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Posts tagged ‘suffering’

Wait Well


When have you waited?
Waiting well = watchful waiting.
We’re asked to do that!

Photo by MIXU on Pexels.com

Hurry up and wait:
The MOD of travel.
Relax! It is what it is.

We cannot change it.
Impatience doesn’t help it.
Waiting’s part of life.

Bob was asked to wait –
Prostate cancer diagnosed
A decade ago.

So watchful waiting
To see if the spot would grow:
Doctor’s instructions.

Don’t let it stop you!
Remember to keep living.
Remain positive.

Cryotherapy:
Therapeutic use of cold –
Froze all the prostate.

Don’t just cut it out!
Edges left can reproduce.
Freezing is the best.

Live to see your grands
Happily loving and wed.
Live while you’re living!

“Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:14

Know living in joy
Is a choice we all can make
No matter the pain.

Find yourself suffering?
Wondering how long you’ll live?
Praise every morning!

Praise every sunrise.
Pray for memorable days.
Look back “greatfully”

Avoid naysayers.
Set aside the “If Onlys” –
Live while you’re livin’ !

Mike and Tania

Mike on honeymoon
With his sweet new bride, Tania,
Enjoy Italy!

All seven of us
Enjoyed fun times together.
Livin’ the good life!

We waited so well
For our trip to Switzerland.
God sure blesses us.

God blesses you, too.
He wants you to live the good life.
So pray and wait well.

Good things come to those
Who pray and believe in Life.
Believe and “Wait Well” !


What are you waiting for?

See ya tomorrow

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, contentment, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, Haiku, health, Life's Challenges, Love, music, Poetry, prayer, Travel

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Pins and Casts


Yesterday was not a good day to post!

When the big cast came off, this is what I saw:

Does that make your stomach queasy? It did mine!
Those pins are criss-crossed over the little finger knuckle.
They are allowing the little finger to stay in its socket
while the broken pinky bone heals.
Poor crinkly hand!

But you don’t want those pins left exposed
if you are out and about, so…
a very capable hand therapist created
a color-coordinated, custom-fitted cast!
The red strips are Velcro so I can take this off.

Gotta keep smiling!

God is good! The bones are healing. Occupational therapy begins tomorrow. I can shower without a big plastic bag over my whole arm, hampering my ability to function. As i have said, ever since the fall and break on April 20th, “It could be worse!”

I continue to thank God that it wasn’t my right (dominant) hand. It wasn’t my head or arm or hip. It could have been much, much worse!

My Ukranian hummingbird

Don’t you pray daily for the people of Ukraine?
Don’t you thank God for your health, happiness, safety, and freedom?
Don’t you realize, as I do, that your troubles are minuscule
compared to those suffered by so many in the world?

What can we do to take the focus off our own
pins and casts
and remember what to do in tough times?

Look at #5 above.
What did I do to have some fun?
The hand therapist asked me,
as she was crafting my smaller cast,
“Would you like your Velcro black like the cast?”

I decided to have some fun.
Add a little color …
match my optimistic mood!

This finger will heal.
A lot of people are a lot worse off than I am!
PT will help me regain the use of these fingers.
Meantime, I can type with my right hand.
God hears my pleas and sends friends/family to help.

John 15:7
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Thanks for joining me today
and adding your prayers to mine.
I pray you will take heed and
“Slow down and watch where you’re going!”

God bless you and help you avoid pins and casts.
They’re no fun!

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love, JanBeek

I’m glad this big one’s gone.

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, God, Gratitude, health, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, prayer, Serving One Another

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Freedom from Suffering


I just learned that a good friend’s husband is looking at back surgery soon. He has been in pain with spinal problems for many years. This prayer is for him – and for all who are suffering from physical or emotional pain. 

I pray for your health, happiness, and peace of mind. 

Spread your kindness and love, your peace and faith to all you meet. And if you are blessed with freedom from suffering, count your blessings, my friend… and thank the Lord.

See ya tomorrow.

Category:

blessings, Faith, friendship, Gratitude, health, Life's Challenges, Love, peace

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Absconded


My country has been taken

Prisoner as it makes

Prisoners of children.

Who absconded with

My country and turned

Its southern border into

A Hellhole?

What can we do,

What must we do

To take it back?

Category:

children, Family, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, respect

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Where is God?


Tragedy is a common denominator;
We all face it from time to time.
It saddens and isolates us.
It covers our hearts with grime.

The suffering we all endure
Is not foreign to our friends.
It is not foreign to our Lord.
God is in the darkness around each painful bend.

God sent His Son to the cross for us.
There is not a place He will not go.
He walks beside us in our desolation.
His presence is a comfort; don’t you know?

But God is not the cause of our sorrow.
Death – an early earthly departure –
is not the will of God; His heart breaks, too.
He gives us free will. Misuse of it breaks His heart – sure!

When we are in pain, we cry out to God
The way Jesus cried out from the cross.
“Why hast Thou forsaken me? Where are you?”
He answers, “I am here! I cry with you for your loss.”

Christ on Cross Illustration

Category:

Love

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Looking for Tranquility?


Sermon by Pastor Jean Johnson
Madison Valley Presbyterian Church
Ennis, Montana
Based on scripture – Mark 10:35-45
Notes by JanBeek –  October 21, 2012

Image

Are you looking for tranquility?
Is the church your source of peaceful speech?
Is Jesus Christ the answer to all your troubles, friend?
If you itch or hurt, can the church’s arms reach?

Jesus’ disciples, James and John, believed
Sitting at Christ’s side was their goal.
Rubbing elbows with God would produce
Peace and comfort to fill every hole.

Jesus told His disciples they were clueless.
They didn’t understand the pain He’d endure.
They told Him, “Yes, we can drink of Your cup.
We can be baptized with You, oh sure!”

Were they really able to share it all?
Like them, we need to understand:
Following requires sharing the suffering,
Living with the pain discipleship demands.

To proclaim the Good News is to tell
The Truth of what God’s message includes.
Walking and talking like Jesus means
Nails and the cross, as well as the love He exudes.

Are you looking for tranquility?
Is the Peace of Christ what you need?
Remember that path is rough and tough.
But the pain is worth the cost –  indeed!

Category:

Faith, Living in Christ's Family, Sharing

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God Shares


God cares! I know God cares for you and for me. So, when I read the sermon title this morning, “God’s Problem,” I listened carefully to discern what our reverend thought God’s problem might be. Immediately, my mind went to, “Hmm… maybe it’s me!” Then, I remembered that even though I may be a problem to God because God cares so much for me, ultimately, it’s not all about me. God has much larger cares than me and my problems! I know God hears my prayers and understands my burdens… so, with that mind-set, I took pen in hand and wrote my typical sermon notes – in poetry. The reverend had read Job 1:1 and Job 2:1-10. Her sermon was in that Job context. Through my filter, this is the message I gleaned from today’s sermon:

God Shares

I cast all of my burdens upon God.
I see all of the troubles around –
The suffering, the pain, the sin –
I hear the tragic cry, the sad sound.

I question why there needs to be pain.
I ask God why it has to be this way.
He doesn’t say; I hear no word –
I see too much suffering today.

So, what am I to do with this pain?
How can I alleviate suffering for you?
God doesn’t say that’s mine to do –
He says, “Relax, the suffering’s there. I see it, too.”

I cast all of your cares upon God.
I can’t control what happens to you.
I see your trouble; I feel your pain –
I realize that God feels it, too.

So what can you do with your pain?
How can you stand the suffering? Unfair!
Submit to God. Let God alone
Do what the Almighty does:  SHARE.

He takes all your cares.  Welcome Home!

 

OK, the question remains: What is God’s Problem? I may have changed the sermon title to fit my filter, but the reverend read the Job passages and decided God had a problem. Did God have a problem? DOES God have a problem today? I think God’s problem comes when we don’t know how much God cares and we don’t share our troubles with Him. We don’t cast all our burdens on God. We think He has “much larger cares than me and my problems,” and so we don’t want to burden Him. That becomes a problem for God, don’t you think? How can He share if we don’t? What do you think? Does God have a problem?

 

 

Category:

Sharing

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