God's Eyes of Love

             Just as Sunflowers can only bloom 
                     in sunlight,
               our souls can only bloom                        
          when we choose the "Son" light.

I look in the mirror
and see an old woman.
Where did all the wrinkles come from?

Where did my young self go?
Even my eyes look old.

People look at me differently
than when I was young.

In my heart of hearts,
I know that God looks past my imperfections,
past my wrinkles,
past the parts that don't work so well anymore. 

He sees me through His eyes of love.

When He saved me, I became a new creation,
His creation. 

I am now God's child
and regardless of my age and defects,
I know I am perfect in His sight,
when He looks at me
through His eyes of love.

Tim took this picture of me near a waterfall
at South Colton, NY

Indeed, the LORD watches those who fear him; those who trust in his gracious love.
Psalm 33:18

   
      Oswegatchie River near Black Lake, NY

            Notice the great beauty
                that our Loving Maker
               provides for our benefit. 

    
     The field behind my house near Potsdam, NY

Changes

The Canadian geese honk overhead
as they fly home for winter
Their mournful song heralds the end of summer

Flowers are almost gone by
Grass will soon stop growing
Shadows are longer
and greens cease to be fresh and new

    
       Mature soy field with corn stalks
            now that Fall is upon us.


The days are rapidly shortening
I’m glad to have the end of the oppressive heat
But I cringe to think of the upcoming cold and snow

I love the beauty of winter
– from inside my warm house

I loved to play in the snow when I was little

Now my bones resist the cold

My joints creak and stiffen from the bitter chill

I’m looking forward
to the brilliant color change of Fall

I appreciate the cooler nights
that bring better sleeping weather

I’m hurrying to finish the outside work for the year

   My flowering crab apple tree is very heavy laden with fruit this year.                   Some say that means a hard winter.  What do you think?

The shed and the deck need staining -
The outside flower pots and decorations will soon need to be put away for their long winter’s nap

Sweater and jacket weather is now upon us

It’s almost time to close up the house
and fasten the windows firmly shut
to keep out winter’s blasts

Part of me doesn’t want to give up
the freedom and beauty of summer

               Wild flowers in the field behind my house

Part of me is ready for the changes

Regardless of my preference,
Fall is here and time marches on

My life is like that

  God promises that we too will bloom greatly -
      we only have to cooperate with Him
      and His great love for us.
     

So many changes

Each one brings new circumstances
-some that I like and some I would rather skip

I am facing the Fall of my life
How many seasons I have left is unknown
My body has changed, my life has changed

From child to young woman, to middle age

Am I now a senior?

I have learned to “Hang on for the ride”
That life and our Maker gives us

To enjoy the beauty and joy of each day,

  There is no end to the beauty that God
      puts before us - out of His great love
             for each and every one of us.

To look for and find the positives
that each change brings
and to praise the Maker for His providence

To find a way to deal with the negatives
- with God’s help

And to look forward to tomorrow

   God created the heavens and the earth and He created you out of nothing but His great love.

For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord, plans for welfare
and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

God Loves His Rascals

You know the ones I mean

They don't behave perfectly

They make lots of mistakes

They sin - sometimes the "big" ones
They keep falling and failing

The list goes on and on
The list of human imperfections is endless

Fortunately, God's love and grace are also endless

No matter who we are
No matter what our problems or imperfections are
No matter how chronic, how hopeless our lives
and problems seem

There is God

He never gives up on us - even if we give up

For Him, nothing is impossible

And He dearly loves all his rascals. 

For God so loved the world 

  that he gave his one and only Son

that whoever believes in him shall not perish

 but have eternal life.  John 3:16

God sees the good and the beauty in each of us.  Look at how lovingly He created His wildflowers.

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.)

Our Chicken Pie dinner was a great success. The food was delicious and the fellowship was wonderful. If you missed it, please consider enjoying it next September.

Knapps Station Church is a great place to feed your soul with the "good stuff" from the Bible.

My church is always providing new bible studies. We have begun one on what it really means to be a Christian.
The class takes place every Sunday at 6:30 pm and runs 6 more weeks. It's not too late to start and find out what the word "disciple" really means.


