Do You Ever Wonder?

    This the swamp on Route 35 between Norwood and West Potsdam, NY.
                    I am amazed that Spring always follows Winter.

              I am amazed the earth always changes its tilt in such a way
        that the sun now warms the earth and the time of new life comes.

           Even this swamp is alive and beautiful with green and new life.

             The sun and the Son bring new life in their appropriate time

                                and make all things beautiful.

I wonder and think about all kinds of things.

I am amazed that a tiny seed can grow into a beautiful flower. 

                     Even the dandelions and wild violets are beautiful.

                      The brook near my house is alive and green.

I am so grateful that I live in a house where I can get a hot shower. I think about the technology that caused the house to be built and all the things that went into it. I think about the fact that there is electricity to pump the water into the house and heat it. And then to gently shower that heated water into a tub so I can get clean whenever I want to. I think about all the inventions that had to be thought up to make the pipes, the electricity and so on and to deliver it to my home. There are an incredible number of components that go into that one activity and I am the fortunate beneficiary.

This is only one little aspect of my life that is amazing.

I have always been amazed that I can walk upright on 2 feet. Being clumsy, I am not the most graceful person, but I am still able to walk upright.

I can think about moving the various parts of my body at will and they usually respond as I direct them to. It is amazing that I can type/keyboard this piece that you are reading, and my fingers respond appropriately to my mental commands. 

                            Even these crab apple blossoms seem to shout,
          "Look at me I am a creation of the Son and I rejoice just to be alive.

           I was created for your pleasure and to give glory to the Father."

I am amazed that I live in such a beautiful world. Winter is gone. Trees and fields are turning green. Some trees are blooming. Some flowers are blossoming. The air is warm. The sky is often a beautiful blue and the sun shines warming me to my core.

I never cease to be amazed by the world that God made for me to live in and enjoy. 

              The beauty and diversity of the world that the Lord has made 

                                  is absolutely incredible.

I am amazed that He made it beautiful and made me in such a way that I can see it as beautiful.

I am amazed and grateful that the act of love of a man and a woman can create a new life and a new person.

The list is endless, and I never stop wondering.

The most amazing and wonderful thought is that I have a Father who loves me no matter what I do and that He made all this just for me – and you.

When you wonder, wonder about that.

Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5

On a yummy note:  Keep June 14 available for the Strawberry Shortcake Dinner at Knapps Station Community Church.

It is a dinner not to be missed!

              You are so amazing Father. 

       Whenever I reach out, You are there.                            You take my little hand. 

          You hold me in Your mighty hand 

                   and You love me.  

          Blessed be Your most holy name.

My dear friends:  Please pray for the victims of the shooting in Texas.  Please pray for the families, friends, acquaintances, law enforcement and everyone involved - even the shooters.  Please pray that God may touch their hearts and the hearts of all those who would do harm to others.  Please pray that the cancer that is eating away at the goodness of this country can be cured.  Please look for acts of kindness that you can do to fight this cancer.  If we each do our little part, with the help of God we can overcome the evil and darkness.  We can bring light back to this amazing world that our Father created and bring it back to the beauty that it was meant to have.  Let us pray that there will be NO MORE SHOOTINGS!

                   The sun may be setting but there will be another day.
                  Let's work together to make it a better day for everyone. 
            As Tiny Tim in "A Christmas Carol" said "God bless us everyone."
                               And know that God will bless us all.

                             May He bless you greatly, my friend!

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 on June 2, 2018.

                 I saw these tracks at the bridge near my house. 
                         Does anyone know what they are?

Please Help Me, Father.

              Father, God, please help me to clear away the clouds of my pride
                          so I can see the beauty You have created.

I’ve made a mess with my pride.

It got the better of me.

I just had a wonderful prayer time at the Prayer Vigil
   and Satan struck when I got home.

I got so mad over something
   that wasn’t that important.

I’m afraid I hurt my husband.

I deserve to be upset, to feel guilty.

It bothers me so much that I hurt my husband,
   that I hurt You with my pride.

I thought I had it under control.

My pride goes so deeply into me.

I’m just starting to learn how much so.

I can’t fix this. 
You can, You can show me what to do.

I allowed Satan an inroad and he took it. 

I was so wrong and I am so sorry.

Please help me.  I really don’t know what to do
   but I know You do.  

Amen

             Please help me to be open to Your love 
       so it can blossom in me like this crab apple tree.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
   and will forgive us our sins and purify us
   from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

                                     Brook near Nicholville, NY

The Greening

It’s slowly creeping into sight.

Dirty snow is finally gone.

Mottled green and tan grass is slowly becoming that glorious “spring green.”

Puddles are quietly receding, taking the mud season  with them and firming up the ground.

Overhead, the sky seems bluer
   and the sun seem brighter.

           Norwood Pond on back road between Norwood and Norfolk, NY

Even the air smells fresher.

The weather man said yesterday was very warm
   with a record-setting high temperature of 78
   degrees.  The sun felt wonderfully warm.

         Nature Center on St. Lawrence River near Louisville, NY

Today is overcast and cooler
   but my tulips are poking out of the earth
   giving me faith that Spring is surely on its way.

I have heard the birds sing,
   calling for warmer breezes.

I have heard the Canadian geese honking
   on the way to their summer homes.

My lilac tree is budding, producing tiny leaves.

I am beginning to see the sun shining
   through the lacy green filigree
   of new leaves on many trees.

The “froggy song” of the peepers
   never fails to delight my soul.

The air has changed and winter’s bite has departed.

The greening of Mother Earth is upon us
   and my heart rejoices
   the coming of this new season.

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. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Book Reviews:


Create Your World by Patricia King

Would you like to improve your world and your life?  Ms. King gives help and instructions on how you can do that by following God's word and ways.  She does not say you will never have problems or strife but shows keys and insights into the creative power that Christ placed in you to help you live a fulfilled life.

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Knapps Station Community Church


Stay tuned for more information about Operation Arctic Vacation Bible School in July at Knapps Station Community Church.  It promises to be very COOL!

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Hope in the Strangest Places

Is your hope running thin?  Do you need some encouragement?  Please check out my friend, Jean Oathout's blogpost and you may find hope in the strangest of places.
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How Do I Respond to Sadness and Happiness?

To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. Through it all God uses our experiences to shape us into the children He wants to live with Him for eternity. Some of the shaping is very difficult and painful, some is so joyful. If we only cooperate, the results will be heavenly. Please check out my friend Jane Ault's new blogpost for her inspirational message.
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Voice of the Martyrs 

Please pray for our brothers and sisters who do not have the freedom to worship as they choose.
Many suffer and die for their faith.
We are so blessed to worship as we choose.
Many died to give us this freedom
May we never lose this freedom.
And may we never take it for granted.

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Blessing:

 When I decided to print my Please Help Me Father prayer, it tugged on my pride.  God was trying to shape me and remove the parts that stand in the way of me becoming His child.  I really didn't want to let go of the parts He wanted to remove.  It hurts to lose parts of yourself that have always been there.  To grow, you must let go and let God.  It is really freeing when you can let those pieces go and not try to grab them back. I'm working on it and I wish this blessing for you and for me too.

I wish us the blessing of always trusting God,
   of always knowing He is working all things for our good,
   of surrendering to His will 
   and giving our all to Him.
He suffered and died for us, holding nothing back.
He rose and offers us the same.
May we be blessed forever by His love, His Grace and 
  His neverending JOY!

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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 May 6, 2017

May God bless you greatly until we meet again

    May we always remember that the sun may set 

           but God's love remains forever.