Why Did I Do That?

  

The rainbow is a sign of God's faithfulness to us. 

Did you ever say or do anything you wish you could take back? 

I can remember speaking so many unkind or foolish words, committing so many ungodly actions.  

I never killed anyone or robbed a bank or beat up anyone but I have thought nasty thoughts.  I have said hurtful words.  I did some things that I really wish I never had.  

I have asked God and others for forgiveness but I so wish I could take back the hurtful things I have said and done.  It bothers me that I hurt others and most of all that I hurt God with my thoughts, words and deeds.  

I have wondered why I did those things.  It occurs to me that they were learning experiences and I'm trying very hard to learn from them.
  
I’m learning to watch what thoughts I allow to stay in my mind. My thoughts affect my words and ultimately my actions. 

I’m learning to be more watchful especially during stressful times.  I’m learning that I must carefully choose what I think, say and do rather than to merely allow them to happen as they will.  

I’m learning to feed my mind, that is my thoughts, with God’s word (the Bible) rather than the stuff that the world is promoting.  Then I have the “good stuff” (Godly stuff) to fall back on when I need it.  

I will never be perfect but with the effort I have less to regret and so more to offer for God’s honor and glory.

     Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

    Keep your mouth free of perversity;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

    Let your eyes look straight ahead;

fix your gaze directly before you.

Proverbs 4:23-25

When I look at the beauty all around me, I see the love and magnificence of God.  I never cease to be amazed by His attention to detail and how He decorates the world for our enjoyment.

Amazing

It is amazing how loving, forgiving and patient you are with me, Lord.  Your quiet voice gently encourages me to do what You know is best.  

There are times when I just do as I please.  Other times I am very obedient but certainly not always.  Sometimes I feel like a very young child just foolishly wanting things her way.  

There are times when You give consequences as any loving parent does to teach Your child right from wrong.  Usually You just gently nudge.  

You never fail to show Your incredible love.  

Considering my advanced age, most of the rebellion should be out of my system by now.  But it’s not.  

You were so patient and loving from the time I first discovered You.  You are just as patient now.  

I’m trying to listen more closely and trying to be obedient but I fall short so many times.  

No matter how many times You have to repeat Yourself, You are never impatient, never cross.  You just keep encouraging me.  

You keep refining me, guiding me along the right path, Your path, showing me the way home for eternity.  

How blessed I am to have my wonderful, amazing Father.

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;  Daniel 9:9

                                                                      Crocuses

                                         A raft of geese at  Black Lake, NY

                            View from Burlington, VT

Will Spring Never Come??

Grass is trying to turn green but recent freezing cold stalls it in place.

Trees are budded.  Tulip leaves have risen 3 or 4 inches out of the ground.  Frigid chills prevent further progress.

Even blue skies with wispy clouds and bright sunshine are overwhelmed by wintry winds bitter bite.

Mother Nature is teasing.  She gave us Springtime warmth and then brought back late Winter’s chill.  I had heard the joyful songs of froggy peepers and spring birds but the renewed chill has silenced them. 

Enough games, Mother Nature.  Allow Spring to awaken.
 

Arise Sister Spring. Come and dance the joyful dance of new life. 

My soul craves your warm breezes, the spring green of your new grass and newly minted leaves, the bright colors of your early flowers and your bird songs.  I even miss your buzzing insects.

Awaken.   

Bring your warmth, your colors and your new life.  

Come and touch my soul.  

Rejuvenate me.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Psalms 51:10

                            Bridge at Rouses Point, NY

 Springtime Blessings

May our Divine Lord bless you with renewed faith
May He bless you with renewal of mind and soul and body
And may your days be blessed with His everlasting joy.

    Even in the absence of visible life, there is beauty in all God has created.

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 
  on the top right side of this post to connect 
  to previous blog posts
I post every other Saturday 
The next post will be 4-23-2016
I hope to see you then.  
In the meantime, God's blessings on you, my friend.  Debbie 

It is Only Through Your Grace, Lord

                                   Sunset at my home

I rejoice in the magnificence of our Almighty Lord as I gaze upon the beauty of the nature He placed around me.  I am reminded of His resurrection in each sunrise and sunset.  My soul is renewed by the birth of new life each spring.  Praise be His most holy name.  

Only Through Your Grace, Lord

It is only through Your grace, Lord that I stand any chance of ever seeing Heaven.  

I can try my absolute best to do what I am supposed to do and always fall short.  There is not a single day that goes by that I don’t commit some sin, imperfect person that I am.   

Thank you so much Loving Father that You always knew me for exactly who I am and for loving me so much anyhow.  

Long before I was even in my mother’s womb, you knew exactly what I would do every day of my life.  You knew every good deed, every sinful deed, every charitable thought and every nasty one.  

Amazingly You loved me so much that You designed a way for me to be saved, to go to heaven in spite of, not because of who I am and what I do.  

