These days you may be feeling....

...a little stressed. A little topsy...

...or a little turvy...

...or even "skating on thin ice" with family or friends.

Just stop and take a breath and remember the real meaning of Christmas!

JESUS!!!

Thanksgiving...."thanks-give-to-the-king"!!!

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving."

~H. U. Westermayer



Thanksgiving, the holiday came with a great price paid by many who were willing to sacrifice safety and comfort, even though religiously oppressed, to come to a New Land and establish a way of life that honored God. "Seven times more graves than huts," Westermayer states. You do the math. It wasn't a good time for those that came with great vision. And yet, it was here the idea of Thanksgiving was begun.



I think most people know Joni Eareckson Tada. She is the lady in a wheelchair that paints pictures with a brush in her mouth. Yes, that's the one! Well, she is also a very enlightened lady in a wheelchair who paints with a brush in her mouth! She would be the first one to tell you how thankful she is for the accident that took place in 1967 that left her as a quadriplegic. In Secret Strength, Joni writes, "Being a quiadriplegic means I have no use of my hands or legs. Like my friend, I need someone else to floss my teeth or hold a cup to my lips so I can drink. Somebody has to tuck in my blouse when it pulls out of my slacks. If I get too hot someone has to reach for the ice or the fan. Someone has to help me in and out of bed. There's hardly an hour of the day that I don't rely on the willing hands and feet of others.



"But I've learned not to be so shortsighted about my disability and the people who help me. It is Jesus who feeds me my sandwich...after all, He's the one who provides that friend sitting next to me, just as He provides the food. It is Jesus who lovingly works through my husband when he helps me in bed at night. And it is Jesus who brings people to help me in the morning.



"No, my hands and legs don't work. But like Paul, I've learned to see that these things have happened that I might not rely on my own meager, personal resources. These things have happened that I might lean my full weight on the power, presence, and provision of my Lord.



"I do need Jesus. And if I ever ask you to help me with a sandwich or hold a coffee cup for me, I'll smile my thanks at you...but give Him the glory."



Our Bible/Book club meets on Mondays at 1pm. During one of our discussions, we talked about what we would say if we could sit in a restaurant with Jesus. What would we ask Him? One said that she would ask Him, "why did He die for me?" As we went around the table, it occurred to me that I had always thought I would have tons of questions for Him (you know, that mental list to check off). But, as I have been made to realize through our study and through a program that I am going through, all that is worth saying is just to say....thanks.



So, please remember to be mindful this holiday season and "show" your thanks for all the you have, all that you are in Christ and love on others, especially those that may be hard to love in your life. Jesus said it is easy to love those that love you, but try loving on those not easy to love....try it and be blessed.

Wisdom for living in this World....

It's a simple fact that if you want to live

a significant life

you will be hated and opposed.

Every step of the journey will be contested.

Every decision tested and challenged.

Our Lord was "despised and rejected of men," so you

will be. "To be significant," said Emerson, "is to be

misunderstood." The only way to avoid

reproach is to be nothing,

do nothing, and say nothing.

....opening to Chapter 7 of: Seeing Through by David Roper

Craziness of Life....it all has a purpose!

It doesn't seem like it, a lot of the time...

....but there is a reason for everything....

....it all has a purpose and God will make it known in His time!

Blessings, deb

(sharing with you the front area getting to my shop)

Opening up my shop on Monday! Please pray for me...

Oh, the time has come....a few more days! Am just asking for prayers about this shop I am opening on Monday. I pray that it is something that will bring glory to the Heavenly Father, first and foremost. The books that adorn the shelves are filled with so much wisdom and encouragement to help us in this life and I so long to see them come to good use! My crafts and creations, that it will spur the imaginations for so many. The ebay selling will pay the rent! Most of all, people will be blessed and encouraged and drawn to the Lord. Thanks for your prayers and for my church and family and friends!

debbie

He Cares for the Birds....

....how much more He cares for you and me!!!

Had a great ladies retreat this weekend...check out my other blog!

Blessings, deb

Jim Elliot, a martyr for Christ....

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
~ Jim Elliot

Jesus and some of the disciples in a field...

Spent the afternoon with friends and there was this picture in the house....anyone ever see this picture of Jesus before? It is a new thrill to me as I have seen so many Jesus pictures but not ever this one....does it have a title? Or a particular Scripture that goes with it? Please let me know.....

~debbie

Ladies, we are PRINCESSES just waiting in the wings!!!

Nature's angel wings....

....found some "angel wings" when I went walking tonight around our city park:)

.....deb

Courageous! Looking forward to this movie!!!

www.courageousthemovie.com/blog/

So looking forward to this movie....

Have you all heard about it?

We had Fireproof and now we have, Courageous!

We need to be supportive of these great Christian films
that come out so Hollywood will also take notice that we
want good wholesome family films and that we will pay
to see them!!!

blessings, deb

Yes WE are!!!!

Created different and unique.....

...and all for a purpose!!!!

~deb :)

Have some great news!!!!

Please read all about it on my craft blog! Would so appreciate all your prayers!!!

