This is the Day!

This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Psalm 118:24
My 4 year old grandson Mark and I took a ride to see the beautiful day and take pictures.  We stopped at a playground in Waddington, NY.  Here Mark jumps for joy, just to be alive and enjoy the day. Our Lord wishes us to become like little children, to jump for joy and to delight in Him and all He has done for us. 

Something startled the Canada geese and they took flight.  On a day like this one and every day, my heart takes flight when I see the wonders that God has made for my delight.

A ship traveling somewhere between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic.  This part is the St. Lawrence River.

There is still some beautiful color on the trees at Brandy Brook at the McGuinnes Road Waddington, NY.

There is so much beauty to be see around each bend in the road if we are looking.  (McGuinness Road)

              The beauty that the Lord has created 
              makes my heart sing.
            This photo was taken at Fobares near Waddington, NY.

              I zoomed in on still brilliant trees across a mown field.

                                                      More of Fobares

                                                   More of Fobares

Did God compose this just for me to find today?

How many other JOYS
are waiting around the next bend,

waiting for me to say: 

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

Notice, Notice

Knapps Station Community Church
Women's Bazaar
Saturday November 3, 2018
8am to 3pm
There will be a bake sale and lots of great stuff.
Something for everyone!
Another one of those Knapps Station events that is not to be missed!

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.

As all grandparents know, there is nothing more special than our grandchildren, especially when they are being silly.  I believe that God also delights in us, who are His children. Especially when we are enjoying His wonderful creation.

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?

More Than I Deserve

On 11 mile road between Santa Clara, NY and turn off to Malone, NY.

                    Are you lost in the wilderness of life?

  If you look to Jesus, He will put a bridge over your troubled waters.

          He will give peace to your soul, if you only turn to Him.

               He gives us all so much more than we deserve.

What do I deserve?
What do you deserve?

Do we deserve all the circumstances of our birth?
Did we deserve to be born when and where we were born?

Did you ever look at pictures of the uber rich wonder what they did to deserve all they have? I have at times and wished for a little of what they have.

I have also seen pictures of people in Third World countries where so many have to struggle for the things that I take for granted like clean drinking water or food, let alone medical care or a roof over their heads.
I feel pretty rich compared to those struggling people.

Do I deserve all that God gave me?

Do I deserve enough to eat, clean water and so on let alone the love and forgiveness that He hands out freely?

Did I do anything to earn His graciousness?
Did I earn His death on the cross to pay for my sins so I can spend eternity with Him in Paradise?

There is absolutely no way I could ever do enough or be good enough, righteous enough, to earn the fact that God in the person of His Son, suffered and died on the cross to pay my way to Paradise for eternity.

If I got what I truly deserve, I would be headed to the pit of fire for eternity.

I don’t deserve that He forgives me every time I ask for forgiveness for all the things I do wrong.

I have a Loving Father who has never given up on me and loves me so much that He gives me so much more than I deserve.

He loves you the same. 

Will you accept His love? 

He’s waiting patiently just for you.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
   slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
  nor will he harbor his anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
  or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
  so great is his love for those who fear him;
  as far as the east is from the west,
  so far has he removed our transgressions       from us
Psalm 103:8-12

                    Tim took this sunrise picture a couple of days ago.
                   Each day is a new chance to start over and do better.
        God always gives us second chances right up to the end of our life.
                             He knows we will make mistakes
                      He just asks that we keep trying to do better
                                 ask for forgiveness for our sins
                                      and turn to Him for help.

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 April 21 2018.

            This is the first Bald Eagle that I have ever seen in the wild.

It was exciting when Tim spotted the eagle and his mate and got pictures.

                   Photos were shot also on the 11 Mile Road.

                    A dead deer provides a meal for the birds.

         Many times God uses what we consider to be misfortune

                   to give us opportunities to better ourselves.

                                        Female Bald Eagle.

                             Her feathers look all messed up.

