December 28, 2016

Treasure


Window of Opportunity
© Debbie Turner Chavers


I love to search for treasure. I may find a sweet treasure in a most unexpected way. Revealed at times in the midst of castaway piles of the past. Not everyone wants to recycle, reuse, or repurpose.
New is perfect. I too have seasons of that thought.
But there are memories of times gone by that draw us to theses objects, things that might be scruffy, a bit battered, but once were loved.
I love certain old toys because they remind me of the sweet and gentle times with my babies. There is a shared joy with my family and their children as we reminisce of times shared from their childhood. From toy trucks, tea sets, pick up sticks, and the like, we have a common goal to pass on those treasured times.
It has become a lovely past time to find these treasures from our pasts and laugh and share a bit of family history with a newer family member.
We are building and emotionally weaving together the fabric of a new generation as we weave our story.
There are also bittersweet memories of those who are gone and things missing that even a web search can not bring back.

So as the New Year approaches, look carefully at your discard pile in life.
Consider..is there still treasure there?

~Debbie


Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven:





** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting.
 All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com

December 20, 2016

Gospel Gossip




Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone
© 2006 Debbie Turner Chavers

Have you read what God Said?
For Yourself?
Not second hand verbatim of someone elses conversation....but what "He" said.
Not the gossip of the gospel.
Predigested word.
I am asking you to sit at His feet, dine at His table, EAT until you are full.

I challenge you to to talk to God personally.
To digest His beautiful word.  His word that can comfort and heal a wounded or sick soul.
Feed a starving heart, fill to the full, the deepest hole in ones soul.

Gossip may give you a nugget of information, but face to face with the originator, Creator of ALL things gives you the facts.
The gospel truth that you are LOVED with an everlasting, unfathomable love.
Face to face-get the facts for yourself.

~Debbie




John 6:48 -57  I am that bread of life.  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 

He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 
As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 
This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.


Luke 24:32  And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 15:9  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.


A beautiful reminder...
Revelation 7:7  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Revelation 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Revelation 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.



*This is a repost from my Word Parables blog from 2012.
** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting.
 All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com

December 13, 2016

Paths and Ruts

© 1996 Debbie Turner Chavers


Last week-end, I found myself on a road that appeared on the surface to be quite firm.
But I would soon learn that appearances can be deceiving!

We (husband and I) had a break in the weather and after being trapped inside for days, we decided to go for a drive. 
So we drove to the country on the other side of Nashville. 
Hills and valleys, streams and rivers. The country side was beautiful. We finally arrived at a scenic place to get out and take a walk through the woods. My husband began to look for a firm place to pull over and park off the road.
The road bed and the surrounding roadside appeared firm.
No standing water, yet beneath the surface, the clay mixed road bed had thawed, froze again, and thawed again after a hard rain.

Everything looked beautiful in the forest. The evergreen trees were freshly washed from the previous rain. The country road was not dusty and the sky was blue with just a hint of breeze blowing.
Just beautiful.
Until..... we pulled off the road.

Life can be like this at times. The path your on, appears to be just fine. Until you take a moment to pull over. If we had examined our path closely we would have noticed that the road was fairly firm but just inches into the side of the road the land was mush!

Quickly realizing our mistake, we turned the wheel and started moving backwards.
Well, sort of. We actually moved backwards and forwards, and backwards and forwards with much prayer and steady slight turning of the steering wheel.

Going forward into the mush seemed counter productive but the driver hoped to find more solid ground on which to get a running start toward the road.
But we had made a rut.

Sometimes even our well meaning actions to get out of a mess....put us in a rut.

After much effort and many false starts we finally made it back to within a few feet from the road. Not back on the firm ground of the road bed.
But close.
So close....yet so far.
Long story short. We have a friend who lives right off that country road who has a tractor.

We walked down the road and our friend pulled us out of the ditch with that beautiful country tractor. After a bit of effort he pulled us out of our dilemma, for which we are very grateful.
What could have been a huge aggravation ended on a positive note because of the help of a friend when we wandered off the path.

Life is like that.
God has a chosen path for us to follow and yet if we through accident or rebellion wander off it,
He is prepared to rescue you if you will come to Him and ask.

Don't leave your life or your truck in a ditch. Get some help. I am glad we did.

~Debbie




This is a repost from my Word Parables blog,
"Choose Your Path Carefully " © 2010 Debbie Turner Chavers


Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.







** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting. All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com Click on these links http://artparables.com or
http://debbieturnerchavers.com for more writing and art.

