Thank you, Bob Goff,
for this meme:
We are told we should
Just love difficult people –
No judging allowed.
That’s really hard, friends!
It’s easier to love you.
You’re not one of them.
Or are you?
But only sometimes,
I imagine that I am…
Right?? What do you think?
Thanks for your faithful visits
to JanBeek
See ya tomorrow 🙂
“Ambitions don’t flow from the quantity of our ideas or our uninterrupted drive; they gush out from our kindness and willingness to take a genuine interest in others.” Bob Goff
Taking a “genuine interest in others” is what Love Does!
Sometimes we wonder what we can do to make the world a better place. We want to help, but we don’t know how. Let me share an idea that works for me:
Bob Goff’s “Love Does” is an organization devoted to making the world a better place through education of people in places where schools did not exist before they came. Bob Goff wrote a “runaway New York Time’s best seller” book titled, Love Does. In it he spelled out his philosophy of DOING LOVE. Since its publication in 2012, I don’t know how many thousands of copies have been sold … but it is a whole lot!! And Bob’s LOVE DOES organization has raised millions to help thousands of children and adults in Uganda, India, Iraq, Iran, and Somalia have a better life.
In his quote this week on his FaceBook page, Bob talks about the courage to step out in faith:
May 7 at 9:35 AM · "‪Sometimes God asks us to step out (or through). We don’t know what we’ll see until we go through the deluge. It’s scary to step into the unknown, but it’s also where we find Jesus; and wherever we find Jesus, we find life. Fear calls out our doubts; God calls out our names." ‬ Bob Goff
Helping to educate people from birth on … helping parents learn better parenting skills… helping to provide nourishment for the soul, the body, the spirit… that’s what Love Does! They built “Restore Leadership Academy” and sponsor the education of future leaders in Uganda.
May 10, 2018 · On average in the states, it costs about $20,000 a year for college tuition. In Uganda through Restore Leadership Academy, it costs $700. Our college-aged interns here at Love Does have created a campaign to help fund our Launch students!! Visit lovedoes.org/launch to sponsor a student! Sponsor a student today or make a one-time donation and receive a bag of wildflower seeds and a cool sticker in the mail to help “Plant the Seeds of Education!” #LaunchUganda#LoveDoes#HappyG… See More— in Uganda.
Through Love Does, help moms be better moms – and help children not only survive, but thrive.
There are many ways in your own neighborhood as well as around the world to show your love and compassion and to make the world a better place. We don’t need to sit at home and feel helpless in this COVID-19 world. We can reach out and let our love “gush out from our kindness and willingness to take a genuine interest in others.”
I donate a small amount monthly to this organization. It comes directly out of my retirement check. Not enough that I even notice it! But, if each person who heard about Love Does did the same thing, together our offerings can change lives! Lives of all ages… lives in many parts of the world. Here are a couple of darling children in Somalia who are being helped through Love Does donations.
How adorable are these two little friends in the baby home? We love watching these kiddos grow up here! To learn more about what we’re doing in Somalia, visit lovedoes.org/Somalia
I pray you and I will visibly
gush with kindness and willingness
to take a genuine interest in others.
BOTTOM LINE: LOVE DOES!
Try it!
See ya tomorrow.
Have a Beautiful Sunday.
{{{Hugs}}} from JanBeek
Be sure to Pray Daily
Thank you that “before a word is on my tongue You, Lord, know it completely” (Psalm 139:4). Thank You that there are no surprises with You. Help me find deep comfort in the fact that You are unshockable and nothing is too great, too terrible, too large, or too heavy for You. Help me see the problems that I face today in light of how big You are. Amen.
Reprinted with permission from Max Lucado
So, the praying part is easy, right? There are folks like Max Lucado out there who can help us find the right words. Live in the faith that God hears – and He is with us – and it’s true: nothing is too great for Him.
But What About Perseverance?
How do we keep on keeping on? The Autobahn Assoc. shared this suggestion today:
“… talk about the power of birds, … this year they take on an even more powerful meaning. They enliven our days, brighten the trees, serenade in our backyards and city parks, and bestow us with so much joy and hope, all bundled together in feathers and lively personalities.”
