He Has Made Everything Beautiful

"HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME. ALSO HE HAS PUT ETERNITY IN THEIR HEARTS, EXCEPT THAT NO ONE CAN FIND OUT THE WORK THAT GOD DOES FROM BEGINNING TO END.

I KNOW that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
GOD does it,
That men should fear before Him.
That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past." (Eccl 3:11-15)

May I always remember that He makes EVERYTHING beautiful in its time.

It's Cold Outside!

November is almost over, and it's beginning to feel a lot like COLD! It makes you want to hibernate like a bear. Tho' it is cold outside, inside it is warm -- though the storms are just beginning, the warmth of the Holy Spirit thrills our hearts as we snuggle up into Him. Cloister yourself with the Lord and see how warm you will be!

Blessings today as you get warm....

The Cost of Discipleship

Reading a few excerpts from Dietrich Bonhoeffer on the cost of discipleship with regard to the Word of God.

"...this word which sets us at once to work and obedience, is the rock on which to build our house. The only proper response to this word which Jesus brings with him from eternity is simply to do it. Jesus has spoken: his is the word, ours the obedience. Only in the doing of it does the word of Jesus retain its honor, might, and power among us. Now the storm can rage over the house, but it cannot shatter that union with him, which his word has created.

There is only one other possibility, that of failing to do it. It is impossible to want to do it and yet not do it. To deal with the word of Jesus otherwise than by doing it is to give him the lie. It is to deny the Sermon on the Mount and say No to his word. . . . However vehemently we assert our faith, and our fundamental recognition of his word, Jesus still calls it "not doing." But the word which we fail to do is no rock to build a house on. There can then be no union with Jesus. He has never known us.

That is why as soon as the hurricane begins we lose the word, and find that we have never really believed it. The word we had was not Christ's, but a word we had wrested from him and made our own by reflecting on it instead of doing it. So our house crashes in ruins, because it is not founded on the word of Jesus Christ."

Wow! We must be careful to not just HEAR the Word, but to DO it. We need to BELIEVE what the Word says and APPLY it to our lives. Really, really believe! Take Jesus at His Word.

Simplicity

"Strengthen me, O God, by the grace of your Holy Spirit; grant me to be strengthened with might in the inner man, and to put away from my heart all useless anxiety and distress, and let me never be drawn aside by various longings after anything whatever, whether it be worthless or precious; but may I regard all things as passing away, and myself as passing away with them. Amen." (Thomas a Kempis in "Little Book of Prayers")

We need to ask God to simplify our life in all areas and to value things that are eternal, not temporal.

In the Desert of Prayer Having Dessert

From time to time, we find ourselves going into the desert to seek God and find refuge from our hectic life and our problems. (Actually, we SHOULD be doing this every day, but alas, we are human...)

It is IN the desert that we find the dessert waiting for us -- the riches, goodness and the peace of God, as we wait on Him. Let Him serve us dessert in the desert. How does one order dessert?

1. Put your hope in God and in His help (Ps 42:5)
2. Have the desire to find God in the desert (Ps 42)
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you TO the desert (as He guided Jesus; Luke 4:1-2)

Then you will SEE God in His power and glory, just as David did (Psalm 63).

This is an excerpt from the talk I am giving at Norton Baptist this Saturday, and something I am experiencing this week. Hallelujah!

This summer

Hi everyone! I'm back on-line after a hiatus this summer. It's been busy! Grand Manan, Camp Tulakadik, St. Martins, Campobello, Woolastook Park, Hartland, Grand Manan and Sussex! I've been everywhere, man, I've been everywhere, just like the song goes. One thing I've learned -- there are people I love everywhere I go! God is so good and His mercy is new every summer. We loved how God worked through the things He allowed us to do this summer and to see lives changed.

Now I am into the fall season and planning to teach music again, and attempting to get my schedule together (which is a feat in itself). I am also preparing for retreats this fall, and asking God to give me His Word as I share. I would appreciate your prayers in this regard.

I'll be at Norton Baptist Church on Saturday, Sept. 15th, singing and speaking on prayer. Then it's on to Camp Tulakadik for our ladies' retreat: "More than a Survivor." Check out Camp T's website for more details (Sept 28-30). After that, it's off to Greenhill Lake Camp on October 12-14 for "You Want Me To Do What?? Building Blocks of Faith." And so on....