                       Did she loose the fight for the deer meat?

The Fragrance of the Lord

                            Lilies at Knapps Station Church

Please change me Lord from the sinful person I am
Help me to learn and live Your way

Lord, please make me fragrant with You 

   and Your love
Let me spread Your fragrance with everyone I meet
Let those I meet know that sweet scent is You
Let me spread You, Your love, grace and JOY by my actions and life

Please make my life one of spreading Your fragrance to all I meet

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

The following lilies were all photographed at Montrose Christian Conference Center.  I was told that a caretaker had planted over 100 varieties of lilies.

                           Love is patient, love is kind.  
            It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
                                 1 Corinthians 13:4

       Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it keeps no records of wrongs. 
                                                            1 Corinthians 13:5 

Learning to Love in Simple Ways is a blog post by my friend Jane Ault discussing ways to love and spread the Fragrance of the Lord.

          Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
                               1 Corinthians 13:6

             Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, 
                    always perseveres.  1 Corinthians 13:7

              How do we spread the fragrance of the Lord?  Through love.

                                          Through simple acts of kindness.

          By forgiving even when it isn't deserved - just as God forgives us.

                                By lending a helping hand and a willing ear 

         By using the gifts God gave you, like your sense of humor.

                   By being the unique person that God made 
                 and giving others the freedom to do the same.

                                                           Through respect

                      Through friendship and true concern for others

May you be blessed greatly, my friend 

    by the Lord's incredible lovingkindness 

         that absolutely never fails!

Please note:  New format:  I will publish my blog every Wednesday and Saturday. 

I plan to post shorter posts than those previous to this one.

This was suggested at the Montrose Christian Writer's Conference.

Please let me know what you think.

I would like to write the best blog I can 

to benefit you, my readers 

and give glory to the Father.

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 Wednesday and Saturday
The next post will be July 29, 2017

                    Two bee or not to be.  That is the question.
              Will we choose to be His child and drink His lovingkindness 
                                  or will we go without?

O Lord I Raise All of Us to You

           O Lord, You make my heart blossom when I open it to You and Your love.

I raise all these concerns, I raise all these issues, I raise all this pain and all these troubles to You O Lord.

We are so needy

We cannot manage without You and Your love, Your grace and most of all Your JOY in the morning.

                    Your "Son" light is always shining on us.

You are the Great I Am, the still small voice who is always listening, always caring, always gently whispering the right way to proceed if we only listen.

I read the prayer list and there is so much to ask, so many calling out to You.

You are only waiting for us to ask. You tell us to ask and You will answer.

You provide for the birds of the air and flowers of the field without them even asking.  How much more You will do for Your children if we only ask.

We need to remember it will be in Your time, which is perfect and it will be Your way.

Our ways are not Your ways and You know what is best for us in the long run.

You see the big picture

Farm near Morley, NY.  The field is plowed awaiting planting.  The farmer knows the plans he has for this field and what he hopes will grow.  You know the plans You have for us

You know the ending before we even get started

We can only trust You.

There is no one more trustworthy.

You are faithfulness from forever to forever.

You bring beauty to our lives at all times.  Even the dandelions add color and beauty in their time.

          Road between Bucks Bridge and Morley, NY

You are more wonderful than words.

I call out to you now on behalf of all these souls and myself too.

We need You so badly, please help us or we are lost.


My child:

You know I am here and I am listening.

Because you pray with all your heart, you touch my heart.

Know my child that I will find a way to lead you beside the still waters and restore your soul regardless of what life gives you.  Just trust in Me.

I hear about the ones who are in pain, the ones facing surgery, the ones waiting for test results, the ones who are lonely, the ones whose families are broken, the ones whose hearts are broken and all the others.

I love all of you so much.

I do not always give the answers you ask.
You must trust Me.

But know that I am with you forever to the very end of time.

            I am always with you even when you don't see Me.

Know that I will walk with you every step of the way through all your trials.