Breathe in the calm of our feathered friends.
Listen to their songs!
Watch their deliberate and graceful movements!
We can find such comfort by watching the activities of our fine feathered friends. See how they continue to sing their songs.
Check Out Other Resources
Besides taking lessons from the birds, there are countless on-line resources to help us keep a positive attitude and persevere. One such resource is Bob Goff at http://www.dreambigframework.com I love Bob Goff’s positivity and enjoy tuning in to his podcasts. You just gotta hear his laugh. It’ll make you laugh, too! Listen in as Bob and Scott talk about our response to the Great Shutdown this week on the Dream Big Podcast with Bob Goff & Friends.Â
In his podcast today Bob Goff asked us to “Hit the pause button. Step back and think about your life.” He asked his listeners to ask ourselves:
Bob Goff continued to make suggestions:
1) Be sober about what’s going on.
2) Be picky about what you focus on.
3) Turn the volume down on the hype.
4) Limit screen time.
5) Follow the recommendations of the experts – wash hands, avoid crowds, stay home if you’re sick, etc.
6) Live authentically, remaining true to who you were created to be.
Who Were You Created to Be and Do?
Bob Goff quipped, “Introverts have been preparing for this for years!”
But some of us are not introverts. We’re having trouble hunkering down inside and having our jobs, our volunteer activities, our restaurants, schools and churches all closed to us. What can we do to remain true to ourselves and feel like we’re not just sitting around wringing our hands helplessly?
How would you answer the question, “Who were you created to be?”
I thought about it and decided:
What is YOUR Purpose?
How can you persevere in the face of this latest shutdown – and the gloomy predictions that this could last a year and a half or more?
What talents has God given you that you can use to make your life seem worthwhile in the midst of these world-wide changes? Using those talents is a way to remain true to your purpose.
I intend to:
1) Continue to post a blog here daily with ideas that uplift and bring hope.
2) Write cards/letters/e-mails/texts/messages and make phone calls to friends and family.
3) Exhibit love, compassion, tolerance, empathy, and joy – spreading those as far and wide as I can. (See photo below)
4) Do something I’ve always wanted to do but for some reason have put off.
5) Keep in touch with friends on-line by playing games like “Words with Friends” (Scrabble) and commenting on their FaceBook posts while I post positive things there, too.
6) Pray and meditate and daily read God’s Word and devotionals, such as Guideposts and In Touch magazine.
Do you have a half a dozen or so things you can list as your intentions?
Maybe deliver flowers or food to a friend who is shut in?
Just call ahead and then drop it at his/her doorstep.
I did that today.
Tell me what you plan to do
to make the world a better place.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I love you!
It’s a day for love. Love is so easy to SAY… but while saying it is important (when it is sincere), it’s not the word that counts. It’s the heart and the action behind that word. You know that! So, what did you DO this week, what did you do yesterday, what did you do today to SHOW your love?
Bob Goff is one of my favorite authors. About 8 years ago my granddaughter gave me his book, Love Does, as a Christmas gift. Have you read it? Do you know this zany, whimsical, amazing man? Check him out at this link… Google it – and listen to him. He will inspire you to DO LOVE!!
176,359 views • May 11, 2012
Yesterday our Madison Valley Woman’s Club had a Valentine party. My friend, Kittie, came dressed for the occasion. I love her spirit! Don’t you?
We decorated chocolate covered strawberries to take home to our loved ones, and we created/decorated Valentine’s cards to give to someone special in our lives. (Oh, and we got to eat some of those strawberries, too. Yum!)
It was a fun activity… but the real fun was delivering our gifts to our “Special Valentine” today.
Of course, you know who mine went to… but I also decorated an extra couple of the strawberries and made a card for our pastor, Steve, and his wife, Elaine, and delivered them to their house yesterday afternoon. Love does! Love shows. Love cares.
Last Sunday Steve & Elaine hosted a fellowship at their house after church.
Our mutual friend, Christine, created these skewers to add to the goodies we all enjoyed. Someone else lovingly made the bean dip.
Jim led us all in singing some of our old favorites. “Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play.” Ah yes, music is an automatic transmitter of love, don’t you agree?
I inherited a book from my mom. It is tattered from loving years of use. It is titled, The Modern Hymn Book. It was printed in 1924. There is a bookmark on the page where my mom’s favorite hymn is, “Blessed Assurance.”
Ah yes, on this Valentine’s Day, this song is a great reminder. There is no greater love than the love of our Savior who demonstrated LOVE DOES with His whole life. How blessed I am to have had a mother who marked the page, loved the song, and knew that story well. The song was copyrighted in 1873… and its words are as pertinent today as they were then. The tune is known around the world. Let’s sing it!
And let’s remember the Truth of real AGAPE love on this day of LOVE.
John 3:16 – my favorite verse: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Yes, God is the ULTIMATE example of Love Does.
“I love You Lord,
and I lift my voice
to worship you,
O my soul rejoice.
Take joy , My King
in what You hear;
May it be a sweet, sweet sound
in Your ear.”
Go out today – and DO LOVE!!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
See ya tomorrow.
You are beautiful
You’re loving and you’re sincere
You care and you share
Love is palpable
With smiles on both their faces
Inner beauty shines
Beautiful people
Reach out to others in love
In all walks of life
People like Bob Goff
Reach out and help folks “Dream Big”
He knows that “Love Does”
Beautiful people
Look for those who are hurting
And they lift them up
You can lift them up
You don’t have to be a priest
To be used by God
Just being yourself,
Your beautiful loving self,
Is more than enough
You are beautiful
Your unconditional love
Enlarges your heart
Hearts are expanding
With each act of sincere love
You exude pure joy
Beautiful person,
– Sami, Elko, Nevada –
Shares love at her work
Make the world better
Be the beautiful person
God made you to be
Do you know you are a Beautiful Person?
I do!
SEE YA LATER
In my introduction to this
A-Z series,
I wrote the following:
I want a greater understanding of:
You are here because, hopefully, you have embraced the journey, the exploration of ways to add more meaning to life. Thank you for joining me!!
Today’s letter is “R”
I have chosen the word “Receptivity”
The picture below is Logan Crowley, my darling neighbor,
with me. She received a scholarship
award of $1000 to assist her venture into college at
Montana State University next school year.
EAA stands for Ennis Arts Association,
of which I am an active member.
Seeking, applying, striving for what we need,
and being receptive when gifts come our way
are important qualities for
adding more meaning
and finding greater purpose
in life.
Everyday Receptivity
It is easy to be receptive every day when someone is giving you a thousand bucks, right?
But what about other areas of everyday receptivity? How do we remain open to all that’s out there for us?
Tune in to Inspiration
Today I listened to a podcast on Bob Goff’s “Love Does” website:
https://dreambigframework.com/podcast-1/amygrant
Bob is a wonderful, whimsical lawyer/author/inspirational speaker who has written three best-selling books, Love Does, and Love Does For Kids, as well as Everybody Always. His Facebook website, https://www.facebook.com/bobgoffis/ , will introduce you to his “Dream Big” workshops and lead you to the podcasts that are so heart-warming.
In a recent podcast, Bob was interviewing very talented and lovely Amy Grant. Amy is a Grammy Award-winning Gospel singer who was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and has written a book, Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far.
The podcast, “What If We…?” was so full of wisdom that I listened to it several times and wrote to Bob Goff asking permission to quote some of the most poignant statements. I received an affirmative response. I posted on Amy’s Facebook page telling her of this blog and hoping it’s okay with her, too, that I quote some of her delightful comments.
One of the messages that rang clear was:
Be Open to Vulnerability Every Day!
Everyday receptivity involves the concept
Bob referred to in this podcast
when he said,
“Be where your feet are!”
Bob Goff and Amy Grant were talking about the subjects of vulnerability and community.
You need to be wiling to be receptive,” Amy suggested. “It takes the hard things in life to pull you into the community that then gives you connections to pursue something beautiful.”
