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Posts tagged ‘examples’

Spend it All or Give it Away!

“Being of sound mind, I spent it all!”

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Those were the words read from the will
when my friend, Marion,
met with her siblings after their mother died.

Today’s devotional in
“Mornings with Jesus 2020”
told of a similar story.
The writer quoted her father as saying,
“Before I leave here, I intend to spend every dollar I ever made.”

She thought he was kidding.
After all, he was a God-fearing man …
“who could quote scripture from Genesis to Revelation.”
(Alice Thompson, Thursday July 9th).

But her earthly father had given her no inheritance!


After being angry for awhile,
Alice turned to her Bible,
and she turned to the Lord.
Alice wrote that she spoke to her head
about Lamentations 3:24.
It says,
“The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”

Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels.com

Even though Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,” Alice realized her father – who left “nothing for me,” had indeed left the most precious gifts of all: His loving relationship with her and his faith in God.

He lived his life loving her and her mother, giving to the Lord and to those in need, and using his hard-earned dollars to enjoy a good life. A nice house, a new car every few years, memorable vacations, generosity with his children, and gifts to charity… these were the signatures he left. He left her the gifts money can’t buy: love, faith, a good work-ethic, respect, and joy.

If our parents live their lives in love and faith, generosity and joy.
If our parents pass those gifts on to us,
We have the received the most important gifts of all.
They don’t owe us a rich monetary inheritance.

If our parents demonstrate a good work-ethic,
and teach us to do likewise,
If our parents help us learn to read and compute,
pray and serve, and get a good education,
then they have equipped us to do as they might:

“Being of sound mind,
I spent it all
or gave it away.“

Go and do likewise!
Have a great Thursday.

I’m headed to a Happy 70th Birthday party!
See ya tomorrow.
Live in peace with EVERYBODY, my friends!
Hugs, JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Belief, Bible Lessons, children, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, happiness, Jesus, Life and Death, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, Promises, relationships

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To God Be the Glory

(You can sing my poem to that same tune…
Try it!!)

To God Be the Glory
Great things He has done.
In God is my hope
For the vict’ries yet won.

We all are a work
In progress with Him.
He’s not finished with us yet.
The future’s not grim.

Just look at this seven-year-old.
Hear the joy in his voice.
See the future through him.
In his future, rejoice!

To God be the future…
In Him I can trust.
In Him we can place hope.
His promises are just!

Because He lives,
And I’m connected to the vine,
Because I know He lives,
All hope is mine.

Because He taught us
How to live for others,
I can do my part
With my sisters and my brothers.

Let His love guide your actions;
Let His teachings fill your soul.
To God be the glory –
In Him, let’s be whole!

Let Him heal us all so
We can turn to Him and sing
It is well with my soul…
Whatever life may bring.

God bless you, my friends.
Have a peace-filled week.
Pray to God for health and peace and justice.
Be the love you wish to see and feel in this world.

See ya later today, I hope.
I will post my sermon notes from Sunday
on my next post: “Love the Stranger.”
Be sure to check back.


Thanks for being part of the solution,
not the problem.

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Faith, friendship, God, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, music, Poetry, prayer, relationships, respect

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Let Your Light Shine

We each have a light
Shining brightly within us
My friends, let it out!

We each are unique.
We’re each individuals,
But we’re connected.

The best examples
Of humanity’s bright lights
Are in the Bible.

Do our very best
To emulate examples
Of God’s good people.

Here are some women of the Bible whose examples of letting their lights shine are worthy of emulation. Let’s try to be like them as much as possible:

  1. Abigil was wise
  2. Dorcus used her talents
  3. Elizabeth believed
  4. Esther boldly spoke the Truth
  5. Hannah prayed ceaselessly
  6. Lydia shared generously
  7. Mary Magdalene experienced great joy
  8. Rehab gave God her best
  9. Rebekah exhibited Christ-like character
  10. Ruth remained always loyal
  11. Sarah trusted
  12. You and I learn from their examples – let our lights shine brighter because of the way these ladies lit their lamps to light our paths.

Our paths are brighter;
These ladies of the Bible
Lit bright lamps for us.

May we in return
Illuminate the pathway
For those who follow.

Photo by André Cook on Pexels.com

Bee well, my friends.


I send my love and light to you.
Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, friendship, Giving, Haiku, happiness, health, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, peace, Poetry, relationships, Serving One Another, Sharing

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40 Old Fashioned Skills

This list says these skills are “old fashioned,”
but I say some skills NEVER go out of style.
It’s always timely to be kind, for instance.

gold colored chain necklace with watch pendant

Photo by Lukas Hartmann on Pexels.com

If you want to be an example of “love”
in a world where peace, joy, and kindness
sometimes seem like rare commodities,
I think we should not only teach these skills
to our children, but practice them ourselves regularly.

Some of them are “Duh, of course!”
Others are “Hmmm… Do I do that?”

Do I even know how to check the tire pressure?
Am I conscientious about asking questions
to get to know people better?
Do I give people the benefit of the doubt
all the time?

This list is from “frugalfun4boys.com”
But, it applies to all people… to adults as well.
Which of them resonate with you?

40 Old-Fashioned Skills

Cheers!
Have a great Friday night.
We’re headed to the neighbors.
img_8006-1
See ya tomorrow.

Category:

children, Family, friendship, learning, life, Life's Challenges, Love, work

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Are You Leader or Follower?

Leader or Follower?

Some days I’m the leader;
Other days I like to follow.
But sometimes following
Is more than I can swallow.

animal beast big carnivore

Sometimes the folks who lead
Don’t seem to care the least
About the folks they’re leading;
They’re like this ugly beast.

The beast who tells us lies,
Who says “Do as I say,
But not as I do,” you know?
He tries to force his way.

We are not stupid sheep;
We know which way is right.
So stand your ground, my friends.
Don’t let him push his might.

The one who makes the rules,
Usually wins the game, they say.
But, some rules should be constant –
Don’t let him lead you astray.

My Inspiration

This poem was inspired by a Time Magazine article titled, “Whose standards will Democrats embrace?” by the eloquent former editor of Time Magazine, Nancy Gibbs.
This topic of leaders and followers is heavy on my heart. It’s not the simple kind of following that I wrote about years ago when I was looking at healthy parent-child relationships:

Follow Me

Days Gone By

When I was a youngster, one of the popular TV programs was “Father Knows Best.” I related to that … and so did a lot of my peers. Mom and Dad talked things over. They  presented a righteous front of solidarity. Sometimes Mom (in fact usually Mom) laid down the laws. Together, they enforced them. We were the “Leave it to Beaver” generation whose nuclear family lived by the universal rules spelled out in the Ten Commandments. “Do not lie” was paramount among them. “Love One Another,” was another. “Be kind to your neighbor,” right?

Appreciate one another’s differences. Know that we all are part of one body – and the head needs the hand; the leg needs the foot. We need to live in harmony.

What has happened to our Rules to Live By??

Category:

God, life, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, respect, Serving One Another, truth

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K = Kindness

Day #11 in the A-Z series of “What Makes Me Happy?”

KINDNESS

 

woman holding heart cut out

This picture tells all. Notice the word on her shirt behind the heart. It says, “Volunteer.” A big heart full of love reaches out to help others, exudes kindness, and makes the world a better place.

.

When you’re tempted to be surley
In response to evil – speak your mind –
Remember you were taught quite early
Always to be kind.

When you’re tempted to lash back
At some person mean and rude,
Remember repercussions of attack
Return for whatever you exude.

Kindness is the only way
To be happy in your soul;
So in everything you do and say,
Let only kindness be your goal.

.

group of person phoot

Photo by Suraphat Nuea-on on Pexels.com

People around the world are happier
when they reach out to help others.
Whatever motivates you to be kinder, gentler,
more compassionate…
think on these things.

For me, my daily devotional time upstairs in my sanctuary
sets my heart on the right path as I study His Word
and learn of His Ways.

man holding sheep statuette

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Isaiah 63:7a – “I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord…”
and let His examples lead me.

 

What “K” word makes you happy? And what act of kindness are you planning today? Think about it!

 

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Giving, happiness, Jesus, Love, Serving One Another

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