Christian, It's Not What You Think

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

Amazing Grace to the Rescue  is a recent post that touched my heart.

Book Review

The Jesus I Never Knew

Phillip Yancey takes a serious look at the Jesus he found in the Gospels.  He explores Jesus as the passionate, dynamic, emotional and incredibly loving Son of God that we will find when we carefully read the Gospels and truly look at the One whose life inspired "the greatest story ever told!"  This book is one to be read slowly and savored in order to pick up the insights Philip Yancey learned from many decades of study.  

Audacious by Beth Moore

Do you have an "audacious" love of God?  Beth Moore, who is a dynamic teacher of Christian classes, takes on the challenge to lead women and everyone to learn to boldly love God who "audaciously" loves us and is longing for us to "audaciously" love Him in return.




Blessing

May you be blessed by the knowledge
   of God's great love for you
May you know that His love for you is limitless
May you realize in the very depth of your soul
   that Jesus was tortured to death 
   to pay for your sins (and mine too)
   because He loves you just that much
   and wants you to spend eternity with Him
And may you share the blessing 
   of that incredible love
   with everyone you meet

    Oswegatchie River near Black Lake, NY

Blessings for you,my friend for a wonderful week. 

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 10-8-2016

           One last picture of the moon.
It is truly amazing the love and attention to detail
   that God gives each of His creations.
    That includes you!!

Why Did I Do That?

  

The rainbow is a sign of God's faithfulness to us. 

Did you ever say or do anything you wish you could take back? 

I can remember speaking so many unkind or foolish words, committing so many ungodly actions.  

I never killed anyone or robbed a bank or beat up anyone but I have thought nasty thoughts.  I have said hurtful words.  I did some things that I really wish I never had.  

I have asked God and others for forgiveness but I so wish I could take back the hurtful things I have said and done.  It bothers me that I hurt others and most of all that I hurt God with my thoughts, words and deeds.  

I have wondered why I did those things.  It occurs to me that they were learning experiences and I'm trying very hard to learn from them.
  
I’m learning to watch what thoughts I allow to stay in my mind. My thoughts affect my words and ultimately my actions. 

I’m learning to be more watchful especially during stressful times.  I’m learning that I must carefully choose what I think, say and do rather than to merely allow them to happen as they will.  

I’m learning to feed my mind, that is my thoughts, with God’s word (the Bible) rather than the stuff that the world is promoting.  Then I have the “good stuff” (Godly stuff) to fall back on when I need it.  

I will never be perfect but with the effort I have less to regret and so more to offer for God’s honor and glory.

     Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

    Keep your mouth free of perversity;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

    Let your eyes look straight ahead;

fix your gaze directly before you.

Proverbs 4:23-25

When I look at the beauty all around me, I see the love and magnificence of God.  I never cease to be amazed by His attention to detail and how He decorates the world for our enjoyment.

Amazing

It is amazing how loving, forgiving and patient you are with me, Lord.  Your quiet voice gently encourages me to do what You know is best.  

There are times when I just do as I please.  Other times I am very obedient but certainly not always.  Sometimes I feel like a very young child just foolishly wanting things her way.  

There are times when You give consequences as any loving parent does to teach Your child right from wrong.  Usually You just gently nudge.  

You never fail to show Your incredible love.  

Considering my advanced age, most of the rebellion should be out of my system by now.  But it’s not.  

You were so patient and loving from the time I first discovered You.  You are just as patient now.  

I’m trying to listen more closely and trying to be obedient but I fall short so many times.  

No matter how many times You have to repeat Yourself, You are never impatient, never cross.  You just keep encouraging me.  

You keep refining me, guiding me along the right path, Your path, showing me the way home for eternity.  

How blessed I am to have my wonderful, amazing Father.

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;  Daniel 9:9

                                                                      Crocuses

                                         A raft of geese at  Black Lake, NY

                            View from Burlington, VT

Will Spring Never Come??

Grass is trying to turn green but recent freezing cold stalls it in place.

Trees are budded.  Tulip leaves have risen 3 or 4 inches out of the ground.  Frigid chills prevent further progress.

Even blue skies with wispy clouds and bright sunshine are overwhelmed by wintry winds bitter bite.

