Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘peace’

Cast Your Cares


I haven’t posted for a week. Have a Happy Cinco de Mayo! Just here for a quick catch up…

Today’s message in my on-line Guideposts devotional contains an unintentional pun. I’ve been told that the doc may cast this hand with the broken finger when I go in for my follow-up appointment next Wednesday. Meantime, it is wrapped like a mummy and the pain pills are an important part of keeping me from full agony. But they also have some unpleasant side effects that I won’t elaborate on…

Here is a screenshot from my iPhone:

Yes, cast my cares. Cast my hand. Rest in God’s Grace. These are important prescriptions.

Thank you for your prayers. God is good 👍🏽 If you read my blog a week ago, you know I misjudged the height of a curb, tripped, landed on the sidewalk with all my weight on my left hand, broke and dislocated the little finger. You know it could have been much worse. Coulda been the right hand. Coulda been the head or the hip. This left pinky finger will heal. I need to be patient, and faithful about elevating and icing it.

Before I go, though, I need to tell you: Love ya… Appreciate your expressed concern. So grateful for neighbors/friends who come with food and friendship. We are blessed indeed. Your kind words are a comfort. I’ve missed my WP blogging… but, it’s too hard with one hand. As the Guideposts message suggested, I need to let go my troubles, cast them aside, and rest in God’s grace.

Yup, this too shall pass.

Hugs, JanBeek

Category:

blessings, food, friendship, Gratitude, health, Life's Challenges, Love, prayer, Serving One Another

Tagged with:

Hear Our Prayers


What is on your prayer list?
Who are on your prayer list?
Do you pray daily – multiple times each day?
The Bible tells us,

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Prayer joyfully –
with confidence!

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us.

John 5:14

The big question is –
How do we know if what we are praying is in God’s will?

Tune in to the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gave us the Spirit as a helper
when He left earth and ascended into heaven.
Take advantage of that gift! It is ours by God’s grace!

God’s Holy Spirit gives us
the Fruits of the Spirit –
and daily we must pray for
their presence to live in our lives.

I find the first three are mine…
I accept them with deep gratitude.
Not everyone has the LOVE, JOY, and PEACE
that are mine automatically. I know that!
I do not take them for granted.
And if you lack them, I pray
God will provide you today
with LOVE, JOY, and PEACE.

But, the other six? Oh Lord, I ask for help –
Help with them everyday so that I may show more
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
(which brings blessings)
gentleness
and
self-control.

Join us now as we come to God in prayer.
We pray humbly for all people to have:
Love
Food
Medical care
Shelter
Peace
Respect
Freedom
Unity
Faith
Healing
Hope
Comfort
and
Security.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen!

Amen!

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Gratitude, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, music, peace, prayer, Promises, Serving One Another

Tagged with:

Be Not Afraid


Be Not Afraid
Easier said than done
Especially if you have
Bombs blocking the sun

Raising up prayers
For people in Ukraine
Seeing their dismay
Feeling their pain

Wanting to help
Feeling helpless and weak
Praying that our country
Provides the aid they seek

I can’t do much
I pray and I do what I can
To support the people
Do you have a plan?

Check out this possibility
(I hope the link works):
https://kingef.com/products/ukraine-glass-hummingbird-suncatcher—i-stand-with-ukraine—support-ukraine

I will hang this stained glass
In my window when it arrives
It will remind me to pray daily
For the dear Ukrainians’ lives

It’s a worthwhile purchase
It makes me feel like I am doing a little to help.
A portion of the sale price
Will go to recovery efforts
And another part of the money
Will help the artist rebuild her studio
When she finally is able to return home.

This song and prayer are for them –
The dear, innocent victims of this war –
I pray for their safety and their courage
For their lives and their ultimate victory.
Join me in prayer … and sing along:

Sending love and visions of HOPE to you
and to the people of Ukraine…
God, give them peace.

Love, JanBeek

See ya tomorrow (God willing)

Category:

art, Faith, God, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, music, peace, Poetry, prayer

Tagged with:

Bee Confident


Let’s bee confident
Bee in partnership with God
Ask for world peace

Let’s take a lesson
From our wise honeybee friends
Work for common good

Let’s circle our hive
Let’s make honey and not war
Let’s bee confident

Beelieve when we pray
That God hears and He responds
Know that He’s in charge

Matthew 7:7

“Ask, and it will bee given you;
search, and you will find;
knock, and the door will bee opened for you.”

