Using the prompts from @sanctifiedart, I am enjoying the opportunity to share the “Words for the Beginning” each day with you during this Advent season.
Today’s word is: PEACEMAKER
I don’t know who this guy is that AI generated when I put the word in. Do you? He doesn’t look like someone I’d turn to when I was wanting some peace. Does he look like a peacemaker to you?
My idea of a peacemaker is:
… the One who holds the world in His hands … the One who made the world and sent His Son to save us … the One who gave His life that I might have eternal life
My Peacemaker lifts me up when I fall He reaches out to the lost and brings them in He reaches into our hearts and saves us from our sin He shows us the Way to live in love and harmony
I hope you know my Peacemaker He lives in my heart I hope He lives in your heart, too I pray His peace permeates our world We need Him now more than ever!
The peace of Christ be with you.
Spread His Love. Be a peacemaker, too!
See you tomorrow with another Word of the Day. Hugs, JanBeek
Thanksgiving is coming here in the USA. It’s a time to especially thank God for:
Your children and their father, Your dear husband who puts up with you every day (or for you dads out there: Thank God for the mother of your children who puts up with you every day) Are you fortunate to have a spouse and kids?
Thank God for your in-laws: For your son-in-law and your daughter-in-law, And for their parents. Are you fortunate enough to have a good relationship with you in-law’s parents?
We are blessed to have this sweet, nutty, fun-loving daughter in Switzerland. As we approach Thanksgiving, we especially are thankful that we had the strength and the stamina to visit her this month!
If you have a child who married someone from another country, I hope you know the joy of being able to travel to see him/her.
God is so good to bless us with the ability to go to Switzerland. We now are planning our Christmas trip to spend time with our son, Ty, and his family in California. Thank you, dear Lord, for the resources and the strength and the help with choosing our flights and being able to have that Family Time.
C’mas 2020
That CA family has grown by two more great-grandchildren since that photo. It includes Bob & me with our son & his wife, her parents, 3 of our grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter, Cosette. Family Time is so precious!
I pray that your holidays coming up find you surrounded by loving family and friends who are like “chosen family.” God bless you!
In today’s Ever Faithful365 day devotional by David Jeremiah, he asked his readers, “Have you heard about the man who smelled good no matter where he was or what he was doing?”
His skin and clothing and very being seemed to exude a pleasant fragrance. He worked in a perfume factory and breathed its aromas every day.
The aromas filtered into his clothing, penetrated his skin, and even filled his lungs. He became a walking perfumery.
David Jeremiah said, “That’s the way we should be as Christians.”
The Bible says, “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15
“We exude the aroma of joy, for in His presence is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11
You might have heard that “Jesus wept” (John 11:35) is the shortest verse in the Bible, but that’s only true in English. In the original New Testament Greek, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 is shorter – “Rejoice always.” The two verses are related. Because Jesus wept, we can rejoice.
In today’s world with all the hate, divisiveness, floods, hurricanes, and wars it’s easy to get bogged down. But, David Jeremiah reminds us, “Jesus doesn’t want us to live in perpetual discouragement, sadness or doubt.”
“The joy of the Lord is the strength of our days,” Nehemiah 8:10
We have reason to rejoice. Count your blessings, my friends. Be a walking perfumery! Exude the aroma of joy. I pray that you will let the love, joy, and peace of Christ shine through your face and radiate from your clothing everyday! Let your fragrant scent invite others in to the love, joy and peace that can be theirs, too.
You are lovely. You are loved. You smell good! God bless you!
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.”
God’s dollop!
Looking out my dining room window, I see a strange sight. God put a dollop of whipped cream on the little peak we call “The Beehive.” I eagerly grab my camera and capture this unusual sight. It won’t last long. Soon the cloud went behind the mountain. But, the picture is a gift of happiness while it lasts.
Our skies had been gray and smokey for over two weeks as smoke from forest fires over 150 miles away blew into our Madison Valley. So, seeing the blue sky and a cute little cloud so perfectly placed was a rare treat!
Driving home from Bozeman after dropping our dear Daughter #2 off at the airport, we could see promising blue sky up ahead. The blue sky was peeking through at the airport, too. Laina had not seen it during her entire 10 day stay!!
That was smoke hovering above, but rain clouds in view. I eagerly awaited the storm to wash the smoke away. See how shrouded the mountains were and how dirty the air was?
Sure enough, the next morning, we could see the mountains clearly again!
Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of clear air! I prayed eagerly for it. Thank you for answered prayers. God is good! Amen
The word of the day in Guideposts Daily Word is “Eager.” “I eagerly give myself to life,” is the by-line. “Eagerness helps give my life meaning. It is the feeling of positive anticipation, purpose, and confidence.”