Look for our Nomad Survivor Cookbook, a little project the Nomads have been working on... It will be available at the Camp T retreat. Those Nomads -- you gotta love them...

Night night...to bed I go..it's 12:46, but I'm bound and determined to write this before I go off to dreamland.

The NOMADS

Hey,
We call ourselves the NOMADS. We are a group of ladies who give of our time, talents, prayers and support to nomadministries. Wherever you see Deb Mac you will know that the NOMADS are behind her. If not in person, then in prayer. We each are involved in ministries of our own in our home towns, yet whenever we can, we join Deb in what she is doing.
Check us out at her next retreat at Camp Tulakadik September 28 - 30. For more info email debmac88@yahoo.ca.

From left to right: Maxine Gilby, Sandry Piercy, Carolyn Carr, Shelley McCready, Laurie Hopkins, Cheryl Pazia, Susan Benson

Led by the Spirit

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Gal 5:25). Wednesday, July 18th and Thursday, July 19th have been two days that have blown me away. I can't remember when I've had so many God moments and people appearing unexpectedly into our lives as these two days (I'm sure there have been many, but my memory alludes me). It was almost like I stood above myself and looked down, as I watched God do wonders in our life. He appeared at every corner. He led me from thing to thing and person to person. When God is working, look around and look out! Life is truly exciting in Him.

Poet's corner.

Heart’s Cry

Father, how do I get to that place
Where You are all I desire?
Where You are my life’s breath
Where I feel Your breath?
That place that is a sanctuary,
A refuge – where it is you and me
Even when there is life to live
And much to give.

I want what David had
He said, “ my soul thirsts for you,
My whole body longs for you.”
He said, “God, if you are silent
I might as well give up and die.”

I want what Moses had – friendship with You.
You spoke to Moses ‘face to face, as a man
speaks to his friend.’
Moses said, “God, if you are not with me,
Then I’m not moving one step.”

I want what Job had.
When he was striped of everything
He could still say, “You give and take away,
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
I want to be able to worship you
When all is stripped away.

I want what Peter and John had.
A relationship that stood the test of time.
A passion for You Father,
that they would die for it.
I can’t even die to self most of the time –
Would I die for You?

Paul said, “Nothing compares to knowing You”
Nothing.
Father, You said that You are all we need.
If we have You we have enough.
Then why do I strive for anything else?
Why do I look for happiness or satisfaction elsewhere?
Why am I not seeking you with every ounce of my being?

You say, “draw close to Me and I will draw close to you.”
You say, “If I search for You with all my heart and soul,
I will find You.’
You say that You are a ‘rewarder of those who diligently seek You’,
And that You never ‘abandon anyone who searches for you.’
Help me find that hidden treasure.

Make it real Father – make my faith real.
Give me a taste of Your Glory
So I will go after more.
Give me a passion for Your presence,
A place where I can live 24/7;
And nothing, absolutely nothing,
Can take that from me.
No circumstance, no trial, no depression,
No unfairness, no situation the enemy throws my way –
Will take me out of Your presence.

And there I will live, move and have my being.
Breathe on me breath of God
Until my heart beats with yours.
I love you Father
I love you Jesus, My Beloved.

- Q

Dancing at Walmart

So, I like to dance. Every chance I get. This dance is at Walmart about two weeks ago. Becky randomly threw a hula hoop around me, and Natalie was snapping the video. I was inspired to dance. I like the floor at the new Walmart here in Fredericton. Come try it out! Have fun! (The video was too large to upload, so this is just a still image)

Our grandson, Jack Gregory MacDonald

"Are You Dead?"

Doug & I were in St. Martins this past weekend for a much needed mini-vacation. One day as I was lying on the beach enjoying a bit of sleep and resting in the experience of sun, clouds and wind, I heard a bunch of children approaching. They were looking for beach treasures and continually called out to their mommies, advising them of their discoveries. I continued in my rest, not moving one muscle, I was so relaxed. Then I heard this sweet little voice ask, "Mommy, is she dead?" (referring to me). I did not hear the mother's response, but assumed she either did not hear her sweet child or ignored him.

A few moments passed and I felt a presence hovering over me. I opened my eyes and found myself looking up at a 4 or 5 year old boy holding a piece of seaweed, peering at me intently.

