Lord, I’m Floundering

Stream near Nicholville, NY

When life makes us walk up a rocky stream, our Father will take our hands and lead us to safety if we only reach out and take the hand that He ALWAYS has reaching out to us.



Have you ever felt overwhelmed, stressed and had no idea which way to turn?  I certainly have and that's the time to turn to our Heavenly Father.

Lord, I’m floundering between the boulders of life.

My knees are bruised and skinned 

   from my bad decisions

I stumble over the rocks of my confusion.

I have come up against a solid wall 

   and have no idea which way to go.

                   Whiteface Mountain, NY

Then I call out to my Abba, my Daddy

And You come

.

I need You, Father, I am lost and so alone.

My heart is broken.

You were always there, just waiting for me to ask.

You take my hand
You soothe my pains
You guide me along the right path

I am safe.

I will always have problems, stressors will still come
   but I know I will always have You to help me

I will never be alone again

You are with me

Thy rod and thy staff, 

   they will guide me home for eternity.

Dear Heavenly Father, 

   please take my hand and never let go.

I absolutely cannot manage 

   without You and your love.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress 

           and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  Psalm 18:2

When our supports break and leave us, 

we can always count on God.

God is like a giant tree who will support us 

and shield us.

Calling Me Home

I started off crawling
Then I toddled
Next I ran everywhere
Eventually I walked
Thinking I knew where I was going
I didn't see that Your's were the hands    
   that supported me so gently
Who made straight the paths
Who parted the waters
Who cleared the debris that stood in my way
Who is calling me home.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.  
1 Peter 5:10-11

                        Jesus is our bridge 
                over the troubled waters of life. 

                                                Near Depeyster, NY
You can see how fascinated I am by our Father's beautiful clouds and the glorious variety of our world.
Notice the osprey nest on the top of the electric light pole on the right.

           Close up (by Tim) of the same nest.  
  Notice the little head to the left of the mother bird.

Knapps Station Community Church

(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.

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

Black eyed Susan.

Book Reviews
Max Lucado's "Turn"  This little book encourages us to "turn" back to God.  In this time when America so badly needs God's guidance and grace, Max encourages us to turn to the only One who can help us.

 
The Prayer of Jabez for Women by Darlene Wilkinson

This little gem gives us insight about how the Prayer of Jabez can greatly enhance women's lives to live more fully for God.

Swallowtail butterfly on milkweed plant.

Notice the interesting bug to the right 

and below the butterfly.

Life may make me flounder at times 

but God leads me beside His still waters 

and restores my soul with His peace and love.  

The beauty of His creation feeds my being 

and makes my heart sing with JOY.

Blessing

May you be blessed with an awe and wonder 
     for beauty God has placed all around you.
May your eyes be always open to the beauty and love      that our Father never ceases to provide.
And may your heart sing with the glories 
     of the Maker.

           A young robin not yet able to fly.

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 8-13-2016

                                   White tail deer fawn

                                     White tail deer doe

What Does God Look Like?

          When we look at the beauty and majesty of 

God's creation, we catch a glimpse of our Maker

A little boy asks "What does God look like?"  

We speculate and wonder. We don't really know what God looks like. 

I think love is God's presence on earth.  

When I gaze into my husband's eyes and see his love for me, I catch a glimpse of God.  

I see God when I see people helping each other.  When I see the smiles and hugs of people who care about each other, I see a glimmer of God. 

God's love really shines through when we do acts of kindness for strangers and especially when it is for people that we don't even like.  

I'm sure some of God's favorites are acts of kindness that no one else even knows about.   

God's love gleams in us when we care for each other and treat each other as we want to be treated

Because God is love, our acts of kindness and love make us like Him.  

And I think that's what God looks like.

 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  Titus 3:4-7 

      When we open our hearts to God and His mighty         love, our horizons grow in wonderful ways.

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

   
              We bloom with magnificent color 
          when we open our hearts to God's love

One Invitation at a Time

How did I come to know Christ?  How did I start on my walk with Him? 

I was asked the other day how I got to the point that I know Him so well that whether I live or die, it is for Him.  

If I live I get to do His work.  If I die, I spend eternity with Him in heaven.  I win either way. 

How did I get to that point? 

I don’t remember what I answered but I thought about the question and God pointed out that the answer is “by invitation.” 

God gives everyone, including you and me, invitations, to learn about Him.  

It might be a conversation.  It might be an article in a book.  It might be an actual invitation to visit a church or join a bible study.  

It could even be a thought He planted in our heads and then gave us the opportunity to follow it up and learn.

                              

                                        Lake George, NY

                  God says "Come to Me.  
             I'm waiting anxiously for you."
 

That is the key.  

If we follow it up, we learn. 

Then we start and progress on our walk with Him.  

Each opportunity or invitation that we accept leads to another. 

God does not force Himself on us. 

He invites, encourages and loves on everyone all the days of our lives.  He never stops inviting.  

He never stops encouraging each person, even the ones who reject Him, to join Him for eternity in paradise. 

We only have to accept and follow. 

If we allow, our hearts will lead us to Him.  

We were created that way. 

God is calling each and every one of His creation, one invitation at a time. 

Will you accept?

                                           Brook near West Potsdam, NY
            He leads me beside the still waters.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

How Well Do You Clean Up?

Have you ever been or seen anyone really dirty?

We don’t look very good.

However, with a good bath and clean clothes, we clean up pretty good.

If we equate dirt with sin, we see that dirt soils our body and clothes.  Sin soils our soul and that separates us from God.

