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Saturday, June 18, 2016

What Does God Look Like?

          When we look at the beauty and majesty of 
God's creation, we catch a glimpse of our Maker

A little boy asks "What does God look like?"  

We speculate and wonder. We don't really know what God looks like. 

I think love is God's presence on earth.  

When I gaze into my husband's eyes and see his love for me, I catch a glimpse of God.  

I see God when I see people helping each other.  When I see the smiles and hugs of people who care about each other, I see a glimmer of God. 





God's love really shines through when we do acts of kindness for strangers and especially when it is for people that we don't even like.  



I'm sure some of God's favorites are acts of kindness that no one else even knows about.   

God's love gleams in us when we care for each other and treat each other as we want to be treated

Because God is love, our acts of kindness and love make us like Him.  

And I think that's what God looks like.
 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  Titus 3:4-7 

      When we open our hearts to God and His mighty         love, our horizons grow in wonderful ways.

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19



   
              We bloom with magnificent color 
          when we open our hearts to God's love




One Invitation at a Time


How did I come to know Christ?  How did I start on my walk with Him? 

I was asked the other day how I got to the point that I know Him so well that whether I live or die, it is for Him.  

If I live I get to do His work.  If I die, I spend eternity with Him in heaven.  I win either way. 

How did I get to that point? 

I don’t remember what I answered but I thought about the question and God pointed out that the answer is “by invitation.” 

God gives everyone, including you and me, invitations, to learn about Him.  

It might be a conversation.  It might be an article in a book.  It might be an actual invitation to visit a church or join a bible study.  

It could even be a thought He planted in our heads and then gave us the opportunity to follow it up and learn.

                              

                                        Lake George, NY

                  God says "Come to Me.  
             I'm waiting anxiously for you."
 

That is the key.  

If we follow it up, we learn. 

Then we start and progress on our walk with Him.  

Each opportunity or invitation that we accept leads to another. 

God does not force Himself on us. 

He invites, encourages and loves on everyone all the days of our lives.  He never stops inviting.  

He never stops encouraging each person, even the ones who reject Him, to join Him for eternity in paradise. 

We only have to accept and follow. 

If we allow, our hearts will lead us to Him.  

We were created that way. 

God is calling each and every one of His creation, one invitation at a time. 
Will you accept?


                                           Brook near West Potsdam, NY
            He leads me beside the still waters.


Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30






How Well Do You Clean Up?


Have you ever been or seen anyone really dirty?
We don’t look very good.

However, with a good bath and clean clothes, we clean up pretty good.

If we equate dirt with sin, we see that dirt soils our body and clothes.  Sin soils our soul and that separates us from God.

However, God loves us so much that He saved us “while we were still sinners.”

He loves us so much that He longs for us even when we have dirty souls.

Just as we have to choose whether or not to take our bath, we also have to choose to accept Jesus gift.  

He already paid the price for us.  He Is calling “Come to me, my love for you is limitless.”

Jesus’s sacrifice can make our souls whiter than snow when we invite Him in and tell Him we are sorry for our sins.  

Then He washes away all our sins so we are pleasing to the Father.

However, He doesn’t do it unless we accept and invite Him.


But when we do, we clean up really well.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8


                  Our Maker lights our way 
         and guides our footsteps with His Love 




If the Spirit moves you, please feel free to check out my church.  It has fed my soul greatly. 


(Check out the website for directions and lots of other great information.)




I would also like to suggest that you check out the blog page for my friend, Jean Oathout.  I have received much good information and many blessings from her blog.




Book Review

 

In the past few weeks, I finished 2 books.  "In The Grip of Grace" by Max Lucado speaks about the power of grace and how God freely bestows this extraordinary blessing if we just allow Him to do so. I borrowed this from the library at Knapps Station Church.


Product Details


The Prayer of Jabez" by Bruce Wilkinson talks about the power of a little known prayer from 1 Chronicles 4:10.  Join the author to learn how this remarkable prayer can release God's favor, power and protection. I was given this book when I went to the Closer Walk.  It's probably available at most book stores, the library or on line.  

I would recommend both books. 


                      Lake George, NY

                         Let the heavens rejoice 
      with the might and splendor of the Lord




Blessing

My friend, open your heart and soul to the Lord
Allow Him to fill you with His Love and JOY
And may this wondrous blessing be with you for all eternity 



All photos taken by Debbie and Tim McEwen - 
  used with permission
All bible reference from the NIV unless otherwise noted
If you are interested, you can click on the Blog Archive 
  dates on the top right side of this post to connect 
  to previous blog posts
I would love to hear from you either on the comment 
  section of this blog post or through my email  
  debbieamcewen@gmail.com
I post every other Saturday 
The next post will be 7-2-2016

I hope to see you then.  


