Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘Power’

The Joy & Power of Prayer

This is the cover of a little book that belonged to my mother-in-law.
I inherited it from her. The circle stain was created one morning when she set her tea cup on it. She was mortified! It didn’t spoil the book, though. The contents still are as precious as ever.

Bob’s sister gave the book to her in 1975 for Mother’s Day. Grandma Beekman treasured it, and read its inspirational quotes on a regular basis during her morning prayer time.

Here are a few of my favorites:

I like this last one a lot. Look at some of the ways it has been translated:

New International Version
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?

New Living Translation
Is he deaf—the one who made your ears? Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes?

Berean Study Bible
He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?

Christian Standard Bible
Can the one who shaped the ear not hear, the one who formed the eye not see?

Contemporary English Version
God gave us ears and eyes! Can’t he hear and see?

Good News Translation
God made our ears–can’t he hear? He made our eyes–can’t he see?

International Standard Version
The one who formed the ear can hear, can he not? The one who made the eyes can see, can he not?

GOD’S WORD® Translation
God created ears. Do you think he can’t hear? He formed eyes. Do you think he can’t see?

American King James Version
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?

World English Bible
He who implanted the ear, won’t he hear? He who formed the eye, won’t he see?

Two questions…
no matter how you word them,
the answer is always the same.

YES!
He hears.

YES!
He sees.

Reading the Guideposts magazine this morning,
this quote reinforced what we know:

So, that’s the bottom line.
There is joy and power in prayer.

God hears.
God sees.
God answers prayer.

Prove that reality…
Just pray!

I’m praying for you.
See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Living in Christ's Family, Love, prayer

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Let’s Be Whole!

We are a divided country.
The words “they” and “them”
are heard more frequently today
than ever before in my 80 years of life.

What is causing this?
And what can we do about it?
Here is one man’s suggestion.
I think it is so true.

Right on!
It’s as true in China (where the Corona virus is rampant,
and citizens are bravely speaking out against
a government that acted slowly
on the knowledge of the virus),
as it is in the USA where
election rhetoric
is hateful and divisive.

So how do we begin to “fight for each other?”

From his prison cell in Rome, Paul wrote to the people of Colosse. He had visited there before his imprisonment. His letter to them in the book of Colossians was written to encourage them, just as we, the people of this divided world, need encouragement today.

Colossians 2: 1-3
“I want you to know how much I am struggling for you… and for all those who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart, and united in love, so they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Colossians 2:8
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of the world rather than on Christ.”

Colossians 3:12-14
“Therefore… clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive what ever grievances you may have against one another… And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Photo by Wendy van Zyl on Pexels.com

Yes, the Bible has words of wisdom, words of advise for ALL in times of trouble. We need only open its pages to find scripture that directs our paths toward the unity we all seek. In Colossians, Paul tells us to put on:

  • compassion
  • kindness
  • humility
  • gentleness
  • patience
  • LOVE

… and in so doing, we will find the peace of Christ living in our hearts.
We are members of one body.
We are ONE.
We need to know that without a doubt
and act accordingly.

Don’t let hateful rhetoric divide our oneness
into the “they-them” and “we-us” mentality!

We’re all in this together.
Let’s be whole!

Thanks for visiting JanBeek.


Have a Marvelous, Love-filled Monday!

See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Belief, books, Faith, friendship, Giving, God, health, Jesus, life, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, peace, prayer, respect, Serving One Another, Sharing

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You Have the Power

You Have the Power

This post is dedicated to my #1 Grandson.
He recently graduated from college,
received his well-earned diploma,
and has a couple of part-time jobs,
equaling 100% employment.
It was not an easy road,
but he has tenacity…
He stuck with it.
He did it!

I am so proud of him!

 

z-Perks' Wisdom: Your Power.jpg

Happiness is living life true
In a way that allows you
To be all God made you to be
And doing it on a path of integrity.

No one says it will be easy.
Sometimes it’s light and breezy,
But mostly it’s just hard work
And determination not to shirk.

So, run the race of life with grit.
Set your goal and stick to it.
When times are tough, keep going –
You crossed the finish line  knowing

You Have the Power!

Mike - finished race.jpg

Congratulations, Mike!

Did you, or do you have a person in your life who used their grit and tenacity to achieve a goal in spite of all odds? This post is for you!

And if you are in the midst of a struggle – wondering if the blood, sweat, tears, and heartache, setbacks and discouragements are worth it. Believe in your goals. Believe in yourself. Stick with it.

You have the power!