However, God loves us so much that He saved us “while we were still sinners.”

He loves us so much that He longs for us even when we have dirty souls.

Just as we have to choose whether or not to take our bath, we also have to choose to accept Jesus gift.  

He already paid the price for us.  He Is calling “Come to me, my love for you is limitless.”

Jesus’s sacrifice can make our souls whiter than snow when we invite Him in and tell Him we are sorry for our sins.  

Then He washes away all our sins so we are pleasing to the Father.

However, He doesn’t do it unless we accept and invite Him.

But when we do, we clean up really well.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

                  Our Maker lights our way 
         and guides our footsteps with His Love 

If the Spirit moves you, please feel free to check out my church.  It has fed my soul greatly. 

Knapps Station Community Church

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

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

Book Review

 

In the past few weeks, I finished 2 books.  "In The Grip of Grace" by Max Lucado speaks about the power of grace and how God freely bestows this extraordinary blessing if we just allow Him to do so. I borrowed this from the library at Knapps Station Church.





The Prayer of Jabez" by Bruce Wilkinson talks about the power of a little known prayer from 1 Chronicles 4:10.  Join the author to learn how this remarkable prayer can release God's favor, power and protection. I was given this book when I went to the Closer Walk.  It's probably available at most book stores, the library or on line.  

I would recommend both books. 

                      Lake George, NY

                         Let the heavens rejoice 
      with the might and splendor of the Lord

Blessing

My friend, open your heart and soul to the Lord
Allow Him to fill you with His Love and JOY
And may this wondrous blessing be with you for all eternity 

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 7-2-2016

I hope to see you then.  

    A Canada Goose family at Black Lake, NY recently.

I Open My Heart

                       Taken at Bolt Castle  Alexandria Bay, NY


              When the darkest storms arise, 
              God is our strength and refuge.  
  We can always trust in Him and He will protect us.

I Open My Heart

As a little child opens his box of most precious treasures to share with his most trusted friend, I open my heart to You, Lord.  

I know You can see what is there.  

You see the most secret, closed places that no one else knows about.  

You know what is there, my most treasured memories, my most hurtful memories, my deepest thoughts, my greatest concerns, my fondest hopes, my true heart's desire.   

I open them to You, Lord.  I give You complete access.  

I trust You completely because I know how much You care, how You treasure this place in me.  

I am Your precious child.  

Your love overwhelms me and I weep.  

I am blessed beyond measure.  

You listen. 

You care so very deeply for me, for all Your children.  

Blessed be Your most holy name.

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.   Psalm 62:8

    We can count on God to help us in ways our earthly parents only wish they were able to.

Near Keene Valley in the Adirondacks

God is our bridge over the turmoils of life.  

He stills the storms and calms the water.

God is more faithful than the hardiest tulip bulbs.

My heart delights at the sights and sounds of spring.  Even the lowly dandelion is welcome after the long winter and brown, bare ground of later winter/early spring.

Chipmunk

Woodchuck

Guinea Hens

I Pray for Their Souls

Every day I pray for my family, friends and many others for whom prayers have been requested.  

I consider it a blessing and a calling to do this.  

I pray for health, for provision and that needs be met.  

Most of all I pray that they all come to know and love God.   

I pray for their souls to spend eternity with Our Heavenly Father.  

So many do not see this as important.  

Some do not believe.  

This is very scary for me since I fully realize what will happen to them for eternity if they do not take this seriously.  

Hell is not to be taken lightly.  Eternity is a very long time.  

I asked God for words to pray and He gave me this. 

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for my family, my friends and everyone else to desire You.  

Please awaken in them a hunger and thirst for You and Your Word.  

Please lead them to You.  

I pray that at the appropriate time, heaven is bursting at the seams with all these souls.  

Please direct me to do my part to accomplish this.  

Please pour the blood of Your Son, Jesus on all of us so we live as You want us to.  

I thank You in advance for all the wonderful things You will do.  

I ask this in Jesus most precious name.  Amen.

You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.  Psalm 65:2

Early Spring at Black Lake, NY

                   Brook near West Potsdam, NY

                      Other side of the brook

The Prayer of Jabez

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel,
"Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! 
Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain."And God granted his request.
1 Chronicles 4:10





I finished "And the Angels Were Silent" by Max Lucado this past week.  It addresses such questions as : What was Jesus' last week like? What did He accomplish? What was it like for the God/man to suffer the humiliation of being tortured to death by His creatures? Was He ever disappointed in His followers? How did He treat the one who betrayed the Son of God?  Did Satan win?  Is there hope for you and me?  What monumentous event occurred 3 days after the crucifixion?  What is the good news?



  
I also finished this one.  It has short sections from many of his books.  I highly recommend both books which I borrowed from Knapps Station Community Church library.  There is a lot of great reading there that I am looking forward to.  Check it out.  There are lots of Christian books by many good authors.

While you are at it, check out my church.  I highly recommend it as well.  They feed the body and the soul.

Knapps Station Community 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

The Blessing

I pray for you, my friend, the blessings that God gave Jabez.
Most of all I pray that you open your heart to God's love and joy for all the days of your life. 
I pray that when your life ends, that you rest in His gentle arms for all of eternity.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 
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.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
  Matthew 11:28-30



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 5-19-2016  
  I have a retreat to attend that weekend 
  and will have to post early that week.
I hope to see you then.  

In the meantime, God's blessings on you, my friend.  Debbie

        One of my cats playing acrobat when he was a kitten