Know that I walked there as a man and will never ask you to do anything that I have not already done.

I really understand what you are going through and my heart aches with you every step of the way.

Someday you will see my face and I will wipe away all your tears, all your pains will be gone and your JOY will be incredible.

In the meantime, continue to pray, it does matter and does make a difference.

Continue to fight the good fight.

Never forget how much I love you.

   After the turmoil of this life, I will lead you to the peaceful waters of eternity.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." Revelation 21:4  New Living Translation

Under Construction, Expect Delays

I live at a dangerous intersection that has seen many accidents including fatalities. The Department of Transportation or DOT will correct the problem by removing the highest parts and filling in the lowest parts.

They hope to achieve a much better line of sight for everyone and eliminate or at least greatly reduce the number of accidents.

I am not looking forward to the mess, the noise and the inconvenience involved. However, I am looking forward to living at a much safer intersection.

It occurs that God is a little like the DOT. I am a work in progress, complete with lots of issues, problems, imperfections and one who regularly commits sins.

God nudges and corrects me. It’s not pleasant to have my parts changed. I am a creature of habit and left to my own devices, would not change.

However, God loves me so much, He wants me to spend eternity with Him in paradise.

Since I am so imperfect and He is perfection I am not fit to spend eternity with Him unless I become righteous like Him. 

When I accepted Him in my life I became righteous.  However I have a very long way to go to become perfect and will only achieve that when I go to heaven.  God continues to spend an incredible amount of time and effort working on me.  

He loves me that much. He is willing to go that extra mile. He cared enough that He became man to teach you and me how to live. He became the flawless lamb who was the sacrifice who died to pay our sins.

He asks me to acknowledge my sins, to apologize for those sins and to try my very best not to sin again. When I do apologize, He forgives those sins, never to remember them ever again! Imagine how much He loves me – and you!

If the DOT does not do its job, more accidents will most likely happen. If we do not cooperate with God, the unthinkable will happen, we will not spend eternity with Him but will spend forever and ever burning in hell.

The DOT did not give us a choice to cooperate. God does give us a choice. He gave us free will. 

Will you choose to be a work in progress who is always under construction? Or will you choose the other way? 

Please choose wisely, my friend. I look forward to your company for eternity in Paradise.

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

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Book Review



Emotional Freedom by Jane Ault

My friend Jane Ault, has written a very enlightening book about freeing ourselves from emotional dysfunction so we can achieve our true potential. This book is available from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. You can also contact her on her blog (see below) to purchase it at a discounted price.



The Priest by Francine Rivers

This is a riveting, respectful, fictional account of what life may have been like for Aaron who was Moses' brother.  It gives great insight into his human side and all the difficulties and joys that accompanied the job of Priest that he took so seriously.  I borrowed it from the Knapps Station library and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

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Knapps Station Community Church

Would you like a fresh Strawberry Shortcake dessert after a delicious roast pork dinner for only $8.00? Check us out on June 15, 2017.

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Why It's Too Soon To Give Up

My friend Jean Oathout has a wonderful post about the importance of never giving up on anyone in prayer.  You just never know when all your efforts will be fruitful.

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  Photo by Debbie McEwen

 The 7 R's of Restful Living: Remaining With Jesus
Another inspirational post by Jane Ault. Trusting in God to lead me where He wants me helps me get done what is really important. I look forward to reading the other 6 R’s of Restful Living!

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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

My friend, may you be blessed all the days of your life with the knowledge that our Heavenly Father loves you more than earthy life.

That He became man, suffered and died a horrendous death.

He did that because He loves you so much that He wants you to spend eternity with Him in paradise.

May you always realize His mighty love and allow Him to lead you home forever.

May God bless you greatly,
        my friend!

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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 June 3, 2017

                           Old wagon with flowers in Slab City

         "Tree face" on a rock in our front yard.  Doesn't he look ready to "spin a yarn?"