Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘thankfulness’

Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes About Hope and Healing

CaringBridge is a website designed to help people going through medical challenges (COVID-19, cancer, heart failure, etc.) remain connected with an invited group of family and friends. When my cousin, Cliff, was in the midst of his esophageal cancer and related surgeries, CaringBridge was my connection to him. My friend, Gloria, is another CaringBridge friend who allowed me to be on her contact list. Check it out… http://www.caringbridge.org )

CaringBridge Staff Mar 22, 2018 inspirational quotes about hope

The CaringBridge community was asked to send in favorite inspirational quotes about hope and healing so that they could share them with everyone.

Here are 18 of them:

Unknown
Submitted by Vicki Bunke “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”

Christopher Reeve
Submitted by Kaye Warren “Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1
Submitted by a CaringBridge user

image of candle quotes about hope

“Some people cannot be cured, but everyone can heal.”

Unknown
Submitted by Kelly Grosklags “Barn’s burnt down — Now I can see the moon.”

Poem by Mizuta Masahide
Submitted by Shelly Leduke “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Vivian Greene
Submitted by Teri Schild Wehrman “God does not give us more than we can handle.”

Unknown
Submitted by Betty Martin

time is precious quote

“Love many; trust few. Learn to paddle your own canoe.“

American Proverb
Submitted by Mary Valuri “All our infirmities, whatever they are, are just opportunities for God to display his gracious work in us.”

C. H. Spurgeon
Submitted by Jon & Pam Fulton “The sun never quits shining. Sometimes, clouds just get in the way.”

Unknown
Submitted by Gailann Thomas-Black “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Abraham Lincoln
Submitted by Susan Mosgrove-Wilber “When you go through deep waters I will be with you.”

Isaiah 43:2
Submitted by Sharon Hammond-Saad “If there’s life, there is hope.”

Stephen Hawking
Submitted by CaringBridge user

sunrise over mountains

“I don’t know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future.”

Ralph Abernathy
Submitted by Patch Reynolds “A smile doesn’t cost a cent, but draws a lot of interest.”

Unknown
Submitted by Cecil Irwin “We grieve because we love. The intensity of the grief often proclaims the depth of our love.”

Gary Roe
Submitted by Ernestina Santana “The forces that are for you are greater than the forces against you.”

Joel Osteen
Submitted by Peg Sorensen “And sometimes, against all odds, against all logic, we still hope.”

Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey
Submitted by Sigrid Devita “Had to walk the rocks to see the mountain view.”

Photo by Martin on Pexels.com
Photo by Suliman Sallehi on Pexels.com

Persevere!

The climb may be hard,
But the view’s worth the struggle.
So, just persevere!

In today’s Daily Word,
the scripture reference was Proverbs 16:9
“The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps.”


The writer in reflecting on that text
reminded us that we need to be open and receptive.
“I know wherever I am, God is.
Love is.
Peace is.
I need only turn within
to listen,
to be present,
to be still…
Living from the Christ within
is the way to find
lasting peace,
[and] happiness…”

If our friends at http://www.CaringBridge.org find peace in the inspiring quotes above, surely we also can know how blessed, humbled, and grateful we are to live in love as we do. Thank God daily for your many blessings!

What is a favorite quote of yours
that helps sustain you during times of struggle?

I’d love to see yours.
Please respond below…
Let me know you’re out there!

See ya later.

A Dozen Thanks; 2 NOT

Thank you for the birds that sing;
Thank you for the joy they bring.

Thank you for the kittens and cats;

I’m even grateful for bees and bats!

Photo by Alexas Fotos on Pexels.com

Thank you for Italian moms

But, no, I can’t be grateful for pandemics or bombs!

Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com

Thank you for doctors, nurses, and CNA’s
Who still can smile through stressful days.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com
Roxanne Bender

Thank you for the rivers, the stream,
And all the reasons You give us to sing.

