And the Clouds Parted

The clouds are gray and threatening.
It’s been raining.
The wind blows leaves hither and yon.

My mood is down-cast.
So much is happening
So many problems at home and in the world
So many issues to deal with.
Sometimes it’s over-whelming.

And the clouds parted.
The sun shone through.
The sky is still gray with patches of blue

But the day brightens
My mood brightens

My father is telling me that regardless of how dark my life becomes, He is with me always, beside me, helping with all my problems, with all life’s issues.

He says “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5
He never has and never will.

I am never alone.

He has a plan for me, a plan to help and not to hurt me – or you.

Be blessed, my friend.

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

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

                        God gives us rainbows to remind us 
               that He walks with us through each of life's trials.

Happy New Year dear friend.
It's the time to reflect on what happened in 2018 and think about what we would like to accomplish in 2019.  I would encourage you to pray and ask God what He would like you to accomplish in 2019.
Your true happiness and fulfillment will come when you are working with your Father and living the life that He has planned for you.  I wish that happiness and fulfillment for you and that 2019 is your best year yet.

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.

                               I'll close with a beautiful sunset.  

             I am so blessed that God has planted me in a beautiful area 

             and that He sets up wonderful scenery for me to photograph.

                            When I look at His wonderful sunsets, 

                 God seems to be saying "See you in the morning, child.

                                         Tomorrow is a new day, 

                             wait till you see the plans I have for you.

                      "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

                           plans to give you hope and a future. "  

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!

New Beginnings

We have begun a new year.  It’s the time for new beginnings.  We want to start over and do better.  We may resolve to eat healthy, to exercise more, to manage our time and money better or to have better relationships with our friends and family.  It’s the time to do whatever will make our lives and our souls better.

There is no time like the present to develop a better relationship with God.

 

If you don’t do it already, read the bible, even a little, every day.  It’s the owner’s manual that God gave you for your life. It may have been written thousands of years ago but people don’t change.  People then were doing the same things that they are today. 

In the bible, God is telling you what you need to do to live the way you were made to live.  Just like your computer or car, you need to read the owner’s manual to avoid problems and to resolve the problems that come up.  If you check out your bible regularly, think of the problems you might be able to avoid in your life. 

Spend a little time every day just sitting and talking to God about your life.  Let Him know what your hopes and dreams are.  Let Him know your concerns.  Ask Him to help.  

And listen for His answers.  Listen for that still small voice that may come from the least likely source. 

God is listening for you.  He really cares and He desperately wants to hear from you. He already knows everything about you but He really wants to hear it from you.  

Your time with Him is so precious.  

Just call out to Him in your heart or your voice and know that He is listening.  

Like any good father, He will answer, and know it will be what is best and when it is best.

. 

Let’s make this the best year yet for our healthy bodies and wallets most importantly for our healthy souls.

For the word if the Lord is alive and active.  Hebrews 4:12
...your father knows what you need before you ask.  Matthew 6:8
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care.  And even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don't be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.  Matthew 10:29-31

Snowy Delight

The snowflakes caress my face as they fall
They flutter about as if dancing a ball
They cover the ground with gems sparkling bright
They change the dull world into magical night

The lights from the cars change white flakes to gems
With colors entrancing all living men
The water being frozen in this magical way
With hues of the rainbow flying astray

The night has a veil like a whispery dream
The image implied but not easily seen
It teases our senses, defies our dull sight
The new fallen snow turns our dark world to bright

I open the door and go into the house
Glancing out of the window, the lights I do douse
The fluttering snow creates a mystical sight
Adieu ordinary, welcome snowy delight

They speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty and I will meditate on Your wonderful works.  Psalms 145:5

The Snow

            By Debbie (LaBaff) McEwen written in 1968 at age 18

It falls softy
It falls gently
It falls suddenly
Yet it dominates the world it enters
It changes the dull, complacent earth to a land of enchantment
It changes the brown earth to a white-blanketed wonderland of delight
It’s filled with snowmen and icicles and snowballs
It’s a playground for children of all ages
It’s a font of youth
It brings out the inner self in everyone
The first snowfall creates a kind of madness, the nice type
that makes everyone quite happy
It reflects a special beauty that only snow can bring
It’s a happy, quiet time, a time of thought
It’s Mother Nature’s sleeping time
It’s one of my favorite times
The joy of walking through unbroken snow is great
It can be violent
It can bring sorrow
It can be inconvenient
But for the most part, I love it
It’s one of God’s wonders

May our Loving Father sprinkle His blessings on you
as He sprinkles snowflakes on the earth awaiting His touch
May He fill your life with His bounty, love and grace

And may you bloom with His joy

May you have a blessed week.          Debbie

All bible quotations are from the New International Version
All photos taken by Debbie McEwen