Till I Go Home

Park in Canton, NY last fall.

God gives us so many ways to spend our days,
so many opportunities to enjoy ourselves.

What should we choose?

                 

My days are numbered, Lord.
What would You have me do with these days?

What is Your will?
Will I look back from Eternity 

    and regret what I did not do?
Or regret the ways I wasted my time?

Please guide me, Father
to make my time productive and fruitful
until the day I go home to You.
     Amen

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 

 Psalm 90:12

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
  a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
  a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
  a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones
     and a time to gather them,
  a time to embrace
     and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
  a time to keep and a time to throw away
a time to tear and a time to mend,
  a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
  a time for war and a time for peace.

 What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.  He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.  That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

             

              This frozen river shines with the reflected beauty of the sun.
                       You make all things beautiful in their time, Lord.
                          Please make me beautiful in your eyes.
                    Teach me to live my days for Your honor and glory.
                        Help me to follow Your commandments 
                                         to love You first and best
                             and then to love my neighbor as myself.

Blessing

May you be blessed, my friend with the joy

    of living for the Lord.

May you find peace and fulfillment

    in doing His work all the days of your life.

May you feel His love and grace in your soul
And may you find final rest in the arms 

    of your Loving Father.

                                Sunset on Lake Colby
        seen from my husband's hospital room in November, 2017.

                    When the sun sets on your days, my friend,

                I pray you see the Son coming to take you home.

                       Enjoy the pleasures that God Lord gives you

                         let Him help you through the hard times

                            and make your days count for Him.

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 next year on February 24, 2018.

                         Our last "super moon" (1-30-2018).
                            I couldn't see the red tints that were expected
                                  but it was big and it was beautiful
                                       as is all of God's creation. 

   

Are You Self-Reliant?

                       On the road to Lake Placid from Saranac Lake, NY at dusk.  

                                         Are you self reliant?  

                         Do you stand on your own like this mountain?

                           Self reliance can be very cold and lonely.  

                    Reliance on God brings incredible peace and security.

Since it is the New Year, are you making resolutions to make you into a better you? Will you eat healthier? Exercise more? Save more money? Clean out and organize your home and your life to be more efficient and better for you?

Do you rely on yourself to make things happen for you and for others? How is that working for you?

For years I thought I had to do everything for myself and prided myself in being very self-reliant. How did that work for me?

I thought as well as it could and settled for that situation.

About 4 years ago, God plucked me out of my situation and led me to the church that I attend now, Knapps Station Community Church. I had been attending a church but had not been walking with God.

At Knapps Station, God led me to take a Bible Study, to read the Bible and to pray. I began fellowshipping with other church members.

I broke my leg and needed help. My husband was very debilitated at the time and could not help much. My church family brought meals for a week. A friend took me grocery shopping and to doctor appointments. One of the church elders took Tim, my husband to his doctor appointments. They prayed for us and loved us. We could not have managed without this wonderful church family.

Gradually I came to realize that it’s ok to let others help and that I can’t do everything. I started realizing that God’s hand was working in all of this and that everything really is in His control. I began to see how helpless I am without Him and His love.

I think I had always had a measure of insecurity and thought that was just the way it had to be. I never felt much peace.

I didn’t realize what was happening until it changed. It took a while for me to progress on my walk with the Lord and look back to see where I had been and where I am now.

Now I feel incredible peace. No matter what happens, God is in control and He works all things for my good.

I still have problems and things still break down. The oven of my kitchen stove quit last night and I am waiting for a repairman to call back. God will lead me to food that doesn’t need baking and it will be great. If I can’t find what I’m looking for in a store, I ask God what He wants me to try and it always works out.

He has led me to write this blog and share my thoughts with you. I pray it has blessed you as much as it has blessed me.

I cannot read your mind and don’t know all your circumstances BUT I do know that when I surrendered to Jesus and rely on Him, my life changed greatly for the better.

My new relying on God self, wishes you the peace and blessings that you will find when you give up self-reliance and rely on the only secure Rock that truly exists.

Blessings, my friend.

Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:27-31

       Most of these photos of flowers were taken at Montrose, PA last summer.

                  Today is bitterly cold and very difficult for us.  

                             It is important to remember 

            that our Heavenly Father will get us through this difficulty 

                and every other problem that life will send out way.

When relying on your own abilities isn't working, remember this:

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  Matthew 19:26

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 next year on January 20, 2018.

Hopefully the weather will be better by the next blog post 

                 and I'll be able to get outside and get some new sunsets.

May the Lord bless you 

   with brighter and brighter tomorrows 

   and may your New Year 

   be filled with His unending blessings and JOY.

What Are You Searching For?

          As I zoomed in for closer shots of the "supermoon" in November. 

                  as I searched for clarity, I found what I was seeking.

                          Jesus told us "seek and you shall find, 

                     knock and the door shall be opened to you."

