Jesus | JanBeek

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Posts tagged ‘Jesus’

And he sat down opposite the treasury
and watched the people putting money into the offering box.
Many rich people put in large sums.
And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins,
which make a penny.
And he called his disciples to him
and said to them,
“Truly, I say to you,
this poor widow has put in more
than all those who are contributing to the offering box.
For they all contributed out of their abundance,
but she out of her poverty
has put in everything she had,
all she had to live on.”

Our dear neighbor, Scott, came by today.
He brought his shovel and gave us his all!
All the energy he had stored up he poured out!

Our front porch was buried in snow.
Our TazE’s exit from the kitchen door was blocked
with over a foot of snow.
The sidewalk approaching our house
was covered with over 2 feet of snow
that the wind had blown as a drift yesterday.

When Scott left, the porch and entry were cleared.
The sidewalk is passable, so UPS and FedEx
can deliver the package we are expecting today.
And TazE was able to go out
and do her business.
Hooray!

The robins who were hovering
under the patio chairs yesterday
are dancing in the trees today.
The sun is out – melting the snow
that had clung to the branches.

Happy Holy Week, my friends.
Scott gave us his all!
He was exhausted when he finished.
God bless him!

Jesus gave His all!
How much energy – how many coins –
are we willing to give?

I send my love to you, my friends.
Have a Wonderful Wednesday!
See ya tomorrow … Maundy Thursday…
Hugs, JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, friendship, Giving, God, Gratitude, kindness, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, Montana, music, nature, relationships, Serving One Another, work

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The Urge to Purge

It’s the urge to purge
That attacked my head today
Will it go away?

Unexpectedly
As I entered my office
It attacked my brain

Looking at the mess
The urge to purge arrived
I’ve avoided it

It’s easy to see
Why the urge is in my head
Will it reach my hands?

Jesus had the urge
He quickly cleared the temple
The Bible tells us:

Going into the temple
He began to throw out everyone
who had set up shop,
selling everything and anything.
He said, “It’s written in scripture,
My house is a house of prayer;
You have turned it into a religious bazaar.”
Luke 19:45-46

In today’s Mornings With Jesus, Jeanette Levellie was reminded of all the stuff she took home from her grandma’s house when she was there helping her mom with the clutter (er – a – treasures!). She wrote,
“Whenever I’m tempted to want more than I need, I remember that ugly feeling of greed I experienced while cleaning Grandma’s house. I remind myself that God’s house – my heart – is meant for fellowship with Him.”

My office doesn’t look quite as bad as that picture above, but it certainly is full of stuff that represents “more than I need.” My spare bedroom has in it a lot of the stuff that we stored there while we were having our floors redone a couple of months ago. If I haven’t needed it by now, don’t you think it’s time to purge? Likewise, my office would feel a lot more inviting if I got rid of the stuff that clutters the countertops in there, too. Right?

Is this a topic I have shared before? I think so… And I avoided the urge then, just like I am trying t squelch it today!! It’s not just my heart that needs cleaning of any type of greed, it’s my brain that needs to be told that overload of stuff is squelching my creativity! And it will be a major headache for Bob & my kids if I should keel over tomorrow!

Do yourself a favor, Jan:

If the urge to purge
Seemed to attack you today
Let it convince you

Envision the space
With room for meaningful work
That feels lots better!

Thanks, Jesus, for the inspiration.
I need to let your example inspire me!

Do you have an urge to purge today?
Let’s work on that together!
OK?

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
I’ll give you a report!
Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, Haiku, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, peace, Poetry, relationships, Serving One Another

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Donkey Sunday

I met this donkey in England
while visiting Jackie & Derrick Knight!

Sermon Notes

Our message at church today was an interesting one.
Rev. Mary Grace Reynolds shared a story about a
clerical friend of hers who renamed Palm Sunday
“Donkey Sunday” because the palm leaves show up
in only some of the Gospels, but the donkey is in all four!

Power in Love

Royalty who rode donkeys
were considered a disgrace.
But the throng didn’t mind
How Jesus entered the place.

