Relax! Everything’s gonna be okay. Rest … things are coming your way. Open your heart; love’s here to stay. Everything’s coming together on this day.
“… to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ, Relax! Everything’s gonna be alright. Rest, everything’s coming together. Open your hearts; Love is on its way.”
Jude 1:1-2 (MSG)
Relax and roll with the waves of life. Let go of any tensions or strife. Go hug your husband or wife, Or find a neighbor whose troubles are rife.
Sit and do nothing at all. Let your mind wander and sprawl. Relax and dream to enthrall The birds who come to your whistled call.
In these days of political strife With pundants telling us how to think It’s easy to get drawn off balance Easy to feel we’re drowning – gonna sink!
BUT, we’re not!! Read on…
Guideposts devotional, “Mornings With Jesus” elaborated on this theme today. Suzanne Davenport Tietjen wrote, “My soaking tub isn’t very big, but it’s deep – deep enough to float in. Floating might be my favorite thing now – but that would surprise my mother. She thought I’d never master it when I was a child. I was fine if my parent’s or swimming teacher’s arms supported me, but I panicked whenever they tried to transition me to floating on my back solo…
“Finally Mom convinced me to practice in the Gulf of Mexico, saying that I’d float higher in salt water. The difference was probably miniscule, but … I relaxed enough to lie back, rock on the waves, and float. All I needed to do was not do anything…
“It seems like a paradox, this doing something by relaxing into doing nothing. And paradoxically, I struggle with this in my walk with Jesus. I want to do. Jesus wants me to just be. To relax and roll with the waves of life. There is no need to be tense or on guard. … Lean back, let go, and trust Him that everything’s going to be all right.”
Today you are invited to lean on Jesus. Trust Him to help you roll with life. Lean back. Let go. Everything’s gonna be alright!
In today’s Ever Faithful365 day devotional by David Jeremiah, he asked his readers, “Have you heard about the man who smelled good no matter where he was or what he was doing?”
His skin and clothing and very being seemed to exude a pleasant fragrance. He worked in a perfume factory and breathed its aromas every day.
The aromas filtered into his clothing, penetrated his skin, and even filled his lungs. He became a walking perfumery.
David Jeremiah said, “That’s the way we should be as Christians.”
The Bible says, “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15
“We exude the aroma of joy, for in His presence is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11
You might have heard that “Jesus wept” (John 11:35) is the shortest verse in the Bible, but that’s only true in English. In the original New Testament Greek, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 is shorter – “Rejoice always.” The two verses are related. Because Jesus wept, we can rejoice.
In today’s world with all the hate, divisiveness, floods, hurricanes, and wars it’s easy to get bogged down. But, David Jeremiah reminds us, “Jesus doesn’t want us to live in perpetual discouragement, sadness or doubt.”
“The joy of the Lord is the strength of our days,” Nehemiah 8:10
We have reason to rejoice. Count your blessings, my friends. Be a walking perfumery! Exude the aroma of joy. I pray that you will let the love, joy, and peace of Christ shine through your face and radiate from your clothing everyday! Let your fragrant scent invite others in to the love, joy and peace that can be theirs, too.
You are lovely. You are loved. You smell good! God bless you!
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.”
God’s dollop!
Looking out my dining room window, I see a strange sight. God put a dollop of whipped cream on the little peak we call “The Beehive.” I eagerly grab my camera and capture this unusual sight. It won’t last long. Soon the cloud went behind the mountain. But, the picture is a gift of happiness while it lasts.
Our skies had been gray and smokey for over two weeks as smoke from forest fires over 150 miles away blew into our Madison Valley. So, seeing the blue sky and a cute little cloud so perfectly placed was a rare treat!
Driving home from Bozeman after dropping our dear Daughter #2 off at the airport, we could see promising blue sky up ahead. The blue sky was peeking through at the airport, too. Laina had not seen it during her entire 10 day stay!!
That was smoke hovering above, but rain clouds in view. I eagerly awaited the storm to wash the smoke away. See how shrouded the mountains were and how dirty the air was?
Sure enough, the next morning, we could see the mountains clearly again!
Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of clear air! I prayed eagerly for it. Thank you for answered prayers. God is good! Amen
The word of the day in Guideposts Daily Word is “Eager.” “I eagerly give myself to life,” is the by-line. “Eagerness helps give my life meaning. It is the feeling of positive anticipation, purpose, and confidence.”
