Isaiah 43:4-5a. “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men to exchange for your life. Do not be afraid for I am with you…”
I knew where we were going… HOME! And I knew God was with us, guarding and guiding us. I learned as we were at the “41 miles to go” mark that a woman about my age had died in a tragic accident the day before on this very stretch of road. Her demise was a jack-knifed semi. She hit black ice and slid into it when she was trying to turn and avoid it. It was a clear day – at 4: o’clock in the afternoon. We were traveling home on that two-lane road in the dark. A host of family and friends were praying for our safe travel. We TRUSTED God’s guidance as we crept along, blinded by the bright headlights of on-coming semis.
At about the “20 miles to go” mark, if I had my window down, I could have reached out and touched the big doe that was preparing to cross the road in front of us. We didn’t see the deer until we were almost on top of it… or it on top of us! You can imagine how we prayed prayers of gratitude all the rest of the way home!!
This morning, in my wonderful upstairs space that I call my “sanctuairee,” I was reading a commentary by Rev. Dr. David Jeremiah. It was for me!!
“Praising God for Miracles”
“Among the stories connected to the memory of Francis of Assisi is this one: One day Francis gathered his friends at a remote monastery in central Italy. When he asked them about their journeys, each brother had an exciting tale to report. One had been riding his mule across a narrow bridge that spanned a deep gorge. When the mule bolted, the man was nearly thrown into the ravine. He praised God he hadn’t been killed.
Another brother had nearly drowned fording a river, but he said, ‘God in His grace provided a tree that had fallen across the water. I was able to grasp a branch and pull myself to safety.’ Other brothers expressed similar stories of God’s protection.
Then someone asked Francis about his trip. ‘I experienced the greatest miracle of all,’ said the famous friar. ‘I had a smooth, pleasant, and uneventful journey.’
We should always remember to praise God for His miracles in whatever form they come. He blesses, heals, rescues, delivers, helps, and uplifts more times every day than we can count. We should always be saying, ‘Thank You, Lord!’
Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth”
Thank you, David Jeremiah, for your timely message this day. It’s a perfect one!
So, on this journey called life, I choose to trust God. I may not know where He is taking me tomorrow, but I know if I trust in Him, and ask for His guidance, and look for His direction, He will not fail me.
Choose to TRUST
Looking again at the scripture Dr. Jeremiah chose for today’s devotional, I am reminded of Martin Luther King Day yesterday… and the way he gave his life for his principles of Freedom, Equality for all, and Non-violence.
Yes, God said, “I will give men to exchange for your life.”
I pray we all will remember the men and women who gave their lives so that we might enjoy the peace we have today. It is still going on in those war-torn places around the world. God bless our faithful warriors who fight to keep us free and those servants of God world-wide who choose to TRUST in God’s protection as they fight to maintain their county’s freedom. Amen
Thank You, God, for the way You bless, heal, rescue, deliver, help, and uplift us more times every day than we can count.
Help us follow Your example of love and spread Your Good News with Trust and Assurance every day. Amen
He coined “Boldacious” And I immediately Claimed it as my own
Dwight: Roth Poetry Recognized the “Me” in it It’s a perfect word
Colorfully Boldacious!
Recklessly Boldacious!
Carelessly Boldacious!
Repeatedly Boldacious
Lovingly Boldacious
Spiritually Boldacious
“The righteous are bold because they know that God is for them and what they have to say is important.”
(Hebrews 13:6)
Cautiously Boldacious
Consistently Boldacious
What does the Bible say about boldness? Being bold is having courage and speaking out against what’s wrong no matter what others think or say. It’s doing God’s will and continuing on the path that He put you on regardless of the hardship you face. When you’re bold you know God is always on your side so there’s never a reason to fear.
Are you Boldacious? You have every reason to be! You are unique! Use your uniqueness to the max!! You gotta be you!
1 Peter 4:10-11
God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.
Step out BOLDACIOUSLY You gotta be all God made you to be TO THE MAX!
Have a boldacious day. Love from BoldaciousJanBeek
Is it hard for you to ask for help? Some people find it very difficult. Some people feel like they are a burden. They want to be self-sufficient.
Bob and I have learned Self-sufficiency is harder as you age. Asking for help is imperative, Especially when you are stuck!!