Wm. Adams Photography

Thank You for answering our every prayer
Even when it’s “Wait” – we know You are there!

Thank You is the least we can say
For giving us another beautiful day.

Wm. Adams Photography

Be with us now and keep us strong.
May we sing Your praises our whole lives long.

Did you count a dozen reasons for thanks?
And of course, you saw the two NOTs!
Do you have others to add?

Have a Terrific Tuesday!
What song will you sing today?
Send me a link!

Here’s a link to on oldie that I love…
Tells you some little things I am thankful for
.
The words are wonderful!
Are you old enough to remember it?

Bee THANKFUL for little things, my friends.
See ya later.
Bee well!!

We Need Guardian Angels

Protection needed!
Our guardian angels are
Working overtime.

Surround yourself with
The love of family and friends:
Your loving angels.

My friend, Maria Mendoza, gave these cuties to me.

Angels all around
Reach out to bring you comfort.
We all need them now!

Sanctuary lights
Highlight the angelic tones –
Angels softly play.

My mother-in-law created these Faberge’-like eggs

Angels sweetly pray
For your safety and wellness.
I pray for you, too.

Seven represents
God’s number for completion.
Seven angels sing.

This glass angel is a gift from Toni Bowen.
She was here in this room before we bought this house.

Social distancing
Suggests we sit far apart –
Stand six feet away.

This ancient tiny bowl and antique carved angel with accordion are gifts from a friend in Germany

Sit in your own bowl
And do not touch anything;
Stay isolated!

Carry your concerns
Like your heart in open hands –
But wash them often.

My daughter’s mother-in-love, Denise Solioz,
gave us this darling flute-playing angel.

Like the Pied Piper,
Be an angel with a flute.
Compassion plays here.

This lovely angel was among many in a box my mother left behind.
She bought every angel in her nursing home’s gift shop before she died.
I gave most of them away in her memory to the friends in her care facility.
This, the largest of the collection, I kept as a reminder.
BettyDeA believed in angels!
She sits at the top of the circle staircase…
guarding my daily coming and going.

We all need angels
To guard coming and going
In this Virus-age.

Photo by Sebastian Voortman on Pexels.com

The winds of change blow.
The Virus changes our world.
Hang tight to angels.

Don’t let fear freeze you.
Live in deep faith and courage.
What goodness will come?

With factories closed,
Air is clearing in China.
People create new.

New ways of thinking;
New ways of doing old things.
Appreciating!

Gratitude for the
Things we saw as common-place,
Like simple touching.

Photo by Kristin De Soto on Pexels.com

Appreciating
Arenas where we gather
For sports or speeches.

Thankfulness for the
Opportunity to dance
With wild abandon.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Now authorities,
Closing our business and schools,
Keep us from living.

We remind ourselves
It is for our greater good.
What about our jobs?

What about our plans
To travel for marriages
Or for funerals?

Our vacation plans –
Things we paid for months ago –
All of them cancelled.

In the midst of this,
Can our angels show to us
The good that’s coming?

Will our guardians
Show us tomorrow’s bright hope
In sorrow’s dark midst?

Photo by Retha Ferguson on Pexels.com

Calling All Angels!
We need your guardianship;
Save us from the doom.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com

What are your thoughts
about what’s happening with this Coronavirus –
and what ideas can you share
about how we can be
each others’ guardian angels?

Let me hear from you.
What’s happening in your part of the world?

Train Your Mind

What’s Easy?

  • It’s easy to see the negative. It’s all around us.
  • It’s easy to wallow in the mud & muck. It can bury us.
  • It’s easy to hear the complaining and join in. There’s plenty out there to complain about.

What’s Harder?

  • It’s harder to focus on the positive, but when we do, it eventually becomes easier to see it.
  • It might be harder to walk around the mud and avoid the muck, but when we do, it becomes easier to stay on top of clean ground.
  • It’s harder to resist the complainers and work to be part of the solution instead of joining the problematic whiners, but do it! Problem-solvers discover it’s easier to find the happiness we’re all seeking.

