“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
Proverbs 15:13
Use your merry heart To be like an umbrella Protection in storms
At the end of day Your sweet, merry countenance Is a lovely sight
Your positive view Shines through the dark clouds of gloom Lifting others’ hearts 💕
You’ve an extra dose Merriment is contagious You infect others
David Jeremiah’s entry in today’s devotional in Ever Faithful was titled “A Merry Heart.” It gave me the incentive for today’s post:
“After Richard Norris was badly disfigured by a gunshot wound in 1997, he remained hidden at his parents’ home for years. They covered the mirrors to keep him from glimpsing his face. But a team of doctors… gave Richard a new countenance.”
The scripture selected, Proverbs 15:13, fit the story perfectly. Richard’s spirit was broken. His sorrow of the heart was understandable. David Jeremiah went on to link Richard’s sorrow to us all:
“While Richard’s story is unusually dramatic, there’s a sense in which we all need a new countenance. Study the faces of people you meet every day…”
Oh how I love those Last two pictures of my friends Study every face
David Jeremiah goes on to suggest,
“Steal a quick glance at your own face as you pass a mirror or reflective window. …Our emotions inexorably flash through the forty-three muscles in our face and we communicate our feelings through our eyes, brows, and the set of our mouths.”
“One smile can light up a room; one frown can darken a day.
“The Bible tells us a merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. Rejoice in the Lord today and let the joy of Jesus shine through.”
I dare you to listen to this and not smile!!
You know I play the accordion, right? Well this is a concertina… buttons on both sides. Aren’t these kids adorable?
Open up you Merry Heart! Mine is open for you!!
Love ya, JanBeek
Open heart + Open hands = Merry, Cheerful Countenance
The joy that’s comin’ Is here if you’re hummin’ Git yer guitar and start strummin’ Yer smile’s quite becommin’
I found the beauty today In weeds I saw along the way. Many folks would probably say Pull ’em out – or douse ’em with spray!
Joy is a part o’ yer make-up. It’s inside ya ready to take up Residence and cause a shake-up; So smile and light yer face up!
And a joyful face is good medicine fir others!
Just let yer heart glow With the joy that ya know Is inside; Let it show! Let yer love flow.
Luke 8:16
A Lamp on a Stand
16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.”
I let my light shine. It’s part of my design. Lips aren’t a straight line – They should curve up real fine!
Smilin’ makes ya feel better; So, my friends, be a trend setter! Turn off sorrow; don’t be a fretter. You look so much better when you SMILE!
Let yer joy be real clear. Share it with those you hold dear. Give it to those far and near Who need your brand of cheer.
Picture it radiating And wiping out all hating. Picture it pulsating And erasing what’s frustrating.
Yup, this bears repeating:
Joy is a part o’ your make-up. It’s inside ya ready to take up Residence and cause a shake-up; So smile and light yer face up!
I appreciate you. Thanks for your prayers. God heard. God answered. Bob & I are so grateful!
Our WordPress family is so great! Our family and friends have been so comforting during this last year while we went to a gajillion doctors and finally got the reason for Bob’s congestive heart failure diagnosed = TTR Amyloidosis. Oh my! Never heard of it!
We are grateful for the expertise of the Bozeman, MT hematologist who suspected the problem after ruling out the need for a pacemaker or a stent. Neither of those was the problem.
Dr. Hool had encountered two other patients in her career with Amyloidosis. There are two types. One is AL. It is cancer of the bone marrow. Chemo is the only treatment and the life-expectancy is short.
The other type of Amyloidosis is TTR. It manifests itself as a collection of extra protein (it can happen in any of your organs – liver, kidney, brain, etc.). Usually it attacks the weakest of your organs. In Bob’s case it was TTR (thank God – not the cancerous type) and the protein collected in the heart muscle. It stiffened it, causing the heart to function insufficiently.
We are grateful for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and for Dr. Borgeson there who positively identified the TTR variety and prescribed a medicine to (hopefully) fix the problem.
We are grateful to Pfizer for developing the medication and approving Bob’s application for assistance to afford it. It’s outrageously expensive! So, thanks to Pfizer, the medication is on its way. And we are so grateful to all who prayed for this outcome. Thank you! And thank God!
Live in Gratitude! It’s a great state to be in!
Living with an attitude of gratitude Can definitely change your life! Focusing on your blessings Instead of your challenges Turns frowns upsidedown. Try it!
That’s my great-granddaughter, Sienna. I dare you to look at her and not smile!
So how does an attitude of gratitude change your life?