Power is a social contract.
It’s a constructed idea for us.
However it is not a given –
Except in the case of Jesus.

Christ Power is a given.
In the beginning was Light,
And the Light was God who
Came from darkness into sight.

Jesus Christ came from Light.
Through God all things were created.
Jesus was not just made…
He always was. And I’m elated!

Because He came, I know
That He will come again.
He has the power to save us all.
His power can save us from our sin.

Think about the presence
Of power in our lives.
When do you exercise it?
Control it, friends, ’til Christ arrives!

The donkey is a symbol of humility.
The King of Kings came not to reign
Over the rulers of this earthly kingdom.
He came in love to display His own domain.

His kingdom is not on earth.
Instead, it is in eternity…
The place He has reserved
For believers like you and me.

Today might be called “Donkey Sunday.”
It is the day Christ rode to town
On the back of this lowly animal.
Praise God, His Son came down!

Power was His –
But He exchanged it
For humility and love
And expressed it with compassion.

Happy Donkey Week, my friends.
May the Power of the Holy Spirit
Be expressed in you
Through Love and Humility.

Our pastor,
Mary Grace Reynolds,
with me.

Thanks for your message, Rev. Reynolds.
I pray my sermon notes did it justice.

Have blessed Holy Week, my friends.
Love,
JanBeek

See ya tomorrow (God willing)

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, music, Poetry, sermon notes

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Equipped!

Ephesians 2:10 (a & b)

“For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them.”

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

As often happens to me,
I read the first devotional
this morning in Daily Guideposts,
and I was inspired to choose
the word for my blog today.
EQUIPPED!

Then when I opened
the next devotional,
“All God’s Creatures,”
the March/April
Daily Devotions for Animal Lovers,
and the word “equipped”
showed up twice on that page.

What are the chances, you ask?
Pretty good batting average, I’d say.
There it was again:

Ephesians 2:10 (a)

“For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus
for good works.”

The story in “All God’s Creatures” was about a woodpecker who was “beautifully equipped for his unique purpose in life…” as he aggravated the writer with his incessant tapping on the tree trunk outside his window.

The writer, Terry Clifton, mused that he, too, is “a result of God’s handiwork – equipped with talents and skills that have meaning and purpose for [his] life.”

What has God equipped you with?
What unique gifts and talents do you possess
that allow you to let God’s workmanship
shine through you to fulfill His purpose in your life?

On the Daily Guideposts’ page for today
Jerusha Agen wrote,
“All I have to do is walk with God
through each day,
confident He will provide
all I need to accomplish His work.”

It all sounds so theoretical, doesn’t it?
About as solid as that sand in the hand.
But, what scripture is telling us
is that our hearts are not made to be solid.

We are not expected to look at tasks
from our earthly perspective.
Tasks are formed for us beforehand
by our Maker in Heaven.

Don’t eliminate the second part
of the Ephesians 2:10 scripture:
“…which God prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them.”

Like a skilled woodworker
Who sees the image inside the log,
God chiseled our lives and purposes
Before the world saw us.

The tasks placed before us
Are designed with us in mind.
Look at them with Jesus glasses
And see their infinite possibilities.

Do not be overwhelmed
by the world’s naysayers.
Walk with God through each day
Confident you are equipped.

He’s gotcha in the palm of His hand.
He directs your path – and hears you.
He sees your needs and equips you.
Rely on Him – and step out in faith!

What tasks are you equipped to accomplish today?
“If you see someone falling behind, walk beside them.”

Let love pour from your heart
like sand from your hand.

I’m off for a walk in faith.
Join TazE & me?

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love to you,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Giving, God, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, relationships, self-acceptance, Serving One Another, Sharing

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Place of Refuge

“Any place can be a place of refuge if you have inner peace.”
My “Take-away” from today’s Daily Word

Reading Daily Word,
Sitting in my rocking chair
My place of Refuge

Feeling perfect peace
In my settled surroundings
I rethink my quote

“Any place can be
A place of peaceful refuge”
Really, are you sure?

