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Posts tagged ‘support’

Bee Comforted

Just as the bees in a hive look out for one another, our WordPress community reaches out and cares for one another. Thank you all for your words of support and comfort during this time of pain and loss. Your words are sweet as honey!

Your comforting words remind me of this scripture:

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Not only did I present my request to God, but I told you, my friends, about our troubles: my fall and subsequent dislocated & broken finger, and our granddaughter’s miscarriage. From the goodness of your hearts, you reached out with words of encouragement. Thank you so much!

My hand is bruised and wrinkly – and the fingers are braced to keep the broken pinky immobile, but this will heal… and the good news is that it was my finger and not my head that took the brunt of the fall. I have an appointment next week with an orthopedic hand specialist. Hopefully no further intervention will be needed.

In the case of Hope and Drew (my granddaughter and her hubby), prayers are appreciated for their family as they move forward. Finding that she had lost the fetus, Hope’s comment was, “Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.” It was early in her pregnancy – and that’s a blessing. I think it is much harder when the baby is more developed, the sex is determined, and the parents are preparing their home and hearts for the new addition. In this case, they had not quite adjusted to the idea of a third child yet. So, we are just thanking God for the blessing of the two they already have… and praying for their well being.

I pray for more time to be with them, too… Children are such a blessing! God is good – especially when He allows us to live long enough to see our children’s children have children. Don’t you agree?

During this week following Holy Week, we still are in awe of the Easter miracle… and our minds are comforted by the resurrection message. We remember that this is the week when Jesus showed Himself to the disciples in the Upper Room. He returned to let Thomas touch His nail scarred hands and his pierced side. (I bet Jesus’ hands hurt more than mine does right now!)

He talked with His followers who were on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), and was seen by hundreds before His ascension. Jesus’ words are a comfort to us all! Listen to them in song:

Bee Comforted!
Let not your heart be troubled.


In yesterday’s Mornings with Jesus
Dianne Neal Matthews wrote,
“Remember how Christ felt concern
for His disciples’ well-being
and sought to comfort them…
He paid a high price
so I can know supernatural peace
in all circumstances…
His soul was troubled
so mine doesn’t have to be,
regardless of what I face.”

I am thankful it was:

  • my left hand, not my dominant one
  • my finger, not my head that broke
  • early on in Hope’s pregnancy not the last trimester – and she’s OK
  • God’s concern for mankind that sent His Son to earth
  • His sacrifice that assures me of eternal life
  • your words of encouragement that comforted me

Thank you!!

Oh, and this is the day that my youngest granddaughter, Faith, who lives in CA with her husband and a new little girl, Mable, is celebrating her 26th birthday! Happy Birthday, Faith!! That’s another reason to be thankful, right?

Happy Birthday, Faith!!

Have a blessed weekend,
my friends. I send my love.
See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Thanks for visiting JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, health, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, mental health, music, peace, relationships

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Embrace Action

All talk and no action
Makes for a sad friend indeed.
A true friend steps up
To help in our time of need.

All talk and no action
Is a sorry commentary.
We’re not called to pontificate;
But what we do may vary.

Each situation’s unique
And calls for a different plan.
Jesus never hesitated –
Likewise, do what you can.

Last Sunday a dear friend
Fell in the parking lot at church.
Someone fortunately saw her,
So she wasn’t left in the lurch.

Friends jumped into action:
Her son was called. “Come today!”
Another brought her to the ER
And got a wheelchair right away.

Their example of action –
Stepping up when there’s a need –
Was exactly what Jesus did.
Remember the bread and fish feed?

Remember the blind man
Who said he wanted to see?
Jesus showed us how to act –
His examples sure impress me!

I want to be like Jesus.
I want to step up and be
The person you can count on
To act at each opportunity.

I’m grateful for the doctors
Who saw Bob’s need and acted.
Today they biopsied bone marrow.
Yesterday a PET scan was contracted.

All talk and no action
Allows health issues to grow.
Emotional issues likewise fester
When not addressed; don’tcha know?

