My Heart Jumps For Joy: August 2016

Friday, August 26, 2016

Are You Contagious?

God's love is so amazing!
He gives us incredible gifts of love.
He only asks that we love and honor Him
and treat each other as He treats us.

We need to become contagious

We need to model Jesus’ teachings and pray for each other at all times.

Pray, pray, pray.
Pray for healing.
Pray for safety.
Pray for success.
Pray for revival.
Pray for each other’s souls.
Pray for all our needs.

Make your whole life a prayer.

You don’t know how?

If you ask for direction,
God will show you and help you

Why do we need to do all this, you ask?

Have your read the newspapers
or watched the news lately?

Does the news sound positive and promising?

Not by a long shot.

So much needs to change
and it needs to start with each of us
doing every little thing we can to change our world.

Be nice when nice isn’t called for.
Show love when you are not treated lovingly.

Smile when you see frowns.
Smiles are contagious too.

Ask God to direct you
and He’ll let you know what you can do to help.

Then do whatever He directs you to.

You think I’m crazy to suggest this?

Maybe I am
but the alternative of doing nothing or going along with the status quo is crazier.

Please join me in my crazy prayers and say:
Help us Lord, we are floundering.

Change us.
Soften our hearts to love more.

Please forgive our sins and help us to not sin again.

Help us to love You first and to love each other as we love ourselves.
Amen.

Imagine a world where this behavior
became contagious and spread everywhere.

Let’s become contagious together for the Lord.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

Top of Gore Mountain in New York State
When our path becomes too rocky
and difficult to continue,
God holds out His loving hand.
We need to do the same for each other.

Always Forgive

We cannot hate as others hate
We must love as the Lord has loved us
In our times of great sorrow
And they will come
We must turn to God for guidance
We must lay our troubles at His feet
No matter how minor, how severe
and everything in between
We must lay our problems at Jesus' feet, at the cross
He will pick up our burdens and carry them for us
He will wipe our tears
He will hug and comfort us
Usually in ways that are a mystery to everyone except Him
If anyone had reason to hate, it was Jesus
When he was ridiculed, beaten, scorned, betrayed, crowned with thorns, lied about and tortured to death
He said "Father, forgive them,
they don't know what they are doing."
He forgave them and He forgives us
Therefore we must also forgive, no matter what.
God will find a way for us, if we only turn to Him.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Treat each other as you would want to be treated.

We Could Move Mountains

O God, I anguish for the victims
of all the turmoil in the world

I hurt for all the murdered, all the tortured,
all the harmed souls

I hurt for all the people who are hurting so badly
that they feel they must harm others.

I cry for the people in the war torn areas,
for the little children
who will never know the security, the food,
the safety, the shelter, the medical care
and the parental love that I always took for granted

I weep for the families of the victims
of senseless shootings,
for the children who will never see adulthood.

My heart aches for all the parents
who have to bury their children.
No parent should ever outlive his child.

I pray for the victims and the perpetrators
of all the heinous crimes

I wish I could do something
to prevent more senseless tragedy.

Then I pray.
I pray to God
that for just one moment
that He would open the hearts of everyone
to Him and His love.

You say what good would that do?

Have you ever had a flu virus hit you? It only took a moment to infect you. Have you ever had a computer virus
hit your computer? It only took a moment
to incapacitate your computer.

Jesus is so powerful
that if everyone opened their hearts to Him
for just one moment, imagine what could happen.

With God, all things are possible
and if we would all pray
for just one moment every day
"Jesus, for just this one moment, please open the hearts of everyone to your love."

With Jesus' mighty help, we could move mountains.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44

After Spring flood at Black Lake, NY
When the floods of life leave debris
we all need to pitch in and help each other.

My Thoughts for Today

I was figuring when my next blog post will be and realized that it will publish just before the anniversary of 9/11.

As Franklin D. Roosevelt said about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, 9/11 will go down in history as a day of infamy.

There is so much hate in this world.
In my little way I want to spread God's love.
He created all that exists out of His great love.

I ask everyone to stop and think about this.
I ask everyone who reads this to do something to spread a little love, a little kindness.

Terrible things are happening.
There were major earthquakes this past week in Italy and Myanmar.

There have been so many bombings in so many areas.

There are terrible floods,droughts, famines, deadly diseases and forest fires.

Are we approaching the End of Days?

I have no idea but I do know God is speaking to us and we need to listen.

We as a race cannot continue to ignore God and others thinking only of ourselves.

We need to remember what Christ told us:

And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’“This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ Matthew 22:37-39

Even the "bad guys", the perpetrators, need our kindness and our prayers. How else will we prevent further events like 9/11?

Please remember 9/11 and commemorate it by making the world a better place to live with more of God's love.

And pray like your life depends on it.
Because it does!

Thank you and God Bless you.

Boat launch and picnic table near South Colton, NY
This sign prohibits swimming for safety reasons.
We need to make sure we don't exclude people without Godly reasons.

Knapps Station Community Church

This is my church. I have been fed spiritually here as I never had before.

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

It's a great place to feed your soul the "good stuff" from the Bible.

Stalks of corn growing in a soy field.
We stand out when we live God's way.

Just as these bugs are eating this plant and will leave it damaged and dying, sin will eat our souls and leave us empty and lifeless.

Our world is falling apart like this old shed. We need to work together and rebuild a better version
one based on God's blueprint.

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

Everything and everyone that God makes is fearfully and wonderfully made
even the details of this moth's wings.

