Is This World Broken?

                                      This rock is called "Split Rock" 
                     and it is located on the Split Rock Road 
                               near Saranac Lake, NY.
                     It reminds me of how our world is broken
                          Nature has grown around this rock
                     making it  quite attractive and interesting.
                                 If we give God a chance 
                              to work on our broken world
                       He will make it and us beautiful too.

Is it beyond repair?
Is it hopeless?

Hurricane Dorian is raging 

in the Carolinas but has at least diminished to a Category 1.

The Bahamas are absolutely devastated, leveled, beaten to a pulp with the death and destruction of Dorian when he was Category 5 raging through the islands.

There was another mass shooting in Texas.

Then there was the horrible boat fire in California.

This is the news for the United States just this one past week and does not include what is happening abroad.

There is so much heartache.

So many people’s lives are broken. Both the victims and the perpetrators.
Is it hopeless?

I don’t believe it for a moment.

Believe it or not, I firmly believe that God is in control.

I don’t know why God allowed all this to happen.

I don’t know why so many people had to suffer and so many to die.

But I do know God has a plan.

And I know in my heart of hearts that if we all turn to Him, He will guide us through the storm of this life.

I know He wants us to love and honor Him first in our lives.

I know He wants us to reach out to the people He puts in our paths to treat them as we want to be treated.

I am certain that if we can do these, which are the commandments that Jesus gave us, that we can turn this world around.

And remember to pray, the power of prayer is incredible. God does love us and really does answer prayers in the way that is the very best for us.

There will still be storms, there will still be problems, but if we follow God’s laws, the world will no longer be broken.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2Chronicles 7:14

           This swamp is located near Waddington, NY. 

                     It joins the St. Lawrence River

                       I took this picture last fall.

                      Some of the trees are bare.

                       The colors are past prime.

                    But it is still a beautiful scene.

                   God makes all things beautiful,

                          at the right time,

                                His time.

                 Another beautiful swamp scene.

               This one was located near Lisbon, NY

It has been almost 2 months since I posted a blog.  I have been busy and had a couple of major illnesses.  I apologize that it has been so long.  This piece obviously was written last month.  The message is at least as vital today as it was a month ago.  Our country is in turmoil today and desperately needs our prayers to unite us.  We need to put our differences aside and become one nation under God.  I'm not saying that there are not issues that need to be dealt with because there are. I pray to God that they are dealt His way. We need to return to decency, manners and consideration for all our brothers.  Who are are brothers?  Are they just Americans? What would Jesus answer to that question?  Listen to your heart and follow what it says.

            The moon is covered with craters.
          Sometimes we can see "the man in the moon"
                           in the craters.
              It has been seriously damaged by meteors
                       that caused those craters.
                 Our land has been damaged 
                          by so much turmoil
                         from so many sources.
                    If we all turn to God and pray,
                        He will heal our land
                     and we will be whole again.
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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 have not posted regularly and I apologize 
to my followers.

Life, health issues and grandchildren 

continue to interfere.

Blessings on you, my friend.

May our Loving Father bless you 
   and all your endeavors

May you see Him in the colorful leaves 

   from the changing season

May you see Him in the eyes 
   of your loved ones
May you feel the peace, love and JOY
   that only comes from the Great I Am.
And may His grace mend our land
   as only He can

                As the sun sets on our day
         God gives us hope for our tomorrow.
              
            

         

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. 

   

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!

Praise You Lord for All Your Creation

Praise you Lord for the beauty that is always right in front of us.  
This is Lake Colby across from Saranac Lake Hospital.  
An overcast day had been predicted. 
God gave us a beautiful day to visit the doctor in Lake Placid.

Praise You Lord for the stars and moon
   that light our nights
   and bring our time of blessed sleep

Praise You for the sun that lights
   and warms our days so we can marvel
   in the glory of Your mighty hands

Praise You for the hills and mountains,

                Whiteface Mountain Lake Placid, NY

   for the rivers and streams

                     Eel Weir near Black Lake, NY

   that fill our lives with animals, fish, birds,

                             White tail deer

               A groundhog who makes his home under our shed.

                       A blue heron at Black Lake, NY

                  

   trees, flowers and bountiful foods for us 

Monarch butterfly on a Zinnia

                   Flowering crab apple tree in my back yard.
   to enjoy, to nourish our bodies and our souls

Praise You for the oceans filled with endless fish
   and amazing creatures.
   The seas are vast and deep
   like Your amazing love.

