The Knot

                 Does your life ever get twisted and confused?

                          Do you ever feel like you are tied in a knot
                      and have no idea of how to get straightened out?

Sometimes my life is so difficult 

  that it seems to be tied in a knot.

I get anxious.

I absolutely cannot manage things on my own 

  and tend to make them worse 

  when I try to proceed.

However, when I pray 

  and put everything in God's hands, 

  He untangles the threads one by one 

  that were tied so tightly. 

He smooths out the bumps and loops. 

It seems so simple when He gets done. 

I can see clearly now, 

  when before it had been such a tangled mess. 

He puts His hands on my shoulders 

  and I can feel His loving presence 

  calming my anxiety 

  and taking my worries away. 

He shows me the way to proceed. 

And it always works.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
               Proverbs 3:5-6

       Jesus has the incredible ability to straighten out our messes 
                    when we surrender to Him and His love.

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Monday July 9 through Friday July 13
      6:00 to 8:00 PM

(Registration starts at 5:30 on Monday night 

   or you can pre-register.  

   Registration forms are available at Church.)
Vacation Bible School
at Knapps Station 
            Community Church

Children ages 2-12 are encouraged to come and 
     learn more about Jesus and the bible
     through stories, crafts, games, snacks, 
     music and fun.

There is no charge 
  and each child receives a free t-shirt.

There is also a free hotdog cookout with bouncy house, smores and much more on Friday July 13.  Everyone is welcome for a fun night.

Here are a few moments of the great fun from last year's VBS whose theme was "Operation Arctic".

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Prayer Request

5 people were shot and killed at a newspaper in Maryland yesterday.  2 more were injured.  This makes my heart ache.  There has been way too much violence.  Please pray for everyone involved.  Please pray that all people allow God into their hearts and allow Him to work.  This world needs Jesus more than ever.  He is the only solution to all our problems.  He can work out solutions where none existed before.  And He always will - if we just cooperate.  Please pray that we all cooperate.

All photos taken by Debbie unless otherwise noted.

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 on July 14, 2018.

                                          Both flowers are beautiful.
The one in the sun is more beautiful just because the sun shines on it.
                          We and our lives are so much more beautiful 
                                when the Son (Jesus) shines on us.

May God bless you greatly, 
           my friend!

Do You Ever Wonder?

    This the swamp on Route 35 between Norwood and West Potsdam, NY.
                    I am amazed that Spring always follows Winter.

              I am amazed the earth always changes its tilt in such a way
        that the sun now warms the earth and the time of new life comes.

           Even this swamp is alive and beautiful with green and new life.

             The sun and the Son bring new life in their appropriate time

                                and make all things beautiful.

I wonder and think about all kinds of things.

I am amazed that a tiny seed can grow into a beautiful flower. 

                     Even the dandelions and wild violets are beautiful.

                      The brook near my house is alive and green.

I am so grateful that I live in a house where I can get a hot shower. I think about the technology that caused the house to be built and all the things that went into it. I think about the fact that there is electricity to pump the water into the house and heat it. And then to gently shower that heated water into a tub so I can get clean whenever I want to. I think about all the inventions that had to be thought up to make the pipes, the electricity and so on and to deliver it to my home. There are an incredible number of components that go into that one activity and I am the fortunate beneficiary.

This is only one little aspect of my life that is amazing.

I have always been amazed that I can walk upright on 2 feet. Being clumsy, I am not the most graceful person, but I am still able to walk upright.

I can think about moving the various parts of my body at will and they usually respond as I direct them to. It is amazing that I can type/keyboard this piece that you are reading, and my fingers respond appropriately to my mental commands. 

                            Even these crab apple blossoms seem to shout,
          "Look at me I am a creation of the Son and I rejoice just to be alive.

           I was created for your pleasure and to give glory to the Father."

I am amazed that I live in such a beautiful world. Winter is gone. Trees and fields are turning green. Some trees are blooming. Some flowers are blossoming. The air is warm. The sky is often a beautiful blue and the sun shines warming me to my core.

