This is the Day!

This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Psalm 118:24
My 4 year old grandson Mark and I took a ride to see the beautiful day and take pictures.  We stopped at a playground in Waddington, NY.  Here Mark jumps for joy, just to be alive and enjoy the day. Our Lord wishes us to become like little children, to jump for joy and to delight in Him and all He has done for us. 

Something startled the Canada geese and they took flight.  On a day like this one and every day, my heart takes flight when I see the wonders that God has made for my delight.

A ship traveling somewhere between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic.  This part is the St. Lawrence River.

There is still some beautiful color on the trees at Brandy Brook at the McGuinnes Road Waddington, NY.

There is so much beauty to be see around each bend in the road if we are looking.  (McGuinness Road)

              The beauty that the Lord has created 
              makes my heart sing.
            This photo was taken at Fobares near Waddington, NY.

              I zoomed in on still brilliant trees across a mown field.

                                                      More of Fobares

                                                   More of Fobares

Did God compose this just for me to find today?

How many other JOYS
are waiting around the next bend,

waiting for me to say: 

This is the day the Lord hath made, let us  rejoice and be glad in it!  Psalm 118:24

Notice, Notice

Knapps Station Community Church
Women's Bazaar
Saturday November 3, 2018
8am to 3pm
There will be a bake sale and lots of great stuff.
Something for everyone!
Another one of those Knapps Station events that is not to be missed!

All  photos taken by Debbie McEwen

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 usually post every other Saturday.

Lately I have been very busy with Grandma duties on weekends so I may try to post during the week.

The next post should be in about 2 weeks.

As all grandparents know, there is nothing more special than our grandchildren, especially when they are being silly.  I believe that God also delights in us, who are His children. Especially when we are enjoying His wonderful creation.

Am I an Owner or a Steward?

                            View from bridge in park in Canton, NY

                       Our Father created all that is.  He is the owner.

                        How magnificent is the work of His hands!

                              It's our job to be the "good stewards" 

                             and provide good care for everything
                                     under our stewardship.

                         

I grew up thinking that what I had was mine, that I could do as I pleased with my stuff – within reason.

I own my house – with the bank.
I own my car.
I own my body.
I worked for and earned my money.

They’re mine, right??
Can't I just do as I please as long as I pay my bills and live within the laws of our nation?

Deep inside my soul, a little voice says “No.”

These things are mine to use and enjoy but I do have obligations.

I need to take good care of all of them.
My property is mine to use and pass on.
I have an obligation to take proper care of my body.
It’s not ok to abuse anything - even myself.

God is good – all the time and He has been very good to me.

I have the right to enjoy my property and stuff.
I also have the obligation to use all these things for His honor and glory.
Even the talents and abilities that He gave me are mine to use – for His honor and glory.

It reminds me of the parable that Jesus told of the Bags of Gold in Matthew 25:14-30 (see below). Those stewards were each given treasure to invest wisely and bring dividends to the master at the end of the time. Those who invested wisely were rewarded. The one who did not invest wisely was punished.

It puts a different perspective on “my property” when I realize that I am only the steward and not the owner.

It makes me think that I am to share that I have, that the goal is not to accumulate more wealth in the way the world looks at wealth but at the way the Father looks at wealth.

Do I need that new whatever or do should I help…………….??

It’s important to meet our own needs but it’s also important to share with those whose needs are not being met.

Do I look for opportunities to be kind – even when the individual doesn’t “deserve” my kindness?
Do I “deserve” all that Jesus did for me?

If I use my talents and money and whatever He gave me to share the treasure of His love and grace and to spread His Word, then I will have invested wisely, and my Master will be pleased.

I may never be “rich” as the world views wealth but if I use my resources as Jesus taught, I am confident that I will be very wealthy in eternity.

Deep in my soul, I know I am only “a steward”, that my Father is truly “the owner” of all that exists, of all His creation.

I pray that my Father will teach me to be a good steward, so I can enjoy my rewards with Him for eternity.

How about you?

                            View from the other side of the bridge.

             I never cease to be amazed by the beauty that God has created.

                Our Maker makes all things beautiful - even a single leaf.

The Parable of the Bags of Gold

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 
Matthew 25:14-30

Knapps Station Community Church is just finishing a study on 

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller.

I heartily recommend this book.  It spoke to me about Psalm 23 in ways I had never considered before and greatly enhanced my appreciation for my own "Good Shepherd."

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

            This beautiful, lone petunia is growing out of the pavement
                           on Main Street in Waddington, NY. 
                          It is thriving despite its environment.
             It embodies the idea of blooming where you are planted
                           and does so with grace and beauty.
                     It inspires me to face adversity as a challenge,
           to be the good steward and make the very best of any situation.
                  The one thing I truly own is my attitude 
                     Lord help me to make mine like Yours.

Blessing
May you be blessed by a life of Godly stewardship
 and an attitude that gives you a heart after God.
May our Loving Father bless you with His Love,     Grace, Peace, Wisdom and everlasting JOY.

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 4, 2017.

             Canada Geese that I saw at the park in downtown Canton, NY.

            And lastly, don't let the sun set on you without seeking the Son
                         who will give you light and life everlasting. 

What is God’s Plan for You?

                            Lake Clear, NY in February
                     All nature sleeps awaiting the coming of Spring.
       Is your life on hold awaiting God letting you know His plan for you?

Did you know that God has a plan just for you?

Did you know that He formulated that plan
   long before you were born?

Pretty amazing, isn’t it?

At least I was amazed when I was told that.

I had no idea that I was so important
   that He thought about me
   from the beginning of time,
   that He decided that the world
   isn’t complete without me
   and my little part of His “big picture.”

