“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
Proverbs 15:13
Use your merry heart To be like an umbrella Protection in storms
At the end of day Your sweet, merry countenance Is a lovely sight
Your positive view Shines through the dark clouds of gloom Lifting others’ hearts 💕
You’ve an extra dose Merriment is contagious You infect others
David Jeremiah’s entry in today’s devotional in Ever Faithful was titled “A Merry Heart.” It gave me the incentive for today’s post:
“After Richard Norris was badly disfigured by a gunshot wound in 1997, he remained hidden at his parents’ home for years. They covered the mirrors to keep him from glimpsing his face. But a team of doctors… gave Richard a new countenance.”
The scripture selected, Proverbs 15:13, fit the story perfectly. Richard’s spirit was broken. His sorrow of the heart was understandable. David Jeremiah went on to link Richard’s sorrow to us all:
“While Richard’s story is unusually dramatic, there’s a sense in which we all need a new countenance. Study the faces of people you meet every day…”
Oh how I love those Last two pictures of my friends Study every face
David Jeremiah goes on to suggest,
“Steal a quick glance at your own face as you pass a mirror or reflective window. …Our emotions inexorably flash through the forty-three muscles in our face and we communicate our feelings through our eyes, brows, and the set of our mouths.”
“One smile can light up a room; one frown can darken a day.
“The Bible tells us a merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. Rejoice in the Lord today and let the joy of Jesus shine through.”
I dare you to listen to this and not smile!!
You know I play the accordion, right? Well this is a concertina… buttons on both sides. Aren’t these kids adorable?
Open up you Merry Heart! Mine is open for you!!
Love ya, JanBeek
Open heart + Open hands = Merry, Cheerful Countenance
It was September two years ago when we were in the midst of the pandemic, isolated, sequestered, missing friends and family. I posted this blog titled “Smile.” It’s time this cold, snow sparkling in the sunshine day in November to repost it. I hope it makes you smile. It brought a smile to MY face!
Smile when your heart is aching Smile even though it’s breaking Though there are clouds in the sky You’ll get by – if you’ll just smile!
Do you know that song? I’ll share it with you … Along with some things that made me smile today:
Everyone needs a blue-footed booby for a smile!And I dare you to look at this cross-eyed owl trying to see that ladybug – and not smile!!This snowy egret got its feathers ruffled over SOMEthing!I used to have a pet goat when I was a kid. This one made me smile big time!
(Change the Thursday to Friday on the following meme) And that “Good Night” can say “Good Morning” or “Good Afternoon” (depending on where you are in th world).But before I leave you, I told you I’d share that song with you. It’s not the current version of “Smile” by Katy Perry. It’s the version from the 1950s when I was a kid (a freshman in high school -to be exact!)! Here it is. Smile!
This is one of Nat King Cole’s songs that I loved the most. Its message is so important for us in this world today.
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, if you’ll just smile!
Hug each other tight… Just like these rainbow lorikeets
SMILE!! Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See ya tomorrow.
Today is National Smile Day. Our glorious Montana Colors will sure give you something to smile about!
I am smiling at our glorious Montana colors today!
We took a drive from Ennis up into the Tobacco Root Range up North MeadowCreek above McAllister where our friends, Mary & Paul Carlson live.
The colors along the roadside were so glorious! I got out to take this picture instead of looking though our cracked windshield like I did on that first photo.
My blogging friend, Dwight Roth, took this. His colors are as spectacular as ours. Are the colors changing where you are?
We visited Paul and Mary at their house. We met a new friend as we were traveling up to Paul’s little cabin. Paul & Mary invited him to come on home with them.
This piece of old mining equipment was found abandoned along the roadway leading up to their house. A friend helped them haul it into their backyard
The mining apparatus fits perfectly with the remains of this old mining shed (that’s also in their backyard). It was probably built in the late 1800’s.
The views from their backyard are breathtaking! They just completed this fence last week – attempting to keep the deer out of their greenhouse and flowerbeds.
Mary inherited this old barn when she bought this mountain property Paul uses it now as his “Man Cave.” It’s where he creates magical things with all his woodworking equipment.
Paul took Bob & me up to see the property he dreamed about as a kid… and the cabin he and nine of his friends built there -around 2005 – (same year we came to MT).
Many happy memories are tucked in here!
The road leading to/from the cabin is lined with wonderful aspen that shine their gold this time of the year.
Some farmers raise cattle in this high country.
Autumn is a wonderful season It brings with it colors galore I love the fall leaves and scenery I hope you can get out and explore
Do get out before all the leaves drop. Pick up your pup and take a hike. Tell me about your choices: Which of the scenes did you particularly like?
The joy that’s comin’ Is here if you’re hummin’ Git yer guitar and start strummin’ Yer smile’s quite becommin’
I found the beauty today In weeds I saw along the way. Many folks would probably say Pull ’em out – or douse ’em with spray!
Joy is a part o’ yer make-up. It’s inside ya ready to take up Residence and cause a shake-up; So smile and light yer face up!
And a joyful face is good medicine fir others!
Just let yer heart glow With the joy that ya know Is inside; Let it show! Let yer love flow.
Luke 8:16
A Lamp on a Stand
16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.”
I let my light shine. It’s part of my design. Lips aren’t a straight line – They should curve up real fine!
Smilin’ makes ya feel better; So, my friends, be a trend setter! Turn off sorrow; don’t be a fretter. You look so much better when you SMILE!
Let yer joy be real clear. Share it with those you hold dear. Give it to those far and near Who need your brand of cheer.
Picture it radiating And wiping out all hating. Picture it pulsating And erasing what’s frustrating.
Yup, this bears repeating:
Joy is a part o’ your make-up. It’s inside ya ready to take up Residence and cause a shake-up; So smile and light yer face up!
I appreciate you. Thanks for your prayers. God heard. God answered. Bob & I are so grateful!
Our WordPress family is so great! Our family and friends have been so comforting during this last year while we went to a gajillion doctors and finally got the reason for Bob’s congestive heart failure diagnosed = TTR Amyloidosis. Oh my! Never heard of it!
We are grateful for the expertise of the Bozeman, MT hematologist who suspected the problem after ruling out the need for a pacemaker or a stent. Neither of those was the problem.
Dr. Hool had encountered two other patients in her career with Amyloidosis. There are two types. One is AL. It is cancer of the bone marrow. Chemo is the only treatment and the life-expectancy is short.
The other type of Amyloidosis is TTR. It manifests itself as a collection of extra protein (it can happen in any of your organs – liver, kidney, brain, etc.). Usually it attacks the weakest of your organs. In Bob’s case it was TTR (thank God – not the cancerous type) and the protein collected in the heart muscle. It stiffened it, causing the heart to function insufficiently.
We are grateful for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and for Dr. Borgeson there who positively identified the TTR variety and prescribed a medicine to (hopefully) fix the problem.
We are grateful to Pfizer for developing the medication and approving Bob’s application for assistance to afford it. It’s outrageously expensive! So, thanks to Pfizer, the medication is on its way. And we are so grateful to all who prayed for this outcome. Thank you! And thank God!
Live in Gratitude! It’s a great state to be in!
Living with an attitude of gratitude Can definitely change your life! Focusing on your blessings Instead of your challenges Turns frowns upsidedown. Try it!
That’s my great-granddaughter, Sienna. I dare you to look at her and not smile!
So how does an attitude of gratitude change your life?
What does the Bible say about that attitude of gratitude?
22 Corinthians 9:11
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
Thank You, God. Thank you, dear friends. We are, indeed, feeling enriched in every way.
Hugs to you, my WP friends … let me know if I can be in prayer for you about something specific, will you?
I have a couple of specific prayer requests: 1) Please add my friend, Alex, to your prayer list. He’s in surgery to have a malignant tumor removed from his lung. God, bee 🐝 with him! 🙏🏽❤️ 2) Please pray that the medication Bob needs is here (in the mail) soon – and pray that it does what it is designed to do – to help break up the protein that already is damaging Bob’s heart muscle – and that it helps to keep further protein deposits from forming.
Want to be happy? Just embrace contagious joy. Hang with happy folks!
Find reasons to smile. Folks will smile back at you. Smiles are contagious!
Bee contagious!!
Psalm 144:15
“Happy are the people whose God is the LORD.”
The Good News:
God is the true source of happiness, strength, hope, and wisdom.
Those who are in His favor will always have these things.
Just as mopey people can pull you into the doldrums, Happy People can lift your spirits and make you smile. Happiness is a choice… choose it! Beeeee Contagious! Spread JOY! SMILE!
JanBeek 