I never cease to be amazed by the world that God made for me to live in and enjoy. 

              The beauty and diversity of the world that the Lord has made 

                                  is absolutely incredible.

I am amazed that He made it beautiful and made me in such a way that I can see it as beautiful.

I am amazed and grateful that the act of love of a man and a woman can create a new life and a new person.

The list is endless, and I never stop wondering.

The most amazing and wonderful thought is that I have a Father who loves me no matter what I do and that He made all this just for me – and you.

When you wonder, wonder about that.

Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5

On a yummy note:  Keep June 14 available for the Strawberry Shortcake Dinner at Knapps Station Community Church.

It is a dinner not to be missed!

              You are so amazing Father. 

       Whenever I reach out, You are there.                            You take my little hand. 

          You hold me in Your mighty hand 

                   and You love me.  

          Blessed be Your most holy name.

My dear friends:  Please pray for the victims of the shooting in Texas.  Please pray for the families, friends, acquaintances, law enforcement and everyone involved - even the shooters.  Please pray that God may touch their hearts and the hearts of all those who would do harm to others.  Please pray that the cancer that is eating away at the goodness of this country can be cured.  Please look for acts of kindness that you can do to fight this cancer.  If we each do our little part, with the help of God we can overcome the evil and darkness.  We can bring light back to this amazing world that our Father created and bring it back to the beauty that it was meant to have.  Let us pray that there will be NO MORE SHOOTINGS!

                   The sun may be setting but there will be another day.
                  Let's work together to make it a better day for everyone. 
            As Tiny Tim in "A Christmas Carol" said "God bless us everyone."
                               And know that God will bless us all.

                             May He bless you greatly, my friend!

All photos taken by Debbie unless otherwise noted.

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 on June 2, 2018.

                 I saw these tracks at the bridge near my house. 
                         Does anyone know what they are?

Do You Ever Feel Discouraged?

                           Have you ever noticed that the sunsets 

                           broken by clouds are the most beautiful?

                                  When times are at their worst,

             Jesus takes our pain, our problems and turns them around.

              He truly makes us beautiful, if we just allow Him to do so.

                 

Stressed?
Down in the dumps?
Overwhelmed?
Broken?
Like you messed up your life?

Fall down on your knees and look up.
Jesus is calling to you,
He says “Take My Hand, I’ll help you.
I’ll take your broken life and make you
   and your life beautiful.
I love you more than you can imagine.
I have loved you from before the beginning of time.
I know you are hurting.
I feel your pain.
My heart hurts so much when you are hurting.”

Jesus says 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. Matthew 11:29

Open your Bible and visit the church of your choice.
Get to know the One who paid for your sins
   with His life.
Put your life in His hands.
Tell Him you are sorry for all you ever did wrong.
He dying to forgive you
   and He will every single time you ask Him.

Life will continue to give you problems, difficulties, stress and turmoil but when you follow our Gentle Lord and Master, you will have peace in your soul, in your core.

When you turn to Him,
   Jesus will be with you every step of the way.
He will take your hand and walk with you
   through the rough patches of your life.

He will even carry you when you can’t walk anymore.

You will feel peace that defies the world’s logic.
You will learn the true meaning of the word JOY.
And you will never be discouraged again.
Because, with Jesus at your side, you are never alone.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Dear Friends:

I just finished writing this last night and then read about the shooting at the Walmart in Colorado.  My heart was broken.  I hurt so much for all the victims and the perpetrators who are hurting so much that they feel they must strike out.  We have had way too many tragedies this year.  One tragedy is too many but there have been so many more. 
What can we do?

We can be extra kind to everyone we have any contact with, especially the ones who may not behave like they "deserve it."  They just may need it the most and our act of kindness just might prevent them from doing something that they shouldn't.

Love with abandon.  Sew the seeds of your love and kindness.  And pray, pray, pray. You will make a mighty difference whether or not you ever see the results.

I would be grateful if you would pray for my husband, Tim who is having knee replacement surgery on Tuesday Nov. 7, 2017.  Thank you!

May you be mightily blessed, my friend.

Knapps Station Church will have their
Annual Bazaar
Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017
9 am to 3 pm
There will be a food sale
and a donation white elephant sale.

All photos taken by Debbie and Tim McEwen unless otherwise noted-          

     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 November 18, 2017.

           Jesus is the light that will bring hope and peace for tomorrow. 

                       Turn to Him and be blessed, my friend.

P.S.  Have you noticed how much I love sunsets?             God has given me so many beautiful ones.                       Through these beautiful sunsets, 

    He gives me great hope for my tomorrows 

                  - and yours too!

Where are You, God?

                                                          The sun is setting. 
                           Light is leaving the world for the night.
                                      Have You left us, Lord?
                                            NEVER!
                               Jesus said, "Never will I leave you,
                                  never will I forsake you!"

Hurricanes have ravaged.
Droughts, forest fires, earthquakes,
tsunamis have struck.
Shootings, shootings, shootings!!

People are being oppressed.
Others are starving to death.

Man is hurting man.
Where does it end?

Where are You in all this?

You say You love us.
You say You are with us?
Where do You fit into all this chaos and pain?

I hurt for all these people.
My heart breaks.
When I open my heart to You, I feel that Your heart is breaking for all of them.
I can’t imagine how badly it must hurt You.

But where are You?

Why don’t You fix everything so there isn’t so much pain?

You let me know that You have given us free will, the power and right to choose how we behave.

People making terrible choices have caused so much of the pain we see.

The earth was perfect when You created it and then, Adam and Eve chose their own way, refusing to follow You.

Life became hard for all of us.

I suspect that their choices and resulting banishment from the Garden of Eden affected not only them and the rest of mankind but nature and the weather as well.

Who knew that eating one little piece of fruit could cause so much trouble!

Satan knew.
He knows today that every choice we make has repercussions.

It’s like throwing a pebble in a pond.
The ripples go on forever.

One sin causes so many things to happen.

One prayer does too.
It’s power goes on forever.

One act of kindness - to feed the starving, the give aid to the victims of the disasters, of the shootings.

One act of kindness and a lot of praying might even prevent some of the shootings, some of the oppression, some of the pain.

We are God’s hands, feet and tongue.
He acts through us.

That is where You are Lord
You are with us, guiding us to live as You taught us.
If we follow You and Your Way, we can make incredible differences in our world.
If we pray, if we do what You put in our path.
If we listen for Your still small voice directing us.

If !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
Matthew 25:31-40

      This bee is gathering pollen to make honey to feed the hive for the winter.  

      This is  her job.  It is what God made her to do and she does it well.

                                      Are you doing your job?

      Do you love God first and foremost and love your neighbor as yourself?               

               Nature reflects the beauty and wonder of the Creator.

                       Since we are made in His image and likeness,

             we also reflect Him when we follow His teachings and His love.

                  (a little brook on a side road near Saranac Lake, NY)

                 

Blessing:

May you be blessed my friend
by listening and watching carefully
to find the jobs that Our Father has in mind for you that no one else can fulfill quite the way you can.

May you have much JOY and peace 

in completing those jobs!

Be Blessed!!

                    Don't let the sun set without finding the true JOY 

              that comes from doing a little of the Lord's work each day.

                             If we each do our little bit each day,

                            truly amazing results will be achieved!

NOTICE!! NOTICE!! NOTICE!!

You can find and follow me now on Instagram by going to Instagram and entering:

#myheartjumpsforjoy.

All photos taken by Debbie and Tim McEwen unless otherwise noted-          

     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 October 21, 2017.

            I recently got a new camera. Now I can take moon shots.
    I took these over a few nights when the moon was at different phases. 
           With a more powerful lens I was able to see more details
                              of the moon's surface.