or else we wouldn’t be posting here on WordPress, right?

But, even this writing talent
doesn’t improve without practice, right?
Never stop learning and trying to improve –
regardless of the area of creativity…
gardening & photography (Derrick) –
poetry (Dwight, Richard, Pat, Rahul, etc.)
cooking (Andre’ & Caralyn)
You know who you are…
and what you need to do!

Our library was having a book sale last week.
For a dollar, I was able to buy this wonderful book.
Copyrighted 20 years ago, it’s never outdated,
and I can never stop learning how to be a better writer.
Like any talent, it takes practice, study, and more practice.
And feedback always helps!

Roses are red.
Violets are pink.
I’m an emerging poet.
Man, don’t I stink?

No, don’t badmouth yourself!!
Keep workin’ at it…

Embrace Creativity!
Tell me about yours…

Thanks for sharing!
See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love,
JanBeek

Embrace Focus

While you are thanking God
for making you human,
giving you courage to try hard things,
helping you learn and grow and
understand the lessons life has for you,
don’t forget to count your blessings!

Goodness
Surrounds you.
You’ll find it
If you look thoughtfully –
Blessings!

Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God has done

If that is your focus,
You won’t have time to
See the other side of the coin!
You’ll be too busy giving back!!

We are blessed
To be a blessing.
Count your blessings
See what God has done!

Focus on what you have
Not what you wish you had!
Use your gifts for others
And watch them come back multiplied!

Let’s grow flowers!

Plant the seeds in your garden carefully.
Make sure they are in rich, fertilized soil.
Keep your soul seeped in the encouraging
Words of scripture… and you’ll grow fruits of the spirit!

I am thankful for you,
Grateful for your presence in my life.
You’re the flowers in my life’s garden.
I feel blessed to have you visit JanBeek
Leaving encouraging comments.
Thank you!!

See you later.
Have a blessed day!

I’m off to church…
I’ll share my sermon notes later today.
Come on back!

Love, JanBeek

P.S. Did I tell you yesterday was my dad’s birthday? He would have been 110!!
One of my many blessings is having him for my earthly father.
Check out my blog from way back when –
when I posted a poem I wrote about my dad:

https://janbeek.blog/2018/06/16/memories-of-daddy/

Happy Birthday, Daddy!
I miss your hugs!

What tops your list of blessings?
What are you focusing on today?

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