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.”
Daily Word – http://www.unity.org

“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?

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Jesus, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, Montana, peace, Poetry, prayer, relationships

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Love, Joy & Peace

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.

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?

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!

Check it out
(if you doubt your intentions!!)

Cristian Mihai, The Art of Blogging

Feb 9, 2022 marketing Blog blogging

My by-line tells you
What my purposes here are:
Love, Joy, Peace and Faith

Add Unity, too
I aim to help us just love
Keep God’s love centered

I aim to inspire
Often I use poetry
As chosen genre

My mind seems to think
In this lovely Haiku form
Yes, five-seven-five

I love to share others’ poetry here, too.

Often my pictures
Feature our diversity:
Yesterday’s children

Not a melting pot
But a colorful salad
Each adds its color

Each adds the beauty
We’d miss if we’re all the same
Call it gratitude

In that attitude
Of gratitude I can find
The peace God gives us

It is peacefulness
That defies understanding
I pass it to you

My purpose is peace
My goal is spreading the joy
And love from Jesus

Some say religion
Is the main focus I have
But it’s more than that

Love, joy, peace, and faith
Are the stepping stones I climb
To find unity

Sometimes religion
Gets in the way of all that
Sometimes it divides

I’ve heard the saying,
“Sunday mornings are the most
Divided of times.”

Some use religion
To ensure their salvation
But Christ is much more

He is more than church
More than denominations
He’s universal

Luke 2:10
And the angel said to them,
“Fear not, for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.”

My blog’s main purpose
Is to unite everyone
In a common love

I blog of respect
Blog of the Source of my joy
Blog to inspire you

Blog to encourage
Live in constant hope
Believing in God

There is just one God
You may see Him differently
But we all see Him

We know He’s in us
We know He created us
We see His great works

We know a Big Bang
Didn’t make a butterfly
Nor create the world

So, I aim to lift
All our eyes to see the Lord
As a part of God

Just as I see you
A child of the Creator
We’re born to inspire

That’s my sole purpose
That’s why I am blogging here
Why are you here, Friend?

You are given a purpose.
Can you define it?

Have a blessed day.
Stay warm! It’s 2 degrees, snowy and blowy here!
See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.

Bye for now!
Don’t forget to comment below…
Tell me, how do you define your purpose here?

Category:

Bible Lessons, blogging, Faith, God, Gratitude, Haiku, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, Poetry, Serving One Another, writing

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The Gift of Love

Love is a gift from God.
Love is an action word.
Bob Goff wrote a book:
“Love Does” – have you heard?

Have you heard the Word
That tells us how to love?
It’s in Corinthians 13 –
Instructions from above.

In her post today, Caralyn of “Beauty Beyond Bones” explained her thoughts on the subject of the Source of our love. She remarked about the newest Time Magazine featuring a cover photo of Jesus. The caption, “Who Do You Say that I Am?” caused her to give us a wonderful Valentine’s Day answer:

Caralyn wrote:

“You are my best friend.
The source and foundation of my recovery.
You are my hope in hard times,
my gratitude in the good,
my comfort in fear,
my joy in the everyday,
my courage and fortitude.
You are the fullness of my heart.
You are the grace
running through my veins.
You are my everything.”

https://wordpress.com/post/35023548/25969
(Hopefully this link will take you to
Caralyn’s post today:
A God Wink Valentine)

In my devotional time with In Touch, the daily readings by Charles Stanley, the subject of love was linked to our faith. Yes, it is within all things – because all things were made by our Creator – made with love and care! But the reflection on today’s scripture reminded us that “… accepting God’s love is a matter of faith. Even when you can’t feel it, believe it.“

1 John 4:7-10
“⁷Dear friends,
let us love one another,
for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves
has been born of God
and knows God.
⁸Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love.
⁹This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son into the world
that we might live through him.
¹⁰This is love: not that we loved God,
but that he loved us
and sent his Son
as an atoning sacrifice
for our sins.”