Have a good night.
It’s my bedtime.

img_8341
See you tomorrow!

 

Category:

Family, happiness, learning, Life's Challenges, Love, Poetry, work

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Spoken For

Sunday morning Sermon Notes
Rev. Jean Johnson – inspired by John 10:22-30
Notes recorded
by Jan Beekman
5/12/19

God Loves You

Spoken For

“Back off, Sister, he’s spoken for!”
He smiled, “I didn’t know. How nice!”
Think about this message today.
In fact, think about it twice!

…
Someone has stepped up to claim you.
Faith is understanding who you are:
A Child of God who loves you.
Are you following the right star?

…
It’s not a walk that you control.
Our power over thoughts and actions
Is limited by our frail humanity.
There are temptations and other factions.

…
God is God  – – – and we are not.
We are sinners – even with best of intentions.
We can’t climb up to God,
Not with the greatest of ladder extensions!

…
God came down to us in Jesus.
He calls us to follow; we’re His sheep.
God took the path toward us – and we
Have been found; even without a peep!

…
It’s reassuring to know it’s not me.
It’s reassuring to know God came.
He came to save me in spite of myself.
He came and He called me by name!

…
Here I am, Lord. I didn’t know – how nice!
Yes, I’m spoken for. I’m received.
Yes, I’m yours, Lord. Thank You.
Use me, God; I won’t be deceived!

Amen?
Amen!

See you tomorrow.

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Jesus, Love

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Aside

The Power of Water

Image

I love water. Do you? Water is a life-giving force; it is the one essential, besides LOVE, that sustains life. Life cannot be sustained without it!

I was in a conversation with a former wrestling student of my husband’s recently and he said he was “Headed back out to sea again. Headed back to Tern and Laysan Islands in the Northern Hawaiian Island chain.” He said, “Hope the seas aren’t as rough this time. I hate paying for meals I can’t keep down…” His image of going to sea was not necessarily a pleasant one. After he returned, he wrote to say he was “back on dry land again.” He lives in the state of Washington. Living here in Montana, I told him he didn’t know what “dry” means. We need rain so badly here! That comment lead to an e-mail exchange of ideas about water. The last of those found our friend writing so poetically that I decided in fact his words are a poem!! I took a few editorial liberties and added a couple of phrases here and there… but mainly, the words below are his! I added a picture of the Gallatin River where my grandchildren and I hiked last summer. Beautiful, powerful water! You never know where your next source of word power will emerge. Read on… and thank you, Peter Martin, for your inspirational message!

 

The Power of Water

 

Water is a powerful source of energy.

Whether at the shore or along a river,

it sounds almost mathematical,

and it draws me closer,

nearer to God, my Creator.

I don’t know if it reminds

a person of being in the womb,

or if it is older and much more

in the primal brain centers.

I do know that whether peaceful

or babbling, rumbling or gurgling,

it instantly reminds me of music.

Like bathing the soul in color,

cleansing our senses,

restoring our faith,

giving us strength to continue,

It nurtures our mineral needs

and draws away pain.

Water

is my source of…

 

How would you complete that sentence?

You, too, are a poet, my friend.

Join your comments to Peter’s and add your word images below.

I’d love to hear from you.

JanBeek  ;o)

 

 

Written

on October 22, 2012

The Source of My Light

The source of my light
Is no mystery to me.
The chords of my heart string
To the love of God’s electricity.

He charges me up
With His Word every day
So I can go out and walk
In the light of His Way.

The chords of His beams
Are not seen by the eye;
An invisible source
Is His love from on high.

It sings chords of peace.
It sounds soft and sweet.
Anyone can tap into His Power –
It’s not “cyber-cheat!”

The source of my light
Is no mystery to me.
His POWER can be yours, too.
God sends His love – FREE!

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”  I love that scripture. I know that my works can give glory to God only if I am God’s servant. If I am obedient to God, He edits my life daily. He sends me His love and power so I can stand up under the weight of the burdens of this world. Just as my poem needed rewriting as I rethought the use of cords and chords, my life and my thoughts, my intentions and my actions need God’s revisions. A cord is a thing – you can see it as a line drawn from a bulb, or some electrical appliance, to its power source. But a chord is a sound – an invisible vibration sending a signal to your ear, heard as a tone. To me, that’s more like my connection to God’s Will in my life. The Holy Chord is the Holy Spirit – the spirit of God in me. I can hear its music! I can feel its Light.

May you have the joy of hearing His tones – His music – His love singing in and through you! Shine on!!

Category:

Love

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