My friend, Bernice, died yesterday. She was ready. In fact, she was anxious to go and join her husband of 70 years who went to their (our) eternal home last week. My heart is heavy – and yet I rejoice in the promise of heaven awaiting me, too, someday. Dwight posted this picture and poem today. It’s perfect for what I would have written if I had his skill and insight. Enjoy Roth Poetry today!
Aging brings so much angst… Knowing it would happen is no help as the petals of life begin to fade. I count… she loves me she loves me not as our …
Bloganuary#17 – “What is a Secret Power You’d Like to Have?”
I want the secret power to have wisdom in all circumstances. I want the secret power to turn all tears to laughter and joy. I want the secret power to end all wars and create everlasting peace on earth. I want the secret power to make Believers of all doubters so we all can meet in eternity someday.
One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Mary Did You Know?” The lyric I like most in it is, “Mary, did you know, when you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God?”
And one of my favorite versions of the song is sung by the Pentatonix…
Have a listen… the words are powerful and this quintet is magnificent!!
Did you know, the sleeping child you’re holding is the Great I Am?
Have a very meaningful Christmas! Remember the meaning of the One. Embrace the Christ Child – and Thank God for His Only Son!
John 3:16
“16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
God bless you and your loved ones this Christmas. I am praying for your health and happiness… and for your faith in Christ which gives you eternal life – Guaranteed!
Thank you, God!
See ya tomorrow (God willing) Have a beautiful Christmas eve! Love, JanBeek
“Being confident of this, I take great comfort knowing He who began a good work in me will carry it out to completion…”
Philippians 1:6
Aren’t those comforting words?
God is doing a good work in me, this I know. But that doesn’t mean I am going to be without troubles. Hurt and pain are guaranteed in this world. Through scripture, we can be comforted by knowing that God is faithful, and is always looking over us.
Our Heavenly Father truly cares and is our protector and comforter in times of need. Whatever the circumstance may be, we can use comforting Bible verses to find a peace that passes understanding.
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
Are you facing a difficult circumstance? Something over which you have little if any control? Maybe it is job related. Maybe it is health related. You might be in a state of transition. Perhaps there are relational issues …
Whatever it is, know this: Loved ones who walked before you faced some of those same challenges. They walk with you today… And they intercede for you.
I believe that. I feel my mom and my sis, and I hear the Holy Spirit. I am not alone.
You Never Walk Alone!
This rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” always inspires me and comforts me. If Andrea, who is blind, can face his daily challenges and reassure us of life’s constant Companion with such sincerity and conviction, who am I to doubt the Comforter?
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4
Maybe you, like my friends Scott & Cheryl, have recently lost a loved one – a parent, a sibling, a dear friend, a pet… If so, I pray you will feel the comfort of our Lord and His promises of Eternal Life. Be at peace.
3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Embrace Comfort” And be the first to offer it to friends in need.
Every day we all need encouragement and words of comfort!
May you feel the loving arms of our God of peace and comfort embracing you – And may you pass along those comforting hugs to all you meet who need your love and kindness.
If you have followed my blog for a month or more, you have seen this journal before. The topics are inspired by life and living. I have written about: I CAN Volunteer Share Bee Hospitable Tackle Transitions etc.
Little did I know when I wrote some of those how difficult some would become. Hospitality requires guests, right? Well, so much for that! Most of our friends are afraid in this pandemic world to socialize.
Little did I know how hard it would become to volunteer. Most of my volunteer activities are forbidden right now. I can’t be a “Purple Lady” at the medical center desk. Our auxiliary couldn’t hold its fund raiser this year. We couldn’t earn the money to donate for new equipment and/or medical supplies as we have done in the past.
Yes, that’s right… $31,700. donated . And remember, we are a little town of about 1,000 residents!
We couldn’t have our usual Madison Valley Medical Center Christmas party.
Little did I realize how many opportunities I would have to “Tackle Transitions.” Back in June of 2018 when I wrote on that topic, God knew what was coming, but none of us had a clue. My transitions poem was prophetic:
Times of transition Can be disconcerting – Facing the unknown Running, dodging, skirting.
Life is full of changes; Nothing stays the same. Rolling with the punches – Listening for our name.
In the “roll call” of life, Showing up to be Ready for transitions Sometimes is difficult for me.
But I know the Leader Is my Maker who decides What my next assignment is. In Him my life abides.
So, embrace the coming changes; Set aside all fear and sorrow. Joyfully put your hand in His; He’s gotcha covered for tomorrow.
Choosing JOY in the midst of this pandemic is not easy. My list of “I Can” do’s has changed this year. But, I try to keep it positive:
I CAN Believe Only Imagine ReJOYce Whistle!
You recognize some of those. They became blogging themes. This morning’s I CAN prompted today’s post:
I CAN Keep it Simple
No large family gatherings No stockings stuffed with toys No sounds of giggling laughter From excited girls and boys
No trudging through the snow With accordion on my back No carols at windows Or St. Nicholas with his sack
It’s a different sort of year COVID-19 has changed us quite a lot We cancelled our travel plans And we altered what we bought
Christmas Day will be different We can mourn the things we miss Or we can vow to keep it simple Pray for those we cannot kiss
The virus and death took too many – They’re in Heaven with our Lord Let us focus on Christ Jesus And the grace He richly poured.
Believe the Christmas promise Jesus came to save our souls Eternity knows no endings His love comforts and consoles
Keep it Simple!
This nativity is over a hundred years old. It belonged to my grandmother. I treasure its simplicity.
My sister is one who went to her eternal home this year. Sally would have been 83 on December 20th. Eternity knows know endings. I will see her again someday. I Believe! Thank You, Jesus!!
Have a Beautiful Christmas Week! Thanks for visiting JanBeek today. See you tomorrow.
I wrote this poem for my friend, Fran, as a comfort as she sees Hannah off on her final journey. Bon Voyage, dear pup. You’ve been a treasured friend for over 15 years. You’ve earned you eternal reward!
I Believe
I don’t have to understand In order to believe. I just have to trust – And know it’s okay to grieve.
When tragedy strikes – Like the death of a friend – I don’t have to comprehend Why my friend’s life must end.
I can just believe There’s a heaven and a hell. My friend will ascend To eternity to dwell.
In heaven are the ones Who lived by the Cross. They accepted God’s grace, So their death is not loss.
There are people and pets In that paradise up high. I don’t have to understand – Just anticipate the sky!
Rest in Peace, Sweet Hannah. Your cross to bear has ended – Your life you shared and blended. Your soul to heaven ascended.
See ya round the bend!
Have a blessed Saturday. Say a prayer for my friend, Fran.
These pictures below are from a book by Cynthia Rylant titled, “Dog Heaven.” It was a gift to us from the Colorado State Veterinary Hospital staff after our beloved Boston, Angela, died following a two year bout with cancer.
And thank God there are fields for romping in Heaven.
See ya round the bend. (Do you have a pet waiting for you in Heaven?)
Today’s sermon message by our guest pastor, Rev. Phil Taylen at the Madison Valley Presbyterian Church in Ennis, Montana, focused on the theological basis for our assurance of Eternity in Heaven.
It was timely, especially given the fact that this is the week my only sibling, my sister Sally, went to her eternal home.
If you die today, do you know where you’re going from here?
My guess is that the choice is pretty clear. I was looking for a picture of a black hole… because some people believe this is it! We’re here and then we’re nowhere. A black hole… that’s where they think they’re going. They don’t believe there is a place called Hell where they will burn in the fires of an afterlife separated from God.
Or is it Heaven?
Rev. Phil Taylen’s sermon was titled, “Soaring with Eagles.” He began with that question, “Where Will You Spend Eternity?” His answer was part of a movement he called “The Evangelism Explosion.” Even though he grew up in the Presbyterian Church, he was ordained by an Evangelical Ministry – and his sermon lecture today definitely got down to the basics!
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus Christ is God.
Faith is Belief
Faith is the Connector. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
I don’t see the whole staircase. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Only Begotten Son, but I do not believe God will send all the Jews or Muslims or Hindus or Buddhists to Hell because they do not share my belief in Jesus as a part of the Trinity.
I believe God is bigger than religion. I believe God is omnipotent. I believe God knows all people – and He sees them through His eyes, not mine. That may make me a non-believer in some evangelical eyes. But I believe God is more inclusive than we can fathom.
I find enormous comfort in my faith – my belief in our Lord Jesus Christ – and I want to share that comfort and love with all I meet. I believe 2 Cor. 1:3-5 as quoted below:
Do you believe in Christ?
Thanks for visiting today. Have a Blessed Sunday. See ya tomorrow. Love, JanBeek
Today I received in my “Messages” a picture of a dear friend who is fighting cancer. She is in a hospital bed at home. Her family is gathered around and her BFF (best friend forever) is on her way to be at her bedside. My heart goes out to the BFF and to my friend’s husband and children. Seeing a friend preparing to leave this earth is soooo hard!
