You know where I am going with this. You know that I begin each morning in my sanctuary where I focus on scripture, devotionals, and my angels.
I have a collection of these wonderful angels. Most were given to me as gifts from dear friends. Each has a story to tell – each reminds me of someone special. Some have wings, others do not. I focus on their message. “Lift someone up today.” “Let the Chains of Love bind you to others.”
It was my first devo today that caused me to choose the word FOCUS as my focus.
Then each scripture I read – and each of the other devotionals seemed to reinforce those thoughts until I got to the last one for the morning. It was in a book titled, “Ever Faithful” by David Jeremiah.
And what do you think the title for today is? “Clouded Vision”
And the scripture for today?
1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.”
The story accompanying the title and scripture could not have been more perfect! (Thank you, David Jeremiah, for this!)
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of Heart! Music that calms the soul…
Have a great weekend, my friends. I am off to clean my windows. I need to see the world around me more clearly. How about you?
While you are thanking God for making you human, giving you courage to try hard things, helping you learn and grow and understand the lessons life has for you, don’t forget to count your blessings!
Goodness Surrounds you. You’ll find it If you look thoughtfully – Blessings!
Count your blessings Name them one by one Count your many blessings See what God has done
If that is your focus, You won’t have time to See the other side of the coin! You’ll be too busy giving back!!
We are blessed To be a blessing. Count your blessings See what God has done!
Focus on what you have Not what you wish you had! Use your gifts for others And watch them come back multiplied!
Let’s grow flowers!
Plant the seeds in your garden carefully. Make sure they are in rich, fertilized soil. Keep your soul seeped in the encouraging Words of scripture… and you’ll grow fruits of the spirit!
I am thankful for you, Grateful for your presence in my life. You’re the flowers in my life’s garden. I feel blessed to have you visit JanBeek Leaving encouraging comments. Thank you!!
See you later. Have a blessed day!
I’m off to church… I’ll share my sermon notes later today. Come on back!
Love, JanBeek
P.S. Did I tell you yesterday was my dad’s birthday? He would have been 110!! One of my many blessings is having him for my earthly father. Check out my blog from way back when – when I posted a poem I wrote about my dad:
Do you focus easily? Do you see things with clarity? Do you hear with understanding? Do you embrace the concept of focus?
Today’s sermon at Madison Valley Presbyterian Church focused on the cross… but not just any old cross … the cross of Christ, the one on which He died for us. The one we are to pick up and carry. Here are the notes I took as I focused and listened to Rev. Steve Hundley preach on the subject: “The Cross of Christ”
The disciples heard Jesus say, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24-26 says, 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
What does it mean today to believe And to accept Jesus – take His cross? We’d like Jesus to be specific. Would carrying it be like an albatross? He said “Take up YOUR cross. But, not ANY cross… What’s the difference? My cross can be quite worldly. Do I carry it with reverence?
The world we live in is full Of crosses in every size and form. How do we know we’re carrying The one meant for us when we were born? The cross that brings healing And restoration to our world Is the one Jesus asks us to carry, Not the cross of destruction hurled.
A cross of love and reconciliation Can be used and turned to mean Violence or passivity, both can Represent abuse and pain. Don’t lean On a fatalistic cross – or else You’ll find despair and even death. Instead, pick up Christ’s cross. It’ll bring peace to your last breath.
The Bible reassures us that Pain and suffering will be ours; But God will meet us where we are. We’ll receive the peace He showers On us when we take His cross And follow Him and His voice. Let’s FOCUS on God’s saving promise. Take up His True Cross. It’s your choice!
Thank you for sharing our worship service notes and one of our hymns with me today. I hope you are able to find church family with whom to worship in these pandemic days.
If you’d like to join our ZOOM service next Sunday, send me your e-mail and I’ll forward the ZOOM invitation, bulletin and song sheet to you.
That’s me up there taking this picture with Bob beside me! ZOOM with us. We’re an informal bunch! Share, drink your coffee, ask questions… FOCUS on the message
Thanks for visiting with JanBeek today. Have a beautiful Sunday afternoon/evening. See ya tomorrow.
P.S. – Here is another version of “Were You There?” Soooo Beautiful!!
I just discovered this morning that my dear friend, Leena’s son, Vince, died suddenly on Friday. No warning! He was about the age of my son, Ty. Vince worked at our local grocery store. I saw him there often … always a smile, always a cheerful greeting. He was at work Friday. Friday night after dinner, he was sitting in his chair at home with his parents, and he just stopped breathing. Can you imagine the shock??
My heart is broken for Leena and Bob and their family. My prayers go out to all of you who have lost a loved one this year.
Your hearts are grieving, too, as you face this first Valentine’s Day without that special person. God bless you! Link heartstrings with mine.
Heart strings
In our ZOOM church service this morning, I provided the “special music.” It was inspired by the February 14th message in Charles Stanley’s In Touch Daily Devotional.
“When facing all kinds of difficulties, many of us have a tendency to power through in our own strength. But the reality is that’s never effective – at least not for long. God wants us to come closer to Him.
When we stay focused on Jesus, we can take comfort in knowing He’ll lead us through the hard places.
As you continue walking with Him, trust that He already knows what will happen in your life – and that regardless of what lies ahead, He will never leave you.”
EMBRACE HEARTS Lord, link mine to yours – And link ours to one another.
Embrace Hearts with one another – Offer your love and support to heal. Heal the broken-hearted by sharing. Share your love with a song or a meal.
Not everyone has a heart full of love today; Some are feeling quite empty. Lord, fill their hearts with the love of God – And encourage others to “Go With Him” today.
This is Vissoie, Switzerland. Our daughter and son-in-law have a restaurant here. Isn’t it beautiful?
We missed our visit with them this year. We are not even able to go to California to celebrate Christmas with our son and his family there. I bet we are not alone. Many of you are missing your visits with your family this Christmas, too.
We’ll miss being with our son, Ty, and having my sister, Sally with us this year.
What are you missing?
Photo by Maximiliano Ignacio Pinilla Alvarado on Pexels.com
Like this sad looking dog, we can sit around and look all mopey. We can focus on what we’re missing. Or we can go to Ann Kaplow’s blog this morning, try focusing on the positive, and answer her question, “Can you find something to celebrate in today’s images?”
Celebrate the fact that even though we feel the darkness of this Coronavirus and the isolation caused by this pandemic, we also can experience the LIGHT! The Light still shines – and we can reflect it!
Focus on the Reason for the Season
Let us not focus On the things we are missing But on our blessings
We turned our clocks back reluctantly last night. It’s the end of Daylight Savings Time for 2020. It was dark here in Montana by 4:30 this afternoon. I’m ready for it to be the end of 2020 – PERIOD!
I am not looking forward to these next couple of weeks. Tuesday is election day in the USA – but millions cast their ballots early. I am among them.
I do not expect to know the outcome of this election until all absentee ballots are in and counted. It could be weeks… if not months. I expect it to be contentious.
So, to keep myself from falling Into a mood as dark as the early sundown, I decided to focus on the October Take-Aways: Daily Guideposts’ messages to carry with me.
Maybe these “Take-Aways” will help you, too. Take one-a-day like a vitamin capsule, And let them fill your dark spaces. Let them shine light on this “Early Darkness.”
Daily Take-Aways from Daily Guideposts 2020 A Spirit-Lifting Devotional
Don’t Worry – Just Pray
Show Passion for His Passion!
Let His Light Shine Through
Know God Blesses Our Work
Keep an Open, Receptive Heart
Admit Your Wrongs; Seek Forgiveness
Trust God’s Timing
Let Go Ego; Let God Rule
Keep Doing God’s Work
Thank God for Your Mental Health
My Spirit Lives Connected
Help Me Always Show Your Love
See Through the Glass Darkly
At My End, Give Me Peace & Anticipation
Receive Love Gratefully
We Need Family
Be An Intrepid Christian
Be Still and Trust
Be Persistent
Be Helpful; Lighten Another’s Load
Be Grateful for Animals
Be Confident in God
Be Gracious and Generous
Be Seated in His Security
Thank God for Friends
Reach Out to Neighbors
Treasure Aging
Discern What’s Important
Look Beyond Exteriors
Thank God for Those Who Share Our Grief
JUST LOVE
Have a month of enlightenment. Be the bearer of love. Shine LIGHT wherever you go. Have a Happy November!
What is your expectation for this election’s outcome? Your comment of encouragement will shine light on me! Thanks for visiting. See ya tomorrow. Love, JanBeek
Let the light of the kid in you shine… Let the light of the kid in you smile… Listen to this darling kid favorite and sing along… Guaranteed to shine away the darkness!
God’s Twelve Step Program
Keeps me focused every day
As I walk downstairs
My first hour each day
Spent in my sanctu-aerie
Starts my day off right
Then as I walk down
The twelve steps to the “real world,”
This is what I pray:
Thank You, God, for the LOVE
JOY, and
PEACE that are mine.
Help me with PATIENCE,
KINDNESS,
GOODNESS, and
FAITHFULNESS (which brings blessings),
GENTLENESS, and
SELF-CONTROL.
Help me live HUMBLY
With an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE, and
A response of GENEROSITY, FORGIVENESS, OBEDIENCE and INTEGRITY.
In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!
When I get to the seventh step, this is what I see:
(the words above the front door spell “blessings”)
A metal sculpture gift from our friends, Terry & Jim
And as I look down, I continue with steps 8 -12
And at the “Amen” I come face to face with this:
She’s one of three angels on the wall
at the bottom of the stairs
(a gift from Norbert and Elke of Germany).
Norbert was 6 years old in 1962 when Bob & I were married.
We lived in the downstairs of the Schallers’ chalet.
Bob was in the army; his base just over the hill.
We have stayed in touch with Norbert through the years.
Such a blessing!
I’ve named this precious angel “Elke,”
in honor of Elke Schaller.
She and Norbert created the three angels.
“Angel Elke” reminds me in my coming and going
to keep that 12 step program in my heart.
I walk to the kitchen and look out.
Here is a neighborhood treasure to greet me!
