Writing and Art From A Life Redeemed by Jesus Christ

Once again a new year is upon us. It is time for reflection and realignment of goals. Goals are small steps we each can take to further our success in everyday life. I try not to make new year resolutions. Instead I make a list of things I would like to accomplish in the following year. As I reflect on my current list it falls into several categories. I am listing the top three and how I start determining my plan of action. As I focus on each area, of Spirit, Soul, and Body I will co-ordinate my personal plan of action. You do the same for yourself. Spirit- the principle of conscious life; 1. (My intentions/goal) My mental determination to stay organized, focused and methodically move toward my goals. This involves a whittling away of what is not necessary in my everyday life on a regular basis. To be evaluated routinely. In my case, daily, the night before a new day. As with any plan...adjustments will be made as needed. It is necessary to recognize your small and large success in a...

 Original water color painting " Weeping May Endure for a Night, but Joy Cometh in the Morning" copyright © 2005 Debbie Turner Chavers  This is a reminder to love one another and live your life fully given unto the Lord . No man knows the time table of the Lord. We each have been appointed a time to die and a purpose under heaven. Most of us are fairly sure that we are not prepared to die. Yet, are we prepared to live? Precious people all around the world died yesterday, today, and will die tomorrow. You have been created and appointed to serve the Lord with your life and your gifting. Are you applying yourself to your appointment? Are you loving others and walking in forgiveness? Prepare to Love and to Live. Today is a unique opportunity for YOU . Prepare to LIVE . Even when your hopes, dreams, or a loved one leaves, you must live. Grab the gift of your life and live. Do not wait any longer. Armour yourself in His love and LIVE. Live and love each pre...

 Enough © Debbie Turner Chavers  Elijah was a prophet in the Old Testament who loved God and did many things in the strength of the Lord. But there came a time when he was worn out. So worn out and discouraged that he asked the Lord to let him die. 1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I [am] not better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise [and] eat. 1 Kings 19:6 And he looked, and, behold, [there was] a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 1 Kings 19:7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise [and] eat; because the journey [is] too great for thee. Now as you read...

Yesterday was my one year blog anniversary for this encouragement journal. I started out writing a few of the thoughts and processes that I use to encourage myself. Living out loud online. LOLO ! my encouragement journal :) I have always loved to encourage others as well as receive encouragement. I did my part and you through your prayers and emails of support ministered right back to me:) Thank you. I know that when we get to heaven we will know then the difference that our love and how our lives lived have affected others. But for now I will take encouragement by the purposed and random acts of kindness from others. Mine to others and theirs toward me and mine. You make a difference, I make a difference. Praying that we all continue fighting the good fight of faith. Loving and leaving a positive impression of God's great love toward us all. ~Debbie 2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye sh...

Thanksgiving Day is a few hours away and I want to encourage you to count your blessings. Yes, one by one. It might sound time consuming, but try it. You will be surprised at how much better you feel. Thanksgiving is a national holiday. But thanksgiving is something we can celebrate daily as we think on those things which bless us. In the Old Testament there were different types of offerings. Some were required by the Old Testament law and some offerings were free will offerings. In other words, offered at will by the individual in gratitude.. Today, Jesus shed blood made the final sacrifice by the offering of His shed blood and body on the cross. And His offering fulfilled all that was needed. Yet, I can still offer God by my free will, a thanksgiving offering. A thanksgiving offering of looking for the good and thanking Him. Offering Him my grateful attitude. By expressing in word and deed, that I am thankful for His provision. You can chose to look for the good in your life and be t...

You have the opportunity to make a difference in the world. Your input, your presence, are needed. Reach out. How can you add value to another person or a situation? By volunteering to help outside of yourself and your needs. This might be as simple as helping someone close to you. Example: A neighbor. You have been gifted to bring about positive change in your world. There are people and things that make up your world and your circle of influence. You can make a positive difference. Prayerfully consider the needs around you. The world is full of needs. Make a choice. Not once, but daily. Prayerfully consider where your time and effort should be spent today. Do not make a job of it. Today. You are giving something from yourself today. Your gift of volunteering could be 10 minutes of undivided helpfulness toward another persons need. This is not an opportunity to be used but to be useful. Regardless of our time commitments we can schedule a bit of volunteering. Obviously you have commit...