I pray that you are bringing eagerness to all aspects of your life, too. The more energy and enthusiasm you share, the more you will have to share because it is part of your divine inheritance, a gift from God. Claim it!
This is an AI generated photo of a person feeling eager. And here is a photo of me feeling eager:
Eager to make a wish. Eager to blow out the candle. Eager to have my wish come true. It was for clear air and blue sky. God is good! My wish came true.
Now my blog is ready to update. I have a few questions for you:
What do you look like when you are eager? How are you living life eagerly? What wish do you have for a brighter future? I pray your wishes come true, too.
My muse has been asleep My muse has been absent I’ve been in a funk My muse just up and went
Ever since my pup died I can’t seem to get inspired In all the world’s turmoil I think my muse expired
But then I looked around To see how I am blessed I told my weary self that This is just a test
He’s my Muse!
Ah-hah! He never left me It was I who strayed away Return to Faith’s assurance And “Bee a Light” today!
I looked back at days gone by To a time when I felt fine And found a helpful poem I’m adopting today as mine.
It was inspired by His Word I read the Bible every day Now I must remember to apply The Words God has to say!
2 Corinthians 4:6 a
For it is God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness…”
I Can Let My Light Shine (Written in December 2023)
In a world filled with war and hate I can shine a light of love from me In a world filled with animosity and division I can shine a light of unity
In a world filled with hopelessness and despair I can lift the lamp of hopefulness In a world filled with fear and worry I can shine the joy of faithfulness
I can “bee” a light in the darkness Because the love of Christ shines through The grim shadows of despair And that Light also is in you
As a wonderful God-created child You are part of a magnificent whole So let that Spirit buried in you Shine forth from your blessed soul
Your light shines from the Creator Just as mine sparkles brightly, too So fill this world with the light of love Let’s let love’s light shine from me and you!
Amen
My Muse is alive and well. God Bless You! Yours is, too!! Let it shine!!!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
We’re looking to thee Lord to direct our paths. It has been a miserable two weeks in the Beekman household. First Bob picked up a bug on some path somewhere, and then a few days later, the bug very generously crossed my path. We tested for COVID, but it was negative, so we did a little research. Here’s what we discovered:
Meet Mr. Paraflu! What is parainfluenza?
Parainfluenza is a broad term that healthcare providers use to describe human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) — a group of infectious organisms (pathogens). Parainfluenza viruses cause many types of lower and upper respiratory illnesses. Respiratory illnesses cause mild to serious symptoms, like sore throat, cough and shortness of breath.
Nasty bug attack Caused us to lay low eight days We’re vulnerable
For those under five And us folks in our eighties, Paraflu attacks
The symptoms linger A terrible hacking cough Listlessness, fatigue
In others’ interest, Hunker down and stay at home Hydrate and get rest
Bye bye nasty bug We missed the July 4th fun But we have survived
Now go and begone Let our health return to us Keep our loved ones safe
Trusting in the Lord And not leaning on my own Understanding’s hard
Devotionals help To keep a wise perspective “How to Walk Wisely”
In the midst of our paraflu aches and pains, we turned to the Lord in prayer, and God gave us 6 tips about how to “Walk Wisely.” Today’s In Touch devotional had this to say:
“Living committed to the Lord calls for following His wisdom. Here are six attitudes necessary for a Christ-centered lifestyle:
1. Determination. Walking in wisdom doesn’t happen automatically. We must wholeheartedly pursue righteous living. 2. Focus. To stay on the path of God’s will, we must fix out attention on His Word. As we meditate on Scripture, our mind will align with Christ’s. 3. Sensitivity to the Spirit. With determination to live a holy life and close attention to Scripture, we become more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 4. Trust. At times the Lord’s choice for us doesn’t appear sensible. Trusting in His perfect wisdom is necessary if we’re to walk according to His plan. 5. Courage. Some things God requires may cause us to react with fear. As our trust in Him deepens, our courage will grow, and we’ll discover the joy of embracing His choice for us. 6. Perseverance. By depending on God, we can persist and choose wisely no matter how long our challenges last.
Walking in wisdom requires that we practice a few basics: Know God, trust Him, and obey. Is this your pattern for living? Remember, a lifetime of godliness develops one choice at a time.”