Embrace action, my friends.
Jump in when you see a need.
Do it out of goodness –
Not monetary greed!


Thank you for embracing action, my friends.
Your prayers are faith in action.
You’re the best!

Tell me about the last time you saw a need and jumped in!
Could be as simple as what I did today. I was Bob’s chauffuess!!
(He’s usually MY chauffeur!)

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, God, kindness, Life's Challenges, Love, Poetry, Serving One Another

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Embrace Hopefulness

Psalm 119:114.

“You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your word.”



Life can beat us down
with trials, sorrows and debilitating worries.
God’s messages about our future hope
can deeply encourage,
inspire, uplift
and motivate us.

Don’t worry; be happy!

“Therefore my heart is glad,
and my glory rejoices;
my flesh also will rest in hope.”

Psalm 16:9

“‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’”

Lamentations 3:24

H ang
O n to
P ositivity and
E ncouragement

As we prepare to return to Bozeman today for more lab work and a bone marrow biopsy for Bob, our hearts are full of gratitude for all the love and support extended to us during this time of tests, unknowing, waiting, and hopefulness. Our faith is strong and our prayers are many. Your prayers for Bob’s good results and proper/effective treatment are heard, we’re sure. Our God cares. Our God’s got this! We can rest in this knowledge. We can feel His loving arms around us. Thank you all!

I will keep you posted as we learn more. Yesterday the gastroenterologist (GI doctor) confirmed that the blood in the stool is not colon cancer… and the cause is more superficial. That was an answer to prayer. Today we are praying the bone marrow scan confirms that this is not AL Amyloidosis (a cancer in the marrow). The doctors are busy trying to rule things out so when they send us to Mayo Clinic, the experts there can move on to finding what type it IS (if in fact it IS that rare disorder)… and then a proper treatment can begin. The symptoms include a lower functioning of both the heart and the kidneys resulting in lack of stamina. That’s really hard for this guy who is used to hard, physical work and never having to think twice about what he is capable of doing!


Meantime, we start each day with grateful hearts for our friends here on WP, our supportive neighbors and family, and our God who holds us all in His care.

God bless you.
Have a wonderful Thursday.
Embrace Hopefulness!

Love, JanBeek

The Bozeman Library is a great place to be while I wait for Bob’s procedures to be finished!

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, Life's Challenges, Love, Poetry, prayer, Serving One Another

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Embrace Support Systems

Photo by Dio Hasbi Saniskoro on Pexels.com

Stand by your man

The woman’s husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months, yet she had stayed by his bedside every single day. One day, when he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer. As she sat by him, he whispered, eyes full of tears, “My dearest, you have been with me all through the bad times. When I was laid off, you were there to support me. When my business failed, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you stayed right here. When my health started failing, you were still by my side. You know what?”

“What dear?,” she gently asked, smiling as her heart began to fill with warmth.

“I think you’re bad luck.”

OK, LAUGH!! But, no, don’t take that seriously!
Our spouses are such an important part of our support system!

But not all are blessed with a supportive spouse.
Some live alone;
some live in turmoil at home;
and some just feel abandoned.
Some just need a hand…


In “Mornings with Jesus,” my daily devotional today,
the scripture featured was

Isaiah 49:15-16

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands…”

The nail prints engraved on Jesus’s hands remind us that He died in our place.
We can be sure He will never forget us, even if everyone else on earth does.


Have you ever felt abandoned by everyone else –
left with nowhere to turn,
looking for solace
and finding it only in your faith?

I haven’t!

But I have friends and family who have experienced those emotions.
And some of them don’t know how to turn to their faith, either.
I had a niece who felt that way –
and she committed suicide!
So this topic of emotional support systems is very dear to me!


In the case of my niece,
she isolated herself from family and friends.
She suffered in silence.
She left the rest of us wondering where we went wrong.
How could we not have picked up
the stress signals that let us know
the depth of her despair?
But we didn’t…

Don’t be deceived by outward appearances!
Look deep inside.
Be the friend in whom your family and neighbors
can confide by asking questions and showing concern!