Love is a gift from God.
We can do nothing to earn it –
But it is ours to share!

Charles Stanley wrote:
“No one is worthy of God’s grace and mercy…
To consider yourself beyond the reach of grace
is to trample on the Son’s sufficient sacrifice
and the Father’s generous gift.”

Wear your love on your sleeve.
Radiate love with each smile.
Let love stay behind when you leave –
It’s renewable – it’s your style!

Take my heart –
and please don’t break it!

Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.

Happy Valentine’s Day!
See ya tomorrow (God willing)

Category:

Bible Lessons, books, Faith, God, holidays, Jesus, Love, music, Poetry

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Windows to the Soul

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.

Look in my eyes – Hah!
(No, that’s not current!)

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Haiku, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Love, music, Poetry

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Heavy Burdened

I am unable to sleep tonight. Part of it is restless leg syndrome. Do you ever suffer from that? If so, what do you do about it?

Part of it is the burden of unfinished business. I FAXed a request to Pfizer for financial assistance in order to get Bob’s medication for his heart trouble, but I am not sure the company received my FAX. I received no verification. I need to follow up. Can’t do it at 2: in the morning, but it weighs on my heart and I am restless. The heavy burden of unfinished business is weighing me down.

So, I got up and decided to read a few devotionals, check out some Bible verses that might help me, and see if I can get back to sleep. I prayed for God’s help, and of course (as always) He delivered. Right in my e-mail box, here was just the message I needed from:

The Tired Elk

I relieved his shoulder from the burden.
Psalm 81:6, CSB

Are you carrying around a heavy burden?

So was a bull elk in Colorado who somehow stuck his head into an abandoned car tire and got it caught around his neck. As his antlers grew, the tire was impossible to shake off. He was tracked for two years as he wandered around “tired.” His heavy rubber necklace weighed him down day and night. Finally, wildlife officials were able to find and tranquilize him. They removed the heavy weight from his neck before releasing him back into the wild.

Strength

My “WORD” for 2022 is
STRENGTH,
so I was delighted to see
the Bloganuary#25 prompt is:
“Write about what makes you feel strong.“

More important than anything else for me
Is realizing the Source of my strength
And tuning in to the One who delivers it.
He has strength closer than arm’s length.

In my Morning with Jesus 2022 daily reading,
I find scripture references to draw on.
When I need extra strength, I go where
Help is delivered faster than Amazon!

Ps. 31:24

“Be strong and take heart
All you who hope in the Lord.”

God does not promise we will be without troubles.
He simply says He will walk us through.
So when you feel you’re in the middle of an earthquake,
Rely on God because He is there with you!

Joshua 1:9

“Be strong and of good courage;
Be not afraid,
Neither be thou dismayed:
For the Lord, thy God,
Is with thee.”

He lifts me up
when I can no longer
walk on my own!

2 Cor. 12:9

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you;
for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly
about my weakness,
so that Christ’s power
may rest on me.”

And I can rest on Him…
as He raises me up
so I can stand on mountains!

Believe it!
You have the Power of God in you!

Be strong and of good courage!
That’s what we needed this week
As we are at Mayo Clinic looking
For answers. He cares as we seek!

In awe of Him, we are still,
and in His presence we bow
And pray for His strength.
He delivers today… right now!

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love to you…
Have a blessed Tuesday!
JanBeek

Sure do love that guy!
60 years coming Feb. 11 !!

Category:

Bible Lessons, blogging, Faith, God, Gratitude, health, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, mental health, music, peace, Poetry, prayer, writing

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JanBeek

Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘Jesus’

The Urge to Purge

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Donkey Sunday

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Place of Refuge

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Windows to the Soul

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Heavy Burdened

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Strength

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JanBeek

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Recent Posts

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You Are Loved!

Awards

Sunshine Award

Commenter Award

JanBeek

Love, Family, Living in God’s Family, Compassion, Judgment, Giving, Forgiveness, Generosity

Follow Blog via Email