I love to have a gourmet meal prepared for me. To see that someone took the time and effort to gather the ingredients, prepare and serve a great meal intended for me. How great is that? Even leftovers can be a great meal from such an effort. But for most of us, a thrown together batch of ingredients make up our meals and our lives. Bits and pieces gathered together as we live and shop in a hurry to just get the task accomplished. I have noticed that we tend to handle our relationships with one another in the same way. This will work for a while, but eventually you will discover that something is missing. Relationships are not prepackaged meals. And a great leftover is still a leftover. Relationships require hands on prep work. They take time. Your time. Relationships require a gourmet meal approach on a regular basis. This ensures that our emotional bank will be replete. We all need to be fed. No exceptions. When cooking, you can find nutritious viable options for feeding yourself...

There are times and seasons in which we need to let go, but not give up. There is a need to hang on to God's word and God's timing. There have been times, when I started to give up on a situation or a person. Yet, the Lord would impress me to give the situation or the person a bit more time. Time to grow, time to be watered, time for the light of God to shine forth in our hearts. In the natural our faith is matured through a growth process. As with all things this takes time. If the Lord plants a seed in your heart to believe for something beyond your natural mind, you need to let it mature. Maturity happens as a thing, person, or situation is left in the ample, sovereign hands of God. If you try to make something happen before its time, results can be less than expected. It is hard to wait. And wait. And wait. But wait. The Lord of the harvest knows when the seed is matured and ready to be harvested. God knows the desires of our hearts and the good plan that H...

Soon it will be time to Fall back for daylight savings time. Another adjustment in our everyday life. At this time, I am prioritizing my time commitments and falling back to things that worked better in all areas of my life. I try out new things and ways of managing on a regular basis. Fine tuning things as I go along, and with that acknowledgement, I am reminded that new and different is not always better . Time management and our lives need adjusting with the seasons. Seasons of the year as well as the seasons of our lives. Just as the calendar announces a soon to be time change. We need to thoughtfully consider the changes that are happening in and around us. There is a time for all things. Recognizing when to spring forward and when to fall back is an important tool in our way of managing life. I am cleaning out that which does not bring life to me and moving forward on necessary things . I want to encourage you to do the same. Just as the trees lose their leaves, we too need to sh...

As I have become older, I have thought about the impact we each have on the lives of others. I have grieved over the loss of good friends who are gone. And I have wondered "What happened?" to acquaintances who did not stick around long enough to be more than an acquaintance. Usually these people were needy and took the gift of friendship and left. Friendship takes time. Friendship is like learning to dance. Step by step you figure out the friendship rhythm without losing your own beat. Friends complement your dance even if occasionally they step on your toes. As I pondered the wonder and gift of friendship, the Lord showed me the rain. The slow steady drizzle, a mist, and the drenching rain. Rain that falls quickly, rain that covers with moisture and rain that arrives with noticeable intent As I questioned Him, "How and why can we pour out love and help into another person and just be forgotten? Used in some instances and then discarded? He showed me the ...

The beginning of Simon Peter's walk with Jesus. Matthew 4:18,19,20 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. John 21:3,4,5,6 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing . But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. After reading these scriptures, I started thinking about the sentence "Cast the net on t...

Have you ever had a day where one thing after another seemed to rub you the wrong way? I had that kind of day last week. One thing after another gave me an opportunity to react in a not so patient way! I found myself....puffing up. Typing this is starting to make me laugh. I can just see my frustrated self in my minds eye. I probably didn't look all that different on the outside....but on the inside....I was ruffled! I tried to put a smile on my face and keep walking, one foot in front of the other. But no. Not working. Still smarting from the aggravation of my day, I heard the still small voice of the Lord tell me to separate myself from the group I was with and take a break for a few minutes alone. Explaining that I needed to go sit on a bench outside for a few, I left the group, to gather my thoughts and reclaim a better attitude. I found a bench and sat down, still puffed up and ruffled inside. Within seconds of my obedience to separate myself and get a grip on my attitude...I...

I found this bouquet at an flower site. Aren't they beautiful? I like to receive flowers all year long...not for any particular reason. As I was thinking of everyone who reads this or will read it...I wanted to give everyone flowers. Just because. Not for a special reason, but for a special person. YOU:) Enjoy! Enjoy the flowers and enjoy the beginning of fall. ~Debbie

It seems each day has a specific need to be met. I am grateful for prayer encounters. Prayer encounters are prayer requests, sometimes verbal beacons sending out an SOS to those who would seek God's heart. We are to lift one another and our burdens through physical help as well as prayerful petition. If you ask God what to pray for and whom to pray for you will amazed. Sometimes the request comes from someone face to face. Sometimes it is a link from someone else. There have been seasons that I knew I was to pray. Not just my everyday communication with the Lord, but specific requests that came in such odd ways. The seemingly random conversation overheard in a line at a store check-out, getting gas, the post office line. Usually, most of us are processing a lot of information just with our normal everyday life and yet... If the Holy Spirit awakens your prayer response..pay attention. Pray then , pray every time He reminds you of that person or encounter. Praying always. Not religio...