People in Ukraine
Are questioning sanity
How can all this bee?

Why this aggression?
Last month they lived peacefully.
No one suspected.

How could anyone
Imagine atrocities
As bad as these are?

James 4:10

“Humble yourselves before the Lord,
and He will lift you up in honor.”

Lord, we are humbled
Bee merciful to us now
Hear our earnest pleas

Terrifying bombs
Are killing and destroying
Please send protection

PUTIN, take lessons
From our wise honeybee friends
Work for common good!

WordPress friends,
Pray to God, our Father, with me:

Let there bee peace
The peace that was meant to bee
I am confident

Confident, my Lord
That You can make peace to bee
Bring peace to Ukraine.


BEE at PEACE!!

Photo by Michael Hodgins on Pexels.com

Where two or more are gathered,
There our God is with us…
Working for our common good.

Praise God
from whom
all blessings flow…

Lord, thank you for our blessings.
Please bless the Ukrainians with peace.
Please.
Amen!

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, God, Haiku, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, music, Poetry, relationships

Tagged with:

Unbelievable!


What is happening to our Ukrainian brothers and sisters is unbelievable! My heart hurts for them. What can we do to stop Putin’s madness? It is unprovoked murder. God, stop this madness!!!

It is impossible to imagine why these atrocities are occurring. Pray for peace. Pray for God’s miracle to save this country and its people and stop the bloodshed.

What else besides prayer can we do? Donate to a trusted organization such as UNICEF or Presbyterian Relief Fund or Doctors Without Borders where we know the money will go to the intended targets – the people of Ukraine and the helpers sent there to provide aid.

These kinds of unprovoked attacks and deadly occupation have got to be deemed unlawful – a war crime – punishable in the world courts. Enough already!! Stop the madness!!!

What do you think we ordinary concerned citizens should do? What would help the Ukrainians the most?

This is all surreal. Unbelievable!!

Category:

Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Love, prayer

Tagged with:

Life’s a Storm


Life is a snow storm
Each moment a falling flake
Some flutter slowly down
Others dash in piles and cake

Life’s a raging storm
Snow piles high and deep
Troubles mount and stack up
Creating challenges so steep

Friends who saw our plight
Came to lend a hand – Woohoo!
Thank God for Whooter,
the Welnas & Knapton two.

All around the world
Reach out to take a stand
You may not need a snowplow
Just a shovel and a hand

Our ramp was filled with snow
That froze and turned to ice
Those neighbors came to save us
So helpful – yes, so nice!

We couldn’t be more grateful
They cleared a pathway, too
So we could back the car out
We’re doubly blessed; aren’t you?

Photo by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels.com

As world-wide neighbors we see
Friends far and near needing aid
We step up whenever we can
Not expecting to be paid

But in today’s troubled world
We see the flakes raging high
The snow storm of war creates
Ice mounds pounding the sky

No bobcat or shovel budges
The pile of flakes turned to ice
Sending in helpers costs lives
We weigh options and think twice

Will things be alright
In Ukraine and the USA?
What can we do to stop
This mournful storm today?

Pray for this stormy crises to end
Pray for a true world peace
Pray for leaders with malicious intent
To come to their senses. Release!

Release intentions to kill
Release the need to do harm
Disperse the storm clouds today
Commit today to disarm.

Photo by Snapwire on Pexels.com

Pray for Freedom and Peace in the Ukraine

Pray for:
Freedom over tyranny
Peace over war
Calm over storm
Life over death
Love over hate

In Jesus name,
Amen


Be warm,
be safe,
be well,
and pray for peace
in today’s stormy world.
Hugs!

Thank you for visiting JanBeek today
See you tomorrow (God willing)

Category:

Faith, friendship, Giving, God, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, Poetry, prayer, relationships, Serving One Another, work

Tagged with:

Just Sing!


While waiting to find
A reason to keep singing
It occurred to me

Don’t need a reason
Just sing because I want to
Let my song cheer me

Don’t need a reason
I sing because I’m happy
Sing because I’m free

Sing to chase away
The troubles that surround us
Help them go away

I love that version
It makes me happy to sing
I’m so happy – YES!

Blind and autistic
He sings, “I Want to See You.”
He opens my heart!

Sing because you can.
Don’t worry if you’re on key
Just open your heart

Sing, Ukrainians
Stand in solidarity
Sing for your freedom

Let’s sing and pray, too
Sing for their liberation
Join hands for freedom

Everyone join in
Sing a song for their freedom
Help the innocents

Sing for their freedom
Pray for peace in the Ukraine
Sing because you can!

