What Will You Choose?

                                 Sisson Road near Potsdam, NY

                          Which way will you choose for your path?

                                      Each one looks desirable.

                        Which one will get you where you need to be?

                          Only the Divine Navigator knows for sure.

                              He always directs us on the right path.

Life is a series of opportunities.
A right or a left turn.
A good or a not so good response to a situation.

For me it’s been a lot of mistakes and often the opportunity to resolve those mistakes.
A time to reflect that if God forgave me all the wrongs that I’ve done then I must forgive whatever and whoever has wronged me.

Nothing done to me could ever compare with the wrongs that I have done to God with my sins.

However, God made me and He knows I’m not perfect.
He sees deep into the innermost parts of my heart, soul and mind.
He sees my intentions, my efforts and the results.

In my heart of hearts, I believe that He regards my efforts and intentions as most important.

I can never do anything perfectly but I can keep trying.
I can try to do better today than I did yesterday.
I can pick myself up and brush myself off when I fall down or I can lay there and cry “poor me.”

I can try to do the right thing even when it’s killing me to do it.
And it never does kill me.

I can tell God I’m really sorry for all the bad I’ve ever done and continue to do – or not. My choice.

Either way, I’ll live till I die.

Then I’ll face eternity and the consequences of all my choices.

If I choose Jesus and ask forgiveness, all my sins are forgiven, never to be thought of again.

If I don’t choose Jesus, the consequences are too terrible to consider.

Knowing that, colors my thought processes these days and brings to mind the question, “What would Jesus do?”

I may forget this message from time to time but a little voice always comes to mind gently reminding me and encouraging me to choose His way.
He may give me consequences to my choices but never forces His way. It’s always my choice.

I’m really trying despite my many failures.

I certainly need all the prayers and help I can get to make the good choices, so please pray for me.

How about you?
What will you choose?

Please know that I’m praying for you too. 

None of us can make it on our own.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

               The weatherman said we had a "supermoon" last week 
                       meaning that the moon seemed very large 
                    because it was closer to the earth than usual.
                    At first it was partially hidden behind clouds .
     Then I zoomed in and got a better view when the clouds passed. 
     Life can seem one way when seen through the eyes of the world.
                       It is amazing what it becomes 
                when seen through the lens of God's word.

Commentary:

Right now the world seems a mess.  Our politics are filled with turmoil and scandal.  
The massive wildfires in California are burning out of control.  
Shootings and terrorist attacks are almost commonplace.  
The news is very depressing.  
Is there anything to give us any semblance of hope for our future?

A little baby boy was born two centuries ago into a world that had great similarities to our present one.
He grew up in an extremely oppressed society with almost no rights.

He sacrificed everything He had to teach us and model for us how to live and to know that HOPE is absolutely not dead and buried but alive and vibrant today and for every day to come.

As we progress in the Christmas season, look for reasons for HOPE.  
See the good that is around you and complement those people to encourage them.

Spread little seeds of kindness each and every day.  Make someone else's day a little brighter.  

Know that each act of kindness and love that you do will make the Christmas star shine a little brighter and help crowd out the darkness that is filling our world.

Rest assured that your acts of kindness and love will point others to Jesus who is the one true HOPE for this broken world.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

                   This icicle appeared on a power line in my backyard. 
                         I have no idea how it formed and hung on 
                              in such impossible circumstances  
                 Even nature gives us reason to HOPE for a brighter future.

May God bless you greatly, my friend!

  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 December 23, 2017.  

                   I will close with a beautiful sunset. 
                    May you always have HOPE for bright tomorrows!     

Please Help Us, Loving Father

Lord, hear my prayer,

listen to my cry for mercy;

in your faithfulness and righteousness

come to my relief.

Do not bring your servant into judgment,

for no one living is righteous before you.

Psalm 143: 1-2

Loving Father, I cry out to You on behalf of myself and my fellow man.

This world is in terrible turmoil.
There is war, oppression, discrimination, torture, greed, and all the sins that man can think of.

One country is testing nuclear weapons with the goal of bombing the United States.

There are wild fires in many areas of our country.
There are 2 major, devastating hurricanes in other parts of our country.

Our leaders are dividing our country, discriminating against people because of the color of their skin and their country of origin.
Many groups of people are being treated badly.

Our country was based on tolerance and freedom for all.
It was based on You. Even our money is printed with “In God we trust.”

We may disagree with each other.
Some of these groups may believe things we disagree with, even some that are against Your Word.

But You love us and You love them too.

We desperately need to find ways to deal with each other in loving, Godly ways.
We desperately need Your divine guidance.
We cannot do this on our own.

Please help us to use our hands, feet and tongue spread Your word and Your way.
Please guide us to do whatever we are able to help those in need.
Please guide us to treat all people as Your creatures who are loved dearly by You, regardless of their beliefs.

Guide us to reach out to our politicians to let them know how we feel and what we want.
Please guide all politicians and leaders to You and Your way, to make decisions based on Your Word.

Guide us to bring relief to others to the best of our ability.

Please teach us, guide us each and every day to spread the essence that is You and to bring peace to this world that is in so much turmoil.
Please teach us to pray before we act so all that we do is Your will, Your way and in Your time.

Please help us or we are lost.
I ask this in Jesus most precious name.
Amen

                   Our days may be so dark and foreboding.
                Fear and worry may fill our minds and hearts.
       When we turn to You, our Loving Father, You are always there.
            You are the light shining through the darkest clouds.
                              You will never desert us,
             regardless of what we have done or not done.
            You regard us just a little lower than the angels
           and desperately want us to spend eternity with You.
                          You are Love incarnate.
   I will turn to You, repent of my sins and rest safely in Your Loving arms.

"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."  2 Chronicles 7:14

                           Pictures of the brook near my house.
                   Our Loving Father will lead us to the still waters  

                         in the midst of life's worst turmoil
                                    - if we let Him.
             What will you choose? Where do you put your trust?
                                    Think carefully.

****************************

YUMMY, YUMMY!

Knapps Station Community Church will have their Annual Chicken Pie Dinner on 

Thursday September 21, 2017.

Time:  Takeouts may be picked up starting at 4:30

     Call (315)244-3159 or (315)212-9771 to preorder

           Dining In starts at 5 pm

Prices:  For a dinner:

            Ages under 5 and over 90   FREE

            Ages 5-12                         $4.00 each 

            Ages 13 to 89                    $8.00 each 

            For a whole chicken pie      $10.00

{Whole chicken pies must be preordered by Sept 19 by calling   (315)244-3159 or (315)212-9771}

MENU: 

          Chicken pie, mashed potatoes and gravy, squash, green beans, cranberries, rolls, apple crisp OR pumpkin pie.  Also coffee, tea, lemonade or water.

Is your mouth watering yet?  Mine is!

****************************

Blessing:

May you be blessed, my friend, in the knowledge that you have an incredible Loving Father who is watching over you.
May you have the faith to know that He will guide and take care of you through the most difficult times - if you let Him.

And may you have confidence that He will do all things for your ultimate good - regardless of how it appears at the time.

Please pray, my friend, for all the disaster victims in our country and all those suffering all over the world. Please pray for yourself and for me that we will keep to the straight path, stay the course and not give up. Satan is working hard to get our souls.  God is infinitely stronger. He is our strength but we must do our part and never give up. 

****************************

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 September 23, 2017.

          Live each day as if it is your last 
        and tomorrow, you meet your Maker!