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. 

Knapps Station Community Church

(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.

Treasures in Christ

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.





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

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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.