What is your heart’s desire?
It is money, fame, power?
How about good health?
A good marriage?
A happy life?
One without worries?
Satisfaction and success in your job?
What else would you really like?

How can you possibly achieve all this in your lifetime?

And what about eternity?
What do you want there?

So many questions.
Where do you find the answers?
Where do you even start looking for answers?

I strongly suggest the “Good Book”
It has answers for everything under the sun.
It only guarantees results if you follow the Son.

I am studying the Good Book myself and have learned that Jesus is my heart’s desire.

The problems still come, things break down, I have relationship problems with family and friends from time to time. I still make lots of mistakes.

However I now have new priorities and I make more choices based on God’s Word.

The satisfaction and inner peace, the Hope and the JOY that I have, show me that I am now heading for what my heart and soul truly crave.

The Wise Men followed a star searching for the King of the Jews.

If you are still searching for peace and happiness.
If you want an eternity of bliss.

Follow your heart and seek the Christ Child.
It is the season to seek and find the only One who can satisfy your deepest desires.

Reach out and take the out-stretched hand that has been waiting to give you the inner most desires of your heart and soul.

In Him, your search is over.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."  Luke 19:10


You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Romans 5:6

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  Matthew 7:7-8

                          Near Saranac Lake, NY
                   I gaze to the mountains and wonder what lies there.
                   We think about tomorrow and wonder what it holds.
                     When we trust in Jesus, we can rest assured, 
                                   regardless of what happens 
                    never will he leave us, never will He forsake us.

Blessing:
 May the Christ Child bless you greatly with His       Peace, Love, Peace, Grace, Healing and
       never ending Joy.
And may your New Year be filled with His Hope.

            Route 458 between Nicholville and Saranac Lake, NY
                       Even on a frigid winter day, there is beauty. 
                  Our Father has decorated the world for our pleasure.
                                Do you enjoy His handiwork?

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 next year on January 6, 2018.  
                 

          O Come let us adore Him, 
               Christ, the Lord!

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!

Your Eyes Must Gush Rivers of Grief, Lord.

                Does the color and JOY drain from Your loving eyes, Lord,
                  when you see the way we brutalize each other?

There is so much violence in the news.
So many people have been injured and killed.

Even children!

You made us because You love us
   and want us to spend eternity with You.

We have lost our way.

So many do not know You and even deny You.
So many do terrible things in Your name.

It must break Your loving heart.

It breaks mine.

As much as my tears flow,
   Your eyes must gush rivers of grief.

                            When we turn to Jesus and His way,
               there is light, life, peace and JOY shining through the darkness.

             

                  Out of His tears come rivers of life and beauty.        
                   Jesus is making all things beautiful in their time.

Has it always been this way?
History has not been pretty.
We have always brutalized each other.
Your Precious Son, Jesus,
   came at a terrible point in history
   when life for Your people was at its darkest.

He taught a different way then,
I know His message is still vital and relevant today.

Please guide us, guide me to do whatever we can
   to spread Your word, Your message of love.

Please help us to sow the seeds of love, of tolerance,    of forgiveness, of peace
   and of Your JOY that is never ending.

Please help us how to show others
   there is another way.

Your way

Help us to do our part to bring peace on earth
   so there are no more tears of grief,
   only tears of JOY.

                  Lord, please teach us to live Your way.  
        Help us do our part to bring light, color and Your JOY 
                   back into this dark, cold, cruel world.
              Please teach us to love as You have loved us.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, 

holy and dearly loved, 

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

Bear with each other and forgive one another. 

If any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

And over all these virtues put on love, 

which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

 Colossians 3:12-14


Book Review:


Sons of Encouragement by Francine Rivers is a wonderful compilation of stories of 5 unsung heros of the Bible.  Aaron, the Priest; Caleb, the warrior: Jonathan, the prince; Amos, the prophet and Silas, the scribe whose lives are fleshed out in this set of 5 fictional bible stories.  Ms. Rivers took the actual people from the Bible wrote these men into life with human qualities and faults and ultimately with a desire to follow and serve the One True God. Ms Rives has researched the Bible and its times so carefully that her writing has the flavor of reading an unabridged biblical account of these men. 

YUMMY, YUMMY!

Knapps Station Community Church will have their annual Chicken Pie Dinner on 

Thursday September 21, 2017.

Not to be missed!

Blessing:

May you be blessed, my friend in the knowledge that you have a loving father in heaven who is watching over you all the days of your life.  He sees what is happening in this world and will guide you over the rough patches and through the hard times that come to all of us.  He will take your hand and never let go- unless you tell Him to.  His love for you is never ending and He waits anxiously for you to join Him in heaven.  Lets all meet there together! 

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 September 9, 2017.

                              The road at our house is now paved.  

                            There is still finishing work to be done

            but the worst of the dust and very bumpy road are ended.

