I recommend that you click on the “Best Friendship Songs” below and listen as you read my Haiku renderings on this subject of Relationships.
Relationships are What this life is all about Friends are our life’s gifts
We need each other Going through life alone won’t work Loneliness smothers
We’re never alone When we’ve a relationship With God, our Maker
Put God first in life Let Him help you bind your love So it never breaks
In an article in Woman’s Day Magazine, I quote:
“Whether you’re starting out a new relationship, have been married for years, simply love your friends, or adore your family, there’s always a way to incorporate God into each of the unique relationships in your life.”
Choose relationships Grounded in mutual love With respect at center
Seek Godly friendships Not just with your great neighbors, But with every one
Especially when You are choosing a life’s mate, Be centered in God
Men, listen to this: If she does not know your God, She doesn’t know real love.
Don’t give up on her! Teach her about the Savior Save relationships
Embrace your friendships Love one another fully Treasure your family
I am grateful for The love of my family I can count on them
I pray your friends care For you as mine do for me… And know I love you!
You are blogging friends Who visit JanBeek to say “I care about you”
I am inspired by The way I can count on you To come, read, and write
God bless you, dear friends Your relationship matters It’s more than on-line
It’s alive in me You’re a friend I depend on I can count on you!
Have you been listening To that collection of songs? Lots of good words there!
Like: “Live your story” “Know our love will never die” “Hold on to your friends.”
Thank you for visiting JanBeek today. You matter to me. Thank you for being my friend. See you tomorrow.
Thank you, dear blogging reader, for tuning in to Day #40 of my “Embrace” series.
Forty is a meaningful number in the Bible. But its significance is not limited to biblical application. Forty days:
is mentioned 146 times in the Bible.
is used to designate important time periods in the Bible.
is the number of days before his temptation, that Jesus fasted: “forty days and forty nights” (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2).
is the period from the resurrection of Jesus to the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:3).
carries significance in today’s world: Minus 40 degrees, or “40 below,” is the only temperature that is the same in both Fahrenheit and Celsius.
was important in the Middle Ages: when the bubonic plague gripped Europe, ships would be isolated in harbor for 40 days before passengers could go ashore.
is the origin of words we use in today’s pandemic: The Italian word for 40 is quaranta—hence quarantine.
is the number of weeks a typical pregnancy actually lasts – Forget nine months!
The wisdom of Jesus’ emphasis on 40 came from God. Our wisdom has the same source. All we need to do is tap into it!
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
That state of peaceful happiness, that contentment, comes from our ability to seek wisdom and to follow the leading of those words of instruction.
“As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
Wisdom is not relegated to the aged. Daniel was a boy of 17 when he was chosen. You are chosen today to tap into The wisdom God has for you!
Proverbs 13:20
“Walk with the wise and become wise.”
God gives us true friends Who are wise and wonderful. They are His gifts to us To help us EMBRACE WISDOM
He has chosen friends for us Who are wise and full of grace. They walk into our hearts And leave their footprints all over it!
Watch for those friends as God puts them in your path!
In today’s Daily Guideposts, Ginger Rue wrote, “…you become like the five people you spend the most time with.” She told a story about how her husband, “Sweet Dwight,” is a person she wishes to emulate. “I hope someday to have a heart like my husband’s: wise, and full of grace… and always looking for the best in people.”
Who is a star in your life, an example of wisdom and grace? Are the five people you spend the most time with people whose lives you wish to emulate? Can you name them?
Bob is a star in my life… and so are CG & Caroline
Terry & Jim are stars in my life
Marcie is the friend everyone wishes s/he had! She always looks for the good in everyone.
“And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Psalm 147:4
“He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. “
If the God of Heaven and Earth has named the stars, And if He has created all that is seen and unseen, How surely can we count on His wisdom, and How assured we can be of His Wisdom if we but ask.
Look for the wisdom in the friends you choose. Embrace the love in their hearts that shines Like the stars in the sky – and reflects The wisdom of their Maker who is alive in them.
EMBRACE WISDOM
I pray you have the JOY of wise and loving friends. They truly are God’s gifts to us. Terry & Elaine are two of my wise stars.
Thank You for them, God!
