Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘war’

Be Not Afraid

Be Not Afraid
Easier said than done
Especially if you have
Bombs blocking the sun

Raising up prayers
For people in Ukraine
Seeing their dismay
Feeling their pain

Wanting to help
Feeling helpless and weak
Praying that our country
Provides the aid they seek

I can’t do much
I pray and I do what I can
To support the people
Do you have a plan?

Check out this possibility
(I hope the link works):
https://kingef.com/products/ukraine-glass-hummingbird-suncatcher—i-stand-with-ukraine—support-ukraine

I will hang this stained glass
In my window when it arrives
It will remind me to pray daily
For the dear Ukrainians’ lives

It’s a worthwhile purchase
It makes me feel like I am doing a little to help.
A portion of the sale price
Will go to recovery efforts
And another part of the money
Will help the artist rebuild her studio
When she finally is able to return home.

This song and prayer are for them –
The dear, innocent victims of this war –
I pray for their safety and their courage
For their lives and their ultimate victory.
Join me in prayer … and sing along:

Sending love and visions of HOPE to you
and to the people of Ukraine…
God, give them peace.

Love, JanBeek

See ya tomorrow (God willing)

Category:

art, Faith, God, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, music, peace, Poetry, prayer

Tagged with:

Bee Confident

Let’s bee confident
Bee in partnership with God
Ask for world peace

Let’s take a lesson
From our wise honeybee friends
Work for common good

Let’s circle our hive
Let’s make honey and not war
Let’s bee confident

Beelieve when we pray
That God hears and He responds
Know that He’s in charge

Matthew 7:7

“Ask, and it will bee given you;
search, and you will find;
knock, and the door will bee opened for you.”

People in Ukraine
Are questioning sanity
How can all this bee?

Why this aggression?
Last month they lived peacefully.
No one suspected.

How could anyone
Imagine atrocities
As bad as these are?

James 4:10

“Humble yourselves before the Lord,
and He will lift you up in honor.”

Lord, we are humbled
Bee merciful to us now
Hear our earnest pleas

Terrifying bombs
Are killing and destroying
Please send protection

PUTIN, take lessons
From our wise honeybee friends
Work for common good!

WordPress friends,
Pray to God, our Father, with me:

Let there bee peace
The peace that was meant to bee
I am confident

Confident, my Lord
That You can make peace to bee
Bring peace to Ukraine.


BEE at PEACE!!

Photo by Michael Hodgins on Pexels.com

Where two or more are gathered,
There our God is with us…
Working for our common good.

Praise God
from whom
all blessings flow…

Lord, thank you for our blessings.
Please bless the Ukrainians with peace.
Please.
Amen!

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, God, Haiku, Jesus, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, music, Poetry, relationships

Tagged with:

Place of Refuge

“Any place can be a place of refuge if you have inner peace.”

My “Take-away” from today’s Daily Word

Reading Daily Word,
Sitting in my rocking chair
My place of Refuge

Feeling perfect peace
In my settled surroundings
I rethink my quote

“Any place can be
A place of peaceful refuge”
Really, are you sure?

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I’m not in Ukraine
I’m not hearing bombs explode
Where’s their inner peace?

Standing in the storm
As it threatens life and limb
Where’s a refuge place?

“The peace of God is mine to call upon always.”

Daily Word, Thursday, March 3, 2022

In the boat on a raging sea,
the disciples were afraid.
They woke Jesus and pleaded with Him.
Save us! How can you sleep through this?
Then simply by saying,
“Peace, be still,”
Jesus calmed the angry waves,
and the disciples were amazed.

“I take the lesson to heart, realizing inner peace is not about being calm in settled surroundings; it’s about standing in the tempest steady, strong, and centered in faith.”

Daily Word – http://www.unity.org

“If a storm rages in my mind or heart, I envision the choppy waves being calmed by the love and light of God [or the Holy Spirit] within me. As the sky clears, dark grey yields to vivid blue. Trusting the presence of God is in and through all things.”

Daily Word – “Inner Peace”
The Madison Range view from my sanctuary…
and my dining room…
and my living room…
and my bedroom…
(Yes, I am blessed!)
“dark grey yields to vivid blue.”

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself
give you peace at all times in all ways.
The Lord be with all of you.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16

PRAY FOR PEACE!!!

Let’s think again about that “Take-Away” from today’s devotional:
“Any place can be a place of refuge if you have inner peace.”
Can it?
Is inner peace accessible to war-torn Ukrainians?
Is that PollyAnna thinking?

Who are those soldiers?
Did they survive?
Where is the baby who was in that stroller?
Do those soldiers and that baby’s parents have inner peace?
Where is God for these warriors?
Where is God for the man who is ordering this destruction?
Where is inner peace?
Where is their place of refuge?