In Touch Ministries, Inc. Many thanks to Founder: Charles Stanley and President C Phillip Bowen
Thank You, God, for our return to health. Bee well, my friends. May this nasty paraflu bug pass you by!
Where are you looking? Let’s forget the former things – Don’t dwell on the past.
Remember the good, Learn from all of your troubles, And focus on the now.
Strength and Grace, a daily devotional from Guideposts, is one of my morning rituals. My last post, “Whatever is Lovely,” also was inspired by this publication.
Today I am exploring the subjects of love and memory, and asking myself, “Where ya lookin’?”
I am remembering the time I was lookin’ to the right when I shoulda been lookin’ straight ahead. I walked into our car’s hatchback. It was comin’ down – and obviously I didn’t realize it!!
I am remembering the time I was dashing out of the car to go into a local restaurant to meet my granddaughter and her children. I was looking ahead when I should have been looking down … at my feet … at the curb. I tripped over it. Broke my pinky finger big time!
Ouch! I am remembering the time I was stepping up into the house from the garage and I didn’t step up far enough. I fell backward and hit my head on the metal hitch of the trailer. Eight stitches later I shoulda been lookin’ where I was steppin’!!
There’s a time to look up. There’s a time to look back. There’s a time to look ahead. But ALL THE TIME we should Look out! Look at the NOW. Live in the present – And look to live longer, healthier, happier, safer.
Father, in Your mercy, rescue me from myself, from my carelessness. Help me look to You for guidance and help me slow down, live in the now, and watch where I’m goin’! Amen
If you have followed my blog in the past, you know I used to post sermon notes every Sunday afternoon. I’ve not done that for a while. Today I decided, on a snowy May 23rd in SW Montana, that I have nothing better to do than to share with you my notes from last Sunday’s sermon… because with winter weather in late May, I need encouragement to “Keep Hope Alive”… and I thought maybe you could use a little encouragement, too. So here’s what Rev. Mary Grace Reynolds preached last Sunday (as filtered through my ears to my brain to you)…
Sunday’s sermon on hope was inspired (not by Jeremiah 29:11 which is one of my favorite scriptures) but by Romans 8:22-27.
Romans 8:22-27 New International Version
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
(Bold print added by me)
Paul wrote this a couple of decades After Christ descended and ascended. Paul addressed the anxiety of Those who questioned Christ’s return.
We who have the First Fruits of the Spirit Are saved by the HOPE of what we do not see. God, who searches our hearts, knows… God knows our every mood and emotion.
And with that scripture in mind, Mary Grace shared her sermon. Here are my notes:
KEEP HOPE ALIVE
Calvin Coolidge’s young son Passed away because of a toe infection. It was over 100 years ago – Before the discovery of penicillin.
Today we have the promise of A new vaccine to retrain cells Of a brain tumor to attack the tumor. The narrative of lives is being changed.
People who walked with Jesus Had interpreted Him as saying, “I’ll be right back…” But Jesus was taking too long!
Paul wrote to tell the early Christians, Who had been given the Holy Spirit, To be patient … and keep HOPE alive. Maybe Hope isn’t a whisper, but a shout!
Hope is more active than faith. It is a fighter and a screamer. The world is groaning, crying out in pain, And people who’ve been stepped on must also.
Don’t accept the pain life throws at you. Cry out in pain. Bark as a threatened dog. Hope is harder to lose than faith Because it is louder… and persistent.
We hope for things beyond our reality. Hope gives us the strength to wait – To be cheerleaders who, with discipline, Keep HOPE (through the Holy Spirit) alive.
Hope feels like pain, burns like passion When we see all the world’s injustices. But HOPE is alive and will not give up. Keep it alive in you. Expect its miracles!
I love this meme!
Keep hope alive! If you have time, go to YouTube and select one of the renditions of “It Took a Miracle”… and absorb those words. So profound! (For whatever reason, I couldn’t imbed that song here.) I love it…
It Took a Miracle
To hang on to HOPE in a fallen world may take a miracle… But that miracle is yours for the taking. Take HOPE And keep it alive! Amen?
That’s my granddaughter, Hope, with me… and her daughter, Sienna, my great-granddaughter, who will be 5 next month, and our last Boston Terrier, TazE. HOPE is alive and well in our family. How about yours?