That red dot out there is the back – The back light of our car. We high-centered in.a snow drift. That’s about 50 yards out.
It is freezing out there – Brrr! We walked home and left the car. Brrrr… Help! We can’t do it – Can’t dig ourselves out.
It’s not the first time We needed help this week – Not the first time this year. What would we do alone??
Thank God for friends and neighbors. Thank God for Bobcats & snow blowers And friends who come to help. We would be toast without them!
Tomorrow’s sunrise promises us A better day – a chance to get out A chance to go to church and thank God For the HELP we receive from so many
Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Do not be afraid to ask Do not be too proud to admit You need help – can’t do it all yourself Let others help… and ask God for help, too!
No request is too small.
We reached out yestersay We asked our friend, Joe, for help He came and helped Bob Unbury our snow fence
Earlier this month I reached out And asked my friend, Susan P, For help with my Christmas decorations She came – we did it together – God bless her!
I couldn’t have done this without her!
May the Lord bless and keep you May your neighbors and friends Be the help you need when in distress Don’t be afraid to cry out: HELP!!
There is no joy in aloneness When you are craving assistance People want to help you They want to be asked. So do!
Do ask for HELP when you need it Ask for HELP when you want it You will be blessed and so will your helper We all need to be needed!!
This is my adorable 10-year-old friend Hailey helps to give me a sense of purpose Each week she joins me in my sanctuary We study scripture and read devotionals
I am so grateful for her and her mom They let me know they needed something In helping them, I am the one who is blessed You, too, can be the helper as well as the one who’s helped
Reach out today and make someone’s life better In the process, you will make your own richer, too. Help is a two-way street – Don’t miss it! God bless you, my dear WP friends… you help
You help by reading my blog and commenting You help by posting your stories and inspiration You never know just who needs what you write You never know who you’re he[ping today! Thanks for dropping by JanBeek today.
Your “likes” and comments lift my spirits. I’m headed to go see your blog right now, too. Thanks for your HELP!!
Thousands of years before His birth, Isaiah predicted Him:
Isaiah 9:6
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Then, when Isaiah’s prediction came true, Jesus came to earth… the Prince of Peace, Here to show us how to find His peace, Here to show us how to live.
Ephesians2:14 put it this way:
“Jesus is our peace” Because Jesus “came and preached peace to you who were far away and those who were near.”
Jesus came, lived to show us and teach us, and died to save us. Believing that is the road to His grace. Believing that is the way to Eternal Life. Believing that is the path to peace.
Dr. John Koessler wrote:
“Those who know the peace of Christ become agents of peace themselves. When Jesus first sent His disciples to proclaim the kingdom, He told them, ‘As you enter the home, give it your greeting.’ Matthew 10:12 (the traditional Jewish greeting, Shalom) This was more than a social formality, Christians are offering peace through faith in Christ to others. The shalom of Christ is more than a greeting. It is a promise. There is more to peace than a personal experience. For the Christian, peace is a person. Jesus is our peace.”
There is more than one way to interpret the word “wait.” The photo above shows you a waitress who is “waiting” on a table.
Some waiting is defined by an expectation of something or someone to come… like a good friend.
Other waiting is short-term, self-imposed, self-defined… …. like waiting for your food to digest before that next meal or dessert after a huge Thanksgiving dinner!
Today is the first day of Advent. As a Christian, that means we have 40 days of waiting.
The season of Advent lasts through Christmas Eve. When Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, it is the last or fourth Sunday of Advent. In Eastern Orthodox churches, which use the Julian calendar, Advent begins earlier, on November 15, and lasts 40 days, rather than 4 weeks.
40 days of waiting for the coming of the Christ Child … waiting for Christmas.
The word “Advent” stems from the Latin word adventus, which literally means “coming” or “arrival.” Our sermon at my church this morning dealt with this topic of waiting… waiting for that special arrival.
Pastor Mary Grace Reynolds spoke about a children’s book (I think it was a Dr. Seuss) that depicted a “waiting place” as a “useless place” but she encouraged us to view waiting differently.
She asked us what we do when we are waiting. Some people find something to read. Others play on their phones or engage in conversation with a friend. Some write letters or cards or they reach out to help a neighbor. Spend the waiting time productively.