Love, JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Jesus, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, Montana, peace, Poetry, prayer, relationships

Tagged with:

Life’s a Storm

Life is a snow storm
Each moment a falling flake
Some flutter slowly down
Others dash in piles and cake

Life’s a raging storm
Snow piles high and deep
Troubles mount and stack up
Creating challenges so steep

Friends who saw our plight
Came to lend a hand – Woohoo!
Thank God for Whooter,
the Welnas & Knapton two.

All around the world
Reach out to take a stand
You may not need a snowplow
Just a shovel and a hand

Our ramp was filled with snow
That froze and turned to ice
Those neighbors came to save us
So helpful – yes, so nice!

We couldn’t be more grateful
They cleared a pathway, too
So we could back the car out
We’re doubly blessed; aren’t you?

Photo by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels.com

As world-wide neighbors we see
Friends far and near needing aid
We step up whenever we can
Not expecting to be paid

But in today’s troubled world
We see the flakes raging high
The snow storm of war creates
Ice mounds pounding the sky

No bobcat or shovel budges
The pile of flakes turned to ice
Sending in helpers costs lives
We weigh options and think twice

Will things be alright
In Ukraine and the USA?
What can we do to stop
This mournful storm today?

Pray for this stormy crises to end
Pray for a true world peace
Pray for leaders with malicious intent
To come to their senses. Release!

Release intentions to kill
Release the need to do harm
Disperse the storm clouds today
Commit today to disarm.

Photo by Snapwire on Pexels.com

Pray for Freedom and Peace in the Ukraine

Pray for:
Freedom over tyranny
Peace over war
Calm over storm
Life over death
Love over hate

In Jesus name,
Amen


Be warm,
be safe,
be well,
and pray for peace
in today’s stormy world.
Hugs!

Thank you for visiting JanBeek today
See you tomorrow (God willing)

Category:

Faith, friendship, Giving, God, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, Poetry, prayer, relationships, Serving One Another, work

Tagged with:

Lisa McCrohan “…so done with war?”

Done with War Aren’t we so weary of war? Aren’t we so tired of old men wanting more power and sending young men and women to fight and die in battle?…

Aren’t we so done with war?

Category:

Belief, blogging, life, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Love

Tagged with:

Embrace Service

Did you serve in the military?
When you think of service,
Do you think of military service?
There are other kinds…

Today is Veterans’ Day in the USA.

It is a day to honor our servicemen/women.
Not all our veterans served with a pure heart,
Motivated by the desire to serve for freedom’s sake.
Some just didn’t know what else to do!

Now, that may sound a little sacrilegious –
A little disrespectful to some of you.
But, I know for a fact at least one
Veteran who served out of frustration.

Hey, Bob, were you ever in the military?
“I think so… 2 years, 9 months, & one day.
I was in when the Berlin Wall was built.
Thank God I got out 3 months early for summer work!”

So you didn’t serve out of love of country?
“No! I was told I could learn electronics,
So I went into the Nike Ajax Program.
Then I discovered it was cancelled!

I ended up learning nothing about electronics.
It was a sham. The recruiters lied to me.
As a clerk typist, stationed in Germany,
I felt trapped by the military system.”

You see not all veterans served in wartime.
Not all veterans have a heartwarming,
Grateful, fuzzy feeling about their service.
Not even those who DID serve in wartime.

So how do we honor our veterans?
How do we honor the families of those
Who sacrificed their lives for us?
How do we honor the clerk typists?

Here’s Bob – a handsome soldier,
But don’t let the smile fool you.
He was shuffling papers, typing orders,
And counting the days ’til discharge.

Some folks enter the military out of high school
Because they are at loose ends.
They don’t know what else to do with their lives…
Not ready to go to college, not sure of a job.

Those folks can end up making a career
Of the army or navy, the marines or air force,
And can be excellent servicemen/women.
Original motive aside, they serve with honor.

So what’s my point on Veterans’ Day?
I guess it is… don’t generalize.
Don’t assume all veterans served
To help preserve our freedom.

Look at the size of our military.
Look at the money spent in peacetime.
Look at those who served during wars.
Look at those who gave their lives.

Look at the whole picture of war
And military and fighting and preserving.
Honor our veterans, yes…
But what about the drop-outs?

I don’t mean to belittle Veteran’s Day.
There are people out there who
Served for patriotic reasons…
And they deserve to be honored.

There are families who lost loved ones
Who served to preserve our freedom.
They deserve our gratitude and love.
Yes, Happy Veterans’ Day!

God Bless America!
And God bless those who serve to keep us free!


Category:

Family, Giving, Gratitude, holidays, Life and Death, Love, Serving One Another

Tagged with:

A Day to Remember

This is a day to remember –
Remember the lives lost on 9-11-2001.
Remember the heroes who risked –
Risked their own lives to save others.

