Using the Advent devotional from @SanctifiedArt, I am posting the Word of the Day between now and Christmas. These are “Words for the Beginning” – beginning again – looking forward to the coming of the Christ Child – finding daily inspiration
Today’s word is:
That’s the image AI generated when I gave the word to Artificial Intelligence.
If I go to my WordPress photos, here is the one I would select:
When I think of the word “journey,” I think of this life I am living… and I realize it is a journey of major proportions. One worth savoring.
To savor this life’s journey, We must slow down. To get the most of of it, Wipe away your frown.
Travel each day with a smile, With positive expectations. Open your heart and your hands To all God’s glorious creations.
Journey with your loved ones. Embrace every endeavor. Travel with the assurance that Every step is sure and clever.
Don’t try to go it alone. We’re all in this together. Journey with a song in your heart And dance in every kind of weather.
What images might you imagine for each of these words of the day? Words of the Day: Dec. 1- Begin Dec. 2 – Bless Dec. 3 – Courage Dec. 4 – Possibility Dec. 5 – Remember Dec. 6 – Marvel Dec. 7 – Go Dec. 8 – Together Dec. 9 – Embrace Dec. 10 – Journey
How shall we use our tongues? That was the question posed by James McGuire in today’s devotional in “These Days.”
These Days, Daily Devotionals for Living by Faith, published especially for Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
James 3:10 says, “From the same mouth comes a blessing and a curse. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.“
Ah, my friends, t’is so true… we all are a combination of good and evil! Capable of great love and alas, of ugly hate. Which dog wins? The one we feed!
James McGuire elaborated on the subject. “The development of speech was a unique human accomplishment,” he wrote. “Other creatures communicate by grunts, growls, and touch. Humans use many languages.”
He went on to ask, “How shall we use our power of speech? Shall we bless others, or shall we curse? What shall we do with our ability to write?”
That last question brought me to my blog. Here I write with the purposes explained in my heading: I intend to spread “Love, joy, peace, faith and unity.” I believe there is too little of each of those in our world.
James McGuire asked, “What about the ideas that pour forth through television and videos?”
Here in the USA, this week more than 67 million people tuned in to the Harris-Trump debate. Lordy, Lordy, what a fiasco! What is this world coming to??
James McGuire ended his devotional with this prayer: “Holy God, forgive us when we misuse our tongues. Teach us to choose words wisely as we communicate with each other and the world.”
Like Old Testament proverbs, the Letter of James offers wise teachings for Christians of every age. We who write (and speak publicly), teach, and lead have a particular responsibility for our use of language. We who read and who listen to public speakers must be attuned to the Holy Spirit as we read and hear others.
“Moreover,” James McGuire and James reminded us, “we must be wise in choosing what we view on big and little screens.”
Words, words, words! They are so important!! A BLESSING OR A CURSE? Do both come out of your mouth? “My brothers and sisters, this ought not be so.”
Join me, won’t you? Let’s try to use our tongues and our arms and our lives to spread Only Love.
One of the devotionals I read every day is from “The Upper Room,” a book of daily devotionals printed every other month, and a gift many churches provide for their members and guests. In today’s message, the topic was “Words of Love.”
I can think of no better way to “Take & Spread Joy” than to speak and read and hear WORDS OF LOVE. How about you?
“Pleasant words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Proverbs 16:24
In the Upper Room, the thought for today is: “With God’s help, I will speak words that build others up.”
The Upper Room devotional reminded me that “Words carry weight. How we use them deeply impacts the people around us.”
But, I am aware that my words also deeply impact me! I can speak words of love to myself… or I can speak disparaging words that discourage me!
The devotional ended with this prayer: “Loving God, we pray that You will empower us to speak love and life to those around us. Give us compassionate and encouraging words.”
My word for 2024, some of you may recall, is the acronym SIFT. The T stands for “Take time to think” (and pray) before I speak or act. I carry that “T” thought with me every day. And I hope you, too, will be inspired to use compassionate and encouraging words directed at yourself as well as others.
Your caring and thoughtful words will lift your spirits as they lift the hearts of all you meet.
None of us on earth lives alone. Each of us is kin the the other. We need one another – You are my sister, my brother.
I will defend your right To live in peace and justice. I will work to be an example Of the love we need, so you can trust us!
Trust us to work together To make this earth a place of care, Care for all God’s creation – A place we equally share.
No man is an island No man stands alone. Each man’s joy is joy to me; Each man’s grief is my own.
We need one another, So I will defend Each man as my brother, Each man as my friend.
We need one another So I will defend Each woman as my sister, Each woman as my friend.
Recently I posted this picture on my blog along with a series of photos that exemplified random acts of kindness. This woman could easily be me. The man she is standing beside is a friend from across the world whom she met playing Words with Friends.