I wrote this conclusion as I listened:
There is a lot we can do while we wait. Think about the good things we can do. Gracious God, help us make waiting useful. Let’s fill it with good things for me and You.
We can live during this time of waiting With love and hope in our heart. We have control over our actions. We can spread peace – today’s the day to start.
Ready? Begin!
Psalms 27:13-14 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today. Have a wonderful season of Advent.
Love and hugs to you!
Make your waiting a time of love and compassion! Reach out today!
This blog was posted in my “Embrace” series a year or so ago. Many of you, my faithful followers, saw it and commented. Thank you so much!
It is worth revisiting! I have several new friends since then, so I think this is a good one to reblog as we approach this Thanksgiving Day 2022. Gathering with friends and family reminds us of the blessing these friendships are to us.
My devotional this morning in These Days, Daily Devotions for Living by Faith, quoted Col.1:11-12 and reminded us, “Being in a healthy relationship is no small task.”
It went on to tell us, “It takes work, sacrifice, and understanding.” Yesterday I reblogged a post titled, “Partners” that pointed to those same requirements for lasting relationships.
I recommend that you click on the “Best Friendship Songs” below and listen as you read my Haiku renderings on this subject of Relationships.
Relationships are What this life is all about Friends are our life’s gifts
We need each other Going through life alone won’t work Loneliness smothers
We’re never alone When we’ve a relationship With God, our Maker
Put God first in life Let Him help you bind your love So it never breaks
In an article in Woman’s Day Magazine, I quote:
“Whether you’re starting out a new relationship, have been married for years, simply love your friends, or adore your family, there’s always a way to incorporate God into each of the unique relationships in your life.”
Choose relationships Grounded in mutual love With respect at center
Seek Godly friendships Not just with your great neighbors, But with every one
Especially when You are choosing a life’s mate, Be centered in God
Men, listen to this: If she does not know your God, She doesn’t know real love.
Don’t give up on her! Teach her about the Savior Save relationships
Embrace your friendships Love one another fully Treasure your family
I am grateful for The love of my family I can count on them
I pray your friends care For you as mine do for me… And know I love you!
You are blogging friends Who visit JanBeek to say “I care about you”
I am inspired by The way I can count on you To come, read, and write
God bless you, dear friends Your relationship matters It’s more than on-line
It’s alive in me You’re a friend I depend on I can count on you!
Have you been listening To that collection of songs? Lots of good words there!
Like: “Live your story” “Know our love will never die” “Hold on to your friends.”
Thank you for visiting JanBeek today. You matter to me. Thank you for being my friend. See you tomorrow.
My niece, Jodie, with me and her best friend, Melissa… Such treasures in my life!!
Four years ago I posted this blog, feeling grateful for my lifetime partner, dear, precious, faithful Bob Beekman. Today I am reposting it with even greater gratitude and a few more photos for the fun of it.
PARTNERS
Partners add dimension
To our self-focused lives.
They draw us out
To form a bigger circle.
If we are blessed indeed
With a loving partner who
Accentuates our strengths
And helps us build up
Our areas of weakness,
Then we have cause to
Celebrate with abandon!
Everyday is a gift
Of celebration with
My life-time partner,
Bob!
I wish for you the blessing of a “Bob” in your life!! Have a blessed Friday and come back and see us again this weekend.
Love, JanBeek
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians says love endures all things. Thank God, Lordy, Lordy, my Bob certainly has endured all things! What a blessing that he put up with me all these 60+ years!!
This post was originally blogged last year. I was inspired to repost it for you today because Dr. David Jeremiah wrote this in his devotional today in response to the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37:
Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
“Jesus’ point was this: Your neighbor is anyone with a need that you are able to meet. Look for a neighbor whose need you might meet.”
People may excite in themselves a glow of compassion… by going and seeking an object that requires compassion. Henry Ward Beecher
The post was part of my “Embrace” series and it was titled. “Embrace Everyone.”
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Romans 5:1-2
Grace alone which God supplies; Strength unknown He will provide… Every soul we long to reach Every heart we hope to teach Everywhere we share… It’s only by His Grace.
Do take time to hear Scott Wesley Brown sing this for us:
God’s grace – and peace to you – dear friends,
PEACE now and forever!
Bee well. Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See ya tomorrow.
JanBeek 