The God I Never Knew

This is a very enlightening book about the Holy Spirit and all the gifts He gives us. I have not hurried through it because there is so much "meat" to digest and learn from. It's well worth the read!

Our world is very stormy. Only God can break up the clouds.

The Blessing

I pray that God will bless us with love and tolerance for all our brothers regardless of the color of their skin, their beliefs or how they act.
I pray that God will help us to learn to make Him first in our lives and to treat all men as our brothers.

I pray that we listen to the words of the song that said "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."
I pray that we imprint those words on our hearts and live every day of our lives that way.

I pray that the peace that surpasses all understanding may find its way into your heart today and remain there always.

Part of Bolt Castle in Alexandria Bay, NY
Jesus is our bridge from this world to the next.

Blessings for you,my friend for a wonderful week

and a safe, happy holiday.

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 9-10-2016

Waterfall at South Colton, NY

Amish boys on hay wagon with large round bales of hay.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Your New Umbilical Cord

Canada Geese and babies
at Power Authority in Massena,NY

When you were born, someone cut your umbilical cord to physically separate you from your mother.

Previously you were connected to your mother by this vital cord that supplied you with nutrients and oxygen so you could grow and develop.

When you are born again to Christ a new umbilical cord is created.

Now you are fed directly by the Word of God, through your new vital connection with God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

This cord permanently connects you with the most nourishing food that your soul can have.

This nutrition feeds your heart and soul and helps you to develop into God’s precious child, a child worthy to be called the son or daughter of the King.

You become a child worthy to spend eternity in the presence of the Great I AM.

How does one manage such a feat, you ask?

It’s so much easier and involves so much less pain to be born again than to be born the first time.

When you are born again, you reach out to the outstretched hand of God that is always there,
always reaching out for you.

You then accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you tell Him you are sorry for all the things you have done wrong.

God is anxiously waiting for you to do just this and He will welcome you with open arms.

The heavens will rejoice and you will have the best
spiritual food that no money can ever buy but God will give to you just for the asking.

Will you join Him at His feast for eternity?

Your heavenly Father is patiently waiting,

just for you.

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life. 1 Peter 1:3 (God's Word Translation)

Tim and I rode from Potsdam, NY to Lake Placid, NY
and took pictures along the way.

When I look at the beauty of God's creation, I marvel at His creativity and stand in awe at His ability.

Notice the incredible variety of color and species
of wild flowers.

Boat launch on the St. Regis River at Santa Clara, NY

Notice how God decorates

with so much beauty.

All of creation proclaims

the wonder and majesty of God

With a little imagination,
you could see legions of angels in the clouds
awaiting the bidding of the Lord.

Admittance

We are God's children

He made us as we are

He loves us regardless of our sins

His love has no limits

He knows our limitations

He knows our sins

He loves us anyway

All we have to do is believe in Jesus,

Ask for His forgiveness

And try our best to sin no more

And we are forgiven

We are the Prodigal sons and daughters

Who are always welcome

We only have to go home

And ask for admittance

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

Luke 11:9-10

Near Saranac Lake, NY

Our heavenly Father is concerned about everything that involves each of us, even giving us a reprieve from the sweltering heat of a hot summer day.

Evening Haven with a Bite

It found me, that single blood thirsty mosquito.

I have sat outside tonight for a few minutes undisturbed and felt blessed.

Today was sweltering hot and muggy.

The temperature rose to just above 90 degrees which is warm for Northern New York, even in August.

The evening breeze cooled the sweat on the back of my neck and lowered my temperature.

The gloom of early night has set in.

When I walked outside on the deck, I could only see faint shapes.

My hands found the chair I knew to be there and my bottom found the seat.

As I sat, my eyes became accustomed to the low light and were able to discern the darkened outlines of the shapes in my backyard and in the fields behind my house.

Lady moon is only a quarter visible tonight like a single candle in the dimness peeking between the heavy laden crab apple tree branches. She provides only ambient light.

As I sit and relax, my ears start to hear the night sounds.

I think I hear grasshoppers singing for rain.

I hear the clop, clop of horse hooves on pavement and an Amish buggy comes into view following the light beam that had preceded it.

Occasional cars zoom and depart, their headlights piercing the darkness almost seeming to violate the sanctity of the quiet and the dark.

I am amazed that no mosquitoes found me sooner.

I want no further bites so I leave this evening haven having been cooled and my soul refreshed.

An Amish buggy minus the horse.

Route 11 between Potsdam and West Stockholm, NY

Knapps Station Community Church

This is my church. I have been fed spiritually here as I never had before.

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

It's a great place to feed your soul the "good stuff" from the Bible.

These are across the road from Knapps Station Church

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

Bales of hay "For Sale" and field of corn.

Even the back roads are beautiful this time of year.
God is so good!

Book Review

The God I Never Knew

As important as your relationship is with God the Father and Jesus, it is equally as important to learn about and develop your relationship and friendship with the Holy Spirit. He is the part of the Holy Trinity who is here on Earth and He is so anxious to make friends with you and to help you in every area of your life. I am still reading this book. It is a slow read for me because there is so much important content. I recommend this book.

Route 345 Potsdam, NY, near my home

The Blessing

May you be blessed in your friendship
with the Holy Spirit
May He guide and keep you safe
in your Father's arms all the days of your life
And may He lead you to your heavenly home
for all eternity

At the boat launch on the Grasse River near Canton, NY

When life is at its worst,
look to your Heavenly Father
to break through the storm clouds.