Healing Prayer
May the flow of healing waters
Rush in and through you
May you feel peace in your soul
As love swirls around you
May your troubles wash away
As you find comfort in knowing
Your prayer is heard by the Rock
Who is our strength and our hope
Amen
1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now these three remain:
faith,
hope
and love.
But the greatest of these
is
love.“
My favorite scripture
is found in 1 Corinthians,
the 13th chapter.
I love the whole chapter,
but I love the 13th verse
the most.
Source: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Choice of Bible Verse
This blog is all about “Loving One Another.” So, my choice of the Bible verse, 1 Cor. 13:13 probably didn’t surprise you.
John 3:16
is the verse I first memorized as a child.
It was my Sunday School teacher’s favorite verse:
“For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, bu will have everlasting life.”
Your Favorite
Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Or a favorite saying that reassures you each day – and keeps you moving forward?
What tiny spark in you
is whispering
“Keep going?”
Faith
Hope
Love
These three remain.
The greatest is LOVE.
But HOPE for the future
is an essential ingredient.
Try not to let today bury you!
Where lies your hope?
See ya tomorrow.
Two-Way Street
Forgiveness is a two-way street. Not only do we need to forgive others, but we need to forgive ourselves. Sometimes that is much harder than forgiving others.
So, as this decade of 2010 to 2019 ends, commit your heart to forgiveness. Let go of any hurts from others. Tell them so. And let go of those regrets that creep into your heart and cause you to scold yourself.
None of us is perfect. We all make mistakes. We all say things and do things and think things that we regret afterward. Forgive yourself … and move on!
Be Strengthened
Let those mistakes (sometimes intentionally placed in our lives … so not mistakes at all) be building blocks toward a better you! With 20/20 CLARITY, let this new decade be a time of strength and sincerity, compassion and courage, challenge and change, faith and fearlessness.
Know in the midst of life’s struggles that you are never alone. In my devotional this morning, I am reminded of God’s love for me and His changelessness with Ps. 59:10
Fluctuating Emotions
It is our fluctuating emotions that cause us to ask for forgiveness and then take back the guilt that God has taken from us. We try to forgive, but we remember. We remember our own wrongs. We suffer the wrongs others have inflicted on us, carrying them in our hearts long after we think we have given them to God. The devo from Guideposts for today tells me, “Stop that!”
Accept His forgiveness. Acknowledge His death that took away our sins. Know His changeless love and His unconditional acceptance of us. And pray with me the prayer Rebecca Barlow Jordan wrote as our “Faith Step” for today in the last entry of Daily Guideposts 2019:
“This coming year,
as I confess any wrong things in my heart to Jesus,
(either my own wrongs or those inflicted on me by others),
remind me to thank Him for His changeless love and acceptance.
(And help me imitate His unconditional love
as I interact with others… and with myself.
Amen”
Thanks for visiting JanBeek
See ya tomorrow.
In the midst of life’s struggles, we need strength, courage, and assurance. Where do we find it?
Joshua 1:5-9 “No one will be able stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you. Be strong and courageous… Be strong and very courageous… Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
In my morning devotional today
from In Touch Ministries,
this very scripture and topic were discussed.
Yes, obstacles are faith’s fertilizer!
As the devotional said,
“Obstacles are one way our faith can grow.”
What obstacles are you facing today? They may not be as serious as cancer of the esophagus, but every challenge we face is an opportunity to lean on our faith and allow the obstacle to grow us. Use them as stepping stones. Know that God is with you. Be assured by that cross that hangs in my sanctuary and reminds me daily to remember what our Creator tells me: “Be Still and know that I AM God.” .My cousin’s husband is Jehovah’s Witness. I have sent him a couple of inspirational cards wishing him well and reminding him that I have him in my daily prayers.
.My cousin told me in her e-mail today, “While he may not agree with all your theology… he most certainly believes in God and appreciates your prayers.”
I am reminded that God is soooo much bigger than religion. God is the Creator of us all. God loves and cares for us all. We may not practice our religious beliefs the same way, but our faith in God binds us together as one.
As Christians, we say we are “One in Christ.” We believe in the Trinity – that God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are One. Who am I to say that those who say we are “One in God, our Creator” are wrong? God is Omnipotent. He sees into the heart of us all. When He promises, “I am with you,” he’s talking to you … each of you! .What obtacles are fertilizing YOUR faith today? Be still and know God is with you.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Now, go in peace.
Let your obstacles become stepping stones.
See ya tomorrow.
Click on this link for a cheery message today:
https://passcodelove.com/2019/09/05/wake-up-sunshine
I read the blog whose link I posted above – and it brought sunshine to me on this gloomy, gray Friday morning. I hope it brightens your day, too. It is so true… we can’t rely on outward circumstances to bring us our joy. The door opens inward!
When things look cloudy and gray
Just turn your focus away
From the things that are dark and gloomy
Let joy spring from your heart today.
Life IS an amazing journey
It DOES all begin and end with LOVE
So open the door to your heart’s love
And let JOY bring you strength from above.
You may be facing some darkness
Your skies may be cloudy and gray
But they don’t have to dampen your spirits
Let the Son shine in to brighten your day.
Have a bright and beautiful Friday.