Jealousy is a little discussed subject, yet it is one that we all need to consider and repent of when we give in to its self destructive pattern. Have you ever had someone who rubbed you the wrong way. Thinking...I do not know why, but they aggravate me! Well! most of us have had this issue rise up within us and sometimes with very negative results. So carefully think over your own heart. Is any of your behaviour caused by jealousy? Think about it and prayerfully consider what you should do about it. Here is a brief prayer that I prayed. Father, consider my ways and help me to choose your way. To love the unlovely, even if that is me at that time. Help me to forgive myself and others and value myself and others as you do. In Jesus name, Amen. ~Debbie

Did you ever sing the song "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. Not going to hide it under a bushel, NO, I am going to let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine." I remember going to Sunday school a few times during my childhood and I left the class with this song. The song stayed with me through the years, although I did not understand its meaning, I knew I wanted to shine! After becoming an adult, I chose to accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour and allow His light to shine in and through me. There are still many things that I do not understand. Yet, I do understand that I am to shine as a light in this dark world. You are to shine. For years I walked in darkness and lived my life in darkness. Nothing is clear in the dark. Only when the light is shown does the darkness recede. Darkness does not disappear. It is still present, but is pushed aside by His light. Jesus Christ in you is a light that can illuminate the darkness. Today I want to en...

Have you ever insisted on having your own way? Were you happy with the result? Trusting God and walking peacefully in God's timing can be like wearing your first pair of high heels. Wobbly, at best and practice is needed. There are things that I have desired so greatly, that I would convince myself, I surely needed to help God on this one! Wow! Wrong!! I have never been happy with the result. Sometimes it is a small mess to clean up and sometimes it takes a dump truck! Forget high heels....think rubber boots. If you find yourself at the wrong end of a good intention or an argument, repent as quickly as possible. The root of repent is to turn in the opposite direction. After falling flat on my face and rear more times than necessary I have learned to step lightly and for balance at times I have needed to walk with the Bible on my head as well as in my heart. Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Walking softly and carrying His w...

Recently, my kitchen disposal broke. Needless, to say, an opening without a drain basket is an opportunity for a big mess. After determining the problem, I commenced upon a solution. A drain basket over the opening until a replacement could be arranged to be installed. In the meantime, I had to clean out the hole, that had just received a large mess! EWW!!! Well, I thought I had removed all of the mess from the drain. Rinse, repeat, rinse again. It appeared clean to me . That is, until my daughters came to visit and told me there was a slightly bad odor in the house. What! EWW! What smell? After all, I had not noticed a bad smell. My daughters laughed and told me there was definitely a bad smell which I could not smell because I had been exposed to it all day. Hmm ...that made me think. How often does our attitude, or our outlook have a slightly bad odor? Stinky thinking Sometimes others notice what we have not noticed and care enough to tell us. So today, even if you think your attitu...

Have you ever felt forgotten? Well, God has not forgotten you. Regardless, of the situation you find yourself in, you are remembered. As you go about your everyday life, it is important to remind yourself that you are not forgotten. Regardless, of your view of yourself. In Psalm 139, the Lord reminds you that before you were formed that He knew you. If you have ever nursed a child, you know how impossible it is to forget a child. Your bosom has to be emptied! You will stop whatever you are doing to relieve the pressure. In Isaiah the Lord reminds you that He has that same care for you. Maybe at times it feels as though you go unnoticed or that you are working endlessly. Take heart. Your effort is noted and appreciated. You are not forgotten. Slowly read and chew on the scriptures below and insert your name. Really consider that God , the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end is telling YOU and Me that He will not forget us. WOW! Thank you God :) ~Debbie Isaiah 49:15 Can a woman f...

Kristin writes from her heart about life as she views it from an American perspective while living in France. Kristin is married to Jean -Marc and has two children. They live on a vineyard and produce wine that can be purchased here in America. Kristin lived in Arizona before she met her beloved and decided to live in France. She has written a book that you can find for sale on her blog. Kristin also takes beautiful pictures of the places she visits and her lovely local scenery. If you enjoy beautiful photography check out Kristin's art at Cinema Verite. Thank you Kristi for allowing me to share your writing. Recently her newsletter via her blog http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/ recounted a story of an encounter while on vacation. I thought it was well written and touched on things that we all notice as we settle in with our faith whether publicly or privately. A light on a hilltop is to shine and we are to go and tell. In Kristin's case it was in Croatia while vacation...