I pray that you are bringing eagerness to all aspects of your life, too. The more energy and enthusiasm you share, the more you will have to share because it is part of your divine inheritance, a gift from God. Claim it!
This is an AI generated photo of a person feeling eager. And here is a photo of me feeling eager:
Eager to make a wish. Eager to blow out the candle. Eager to have my wish come true. It was for clear air and blue sky. God is good! My wish came true.
Now my blog is ready to update. I have a few questions for you:
What do you look like when you are eager? How are you living life eagerly? What wish do you have for a brighter future? I pray your wishes come true, too.
Friends Family Neighbors Such helpful folks Loving compassionate and kind Grateful
Feeling blessed!
Birthday Now 85 Starting year 86 Celebrating with great friends Happiness
Helpers Barbecuing hamburgers Helped to setup Also stayed to cleanup Angels
Happiness Beautiful days Shared with friends Sadness: these smokey skies Surviving
Presents Their presence In my life I feel so blessed Grateful
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
May your future be bright, your birthdays be joyous, and your life be a blessing! Thank you, Lord, for my friends here as well as all myblogging friends.
My muse has been asleep My muse has been absent I’ve been in a funk My muse just up and went
Ever since my pup died I can’t seem to get inspired In all the world’s turmoil I think my muse expired
But then I looked around To see how I am blessed I told my weary self that This is just a test
He’s my Muse!
Ah-hah! He never left me It was I who strayed away Return to Faith’s assurance And “Bee a Light” today!
I looked back at days gone by To a time when I felt fine And found a helpful poem I’m adopting today as mine.
It was inspired by His Word I read the Bible every day Now I must remember to apply The Words God has to say!
2 Corinthians 4:6 a
For it is God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness…”
I Can Let My Light Shine (Written in December 2023)
In a world filled with war and hate I can shine a light of love from me In a world filled with animosity and division I can shine a light of unity
In a world filled with hopelessness and despair I can lift the lamp of hopefulness In a world filled with fear and worry I can shine the joy of faithfulness
I can “bee” a light in the darkness Because the love of Christ shines through The grim shadows of despair And that Light also is in you
As a wonderful God-created child You are part of a magnificent whole So let that Spirit buried in you Shine forth from your blessed soul
Your light shines from the Creator Just as mine sparkles brightly, too So fill this world with the light of love Let’s let love’s light shine from me and you!
Amen
My Muse is alive and well. God Bless You! Yours is, too!! Let it shine!!!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
We’re looking to thee Lord to direct our paths. It has been a miserable two weeks in the Beekman household. First Bob picked up a bug on some path somewhere, and then a few days later, the bug very generously crossed my path. We tested for COVID, but it was negative, so we did a little research. Here’s what we discovered:
Meet Mr. Paraflu! What is parainfluenza?
Parainfluenza is a broad term that healthcare providers use to describe human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) — a group of infectious organisms (pathogens). Parainfluenza viruses cause many types of lower and upper respiratory illnesses. Respiratory illnesses cause mild to serious symptoms, like sore throat, cough and shortness of breath.
Nasty bug attack Caused us to lay low eight days We’re vulnerable
For those under five And us folks in our eighties, Paraflu attacks
The symptoms linger A terrible hacking cough Listlessness, fatigue
In others’ interest, Hunker down and stay at home Hydrate and get rest
Bye bye nasty bug We missed the July 4th fun But we have survived
Now go and begone Let our health return to us Keep our loved ones safe
Trusting in the Lord And not leaning on my own Understanding’s hard
Devotionals help To keep a wise perspective “How to Walk Wisely”
In the midst of our paraflu aches and pains, we turned to the Lord in prayer, and God gave us 6 tips about how to “Walk Wisely.” Today’s In Touch devotional had this to say:
“Living committed to the Lord calls for following His wisdom. Here are six attitudes necessary for a Christ-centered lifestyle:
1. Determination. Walking in wisdom doesn’t happen automatically. We must wholeheartedly pursue righteous living. 2. Focus. To stay on the path of God’s will, we must fix out attention on His Word. As we meditate on Scripture, our mind will align with Christ’s. 3. Sensitivity to the Spirit. With determination to live a holy life and close attention to Scripture, we become more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 4. Trust. At times the Lord’s choice for us doesn’t appear sensible. Trusting in His perfect wisdom is necessary if we’re to walk according to His plan. 5. Courage. Some things God requires may cause us to react with fear. As our trust in Him deepens, our courage will grow, and we’ll discover the joy of embracing His choice for us. 6. Perseverance. By depending on God, we can persist and choose wisely no matter how long our challenges last.