Mother Nature is teasing.  She gave us Springtime warmth and then brought back late Winter’s chill.  I had heard the joyful songs of froggy peepers and spring birds but the renewed chill has silenced them. 

Enough games, Mother Nature.  Allow Spring to awaken.
 

Arise Sister Spring. Come and dance the joyful dance of new life. 

My soul craves your warm breezes, the spring green of your new grass and newly minted leaves, the bright colors of your early flowers and your bird songs.  I even miss your buzzing insects.

Awaken.   

Bring your warmth, your colors and your new life.  

Come and touch my soul.  

Rejuvenate me.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Psalms 51:10

                            Bridge at Rouses Point, NY

 Springtime Blessings

May our Divine Lord bless you with renewed faith
May He bless you with renewal of mind and soul and body
And may your days be blessed with His everlasting joy.

    Even in the absence of visible life, there is beauty in all God has created.

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 
  on the top right side of this post to connect 
  to previous blog posts
I post every other Saturday 
The next post will be 4-23-2016
I hope to see you then.  
In the meantime, God's blessings on you, my friend.  Debbie 

Changes for the Better

Since I began my walk with Jesus, my life has changed.  I have a different outlook.  A better one.  

It hit home when my husband first told me that I had changed.  I realized that I have different priorities.  I behave differently than I did before. My focus now is definitely on Jesus.  

I remember meeting a friend in the grocery store and answering “great” when he asked how I was.  He asked why I was great and it took 2 days for me to realize that 

I’m great because Jesus has filled my heart and soul with His love.

The problems and heartaches still come.  The illnesses never stop.  Stuff still breaks down.  Money never seems to go far enough.  

However, when I have Jesus at my side, that’s ok.  He gets me through.  He makes sure I have what I really need.  

He has softened my heart and conscience.  I care more about others.  I know really fast if I’m doing something I’m not supposed to be doing.  

Most importantly, He always lets me know every day how much He loves me in spite of my many imperfections.  

I am so happy with my life.  I am at peace.

"Don't be afraid."  The prophet answered.  "Those that are with us are more than those who are with them."   

       2 Kings 6:16   (Spoken by Elisha when the King of Arams's army surrounded Elisha's city but God's mightier army surrounded them all!)

The Final Destination

The train races by at breakneck speed
My life is speeding to its end
I jump aboard and squeeze in so many activities

The days are packed
So many happy memories
So many melancholy ones

Previously, responsibilities of work and family limited possibilities
Now my time is my own

I stop intermittently
to enjoy friends and family
to make those precious memories
those wonderful times

Each day the train races on bringing the end one stop closer

Then I remember that the final stop for this train is actually the time to change trains to go on into eternity, to the final destination with my Maker.

Sharing a Joy

So much happens in our lives.  I think it is important to stop and realize how much God is working behind the scenes.  He often helps when we don't even realize it, when we didn't even think to ask and pray.  

There are other times however, when it is so obvious that a positive outcome could only have happened by His grace and with His love.

My husband, Tim had bariatric surgery last Wednesday.  

So many people were praying.  I could feel their love and caring.  I am absolutely certain that their prayers made a great difference in causing the positive outcome that Tim is experiencing.  

We are so grateful for their love and prayers.  

However, God is the ultimate healer and it is only through His great love and grace that Tim did so well.  

Praise you, Praise You, Praise You my Loving Father 

for all You have done.  

Thank You my Abba for Your love. Thank You for Your caring and for guiding the hands and minds of all the people who took care of Tim.

Thank You for bringing Tim back to me safe and sound.  

Blessed be Your most holy name. 

"....and give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever."

           1 Chron. 17:41

The Blessing

May our Loving Father bless you.  

May you feel His loving presence in the smiles of your loved ones, 

    in the loving touch of someone special.
May you see His might and glory 

    in the beauty of His creation.

And may your days be blessed beyond measure by His love.

My friend, God is the author of all that is good. 

Thank you for sharing your time with me.      

                                                               Debbie

We have "walking trees" in St. Lawrence County!!!


All bible quote from NIV
All photos taken by Tim McEwen and used with his permission.