Today’s prompt on JetPack/WordPress is: What makes a good leader?
Our son, Ty, is a good leader. He is:
Aren’t we blessed!? To have a son with these leadership attributes is definitely a gift from God! Do you know a leader who exhibits those qualities?
Sending love your way …
Thanks for visiting JanBeek ❤️
Today’s WordPress Prompt was:
“What is your mission?”
How about you? What is your mission? You know we each are put in this world for a purpose. Do you know yours? How are you fulfilling it?
And Bob reconnected with Monica … with whom he attended Sunday School every week during his childhood. So precious!!
Our mission is to spread love and joy wherever we go. What a wonderful way to begin this new year of 2024! Our travels in California have been blessed with great weather, family, friends, and Bob’s 85th birthday celebration along the Pacific coast. Such fun!!
Alan & Ingrid with Bob at Monterey Aquarium.
Alan & Ingrid with us at Big Sur.
Then precious time with my brilliant cousin, Adrian, and his wife, Laura.
Life doesn’t get too much better than this!
God bless you!
Have a wonderful week.
Love, JanBeek ❤️
Today’s prompt was, “What was the last thing you did for play or fun?”
The last thing I did for fun was to hold my newest great-grandchild, Christian Beekman (born yesterday) and revel in his tiny hand holding my finger. Life doesn’t get more fun – more special – more blessed than this!!
What joy to welcome this little boy into our Beekman family!
Here’s our son (Grandpa Ty) and our daughter-in-law (Grandma Monika) with their newest grandchild. They have six now!! that makes six great-grandchildren for us. Can you believe it??
Doesn’t that look like fun to you?
Here are Christian’s mom & dad (our grandson, Jordan with his wife, Josniah). God bless them! And God bless Christian’s big sister, Cosette. She’s gonna love having a baby brother … and has to learn he’s not a dolly she can toss around!!
What have you done for fun this week?
Sending love your way. Merry Christmas!
Hugs, JanBeek
Yesterday’s prompt was:
What skills or lessons have you learned recently?
My answer:
“It took four accidents
in a three month period,
but I finally got the message,
I think:
SLOW DOWN
AND
LOOK
WHERE YOU’re WALKING!!”
It’ll take a lot of divine guidance,
but I think I can slow down and watch!
Avoid any further falls!!
How about you?
What lesson have you learned recently?
Today the sermon topic was based on the Bible story of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s awe-inspiring birth of baby John (later known as John the Baptist). Zechariah learned not to doubt God’s messenger who told him that he & Elizabeth would at last have a child (they were in their later years of life… maybe as old as their 90’s).
When Zechariah doubted, he was struck dumb… unable to speak for the 9 months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. But, even though Elizabeth questioned, she accepted and believed. So, she learned that great lesson, “With God all things are possible.”
Do you suppose she was awe-struck? How could she NOT be??
I would have painted them with gray hair… but nevertheless, I love this painting of Zechariah & Elizabeth. I can only imagine how awe-struck they must have been!
What causes you to be in awe these days? Have you learned to slow down and let awe envelop you?
(If you’ve followed JanBeek for awhile, you know I love taking notes in poetry as I listen to the sermon each week). So, on that awesome topic, here’s today’s encouraging sermon delivered by Rev. Mary Grace Reynolds at our Madison Valley Presbyterian Church.
I love the size & sound & the creatures in the ocean
I love climbing over the sand dunes to the beach
It is sitting on the grassy knoll by the shore
Knowing the salty water and waves are within reach
I love oogling at sunsets and standing in the river
The world gives me reason for wonder and awe
Everywhere I look, I see evidence of God’s wondrous creation
Regular bouts of awe are mine – they drop my jaw!
Elizabeth’s healthy baby boy brought awe
To all who saw Zechariah write and confirm “John”
Entering into the world of awe raises us up
Out of night’s darkness, into day’s dawn
Awe can be found every day from sunrise on
If we slow down and take time to really see
So don’t drown in the tedious mundane of life
Intentionally seek the awe – here for you and me
Let no day go by unmarveled at
Appreciate the luxury of every single day
We are so blessed to be here - alive
Let awe and amazement be yours today
Be the #1 Marvelor today!
Love and be loved – feel the pull
That helps you notice all in awe
Change awful to awe-full!!
Awe-men?
It may have been awful to be unable to speak for nine months. But, I’ll bet Zechariah learned new lessons every day as he watched Elizabeth grow large with child …. and as he marvelled at how amazing this turn of unbelievable events was!
Find something to marvel at today!
Learn something new.
Tell me about it.
Hugs,
JanBeek
No more falls!!
Hmmm… the prompt for today
asked me to tell what is
my favorite place to go
in my city…
Is that question assuming we all live in a city?
Thank God, I don’t!
Now, I don’t mean to offend those of you in cities
who love living where there are bright lights,
lots of traffic, big buildings, and crowds of people.
BUT,
Give me one main street,
cars I can count on my two hands,
businesses who know customers by name,
plentiful opportunities for building friendships
as well as volunteering to help others,
mountains in the background,
and a river that runs through it…
and I’ll be happy!
My favorite places to go in my little town?
1. Our independent version of McDonalds is “Sugar High”
(It has great burgers and terrific huckleberry shakes)
2. The Manor Nursing Home
(I love helping the residents there – it’s such a loving place)
3. The Madison Valley Library
(We have a five star library… doesn’t get any better!)
4. Lion’s Club Park
(The walking trail bordering the Madison River is divine)
In a little town like Ennis,
you can see the stars at night.
No bright lights to block out their beauty…
Now, why would I want to live in a city?
What’s your favorite place to go in your “city”?
Hugs to you wherever you are…
JanBeek
Today’s prompt was:
What book are you reading right now?
Haha!! No, I’m not isolated…
And no, I didn’t color three books…
Only two!!
No, seriously,
The question should have been “What bookS…”
I can never limit myself to just one at a time!
I love reading!
So, what bookS am I currently reading?
Let me list a few:
I have Jessica Strawser’s book on my Kindle reader. I prefer having a paperback or better yet, the hardcover book, but Kindle books are so affordable – – – and I can enlarge the print to make deciphering easier. So I am getting used to reading from my laptop. The Last CareTaker is a gripping story about a lady who agrees to be the caretaker at a remote nature preserve, but finds herself in the throes of a secretive shelter for battered, abused, and at-risk women. I’m enjoying it.
How about you? What bookS are you reading right now?
Bye for now…
I’m off to read some more.
(Oh, and by the way,
Happy Birthday to my mom.
11-15-15
Elizabeth (Betty)Totten DeAngeles
She would have been 108 today!)
Here we are when I was about 2 or 3.
Quite the hairdo, huh?
Sweet!
Love,
JanBeek
Why did my Bible study this morning suggest
it’s not just OK,
but advisable
that sometimes we feel uncomfortable?
I thought of my son-in-law, Andre’,
when I thought of discomfort!
But then I realized,
No, not that kind of discomfort!
The scripture that prompted the remark
about being uncomfortable is this one:
“The Samaritan woman said to [Jesus],
‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.
How can you ask me for a drink?’
(For Jews do not associate with Samaritans).”
John 4:9 (NIV)
Obviously, the woman was uncomfortable talking to Jesus. But Jesus intentionally engaged in conversation with the woman. According to Ericka Loynes, who wrote the commentary for the devotional in Guideposts “Mornings With Jesus,” His intent seemed to be to “change the landscape of the current culture.”
“Embracing change can be difficult,” Loynes went on to write. She acknowledged, “The more often I get out of my comfort zone, the easier it will be to adjust to the changes around me.”
Stepping out may seem scary, but as this meme reminds us, it is imperative if we want to become stronger and grow. So, Loynes ends her commentary by asking the reader to take a faith step: “Ask Jesus to help you get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
It’s worth thinking about, don’t you think?
Like Jesus, who can you step out
and talk to today
who is not among those
you generally hold in conversation?
Try it!
Try stepping out of your comfort zone.
There are plenty of folks out there
who could use your brand of positivity!
Do you see folks
who look like they could use
some encouragement?
Follow Jesus’ example!
You may find some comfort in being uncomfortable.
I’m gonna try it.
You with me?
Love,
JanBeek
Today’s prompt on WordPress was:
What’s the trait you value most about yourself?
Each of us is given special gifts.
The trick is to recognize yours.
When you find it, then
make it your favorite trait.
And use it to the fullest!
This scripture is one of my favorites…
and it reveals a trait I cherish:
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for by this some have entertained angels
without knowing it.”
My special gift is hospitality.
I love having family and friends
come to spend time with us.
Here is our dear 1980-81 AFS son,
Christian Zufferey (ZuZu), from Switzerland.
No, he’s no stranger to us!!
(Our DeAna married his first cousin!!
What a love story that is!)
This week DeAna, and her hubby, Andre’
surprised us by arriving with ZuZu
and his wife, Celia, for a four day stay.
Here they are this morning… leaving us (boo-hoo!)
But, we were blessed to have them
come and spend those days
(just not nearly long enough) –
and to have Chef Andre’ prepare great meals!
How wonderful it was also
to have our grandson, Mike,
and his wife, Tania, with us for a week
this month. They were so helpful!!
Now this hospitality business
would have a full opportunity
to be put into practice IF our son
Ty & his wife, Monika, would come!
The good news is that Peter,
one of Bob’s wrestling students
from back in the 1970’s in CA,
will be joining us in October for awhile.
Yay!
Why don’t you consider
Letting me use my favorite trait,
HOSPITALITY,
On you one of these days?
What’s your special gift – your favorite trait?
Love to you,
JanBeek
The value of tidbits of advice differs as we hear them at different times in our lives.
As a young child, my mom’s advice always included words of encouragement:
“Let your light shine.”
“You can be anything you decide you want to be.”
“You are more than good enough.”
“Take it one day at a time.”
Mom certainly let her light shine!!
Later in life, I have discovered that I can receive valuable advice daily by reading my Bible, reading devotionals written by Christ-like, modern-day disciples, and listening to compassionate friends. They say things like:
We should never tire of seeking advice and heeding the words of wise counsel.
http://www.Motivational Words of Wisdom.com always has sound advice.
It’s hard (in fact impossible for me) to narrow pieces of advice down to the one best.
How about you?
God’s latest advice to me was, “Slow down and watch where you’re going!”
Do you hear God’s advice being shouted in your ear at times, too?
I am not indispensable.
I used to think I was…
If I wasn’t there,
the school would have
shut down!!
Hah! Not true…
The custodian and the secretary
Are indispensable …
Not the principal!
So unlock the misconception!
Set yourself free!
You, too, my friend
Are not indispensable!
What lesson do you wish you had learned earlier?
Lighten up!
Live, love, laugh…
Peace to you!
Hug lots,
JanBeek
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