You arranged for Your only son to be born, to live and to die a terrible death, to pay the debt that I rightfully owe.  

You said, “Debbie, your sins are forgiven, welcome to heaven.  Just take my hand and accept it.  Debbie, you do need to accept me.  You do need to acknowledge your sins and tell Me that you are sorry.  You need to try your best to live a good life.  

In return, I welcome you to paradise for eternity.”

That my friend is what Easter is all about.  

God’s wonderful grace and love for each and every one of us.

Blessed be His most holy name.  Hosanna in the highest!!


The son of man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as ransom for many.  Matthew 20:28

In him we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us.
Ephesians 1:7

                                  Brook near West Potsdam

                                      Near Clayton, NY

What Will You Choose?

Caution:  Graphic descriptions

On the blackest Friday that ever was, the Son of God was dying on a cross.  

He was a writhing, mass of agony from the top of His thorn crowned head to the bottom of His nail pierced feet.  

His bloodied, broken body had been beaten, spit upon, slapped, whipped mercilessly and ridiculed.  

Every square inch of His battered body screamed out in agonizing pain.  He hung nailed to a cross, choking on His own blood as He suffocated to death. 

He, the only Son of our Creator, chose to accept this torturous death.  He welcomed it so He could pay the debt we rightfully owe. He loves us that much.

Each time we tell Him through our actions “No, I don’t want You.  I don’t believe in You.   I don’t care about Your payment.   I’ll do as I please,” it’s almost as if we are adding another blow to the hammer striking the nails tearing into His hands and feet, another lash of the whip ripping the skin off His back, another thorn in the crown piercing His head, dripping blood into His eyes and adding untold sorrow to His loving heart.

On the third day after His crucifixion, Easter Sunday, Jesus rose triumphantly from the dead, conquering death and paving our way to heaven for eternity.

Will we continue to add to His agony and pave our way to the abyss or will we join Him in paradise?  

What will you choose?

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.  The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head.  They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again saying "Hail, King of the Jews." And they slapped him in the face.  John 19:1-3

There they crucified him and with him two others - one on each side and Jesus in the middle.  John 19:18

Then he (one of the men crucified with Jesus) said, "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom."  Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."   Luke 23: 42-43


                                  Siberian Cilia at my house

I Have Faith

The new season is trying so badly to Spring forth.  

Snow falls and disappears.  Flowers send up shoots only to be stopped in their tracks.  Trees bud but are stalled in place.  

Some weeks have been warm and then turned back to chilly temperatures.  

At least the maple sap can run and we can enjoy the syrup.  

In time we know the warmer sunshine will chase away the chills of winter and the grass will finish turning green.  

The birds will stop shivering and even the dreaded bugs will be buzzing again.  

I look forward to the song of the peepers and the crickets, the birth of the baby birds, the blooming of the flowers and the appearance of the leaves on the trees.  

I anxiously await the warmth of the sun on my back and the warm breezes that will blow away all remnants of winter’s cold. 

In the meantime, I have faith in what is to come.

                           Wood ducks in marsh near West Potsdam

                           Male mallard in pond near West Potsdam

Easter Blessings

May the Risen Lord bless you with renewed faith

May the warmer weather rejuvenate your spirits

And may your days be filled with the joy of the Risen Lord!

             Closeup of Egret in huge nest on top of electric pole near Depeyster, NY

All photos taken by Debbie and Tim McEwen - 
  used with permission
All bible reference from the NIV
If you are interested, you can click on the Blog Archive 
  on the top right side of this post to connect 
  to previous blog posts
I post every other Saturday 
The next post will be 4-9-16
I hope to see you then.  
In the meantime, God's blessings on you, my friend.  Debbie

Preparing for Eeternity

When we were little, we learned what we needed to succeed in Kindergarten   Each grade prepared us for the next one and then for graduation.  

Some people went on to college or trade schools to prepare for a job or career.  Each person hoped he or she was properly prepared so they could support themselves and their families.  

These are important goals.  Proper preparation is essential for success.

From the time we were born God was encouraging us to cooperate in preparing our souls for eternity.  Nothing is more important.  

Eternity is forever.  

Hopefully our parents started our spiritual preparation when we were young.

If not, we need to make a connection with someone or someplace where we can learn about God and develop a close personal relationship with Him.  

One of the best ways to accomplish these goals is to join a good church that will feed us spiritually and teach us God’s Word, the Bible.  

We need to read some of God’s word each and every day of our lives.  The Bible is the actual owner’s manual for our souls.  When we get to know it, we find it addresses everything that comes up in life.   

As we live our lives, we frail humans will make so many mistakes, commit so many sins. 

On our own, we could never be good enough to make it to heaven.

God knows this and loves us so much He sent His only Son, Jesus to die for us.  

Jesus' death paid for our sins so we can live for eternity.  