    A Canada Goose family at Black Lake, NY recently.







Saturday, June 4, 2016

I Am Just a Speck, Lord







                               From the top of Gore Mountain in New York State



I am just a speck Lord when I contemplate Your might and majesty. 

You made all that exists and it is so immense.  You are so mighty.  


                    From the top of Whiteface Mountain near Lake Placid, NY


You are creator without beginning or end.  You created the great and the small, and everything in between.  

Taken in this context, I am but a speck, a very tiny being who does not matter at all.  


                                Ausable Chasm near Plattsburgh, NY

The sun will shine whether I live or die.  The oceans will roar and the wind will blow regardless of how I feel, regardless of what happens to me.  

The planets will rotate around the sun.  

The trees will grow and creation will continue whether or not I am here, whether or not I am happy, whether or not I am well.  


                              Lake George NY


Even in the eyes of mankind, I'm no one special. 

You who created all that is, do care about me.  

I am so insignificant and yet You care so much.  
I matter to You, insignificant speck that I am.  


            From the top of Prospect Mountain in Lake George, NY


You created me and You love me.  

You know me for what I am with all my problems, with all my shortcomings, with all my failures and sins.  

I cry when I realize that You sent Your precious Son to live and to die for me, so little insignificant speck that I am, can spend eternity with You.  

Blessed be Your holy name. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16



 Little Birdie

Little birdie on the branch, sings a pretty song
I hear him in the morning, I hear him all day long
He seems to sing to only me as I go about my days
He has a pretty message and this is what he says
"I'm happy to be home now, the winter was too long
I sing because I'm happy, I'm singing you my song




I'm singing to my babies, who soon will see the world
I'm singing to the flowers whose petals will unfurl




I sing to bring the breezes, 
   to warm the cold, cold nights
I sing to bring the summer 

   and scare off winter's bites
I sing to bring the peepers, I love their froggy song
I sing to bring the insects who feed me all day long
I sing to make you happy, I know I make you glad
I see it in your smile, I do not want you sad
I sing because I have to, I'm made to sing my song
I sing because my Maker loves to sing along"


For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100:5




If the Spirit moves you, please feel free to check out my church.  It has fed my soul greatly. 

Also feel free to check out this great upcoming dinner at my church:

Knapp's Station Community Church 
Annual Strawberry Shortcake Dinner
Thursday- June 16th
Take outs start at 4:30 pm --Call ahead at 244-3159 or 212-9771
Dinner in Dining Hall starts at 5 pm.
Menu : Pork Loin, Salt Potatoes, Peas & Carrots, Applesauce, Rolls & Strawberry Shortcake 
Price: $8.00 - ages 13 and up
$4.00 -5 to 12
Over 90 and under 5 are FREE


(Check out the website for directions and lots of other great information.)




I would also like to suggest that you check out the blog page for my friend, Jean Oathout.  I have received much good information and many blessings from her blog.








Two weeks ago,I attended the Closer Walk.  It's a Christian retreat. If you ever get a chance to attend, you really should go.  You can click on Knapps Station Community Church and go to Links to get the link for the Closer Walk website. 

It is an incredible weekend of joy, love and fellowship with others and with God.  
It is not to be missed. 

The love that I experienced was absolutely overwhelming.  

As incredible as the experience has been, this outpouring of love is only a tiny glimpse of the love God has for all of us.  

Give Him a chance.
He never disappoints.


Search my heart, Lord.
Make me Yours.
Find my sins, even the ones hidden from me.
Forgive me.
Refine me.
Teach me Your ways.
Love me.
Give me Your JOY.
Make me Your's forever.

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.

Psalm 90:8


Lord, You have opened the wellspring of my soul.
You have filled it to the brim with Your love.
Your blessings are overwhelming.
Blessed be Your most holy name. 







Blessing

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13


                                            A Mallard  duck family at Black Lake, NY 

All photos taken by Debbie and Tim McEwen - 
  used with permission
All bible reference from the NIV unless otherwise noted
If you are interested, you can click on the Blog Archive 
  dates on the top right side of this post to connect 
  to previous blog posts
I would love to hear from you either on the comment 
  section of this blog post or through my email  
  debbieamcewen@gmail.com
I post every other Saturday 
The next post will be 6-18-2016
I hope to see you then.