What does the Bible say about that attitude of gratitude?
22 Corinthians 9:11
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
Thank You, God. Thank you, dear friends. We are, indeed, feeling enriched in every way.
Hugs to you, my WP friends … let me know if I can be in prayer for you about something specific, will you?
I have a couple of specific prayer requests: 1) Please add my friend, Alex, to your prayer list. He’s in surgery to have a malignant tumor removed from his lung. God, bee 🐝 with him! 🙏🏽❤️ 2) Please pray that the medication Bob needs is here (in the mail) soon – and pray that it does what it is designed to do – to help break up the protein that already is damaging Bob’s heart muscle – and that it helps to keep further protein deposits from forming.
Eradicate hate! Hate has no place in our hearts. Just love each other!
Anti-Asian words Must come out of ignorance. Don’t “they” know we’re ONE?
We’re all God’s children… Created in His image. Authentically His!
Let your voice be heard. Speak with authenticity: Speak loudly with LOVE!
What can each of us do to help eradicate hate? What can we do to allow everyone to enjoy authentic freedom? What can we do to demonstrate our oneness? Embrace Authenticity!
Time for the weekly sermon notes. We had ZOOM church this morning with the Madison Valley Presbyterian Church in Ennis, Montana – sermon preached by Rev. Steve Hundley
As you know, if you’ve followed my blog for a couple of weeks or more, I listen intently to the pastor’s message and I take notes in poetry, tying to capture the essence of the message. Here is today’s attempt:
Steve titled it, “Vocational Temptation” I re-titled it “A Heart to Comply” Read on and you’ll see why.
“My brother made me do it!” That’s my excuse and I’m stickin’ to it! We rolled tires down a quarter mile hill I was dared to hit a cow. Could I do it?
Yup, the tire hit the cow. The ow hit the ground with a thud. Oh my! The cow landed hard – Topped over and bam! Hit the mud!
I got punished big time for it. I was told not to hurt God’s life. Yet later, I saw my dad kill a cow – And heck! He didn’t think twice!
There must be differet standards For different kinds of behavior. Temptations effect each differently. Temptations weren’t new to our Savior.
He can identify with the Christian Who goes to the club to play golf Instead of going to church that day – And excuses himself with a cough.
It’s not hard to give in To the temptations around us. When we do, don’tcha know God doesn’t punish or ground us.
God understands we’re mortals Who are prone sometimes to neglect The things we know we ought to do. He gives us time to repent and reflect.
Jesus went from being told by a voice That God is proud of Him, God’s Son, To being a man in the wilderness Tempted by the devil – but God won!
For 40 days and 40 nights the devil Tempted Jesus to give in to him. But angels were there, and scripture, too. Jesus didn’t let God’s light grow dim.
The light of God shone brightly As Jesus resisted the devil’s invitation To become more than He already was – To rule the whole universe and all creation.
The Lord is asking us today To resist the temptation to forego His Word and do something wrong. Instead, live in God’s Love – Let His light show.
Lord, let my life be consecrated To You, my Savior, and may I Use the gifts You’ve given me With gratitude … and a Heart to Comply!
Amen.
Thanks for visiting JanBeek Have a super rest of your Sunday. Hugs to you!
‘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
Freely share your light With all those who are near you Let it shine brightly
May your light inspire Those who need to know your Source Let your light shed peace
You can let the Light Shine through your soul to others You have that Light, too
As a Child of God His peace infiltrates your soul Let that peace escape
Embrace the Light!
My 1962 kindergartener, Ty Stiles, after whom I named my first child, died yesterday. I told you about him in a previous post: https://janbeek.blog/2021/01/09/embrace-hope/ on January 9th.
We have been praying for Ty. He had stage 4 liver cancer that metastasized. He was home on Hospice Care with his wife, Roxanne. Ty was a Child of God whose faith was strong. He told Roxanne that he wanted to – and was ready to – go to Heaven.
In my “Embrace Blueness” post 3 days ago, I shared how a broken heart resembles angel wings… and I wrote, “Ty is ready to let go pain. God is asking me to let go my blueness. Release the melancholy that blue sometimes represents, and instead, embrace the “delicate hues of sapphire, turquoise, and indigo” – and the promise of the vast blueness of Heaven where “Healing power pulses” and God is ready to transform the broken heart into angel wings.”
May light shine from you As easily as birds’ songs Cheering all near you
Thanks for visiting. I pray you feel the warmth of that LIGHT within you. Let it shine!!! Let it sing of God’s love in you. See ya tomorrow. Hugs, JanBeek
