Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘Christianity’

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

A Valentine Message

I first posted this message 4 years ago, but it is timeless – – – and it is worth reposting as February 14th is tomorrow and we all are thinking seriously about the topic of LOVE, right?

What is TRUE love? And how do we exhibit it? How do we receive it? What is its origin? Poets have written of love for centuries. None resonates more perfectly to me than the words of love in the Bible, like Romans 12.

“Love must be sincere.

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Honor one another above yourselves.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Share with God’s people who are in need.

Practice hospitality.”

…. Romans 12:9-13

No better Valentine’s message of love ever has been written. To add to it, go to your Bible and read the next few verses, Romans 12:14-16 … and get caught up in the wonderful message of Jesus’ love!

Of course, the scripture that often is read at weddings is also one that must not be forgotten:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
New International Version

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

My blogging friend, Sue Dreamwalker, wrote today, “So, keep love in your hearts for each other and all living creatures.  And remember to love yourself…”
This was popular in the 50’s when I was growing up. It is one of my all-time favorites!

Love is more than just a game or two.
Two in love can make it…
Take my heart and please don’t break it!

Have a wonderful, love-filled Valentine’s Day!

Hugs to you and your loved ones,
JanBeek (& Bob, too)

Family Christmas

We are very blessed
To be with family today
A Merry Christmas

Four generations
With fourteen of us in all
God bless our family

img_2658

Generation One
With sweet Generation Four
Thank God for babies

Children grow so fast
Remain babies a short time
Enjoy while you can

As a babe Christ came
Helpless and vulnerable
To live as we live

Mary and Joseph
Provided a loving home
Knowing He’s Special

Peace- John 14:27

So when did they know
The Truth of His intentions
Did God prepare them?

img_2675

I can’t imagine
Raising a loving child
For Him to die young

Some friends are hurting
On this day after Christmas
They lost a child, too

c1488d3e-4c61-40e9-bea9-64482f0033ef

Maybe their lost one
Is a sweet four-legged friend
That breaks your heart, too

On this Christmas night,
let’s reflect with my loved one from Zimbabwe
on Christmas Meaning:
God’s Plan by Taking the Human Form
– Birth of Jesus –

John 3
16 : For God loved the world so much
that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him
may not die but have eternal life.

17 :
For God did not send his Son
into the world to be its judge,
but to be its savior.

11 :
“I am the good shepherd,
who is willing to die for the sheep.

It’s not about the day
as no one knows for certain when Jesus Christ was born.
It is a celebration of why He was born.

Here’s to our Salvation celebration
through the birth of Baby Jesus.
Let us make room for Him in our hearts 💕

Blessed Christmas beloved ones of God.
Shalom 🙏🏽❤️

69319449745__bf1d7502-1148-4298-949f-a0bafe3f2af2


God Bless You, dear friends.
I pray you had a wonderful, family-filled Merry Christmas!

Love,
JanBeek

Embrace Baby Jesus

jesus christ figurine
Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels.com

 

If you look for Me at Christmas

You won’t need a special star-

I’m no longer just in Bethlehem,

I’m right there where you are.

You may not be aware of Me

Amid the celebrations-

You’ll have to look beyond the stores

And all the decorations.

But if you take a moment

From your list of things to do

And listen to your heart, you’ll find

I’m waiting there for you.

You’re the one I want to be with,

You’re the reason that I came,

And you’ll find Me in the stillness

As I’m whispering your name.

Love, Jesus

 

background close up day daytime
Photo by Artem Bali on Pexels.com

Merry Christmas, dear Blogging Friends.
May your day be filled with
love, hugs, and opportunities
to reflect on the real Reason for the Season.

I first posted this poem in 2018.
I decided it was worth posting again this year
because many of you are new followers,
and some of you who saw it three years ago
may have forgotten it … I did!

Photo by Bich Tran on Pexels.com

Merry Christmas to you!

Celebrate that precious baby today.
Put Jesus in your heart to stay-
Carry Him with you in a blessed 2022…
We’re counting on it to be better each day!

What are your post-Christmas plans?
We’re getting ready to celebrate
my girlfriend, Sue’s birthday the 28th
and Bob 83rd b’day – the 29th the date.

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love,
JanBeek

Be An Intrepid Christian!

Photo by Sharefaith on Pexels.com

An intrepid Christian
Is resolute and fearless,
Has fortitude and endurance,
But is never cheerless!

An intrepid Christian
Is teachable and submissive,
Attentive and humble,
But never repressive.

An intrepid Christian
Is expectant and devout,
Delivers The Word quietly –
But rarely has to shout!

An intrepid Christian
Demonstrates integrity,
Walks the Talk –
But never belittles you or me.

If you believe Donald Trump is a Christian, did you listen to his belittling of Savannah Guthrie after his last Town Hall meeting? Think about the way he insults reporters who are questioning him. Be honest with yourself. Can this man we call our president really be a Christ follower? I am so fed up with his insults to women that I cannot remain quiet any longer. Listen to this!!