Thank you,

deb

www.debbiedemmers-lujan.blogspot.com

Matthew 5:14-16....be the LIGHT!!!

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

It is Well....with My Soul....

Was blessed this Sunday to go sing at the United Congregational Church here in Redfield. This song and message has been deep on my heart lately.

Have a great day in the Lord.....

deb

It is Well with My Soul

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows flow,
Whatever my lot Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought.
My sin, not in part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, oh, my soul.

And Lord haste the day when the faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll.
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend.
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Suffering for Christ?

"Dear ones, I long for a sight of your dear faces, but I fear we shall not meet on earth...I am preparing for the end very quietly and calmly. The Lord is wonderfully near, and He will not fail me. I was very restless and excited while there seemed a chance of life, but God had taken away that feeling, and now I just pray for grace to meet the terrible end bravely. The pain will soon be over; and oh the sweetness of the welcome above!

My little baby will go with me. I think God will give him to me in Heaven, and my dear mother will be so glad to see us. I cannot imagine the Savior's welcome. Oh, that will compensate for all these days of suspense. Dear ones, live near to God and cling less closely to earth. There is no other way by which we can receive that peace from God which passeth understanding...I must keep calm and still these hours. I do not regret coming to China, but am sorry I have done so little. My married life, two precious years, has been so very full of happiness. We will die together, my dear husband and I."

Lizzie Atwater wrote this letter twelve days before they were all killed....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, to think I have it rough! I was reminded by reading this today that even though the Lord doesn't expect me to discount my difficult moments in life, He always desires that I be mindful of those that are or have suffered far worse, especially for the cause of knowing Christ. I was blessed, put to shame and sought forgiveness for my attitude this day. God is good. As Job said so long ago, "Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?"

Blessings this day and everyday the Lord gives us to serve Him!

deb

God's Bible written in Creation....

God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone,

but on the trees,

and the flowers,

and the clouds, and stars.

~Martin Luther

Resurrection Sunday is everyday!!!

Living forever means living out the thought of eternity that God has placed in our hearts; meeting again one's believing loved ones lost through separating death; living in a world without sorrow; seeing our Lord who loves us and gave everything to unite us to Him forever.

****

But I see another meaning. Since we have this life and the next, we don't have to "have it all" now. We can live in broken and ruined bodies for a time; we can endure poverty and hardship for a while; we can face loneliness, heartache, and pain for a season. Why? There is a second birth--life in heaven forever.

~David Roper

Great is Thy Faithfulness...

Lamentations 3:23....

"Great is his faithfulness;

his mercies begin afresh each morning."

Holding onto this verse. We have been doing a lot of studying both in Sunday School and Bible study on Tuesdays about the wilderness time for the Israelites. I know we all can identify with wilderness times in our own lives. Traveling through one of those times now and holding on to this verse.

Great Encouraging Reading to feed the Soul!!!

Doing a lot of reading lately. Started a non-fiction book about Heaven written by Randy Alcorn. He writes about heaven through what Scripture says because so many have a misconception of what Heaven will be like. As he was sharing excerpts from his fictional books, well, I got started on some of those. Read Deadline, and am now reading the second book, Dominion. Randy Alcorn has written many books that deal with the Spiritual realm in a strong biblical way. He is an author I trust that will not stray from Scripture. I wish I knew how to copy the picture and such to link it here. If you go to www.amazon.com and type in Randy Alcorn for books, you will be blessed to see a great list. I would recommend any of his books if you are looking for something to feed your spiritual soul and encourage you......blessings, deb

Sitting around waiting for some Spring

Well, not really sitting around, but I am anxiously waiting for Spring. And as I wait, and get down trodden at times, I reflect on the Lord and know that each season has its place here on earth. Life springs anew from what has died as we a live anew because of a Risen Savior!!!

Blessings this day! deb

Jesus....Lover of my soul.....

It has been too long since sharing. I have been doing alot of reading besides my devotional time and having great Sunday School lessons, Wednesday night lessons and sermons on Sunday!!! Has anyone read "When Heaven Weeps" by Ted Dekker? It is a great story that parallels the book of Hosea in a more up to date time. I believe it will greatly move anyone who takes the time to read it. Go to Amazon and look at the reviews, too. As the Lord loved Israel....to show that love and with love comes heartache, too.....God told Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute and there, the heartache begins. As we love the Lord, we also fail.....but thankfully and mercifully, we have a forgiving God. I believe you will be blessed. Know that God loves you this day....

deb

Desiring good things for you in 2011!

So hard to believe that we are into 2011. I remember like yesterday when we were concerned about how everything was going to be once we entered the year 2000! A lot has happened in the 11 years since and I wouldn't begin to even try to recap for you! Just didn't get our picture sent out for the Holidays so here we are minus Melody. Am giving you one of us posing together and Josh putting the angel on top of the tree. So, Josh is in the gray shirt, Jacob in the blue, Jenae with her fabulous hair is behind her dad. I in my flannel....forever in flannel and blue jeans!!! May the Lord richly bless you in Spirit and in Truth for 2011....
~deb