Walking in wisdom requires that we practice a few basics: Know God, trust Him, and obey. Is this your pattern for living? Remember, a lifetime of godliness develops one choice at a time.”
In Touch Ministries, Inc. Many thanks to Founder: Charles Stanley and President C Phillip Bowen
Thank You, God, for our return to health. Bee well, my friends. May this nasty paraflu bug pass you by!
This is Hillsdale High School’s winning wrestling team back in the 1970’s. Bob was the wrestling coach. He also taught in the classroom (safety education and behind the wheel driver’s education). Matt Martinelli has ahold of Bob’s right leg. And our son, Ty, is down there looking up proudly at his dad. Ty just had his 59th birthday… and Matt is now in his 70s! Time flies, doesn’t it?
Here’s another of Bob”s former wrestlers from back in the ’70s. Peter is another who keeps in touch and lets Bob know that he made a difference in his life. What a joy it is to maintain those contacts!
Here’s our son, Ty:
Life is worth celebrating! Even though Matt is in CA (and so is Ty), and Peter in in Arizona, we are blessed to stay in touch with them. They let Bob know that Dad/CoachBeek is a champion still! He made a difference in their lives.
Galatians 6:9
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Making a difference can sometimes be challenging, and it’s easy to grow weary. However, this verse reminds us to persevere in doing good. Even if we don’t see immediate results, God promises that in due time, we will reap the rewards of our efforts. Therefore, we are encouraged to press on and not lose heart in our pursuit of making a difference.
1958
Bob feels badly that he doesn’t have the strength and stamina that he once had, but hey… don’t we all have to accept that? Our bodies change as we age, right? Bob’s with his brother, Bill, there… Looking mighty fit, wouldn’t you say? Both of them are blessed to be alive and functioning as “Champions Still” in their mid-to-late 80’s!! Not everyone has that privilege, right?
Blessed to be alive! Blessed to have one another. Blessed to continue to do good. Blessed to be a champion still!!
National poetry month is wrapping up. Where did April go? I am so glad I was able to hear our state’s poet laureate, Chris La Tray, this month. He certainly inspired me. Have you tried your hand at writing some poetry this month?
Our Advent study in poetry certainly enhanced that ADVENTure this year for me!
Proverbs 16:9
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”
My morning devotionals in Dec. 2023 have guided my steps in 2024. The Advent team challenged us to “…hold space for our weariness and our joy… seek a thrill of hope in our hurting world… cry out for comfort… and find many ways to rejoice.”
This is the poem Rev. Sarah wrote to kick off the theme that has inspired my 2024 thus far:
So, unzip the weight you carry around, and let God inspire you also to rejoice in this weary world!
My response to that poem was to let Rev. Sarah Speed inspire me to write my own “The Last Time I Saw God”
The last time I saw God face to face I opened the bedroom shades. God was every color of orange. I was merely a mortal in awe of it all.
The sun was just rising over the Madison Range. God was in the sunrise. I climbed my sanctuary stairs. God was waiting there for me; He was the brightest yellow.
The time before that, A three-year-old was explaining her understanding of love. God was the brightest red in her precocious explanation. Love is helping others – being kind.
And in between these small gifts were glimpses of God in the warm morning hug, the gathering of church friends, the joy of guitar accompaniment, and the sound of congregational singing.
Why yes, we are blessed. We are more than blessed for the moments when God appears and speaks through the purple haze in a voice sweet as morning dewdrops, “Listen, my beloved, I am with you. See me, my beloved, I am here in your every breath.”
That was not the first nor will it be the last time I will see and hear God.
When is the last time you saw God face to face? Write about it! God bless you!
One of the devotionals I read every day is from “The Upper Room,” a book of daily devotionals printed every other month, and a gift many churches provide for their members and guests. In today’s message, the topic was “Words of Love.”
I can think of no better way to “Take & Spread Joy” than to speak and read and hear WORDS OF LOVE. How about you?
“Pleasant words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Proverbs 16:24
In the Upper Room, the thought for today is: “With God’s help, I will speak words that build others up.”
The Upper Room devotional reminded me that “Words carry weight. How we use them deeply impacts the people around us.”
But, I am aware that my words also deeply impact me! I can speak words of love to myself… or I can speak disparaging words that discourage me!
The devotional ended with this prayer: “Loving God, we pray that You will empower us to speak love and life to those around us. Give us compassionate and encouraging words.”
My word for 2024, some of you may recall, is the acronym SIFT. The T stands for “Take time to think” (and pray) before I speak or act. I carry that “T” thought with me every day. And I hope you, too, will be inspired to use compassionate and encouraging words directed at yourself as well as others.
Your caring and thoughtful words will lift your spirits as they lift the hearts of all you meet.