Bob affirmed,
“Vulnerability to say ‘I have a need’ leads you into community…
Some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten has been a hug!”
Be Receptive to Dreams
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
“If you have a dream or an ambition,” Bob Goff said,
“let everyone know about it …
Imagine everyone in heaven leaning over the railing,
watching and wondering what’s next!”
I love that image! I have several dreams for my future and the future of my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I want to capture them in my dream catcher, and then imagine that heaven’s angels are leaning over the railings cheering us on!
Goals/dreams are an important part of living a full and meaningful life. They provide the seeds for our journey toward meeting our life’s purpose.
Amy Grant said, “Make room for the seeds that matter most to [you] to be watered and grown.”
Photo by Anthony on Pexels.com
Add Clarity to your Receptivity
“As soon as you have clarity
on why you’re doing what you’re doing,”
Bob Goff said,
“you’ll find the opportunity to actually go for it!”
Go for it! But what is IT?
“It” is the activity that gives you joy!
“It” is the thing you do that moves you in the direction of your ultimate goal.
“It” is finding out what that goal is!!
Bob suggested if we wish to find fulfillment in receptivity to opportunities, we must first:
Celebrate!
In their conversation, Bob shared that he gave Amy a bell some time ago. She told him that she has it on a post in her back yard (at least I think that’s where she said she posted it).
Amy said, “I think of you each time I see that bell. I ring it every time I move in the direction of a goal.”
Bob asked her about her ultimate goal, and she responded, “I want to die being a fire hose of generosity.”
I love that … not just a garden hose, but a fire hose, spraying out to others the gifts we’ve been given. Celebrate your gifts by giving them generously and freely to others. Yes!
Be Receptive to God’s Guidance and the Wisdom of His Followers
Amy noted that her first mother-in-law was a woman of great wisdom who lived her faith. Once, when Amy was feeling overwhelmed with trying to balance life as a mother of young children with the life of a recording artist who was traveling the world, her mother-in-law told her, “You only need one prayer a day.”
“One prayer?” Amy asked. “What would it be?”
“God, lead me today to those I need –
and to those who need me –
and let something I do today
have eternal significance.”
Bob reacted saying,
“Yes, it’s not just ‘What do I want?’
It’s ‘Who needs something I’ve got?’ “
Ask God to guide you to those who need you.
Ask God to guide you to those you need.
And ask God to help you find meaningful tasks
that might have eternal significance.
Listen to the wisdom of others, and
Be receptive to God’s guidance!
Receptivity and Understanding are the Keys
Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com
Be receptive to the voice of reason within you.
“You need to understand what you want,”
Bob Goff said in this podcast,
“and not just be limited by what you want,
but look at what other people want.
Look for the opportunity to do something
about it in your life and in their lives –
in a hundred creative ways –
then stand back and let God do His thing!”
Stand back, my friends,
be receptive,
and watch God do His thing!
See you tomorrow!
Are you a Fisher of Men
or
A Keeper of the Aquarium?
Photo by Kong Ruksiam on Pexels.com
“Too many churches have stopped being fishers of men, and have become keepers of the aquarium,” said Pastor Ray at Bayside Church in Sacramento, CA in his Refuel devotional today. http://baysideonline/devotionals/refuel-2018
(Go to today’s refuel: 3/28/19)
Check it out.
Pastor Ray suggested that as “Keepers of the Aquarium” we miss the chance to reach out beyond our own to help others. He suggested ways we might be effective “Fishers of Men.”
Our Aquariums
The imagery of us church-goers just swimmin’ in our own little tanks and feeding off of one another and keeping to ourselves tickled and troubled me. Tickled, when I realized we, like these jellyfish, all look about the same – very little diversity – and we’re swimming around in our own little circles, taking care of each other. Troubled, when I see that even in our own little space, our feelers are not quite touching most of the time!
Photo by Nguyen Tran on Pexels.com
Be Inspired
The devotional (I hope you clicked on the link and heard the message) inspired me to look again at my servant/service role.
Oh sure, Bob & I are teaching a Sunday School – – – three darling little 3 to 6 year olds – – –Â they feed our souls! But, how are we being Fishers of People? How are we reaching outside our aquarium to spread the Good News to others in the world?
Blog
One way is by the messages we post on our blogs. JanBeek is all about “Loving One Another.” Not just those in our aquarium, but in the lakes and rivers and big blue sea, too. I love my growing list of followers. I love that you represent countries outside the USA and states outside Montana! I hope you find inspiration here. I aspire to inspire and increase your belief in the grace of God, your faith in our fellow human beings, and the desire to reach out in love.
How Do We Show Our Love?
Yesterday I heard on FaceBook a fantastic message by the founder of https://www.charitywater.org/Â I joined (with a small monthly pledge) the “Spring” to help provide clean water to more people in the world. Hopefully, the message of the Deliverer of Living Water will accompany the new wells provided by the teams who go to care for and share with these needy folks. Look at their website and see the teams of young people who are traveling to impoverished areas and bringing new hope. It’ll warm your heart!
So far, the statistics for CharityWater reports these successes:
Water projects
funded
People will get
clean water
Local partners
Countries
All donations (100%) go to the clean water projects. Salaries and administrative expenses are paid by companies, partners, philanthropists who contribute for that purpose. My little amount each month goes directly to the intended purpose: to fund clean water projects and delivery to those in need. Yay! That’s one way to swim outside your aquarium!
Find a Need Beyond Your Aquarium
Maybe you’ll look at ways you can improve your service to others, too. Reach out to your neighbors, your local Food Bank, Medical Center, Senior Living facility, Library, etc. There countless “fish” out there in your local sea of troubled waters who need what you have to give.
Reach Beyond Your Borders
Look for world-wide worthwhile projects that touch your heart. I am a follower and advocate of Bob Goff’s Love Does project. Another of my small monthly pledges helps this international project that touches my heart.
Bob Goff says, “We have been fighting for human rights and providing education to children in conflict zones for over 15 years.”
You’ll see him on his website – smiling his goofy smile and inviting you to get involved.
Bob is a New York Times best selling author (Get his book titled, Love Does, if you have not already read it). He was a recognized lawyer for over 25 years. In 2001 he saw a need in India and founded what is now known as Love Does.
Bob promises, “We understand it can be daunting to know where to give your time and financial resources. We promise that 100% of every dollar you give will go directly to fund our international programs.”
I promote LoveDoes.org because I have confidence in the work it is doing to improve the lives of countless people in need. Especially his work providing educational opportunities for children is near and dear to my heart. I receive regular updates.
Bob Goff says, ” At Love Does we strive to be transparent. Â We have years of a proven track record and we want to invite you in to be curious. Ask questions! We want you to feel comfortable with where you are investing.”
Search Your Heart
Find the places, the people, the needs that touch your heart. Act today to reach out. Don’t get stuck in your aquarium!
Photo by Guillaume Meurice on Pexels.com
Be a Fisher of People – not just the Keeper of Your Aquarium!
Are you a Twitter fan?
Do you Tweet?
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
People can tell a lot about you depending on your answer these two questions.
Who do you follow?
and
What sorts of things do you tweet about?
Can I tell what you love by reading your Tweets?
Do you Tweet about things that annoy you instead?
Some people are open books – they use very few filters and they just type in whatever pops into their heads. Some are quite thoughtful.
I prefer to follow people like
Dalai Lama:
“Cooperation comes from friendship, friendship comes from trust, and trust comes from kindheartedness. Once you have a genuine sense of concern for others, there’s no room for cheating, bullying, or exploitation; instead, you can be honest, truthful and transparent in your conduct.”
Photo by Vladimir Maliutin on Pexels.com
Dalai Lama’s messages are usually quite different from
Donald Trump:
“The Fake News Media has NEVER been more Dishonest or Corrupt than it is right now. There has never been a time like this in American History. Very exciting but also, very sad! Fake News is the absolute Enemy of the People and our Country itself!”
Photo by Carlos Herrero on Pexels.com
In contrast, it helps my spirits to tune in to people like
Bob Goff:
“The world is full of difficulties; but it’s even more full of hope.”