Be Thankful – and Express it!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Yes, you can train your mind to be happy!
And learn to swim through the complications!

Do you see a sinking boat
or a raft that will take you to shore?

Train your mind to know
The quality of your life
Is safe in God’s hands

Positivity
Everyone’s happy option
Easier with FAITH!

But, actually, here is the bottom line:

Thanks for visiting JanBeek.
I love your comments!


See ya tomorrow.

Priceless Friends

Good friends are priceless
I’m thankful for every one
Thank the Lord for them

I have a heart full of love as I sit remembering all those dear friends we spent the last five weeks with. I know you are grateful for yours, too.

Write a card to a priceless friend today
…just because…
and tell ’em
how much they mean to you.

See ya tomorrow

Wednesday Surprise – repost

I wish you a Wonderful Wednesday!

I was sitting quietly reading friendly posts
When my dog, TazE, jumped like she heard a ghost.
The FedEx truck had just left our house –
The driver crept in our entry as quiet as a mouse.
Before I could get to the door, he was gone.
He left a box with a basket – no name upon.

Inside a note said “Thank you, Bob & Jan”
But no greeting or signature of woman or man.
The return address was Jorge Garcia of Amigo Foods.
A clue might be Florida – It’s where I know a couple of dudes.
So, Sofia, might this have been from you?
The place where Vanessa & Federico live is a little clue.

Sofia in Palisades

If it is you, then here’s a return of Thanks…
But, I hope you let us know so we can fill in the blanks!
The card should have acknowledged who
The box was from – so I could appropriate thank you!

Since I posted this blog originally, I received acknowledgement from Sofia’s parents, Adrian & Laura. They are the ones who sent it. Today, several months later, on a WONDER-ful Wednesday, I thought it would be fun to re-post this… because it IS another beautiful Wednesday … and the message below is as pertinent today as it was back in August of last year.

Loving elephants

It’s a beautiful Wednesday here, Blogging friends.
I hope your day is going well, too, and transcends
All your expectations. Pen on… read on… live and play!
Wrap your arms around someone and hang tight today.

Listen for the FedEx truck or mailman
He/She may deliver a basket to you from a fan!

See you tomorrow! Pexels.com

A Thought for Each Day

Many of you know that I spend my first hour each day up in my sanctuary.

The view from one sanctuary window

If you’ve been a follower for awhile, you may remember that one of the devotionals I read each morning is:

And I have posted in the past a list of “Take-Aways” for each day of the month. It’s been a few months since I did that. I did not post my list for November yet. Today would be a good day to do that. Perhaps you can find this list helpful. Adopt one a day, and take that message with you as you walk this rocky road called LIFE. Let it help you focus on a direction God is calling you.

November’s Take-Aways from Daily Guideposts

  • Remember Incredible Moments
  • Really “See” People
  • Choose Peace – Even in Chaos
  • Bee still to Hear/Feel God’s Grace
  • Keep Faith in Love
  • Accept God’s Extravagant Grace
  • Let Children Move, Moo, Climb & Clamber
  • Keep Your Faith Childlike
  • Always Give Your Best Effort
  • Let Your Life Praise God
  • Live in Grateful Peace
  • Unclog Your Life; Clean Up!
  • Bee Mindful of Relationships
  • Maintain Your Body
  • Know “Retirement” is a Misnomer
  • Use Your Reservoir of Love
  • Know God as Your Guide
  • Speak Only Tender, Kind Words
  • Hope Always in Him
  • Keep Eyes and Heart Open
  • Take Time to Feel God’s Presence
  • Serve Heartily!
  • Always Find Joy in Work
  • Bee Still and Listen
  • Let Space Be Transformed
  • Add Exercise To Your Routine
  • Cherish Family
  • Thank God For Your Many Blessings
  • Know God’s Working in You
  • Look into The Hearts <3 <3
Let everyday be Christmas!

I hope “A Thought for Each Day” will inspire you to be your best self, the person God made you to be, every day this month… and create a thoughtful habit for the New Year.

God bless you!
See ya later!

By the way, which of those “Take Aways” will you adopt for today?

How Gratitude Changes Lives

Gratitude Haiku x4

Live with Gratitude.
Gratefulness changes your life –
Notice little things.

Fill a daily post
In your gratitude journal;
It’s very potent!

Commit to refrain
From complaining or gossip
Or criticism.

Let your decision
To live always gratefully
Enhance every day.

What or who are you grateful for today?
It’s a great habit to repeat those thank you’s!!
See ya later.

Today I Am Grateful

Each morning, just before I leave my sanctuary and head down the stairs to tackle the new day, I write in my Thankfulness Journal. It reminds me to begin each day with an Attitude of Gratitude.

So, as this page in the journal suggests, I do just that… I take about 5 minutes to reflect back on the day before… and I write down three things for which I am grateful. Sometimes I can’t stop at three (I’ll squeeze in 4 or 5), and other days (like last week when I was so annoyed at the persistent hacky cough), I can only think of one thing… “Life.” But, always there is SOMETHING for which to be thankful.

Here are the two pages for last week’s entries:

Yes, even if it is “just life itself,” there always is a reason for Gratitude

Every month or so, there is a page for reflection – a question to ponder. Today, the page said, “today i am gratetful” and the page across from it invited me to write about a place I am thankful I had the opportunity to visit.

Think about how you would respond to such a prompt. Tell me a place for which you are grateful.

When thinking about a place, this is what came to my mind:

Forget the edited “the” – I fixed it…
It belongs before “beautiful” – or not at all.
Do you edit and re-edit your work, even in a journal?
I don’t usually, but I don’t usually take a picture of it, either!

Yesterday I worked at the Food Bank. The shelves were mighty bare. It’s because some folks are getting ready to replace the worn out carpet in there. I am grateful for the Food Bank, for those who donate food and those who donate time, for those who donate money and those who Care and Share in a ton of ways.

Today Bob & I are going to Helena, MT. We have been invited to an AARP Volunteers’ Recognition dinner there. I will tell you all about it tomorrow. It is our privilege to volunteer our time during these “Golden Years” to help those who need it. I am grateful today to Elaine Forsberg who nominated us as “Montana State Volunteers” worthy of mention. We do it for the Glory of the One who blesses us. Giving back is our greatest joy.

What are you most grateful for today?

See ya tomorrow

Blessings Amidst Tragedy

Blessings > Problems

My heart is aching
In the midst of mass shootings
National Problem

Crazed shooter

My life is blessed and I am grateful,
But how can I rejoice as others cry?
How do I count my blessings
While watching innocent people die?

My heart aches for the dear ones
Who have needlessly lost loved lives.
This week was a sad time in our country –
Gone are daughters, sons, husbands, wives.

The national problem of violence,
Assault weapons in the hands of the sick,
Makes me want to write or call our leaders
And demand solutions to the issues – quick!

No way should one man in the Senate
Have the right to singularly block
A measure the House of Representatives passed
And sent to be voted on… at least to have a talk!

Gun violence is exacerbated
By the proliferation of guns of war
In the hands of unstable citizens.
It’s got to stop. Tolerate it no more!!!

Universal background checks
Have got to be a must!
Sales of weapons must be given
Only to the folks we can trust!

I’m not against a hunting rifle
And I think handguns have their place,
But magnums with rapid-fire magazines
Are not for ordinary citizens. It’s a disgrace!

My life in rural Montana
Is a sheltered one, I know.
My blessings outnumber my problems
And I live in a loving glow.

But I’m affected by the violence,
By the deaths and hate and crime.
I don’t live in a bubble.
The fears of this nation are also mine.

See ya tomorrow
(God willing)