I play Words with Friends with a myriad of people from all over the world. Some of them are busy chatting with me between plays, asking questions, helping us get to know one another.
I’d like to picture one of them wearing a “Love Felt” heartfelt t-shirt like that fellow … and then coming to visit me. I have WordPress friends that I invite to come to Montana and visit me, too.
Might you do that someday?
Each one of you is my brother/sister … each one of you is my friend. We need one another. What would it be like to be writing a blog everyday and have no one out there to read it and respond? Pretty sad!
TOMORROW One of the greatest labor-saving devices of today.
YAWN An honest opinion openly expressed.
WRINKLES Something other people have … similar to my character lines.
Hah!!
OLD I very quietly confided to my friend that I was having an affair. She turned to me and asked, “Are you having it catered?” … and that, my friend, is the definition of ‘OLD’!
And just in case you wondered, NO, by the way, I am not OLD! 80 is the new 40… Didn’t anybody tell you??
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His Glory… full of grace and truth.”
Meaningful Relationships
Meaningful Conversations help lead to Meaningful Relationships.
The grace and truth of “The Word” are two of the most essential elements of meaningful conversations.
“The Word” is Christ – His Love – and His Example to us.
The “thinking, talking, and acting” in faith are essential elements of meaningful relationships.
The Beekman “Chat Area.”
Conversation area in Ty & Monika’s house
Importance of Intimate Words
Meaningful conversation is not small talk. It is heart-felt, genuine sharing from your soul. It’s transparent. It doesn’t have to be long. It has to be deep and authentic. It has to be free of intimidation, and opening intimate… knowing it is spoken in TRUST.
Our son, Ty, is exemplary of this: Smile and Trust – He shares openly – We’re so grateful!
From “This Day’s Thought,” an anonymous quote reminds us:
“The love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay, love isn’t love till it’s given away.”
Those moments of honest, intimate sharing are the most precious memories of the season.
Stay Connected
Yesterday we went with Ty, Monika and Sam (our son, daughter-in-law, and grandson) to Amador County, California. Kevin (the one in the black jacket) was a high schooler – and friends with Ty in their teens. Distance cannot keep us from remaining friends with Kevin, his wife, Karen, and their beautiful daughter, Morgan.
Just as we stay connected with them through annual Christmas cards and occasional phone calls, and face-to-face visits whenever we can, we also stay connected with Kevin’s parents. Our honest, open, intimate sharing of life’s joys and struggles keeps our friendship alive and meaningful. It’s a blessing!
Bob with our son, Ty
Family Dynamics
Just as “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we [see] … His Glory… full of grace and truth,” so it is that this son of our flesh, a gift from God himself, dwells among us full of grace and truth. We are so grateful for the way in which he and Monika open their hearts and home to the greater family … and allow us to converge on them en mass!!
I showed you this picture earlier this week. Isn’t it amazing?
We are a diverse group of people, connected by the Love of Christ, the Blessings of the Spirit, and the determination to remain open and honest with one another. It ain’t always easy. It ain’t always purrrdy! But, it is always worth it… and it is what God calls us to do.
Love One Another
I Corinthians … “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always TRUSTS, always HOPES, always preserves.”
May the love in your heart reach out in honest, intimate, trust-worthy conversation. May it protect and preserve your relationships. May it be
transparent.
deep
authentic
innocent
free of intimidation
openly intimate, and
shared in TRUST.
God Bless You!
Tell me about a relationship you are keeping alive with intimate words of love and caring.
Are they lily pure? Is every word uplifting? You can’t take them back!
Words spoken with love Can be the perfume of life Hurtful words just stink!
Ever smelled a “Stink bug”?
We have declared November to be the month of kindness and gratitude. Not just kindness to those who are kind to us, but kindness to to everyone and everything. Kindness to ourselves, our neighbors, our pets, the neighbor’s pets, our plants and trees… even kindness to those who hurt us!
Let our words be like the fertilizer that helps others to change and grow.
One kind word can change someone’s entire day. One kind word might even change a life.
What’s a word you might say today from your sincere heart that will brighten someone’s day? It doesn’t have to be eloquent. It isn’t flattery. It’s just simple and honest.
I love that you are here on JanBeek today. You make my day brighter with your “like” and your comment.
But, you really lift my spirit when you are inspired to take the message to heart – and go out and LIVE a LIFE of LOVE.
Sing along with this beautiful song that reminds us to speak and sing and think and live in the perfume of “Wonderful Words of Life.”
Feed your mind loving words… “Wonderful words, beautiful words, wonderful words of life” and then go out and feed others!
Be all that God made you to be.
Ask Him to help you meet
the people He wants you to meet.
Ask Him to help you know what
He wants you to say.
Ask Him to help you do
what He would like you to do.
.
Take responsibility
for
yourself.