@lovedoes
https://www.facebook.com/bobgoffis/
Bob’s messages are uplifting, and so are those of
Pope Francis:
“Prayer reconnects us to God, charity to our neighbor, fasting to ourselves. God, my brothers and sisters, my life: these are the realities that do not end in nothing, and in which we must invest.” #Lent
If I follow a politician like our president,
I think it’s also important to check out other politicians.
Keep balanced – hear from both Republicans and Democrats.
Check the Tweets by
Elizabeth Warren:
“Our differences make us stronger. I will fight against all forms of bigotry and hate—including white nationalism.”
And the Tweets by
Barack Obama:
Yesterday he tweeted, “And here are some ways to help cyclone victims in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe:” (linked @barackobama)
For pure entertainment, I get a kick out of
The Voice:
“When insane runs meet unstoppable energy, you get this incredible battle.
See who @JohnLegend picks MONDAY 8/7c on @NBC! 🎶❤️”
If you check out Tweets,
why do you do so?
Is it to entertain, to inform, to connect with others?
Or do you avoid it all together?
I find Twitter can be time-consuming if I get caught up in it,
and I’d rather read the blogs I follow on WordPress!
I’m curious,
what is your impression of Twitter
and all the Tweets folks are posting?
I just heard Comedian Michael J say,
“It’ll be greater later,”
And I thought, “Wow!
What a great way to approach difficulties.”
Are you going through a trial period?
Michael J. suggests that we
Fast forward to the end of the story.
Imagine a positive outcome.
Find the good that can come of this.
Tell yourself, “It’ll be greater later.”
When I was in enormous pain
Following knee replacement surgery,
That mental attitude would have helped me.
The message was delivered to Pastor Ray
On his Facetime with Michael J
And it was broadcast via YouTube
On the daily Bayside Church devo called ReFuel.
Check it out!
Every day this week Pastor Ray,
Who just had knee replacement surgery,
Has interviewed a different joy-filled guy.
Inspirational ideas for how to find
Joy in the midst of pain
Have been shared by great guys like
My favorite joy-filled person:
Bob Goff (of “Love Does” fame).
“It’ll be greater later!”
Believe it. Hang in there!
Love is on fire today. Love is in the air. It’s Valentine’s Day, a day dedicated to LOVE. Love has so many meanings in the English language. Other languages use different words to describe family love, love of God, sweetheart love, love of food or objects, etc. The English word LOVE covers them all – and then some! As a result we can sometimes overuse this four-letter word and in the process dilute its power. Valentine’s Day is a good time to take stock of our use of it. Examine what we truly love and how we express it. Define it in a way that gives it the most power and influence in your life and in the lives of those you truly LOVE. Reread 1 Corinthians 13:4–8a and 1Timothy 1:5. Think about the meaning of Romans 13:10 and Luke 6:32. Contemplate what it means to “let everything be done in love,” as the Bible instructs us in 1 Corinthians 16: 14. Then, decide what you will DO today to demonstrate the love that is in your heart. Try to list at least ten things.
As for me, I…
1) … reached out to my children to say, “I love you.”
2) … am serving with love at the reception desk at our local hospital.
3) … made a special trip to visit a friend and thanked her for helping me with my plants and my home while I was away this past couple months.
4) … will write some thank you cards to the people who extended their hospitality to us while we were traveling.
5) … will hug my neighbors and share an evening meal with them tonight.
6) … spent time in my sancutary this morning, praying for family and friends who are hurting and in need of healing, reading my Bible and devotionals, and praising God for His many blessings.
7) … will write a letter to my grandson who has just entered the Navy and is in boot camp.
8) … demonstrated “love your neighbor as yourself” by taking care of myself – I made healthy meal choices, kept an appointment with my doctor, and I worked out at the fitness center.
9) … mailed a package to a friend in Switzerland.
10) … wrote this blog to reach out in love to each of you.
Tell me about your Valentine’s Day Love list! Are you on fire with love today? Remember, as Bob Goff said, “Love Does.” Don’t just say love or think love – go do it!!
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
