A Shepherd’s Tale

                    Listen, my friend to my amazing story.

It’s so cold tonight. The stars are so bright and seem so close, I could almost reach out and touch one. I snuggle close to the lamb who was born last night. His mother died in the birth and he seems so forlorn. One of the other ewes is nursing him so he should be fine.

The other shepherds are calming their sheep too. Something’s in the air. I wonder if there is a wolf or bear close by. 

                I take the Hanukkah lamb to Simeon

I really enjoy my sheep. I even like the earthy smell. All the Jews turn up their noses to me and how I smell except that holy man, Simeon who stays in the temple. He is ancient but so kind to everyone. When I delivered his Hanukkah lamb, he complimented me about how perfect it was. No one else has ever even given me the time of day. He even took the time to tell me about God’s promise to him that he, Simeon would not die before he sees God’s son. Rabbi Simeon is so certain that God will honor His promise. I have to wonder because the good Rabbi is so old.

I wish I could see God’s son. I’m only a poor shepherd and no one special. But I can dream.

                      The angels come with their message of love.

What’s happening? The sky is getting so bright. The sheep are bleating and running around. There are huge, glowing, flying men with wings coming near us, singing about glory to God and peace and that the Son of God is born. They tell us not to be afraid, but I am terrified. After a while I calm down and so do the sheep. They tell us that they bring good news for all men, including us poor shepherds, that the Son of God was born tonight and is lying in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. They tell us that we need to go and see for ourselves and to worship him. They tell us that we need to spread this news that will bring great JOY to all men.

I am no longer afraid. I am so excited that I hurry with the other shepherds to Bethlehem. There is a star that seems to be guiding us to a stable behind an inn. We slowly walk into the stable. There in the center of the room is a tiny baby wrapped in cloths lying in the manger. His mother sits beside him, smiling at him. She is so young and looks so tired. A young man stands guard over the mother and child. He looks so proud and reverent as though he too heard the angels’ message. 

                          I bring my lamb to the Son of God.

Each of us shepherds slowly approach the mother and baby. Each has brought a present of food or an animal. I brought my orphaned lamb to keep the baby warm on this cold night. As I offer it to the mother and baby, the mother smiles at me and tells me it is a wonderful gift and that she really appreciates it. She says her son does too.

As she says this, the tiny baby wakes and smiles at me. I am dumb-founded! The angels told us this is the Son of God! I cannot believe that the Son of God would appreciate a gift from lowly me. This is a moment that I will treasure forever! I can hear the angels singing and see the brilliant light of the star. I can see the animals in the stable. Each is blurring as the tears come to my eyes. I am so happy to be here right now. Never in my life have I done anything as important as this, not even when I married Merriam. Not even when my children were born. 

I slowly leave with the other shepherds. We hate to leave but our sheep must be tended. The man tells us it’s ok to leave and the baby seems to wave goodbye to us. We hurry back to our flocks.

I can’t wait to tell my Marian and Jacob what I saw.

I can’t wait to run to the temple tomorrow to tell Rabbi Simeon that I saw the Son of God!

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.


I cannot imagine the joy that the shepherds must have felt to know that they were actually seeing the Son of God and to know that God trusted them to be the first visitors.

That JOY can be yours and mine if we just open our hearts to Him and let Him fill us with His love for eternity.

Thank you for reading my blogs!  You bless me when you do.  

Be blessed, my friend for a most JOYOUS Christmas and 2019.

Remember to keep Christ in Christmas.  He is indeed the reason for the season.  And remember those less fortunate.

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.

   River in Winthrop, NY.  There is a halo or "sundog" around the sun that I did not see but that the camera picked up.  There is so much that God will show all of us if we just open our eyes and hearts to Him,  especially at this JOYOUS time of year.

And the Angels Rejoiced!

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14 KJV

Why all the celebration?

          Where darkness had filled the world, 
                     God has sent JOY 
      in the person of His most beloved, only son.  
                 Let the world REJOICE.  

The greatest event since creation has just happened.

Was it the presents?
Or the trees?

                      Tree at Knapps Station Community Church

Was it all the decorations?

Or the festivities?
Or the great food?

No!

It was the Child

The One born in a stable

This barn is on the Barker Road Potsdam and probably has electricity and running water. Those amenities were not available when Jesus was born.  
Would you want your baby born in a barn, even a "modern" barn?  God did!!