When we tell God we know what we did was wrong and ask Him to forgive us, He does. He will continue to do so for as long as we keep trying and keep going to Him for His forgiveness.  

If we accept God's help and love, if we have done our best to prepare, we will join Him in heaven for eternity.

The alternative is eternity in the pit of fire.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like getting burned.  

We each need to choose our eternal goal: bliss with God or torture in hell.  

Eternity can come at any time.  Are you prepared?

Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel: and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.  Amos 4:12

---

If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:  Dt 28:1-2

Springtime Battles

Muddy, muddy, gush, gush
As my feet go push, push
Across the soft and wet, wet ground

Mud tries hard to suck me down
Tries to take my shoes and keep me
But I stand firm and keep on going
Shoes stay on but mud is showing
Remnants of my springtime battle
With that soft and gushy ground

Snow in places still is showing
As my feet do keep on going
Across the muddy, gushy ground

My destination soon I'm reaching
As my feet continue breaching
Springtime muddy, wet, wet ground

I look back and see my journey
Footprints rapidly are learning
Power of the soft and gushy ground

How amazing is the power
Of the mud that makes us cower
When we wage our springtime battles
With the soft and muddy ground

There is a time for everything 
    and a season for every activity under heaven.  Ecc. 3:1

Blessing

May the Good Lord give you enough

    enough good food to satisfy you
    enough good friends and family to bless you

    enough work to fill your days

    enough provision to prevent true need
    and enough of His Love to give you joy

Remember: all good comes from Our Maker
   and only He can truly meet our needs.

When in need, pray.

At all other times, pray.

And may you be greatly blessed, my friend.    
                 
                                                                   Debbie

All photos taken by Debbie McEwen, 
  at Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, NY
All bible reference from the NIV
If you are interested, you can click on the Blog Archive 
  on the top right side of this post to connect 
  to previous blog posts
I post every other Saturday 
The next post will be 3-26-16 
I hope to see you then.

The Majesty of God

Counterfeit

Tuesday, we had an ice storm.  

Thursday, which was yesterday, the sun was absolutely brilliant, shining through a bright blue sky decorated with wispy, white clouds.  

Ice-covered trees and shrubs were reflecting and refracting the brilliant sunlight.  Many tree branches bowed down to the ground touching the pristine white snow.  

The landscape was an incredible vision, almost magical.  Everywhere we looked was breathtakingly beautiful.   

Memories of a lifetime were created.

Today, Friday, the temperatures remain very cold so the ice is still in place but the sun isn’t shining.  

The landscape is pretty but cannot compare to yesterday’s luminosity.  Today is only a counterfeit of yesterday’s glory. 

Life is like that.  

Many people live and die only experiencing mediocrity, having never really seen the sun shine.  

When we come to know Jesus and allow Him into our lives, we become His children and we shine.  

Our lives take on a brilliance that makes living incredible.   

When we walk with Jesus, we walk in the SON-shine.  

Anything less is only a counterfeit.


The heavens declare the glory of God
      the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
                                       Psalms 19:1

Paradise

            The Book of Revelation Chapter 21 talks about paradise existing in the new Holy City of Jerusalem.  

God the Father, Jesus the Lamb and the Holy Spirit will dwell there with the angels and all those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.  

The city will be full of God's light and love.  

Absolute joy and ecstasy will fill those who are in God's holy presence.  

The River of Life will flow down the main street with the tree of life growing on either side of the river.  

There will be no sorrow, no mourning, no sickness but only life, health and joy.   

            In the middle of this wonderful city, I hope there will be a place where nature and wildness as we know it now, exists.  

My heart belongs in the wild that echos the majesty and creativity of God.  

My heart thrills to the sight of His mountains, His streams, His lakes, His fields, His flowers, His wildlife.  

The sun sparkling on blue waters that are trickling over rocks strikes a chord of joy in my soul.  

The clear, sweet notes of certain birds strike the same chord.  They bring tears of joy to my eyes and joy to my heart.  

It is moments like these that bring me close to my Maker.  

However, in my heart of hearts, I want to spend my time with Him doing only what He wishes and where ever He wishes it.  

To be in His presence will bring ecstasy incomparable to anything that I have ever experienced.  

My heart has learned that His presence is all I need to be happy, and I will be truly in paradise as long as I get to spend eternity with God.

Great are the works of the Lord,
     they are pondered by all who delight in them.
             Psalms 111:2

   

    From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
         the name of the Lord is to be praised.
             Psalm 113:3


    The Blessing

May each of your days 
       provide something to look forward to
May each of your days be filled with delight 
       in the Maker's wondrous creation
And may our Loving Father bless you 
       with His unending JOY



God's blessings to you, my friend, 
       for all your days.     Debbie


Next blog post 3-12-16

All photos taken by Debbie McEwen on 2-18-2016, 
All gorgeous scenery courtesy of our Loving Maker 
              who created this delightful world 
All bible quotations taken from the NIV.