See ya later!
Your Goal
Do you have a goal that you’ve been working to accomplish? Does it seem that the harder you work toward it, the farther away it seems to be?
Sometimes trying to accomplish a goal is like eating a bowl of spaghetti. You take a bite and the pasta grows to fill the hole you thought you’d made!
My Goal
The pasta growth is a perfect example for me to use today because my goal is to get back to my “Goal Weight.” I had a potluck at my house yesterday – and lasagna was the main dish. It was soooo good! But, this morning at TOPS, it showed up as .75 of a pound on the scale!!
I was the Queen of the State of Montana TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) back in I don’t remember when… 2013 or so. Earned that status by reaching my goal weight and in the process losing 30+ pounds that had crept up on me over about a 30 year period.
Then like that pasta that fills the void, over the next few years, ten of those pounds have crept back on. My body has settled at this and decided it likes this place on the scale. Well, I don’t!
Arguing with Self & Others
Some of my TOPS friends tell me I should change my goal weight. Afterall Jan, at 80 you’re not supposed to look like you did at 30! Well, that’s not my goal. I just wanna look and feel like I did when I had 10 pounds less than I do now. Thirty was nice, but it’s unrealistic for me now. I’d look gaunt!
Here I am almost 50 years ago when my daughter (who will be 52 tomorrow) was about five years old. (Yes, I sewed our matching dresses. Awww… how cute!)
Well, she doesn’t look like that anymore, so why should I? Here we are now:
Still got that sparkle. Still love each other to the moon and back. Both still healthy and thanking God daily for our vitality and ability to travel and spend time with each other annually (DeAna lives in Switzerland).
So Why Argue?
When I was ten pounds lighter, my clothes looked better on me. I was able to bend down and tie my shoes without getting out of breath. (Yes, 10 extra pounds makes that kind of difference). I had lower blood pressure. I felt better about myself. So, it’s a goal worth persuing – and an accomplishment worth keeping. This yo-yo-ing is not good for me… 2 lbs down in two weeks and the one week later it’s back. (Why does it come back so much faster than it comes off?)
Here I am with my granddaughter, Hope,
when I was on my way down – almost to my goal weight.
And my sis, Sally, and my hubby Bob with me at goal weight.
Keep the Tiny Spark Glowing!
The goal you are striving to accomplish may not be a big fiery flame for all to see, but a tiny spark that whispers to you. You know you can do it. The spark keeps whispering, “You can do this! Don’t give up!” Keep the spark alive.
Other people may not think it is important … whatever that personal goal is… but YOU DO! And so it is worth persuing. Stick with it!
Keep going! You got this!
I was TOPS biggest loser last week.
I can do it again.
Keep those damn pounds off.
Forget about that pasta hole!!
Eat less carbs.
See ya tomorrow.
Today’s Sermon
The sermon at our Madison Valley Presbyterian Church was delivered today by Elaine Hundley, Christian educator extraordinaire. She titled it, “Perfect Weakness,” as she focused on the messages in Isaiah 40:1-8, 28-31 and 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
Is there Perfect Weakness?
The Apostle Paul spoke of his weakness, his struggles, and his ability to find strength in spite of his troubles – by leaning on the Power of God. But, is there “Perfect Weakness?” The message today said, Yes, there can be, but not without giving our weaknesses to God… and letting Him take away our doubt and give us the strength found only in His Power.
Poetic Sermon Notes
Here are the notes I took away from the message as I heard it this morning:
Is doubt your constant companion?
Do doubts creep into your heart?
Do you read or listen to the news
And wonder when the next war will start?
Photo by Connor Danylenko on Pexels.com
.
The mass murders in the USA
Are so many in number this year
That there have been more deaths by far
Than there are days, I fear.
Photo by Maurício Mascaro on Pexels.com
.
Struggles abound – and it’s hard
To keep our chins up!
Can there ever be peace on earth?
God, says, “Believe, trust I’ll fill your bins up!”
.
But we are a fragile people
Who struggle to see our future bright.
We wonder if we even have bins –
Let alone bins that are filled up bright.
Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com
.
We need to remember that God is HERE
And He can lift us up.
We need to trust His power
And know He’ll fill our cup.
.
We need to know that He knows
Our every struggle – our loss –
He’s here beside us by the grace
Of Jesus, who took our loss upon the cross.
.
Let’s follow His lead –
Accept His grace –
And just love one another!!
Can’t we???
Photo by Jens Johnsson on Pexels.com
.
Breaking News:
29 dead and many more injured
in the past 13 hours
in the USA
in two mass shootings!
When will these senseless
tragedies cease?
What can we do??
I pray:
God bless the families,
the friends,
the loved ones of those
involved in these mass shootings
in the USA yesterday and today.
May they somehow find comfort in their faith
and in the compassionate comments,
hugs, and support of their friends.
.
I beg:
Lord, help us find solutions
for the problems of
mental illness
that rampage our country –
and the proliferation of assault weapons
that are in the hands of unstable civilians.
.
See ya tomorrow
(God willing!)
Hugs to You !!
Inspire to Love
Let the SonShine!
You inspire me to respond
Learning to Live; Living to Learn; Learning to Love; Living in Love