The One whose mother and earthly father
said “Yes” to an angel

          Nativity scene at Knapps Station Community Church

The One who loves you and me so much He came from His throne in heaven to save us from ourselves

The One born to die to save us from our sins
The One whose love for us is limitless
The One who is the Son of God Almighty

The One who chose to become the lowliest
and most helpless of people   
a tiny baby born to a teenage girl
who was a nobody in the eyes of the world

The One who is Lord of all creation

That’s why the angels sang and rejoiced

Will you join in and celebrate
the greatest love story of all time?

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

                               Nativity Scene in Norwood, NY             

Commentary:

Route 56 between Potsdam and Norwood, NY.  Are you ready to open your heart to the light and love that the Father is patiently and lovingly waiting to give you?

We are about to celebrate Christmas. Are you ready? I'm not asking if your shopping is done, tree decorated and presents wrapped. I'm asking if you are ready to receive Christ in your heart?

Do you realize that the Almighty One who created everything that exists, loves you so much that He sent His Son to become a human baby? 

This was THE God who became a human baby who was born and lived to teach us how God wants us to live and how to treat each other. 

He taught how much He, Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit love us and want us to spend eternity with them. 

He taught us to love God first and foremost and to love each other as we love ourselves.

We cannot do this or anything without God's help. 

We only need to ask Him and He will help us. 

He never stops loving us and will guide us to the Home we were meant to live in for eternity - if we cooperate.

Are you ready for Christmas?

                Church in Lake Placid.  
         Whatever church you choose, go home for Christmas and always.
                         Open your heart 
         and allow the JOY that is Jesus fill you with peace and love.

Knapps Station Community Church would be a great one to visit and stay with.  It is a true church family that will love you where and who you are.  It will nourish your soul and lead you to the Lord who loves you and is waiting for you to come Home.

Have you opened your heart to the One who loves you enough to become a human like you and me and die for our sins? 

Just open your heart. Ask Him for His help. Ask His forgiveness for whatever you have done wrong.

Follow the One who will never lead you astray and get ready for the ride of a lifetime as He leads you Home.

Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.  Psalm 62:18

           Road to my neighbor on Route 35 near West Potsdam, NY

Can You Hear the Cheering? 

I watched a video on Facebook of a young hockey player helping a younger mentally challenged hockey player make a goal.

The younger one could just barely stay upright and skate forward. 

The older one would move the puck in range so the younger one could hit the puck a little and skate closer and closer the goal. 

The goalie got out of the way so the younger one could hit the puck into the net. 

The little guy raised his arm in victory and the goalie rubbed his head in approval. I’m sure he was beaming under his mask.

I think my trip with God is like that
 and I am the challenged child.

Jesus doesn’t force me to follow.

He doesn’t push me toward the Goal. 

He encourages me. He puts the puck in my reach. He helps me every step of the way. He stays beside me when I am afraid and having difficulty. 

He has been there. He lived as a human so He knows what I am going through. 

He helps me get up when I fall down as I have so many times. 

I can choose to go the wrong way and He won’t stop me but He will try to redirect me if I only cooperate. 

He has never given up on me regardless of my sins and missteps. 

Just as everyone watching the event on the video must have been cheering, I believe the angels in heaven cheer for us as we take each little step forward and cooperate despite the many difficulties that life and Satan put in our path. 

We only have to trust in the one who loves us more than earthly life itself and He will guide us to our heavenly Goal. 

Can you hear the cheering?

He holds each of us in palm of His Mighty Hand and loves us each so much that "even the hairs on our heads are numbered." 

Taste and see that the LORD is good; 
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.  
Psalm 34:8




Book Reviews:



Cradle, Cross and Crown by Billy Graham

This tiny gem has writings by Billy Graham and poems by Ruth Graham celebrating what Christmas is really all about.



On This Holy Night The Heart of Christmas

Another little gem with writings by some of the most popular modern authors giving insight into the reason we need to celebrate this blessed season.



The Life God Blesses by Jim Cymbala

Another great Jim Cymbala book that discusses why God blesses some people more than others.  Why would that be?  Read it and gain insight and hopefully be greatly blessed by God!  Available at the Knapps Station Church library.




A Biography of Jesus 32 Simple Lessons from His Life by Tom J.Crowley

Short snippets that give insight into the life of the one born to save us from ourselves.  Available at the Knapps Station Church library.


Faith Conquers Doubt
Blog post by my friend Jean Oathout.


Blessing:
May the light of the Christmas Star
  shine brightly on you 
  today and forever more
May it bring you the Peace, Love and JOY
  of the Christ Child!

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 12-31-2016, the last for this year!

                    Is this Charlie Brown's Christmas tree??

           All creation knows instinctively to look to the Creator 

                                  and to honor Him.

                          We people need to realize this
              and REJOICE in the One who is come to save us.

