Choked up with emotion, Speechless, but obligated To say something meaningful, Barack Obama sang!
Now he won’t get any awards For his pitch or tone, But for his bravery, A gold medal, indeed!
For his faith and love, And for his ability To inspire the crowd, A blue ribbon!
When I meet my maker, And you gather to cheer My entry into Eternity, Please sing Amazing Grace!
But, you might want to Avoid the microphone And let the Spirit lead The others to drown you out!
Hah! God bless Barack – I miss that guy in the White House. I miss his family and His Amazing Grace!!
There is something special About that You.Tube And its spontaneity. Don’t you agree?
In contrast, this nearly lily white Choir of perfect harmony, Is beautiful for sure, But somehow it seems stiff.
Or is that just me?
Maybe your taste for Amazing Grace Turns more toward country. There are as many versions Of that song as you can imagine.
What’s your favorite?
The amazing story of the song Is described beautifully in this video. I totally enjoyed all 15 minutes of it. I didn’t know what an influence he had on the abolition of slavery!
I hope you will enjoy this video, too.
“The Lord gives us many blessings, But unless we are grateful for them, We lose much of the comfort from them.”
May God’s Amazing Grace give you enormous comfort today and always…
Trying to push through an agenda is like filming – Pointing the camera at the place you want to be And discovering that you have no film to get there. GO BACK AND RELOAD!! Take time to pray.
Life often puts us at crossroads where we choose – Do we go right or left? Or do we turn around? What did your script say? And who wrote it? Are you finding your own way or letting God lead?
Are you on your own time schedule or are you listening? Do you relinquish control and hear the Holy Spirit saying, “God’s Perfect Timing is perfect. Let go! Let it flow.” Stop pushing. Stop filming. Stop writing. Stop blogging.
Then, when you start up again, be deliberate! Be intentional. Be collaborative. Be teachable. Be flexible. Be patient. God’s Perfect Timing is Perfect!
TRUST!
Use it wisely!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek.
I’ve been living my passion this week… Loving, learning, listening, sharing God’s grace.
Finding the pastor God has in mind for our church – and trying to arrange the perfect timing for a visit.
I took a break from WordPress to focus.
It was good to take a break.
Please add our Pastor Nominating Committee to your prayer list… and help us EMBRACE GOD’S PERFECT TIMING!
This quote came in the mail today from Billy Mills, national spokesperson for “Running Strong for American Indian Youth” – a project associated with Christian Relief Service.
The synchronicity of the arrival of this in mailbox today was not lost on me. I already had spent my hour up in my sanctuary reading my Bible, devotionals, and praying for you – and other family and friends on my prayer list (yes, you are there!). Among the names on my list is “Native American Youth.” Lord knows their needs and yours.
The word that was my “Take-Away” from that time upstairs today was “Perseverance.” And that’s BEFORE the mail came with this gift! Go back up and read it again… “Collective Perseverance…” and HOPE …Resilience and Certainty in tomorrow – – – Tomorrow: a better day!
Persevere in those choices!!
It’s perseverance That changes maybe’s to YES. Chase the doubt away!
To make an impact Just practice perseverance. Keep your dreams alive.
God says you are Unique… Designed for Greatness!!
Being persistent As you work to problem solve: The road to success!
I can’t just sit here Expecting success to come. Gotta go get it!
It’s perseverance – Working to make it happen That completes the goal.
What are you working To complete with great success? Live with that purpose.
Persevere with Purpose
But tenacity Ain’t easy when we don’t see The results we need.
Positivity Is hard to always maintain When we keep failing.
But unless we fail, We’re not trying hard enough! Gotta fail to learn.
3 “Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance,character;andcharacter,hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.…”
Romans 5:3-4
Don’t let the fact that There’s certain failure keep you From taking chances!
Folks who developed The vaccines we are using Failed many times.
Before succeeding, They conjured up their courage And kept on trying.
That’s the way it is! So Embrace Perseverance And live your purpose.
1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” Hebrews 12:1
My hands are dirty – And my heart is soiled, too. Time for spring cleaning!
This season of Lent is a time for cleaning – Cleaning out our hearts in preparation For the arrival of Easter when we can Embrace God’s grace through Jesus’ sacrifice.
Today’s sermon on our ZOOM worship service Was titled, “Holy Ground” as our pastor, Steve Hundley, recounted his trip to The Holy Land back about 20 years ago.
My feet are dirty – And my heart is soiled, too. Time for spring cleaning!
Holy Ground
What was it like to be able To walk in the footsteps of Jesus? What was it like to stand On Holy Ground? Spiritually renewing?
I was expecting each site to be charged With such power that holy goose bumps Popped up all over my body. But I was a bit disappointed.
It was hard to feel the grace of the risen Christ In this historically preserved place. How do you feel Jesus breaking bread When all you’re seeing is the top of a rock?
It’s important to protect these sites, But looking through plexiglass makes it Hard to feel the reality of Jesus. The garden tomb remains open, though.
It’s helpful to see without obstacles That distort the original places. We have our own expectations of What we’ll feel imagining holy faces.
Jesus and the money changers Were there on the temple floor Where I stood on that visit. But I couldn’t feel Jesus’ anger.
I wondered if maybe those men Were in fact offering a service. He told them they could tear it down And He’d rebuild it in three days.
They didn’t know He was referring To His body, not the building. Buildings are not what we worship. We worship God’s nature in spirit and in Truth.
We are often tied to the Rites and rituals to define us. But our traditions must not Rise above the Christ we adore.
It is not the place that matters. It is the love in our hearts That counts when we join together In worship… thanking God for His grace.
Thank You, God, for Jesus, for Easter, For the meaning of the cross, And for the sacrifice of Your Son’s life So we might EMBRACE GRACE.
The HOPE of EASTER Is in the grace of the cross. Let’s engage in some spring cleaning In preparation to stand on that Holy Ground… At the threshold of our eternal cleansing.
Embrace Grace.
AMEN
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today. See ya tomorrow. I’m headed to do some spring cleaning!
Well dear, guess again! We’re all in need of mercy. It’s undeserved grace.
You ask, what is grace? Well, it’s undeserved mercy! Don’t you just love it?
Definitions are Often so convoluted. Good thing for mercy!
Mercy me! Oh my! I sure need grace and mercy. Both are found in prayer.
Prayer for Help, Mercy and Grace
Prayer from Rev. Steve Hundley PASTORAL PRAYER prayed at Madison Valley Presbyterian Church ZOOM service 2-7-2021
“Loving God, we thank You that You treat us as if all were one; and each one as if there were only one. We thank You that we are all held together in Your love; and none are beyond Your caring reach. Thank You that You hear our prayers:
the prayers we feel awkward about;
the prayers we are hesitant to pray;
and, the prayers we feel that we do not know the right words to pray.
Thank You that You know us well enough to hear our thoughts, our yearnings, our stumblings, our grumblings, our secret hopes and fears, even when we dare not, or cannot put them into words. We are eternally grateful that anytime we turn toward you, the arms of Your grace and love are there to enfold us with Your love that cannot be bought, earned, or bargained for. Since it is the gift which You give and which we can only receive, give us wisdom to joyfully receive it.
O Lord, this past year has reminded us just how fearful and fragile; yet, precious and wonderful life can be. We need Your help. So Jesus, grant us this: the ability to as easily recognize and celebrate the beautiful as we are able to itemize the ugly. Grant us the ability to as easily praise as we are to condemn. Grant us the ability to as easily unite as we are to divide. Grant us the ability to as easily support and help one another as we are to ignore. And, grant us the ability to as easily express joy as we are to display our disappointment.
Grant us some sense of worth and accomplishment which places the mark of meaning to our days. In spite of the many limitations this pandemic has placed on our daily lives, grant us some sense of purpose, that tomorrow is something to look forward to, rather than to dread. Encourage us to reach outside of ourselves, and find ways to express our faith and love in ways that would benefit this world and its people whom You love.
Jesus grant us this: though life tumbles in, and almost everything seems to crumble around us; when the simple things we took for granted seem a distant memory; when hope frays and a simple touch, or a caring hug is something we remember we used to do; O Lord, find some special way to hold us in the palm of Your hand.
We pray for this wonderful yet sometimes unhappy…this divided yet dependent…this brave but fearful, mixed-up world we live in. We have created enemies by the misuse of its power; and, what could have been a blessing for all has become a curse to many by our misuse of its abundance. O Lord, give us and the leaders of this great nation the will to break out of destructive patterns, and grant us peace in our time. “
Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we pray this prayer in the name of Our Father Who art in Heaven… Amen!
So, what is mercy? Is it something that we need? You bet! Every day!!
Have a wonderful week. I pray for your health, happiness, and safety – every day! Thanks for visiting. See ya later, Love, JanBeek
Before you leave, take a few minutes to treat yourself to the story behind “The Prayer” and hear the most beautiful voices (my bias) in the world. Where do you see God’s mercy at work in this duet??
If you’ve followed my blog for a week or so, you already know that I journal most days in this little book that is dedicated to my dear and daring daughter, DeAna. I don’t write in it EVERY day, but often I do, when I am up in my sanctuary, motivated by my devotionals. Today was such a day.
Look ahead, my friend Live Life Forward Stare out the windshield Not the rear view mirror
Look toward the future Find the unexpected gifts Share the love and grace You find at every turn
Share the laughter Share uninhibited joy Share compassion Ease each others pain
Find the hidden treasures ‘Neath the tears of sorrow Let them wash you clean Ready for tomorrow
Look ahead, my friend Don’t let the past upset Live life forward And bury all regret
Today’s sermon at our Madison Valley Presbyterian Church was titled, “The Amazing and Exasperating Grace of God.” I’ve certainly heard God’s grace described as AMAZING before. That’s typical. But, exasperating? When? How?