But, my dear friend is a devoted Christian, and she knows where she is headed. She does not fear death, because she has a friend in Jesus – and she believes in God and His promises. It’s comforting to know where you will spend eternity. It’s just hard on those left behind.
Today’s sermon at Madison Valley Presbyterian Church was the perfect topic for this day when my heart is aching because my dear friend and her family are suffering.
Today we had a guest minister, Phil Taylen. Here are my
Sermon Notes on: “Friendship Sharing”
Friendship is a special thing. In it we all are connected. In the New Testament, we see how In God’s friendship, we all are protected.
The best part of friendship is Sharing with each other the Good News, Asking one another and telling them Of how Jesus opens new views.
God cares about our friendship. He opens His arms to you. Through Christ, He came to show us How to love as He loves: True.
As believers, we need YES faces; Our countenance should show Trust. God’s light should shine through us. Radiate His love; We MUST!
To communicate God’s love We must be trustworthy and fair. We must share our eternal vision, And tell our friends we’ll all be there!*
(*there is our eternal home with Christ and one another)
No one can ever say it all. What if I die this afternoon? What words will die with me That I should have shared at noon?
What words will die with me That I might have said too late? Is there a right time for silence – A perfect time for words to wait?
Have I left unspoken affirmations That should have been shared? Have I failed to let folks know How very much I cared?
If I die this afternoon, I want you to be sure and know That my love for you and God are deep. I hope the depths of it will glow.
I hope my unwavering faith Was an inspiration to you, And my prayers were comforting When you were feeling blue.
If I die this afternoon, May you smile when you think Of the things I did so sweet – And forget the things that stink!
May my words on blogs and cards Live on in your loving hearts, And keep you remembering how Reaching out’s where loving starts.
If I die this afternoon, Take care of my dear Bob. He needs me to help him dress, And do any technology job!
Take care of my TazE, too. She relies on me for her meals. I spoil her with hamburger And know just how she feels.
Let my blogging friends know That JanBeek will no longer send. Give them this last post, “Jan’s gone to her eternal end.”
If I die this afternoon, Be sure to help it to be true: As folks celebrated my birth, They’ll cheer my departure, too.
They won’t cry that I have left. Don’t mourn and feel bad – Know that I am in Heaven Reunited with Mom and Dad.
Know that I will be at the gate To greet you when you ascend. And live your life with dreams Unfulfilled until the very end.
Never stop dreaming big, As Bob Goff wrote in his book. Live fully each day you’re here, With new thoughts and delights to cook.
If I die this afternoon, Let Bob know it’s alright To find another love in life – Someone to hug and hold him tight.
Tell my kids that I always did My best to leave a loving legacy. I pray they’ll smile more than frown When things come up to remember me.
Remember my smile!
But of course, the chances that I am going to die this afternoon are slim. I am a healthy 81-year-old who expects to live happily to celebrate my 100th birthday, BUT…
“If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.”
I have an old faded cardboard with poems on it posted inside my kitchen cabinet door. They are poems gathered by my mom in 1936, the year she & Dad married – and she moved from her family in Washington to live the rest of her 89 years in California. She had most of those poems memorized.
One of my favorites reads:
“When I quit this mortal shore, And mosey round the earth no more, Don’t weep, don’t sigh, don’t sob – I may have struck a better job.
Don’t go and buy a large bouquet For which you’ll find it hard to pay, Don’t mope around and feel all blue – I may be better off than you.
Don’t tell the folks I was a saint Or any old thing that I ain’t. If you have jam like that to spread, Please hand it out before I’m dead.
If you have roses, bless your soul, Just pin one in my buttonhole, While I’m alive and well today. Don’t wait until I’ve gone away.”
Reaching up in prayer and praise I thank the Lord for all His gifts. As long as I have life and breath, I’ll reach out to give others lifts.
I hope you’ll use your senior years To do the same – to spread your love – Because we are blessed to be a blessing. For every day, I thank. God above.
My Prayer for You
When your time comes To say good-bye to earth, May the angels welcome you And your friends rejoice at your New Birth! Amen
Welcome to Heaven, Phyllis. I miss you here… But I rejoice at your Eternal Reunion. May all who were blessed by your presence And who entered the pearly gates before you did Be there to welcome you HOME. God bless you! Keep the light on!
JanBeek 