Have a blessed first Sunday in Advent! It is a season of HOPE and ANTICIPATION. I pray your season be filled with love and generosity.
Do you have a child or grandchild in your family who would love to see this video explaining the meaning of Advent? If so, pass this along. It’s wonderfully kid friendly… and a good way to begin the season of gifts and giving.
Before I go, let me give a gift to you: The gift of music by Laura Story… The blessing of faith in the “what ifs” of life…
Problems Creep in Usually they’re unbidden Happened all week long Blame
Gifted With Love From my Lord I did move forward Strength
Possibilities Are fueled By firm beliefs Making hard things easier Faith
One step at a time Life is easier with faith Just follow the Light!
This last one’s a Haiku, but the preceding series of three poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.
I hope you had a good week. Enjoy your weekend. Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See ya tomorrow.
Today is World Mental Health Day. How is your mental health?
The Bible is full of wisdom that applies to mental health. Romans 12:18 is a perfect example. Living in peace with everybody includes Living in Peace with YOURSELF!
We all get those days that we just don’t feel good enough. Everything goes wrong. For me, I go to the bible to read the words of God. His personal dialog for us is filled with encouragement, hope, and lessons from which we can learn. Here are my top ten verses that uplift and impact me when I’m at the lowest of lows:
1. Philippians 4:13:
I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.
2. Psalm 46:5
God is within her, she will not fall.
3. Proverbs 31:25
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
4. Psalm 28:76
The Lord is my strength and my shield.
5. 1 Corinthians 25:10
By the grace of God, I am what I am.
6. Romans 5:8
I loved you at your darkest.
7. Psalm 62:5-6
Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on Him. God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe, and he is the fortress where I feel secure.
8. 2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.
9. 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10. 2 Chronicles 20:15
The battle is not ours, but God’s.
Keys to Positive Mental Health
The link below to an article by Brittany Morgan offers ten keys to mental health that worked for her. I found the article to be greatly inspiring. Among her ten ideas that resonated most with me was #1:
1. Unfollowed ‘energy vampires’ on all social media platforms
This one might need a little explaining, so bear with me. An energy vampire is basically anyone who comes into your life and drains you of your positive energy. (Or, any energy in general, for that matter.) I’ve been unlucky enough, as I’m sure you have as well, to meet several of these energy vampires in real life. I’ve decided this past year to unfollow any and all energy vampires on all of my forms of social media, and you should, too.
Life is too short to expend any extra energy on perpetually negative people.
If you agree with her thinking on that idea, you may want to click the link below to see the other nine points she makes.
10 Things I’ve Done For My Mental Health Since Last Year’s World Mental Health Day
On Mental Health Day, I wish you great peace and joy. Let God take your cares.
Lift them up to Him And let them just float away; Replace them with love –
With LOVE for yourself – Remember your Creator Made you to be loved.
When LOVE is poured out, The empty cup returns full! God replaces it.
Remember you are a Child of God!!
Put your hand in the hand of the One who stilled the waters Put your hand in the hand of the One who calmed the seas Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently Put your hand in the hand of the Man from Galilee!
Don’t miss this wonderful song from 1970… One of my favorites!!
Play it again!! Sing along! Put your hand in God’s hand And have a peace-filled World Mental Health Day.
Bye for now. See ya tomorrow.
Tell me how you’re doing today. Thanks for visitingJanBeek.
Today was my first day back at TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensible) https://www.tops.org/ since March 11th.
When this pandemic hit, we were not allowed to meet in our usual spot at the Madison Valley Medical Center. We were encouraged to stay home, socially distance, and sequester if needed to stop the spread of this disease. So we did.
Today our daughter, De, in Switzerland shared some pictures of the renovating and decorating and menu planning they are doing in preparation for the Grand Opening of their new restaurant in Vissoie. I am so excited for them! De and Andre’ are using all the knowledge and wisdom they can muster to create an inviting ambience and delightful dining experiences.
Andre’s shrimp in curry sauce
Andre’s chicken with morel mushroom sauce
Their darling new restaurant in the Alps on the way to Zinal ski area
A cozy corner just for you
This yellow top will be replaced. with a wooden circle, “The Round Table” was always our favorite gathering spot in their previous restaurant.
Our grandson, Mike, is a great photographer. DeAna does a wonderful job, too. They have chosen some of their best shots taken in and around Valais and created a delightful, inviting entrance to the dining room and bar.
Isn’t it inviting? We told De she should offer to sell the photos. I think there’d be buyers, don’t you? My grandson, Mike, could use the cash!
Now, take your knowledge And with wisdom apply it. Gain satisfaction!
Fondue and chalets Speak of Switzerland to me It’s so beautiful!
My grandson, Mikey, Is teasing me with this cheese. He knows I love it!
And my daughter, De, Is teasing me with Swiss scenes. USA’s shut out!
Because of COVID, We can’t even think of going. I long to visit.
Come travel with me Via Internet magic. No place prettier!
That church is close by De and Andre’s restaurant. Opening date soon.
I love Swiss chalets!
This is not a chalet. Notice, no windows. It’s for grain storage and tools.
Notice the big flat rocks under the building at the top of the posts. That’s to keep mice and other rodents from climbing in and stealing the grain!
Do you imagine Travel restrictions will lift In a year from now?
Anyone know who this man is on the memorial rock?
Thanks for traveling Vicariously with me. Next year: Go for real!!
Have a Restful Thursday night.
See ya tomorrow. Meantime, enjoy some Swiss music.
The next You.Tube is a young man from Germany who is at an alphorn competition in Nendaz, Switzerland – very near where De and Andre’s home is in Sierre and their restaurant in Vissoie. He is delightful. Do take time to listen to him!
PHILIPPIANS 4:8 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things.
Keeping Philippians 4:8 in your heart and focusing on the positivity of the NOW will make you smile!
Are you smiling?
Stay in the moment Take notice of little things And you will be blessed!
Tell me, what are you focusing on NOW?? What’s making you smile??
Do you have sunshine in your pocket? Do you have that happy feeling in your body? I dare you to watch this video without smiling!!