Do you know the story of the “Workers in the Vineyard”? It’s found in Matthew 20: 1-16. Essentially it tells of a landowner who needed extra workers in his vineyard. He agreed to pay the ones who started picking grapes that morning a silver coin for their day’s labor.
Later, with just an hour left in the work day, he realized the workers needed help to finish the job before sundown, so he hired a bunch more workers to help finish the job. This last bunch were the “left-overs” who had not been hired earlier. We can only imagine why they may have been left behind.
At the end of the day, the ones who came last (and had only worked an hour) were paid first. Each received a silver coin.
The ones who had worked all day saw that – and figured they would get more. They probably expected ten times more, since they had worked a ten hour day. When all they received was the same pay as the ones who worked only the last hour, they complained bitterly.
On that story, Rev. Steve Hundley based his sermon, and I took notes (as I do each Sunday) in poetry as I listened. Here they are:
The Amazing and Exasperating Grace of God
Reading the Word of God daily Helps you discover joy in life; But some difficult passages Cause misunderstanding and strife.
Like the story of the workers Who were paid equal wages Whether they worked one hour Or ten… Imagine the rages!
It’s hard to understand How such treatment is fair. Jesus explained the boss could Pay the wages anyway he cared.
Likewise, those who come lately To the Kingdom of God on earth Will receive the same blessings as Those who served the Lord since birth.
Does this seem a fair idea? Are deathbed conversions real? Maybe some of them are fake, But it’s not up to me or how I feel.
This parable isn’t about the workers. It’s about the generous vineyard boss Who is a symbol of our Gracious God. He focuses on the workers, not the cost.
Our God calls out the left-overs And tells them, “I have room for you.” God’s amazing grace and love are real, And they’re available to all – not just a few.
Load me up, Lord. Haul me to your vineyard. I’m ready to work! Amen.
Have you ever found God’s Amazing Grace to be Exasperating?
Or is there a Bible story that you find difficult to understand? Tell me about it.
Have a Super Sunday. Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See ya tomorrow.
Blog title and ideas inspired during my devotional time this morning with Strength & Grace, Daily Devotions from Guideposts
James 1:17
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”
Be a messenger With words of love, peace, and hope Embody God’s love
A Prayer for Grace from Strength & Grace by Guideposts
“Loving God, Lead me to be a vessel of Your healing love in a hurting world. Help me make a difference here on earth by loving people the way that You love them.”
Amen
Reach Out in Love…
…and have a Wonderful Wednesday! See ya later. JanBeek
I pray your Palm Sunday has been a day of ~Peace~ειρήνη~Shalom~Love
Virtual Worship Service
We began our Sunday (after taking a nostalgic virtual stroll through Switzerland here on WP) with a virtual worship service. Many of you who are obeying “STAY at HOME” orders probably did the same. Some churches broadcast their service on You.Tube.com and their members were able to feel like they were together on the screen.
Our Pastor Steve Hundley sent by e-mail (as he did last Sunday) the church bulletin complete with songs linked and the prayers and sermon written out. Let me share a few of his words/prayers and a song with you now.
Opening Prayer:
Loving Father, as we journey with Your Son into this Holy Week of remembrance and hope, help us to understand You and Your love for the world more clearly. Help us to call to mind these past events in Jesus’ life so that we can sense their significance for our present lives and for the future You are preparing for all creation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Sharing the Peace: Call someone who is isolated, discouraged and alone; ask what they might need. Pray with them. (Perhaps you would like to repeat this action throughout the week.)
Pastoral Prayer:
Loving God, who has brought us once more to this Holy Week in which we remember the ministry and suffering of our Lord, help us now to submerge our own needs and fears in Him and learn of Him.
Show us by the resoluteness with which Christ accomplished Your will how we, too, may live gracefully under the pressure in this uncommon time. As the darkness of these days befalls us, teach us to garner our faith by finding new and creative ways to share our lives in spite of the limitations placed upon us.
Guide us as disease and death taunt us and life is cruelest, and we encounter our own “Calvaries” of the spirit, to respond with love, patience, and compassion.
Merciful God, whose healing power is so evident in the fearless and tireless work of our health care professionals, strengthen them and give them courage and confidence in everything they do. Encourage them when their efforts seem futile or when death prevails. Increase their trust in Your power to overcome the risk of their own health, pain, and even death.
Lord Jesus, as You made Your way into Jerusalem, so make Your way into our individual isolation, into our homes, into our rooms, into our hearts, and into our lives. Oh Lord, make us aware that this world crisis we find ourselves in only affirms with great intensity our need for Your saving grace.
Lord, we pray for the most vulnerable among us. Lord, heal those who are already sick, and comfort those who are grieving the unexpected loss of a loved one. Lord, we lift up each one who has been robbed of their employment, their financial security, their sense of peace, if not their health, during this pandemic. Give hope and light to hold on to until the light flows back at the end of this dark tunnel.
janbeek 