Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Breathe Deeply

There is an automatic relaxation response when you breathe deeply.

While working this morning I saw a picture of the ocean and involuntarily took a deep breath and felt a flood of peacefulness pass across me.
Relax my mind tells me.
I comply by focusing momentarily on the moment. Literally taking a moment, to take in the moment.

I have on purpose placed an object, a color, or a sound in my immediate atmosphere to cause me to focus on a positive, deep breath.
To use these things to refocus my attention on the positive.
My goal is to be mindful. To walk in peace, to relax.

God's written word, the Bible has a similar effect on me. So I take time to rest in His word.
Inwardly I breath in His breathe, His peace which passes understanding. Allowing His Spirit to renew my mind in His word.
As I focus on His written Word, I breath deeply, feeling the cares of the moment slipping a way, until His way has pre-eminence in me.

There are many ways to cause the Relax response. It is different for each of us.
I want to encourage you to pay attention to those things which cause you to take a deep breath.

Learn to recognize your Relax response.
To breathe in the moment and rest.


~Debbie


© Debbie Turner Chavers



Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 4:23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Psalm 33:6By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.


Would you like to see what I am currently painting?

Friday, August 27, 2010

Wanted

What is more lovely than being wanted? Humans as a whole seek to belong, to be wanted.
I believe that one of the most beautiful things about God is that He wants you.
He wants me. He wants to be our God as well as our friend.
When everyone else turns away, or just walks away.
There He is.
Can you see Him? Throughout history God has reached out to us by His Spirit and with written love letters called the Bible. He sent His Son to tell us in person. See Him.

See Him standing with the woman caught in adultery in John 8.

See Him stopping to speak to Zacchaeus, in Luke 19.

Throughout the book of Hosea you see the redeeming love of God toward man.

The parables of Christ point repeatedly to searching and finding, from the lost coin, to the lost sheep. God is ever seeking you. He created you for Himself.

HE LOVES YOU.
He wants YOU.


~Debbie

© 2010 Debbie Turner Chavers


John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.



Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The Starfish Foster Home needs HELP

Today, I would like to draw your attention to your ability to help. I am asking you to help the babies of the Starfish home. Prayerfully consider what you, your business, your church, or group can do to help Amanda and the Starfish babies. Thank you for caring and sharing what you can.

To help a child is always a good thing,
Debbie


I have copied Amanda's blog entry below for your consideration. You can find out more about the babies and what Amanda and her staff are doing by clicking on the links.

Looking For Skilled Volunteers
After being in the same place for five years STARFISH has to move. We have found a house which is really suitable for us, but needs some major work and we found out yesterday that we will be able to move in there, but before that happens we have to renovate. In order to do that, I will need some major help. Do you perhaps know a plumber, electrician, handyman experienced do-it-yourselfer that will be willing to come to China for a month or two and come and help us get this new place ready for the babies?
Time is of the essence and I will need someone as soon as possible. Nothing like having a plan and giving you a long lead time. As one of my favorite adages teaches: IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE LAST MINUTE NOTHING WOULD GET DONE!
For all the people in China, do you perhaps know if any companies that do construction and decoration that would like to make a donation in China to Starfish, please put us in touch. We could even use samples of household products and appliances, and we are going to need air conditioners for sure. If you can think of anything that could be useful to us, I would like to know.

Life, love and laughter,
Amanda
Starfish Children's Services
US Tax Number: 20-4682916
Xian China

At Starfish, we have taken care of 118 children to date, arranged more than 100 surgeries and had 38 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US, Netherlands, Norway, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Canada and in China. Our latest adoptions took place recently and now we have a fifth baby in Holland and our first baby in Washington State. We have also added another baby to our count in Holland. We currently have 51 babies under the age of 3 and three foster homes. We have fifteen babies matched and we are waiting for their families to come and get them.
www.thestarfishfosterhome.org
http://chinesestarfish.blogspot.com
http://chinesestarfishcleft.blogspot.com
Email: throwingstarfish0913@gmail.com
Cell: 86.1348.812.4847