You are a Precious Jewel

Did you know that?
  
In God’s eyes you are a precious jewel. 

Are you a ruby or an emerald or a sapphire or even a diamond?  

Whatever you are, you are precious in God’s eyes and in His heart.  He chose you precisely because you are precious to Him and He wants you very, very much.
 

In the beginning every gem is dug out of the ground.  Dirt and impurities of all sorts must be cleaned away.  

The stone must be cut and polished and then put into a beautiful setting to display its beauty.  When the jeweler is done, he has a work of art.

We are like the gem stones.  

We must be cleaned of dirt and impurities.  

Some dirt and impurities, that is sin, can be very difficult to get rid of.  

However, because God values us so greatly, He is persistent.  He works very hard to clean us, to cut and polish us and to put us in a beautiful setting.

Our beautiful setting will be heaven.

The gemstone does not have a choice of whether or not to become a beautiful jewel.  

We do have a choice.  

God loves us so much that He lets us choose.  

Our choice is to become His beautiful jewel in heaven for eternity or to spend eternity burning in the fiery pit.

You are a precious jewel.  

Will you choose to shine for eternity?

                        Japanese Iris


Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.  Isiah 43:4

  When we take the time to look below the surface of the water, we see the beauty waiting for us to discover it.  There is beauty in everyone and everything waiting to be discovered and God sees it all.

Beauty

True beauty is a quality 
    that overwhelms our very soul

It is a sight that makes our being rejoice

The first time we see it, it takes our breath away 

We know it is beauty 
   because we can feel it in our soul 

Once we have experienced beauty,
   we know that we will continue to seek it

Our hearts were awakened 
   to an essential part of us that was missing

   and is now complete

Opening our heart and soul to God is like that

At times He takes our breath away 

   with His power and might

Knowing at the same time 

   that He loves each one of us so much
   that He suffered and died for us 

   so we can spend eternity with Him.

It is truly overwhelming

God is an essential part of our being 

Knowing Him makes our souls rejoice 

   and makes us realize
   that we absolutely cannot live without Him

He is as essential as air, food and sleep

He makes our lives shine with His love

He completes our being.

You turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.

Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

   Psalm 30:11-12

        There is beauty all around us if we just look.

      Each day, each choice in our life takes us 
     one step closer to heaven or the other place.  
                 Choose well, my friend. 

Prayer for the Lost

Pray for the lost, the forgotten, the imprisoned, 

all the ones who think no one cares.  

Please Lord, let them know You remember, 

You care so very much.

Please touch them 

so they know they are never alone,
that their Loving Father is with them always.

You will help them get through.

Please help us all.

Sometimes, we are all lost and need You 
to guide us home.

Praise You, Lord for Your infinite Love.

Where ever we go, there is a place to find God, a place of refuge where He will embrace us. A place where we will find His peace and love.

As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
   Ezekiel 34:12

As we travel through life, we will find a lighthouse in the unlikeliest of places, put there to guide us home to the one who is searching frantically for His lost sheep.

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.

Vacation Bible School
   at Knapps Station Community Church

Cow Abunga Farms

   

July 11-15, 2016 6:00-8:00 PM

What:    A week of fun and faith

as we learn that God has a plan, 

       God is always with us, 

       God is in control, God convicts of sins, 

       and God is good at the farms

.
Who:     Children ages 2 to 12 years

.
When:   Monday, July 11-Friday, July 15, 2016

           

             From 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM

Where:  Knapps Station Community Church

           3035 CR 47, Norwood, NY 13668
           315-353-5093

For more information click here.  

       For early registration you can fill out the form               below.  Someone will contact you for more 
          information if needed. 

                  Thank you.

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 Most Important Measure of Prayer  

is a recent post that I found helpful.

Book Reviews

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

I read this book in 2 days.  It's Christian fiction that's a real page turner.  However it does touch on some deep topics that caused me to rethink my relationship with God and want to work harder to close the gap between us.  God loves us so much that He goes to incredible lengths just to have relationships with us.  We just need to cooperate.  I was given my copy but it's available on Amazon and probably most bookstores and libraries.

Great Attitudes by Charles Swindoll

Great food for thought.  Short bites to digest a little at a time and enjoy.  I borrowed my copy from the library at Knapps Station Church.

The Blessing

May you listen carefully each day for that still, small voice that is always present, always waiting patiently to guide you home.  

May you always hear and follow His loving guidance.

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 7-16-2016

I hope to see you then. 

                                                    A Barred Owl

     Both these winged creatures visited our home in the past.
       Anybody know what kind of moth this is?