December 01, 2016

Countdown to Failure: 1,2-3-2,1 and New Leadership


© 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers
Water-Man Series



Studying 1 Samuel 13 yesterday reveals a countdown to a major change of leadership.
King Saul is in command over Israel.
1 year reign
2 year reign

3 thousand chosen men

2 thousand men assigned to Saul
1 thousand men assigned to Jonathan

And so we begin the countdown...
Saul, a leader and King is given specific instructions and his character soon manifests in negative ways.
Regardless of Saul's less than stellar character traits, God chose him above others. 1 Samuel 9-10.
We are chosen leaders who must lead well.
If we are willing to listen and learn, God is longing to teach you and lead you.
Your leadership can be a positive life changing role in the world today,an example that could stand throughout generations.

Saul was anointed and prepared before his role of leadership was required of him publicly.
You can read about this at 1 Samuel, chapters 9-10.

After ruling over Israel two years, King Saul chose three thousand men. He kept two thousand men with him in Michmash and in mount Bethel and one thousand men in Gibeah of Benjamin with his son Jonathan. The rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

The three thousand men were two to one in number under each man. The labor was divided so to speak.
Jonathan appears to have been a loyal son and beloved friend as you read about him in the Old Testament.

But his dad, Saul...well not so much.
Saul was jealous, petty, a thief of other men's accomplishments. Loyalty appears to be a non existent character quality.
In verses 3 and 4, scripture states that Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it.
Saul announces that all the Hebrews needed to hear that he (Saul) had smitten a garrison and the Philistines were stirred to battle. And the people were called together after Saul to  Gilgal.

1 Samuel 13:3-4 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

*Note: Saul took credit for Jonathan and his men's accomplishment. It is a serious thing to take credit for another persons labor. Do not do it.

This lack of integrity and fear based leadership causes the rest of Israel to be in distress and panic.
(1 Samuel 13:5-7)
A nation or organization without proper leadership will see verse 6 manifested amongst their ranks.

* When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

If and when you blow a trumpet..BE PREPARED to lead and lead well from the front lines.
Disobedience causes fear to manifest.

Throughout Saul's reign he is given many opportunities to step up in obedience, yet each opportunity is met with rebellious resistance to the sorrow of his companions and a nation.
**DO NOT be this type of Leader.

Saul was not only disobedient in his own leadership role, but he also usurped another's role and calling. He stepped into the role of Samuel the Prophet and offered burnt offerings to the LORD.
This was his final undoing in leadership.  The cost was his kingdom and another was given his position.
**Note that Saul blamed fear and lack of peer support for his disobedience.
Read 1 Samuel 13:8-12.

* There is a season and a time for all things under the sun. Yet..each moment is a time to obey God.
* Do not allow a delay to cause you to disobey.
* Stay in step with God's timing. He is never late.
* When popularity ceases...
* Wait upon the LORD.
* Stand obediently, until told to move.


© 2010 Debbie Turner Chavers



1 Samuel 13:13-14 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever.
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: for the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
Saul's actions and failure to listen and obey caused the blessing to pass from him to another.


Remember ETERNITY awaits the choices of today.
~Debbie







* If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting.
 All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com
 Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com

Reborn-Birthed in the Womb of His Word


© 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers
Water-Man Series


In the light of God's Word...may you prayerfully consider.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
I was shown this imagery as my husband and I were driving and discussing several known difficult situations. As we discussed them, I heard in my spirit "Wrap your mind around how much God loves you, loves them." The difficulty and the pain associated led the conversation to the conclusion that we needed to process and act, yet not react to them. The problem or the people. This was the verbal conversation and at the same time I was telling my husband and the Lord that I felt the need to cocoon...yet break free all at the same time. I saw this imagery and told my husband what I had just seen and that "I am trusting God's perfect timing." He agreed and thus we arrived at Amen.
These are my notes as I explored the scriptures and asked for understanding. 
Every born again man is a type of Lazarus. One brought to life in Christ. We are redeemed, blood bought, blood covered kings and priests unto our God. We are wrapped in His righteousness, in the womb of His Word.
He carried us to the cross and we are born again in Him and His sacrifice.
The Word Of God birthed us - His shed Blood bought..redeemed us.

We are carried...
Isaiah 46:3-4 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: 
And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and I will deliver you.

We are redeemed...
Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them: and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

1 Corinthians 15:35-58  Has a great description of the resurrection of the body.
We must be Born again.
1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
We are born again...
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.

John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit; he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.


I realize that for some the imagery might be strange yet wisdom is justified of her children.
Luke 7:35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

~ Debbie Turner Chavers



Beginning work on the collage
© 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers
Water-Man Series




*The egg shape or cocoon is painted red within. It is papier mâché strips of Isaiah 53 and John 3. The painting and sticks have a red painted image representing the blood soaked staining of His beaten imprint. The cross was represented as two wooden stakes. The cocoon or egg shape is hanging from is representational of His bearing us and our sins. The cording attached is representational of an umbilical cord..it is covered in Isaiah 53 also.


All art, sculpture, writing, poetry, posts, and photography, copyright © 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers. All Rights Reserved. Encouragement? http://debbieturnerchavers.com


Scripture references taken from the King James bible.