Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘clarity’

Embrace Clarity

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Embrace clarity
Leave the fuzzy world behind
Sharpen your vision


Twenty-twenty was
Supposed to bring clarity
20//20 sight

Instead it brought blur
A virus, a pandemic
It’s not over yet

But we are not stuck
In a myopian world
Bring on clarity

Leave myopia
Move to joy and clarity
Clear up tomorrow

See yourself clearly
Find the lion inside you
Share it with your friends

Terry, Jan & Mary Grace
Still a little fuzzy!

Define your purpose
Clearly share joy with others
Spread love, peace, and faith

Jim & Bob

Open your eyes wide
To new possibilities
Shove grumbles aside

Twenty-twentyone
Has seen many improvements
Keep the ball rolling

Brilliant clarity
Can be ours if we only
See ourselves clearly

2 Corinthians 9:8

“God is able to bless you abundantly
so that in all things at all times,
having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work.”

Just kidding!!

Real clarity
Is coming for sure this year
Let’s all embrace it!

Peace, My Friends
See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love,
JanBeek

Give to a Worthy Cause

Today is a Good Day to Reach Out.

Reach out in love!

Show Your Love

There are plenty of people out there who want to show their love to others. They want to give to make a difference. You are probably one of them.

Besides giving to those we love around us, there are “causes” we care about. We want to give love to those, too. Especially while staying at home during this COVID-19 pandemic, I have felt the need to reach out more than ever.

But, how do you know the cause is “legitimate,” and if you donate to a cause, then the money is going to its intended purpose – and not to line some executive’s pockets – or make an advertising company wealthy?

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Intermountain is a nationally recognized nonprofit providing Hope & Healing for children, youth, and families.

On their website, this is INTERMOUNTAIN’s mission statement,

“When families need help
with the complex emotional challenges
children and teens sometimes face,
Intermountain offers innovative treatment
developed from years of experience.
Our caring professionals
rely on our relationship-based approach
and client-centered treatment solutions
to meet the individual needs
of each child and family
and help them heal.
Our goal is to help
every child and family we serve
thrive and grow.”

Commitment

Because I believe Intermountain is committed to meeting its goal – and I have visited its campus in Helena, Montana, and seen first-hand the enormous good they do, I am signed up for an automatic deduct from my retirement stipend each month to send a donation to Intermountain. It’s a small contribution, not enough for me to even miss it, but it is consistent. It adds up to real help when it happens month-after-month, year-after-year. I am committed to doing my small part.

If everyone who heard about Intermountain donated a small amount every month, just think of how much more they could do to help needy children and their families!

Assurance

I have the assurance that my donation has arrived and is being put to good use because every single month I receive a thank you letter from Beth, the Sr. Development Officer there who is in charge of Special Events (and obviously also in charge of written acknowledgements). Here is a copy of the letter we received in January from Intermountain:

You can go to their website at
https://www.intermountain.org/home/
to learn more about them.
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Where’s Your Heart’s Passion?

As an educator for 36 years, I have a passion for children – their health and well-being, their safety and their enlightenment.

I know there are children out there who are facing complex emotional challenges. I am not equipped to help each of them (but I wish I could). Their problems are beyond my resources of time, money, and skills.

Some face separation anxiety with parents who were abusive, or parents who are in prison, or parents who are deceased, or… well, you name it!

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I can’t help them all, but I can do a little to support this place in Montana that DOES have the facility, the love, the skills and materials to make a difference.

Reach Out

God has blessed you to BE A BLESSING. If giving to Intermountain is not in your future, then look for a place in or near your community – a place that is legitimate – a place that pools its resources, love, and skills to make a difference in the lives of others in need. There are so many … so many less fortunate than we are … Reach Out to bless others in whatever way you are able!

It’s never too late to
capture the 2020 vision…

Make it a year of 20/20 clarity of purpose!
Think about your passions,
think about your blessings,
and with gratitude,
consider your giving.

Tell me some way you are giving in love to share your blessings with others in need. I’d love to have you write your ideas in the comments section – and inspire others to give in love, too.

See ya later.

How Do I See Thee & Me?

Proverbs is a wonderful book of wisdom. Have you read it clear through? I read one chapter in it everyday. It has 31 chapters. This month I’ll read three chapters on the 29th. We don’t have a 30 or 31 in February! Then on March 1st I will start over again, but with a different translation. I find the various translations help me gather new and deeper meanings.

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Today’s chapter 27 verse 19 is a perfect example of the way different translations can add different nuances:

The Message paraphrased version
by Eugene Peterson

“Just as water mirrors your face,
so your face mirrors your heart.”

Proverbs 27:19
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The NIV (New International Version)

“As water reflects a face,
so man’s heart reflects the man.”

Proverbs 27:19
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KJV King James Version

“As in water face answereth to face,
so the heart of man to man.”

Proverbs 27:19
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Each of those passages refers to the way a person’s heart reflects to that person (and maybe to others) who that person really is. Right? But, when I went to the CS Lewis Bible paraphrased, I found this translation:

“Just as water reflects the face,
so one human heart reflects another.”

Proverbs 27:19

Bible Interpretations

To me that CS Lewis version says it is not just a matter of looking at the way our heart reflects to ourselves who we really are … and can be seen in our facial expressions… but it also says our “heart-scape” influences how we see others.

We see others through our own heart content and our own heart lenses. We may be blind to who they really are, like this girl on a branch is blind to her own reflection. We often don’t see ourselves as others see us. And we don’t see others as they intend to be seen.

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Does your face mirror your heart?
Or are there cracks in the space
between your heart mirror and your face?

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Do you see others through a lens of love,
or is your heart-scape distorting what you see?

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How Do I See Thee and Me?

Do I see thee through a clear lens,
a pure heart,
a heart of love and compassion?

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Ask yourself:
Do I see Me the same way?
Do I see myself as God sees me?
His redeemed, forgiven, beloved child?
Am I gentle with myself?
Am I open and positive?
Do I see the positivity in others?

I see thee dearly.
I see me clearly.
We are not merely
clones; we are beloved,
unique children of God.

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I love you!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
Have a blessed day!

See ya tomorrow.

Receptivity is Key

In my introduction to this
A-Z series,
I wrote the following:

I want a greater understanding of:

  • who I am,
  • how to decode the world around me,
  • what my purpose is here on earth,
  • and how I can live more intentionally to fulfill that purpose.

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.

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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.

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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!

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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

backlit blur close up dawn

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“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.”

 

beautiful blur close up colors

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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:

  • Find the right kind of mischief (he’s all about having fun while we search for meaning and purpose)
  • Find what brings you joy
  • Be receptive to whimsy (Read his book, Love Does, and learn all about whimsy!)
  • Look for opportunities (You’ll find what you’re looking for)
  • Be purposeful, and
  • Celebrate!

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

antique crumpled crumpled paper dirty

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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!

 

 

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