If you are an Intrepid Christian,
And you have the right to vote
In the United States of America,
Please listen and take note.

Please help us return to
Decency and civility here.
Help us elect a kind and capable team
And listen to the U.S. cheer!

Don’t forget to vote
if you haven’t already!


PLEASE believe me when I say
The Democrats will not take your guns away.
The Democrats will not let illegal immigrants in
to take all your money and jobs!
The Democrats believe in the Constitution;
They will not destroy it.
They will improve our immigration system,
create safer gun laws,
protect Medicare
and preserve coverage of those with
pre-existing conditions.
Democrats will restore our foreign relations.
The Democrats will not kill all the unborn babies.
The right to control our own bodies
is not synonymous with unwarranted abortion!

As a life-long Christian and Republican
who has become a Democrat recently
(for obvious reasons),
I believe in the Right to Life.
But I also think a woman who carries a baby
because of rape or incest, or a woman
whose life is endangered
has the right to choose.
Don’t you?

Weigh the rhetoric and please believe me…
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
are Intrepid Christians!!


Can’t we just LOVE ONE ANOTHER
and stop hurling insults??

Thanks for visiting.
See ya tomorrow.

Love,
JanBeek

World-wide Communion

Last Sunday was World-wide Communion Sunday. As a congregation, we were asked to bring a piece of cloth from another country. I wish I had some of the colorful cloth these darling girls are wearing!

Don’t you love them?

Many folks in our church have traveled to various countries and have returned with cloth that represents their travels. Our communion table was decorated with some of them.


Here is Pastor Steve talking before church
with one of our talented musicians, Jim.
The communion table was
just beginning to see the results
of donors gorgeous pieces of fabric.
Photo by David Eucaristu00eda on Pexels.com

Rather than going up to the communion table, we each picked up a small plastic container on our way into the sanctuary. In it was a wafer (like those pictured above) under a thin cellophane covering. Beneath that, under another enclosure with the grape juice.

Photo by Maria das Dores on Pexels.com

The wafer and grape juice represent the bread and wine which represent the body and blood of Christ broken and shed for our salvation. Christian people all over the world celebrated that tradition last Sunday. It had to be done differently in order to maintain social distancing and safety during this pandemic. But, where there is a will, there is a way. We did it!

How about you? Did you celebrate World Communion Sunday?

And if not, if your tradition of celebration is different, tell me about it. I’m curious.

Thanks for visiting.
I appreciate you.
Have a beautiful day!
Love,
JanBeek

If You’re Happy…

If you’re happy and you know it,
How do you show it?

In this joyful video,
Children from around the world
Teach us how to let others know it…

I dare you to play this video and NOT SMILE!!
Come on, sing along – and JUST DO IT!!

A-Z What Makes You Happy

Years ago I did an A-Z series on what makes me happy. It started when I was stuck at a railroad track with a stalled train blocking my way to a luncheon engagement. I already was late, and now I was grumbling. Of course, my mood and grumbles didn’t move the train. I decided to change my mood and start thinking happy thoughts instead of growling at the Lord.

Those minutes sitting at the train tracks turned into a 26 day blogging series that included a letter a day: A = ______, B = ______, C = _______ …. you get the idea.

Today I found a new friend… I reposted her blog from today on WordPress and then started to peruse her site. What a delight!

Abide In God

Her by-line says her mission is: “Seeking faith and wisdom in God’s word, a supportive website for the Christian journey.” In her “About” section, I found her picture. I love being able to visualize my fellow bloggers, don’t you?

There is such kindness in her eyes!

Get to Know Blogging Friends

I am having fun getting better acquainted with this delightful mother of a 23-year-old daughter and grandmother of a darling little boy and adorable twin girls. She (I have yet to discover her name) reminds me very much of my across the street neighbor, Penny. So for now that’s what I will call her.

P.S. I just received a response from “Penny.” Her name is Lesley!

Today if I did the A-Z exercise in what makes me happy, I’d have to substitute A = apples (or whatever I said way back then) to A = Abide in God.

What would you put for your A = ______ ?

Pursue Connections

Lesley has a few sub-blogs. If you click on “Abide in God” up there, you will see her other sub-titles. One of them is “Today I am Thankful for…” But when I click there, it says its content is password protected. Lesley – if you are reading this, I want to join that part of your journey. How do I get in? I am knocking at the door!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Hello, Lesley – Let me in… I like your link to supportive websites and the reference to James 1:5

With supportive friends like you out there, and the Bible as our guide, this Christian walk can be more do-able! It makes me happy to know that I have you as a soul sister whose purpose matches mine. Together, we can:

Today what makes me happy includes: F = Finding your blog and Following it.

Another blog I follow that makes me happy every day is: D = Derrick’s garden! derrickjknight – If you don’t know Derrick and Jackie, do yourself a favor and go meet them today!

I come to their garden alone … not really alone, for Jackie & Nugget are there… and Derrick is behind the camera, and the dew is not still on the roses:

Jackie, Derrick’s dear wife (master gardener) is busy at work. Her smile makes me happy. J = Jackie’s smile!
(Thanks, Derrick, for your beautiful photography.)