Yesterday I shared about the grief of losing a friend – – – an ATV buddy who died while we were on our trip. And I shared the difficulty of our news about my husband, Bob’s, health issues. The outpouring of love and support from friends on Facebook and blogging buddies here was heartwarming. I thank you for embracing my grief and sharing my hope and faith in good test results and clear diagnosis and effective treatments. Your emotional support is so appreciated!

This week is full of labs and scans, biopsies and various exams.
In the midst of it all, I draw strength from my faith.
I know God is with me and Bob.
I know He is in control.
I believe He works for our good.
And I feel your love and encouragement.
Thank you for being a part of my support system!
I appreciate you!

None of you shared yesterday
if there is a way I can pray for you…
a specific need you have.
Let me know, okay?
And thank you for keeping Bob & me
in your prayers as we take this one day at a time.

God Bless You!

Love,
JanBeek


Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Family, friendship, Giving, God, kindness, Love, mental health, relationships, Serving One Another

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Embrace Proximity

Proximity
Is nearness
Space that’s measured
Feeling a treasured presence
Closeness

Tomorrow may be in heaven…
But there is a tomorrow for all Children of God

Movement
Closing in
Walking toward you
Feeling your loving care
Proximity

Bonnie & Stan
60 years of standing together,
Leaning on one another
Treasuring proximity

Movement
Closing in
Walking toward you
Feeling your loving care
Proximity

Dream
Embrace Proximity
We never know
How long we’ll have
Together


Bob & Jan
59 years and treasuring our proximity

Wishes
Are important
Dreams stay big
My wish for you:
Proximity

My sister-in-law, Bonnie, had the gift of her children and grandchildren’s close proximity yesterday as she dealt with the grief of separation. Hopefully they will ease the pain with beautiful shared memories. One of my other sisters-in-law sent me these pictures of Stan today. (If you follow my post, you know Bonnie’s husband died yesterday). I will post a few of Ann Beekman’s photos here so you can feel the proximity of this crazy family – full of joy and love for one another.

The Beekman/Hunt/Payne family guys
Stan clowning behind Bob & Bruce
Bonnie & Stan at a family dinner
Bonnie & Stan at our granddaughter, Faith’s wedding
Stan & Bonnie after an Hawaiian trip
A souvenir hat from Hawaii
Stan loved hats –
Guess where this one came from!

May the memories of my dear brother-in-law remain alive in our hearts
And the proximity of his character comfort and sustain all his loved ones.

What’s a favorite memory you pray
your family and friends will use
to help them remember you
when you are gone?

What photo will keep you in close proximity to them?

Here’s mine!

Stand by me
Lean on me
Embrace Proximity

See ya tomorrow
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, blessings, children, Faith, Family, friendship, Life and Death, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, Memories, music, Poetry, prayer, relationships

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reJOYce

Count your blessings, my friend.
You are blessed indeed –
God is with you every step,
Taking care of your every need.

ReJOYce in the reason for the season
Remember it is about God’s Son.
It’s not about Xmas at all
Don’t leave out Christ – He’s the One!

reJOYce!!

Photo by Bekka Mongeau on Pexels.com

There are plenty of reasons
To be sad this time of year –
Especially when looking down.
But look up… See here!

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Life is so full of things to say
Thank You to God for…
Lift your eyes to the sky
And look for so many more.

The ability to look at life
Through eyes of gratitude
And find JOY even in times of trouble,
That’s a healthy attitude!

Reaching out to friends
Who will hear and join you in prayer –
And believing in its power…
You will find real JOY there!

Make friends who’ll pray with you…

Philippians 4:4-6

“Rejoice in the Lord always…
Let your gentleness be evident to all…
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation,
by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.”

… Good friends hug and cry with you, too!
Good friends join hands in mutual support!

Thank you for your love, prayers and support yesterday
when I was waiting for the results of Bob’s angiogram procedure.
You’re a treasure.

I reJOYce in your presence in my life.
Have a blessed weekend.
See ya tomorrow.
Love & Hugs,
JanBeek

Enjoy this beautiful, inspiring song and…
… Keep Lookin’ Up!!

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, friendship, God, Gratitude, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, mental health, music, peace, Poetry, prayer, relationships

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TOPS – Take Off Pounds Sensibly

Most Valuable Player =
Motivate
Validate
Praise
That’s ME
(and all my TOPS friends!)

What is TOPS?

TOPS is a national organization designed to help folks like me Take Off Pounds Sensibly and keep those pounds off. It is not a diet program, but a supportive organization that focuses on Mind Over Platter. Sensible meal choices, portion control, and self-control are three of the ways TOPS encourages reaching and keeping healthy weight goals.

Why Join?

I joined TOPS in 2012 shortly after Bob & I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. I saw myself in those anniversary photos and said, “Who’s that???” I had gained 20 pounds in about twenty years – a pound a year. It just crept up so slowly that I didn’t notice how out-of-shape I was! See those chubby cheeks? I needed help to get back to my goal weight.

Feb. 11, 2012

Accountability

Today I am back down those 20 pounds and am encouraged each week when I go to my TOPS meeting to keep the pounds off. I have to face the scale and tell my TOPS friends (most of whom are KOPS – Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) whether I gained, lost, or “turtled” this week. (Turtling is staying the same.) That accountability is important to me.

Today’s meeting was our annual Christmas party.
My friend, Devonna, came dressed as Santa!
Molly and Jeannie are the leaders of our group. They have been KOPS for over ten years. A real inspiration… real MVPs!!
Our party included fruit, juice, coffee, and healthy low-cal muffins.
We have food at our meeting only a couple of times a year.
Each person brought a gift (under $5 value) and we each picked one. Such fun!

I was the happy TOPS “Best Loser” today.
Every 1/4 lb. counts. I lost 1/2 lb. (Yay!!)
It’s so easy to put the pounds on this time of year.
I think of my TOPS friends and that scale
every time I put a piece of candy
or a Christmas cookie in my mouth.
I am not asked to deny myself…
Just be smart about how much
and when I eat those sweets!

Is Weight Watching Part of Your Routine?

If, like me, you have to watch what you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat – or you are prone to gain unwanted pounds, you might also look into seeing if there is a group like TOPS in your vicinity. The dues are only $5 per month. There are no foods you have to buy. No extra costs. Just a wonderful group of supportive friends. I am so grateful to my TOPS friends.

I encourage you to seek friends who are MVPs for you, too.
Motivators
Validators
Positive friends who Praise and encourage you.

Happy Holidays!

Have a Wonderful Week!
See ya tomorrow.
Thanks for visiting JanBeek

Category:

Christmas, food, friendship, health, Life's Challenges, Love, Serving One Another

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Tenacity Defined

Gracie is Tenacity Defined. We all need such role models!
Check her out:

She Lived to Sing about It

Look and see what an amazing person Gracie is.
I met her her in Ennis, Montana. She and Peter live in our Madison Valley.

And look for her husband, Peter, while you are checking out Gracie.

He is an amazing person, too.

Regardless of our hardships, we CAN survive and thrive.
It takes tenacity – a bucketful of it – like Gracie’s.
And someone’s hand to hold!

Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

Hold on!
Have a good night.
See you tomorrow.

Category:

Faith, Family, health, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Love, music, prayer, self-acceptance

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God’s Miracle: Church

Sermon notes from today’s service in Ennis. Montana – Rev. Steve Hundley
Taken in poetry as I listened – written through JanBeek’s filters.

Church: A Miracle of God

I can’t scold you today –
Not because we are in this place,
Not because I’m in a good mood,
But because of the love in this space.

Because of the words of Paul
(the ones our Paul read so well today),
I am encouraged to join in
With what Gentle Jesus had to say.

He wrote to the Thessalonians
While he was out traveling, making a tent,
“We were gentle among you,” He said.
“We spoke soft words – whispered encouragement.”

Paul’s words to other churches
Were not so gentle and kind.
But to the Thessalonians, He set aside
Sternness – and praised the ties that bind.

The Gospel is a powerful book.
It can and does transform lives.
We are astonished at how God’s Word
Teaches, changes folks, lives, and survives.

The church, like the one in Thessalonica,
Is a place where people love and give.
They pray for you, they stay with you,
They make life better and help you live.

Our old church in McAllister, Montana was built in the early 1900s.
It has no running water, so when we use it for church services
once a year, we have to rent a porta-potty, chase the mice away,
and clean the mouse droppings from the chairs and alter.

But, it is a place that reminds of how simple God’s church can be.
It doesn’t have to be a large, elaborate cathedral to be worshipful.

Photo by Adrienn on Pexels.com

It is not the building that makes a church. In the early days, many of the “church services” were held in people’s homes. Some people in today’s world still hold their worship services in living rooms, tents, or on an open hillside. The Miracle of God that is His Church is not the place, but the people.

Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels.com

Wherever we gather, with the focus on worship of our God, He is with us.
That’s what Paul was telling the church of Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 was what
our scripture volunteer,
Paul Carlson, read to us today:

“Surely you remember, brothers and sisters,
our toil and hardship;
we worked night and day
in order not to be a burden to anyone
while we preached the gospel of God to you.
You are witnesses, and so is God,
of how holy, righteous, and blameless
we were among you who believed.
For you know that we dealt with each of you
as a father deals with his own children,
encouraging, comforting and urging you
to live lives worthy of God,
who calls you into His kingdom and glory.
And we also thank God continually because,
when you received the word of God,
which you heard from us,
you accepted it not as a human word,
but as it actually is, the word of God,
which is indeed at work in you who believe.”

As Christians, members of His Church, that is our goal: to hear His Word, and respond to it by encouraging, comforting, and urging fellow Christians to live lives that demonstrate He is indeed at work in us. That is what makes our church “God’s Miracle.” Not the building, but we, the people.

Whether we are in our old McAllister treasure, or our salmon-colored church in downtown Ennis, our job is to love one another, support one another, and spread the Word to those who may not know the Peace of Christ that “passeth all understanding.”

Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.”

Photo by Nitin Arya on Pexels.com

God Bless You, my friends.
I hope you have the joy
of a supportive church family.
And I pray that you are one of those
who is God’s hand at work in this world.
Have a lovely Sunday night.

See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, Faith, Family, Giving, God, Jesus, Living in Christ's Family, Love, Montana, peace, Poetry, prayer, Serving One Another, Spiritual Gifts

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Beeing Brave

Learning to Bee Brave

According to this

New post on The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally
Day 2478: Learning how to be braveby Ann Koplow

According to that post by Ann Kaplow, learning how to be brave includes:

  • following good role models,
  • feeling the fear and doing it anyway,
  • letting go of harsh judgments,
  • having faith in your process,
  • accepting all your feelings,
  • being kind to yourself and others,
  • carrying supportive people in your heart and mind,
  • committing to the here and now,
  • learning from everything, and
  • telling your story authentically.
Looking to the Son for Bravery

For me,  

learning to be brave also includes daily asking God to free me from:

  • cowardice in the face of danger
  • weakness, knowing His power is at hand
  • anxiety about tomorrow,
  • bitterness toward anyone,
  • laziness from work,
  • failure before opportunity, and
  • doubt, when His assurances are mine.

For you,

  • looking within for the courage that’s there,
  • looking up for the support that’s yours, and
  • stepping out in faith … will start you on the path

To the Success You Seek

man in red crew neck sweatshirt photography
achievement activity adolescent arms

Step out in faith today.
Accomplish more than you dreamed possible.
What’s one of those goals you intend to bravely tackle?

 

I sent a Happy 30th Anniversary card

off to our son and daughter-in-law today.

Some goals don’t take courage at all;

they just take getting off your butt and doing ’em.

_jv_5262
Happy Anniversary, Ty & Monika.
I know you are bravely tackling several tasks today.
Just putting one foot in front of the other takes courage some days.

Bee  pexels-photo-460961.jpeg Brave!

Go for it!

red and white ribbon

See ya later.

Category:

Faith, God, Life's Challenges, Love

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