Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘helping others’

Share Your Saltiness!

Share Your Saltiness!

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(If you’ve followed my blog

for awhile, you know it’s my habit

to take poetic notes while listening

to Rev. Jean Johnson’s sermons

in our Ennis, Montana Presbyterian Church.

If you’re new to JanBeek, now you know!

Here are my notes from today’s message

based on the scripture in Mark 9:38-50)

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I take salt for granted.

I simply know it’s good.

I understand it preserves

and flavors food – as it should.

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Salt is a part of life.

It’s here among us all.

So, why did Jesus talk

About lack of salt this fall?

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Where’s the Good News

In Jesus’ message of salt?

If salt loses its taste,

Am I, dear Lord, at fault?

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We, as the church, are called

To be the Salt of the Earth.

If we lose our saltiness,

We forget our Christian birth.

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Born into the faith, we’re given

The spices of zest and grace.

We’re called to season every need,

To help each hurting face.

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Our salt is meant to sprinkle

Both saint and sinner – the same.

Remember, we all are sinners, too,

So share your saltiness in Jesus’ name.

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Amen?

(And this Sunday afternoon I’m wondering,

Do you s’posed Jesus might have had this

salty sharing in mind? Come on over!)

Oh goodness! Is that sacrilegious? Or just some of my saltiness spilling out?

Remaining Useful

When your hair is sparkling silver

And your chest is wrinkled skin,

How can your life be useful?

How can you keep your grin?

I’ll tell you all my secret –

It’s not too hard to know.

You have to find your niches

And stay useful as you grow.

You can’t let age impale you

And make you feel extinct.

You have to keep on growing

And keep your life distinct!

So find out where your passions

Lead you to volunteer –

And soon skin and hair tone

Will bring you cause to cheer!

It’s only when we’ve given

A life of service sincere

That we can join the chorus

In a heartfelt round of cheer.

We must resolve to remain useful.

We must share our time with glee.

Then the outer image fades away,

And our joy is all they see!

Chico Paints Bob

Chico and Bob sit at the table

Chico paints as well as he’s able

Amazing indeed, with arms so small,

That he can create such art at all

But Chico doesn’t let his different condition

Thwart his creativity or hinder ambition

He can do what he sets his mind to do

Such an inspiration to me and you!

Fires

Fires

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California is on fire.
Montana is burning now.
Firefighters are trying
To save this land somehow.

Friends are on alert –
Their belongings packed to go –
To move if necessary.
Move where? Some just don’t know.

We’re here to lend a hand,
But our resources are so slim.
We need the help of rain.
We must simply rely on Him.

No man can can tame the flames
That burn without regard
For whose life is damaged –
Who has lost their home and yard.

No man can stop the spreading
Without help from God above.
But here, at home in comfort,
I can offer hope and love.

I can pray for the firefighters.
I can offer food and shelter,
But I can’t stop the flames,
Nor tame the heat – the swelter!

Lord of Life and All Creation,
Please send us relief in rain.
Take away death and destruction,
And make us beautiful again.

 

Amen?

Absconded

My country has been taken

Prisoner as it makes

Prisoners of children.

Who absconded with

My country and turned

Its southern border into

A Hellhole?

What can we do,

What must we do

To take it back?

FATHER

The poem below is one I found in a box of my mom’s favorite poems. She had this one memorized and used to recite it (along with others she had committed to memory) at various public gatherings and her Rebekah’s Lodge meetings.

FATHER

Used to wonder just why Father

Never had much time for play;

Used to wonder why he’d rather

Work each minute of the day.

Used to wonder why he never

Loafed along the road and shirked.

Can’t recall a single time whenever

Father played, while others worked.

Father never dressed in fashion,

Sort of hated clothing new;

Style with him was not a passion,

He had other things in view.

Boys are blind to much that’s going

On about ’em day by day.

And I had no way of knowing

What became of Father’s pay.

All I knew was when I needed

Shoes, I got ’em on the spot

Everything for which I pleaded

Somehow, Father always got.

Wondered, season after season,

Why he never took a rest

And that I might be the reason,

That, I never even guessed.

Wanted me to go to college

Dad was great on learning stuff

Always said that having knowledge

Helped a man through places rough.

But I thought it too much bother,

And I loitered day by day,

Wasting time, ignoring a Father,

Now I know I’ll have to pay.

Saw his cheeks were getting paler,

Didn’t understand just why;

Saw his body growing frailer,

Then at last I saw him die.

Rest had come, his tasks had ended,

Calm was written on his brow;

Father’s life was big and splendid –

And I understand it now.

Poet Unknown

Follow Me

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Follow Me

Follow me, little one –

I will not lead you astray.

Follow me, innocent one –

I’ll follow you someday.

While you are young

And growing more each day,

Let me guide your footsteps

In a safe and thoughtful way.

When you face some crossroads

And wonder where to turn,

Let me help you choose, and

Let me help you learn.

Soon enough you’ll find me

Needing help, seeking your advice.

But for now, follow me, my love –

Your company feels so nice!

Outsiders

Jesus on the Cross

Jesus – simple, yet complex

Outsiders

A prophet is known
by the company he keeps.
If Jesus were a true prophet,
the right people would be His sheep.

But baaaaad people hung out
with Jesus – sinners of the worst sort.
Jesus scandalously kept company
with tax collectors, folks report.

His circle included prostitutes.
He dined with people of ill repute.
How did He respond to complainers?
Did He have a good word of refute?

No, He told the story of the lost –
Lost coins, lost sheep, lost kids.
Find the coin, search for lambs,
Be relentless finding others, Jesus bids.

But, though we’re concerned,
We have our limits, right?
Do we seek unending until we find?
No, it’s not about us and our plight.

It’s about God who searches.
It’s about our Lord who actively calls.
He needs us all …  you and me.
Invite the outsiders. Break down walls.

Amen?

Hands On

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Today I am headed to provide respite for a wonderful daughter and her dad who are caregivers for their mom and wife. They make it possible for this lovely lady to be in her home. She is a sweetheart, but Alzheimer’s is robbing her slowly, day by day, of her ability to function independently. Hands on care is such a gift! Whatever we can do to take care of our caregivers, we should do as often as possible. Give them a respite occasionally. Who knows, I may be that person tomorrow – that person who needs 24/7 care in order to remain in my home. God bless you, dear readers. Reach out to someone today!

Hands On Christmas

I am having such fun!!

My Senior Buddy and I had our fingernails decorated for Christmas. We are ready for a Hands On Christmas. Reaching out to spread a little cheer. Smile! Our pinkies sport a snowman on one hand and Santa on the other.  My senior friend (90) is the coolest Great-Grandma on the planet!!

Have you heard of the Senior Companion program? I had not heard of it until I moved here to Montana from California. It is an active program in our area. Allowing seniors who no longer drive and who live alone to remain independent in their homes, we pair up seniors (55 and over) with other seniors who need help. I joined with the intention of “giving” but I receive so much more than I give. Isn’t that the way it is with LOVE?

Merry Christmas! Have a Hands On Christmas!

 

Hands On Christmas

Here is my dear friend. What a joy it is to know her!

 

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