God bless the people of Ukraine

Love to all the people of Ukraine
and all those who are helping
to keep them free from foreign rule.

Sing for freedom!
May your Friday be devoted to freedom’s song…
Love to you all…
JanBeek

Category:

Haiku, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, music, peace, Poetry, relationships

Tagged with:

Dressed for Success


Dressing for success
Means a lot of things to me
It’s more than clothing

Dressing for success
Means emerging peacefully
Clothed in righteousness

This lovely woman
Is dressed for certain success
Only needs a smile

Put on compassion
Don the right mood for your heart
Wear love on your sleeve

Photo by Nina Uhlu00edkovu00e1 on Pexels.com

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!

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, God, Haiku, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, Poetry, prayer, truth

Tagged with:

Peaceful Snowy Day


In the snow there’s light

When sun shines and leaves diamonds

Sparkling so brightly

Last night it snowed less

Than it did a year ago

But BRRRR, it’s colder

It was minus eight

When we woke up this morning

Back in bed we went

Climb up the staircase

To my angel room above

It’s much warmer there

Bob joined me upstairs

For peacetime to read God’s Word

Angels surround us


Each one has meaning

The name of someone on earth

Some already gone


But I know they’re near

In our hearts and in this room

Watching over us

Sue is SandAngel

GlassAngel is named Toni

Joe’s the wooden cross


Each item in here

Has a story to tell you

Holy Spirit speaks


Do you have a place

Where you can go and know peace

On cold snowy days?

Come join the Beekmans

Our home may be messed up, but

Not the Angel Room!

Come and sit a spell

On this peaceful snowy day

You’re always welcome

The Word of God brings comfort:

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?
I hope it’s in your heart today!
Let faith rise up in you…

Category:

Bible Lessons, contentment, Faith, God, Haiku, health, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, music, nature, peace, Poetry, relationships, writing

Tagged with:

Sunday Inspiration


Going to church on Sunday
Always gives me inspiration:
A theme to carry with me
Through the week with contemplation.

Yesterday was no exception –
The message was one of love,
With 1 Cor. 13: 1-13 guiding
My connection with Above.

Our pastor, Mary Grace Reynolds,
Delivered a sermon with finesse,
Alluding to the “Tragic Gap”
That has our world in a mess.

Once upon a time she was
A chaplain in a trauma center.
A man was all alone there
Where she was told to enter.

Her presence felt quite futile –
Comatose and unhooked from life-support;
But she gathered her wits and recited
The Lord’s Prayer, knowing his life was short.

He may not have heard her petition,
But then again, who knew?
Maybe that prayer guided him
To the Lord – and Life anew.

Stealing herself against dismay,
Mary Grace spoke with assurance.
“You’re a beloved Child of God,
And He has issued us insurance.

The pain and hurt of life
Can be a place of great despair,
But you can ask and receive
God’s Grace… it’s always there.”

Mary Grace assured us, too,
That God’s strength is ours to claim
As soon as we believe and
Ask for it in Jesus’ name.

Never doubt that humanity
Can be changed forever more
For the better – in an instant.
Just knock at Jesus’ door!

Don’t accept the “Tragic Gap”
As a place we have to be.
The cavernous space between love
And a world of hate – is not for me!

Lead each other away from
That place of despair and hopelessness.
Be assured, there is a better reality.
Lead on to the road of wholesomeness!

Amen?

In addition to the message of the sermon, I am inspired (sometimes to the point of tears) by the music. Yesterday the hymn that choked me up was this one – Pay attention to those words – they are powerful!

The verse that caught in my throat
was the one that made me think
of the #Bloganuary prompt
from a few days ago:
“How Are You Changing the World?”

Will you love the ‘you’ you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around
through my sight and touch and sound in you, and you in me?

May your presence in this world
Be a source of peace and inspiration
To the people you encounter every day.
Close the “Tragic Gap” with your imagination!

Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
I’ll see you tomorrow (God willing)

Our flight home was
long – but safe.


We are happy to be home –
and delighted to have the floors almost finished.
Also delighted to know there is a medication
out there to help Bob with his heart issues.

Again, thank you for your prayers!
(We await the insurance approval of the med.)
God bless you!

Hugs,
2Beeks

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Gratitude, health, Jesus, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, music, peace, Poetry, prayer, sermon notes, writing

Tagged with:

Tag Cloud

%d bloggers like this: