Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘smiles’

Let’s Laugh!

Dr. David Jeremiah, whose “Turning Point” devotional is a favorite of mine each morning, quoted Orison Marden today, “Laughter begins in the lungs and diaphragm, setting the liver, stomach, and other internal organs into a quick, jelly-like vibration, which gives a pleasant sensation and exercise, almost equal to that of horseback riding.”[1]

Dr. Jeremiah continued his devotional, “Most of us worry more than we laugh. But remember, ‘A merry heart does good, like medicine’’ (Proverbs 17:22). In Luke 6:21, Jesus promised laughter to the weeping. We’ll enjoy many good laughs in the cheerfulness of heaven, but don’t wait until then. Cultivate a merry heart now. Instead of focusing on what might be, focus on what will be.

Dr. Jeremiah reminded us to, “Keep your mind regulated by the reality of God’s eternity. When we focus on life eternal, we diminish the worry of temporal things. Cheerfulness is knowing God has us today, and He also has tomorrow under His perfect control.”

Then he quoted a distant relative of my husband, Bob’s, Henry Ward Beecher, he was Harriet Beecher Stow’s brother:

“Mirth is God’s medicine.
Everybody ought to bathe in it.
Grim care…anxiety,
all this rust of life,
ought to be scoured off
by the oil of mirth.

So, let’s laugh! Let’s adopt “Mirth” as our medicine for today. OK?

Some humor is too true to be funny, but I laugh anyway!

Lots of people found COVID reasons to keep laughing…

Doesn’t need to be Friday to smile…
We can laugh any day that ends in a “Y”
Yay!

Laughter doesn’t have an age limit.
In fact, the more you laugh
and stir up those ” internal organs into a quick,
jelly-like vibrations” the better off you’ll be
at all ages!

Dogs always are good for a laugh in my book!
Every time we have lost one of our furry friends,
Bob says he doesn’t want another dog.
Can’t go through the pain of loss again…

Yup, he’s saying that now…
No more dogs!
Hah! We’ll see…

Some jokes are too trashy to be funny.
I prefer to laugh at clean jokes like this one:

“What do newborns and seniors have in common? They’ll both nap anywhere.”

Okay, okay…
Like I said,
“Some jokes are too true to be funny!”

I see you smiling!
Come on… let it out …
Laugh!

Enough already!
Keep smiling!
It’s the best look you can have!

See ya tomorrow.

Love & Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Bible Lessons, happiness, humor, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, pets

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A Merry Heart

“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.”

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

“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

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Faith, Family, friendship, God, Haiku, happiness, Jesus, kindness, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, music, optimism, Poetry, relationships, Serving One Another

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Reblog #11 – Smile

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.

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Animals, blessings, Family, Gratitude, Love, music, optimism, photography, Poetry, prayer, relationships

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Glorious Montana Colors

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?

See ya later, my friends.
Bee well!
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

God, Gratitude, Love, Montana, mountains, nature, pets, Poetry, Travel, trees

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SHARE JOY!

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!

Spread Joy!

How do you plan to do that today?
Just smile!!

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Joyfully,
JanBeek

Bye for now!

Category:

Bible Lessons, friendship, Giving, God, happiness, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, music, optimism, Poetry, relationships, Serving One Another

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Gratitude

I am grateful for your excellence!

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 2 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.

Thank you from Bob and me –
JanBeek

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Hugs!

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, health, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, music, prayer, Serving One Another

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Embrace Contagious Joy!

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!

See ya tomorrow (God willing)

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, children, Faith, friendship, Haiku, happiness, Living in Harmony, Love, Poetry, relationships

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Embrace Change

Reason- change-smile.jpg

They say a picture’s worth a thousand words,
But a smile is even greater.
It’s personal, it’s contagious,
It can melt the heart of a hater.

This is my daughter’s cheery face.
It glows and grows across the miles.
She lives in Switzerland,
But the airwaves carry her smiles.

De's smile - new glasses.JPG

If you see someone without a smile,
You have smiles to spare you know,
So give ’em one of yours.
It’ll set their heart aglow.

68836498_10157098454518141_7697538446289534976_n

There!
I saw you smile 😉

68254518_876196136100633_7379018290024153088_n
Back atcha…
Ya sent me one of yours, so
Here’s one of mine!

cropped-snapchat-me
If you want to see more smiles,
Embrace the ability you have to be
The catalyst for spreading love
I Smile at You – You smile at me!

Change happens one at a time –
One smile, one thought, one act.
Embrace change. It is your friend.
Without change, we’d die. That’s a fact!

See ya later!
Have a fabulous Sunday!
Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, friendship, Giving, happiness, Life's Challenges, Love, Poetry, relationships

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Embrace Multi-Tasking

Photo by Marek Levak on Pexels.com

I’m multi-tasking
I’m typing and I’m breathing
You can do it, too

Concentration is
Overrated, don’t you think
You can split your time

Photo by Lu00e9o Vinu00edcius on Pexels.com


Prove that you’re clever
Say, you can walk and chew gum
All at the same time
…

Spread your joy with smiles
How’s happy multi-tasking
Raising your spirits?

Be a multi-tasking champ!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek
Share a smile …

See ya tomorrow

Category:

Haiku, happiness, humor, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, Poetry, work, writing

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Embrace Reassurance

Bee ye reassured
God’s surely with you today
He won’t desert you

And you have a host
Of others who are with you
On each of life’s steps

So, be reassured
By the love of all your friends
Who are there for you

Thank your friends for their
Calls and their conversations
About their blessings

It reassures you
To know you are not alone
In your solitude

Capitalize it!
Make that you into a “You.”
Trust in our Savior

You are not alone
Be reassured that your prayers
Are heard and answered

Yes, be reassured
That God hears your heart’s yearnings.
You’re heard; God responds.

God hears you in prayer
So, embrace reassurance
Know that God is there

Thank for visiting JanBeek

Tell me what reassures you when you need it.
See ya tomorrow.

Category:

God, Haiku, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, music, Poetry

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