I’m not in Ukraine I’m not hearing bombs explode Where’s their inner peace?
Standing in the storm As it threatens life and limb Where’s a refuge place?
“The peace of God is mine to call upon always.”
Daily Word,Thursday, March 3, 2022
In the boat on a raging sea, the disciples were afraid. They woke Jesus and pleaded with Him. Save us! How can you sleep through this? Then simply by saying, “Peace, be still,” Jesus calmed the angry waves, and the disciples were amazed.
“I take the lesson to heart, realizing inner peace is not about being calm in settled surroundings; it’s about standing in the tempest steady, strong, and centered in faith.”
“If a storm rages in my mind or heart, I envision the choppy waves being calmed by the love and light of God [or the Holy Spirit] within me. As the sky clears, dark grey yields to vivid blue. Trusting the presence of God is in and through all things.”
Daily Word – “Inner Peace”
The Madison Range view from my sanctuary… and my dining room… and my living room… and my bedroom… (Yes, I am blessed!) “dark grey yields to vivid blue.”
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16
PRAY FOR PEACE!!!
Let’s think again about that “Take-Away” from today’s devotional: “Any place can be a place of refuge if you have inner peace.” Can it? Is inner peace accessible to war-torn Ukrainians? Is that PollyAnna thinking?
Who are those soldiers? Did they survive? Where is the baby who was in that stroller? Do those soldiers and that baby’s parents have inner peace? Where is God for these warriors? Where is God for the man who is ordering this destruction? Where is inner peace? Where is their place of refuge?
Do you ever doubt your niche? Yesterday I posted excerpts from Gottfried’s Banter, a blog whose niche is humor. No, I wasn’t suggesting that my blog should try to fit that niche. Humor like Gottfried’s doesn’t come naturally to me like it does to him.
Gottfried has an oversized funny bone!
No, it’s not numbers, It’s my purpose that dictates My niche and my style.
It’s my gifts that spell The reason for my blogging. How about your niche?
My niche is “Inspiration.”
What’s your intention? Do you need one hundred one Questions to find out?
The Art of Blogging, Cristian Mihai, has questions Yes, one hundred one!
Put on your hope-pack Wiggle into shoes of strength Cinch the belt of truth
Wear armor of grace And the bonnet of bounty Trash the coat of wrath
Burn the clodhoppers Of worry and of anger Just dress for success
Well, they ARE beautiful as they wear… But it’s not the clothing of cloth that counts!
Ephesians 6:14-15 New International Version
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Eight things to add to that list: 1. I have my health. 2. I have love. 3. I have faith. 4. I have trust in God who hears and answers prayers. 5. I have friends who faithfully join me in prayer. 6. My daughter-in-law, Monika had her gall bladder successfully removed and she is at home recuperating… dressed for comfort. 7. Her feet are fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of faith. 8. I am blessed.
I am dressed for success.
Are you?
Here’s my bonnet of bounty!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today. See ya tomorrow (God willing) Hugs!
Windows to the Soul That’s what your eyes have been called May I look deeply?
I want to see you Know you at your heart’s level Open your windows
Seek and you will find But what are you looking for? Look into my soul!
Every week I have the privilege of doing a Bible Study with a few of my favorite residents at the Madison Valley Manor, our local nursing home.
We spoke about the importance of EYES, SEEING, FOCUS, UNDERSTANDING.
The lesson from In Touch, daily reading for devoted living, was based on Gen. 25:19-34. The title was “Spiritual Shortsightedness.“
The lesson demonstrated how focus on the temporal rather than the eternal can cause us to make decisions based on today’s desires or needs without considering tomorrow’s consequences. Notice the focus here:
This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son, Isaac, his wife Rebekah, and their twin boys, Esau and Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
The consequence of Esau’s shortsightedness was disastrous for him. If what we choose to focus on is temporal and selfish, our lives can be turned upside-down, too. What are you looking at? What are you looking for?
My friends at the nursing home and I interspersed music with our Bible reading and sharing. I played my accordion. They sang along. Do you know this one?
“Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see Jesus, To reach out and touch Him And say that I love Him. Open my ears Lord, And teach me to listen. Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see Jesus.”
When I look deeply Into your open windows Will I see pureness?
When looking at me Seeing into my soul’s depths Do you see the Lord?
He lives inside me He helps me practice restraint Who lives in your soul?
Open your eyes, Friend Let me see into your heart I know I’ll find love!
See ya tomorrow (God willing) Thanks for visiting JanBeek I send you love from my soul’s depth.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Thank you for continuing to pray for Bob as we work together trying to get the medication he needs for his heart ailment. Did I tell you that after co-pay the first month of the medication costs over $3,000 ?? Pray that we can get assistance from Pfizer, the manufacturer of the medication, OK? This is a life-saving treatment plan that we need… God knows that!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek See ya tomorrow (God willing)
No reason to be afraid! Take peace… He’s in control!
Where do you find your peace, my friend? Ihope it’s in your heart today! Let faith rise up in you…
Don’t let the sheer cliffs scare you. This driver knows what he’s doing! Thank God!!
You’d enjoy the ride
Putting trust in the driver
He’s quite talented
We’re just relaxing
In Grandmaman’s lovely home
So blessed to be here!
Here’s Nick & Céline
They treated us yesterday
Pink Asian in Sierre
Great breakfast again
At Grandmaman’s lovely home
Sierre, Switzerland
Listening to bells
Is such a rare privilege
I wish you were here!
Our DeDe is such a blessing!
This is a typical scene of flower boxes in Vissoie. They are beautiful at De & André’s chalet.
Did I show you that brief video earlier? It was in my saved drafts.
This afternoon we had a wonderful lunch with Theu and Célia. Their son, Aurélien, lived with us in 2004-5 when we took a motorhome trip from CA to MT and UT and found our Ennis home. We have such wonderful memories of that year with him as he gained air hours to get his pilot’s license
Live sweet memories of beautiful days gone by cherish the friendships
Thank you, Theu & Célia!
There you see Denise happily engaged in conversation with Célia who was across the table from her. They hadn’t seen each other in a while. We had not seen Theu & Célia since Aurélien’s wedding 8 years ago!!
I hope you are able to maintain long-term relationships like this one. Tell me about a special one you treasure.
Did I tell you yesterday about Sylviane? We started calling her Syli in 1982-3 when she lived for a tear with us in California. She took DeDe to live for a year with her family after she left us.
Young, naïve, beautiful, impressionable DeDe!
The lesson learned here: unless you want your daughter to go off to a foreign country to live the rest of her life, do not invite a foreign exchange student into your home when your dollywolly is young and impressionable!
Here I am with ZuZu, our 1980-81 Swiss son. So… on the other hand…
… if you want to enrich your life exponentially, you might consider just that! Check out AFS and tell them what country you’d like to have change your life!!
My friend, Dana, said she wanted to hear more alpenhorn. Here you are, Dana:
Thanks for vicariously traveling with us one more day! See ya tomorrow. Meantime, have a blessed Saturday.
Life is full of challenges. Often we’re asked to step out, Leaving our comfort zone Is sometimes what it’s about.
When our help is needed, We can’t always ask for sun; Sometimes we step into shadows To do what needs to be done.
It’s reassuring to know If we faithfully ask for the Son, We’ll have the strength and courage To step out with help from The One.
He’ll give us the tools we need To respond to the “Step Out” command. So ask for God’s help and you’ll find A prescription for a new Comfort Brand!
You’ll find a broader, available comfort zone, And you’ll have the courage and words you need To step out in ways you never dreamed of … New, expanded comfort zones – guaranteed!
Have a Marvelous Monday! Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow…