                                 Brook near Nicholville, NY
                         Each little brook is an important part
                              of the complete ecosystem.
                     Each of us is an important part of God's plan.
 

You know of course, that the same applies to you
   as well.

Each of us is irreplaceable in God’s plan.

Now, how do we find out what that plan is?

I’ve been taking a bible study at Knapps Station Church about “Listening for the Voice of God
and Discerning the Voice of God.”

Our lesson for this week discusses that God’s voice reveals His plan for each for us and to each of us.

How can that be, you ask?

He speaks to each of us in a way
   special to each of us.

It really helps if you know some about the Bible
   and then know a little about God’s character
   so you can judge if the message you receive
   is from God or from Satan.

I have heard messages from God that came
   through other people, through something I read
   or even from TV.

What I mean is that I prayed or asked a question
    and I heard or read something that addressed
   or answered exactly what I was asking.

So how does God let you know what His plan is
   just for you?

                            Church near Paul Smith's College, NY
                       Worshipping and fellowship at a good church
                             will help put you on the right path.

You have to give Him a chance.

Pray about it and wait patiently.

Look for the unexpected.

I’ve found that He often has already started equipping or even fully equipping people for the plan or job He has for that person.  

        Chimney? Silo? Or what?  At Lake Placid, NY
             What was the plan for this structure?
                What is God's plan for your life?

I write a blog post and got lots of experience 

   writing on my job for many years.
   Actually, my family has told me that I wrote
   from the time I was a child. 
   Now I write for Him.  

Is this the extent of what He has in mind for me? 
   I have no idea but I know He will let me know.

You may already be engaged in His plan for you
   and not realize it yet.

  Because you were made to do that job,
   you probably gravitate to it somehow. 

               This little stream on Outer Main St. Potsdam, NY 
               wanders hither and yon toward its destination.
                     Is your life doing the same thing? 
                     Do you realize that your destination is VITAL
                        and your part in getting there 
                    can be accomplished by no one but YOU!

Remember that you are very important to God and    He wants to spend eternity with you in paradise.

Remember that you have a job to do now
   to prepare you for paradise.

Wait patiently for God to let you know what it is
   and then trust that He will make sure
   you can do it well.

 

When He lets you know His plan for you,

   jump in with both feet and don’t look back.  

You are in for the time of your life.

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
   Ephesians 1:4

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."      Jeremiah 29:11

                      This ice castle at Lake Placid, NY 
              was constructed to celebrate the winter of 2017.
               You were made to celebrate our mighty Creator
                 and to spend eternity with Him in paradise.
                 Please remember how important you are.
                You play a vital part in God's mighty plan!

Commentary:

Spring is now officially upon us and it's often the time to plan for our gardens, our vacations and whatever for the upcoming summer.

       In the midst of all the snow and cold we keep getting,
                         even the lowly dandelion
               would be a welcome sight to me right now.

We are all in different seasons of our lives. Some of us are in the Spring, some in the summer and some of us are in the Fall or even Winter of our lives.

Wherever you are, my friend, what are your plans for the time after your Winter.  The end of this life may be in sight. None of us knows the day or the hour when the end may come.  Do you know where you will go next?  Are you looking forward to that?  The next step is forever without end.  Plan carefully. After you die, there are no second chances.  God gives those unlimited second chances now.  Use them wisely.

Choose carefully and be delighted with your planning for eternity.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
   Romans 6:23

                  God will make your soul bloom for eternity
                        - if you only accept His gift of love.

Book Reviews:

    A Voice in the Wind

An Echo in the Darkness



As Sure as the Dawn

This trilogy was written by Francine Rivers who weaves strong stories that give us page turners that are hard to put down.
These interlocking stories take place in the days of the early church and describe what life was like for those learning about Christ and struggling for their faith despite living in extremely evil times. There is a strong thread of love interwoven throughout.  I found them a very satisfying read.



The Case For Easter by Lee Strobel

Do you wonder why we celebrate Easter?  Is all that talk about Jesus rising from the dead for real?  Lee Strobel goes to the historical experts to explore if the Christian belief has validity.  I recommend this little book filled with facts to answer just those questions.

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Knapps Station Community Church

If you have children and live in the area, or even just like to work with kids, keep the evenings of the second week of July open.  Knapps Station Church will have their annual Vacation Bible School or VBS for short. 
This year the theme will be Operation Arctic and promises to be lots of fun for all those involved.  
Stay tuned in for more information and pictures of last year's event.

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Giving God the Time of Day is today's blog post by my friend Jean Oathout.  Do you take time to spend with Him?  Do you drink in His presence and feel the JOY and peace that only He can bring?

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What Children Can Teach Us  is a recent blog post by my friend Jane Ault.  We may think that children have little idea of what life is about but, given a chance, they will surprise, enlighten and delight us with their understandings.

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Voice of the Martyrs 

Please pray for our brothers and sisters who do not have the freedom to worship as they choose.
Many suffer and die for their faith.
We are so blessed to worship as we choose.
Many died to give us this freedom
May we never lose this freedom.
And may we never take it for granted. 

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Blessing:

May you be blessed by discovering
   our Loving Father's plan for your life.
May you find great fulfillment
   in living out that plan.
May our Creator bless you daily
   with His mighty love, His forgiving grace
   and His unending JOY.

                    And may your heart soar
     and fly into the arms of He who loves you.

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All photos taken by Debbie and Tim McEwen 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 April 8, 2017

May God bless you greatly until we meet again.

                       A "snow dog" from this winter.

                  God gives us rainbows and promises
                          all throughout our lives
                       regardless of what is going on.

                Just as the sun goes down in a blaze of glory,
                      may your life shine now and forever
                        with the brilliance of God's love.