Do not let the wind Disturb your tranquility The wind moves the clouds
The clouds paint pictures The clouds bring much needed rain Wind whips them away
Let the wind help you Blow away any distress And just be at peace
Smile, my friends!
When this post was first written, Bob & I were headed out in the boat to float the Madison River. Since then, we have sold the boat. A lot has changed in our lives.
I took this photo on my walk earlier the day
this post was first written.
I took TazE for a walk by the river. She loved it. Today it is snowy and blowy here… No river walks. But I will post a few pictures to show you what peaceful scenes our Madison River provides!
Many thanks to Ed Coyle for his talented photography
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Come and visit us here someday!
Be at peace, my friends.
I gotcha covered in prayer. Have a peace-filled day.
Trying to arrange for a trip abroad in this COVID world today will guarantee stress.
Today I used links sent to me by a friend who just returned from a trip to Canada and from our daughter who is planning to join us next week in London, and I tried to make the arrangements for the COVID tests required. Oh me, oh my! Can they make it more difficult?
Seems to me they are just trying to send us senior citizens over the sanity edge ridge into complete derangement!
Not only do we have to have proof of our vaccines, but we have to prove we tested negative within 72 hours of our departure from the USA to London. Then when we arrive in the UK, we have to have a test there within 2 days – and it has to be ordered in advance. We have to prove (before we leave the US) that we have ordered the 2 day test to be delivered to our place of destination in London. Oh bludder!! And none of these tests are free, of course!
So, I took a break from all that computer stuff and spent some time with a few friends… a great antidote to hysteria and complete lunacy!
Back at home, I let my mind wander as I checked out some of my favorite bloggers. That was definitely a stress reliever! I especially enjoyed reading:
Are you looking for ways to embrace stressing less? Here’s a helpful list I found:
I’m smiling now … just asked for and got that hug. It’s soooo good to have Bob back home again! He returned Wednesday night from his fishing trip in Alaska, and I was quite worried about him.
We spent a lot of yesterday at our medical center here in Ennis, trying to see how we can reduce his fluid retention, get his kidneys and heart functioning normally, and help him prepare for the trip to be with our daughter next week. See why I am posting EMBRACE STRESSING LESS ?
What do you do to reduce stress? Try playing this video in the background while you go about your next task.
“Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find much rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”
I totally agree with Marva. Watching less news is a GREAT way to reduce stress. But, don’t be an ostrich. Total lack of information can be a miserable stress inducer!
Let’s embrace bird songs. They bring music to our souls. Delight in their sounds!
The following video is a 42 minute delight. It displays 80 birds, identifies them for you, and plays their songs. I LOVE it!
I recommend that you play it as background music as you read the rest of my blog and go about your day.
Peek back at it every now and then – because the close-up pictures of these birds and the words that identify them and the settings where you find them will be sure to delight you!
I woke this morning to the sound of doves cooing. They have built their nest in the eaves Outside my bedroom window – Crafted it with twigs and leaves.
Partner doves made their home there And sang their song, “I hid hid hid it!” Soon they’ll lay their eggs there And change their song to “I did did did it!”
But their nest is not hidden from us. We can see their coming and their going. Their song brings us daily happiness. Our day starts with shared music – enjoying!
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After you have listened to some of that first video, check this one out. It is just the dove… Then go back to that first one. Let it mesmerize you! (You can slide the red bar at the bottom of it to go back to where you left off.)
“Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall; happy are the people whose God is the Lord.”
Psalm 144:15
Just as each bird has its song, People have songs that identify them. Some are blues, some jazz or rock and roll, Others are known by their favorite hymn.
As I listen to music on my Amazon device And I hear one I wanna put in my cart, I say, “Alexa, add that to my favorites.” My list – like a bird song – comes from my heart. .
Take a break from the bird songs, and listen to a song that touches my heart. I can’t help but sing along whenever it plays:
In my “Happiness Project” (one sentence journal) the verse at the top of the page today was:
“It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, which give happiness.”
– Thomas Jefferson
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What Creates Happiness for You?
I used to find my greatest happiness in the classroom – working with young children. Then I found it in my home with my husband and two children. Neither of those sources, however could be defined as “tranquil.”
It wasn’t until we moved here to Montana, we both retired, and we bought a house with an upstairs “SanctuAiree,” that I found my place of tranquility. Surrounded by trees with singing birds outside and my Bibles, devotionals, and angels inside, I am at peace. Inner peace is my definition of tranquility and happiness. How about you?
For me, there are few things in life which create more tranquility than the sound of a dove cooing. Our God used a dove as the carrier of good news (it returned to the ark with an olive branch to announce “Dry Land! It’s here! It’s here!”) The dove is a symbol of peace.
What a way to wake up in the morning! And then they greet me on the rooftop when I am in my SanctuAiree.
Doves are little gifts from God. I love them and their song.
What is your favorite bird song?
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
I hope you’ll be singing when you leave here!
(You can go back to that first video and continue enjoying those bird songs)
Do not let the wind
Disturb your tranquility
The wind moves the clouds
The clouds paint pictures
The clouds bring much needed rain
Wind whips them away
Let the wind help you
Blow away any distress
And just be at peace
Smile, my friends!
I gotcha covered in prayer.
Have a peace-filled day.
When this post was first written,
Bob & I were headed out
in the boat
to float the Madison River.
Since then, we have sold the boat.
A lot has changed in our lives.
I took this photo on my walk earlier the day
this post was first written.
I promised that I would take photos on the river float
and post them here for my WordPress friends.
I don’t think I did that! But, I can remedy that now…
Here are a few gorgeous shots of the Madison River
Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by.
See ya tomorrow.
Hugs,
JanBeek
Sermon by Pastor Jean Johnson
Madison Valley Presbyterian Church
Ennis, Montana
Based on scripture – Mark 10:35-45
Notes by JanBeek – October 21, 2012
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!
JanBeek 