Today is a day to acknowledge
We as a nation are not impenetrable.
I used to think we were;
I used to think wars were someplace else.

Now I know wars rage right here.
Wars rage in our hearts and homes.
Wars rage on our streets.
Wars don’t need tanks and guns.

Wars are acts of hatred and violence
Against those we wish to oppress.
Wars rage where love is absent.
Love is the only way to douse wars.

So today, remember the feeling
Of fright and disbelief – – – the horror.
Remember how we came together
Joined hands as a nation to help.

And let’s do it again!
Let’s join hands to save our souls.
Let’s reach out to heal our wounds.
Let’s just love one another.

Never forget 9-11
Never let it happen again!

Category:

Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, Memories, peace, Poetry, relationships

Tagged with:

Quilts of Valor

Today our Ennis Arts Association had a guest speaker, Kathy Coontz, who represents the Federation, Quilts of Valor, in our state of Montana. Kathy is such an inspiration!! I love her quilts and her enthusiasm.

Happy Kathy Coontz

Can you see what a delight she is?

The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a nation-wide service effort that delivers quilts to service members and veterans. Its mission is to cover service men and women and veterans touched by our war(s) with comforting and healing hugs in the form of beautiful, warm, red, white and blue quilts.

Kathy w quilt

Kathy told us the recipients do not have to have served in a “declared war.” Regardless of the conflict or the branch of service, the rank or the job (Clerk Typist Specialist 4 – behind a desk in Germany in 1961-2 was my husband’s job), we owe them a thank you for their service to our country. The quilts are stitched with love, prayers, gratitude, and healing thoughts. It’s the quilters’ way of saying, “Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and valor.”

3 veterans - QOV

In their brochure explaining the program, QOV quoted one recipient, a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan from ’05 to ’07.

Spc. JMcK, US Army, wrote,
“As silly as it might sound for a soldier with over three years in Iraq and Afghanistan to say, that blanket became a true item of comfort and peace for the road ahead.”

If you know a U.S. service man or woman or a veteran who might appreciate a Quilt of Valor, you can log on to http://www.QOVF.org and fill out an application. You also can discover on that site how to donate to the cause, join the organization, or designate a gift for a specific QOVF group or particular state.

It was a wonderful presentation. I wish more people in our Madison Valley had been there to hear Kathy’s message.

Do you have a Quilts Of Valor organization near you? Or do you know of a veteran who’d benefit? Think about it! There’s nothing like a warm blanket hug! My daughter DeDe sent me a blanket hug for Christmas last year. I love it!!

Jan - blanket hugSee ya later.

 

 

 

Category:

art, Awards, Giving, Gratitude, Love, Montana, Serving One Another

Tagged with:

Surviving with Doubt

Doubt

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?

person holding a burning news paper close up photography

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 of man holding rifle

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.

focus photo of yellow paper near trash can

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.

pexels-photo-302899
.
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???

mountains nature arrow guide

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.

.
pexels-photo-887349-2
See ya tomorrow
(God willing!)

Category:

Faith, God, Heartache, Jesus, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, Poetry, writing

Tagged with:

Tell The Story Challenge

‬‬

Renee/Heart Tokens  was nominated by Amy for the “Tell the Story Challenge” created by The Eclectic Contrarian

There were 2 pics she gave, and Renee chose the one that spoke to her the most.

Then Renee posted two pictures and invited her readers to join the challenge.

I decided this sounds like fun… and so I am joining in.

Here are the Rules:

Pick one of the images given to you, write whatever comes to you. Short, long, funny, sad … a tribute to someone, a poem, a song. Then choose two or three images and some nominees and keep the ball rolling.

 This is the image I chose – and I selected Haiku as my genre:

God’s Gift

 

Going to war is hell
Only music can save us
God seemed to know that

 

Here are the three images I choose for your selections:
alcohol blur bright burnt
watercolor bird

man with braided hair

Photo by VINICIUS COSTA on Pexels.com

And here are my nominees:
1. Lize Bard, Haiku out of Africa
2. Pat Cegan, Source of Inspiration
3. Bill, WCS Poetry
4. deyspublishing, dorothy’s page
5. Anyone of you – my Ideal Readers – who wants to join in. Do!!
Sorry, I can’t seem to erase these items that were transferred from Renee’s original post: Renee/Heart Tokens  … so just ignore this bottom part! But, do click on Renee’s title in red here and see the picture and story she posted.
 This post is ad-supported

​
Learn more about RevenueStripe...
Renee/Heart Tokens | April 30, 2019 at 3:14 am | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: https://wp.me/pag9u1-eH
Comment        Like

Category:

blogging, Haiku, music, writing

Tagged with:

Tag Cloud

%d bloggers like this: