I was reminded today that I promised to explain the meaning of each letter in SIFT, my word for 2024. I posted an explanation of the “S” meaning to simplify, but then my life got complicated!
I neglected WordPress for a week or so and then wrote about my desire to eliminate negativity in my world. I used Bob Goff as a perfect example of someone who exudes POSITIVITY! Thank you, dear friends, for the positive comments you left on that post!
Now, on to that “I” in SIFT. To simplify my life, I need to Inventory and Identify what is Important and what is not.
So, as I attempt to simplify my life, I question the need for all this stuff!! Finding honest answers to all that questioning takes wisdom! That’s my word for today!!
… and I need to add to that, “If it’s yours and you don’t need it, GET RID OF IT!”
When you experience a challenge (like trying to simplify your life) and you’re not sure what to do, stop what you are doing and ask God for guidance, seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and then WAIT to hear the answer.
It’s easy to get distracted (like I did on this SIFT acronym), but the task of simplifying requires that “I” message: Itemize and inventory, determine what’s important, in an effort to prioritize and ultimately simplify.
It’s a work in progress. Are you trying to simplify your life? How are you doing?
God bless you – and me – and, please Lord, give us wisdom!
The value of tidbits of advice differs as we hear them at different times in our lives.
As a young child, my mom’s advice always included words of encouragement: “Let your light shine.” “You can be anything you decide you want to be.” “You are more than good enough.” “Take it one day at a time.”
Mom certainly let her light shine!!
Later in life, I have discovered that I can receive valuable advice daily by reading my Bible, reading devotionals written by Christ-like, modern-day disciples, and listening to compassionate friends. They say things like:
We should never tire of seeking advice and heeding the words of wise counsel. http://www.Motivational Words of Wisdom.com always has sound advice.
It’s hard (in fact impossible for me) to narrow pieces of advice down to the one best. How about you?
God’s latest advice to me was, “Slow down and watch where you’re going!” Do you hear God’s advice being shouted in your ear at times, too?
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all * pure, then * peace-loving, * considerate, * submissive, * full of mercy, and * good fruit, * impartial, and * sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”
Righteousness = free from guilt or sin; justifiable; genuine & excellent.
Hah! There are Bible coloring books, But they are for beginners who want to start Getting used to those Bible stories Before taking them to heart.
If you want an apple from the Teacher, Don’t search Google for the book. Just go to your own Bible, my friends. You’ll find wisdom there, if you look.
Don’t let it sit upon the shelf Gathering cobwebs, dust and dirt. Take it down, dust it off, and read. Gaining a little more wisdom never hurt!
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Kristyn Getty has such a pure and sweet voice. The words to this song are wise indeed. I hope you’ll take time to listen and enjoy. Gaining God’s wisdom is an every day need.
God bless you, dear friends. May His wisdom increase in you every day. May you dress yourself daily in His strength!
Sending you love, hugs, and best wishes for a happy, healthy, and wise Friday. JanBeek
I’ve been telling myself – and you – to have faith, To step out in faith and begin a new journey. I’ve been telling myself to lean in and listen To what God is whispering to me.
Well, He has been telling me to slow down. “Stop and watch where you are going. Slow down and move more intentionally. Sit in the boat awhile – enjoy how life’s flowing.”
Looks like I did that for awhile, right? But then I stepped on shore, running – Flitting from one spot to the next, I didn’t stop to just enjoy the sunning!
In April I fell and broke a finger. In June I tripped and bruised my knee. And yesterday I fell over backward – Needed stitches to the head – Woe is me!!
Not a pretty sight!
I was dashing from garage to house Carrying groceries in three sacks. I couldn’t see my feet, so missed the step, Lost my balance, and fell flat on my back!
My head hit the hitch on the trailer And gashed my scalp an inch wide, Two inches long – requiring 8 stitches- More hurt than my head was my pride!
So the Lord said, “Third time’s the charm. Be humble and listen to me please. Be wise about what you carry and where you step – People can die with falls like these!”
Okay, dear God, I got the message! Slow down and watch where you walk! Carry with your good hand, not your left… Eyes open, steps secure, mind your own talk!
I’m sharing this advice with you, friends, Because I hope you are wiser than I. I hope you don’t have to have three mishaps Before you heed the warning and comply!
SLOW DOWN AND WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING!!
My Daughter#2, Laina, sent me this poem after hearing this morning about what happened:
Oh my! Remember this? About a year ago… Walked into the closing hatchback on our car!! Slow learner I am!
Yes, indeed! I need to slow down and watch where I’m going… How about you??
Staying young while growing older begins with a mind-set.
Peace and partying Satisfaction and smiles in all circumstances at all ages
Notice I did not say, “Growing OLD.” Growing OLDER is not the same as growing old. I’m not OLD; at 82, I am simply in my advanced years – growing in wisdom and grace – with God’s blessings!
In the Natural Living newsletter, Dr. Z and Mama Z write the following:
“God will carry us through, even into our advanced years. Our Creator has had a plan for us since before we were born. He had our days numbered since the beginning of time and it is up to us to make wise decisions to help our bodies live a more vibrant and full life and to impart our wisdom to those placed in our lives.”
“Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.”
I DO think about things differently… especially THINGS. Yes, I have my “treasures,” – those things I am reluctant to part with – but as time goes by, I realize the wisdom of knowing “I can’t take it with me.” And God don’t allow no U-Hauls in Heaven!!
Skip that store on your way outta town!
In my daily devotions today, Charles Stanley wrote in his In Touch entry, “Our culture is obsessed with youth… But… Unless death intervenes, growing old is inevitable.”
See that’s where I differ with him. But it is only a matter of semantics, I’m sure. He must have meant “growing older.” Because he went on to say, “We can be young in soul and spirit, regardless of our chronological age.”
Magnificence comes with age… Yes, the root word is “magnify” and that’s what age does for us. It magnifies our failures (if we let it) – It magnifies our faults (if we let it) – It requires magnification to see clearly!
The question we need to ask ourselves is, “What am I magnifying as I age?”
Charles Stanley’s devotional today reminded us, “Never stop listening to the Father and learning from His Word. Allow godly thinking to shape your attitude. Be thankful, never stop laughing, and rejoice in the Lord. Above all, keep believing and loving Him with all your heart.”
Making the most of the dash means we have to stop dashing! We’re not created to be honeybees, dashing from one bit of pollen to another!
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is obtained by following a righteous path.” ~ Proverbs 16:31
We are created in the image of God, designed to glorify Him each day by following the righteous path… stopping along the way and taking time to pour out the honey of forgiveness, dish out the power of experience, and spray the gladness of grace on all we meet.
Ps. 119:103
The way Eugene Peterson paraphrased that verse in his study Bible, The Message, is this:
“Your words are so choice, so tasty; I prefer them to the best home cooking.”
So, let’s return to the original premise here: “Staying young while growing older begins with a mind-set.”
Recognize those two? A younger Bob & Jan?
60 years later… Still young at heart!
What is your mind-set today?
Are you young at heart? Are you pouring out the honey of forgiveness? Are you dishing out the power of experience? Are you spraying the gladness of grace?
Here’s a spray bottle to help you out!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today. See ya tomorrow (God willing)
How am I changing the world? That was the question for today’s January 29th #Bloganuary prompt.
How would you answer it?
I changed the world when I was born Because I am as unique as one can be I change the world I live in Because there’ll never be another me
I changed the world when I gave birth to my first child, Tyronee Bee. He changed the world around him, too, Because he has deep faith, the same as me.
Ty is letting Jesus take him and Monika To the place God has for them both They tackle each day with perseverance And let God guide their daily growth
They reach out to those around them And share their wisdom with finesse Their hearts are full of love and wonder It’s obvious, those they touch, they bless.
I changed the world when I gave birth to my second child, DeDe Bee Her nickname is Miss Sunshine Her sparkle touches you and me
She smiles at life through thick & thin And “Carpe’ Diem” is her motto Her days are filled with sweetest song A smooth, clear tone with no vibrato
I change the world when I can travel To see my kids and encourage them I know the Good Lord guides their paths And nothing can discourage them
I know if I am weak and needy They’ll help me out however they can They’ll do the same for all they meet They know no stranger – child, woman, or man
I change the world when I reach out To gather friends and take them in Enlarge our family with additional members Reach out, expand, let others just blend in
They change their worlds in return And the circle just grows larger Connecting lives where e’re they go Giving others energy – a super recharger
I change the world when I give hugs Virtually or in gentle person Without the care and love of others The world of loneliness would worsen
So, never doubt your worth, dear friend Never imagine that you don’t matter Every kind word that you speak Is like seed in wind – let them scatter
Influence You matter You change lives Of those around you Love
Your world may involve only one One other person to interact with But that person means the world to you And that’s the world you’re packed with
So never underestimate your worth To just one – or to a world of plenty – You change the world where you are Folks who do not matter? There aren’t any!!
Many thanks to my faithful long-term friends here – And a hearty welcome to my new followers! You make me smile… You change my world.
Have a great weekend. It’s so good to be home! Go out – or stay in – either way, You change the world around you.
Never doubt it!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today. See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Bloganuary#17 – “What is a Secret Power You’d Like to Have?”
I want the secret power to have wisdom in all circumstances. I want the secret power to turn all tears to laughter and joy. I want the secret power to end all wars and create everlasting peace on earth. I want the secret power to make Believers of all doubters so we all can meet in eternity someday.
I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor’s permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.
My memory’s not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory’s not as sharp as it used to be.
Know how to prevent sagging? Just eat till the wrinkles fill out.
I talked with God about this today.
God said to me: “Folks don’t mind your creases, Jan. It is part of the aging process – and those lines are roadmaps to your soul. They tell how you’ve lived your life. Your joys are there. (Those are the creases beside each eye) The times you were tickled are there. (Notice those crinkles on your nose!) Your worries are there. (Those are the railroad tracks on your forehead; sometimes caused not by worry, but by pondering!)
Those aren’t wrinkles – They’re wise cracks!”
One of my favorite Bible verses about aging gracefully is “Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.”
(Psalm 92:14)
God will carry us through, even into our advanced years. Our Creator has had a plan for us since before we were born. He had our days numbered since the beginning of time and it is up to us to make wise decisions to help our bodies live a more vibrant and full life and to impart our wisdom to those placed in our lives.
How many wise cracks do you have? Are you trying to hide them? Or do you embrace them?
In the video below, Lisa, Domestic Life Stylist, moves our focus away from our “Wise cracks” and shares some wise tips on aging. It’s worth a watch!
Her final words: “Embrace the age you are!” Wisdom indeed! (I’m 82, how about you?)
See ya tomorrow (God willing). Thanks for visiting!
My friend, Lee, sent me a You.Tube video today. He said it was “worth your time and thoughts.” I agree!. It was narrated by a guy with a wonderful British accent. I bet it was created several years ago. The words in blue below are his. The red is my editorial comment about that item!
Whether you wear a $300. or a $3. watch, they both tell the same thing.
But the whole deal is, this watch does so much more than tell time! And it costs way more than $300. . Price tag = $539.98
Whether you carry a $300. or a $30. handbag, the amount of money inside is still the same.
This one actually is a $2,350. Guggi If you buy it, you’ll certainly have less money to put inside! Don’t you have better things to do with your money??
Whether we drive a $150,000. car or a $30,000. car, the road and distance are the same… and we get to the same destination.
But, the Ferrari is so much more fun! And you can certainly go faster! (If you survive at those speeds, that is)
Whether you drink a bottle of $300. or a $10. bottle of wine, the hangover is the same.
But Wine Spectator Magazine says, “It’s not as if wines that cost $10. or less are going to make you feel bad, or that wines that cost over $50 are never going to give you a hangover… How much wine you consume is the biggest variable…” So, in both cases, it’s the whole bottle? Not a good idea regardless of the price!
Whether the house you live in is 300 sq. ft. or a huge mansion with 30,000 sq. ft., loneliness is the same.
Yes, you can be lonely in a shack or you can be lonely in a castle. The size of the house has little to do with it. But, remember loneliness and alone are two different animals. Just because you’re alone doesn’t mean you have to be lonely. And just because you have a kajillion people around you doesn’t mean you feel loved. It has nothing to do with the size of your house… it’s the size of your heart!
Whether you fly first or economy class, if the plane goes down – you go with it.
True! But aren’t some seats safer than others? An article in the Huffington Post – when asked about the safest place to sit to a plane – wrote this, “Each incident or crash is unique. Impact could come from a nosedive, a water landing, or a runway collision. As a result there is no safest seat.”The good news in that article, though, is “Air travel is the safest form of transportation in the country.” Bon Voyage!! . .
In that same video sent to me this morning by my friend, Lee, this interesting addition was included:
Embrace Questioning! Do we embrace all questions? Like, “Are you stupid?”
No, it’s not questions, But the act of questioning That deserves embrace.
Not all questions are Developed with pure motives. Embrace those that are!
Embrace a pure heart Full of inquisitiveness. Ask because you care.
When you meet someone Ask their name and remember – Use it lovingly.
Ask about their life. Listen with sincere interest. Listening’s a gift.
Questioning’s one thing; Listening is another. They go hand in hand.
When I think of questioning with a pure motive and listening with an open heart, I think of Job. Even if you are not a Christian, seeped in the Bible stories, you have heard the expression, “The patience of Job.” (That’s pronounced Jobe… not job, like Steve Jobs, the American business magnate). What made the prophet, Job, come to mind?
Job is presented in the Bible as a good and prosperous family man who is beset by Satan with God‘s permission with horrendous disasters that take away all that he holds dear, including his children, his health, and his property. He struggles to understand his situation and begins a search for the answers to his difficulties. Searching for answers involves questioning. He does so without condemning God. He maintains his trust in God to ultimately work for his good – even when he is in the worst of his turmoil.
What a desolate looking man! What must he be saying to God? What questions would you be asking?
What does Job ask God? “He demands answers from God Himself. Job wants to know why bad things happen to good people. He knows it’s not right, and will not accept the saccharine answers of his friends.”
God, “Why Have You Made Me Your Target”? (Job 7:20)
God explains to Job that to us mere mortals sometimes there are no words—no rationalizations—that can make sense of the unhappiness we endure.
Trauma happens and we have to accept it. Explanations may make us feel better, but they mislead. Ultimately, Job, like all of us, must endure suffering not knowing why … or if the question even counts.
Once Job accepts this, he somehow manages to live with his trauma without becoming its victim.
The Book of Job asks “why good people suffer,” but never actually answers the question. What it does do, is correct misconceptions about why we suffer. The truth of this wonderful tale is that man can’t know everything.
Again, let me repeat, “Once Job accepts this, he somehow manages to live with his trauma without becoming its victim.”
How does this story relate to your life and mine? Have you ever questioned why life was throwing stones at you that you didn’t deserve?
Or have you questioned why you didn’t get a job that you knew you deserved?
This happened recently to my son. He applied for a job that he knew he was qualified for. Another person was chosen instead. He got a form letter of rejection. Instead of falling into a fit of depression or raging in disbelief, he called the person who did get the job and congratulated her. He asked if there was anything he could do to support her in her assignment – and he asked her to keep an eye out in case she saw a position in the future for which she thought he might be a good fit.
Within a day, he received a call back and an extension of his responsibilities was offered along with a significant pay raise.
Now, I’m not suggesting that every time you ask the right questions with the right motive, you’ll get a pay raise!
No, it’s not that simple. But, what embracing questioning does is it changes your focus. The right questions – in the right spirit – make the difference between misery and openness. The difference between depression and expression. The difference between pessimism and positivity.
Embrace a pure heart Full of inquisitiveness. Ask because you care.
Don’t question, “Why you?” Instead ask, “What can I do?” “Can I be of any help?”
Your attitude counts. Humility is the key. Embrace questioning!
My son posted this meme the day before his interview.
God is good. All the time! Even to the Jobs of this world! Be patient in love. Your pay raise is coming!!
Hah!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek Got any questions?? See ya tomorrow.