"Do you think I'm dead?" I asked. He nodded yes, not saying a word (a tad scared, I thought).

"I'm not dead," I replied. "I'm just resting." His mother, by now noticing that her precious boy was not near her, shouted, "Did he throw something at you?" I shouted back, "No, he thinks I'm dead. But I'm not dead."

With that, I closed my eyes and continued in my reverie. And I suppose the boy moved on.

I chuckled about it later, as I realized that I am dead! And here's why...

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:2).

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom 6:11).

I also have been thinking about how we need to be 'dead to self.'

I would appreciate any comments on being 'dead.'

Afton

My granddaughter -- Afton Natalie MacDonald

Conversation with my 2 y.o. granddaughter, Afton on June 12 at breakfast:

Afton: "I didn't cry though. I just bit my mouth like this [she demonstrated]. I didn't like my toast. I was not putting my cup in my mouth and I drink it all chick and a bick. A dinosaur came to the shade. I was slapping at the dinosaur. I was cryin' and I said "woo" like that strawberries. I screamed at that shade -- I washed my hands off. It's a shade.

I jumped up like this [again, she demonstrated the action]. I put my foot down -- Yup, and I go like this [she wiggled her bum]. I fall down on the floor and I bumped my head.

I slapped my stick on the bacuum cleaner. I went 'round and 'round in a sicle (circle). I didn't scare the shade though [I don't know what the 'shade' is]. I choke on Baby Mum Mum. Jack [her 1 yr old brother] choke on Baby Mum Mum too, on the floor."

Gram Deb: "What did Gram Deb do?"

Afton: "Gram Deb did dishes." [I actually retrieved the Baby Mum Mum cookie from Jack's throat! However...]

"Jack spit it out on the floor. I always hit my arm on the table. I bump my head on the wall. I wanna go on the swing. Where's the diapers?"

and so on.....what a talker....like her Gram, I guess.

deb

My daughter is here!

My daughter, Natalie, is here from Saskatchewan. We are having a wonderful time -- exercising, preparing food, visiting with family, making lists and checking them twice, many trips to Walmart, and making up songs like "Big Moon Tonight." (Ask me to sing it for you sometime; it's very musical and lyrical!). Saturday, we had the "Soul Cafe Spa Experience" here on my verandah with friends and family; it was quite an event. Last evening, Nat & I went on a bike ride on the walking trail using Grandpa & Grandma's cruising bikes. We were perched up on our seats like little old people, travelling at quite a speed. It was quite a sight! Then a 'felark' down the walking trail later (a combo of running & walking). Today, my hips hurt. Getting younger, I guess.

We're going to attempt a 1,000 piece puzzle next and see if we can complete it in 3 days. Oh, the beginning of summer; don't you just love it?

God is good and His mercies endure forever!

deb
x0

The LORD is good!

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Ps 34:8).

How true this is! If we could remember that He IS good, and good to us, how much better would our days be. He wants us to be filled and satisfied with Him. Are we satisfied with Jesus? Are we content? Are we filled up with His goodness? This is my prayer today -- Lord, fill me up!

The Weed of the Woods

Oh, I'm obsessed with the weed of the wood,

My O' my, they taste so good

Alas, my keyboard painted with flecks of green

As I type this melody of muted scene

A New Brunswick delicacy, borne from waters clear

A weed we all hold so dear.

CHORUS:

No one in Canada understands but those brave souls

Who let down their guard and eat them whole-heartedly,

Oh, the weed of the wood,> Its fruit tastes so good.

Deborah MacDonald

May 30, 2007

Welcome To My Blogspot

Hey everyone,
Well, Q has set me up with a blogspot to help me stay connected with everyone. (Q is my trusty administrator by the way).
This is my first attempt at joining the world of bloggers. Hopefully I will be able to keep everyone up to date on the goings and comings of debmac aka B.O.S.S./ Princess Mac/Gingerbread Gal/Mama Mac/ and who knows what else.
Q is still trying to figure out stuff (and she is known to make the odd typo upon occassion - take it easy on her :)
Notice the nice green font......Q used it because of my love (obsession with) fiddleheads. I wrote a lovely poem about the 'weed of the woods' - maybe I'll post it soon.
Well, ta ta for now.
Let's see how this turns out.
Yours truly,
debmac