‘Tis the Season Already
So quickly it comes
Time for the Thanksgiving tree
Then the Christmas one
Cookie baking time
Old persimmon recipe
Bonds with granddaughter
Merry Christmas, friends
‘Tis the season of our Lord
Please don’t forget Him!
Posts tagged ‘Christianity’
The Pleasure of Not Writing
Yes, take time to think
Think many positive thoughts
Then make time to write
But, write everyday?
Is that really positive?
How about a break?
Every other week I meet with a Writers’ Group. Our attendance varies between two and eight. We never know who’ll show up, but even if I am there alone, I enjoy going to that writers’ spot and sharing ideas with fellow writers via my blog.
When others attend (usually two or more join me), we begin with a prompt that we pull out of a hat (actually a little bag), and then we free write for 15 minutes or so. Each of us shares orally with one another what we’ve written during free write – and then we share something we’ve been working on at home, making copies for each other to look on and offer positive criticism.
During the free write, I get a kick out of how many different approaches we take to the same prompt. A few weeks ago the prompt was, “The Pleasure of Not Writing.”
Here is what my fifteen minute rambling produced:
Writing is an itch
That needs to be scratched,
But I can turn around
And grieve the time that’s snatched!
I can get so wrapped up
In getting words out of my brain
That it can be exhausting
And on life – take quite a drain!
I need to take a break
And not write for a day or two;
Do something else creative –
What would that be for you?
Would you watch TV and vegetate?
Would you fish or visit friends?
Would you clean, or sort, or gravitate
To some project without ends?
I take pleasure in my writing.
I love hearing from bloggers out there,
But I think there’s pleasure in not writing –
I’m just not sure I know where!
Oh wait – I know a place I’ll go –
To the kitchen where I’ll cook –
To the Food Bank where I’ll serve –
To Plain Jane’s to have a look.
I’ll bide my time at the mall
Or take in a concert or two.
What pleasure will you find NOT writing?
What other activities are happy for you?
A pedicure? Ah, it feels so good!
Time at the beach? Ah, so refreshing!
Quiet time with Jesus?
Ah yes, I’m headed to my lovely sanctuary now.
Join me!
Loss, Lament & Loyalty
Loss, Lament, and Loyalty
Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com
Sermon Notes by Jan Beekman
from the sermon today
based on the scripture – Mark 12:38-44 –
Preached by Rev. Jean Johnson
at the Madison Valley Presbyterian Church
in Ennis, Montana
Naomi’s son had died.
She was alone and old.
Her future was grim.
What had she been told?
“Deal with your losses –
Send your daughters-in-law
Back to their homes.”
But, the plan had a flaw.
Ruth did not want to return!
She told Naomi she’d stay.
Orpha decided to go back.
Each woman to her own way.
We each have a choice.
We think we’re paralyzed, but we’re not.
We may lack energy and will power;
We may feel in our losses, we’re caught.
Ruth knew she couldn’t run
From the pain life threw at her.
She chose to stay and face her life,
And be in a place she could matter.
To turn evil into something good,
She was loyal to her mother-in-law.
She broke ties with her past
And looked ahead at what she saw.
She saw through eyes of faith.
Naomi had taught her to use God’s eyes –
Do more than just endure;
Keep your faith and be kind and wise.
To endure the evil of today’s world,
Cling to one another in love –
And look out for those in need.
Use your discerning power from God above.
Amen?
E is for Easter
This is Day 5 of my A-Z series on “What Makes Me Happy?”
Easter
Like Christmas, Easter has been commercialized to the point that most images depicting this special day of the year are Easter eggs, bunnies, baskets, and parades with ladies in their Easter bonnets.
I told you, my blogging friends yesterday that I’d try another new (to me) poetry form today. The Punnett is a 9 line poem. It’s supposed to have a biological topic. I’ll do that with doves of peace after the Easter punnett. No rhyme scheme. First line part of or an offspring of the last line. Word count on the lines: 1/2/1/2/4/2/1/2/1
Easter
Fun Holiday
Bunnies
Decorated Eggs
What about Jesus Christ?
Who’s He?
Redeemer
Risen Indeed!
Baskets
Is that all Easter is? Has it been so commercialized that people don’t realize its connection to Christmas? Jesus Christ came for Easter! Our Savior was born on Christmas to die on that Easter morning and rise again three days later that we might be free!
What Peace I have in knowing the true meaning of Easter! Free from sin! Guaranteed eternal life! What joy I receive daily in the Promise of Peace!
Here is my punnett with a biological topic:
.
Doves
in pairs
cooing
always devoted
joined together for life
perfect examples
loving
bringing joy
Peace
Oh, sorry about that! But you did laugh, right?
I was looking for a picture of a dove.
I found ducks and turkeys, bluebirds and eagles, swans and long-necked cranes,
but no doves! Can you imagine that?
The dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit
that lives joyfully in our hearts.
God sent the Holy Spirit as our guide,
our reminder of all Jesus taught
as He lived a life of love and light
during His ministry on earth.
May the joy of Easter’s true meaning bring you peace every day.
May the Holy Spirit live in your heart!
Thank you for visiting JanBeek! Thank you to the many who have added your names as followers. I appreciate getting to know you through your comments.
What “E” word makes YOU happy? If you’d like to, try responding using a Punnett 🤪✌🏽
Dogwood
Day 4 of the A-Z activity of “What Makes Me Happy.”
Little did I realize when I chose Dogwood for my D word what I would learn about this beautiful tree (now a large bush)!
Dogwood and Daddy are in the same pocket of my heart. This picture of my daddy was taken under the dogwood tree in my brother-in-law’s back yard in central California about two and a half decades ago. I treasure it because it captures my father’s sweet disposition and kindness so perfectly. That tree is not gnarled and twisted as the Legend of the Dogwood tree suggests. But the blossoms are as the legend describes in this poem I found on the Internet this morning:
I didn’t know this legend until now. How did I miss it all these years? Did you know it?
What’s the D word that makes YOU happy?
Accept His Love
Here are my sermon notes from today’s message
by Rev. Jean Johnson
at Madison Valley Presbyterian Church
in Ennis, Montana…
based on Mark 10:17-31
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
“Come Follow Me”
The rich young ruler
Appears in Gospels, three.
He must be very important.
Who is he to me?
.
Well, he was told to sell
Everything he owned
And follow after Jesus –
Leaving riches he had sown.
.
Jesus looked at the man
And loved him through and through.
He offered him eternal life.
Has He offered that to you?
.
Yes, Jesus tells us
To come and follow Him.
He loves us even though
His request seems mighty grim.
.
He wants us to relinquish
All the things we have and love.
He asks that we give all
In response to God above.
.
”All” may not be the same
For you as it is for me,
Because it’s all we love so much
That it’s taking away what’s free.
.
Depending on possessions
For comfort and for peace
Takes away the chance for gifts
And blessings that never cease.
.
The rich young ruler
Wouldn’t give up a thing,
And so he lost the chance
To eternally hear the angels sing.
.
Don’t make the ruler’s error.
Don’t miss God’s gifts for thee.
Give up the things that bind
And accept His love for free.
Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com
Do You Reek?
I don’t control
Others’ noses.
Some say I reek!
Others say
It’s a Holy Fragrance.
.
Because I know Him,
Because I praise Him daily,
I adopt the joy of His Presence,
And come out smelling
Like a rose.
.
Because I love Him,
Because I immerse myself
In His Scripture daily,
I come out smelling
Like a rose.
.
Because I worship Him,
Because I hang out with Him,
I absorb His fragrance
And come out smelling
Like the aroma of Christ.
.
You are His fragrance
In a world of smells.
You gather His aroma
As you know, praise, worship,
Love, and hang out with Him.
.
God Bless You,
My special Blogging Friends.
Immerse yourself in Him,
And you’ll come out
Smelling like a rose, too!
Share Your Saltiness!
Share Your Saltiness!
.
(If you’ve followed my blog
for awhile, you know it’s my habit
to take poetic notes while listening
to Rev. Jean Johnson’s sermons
in our Ennis, Montana Presbyterian Church.
If you’re new to JanBeek, now you know!
Here are my notes from today’s message
based on the scripture in Mark 9:38-50)
.
I take salt for granted.
I simply know it’s good.
I understand it preserves
and flavors food – as it should.
.
Salt is a part of life.
It’s here among us all.
So, why did Jesus talk
About lack of salt this fall?
.
Where’s the Good News
In Jesus’ message of salt?
If salt loses its taste,
Am I, dear Lord, at fault?
.
We, as the church, are called
To be the Salt of the Earth.
If we lose our saltiness,
We forget our Christian birth.
.
Born into the faith, we’re given
The spices of zest and grace.
We’re called to season every need,
To help each hurting face.
.
Our salt is meant to sprinkle
Both saint and sinner – the same.
Remember, we all are sinners, too,
So share your saltiness in Jesus’ name.
.
Amen?
(And this Sunday afternoon I’m wondering,
Do you s’posed Jesus might have had this
salty sharing in mind? Come on over!)
Oh goodness! Is that sacrilegious? Or just some of my saltiness spilling out?
True Awakening
A Selection of True Awakening Experiences Part III
Originating at:
http://www.memymagnificentself.wordpress.com
http://memymagnificentself.com/2018/09/17/a-selection-of-true-awakening-stories-part-iii/
Vibrancy After the Awakening
Awakening to the coming of death
Is a True Awakening experience.
Much as I love the colors of autumn,
I realize these leaves are on their way out.
The vibrancy of fall leaves
Reminds me of the sudden, unexpected
Alertness of both my parents
Just before they left this earth.
Dad was unable to speak,
But his face shone and a tear
Trickled down his cheek as
He blinked in response to my question.
He squeezed my hand and blinked
When I asked him, “Will I see you
When I get to Heaven someday?”
That affirmation fills my heart always.
Mom was aware that she was breathing
Her last earthly breaths when she whispered,
“Go home. You have a big day tomorrow.
You need your rest. I am ready to go!”
Even though I tried to convince her
That it doesn’t work that way,
That God doesn’t take orders, and she
Can’t tell him, “Get my room ready!”
She knew. She was ready. And He better
Come now – – – and have that spot for her
Next to her beloved husband of 60 years
Ready for her heavenly occupancy.
Sure enough. I received a call saying
She had breathed her last breath
That night – and her True Awakening
Was in that room – ready and waiting.
Mom and Dad are as vibrant today
As the bright orange aspen in autumn.
The blink, the squeeze, and the last of
The Mother-Daughter instructions live on!
Go home! You have a big day tomorrow.
You need your rest, so be prepared.
Get the room ready… guests are coming.
And you must be prepared for their
True Awakening!
http://memymagnificentself.com/2018/09/17/a-selection-of-true-awakening-stories-part-iii/