Thank you for visiting JanBeek today. May the words of my blog And the thoughts in my heart Inspire you to reach out to your life’s stars.
(They can be friends we spend on-line time with… especially in these days of COVID-19 social-distancing!) Thank them… and thank God for His wisdom that sent them to you!
Remember, we become like the five we spend the most time with. Choose wisely!! See ya tomorrow.
‘Twas two weeks later When her decomposed body Washed its way ashore
Only dental charts Helped to identify her Memories are raw
Never imagined Her pain was so very deep Didn’t see the signs
So much is known now Nearly forty years ago We just weren’t aware
Today it’s rampant Especially Montana Third in the nation
Growing suicides It’s not a good statistic Something must be done
These are images from Leonard Cohen’s impactful video. (Haven’t watched it yet? Go back up to that link. Take five minutes and then come on back.) The poetry and his raspy, musical voice will touch your heart. You’ll carry it with you.
You’ll ask yourself, “What Happens to the Heart?” and you will want to be more aware, more compassionate, more helpful. You’ll look in your friend’s eyes. You’ll study your loved one’s face. You’ll ask questions. You’ll care. And you’ll want to know WHAT CAN I DO? When you see sadness, despair, loneliness, you’ll want to help. How??
There are visible Ways we can show how we care Check out resources
Reach out to others Make meaningful connections Share your thoughtfulness
Embrace Connections They can make the difference YOU are important!
Thanks for dropping by JanBeek
Sending you love and hugs – Stay Connected!! See ya tomorrow
Embrace differences. Appreciate each other. Yes, love your neighbor.
Each person’s unique. No two of us are alike. Makes the world better.
But we must avoid Drawing early conclusions. Reserve your judgements!
Congratulations, Tahneek Rahman, For this excellent short film.
Today’s message says, “Thank you for embracing this. God bless your Sunday!”
See you this afternoon. Hope you are able to go to church this morning. Our church will meet on ZOOM. I’ll keep you in prayer and I’ll post my sermon notes later.
Pray for our nation’s peaceful transition of power. Pray for the safety of all our people. Pray for an end to this COVID-19 pandemic. Pray for us to appreciate and embrace our differences.
Life is so full of things to say Thank You to God for… Lift your eyes to the sky And look for so many more.
The ability to look at life Through eyes of gratitude And find JOY even in times of trouble, That’s a healthy attitude!
Reaching out to friends Who will hear and join you in prayer – And believing in its power… You will find real JOY there!
Make friends who’ll pray with you…
Philippians 4:4-6
“Rejoice in the Lord always… Let your gentleness be evident to all… Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
… Good friends hug and cry with you, too!
Good friends join hands in mutual support!
Thank you for your love, prayers and support yesterday when I was waiting for the results of Bob’s angiogram procedure. You’re a treasure.
I reJOYce in your presence in my life. Have a blessed weekend. See ya tomorrow. Love & Hugs, JanBeek
Enjoy this beautiful, inspiring song and… … Keep Lookin’ Up!!
“Celebrating the Power of Friendship” is the title of a month-long focus on a friend’s chosen devotional website. On the site today, it said: “Although we are not currently meeting in person, there is no distance between souls and the bond of friendship we share…”
I feel that bond of friendship with you, my WordPress friends, just as I do with family and friends who have reached out to Bob & me during this past week of death and tribulation. Thank you so much!
I can’t count the billions Of dollars my friends are worth. They make living worthwhile; They fill my life with mirth.
When times are sad and troubling, They reach out with care and love. Friends are earthly angels Sent from heaven above.
My friend sent this card to me; It came right out of the blue, When I really needed it the most. Do your friends do that for you?
I hope you have some friends Who tromp daily on your heart, Leaving footprints all over it. I’m here to tromp on yours. Let’s start!
There is power in such friendships. They turn dark days into bright. They listen and they love us, and They help things turn out right.
Thank you for being the sunshine in my darkest days.
Thanks for popping in. Thanks for being the friends who watch and sit and read with me. Wish you could walk and eat with me, too. Enjoy the kids’ song below. It’s a catchy tune. It’ll have you singing all day long!!
Have a Fabulous Friday. I love you! See ya tomorrow. 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)