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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!

Category:

blessings, contentment, friendship, Haiku, Jesus, Love, music, writing

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Loss, Lament & Loyalty

Loss, Lament, and Loyalty

 

bible book business christian

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?

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Family, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love

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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

img_6643

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 🤪✌🏽

Category:

Animals, Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, holidays, Jesus, Life and Death, Love, peace, Promises, Spiritual Gifts

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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?

Category:

Bible Lessons, Family, happiness, Jesus, Life and Death, Love

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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

bible book business christ

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.

 

heart shaped red neon signage

Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Jesus, Living in Christ's Family, Love

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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!

Category:

Faith, Jesus, Love

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SonShine

Happy Sonday, my friends!

Open up

Your heart

And let

The Son

Shine in.

Category:

contentment, Faith

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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?

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Poetry, Serving One Another, Sharing

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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/

Category:

Faith, Family, Life and Death, Promises

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Feeling Buried?

John 12:24-25

“Listen carefully! Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.” (Eugene H. Peterson’s The Message translation)

In the eye of the storm, Hurricane Florence is burying houses, trees, streets, electrical connections, pig farms, and even people … in their homes, in their cars and pickups, on their escape routes. This scripture from John 12 reminds me that being buried, even if it means death to this earthly life, can result in eternal life – or at least a better life.

But, we don’t have to encounter a hurricane to feel buried. We can be buried by trouble, strife, grief, disillusionment, disappointment, greed. We can be buried by fear of the unknown, fear of change, fear of inadequacy.

John 12 asks us to listen carefully. Jesus is reminding His followers that we cannot avoid change – and when we try to do so – when we “hold on to life just as it is,” we destroy life. So, we are told to let it go. Go with the flow. Even the flow of flooding that threatens to drown us. Go with it… float the flood! Know that trouble is guaranteed, but trouble is temporary.

Look beyond the turmoil of today. Look beyond yourself. Look to God for guidance and comfort and direction. Look for others who need you. Serve them as you follow Jesus’ example. God will help unbury you as you help unbury others.

Who can you help today?

Category:

Faith, food, Giving, Life's Challenges, Love, Serving One Another

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