Does Your Heart Ever Ache, Lord?

                                        Sunrise at Black Lake, NY.
                    (Photo taken by Sandi Farina, used with permission.)
                      No matter how much pain we cause Our Father, 
                                        He loves us dearly.
                               The sun comes up every morning 
                      along with His JOY that is fresh each morning.

Do You ever weep when Your children ignore You?

Are You ever down-heartened 
     when some even deny You exist?

Do You ever regret that You created all of us
    when we let You down so completely at times?

    -especially when we are so mean to each other?

Fortunately, You are Faithfulness
     from forever to forever.

No matter what we do or don’t do 
     You forgive us when we tell You we are sorry.

You love us that much.

You desperately want to spend eternity with us 
     so You put aside all Your feelings to nudge 
     and coax us back to You.

All regrets and heartaches are gone.

All sins are forgotten forever.

There is only JOY when we turn back to You.

Please help me Lord, to do my part to bring You JOY.

Please help me, Your prodigal daughter,  
     to stop causing pain
     to Your wonderful, loving heart.

Please help me to live Your way from now on.

I really want to spend eternity with You.

It’s a tall order, but with God, all things are possible.

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

                   (Photo by David Sanford - used with permission)

                                  What will heaven look like?

     Rainbow at Black Lake, NY.  Photo by Sandi Farina.  Used with permission.

                                                   Boat launch at Santa Clara, NY

     I took this photo in PA on a side road on the way home from Montrose, PA.  

                                   A golf course in Montrose, PA

               I'd like to think that when we see the beauty of nature, 
                      that we catch glimpses of what we will see 
                            when we get to our eternal home 
                                  - if we choose Jesus.

Blessing:
May you be blessed each day 
    knowing that you have a Loving Father 
    who is always on your side, 
    who does all things for your betterment.
May you always realize 
    that you can simply trust Him 
    and He will always come through for you.

Hope to see you all in heaven someday!!!
May God bless you greatly, my friend.

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 Wednesday and Saturday.
The next post will be August 9, 2017.

                             We are all traveling on the road of life 
                              headed toward our final destination.  
                                      Our choices along the way 
                       determine where we end up for all of eternity.  
                  Where do you want to spend your forever and forever?
                                           Choose wisely.
                         I'd love to spend eternity with you in paradise.
                   (photo taken on the way home from Saranac Lake, NY)

Just for Today, Lord

                                  As I gaze at this beautiful sunset, 
                              I am in awe of Your might and majesty.

Just for today, Lord, let me live Your way.

                       Please, Lord, open my eyes to  see You
                    and Your love in the beauty of Your creation.

Let me know that I cannot live in tomorrow.

I cannot relive yesterday.

Let me know that this moment is the one You give me now.

Let me make the most of it.

                            Your creativity and love, Lord
         are mirrored in the beauty You provide for our enjoyment.

Let me hear You knocking at my door this morning and invite You in.

Let me open my heart and soul to You.

Please fill me with Your love and Your JOY.

Just for today, please take hold of the strongholds of my flesh 
     and open my will to do Your will.

                             These lilies are beautiful 
         because they are true to the plan that the Creator made for them.                                            We too are made beautiful 
                       when we do our best to follow the Word.  
                              We cannot do this on our own 
                  but only through the grace of our Loving Father.
         

I’m not strong enough to handle all the things      
     that will take place in my tomorrows
     or to redo all my mistake and sin filled yesterdays
     but please give me the grace to live today
     to the best of my ability as that ability is guided by You.

I am weak and You are strong.

I am a speck. You are the creator.

I am sinful but You love me so much
     You want to spend eternity with me.

            (Cross on steeple at St.Gabriels Church near Paul Smiths, NY)
                   Lord, may I never forget what You paid for my sins. 
                        Please help me to live as You taught
                     so I can enjoy paradise with You forever.

Please forgive me my sins and help me Lord not to sin for today.

Please take my hand.

Please help me to make this my best day ever.

Please come back tomorrow and repeat.

Amen

                 Because we are made in the image and likeness of God, 
                       we too can reflect Him in all we say and do.
            Please Lord, let me be a loving, Godly reflection of Your love and JOY.
               Let Your light shine in and through me to everyone I meet.

Just for This Moment, Lord

Just for this moment, Lord,
may I enjoy my time with You.
May I praise You
and thank You for the multitude of blessings that I enjoy.
Quiet my thoughts.
Slow my breathing.
Close my eyes.
Just for this moment, Lord,
may I enjoy my time with You.
Amen

                            St. Gabriels Church near Paul Smith's, NY.
                   May we always make time to worship and fellowship 
                                  at the house of our choice, 
                          giving all glory and honor to the Creator 
                              who gives so much to us daily.

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 Wednesday and Saturday
The next post will be August 5, 2017

  

  

                     Take time to reflect and REJOICE!