       On the shore of the St. Lawrence River near Massena, NY
           The sun shines on the water like God's love shines on us

                      My husband Tim with Rev. Dave Tulloch 
                       and the large mouth bass they caught.

Praise You for the four seasons
   that bring us variety and allow nature to rest,
   revive, grow, mature and be fruitful.        
   Your creation never ceases to amaze me
   with its variety and beauty

Near West Potsdam, NY

Ice storm Feb. 2016  Plumb Brook Road Norfolk, NY

Spring on the banks of the St. Lawrence River near Massena, NY

The trees are anxiously awaiting the coming of Spring
just as our souls are anxiously awaiting the touch of God.

                             River near Santa Clara, NY

                         Canada geese families at Black Lake, NY

                                       Summer wildflowers

                                  From bridge near Brushton, NY

                                Route 11 after Malone, NY

                                    Mown hay field near Lisbon, NY

Praise You for the rain and snow
   that bring life-giving water
   to our lives and our environment

                              Bank of frozen Black Lake, NY

 Praise You for all of nature that shouts Your praise         saying “The Almighty Creator and Lord of all,
    the Great I Am, made me. 
    Look at the beauty and infinite creativity
    of His loving hands.”

Praise You Loving Father for making me,
   “for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   Your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.” 
          Psalm 139:14

   The details of Your creation are infinite.
   No photograph has sufficient pixels to capture
       all the details.
   No painter can begin to duplicate the Master.

Praise you Lord for the wondrous majesty
   that is You!

Praise You for Your incredible love
   that caused You to call all creation
   into existence” to create mankind
   just a little lower than the angels,
   and crown him with glory and honor.” 
        Psalm 8:5.

Blessed be Your most holy name.  Amen


Commentary:

Look to the Lord, keep your eyes on Him.  
There is so much turmoil in the news right now.
It is so upsetting, so distracting.

Satan is working overtime.
He's polarizing us, dividing us.
He is taking our eyes off God.  

We must stand together in this
United States of America
to solve our problems and we must turn to God
for the solutions of these problems.
We cannot solve them on our own.

Our Loving Almighty Father can solve ANYTHING! And He will.  "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
   2Chronicles 7:14

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Knapps Station Community Church 

Roberts Wesleyan College Wind Ensemble
Monday Feb. 20, 2017    7pm    
Free Concert
Directed by Dr. Paul Shewan
at Knapp Station Community Church
3035 County Route 47
Norwood, NY  13668       353-5093

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Voice of the Martyrs

I invite you to check out this link to find out what Christians in some countries suffer just because they believe.  We have no idea how fortunate we are. Please pray for our less fortunate brothers and sisters. 
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Give God Time To Answer

I heartily recommend this new blog post by my friend Jean Oathout.  It reminds us to keep praying for those things that are really important to us.  

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What Do You Need To Be Intentional?
Jane Ault's new blog post gives great advice on keeping focus in life, something I always need help with. 

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Book Reviews

 
Dirty Faith by David Z. Nowell

Do you feel that God is calling you to do more than go to church on Sunday, give your offering and "follow the rules?"  This book makes one think seriously about what it means to be a Christian and to do it the way Christ lived.  Great "food for thought."


Arms Open Wide by Sherri Gragg

Do you like a good story?  I do and this book takes well known Bible passages about Jesus and His followers and makes them into short stories.  These stories help us to better understand the Bible passages. 


The Lost Letters of Pergamum by Bruce W. Longenecker

This is a fictional set of letters between the apostle Luke and a Roman nobleman named Antipas.  The historical background gives us much insight into the horrible conditions that the early Christians lived in. It also gives incredible insight into the power of living as a real Christian and how that causes lives to be transformed.

Blessing

May you be greatly blessed as you see the magnificent beauty that our Loving Father has created for us.
May you always look to our Loving Father for guidance through the turmoil that life is throwing at all of us. Remember...God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
And may your days be filled with the knowledge that your Loving Father deliberately chose you and loves you so much that even the hairs on your head are numbered and He knows that number so very well.

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 February 25, 2017

May God bless you greatly until we meet again.

And Happy Valentine's Day!

   Pictures of the 2017 Lake Placid Winter Festival Ice Castle taken 2-8-2017