Thank you, Jackie, for sharing your wonderful gardening results with us. I can’t grow roses here in Montana. The antelope eat the buds and chew off the leaves! So I am deeeelighted that you share yours.

Be Happy With What You Have

Show others your joy!
A part of being happy
Is looking around.

Appreciate life
And be thankful for your friends;
Share in their blessings.

Don’t focus on lack.
But look at what you have got,
And thank our Father.

Have a Wonderful Week!
Thank you for visiting JanBeek today.
I hope it made you happy.

Share with me something that brings you joy.


See ya tomorrow.
Love, JanBeek

One Pair of Hands

One Pair of Hands

A strong pair of hands
Lifted me from my doldrums
Set me on a hill

It was Golgotha
Known as the place of the skulls
Three crosses were there.

People gathered there
To watch as our Lord was killed
How they must have mourned!

But today I stand
Stand before an empty cross
Knowing He’s alive

Christ’s not on that hill
He is risen and alive
Of that I am sure

And his sure, strong hands
Hold me in their peace-filled palms
And reassure me

He’s got the whole world
Holding it in His strong hands
Caring for us all

Remembering Him
As He hung dying for me
I surely believe

Death was not in vain
Know it was not permanent
He’s risen indeed

And He lives in me
He lives in each one of us
Who chooses to TRUST

Trust in the One God
Who chose to send us His Son
That we also LIVE

Live holding His hands
As He reaches out for us
Each day is EASTER!

Have a Marvelous
Monday in Light, Love, and Truth
He’s got you covered!

Go back and listen again to “One Pair of Hands”
Carry the words and Elvis Presley‘s beautiful voice
With you in your heart – and then live in His Peace.


Thanks for visiting JanBeek.
Send the link to this blog to a friend today…
Someone who needs
the encouragement only Christ Alive can bring.


See ya tomorrow.

~Peace~ειρήνη~

Peace in Greek: ~ειρήνη~

Peace in Hebrew, the Jewish language: Shalom

Peace in any language: LOVE

Photo by 42 North on Pexels.com

I pray your Palm Sunday has been a day of ~Peace~ειρήνη~Shalom~Love

Virtual Worship Service

We began our Sunday (after taking a nostalgic virtual stroll through Switzerland here on WP) with a virtual worship service. Many of you who are obeying “STAY at HOME” orders probably did the same. Some churches broadcast their service on You.Tube.com and their members were able to feel like they were together on the screen.

Our Pastor Steve Hundley sent by e-mail (as he did last Sunday) the church bulletin complete with songs linked and the prayers and sermon written out. Let me share a few of his words/prayers and a song with you now.

Opening Prayer:

Loving Father, as we journey with Your Son into this Holy Week of remembrance and hope, help us to understand You and Your love for the world more clearly.  Help us to call to mind these past events in Jesus’ life so that we can sense their significance for our present lives and for the future You are preparing for all creation.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

The Palms:                   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etrgxd6fSvc

Sharing the Peace:    Call someone who is isolated, discouraged and alone; ask what they might need. Pray with them.  (Perhaps you would like to repeat this action throughout the week.)        

Pastoral Prayer:

Loving God, who has brought us once more to this Holy Week in which we remember the ministry and suffering of our Lord, help us now to submerge our own needs and fears in Him and learn of Him. 

Show us by the resoluteness with which Christ accomplished Your will how we, too, may live gracefully under the pressure in this uncommon time.  As the darkness of these days befalls us, teach us to garner our faith by finding new and creative ways to share our lives in spite of the limitations placed upon us. 

Guide us as disease and death taunt us and life is cruelest, and we encounter our own “Calvaries” of the spirit, to respond with love, patience, and compassion.

Merciful God, whose healing power is so evident in the fearless and tireless work of our health care professionals, strengthen them and give them courage and confidence in everything they do.  Encourage them when their efforts seem futile or when death prevails.  Increase their trust in Your power to overcome the risk of their own health, pain, and even death.

Lord Jesus, as You made Your way into Jerusalem, so make Your way into our individual isolation, into our homes, into our rooms, into our hearts, and into our lives.  Oh Lord, make us aware that this world crisis we find ourselves in only affirms with great intensity our need for Your saving grace. 

Lord, we pray for the most vulnerable among us. Lord, heal those who are already sick, and comfort those who are grieving the unexpected loss of a loved one.  Lord, we lift up each one who has been robbed of their employment, their financial security, their sense of peace, if not their health, during this pandemic.  Give hope and light to hold on to until the light flows back at the end of this dark tunnel.

         

Blessing:

Go Now!

… for you cannot go where God is not.

Go with noble purpose,

and God will give meaning to Your days.

Go in love, for it alone endures.

Go in peace, for it is the gift of God

to those whose hearts and minds

are in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Amen.

Photo by Asad Photo Maldives on Pexels.com

May God’s Peace go with you this day and always.
Bee well, my friends.
See ya tomorrow.

Tag Cloud

%d bloggers like this: