Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, the chilly air was kind of a surprise, because we have been warm for so long. But I know it will soon warm up and we will be at almost 80 degrees again! God is good!
Have you noticed the evening sky lately? For a gorgeous sight, look to the west, and see the crescent moon with Venus high above and tiny Jupiter far to the bottom west. God's Creation is Awesome!
I have enjoyed my brief vacation from the morning email, almost as much as I enjoyed having the family here for Christmas. It was wonderful to have our sons and grandson here and to spend time with them, even though Brian spent most of Christmas day in bed and did not feel too perky for several days due to some kind of virus. But the rest of us did not get it, and the weather stayed perfect. We were blessed!
My prayer for all in the New Year, is that you will be blessed with whatever you need; work, good health, rest and a deep reliance on our Lord for all you need!
From Hymns for the Family of God:
Prayer of Concern for Others
Father, help me to talk like a Christian:
to speak in such a way that I build up another person's
confidence in himself, instead of tearing down his reputation.
Father, help me to drive like a Christian:
to be watchful and careful lest I cause harm to someone else
on the highways.
Father, help me to give like a Christian:
without thought of return, without anyone knowing what I
do, and with Your approval as sufficient reward.
Father, help me to dress like a Christian:
by not attracting attention to myself for being too fashionable
or too casual; and help me to show by my appearance
that I want people to know me for what I am inside myself.
Father, help me to sleep like a Christian:
At peace with myself because sin is forgiven; and at peace with
others because I do not allow my anger to last through a day.
Father, help me to eat like a Christian:
to eat healthily, to eat moderately, to eat gratefully, giving
thanks to You who provide my food, and for the one
who prepares my food.
Father, keep me from being so pious that I keep You out of the
practical areas of life. Be with me when I am along, and
when I shed my inhibitions, lest in those moments I cancel
out all that I seem to be when I'm on my best behavior.
Father, I ask this because I follow a Master who was never guilty
of the slightest wrong-doing, and who always showed His love
in the small details of living. Amen.
- Bryan Jeffery Leech
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
One Solitary Life
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Well, earlier this morning, when I stepped outside, the moon was very visible overhead and stars were shining, then, suddenly, the fog crept in and all was obscured. Reminded me of the poem I learned many years ago, "The fog creeps in on little cat feet"...can't remember all of it , or the author. Maybe c.c.cummings? Anyway, it is lifting now and the sky is blue. God is good!
Yesterday, I was trying to meet the goals I set, for getting gifts wrapped and last minute things done, before Daryl and Matthew come late tonight or early in the morning. But I took time to take a plate of Christmas cookies over to Mike and Francia at the Park, and we talked for a few minutes about the departed staff and how they were doing. Mike was so happy about the cookies, he gave me a big hug and kiss! I am happy he is still there.
This will be the last devotional until after Christmas, so I wish you all the most blessed Christmas and wonderful times with friends and family, celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus!
One Solitary Life
Born in an obscure village, He was the child of a peasant woman. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty years old, and then for three years He traveled around the country, stopping long enough to talk and to listen to people, and help where He could. He never wrote a book, He never had a hit record, He never went to college, He never ran for public office, He never had a family, or owned a house. He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. But when He was only thirty three years old, the tide of public opinion turned against him, and His friends all rejected Him. When He was arrested, very few wanted anything to do with Him. After the trial, He was executed by the State along with admitted thieves. Only because a generous friend offered his own cemetery plot was there any place to bury Him. This all happened nineteen centuries ago, and yet today He is the leading figure of the human race, and the ultimate example of love. Now it is no exaggeration to say that all the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that have ever set sail, all the rulers that have ever ruled, all the kings that have ever reigned on this earth, all put together have not affected the life of man on earth like this One Solitary Life.
Fred Bock (alt)
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Merry Christmas to all!
Yesterday, I was trying to meet the goals I set, for getting gifts wrapped and last minute things done, before Daryl and Matthew come late tonight or early in the morning. But I took time to take a plate of Christmas cookies over to Mike and Francia at the Park, and we talked for a few minutes about the departed staff and how they were doing. Mike was so happy about the cookies, he gave me a big hug and kiss! I am happy he is still there.
This will be the last devotional until after Christmas, so I wish you all the most blessed Christmas and wonderful times with friends and family, celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus!
One Solitary Life
Born in an obscure village, He was the child of a peasant woman. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty years old, and then for three years He traveled around the country, stopping long enough to talk and to listen to people, and help where He could. He never wrote a book, He never had a hit record, He never went to college, He never ran for public office, He never had a family, or owned a house. He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. But when He was only thirty three years old, the tide of public opinion turned against him, and His friends all rejected Him. When He was arrested, very few wanted anything to do with Him. After the trial, He was executed by the State along with admitted thieves. Only because a generous friend offered his own cemetery plot was there any place to bury Him. This all happened nineteen centuries ago, and yet today He is the leading figure of the human race, and the ultimate example of love. Now it is no exaggeration to say that all the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that have ever set sail, all the rulers that have ever ruled, all the kings that have ever reigned on this earth, all put together have not affected the life of man on earth like this One Solitary Life.
Fred Bock (alt)
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Merry Christmas to all!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Reverence, not Ritual
Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside early this morning, the half moon was shining brightly, as usual, and stars were visible, which meant a beautiful day! Then, a short time ago, fog came rolling in, but now, that has also lifted. This is the time of year, when we don't need heat or A/C. Glorious!
I was determined to walk in the Park yesterday, and found that the tree trimming crew was there, and had the boardwalk to the tower blocked off. They were working on cutting down a very old maple that was leaning over the walk, and had a ladder about fifty feet high propped against the tree. No way would I climb that high!
So, I walked the Hammock trail instead and enjoyed it very much. I took frequent pauses to gaze over the rail down into the swampy areas. I was really surprised at the water all the way until higher ground where the old orange orchard used to be. Unfortunately, when the new boardwalk was built some of the lemon trees were cut down. Since the trees have been trimmed, the orange trees have fruit very high up, so I was unable to reach any. Though the oranges are very sour and not edible just to squeeze or eat, they make wonderful pies!
God has a plan for everything!
From Quiet Moments with God:
He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?"
Luke 24:38
Have you ever met people who, when something good comes their way, start wondering when God is going to take it back?
Long ago, pagans in Germany and Holland believed this way. If Johann met Hans in the forest and said, " Hey Hans! I got that horse I wanted--good price too!" in a second both men would gasp. Johann would run to the nearest tree and start pounding on it.
The pagans believed that the gods lived in trees, and if they heard about any human happiness, they would cause mischief. Johann, realizing his mistake in the listening forest, would rap on trees to drive the gods away. Even when it was no longer a custom to literally "knock on wood," the phrase sufficed to fill the same purpose: "May my good fortune suffer no reversal."
In our lives, it's wither " Thy will be done" or " knock on wood." Either God is working for our good, or we must be working for our good.
How sad it must make our Heavenly Father to see us robbed of joy as we receive His blessings, simply out of fear! Furthermore, some people feel the only way to hold onto the joys of life is to perform good deeds.As a result, those parts of the Christian life that should bring us closer to the heart of God often end up as rituals performed out of duty and fear.
When the city of Hamburg was stricken with the plague and large numbers were dying, the healthy---in mortal dread of becoming ill---flocked to the city's churches. It was not a reverence for God that drew them to church, but the fear of cholera. As soon as the plague abated, their zeal for the worship of God also abated.
The Lord desires an intimate, honest relationship with you--not a relationship rooted in your fear of loss or failure. The "fear of God" does not mean you're afraid of God; it means you have respect for Him. This reverence is born out of trust in His love. Turn to Him this morning, to experience life, not merely to avoid disaster. When you do, you'll meet a Heavenly Father who loves you completely and unconditionally.
Don't come to the cross
out of fear of hell.
Come to the cross out of
Love for Christ.
Unknown
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I was determined to walk in the Park yesterday, and found that the tree trimming crew was there, and had the boardwalk to the tower blocked off. They were working on cutting down a very old maple that was leaning over the walk, and had a ladder about fifty feet high propped against the tree. No way would I climb that high!
So, I walked the Hammock trail instead and enjoyed it very much. I took frequent pauses to gaze over the rail down into the swampy areas. I was really surprised at the water all the way until higher ground where the old orange orchard used to be. Unfortunately, when the new boardwalk was built some of the lemon trees were cut down. Since the trees have been trimmed, the orange trees have fruit very high up, so I was unable to reach any. Though the oranges are very sour and not edible just to squeeze or eat, they make wonderful pies!
God has a plan for everything!
From Quiet Moments with God:
He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?"
Luke 24:38
Have you ever met people who, when something good comes their way, start wondering when God is going to take it back?
Long ago, pagans in Germany and Holland believed this way. If Johann met Hans in the forest and said, " Hey Hans! I got that horse I wanted--good price too!" in a second both men would gasp. Johann would run to the nearest tree and start pounding on it.
The pagans believed that the gods lived in trees, and if they heard about any human happiness, they would cause mischief. Johann, realizing his mistake in the listening forest, would rap on trees to drive the gods away. Even when it was no longer a custom to literally "knock on wood," the phrase sufficed to fill the same purpose: "May my good fortune suffer no reversal."
In our lives, it's wither " Thy will be done" or " knock on wood." Either God is working for our good, or we must be working for our good.
How sad it must make our Heavenly Father to see us robbed of joy as we receive His blessings, simply out of fear! Furthermore, some people feel the only way to hold onto the joys of life is to perform good deeds.As a result, those parts of the Christian life that should bring us closer to the heart of God often end up as rituals performed out of duty and fear.
When the city of Hamburg was stricken with the plague and large numbers were dying, the healthy---in mortal dread of becoming ill---flocked to the city's churches. It was not a reverence for God that drew them to church, but the fear of cholera. As soon as the plague abated, their zeal for the worship of God also abated.
The Lord desires an intimate, honest relationship with you--not a relationship rooted in your fear of loss or failure. The "fear of God" does not mean you're afraid of God; it means you have respect for Him. This reverence is born out of trust in His love. Turn to Him this morning, to experience life, not merely to avoid disaster. When you do, you'll meet a Heavenly Father who loves you completely and unconditionally.
Don't come to the cross
out of fear of hell.
Come to the cross out of
Love for Christ.
Unknown
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Easin' thru Ephesians
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the beautiful day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside earlier the funny shaped moon was shining brightly and actually, outshining the stars, but I did see a few of them. This morning I saw the weather in the rest of the country, on TV. I must say we are blessed to have this sunshiny, warm weather here. It is supposed to get up to 80 degrees again today. Almost time for AC again. :o)
Well, we have such a carpet of leaves all over the driveway, porch and grass, that I decided to tackle the blower once again. I really need practice to refine my technique. I have to get the long extension cord all pulled out first, and then be sure I keep the blower pointed down. I had leaves flying high in the air, and out in the street, which I didn't intend to do, But the porch got cleaned off and the driveway cleared. but...guess what? They are all covered again today! Now, if I could only figure out how to blow the leaves off the trees....
We saw lots of soft-shelled turtles sunning on the weir yesterday and the big, fat gopher tortoise once again trying to get through the fence. There is always something to see at the Park!
Ephesians 6:10-20 NEB
Finally then, find your strength in the Lord, in His mighty power. Put on all the armor which God provides, so that you may be able to stand firm against the devices of the devil. For our fight is not against human foes, but against cosmic powers, against the authorities and potentates of this dark world, against the superhuman forces of evil in the heavens. Therefore, take up God's armour; then you will be able to stand your ground when things are at their worst, to complete every task and still to stand. Stand firm, I say. Fasten on the belt of truth; for coat of mail put on integrity; let the shoes on your feet be the gospel of peace, to give you firm footing; and , with all these, take up the great shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take salvation for helmit; for sword, take that which the Spirit give you-the words that come from God. give yourselves wholly to prayer and entreaty; always interceding for all God's people; and pray for me, that I may boldly and freely make known his hidden purpose, for which I am an ambassador-in chains. Pray that I may speak of it boldly, as it is my duty to speak.
Prayer
Give us a pure heart
that we may see Thee,
A humble heart
that we may hear Thee,
A heart of love
that we may serve Thee,
A heart of faith
that we may live Thee.
Dag Hammarskjold
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Well, we have such a carpet of leaves all over the driveway, porch and grass, that I decided to tackle the blower once again. I really need practice to refine my technique. I have to get the long extension cord all pulled out first, and then be sure I keep the blower pointed down. I had leaves flying high in the air, and out in the street, which I didn't intend to do, But the porch got cleaned off and the driveway cleared. but...guess what? They are all covered again today! Now, if I could only figure out how to blow the leaves off the trees....
We saw lots of soft-shelled turtles sunning on the weir yesterday and the big, fat gopher tortoise once again trying to get through the fence. There is always something to see at the Park!
Ephesians 6:10-20 NEB
Finally then, find your strength in the Lord, in His mighty power. Put on all the armor which God provides, so that you may be able to stand firm against the devices of the devil. For our fight is not against human foes, but against cosmic powers, against the authorities and potentates of this dark world, against the superhuman forces of evil in the heavens. Therefore, take up God's armour; then you will be able to stand your ground when things are at their worst, to complete every task and still to stand. Stand firm, I say. Fasten on the belt of truth; for coat of mail put on integrity; let the shoes on your feet be the gospel of peace, to give you firm footing; and , with all these, take up the great shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take salvation for helmit; for sword, take that which the Spirit give you-the words that come from God. give yourselves wholly to prayer and entreaty; always interceding for all God's people; and pray for me, that I may boldly and freely make known his hidden purpose, for which I am an ambassador-in chains. Pray that I may speak of it boldly, as it is my duty to speak.
Prayer
Give us a pure heart
that we may see Thee,
A humble heart
that we may hear Thee,
A heart of love
that we may serve Thee,
A heart of faith
that we may live Thee.
Dag Hammarskjold
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Encouragement
Good morning, dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! As I stepped outside before daybreak, the sky was clear and the moon with a chunk out of it, was shining brightly. Then, shortly after that, the fog rolled in and all was dark again. Now the fog has cleared and the sun is warm... supposed to be up to 80 today. Another beautiful day in sunny St. Petersburg!! God is good!
Yesterday, as I was driving along Turner's Creek, the tide was very low, and two roseate spoonbills were pecking along the muddy bank. It was the first time I had seen them in this area. Beautiful! Pink is just about my favorite color, anyway.
Then, while driving through the Park, I saw the huge, probably hundred year old gopher tortoise, lumbering his way along the fence. He is protected, so nothing bothers him.
The water in the canal was nice and serene, reflecting the trees which are now bare of leaves, and rather stark looking, but that is nature in the winter. God's Creation!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What do I do when I feel overwhelmed?
Leviticus 26:8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath the blows of your weapons.
Joshua 23:10 Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised.
Be encouraged that the power of God is for us , regardless of the number of enemies against us. God used David to overcome Goliath, Gideon's three hundred soldiers to defeat the armies of Midian, and one hundred and twenty disciples to establish the church in Acts. He joys when working through our weaknesses and limitations.
Colossians 1:11-14 We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins.
Our encouragement comes from what God has done for us. He has given us. He has given us the power to be patient and persistence and to keep our minds set on great hope that awaits us. When we remember that we are already free; the problems of the world lose much of their power over us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday, as I was driving along Turner's Creek, the tide was very low, and two roseate spoonbills were pecking along the muddy bank. It was the first time I had seen them in this area. Beautiful! Pink is just about my favorite color, anyway.
Then, while driving through the Park, I saw the huge, probably hundred year old gopher tortoise, lumbering his way along the fence. He is protected, so nothing bothers him.
The water in the canal was nice and serene, reflecting the trees which are now bare of leaves, and rather stark looking, but that is nature in the winter. God's Creation!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What do I do when I feel overwhelmed?
Leviticus 26:8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath the blows of your weapons.
Joshua 23:10 Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised.
Be encouraged that the power of God is for us , regardless of the number of enemies against us. God used David to overcome Goliath, Gideon's three hundred soldiers to defeat the armies of Midian, and one hundred and twenty disciples to establish the church in Acts. He joys when working through our weaknesses and limitations.
Colossians 1:11-14 We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins.
Our encouragement comes from what God has done for us. He has given us. He has given us the power to be patient and persistence and to keep our minds set on great hope that awaits us. When we remember that we are already free; the problems of the world lose much of their power over us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, December 15, 2008
Prayer and Action
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the overcast, but warm, day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, all I could see was clouds, but then, all at once, the full moon peeked through, creating a halo of light in the whiteness: amazing!
Yesterday, I saw a bird sitting on the light wire that I couldn't identify right away, so I looked in my bird book and discovered it was a kingfisher. They are pretty rare around here, at least in my neighborhood. Very perky looking. :o)
Well, I just had a slight interruption... virus scan and then a couple of nice rains , which I did not know were expected. We always can use the rain! God is good!
This reading is from Hymns from the Family of God:
Prayer and Action
God is not a personage who orders us to a prostrate ourselves before Him
-a radically false position-
but one who says:
" Stand up,
here is my task for you:
take it and get on with it."
God does not require incense from us;
what He does require
is that we should listen and take action-
the true response of love.
God did not stop speaking two thousand years ago,
He speaks to you personally today
every time an inward voice asks you to do a kind or generous deed
or to suffer for the sake of someone else.
It is to you personally that God speaks at this moment,
and it is through you that He speaks when He inspires you to do some service.
Be brave enough to listen at first hand to what God says to you.
-John W. Harvey and Christina Yates
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday, I saw a bird sitting on the light wire that I couldn't identify right away, so I looked in my bird book and discovered it was a kingfisher. They are pretty rare around here, at least in my neighborhood. Very perky looking. :o)
Well, I just had a slight interruption... virus scan and then a couple of nice rains , which I did not know were expected. We always can use the rain! God is good!
This reading is from Hymns from the Family of God:
Prayer and Action
God is not a personage who orders us to a prostrate ourselves before Him
-a radically false position-
but one who says:
" Stand up,
here is my task for you:
take it and get on with it."
God does not require incense from us;
what He does require
is that we should listen and take action-
the true response of love.
God did not stop speaking two thousand years ago,
He speaks to you personally today
every time an inward voice asks you to do a kind or generous deed
or to suffer for the sake of someone else.
It is to you personally that God speaks at this moment,
and it is through you that He speaks when He inspires you to do some service.
Be brave enough to listen at first hand to what God says to you.
-John W. Harvey and Christina Yates
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, December 12, 2008
A Prayer
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the overcast day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, it was still dark from all the clouds, but I am sure the moon is full by now, and is up there some place! When the weather turns cooler, the sky will clear and then the sky will be visible.
We drove through the Park yesterday and saw that the canal was up, a fat gator was on the bank of one lake and everything has greened up already from the downpour we had . Everything that was thirsty, got a good drink! We have a lot of wood storks around our lakes. I have mentioned this before, but it seems like a lot more this winter. I still think they are very depressed looking. But God is good!
I watched ESPN for the football awards and was admiring Tim Tebow and his pronounced faith which he proclaims every chance he gets. I watched the segment of his work in the Philippines and the prisons, leading men to Christ. What a role model for my grandson and all others who admire his playing football!! Go Gators!
The following is a prayer that says a lot:
Free from the Guilted Cage
Lord Jesus Christ, today I want to live my life as an expression of your love, rather than as an effort to earn or deserve your love. Like Paul, I have tried about everything to prove my worth. Nothing satisfies. I am weary of doing the right thing because of guilt and not grace. Thank you for the limitless power of your love which sets me free from a guilted cage to fly and soar to new heights of joyous praise today.
Amen
LLoyd John Ogilvie
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Remember, Jesus is the Reason for the Season!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Happy Birthday, Tiffany!
We drove through the Park yesterday and saw that the canal was up, a fat gator was on the bank of one lake and everything has greened up already from the downpour we had . Everything that was thirsty, got a good drink! We have a lot of wood storks around our lakes. I have mentioned this before, but it seems like a lot more this winter. I still think they are very depressed looking. But God is good!
I watched ESPN for the football awards and was admiring Tim Tebow and his pronounced faith which he proclaims every chance he gets. I watched the segment of his work in the Philippines and the prisons, leading men to Christ. What a role model for my grandson and all others who admire his playing football!! Go Gators!
The following is a prayer that says a lot:
Free from the Guilted Cage
Lord Jesus Christ, today I want to live my life as an expression of your love, rather than as an effort to earn or deserve your love. Like Paul, I have tried about everything to prove my worth. Nothing satisfies. I am weary of doing the right thing because of guilt and not grace. Thank you for the limitless power of your love which sets me free from a guilted cage to fly and soar to new heights of joyous praise today.
Amen
LLoyd John Ogilvie
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Remember, Jesus is the Reason for the Season!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Happy Birthday, Tiffany!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Precious in God's Sight
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the stormy, rainy, day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! It took a cold front to bring the rain we sorely needed, but God's timing is always right. The temperature is already dropping from the 72 degrees when I took the dumpster down to the driveway...in the rain.
The front yard is full of large and small branches, broken from the oak trees. If the rain stops, I will pick them all up and stick them in the trash.
We drove through the very dry park yesterday and saw a black ibis. At least, I think it was an ibis! I had never seen a black one before. There weren't many people out, because it was very warm and windy and school was not out yet, but the trees were reflected in the water, along with the anhingas, And a picnic table was full with family enjoying their lunch. God is good!
From Hymns from the Family of God:
In God's sight a person is the most precious of all values. This truth possessed Jesus and never let Him go. He thought it, taught it, and lived it with full devotion. He illustrated it with stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
Every individual is inherently worthful to the Father--every child everywhere, of every race, of every condition. Love requires response, and parenthood craves companionship and cooperation. Therefore every human being on this globe is indispensable to God, indispensable in the sense that God can never be fully Himself without loving comradeship, and He can never complete His work without faithful cooperation from every individual everywhere.
Jesus taught and lived the twin truths that man needs God and God needs man, which is to say, parents and child are so bound together that cleavage is disastrous. No idea could be further from the mind of our Lord than the persistent doctrine that God is so transcendent, so holy, so sovereign that He is unknowable, inaccessible, and unresponsive. In the prayer which He taught His disciples, Jesus makes it clear that men should carry all their needs to the Father, even a petition for the satisfaction of daily bodily requirements. Jesus knew men to be frail, sinful, easily corrupted, sometimes monstrously depraved, capable of cruel and atrocious behavior- but always, always, always a child of God, and, even when a prodigal, indispensable to the lonely and yearning heart of the Fatherl
Kirby Page
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
The front yard is full of large and small branches, broken from the oak trees. If the rain stops, I will pick them all up and stick them in the trash.
We drove through the very dry park yesterday and saw a black ibis. At least, I think it was an ibis! I had never seen a black one before. There weren't many people out, because it was very warm and windy and school was not out yet, but the trees were reflected in the water, along with the anhingas, And a picnic table was full with family enjoying their lunch. God is good!
From Hymns from the Family of God:
In God's sight a person is the most precious of all values. This truth possessed Jesus and never let Him go. He thought it, taught it, and lived it with full devotion. He illustrated it with stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
Every individual is inherently worthful to the Father--every child everywhere, of every race, of every condition. Love requires response, and parenthood craves companionship and cooperation. Therefore every human being on this globe is indispensable to God, indispensable in the sense that God can never be fully Himself without loving comradeship, and He can never complete His work without faithful cooperation from every individual everywhere.
Jesus taught and lived the twin truths that man needs God and God needs man, which is to say, parents and child are so bound together that cleavage is disastrous. No idea could be further from the mind of our Lord than the persistent doctrine that God is so transcendent, so holy, so sovereign that He is unknowable, inaccessible, and unresponsive. In the prayer which He taught His disciples, Jesus makes it clear that men should carry all their needs to the Father, even a petition for the satisfaction of daily bodily requirements. Jesus knew men to be frail, sinful, easily corrupted, sometimes monstrously depraved, capable of cruel and atrocious behavior- but always, always, always a child of God, and, even when a prodigal, indispensable to the lonely and yearning heart of the Fatherl
Kirby Page
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Con't from yesterday
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the overcast, changing day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, the wind was blowing and the clouds hid the sky, so no stars were visible. Since the oak trees are in their shedding stage, our porch and yard are covered with brown leaves. However, our kind friend who does our yard, gave me an electric blower, so when the wind dies down, I can blow everything instead of the sweeping.! God is good!
I have to confess, I am a saver. I save prayer requests and various other things. Some of the personal ones, I put in my treasure box. But today I decided it was time to clean up for the new year, and in reading over the requests I had saved, I could clearly see God's Hand at work in answering. Sometimes it takes a while to see the answers, but even though I forget that I have prayed for certain things, God does not forget, and in His time, He will answer.
Sometimes, I will receive an email, or response from someone who has asked for prayer and that is always heartwarming to read and hear. Yesterday, I had a few errands to run, and shopping to do, and even though I didn't ask, at a couple intersections where I usually have to wait a long time for traffic to clear..I was able to move right out! I praised God for it. Little things mean a lot! God is Awesome!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Where can I find inspiration and encouragement in times of depression?
Proverbs 16:20 Those who listen ti instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be happy.
John 15:11 I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
When we are depressed, we need to stop listening to the voices of discouragement, and listen instead to God's word. The instructions in God's word help us to recognize the lies of the world, the flesh, and the devil that fuel our depression. Trusting the Lord and his word bring us unshakable joy.
Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!"
2 Corinthians 12:9 Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weadnesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.
When we are weak we may be more receptive to the Lord's strength. When God works through our weakness we know it is his work and not ours.
Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
Depression is one of the ways God gets us to rest and to finally slow down long enough to be with the Lord. As we come to Him through prayer and the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit comforts and strengthens us--often in ways we cannot explain.
Romans 8:31-32 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since God did not spare even his own Son, but gave him up for ua all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?
Never underestimate the power of God's affirmation and his willingness to give us all we need for this life. Everything else we need is minimal compared with the infinite and costly gift of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I have to confess, I am a saver. I save prayer requests and various other things. Some of the personal ones, I put in my treasure box. But today I decided it was time to clean up for the new year, and in reading over the requests I had saved, I could clearly see God's Hand at work in answering. Sometimes it takes a while to see the answers, but even though I forget that I have prayed for certain things, God does not forget, and in His time, He will answer.
Sometimes, I will receive an email, or response from someone who has asked for prayer and that is always heartwarming to read and hear. Yesterday, I had a few errands to run, and shopping to do, and even though I didn't ask, at a couple intersections where I usually have to wait a long time for traffic to clear..I was able to move right out! I praised God for it. Little things mean a lot! God is Awesome!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Where can I find inspiration and encouragement in times of depression?
Proverbs 16:20 Those who listen ti instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be happy.
John 15:11 I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
When we are depressed, we need to stop listening to the voices of discouragement, and listen instead to God's word. The instructions in God's word help us to recognize the lies of the world, the flesh, and the devil that fuel our depression. Trusting the Lord and his word bring us unshakable joy.
Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!"
2 Corinthians 12:9 Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weadnesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.
When we are weak we may be more receptive to the Lord's strength. When God works through our weakness we know it is his work and not ours.
Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
Depression is one of the ways God gets us to rest and to finally slow down long enough to be with the Lord. As we come to Him through prayer and the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit comforts and strengthens us--often in ways we cannot explain.
Romans 8:31-32 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since God did not spare even his own Son, but gave him up for ua all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?
Never underestimate the power of God's affirmation and his willingness to give us all we need for this life. Everything else we need is minimal compared with the infinite and costly gift of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Psoaring through Psalms
Good morning, dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, the sky was overcast, so no stars were visible. But last night, I stepped outside just to look at Venus and Jupiter, still beaming brightly in the southwestern sky...and almost overhead was the three quarter moon, some distance away from the planets! Beautiful! God's Creation is awesome!
Yesterday, Terry, our retired friend from the Park, came over to put up our outside Christmas lights. He is keeping busy in retirement, and looks very relaxed in the face. It is a blessing to have friends to help us out in various ways. God is good!
Speaking of the park, we drove through and saw Ibis reflected in the still water. They looked like a still photo. Colored leaves were floating on the surface, and the usual anhingas were drying out their wings perched anywhere they could find a place to hang onto. It seems like there are a lot more woodstorks around this winter, but somehow, they don't find their way to Sawgrass.
From the Promise Bible NLT:
DEPRESSION
Psalm 42:5,6 Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again--my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember your kindness--from Mount Herman, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.
Depression is a time for soul-searching, for asking basic questions. We are often discouraged because we concentrate on our circumstances instead of on the Lord who will always care for us. The psalmist's questions awakened him to the reality that God alone is our source of comfort and hope. When we are depressed, we need to remind ourselves that God has been faithful in the past and will be faithful in the present.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safety over the mountains.
Much depression is caused by trusting in the things of this world instead of in God. We will be disappointed if our happiness is based on security, prestige, possessions and popularity. These things come and go. Trusting in God helps us travel through the toughest times with surefooted confidence.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday, Terry, our retired friend from the Park, came over to put up our outside Christmas lights. He is keeping busy in retirement, and looks very relaxed in the face. It is a blessing to have friends to help us out in various ways. God is good!
Speaking of the park, we drove through and saw Ibis reflected in the still water. They looked like a still photo. Colored leaves were floating on the surface, and the usual anhingas were drying out their wings perched anywhere they could find a place to hang onto. It seems like there are a lot more woodstorks around this winter, but somehow, they don't find their way to Sawgrass.
From the Promise Bible NLT:
DEPRESSION
Psalm 42:5,6 Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again--my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember your kindness--from Mount Herman, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.
Depression is a time for soul-searching, for asking basic questions. We are often discouraged because we concentrate on our circumstances instead of on the Lord who will always care for us. The psalmist's questions awakened him to the reality that God alone is our source of comfort and hope. When we are depressed, we need to remind ourselves that God has been faithful in the past and will be faithful in the present.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safety over the mountains.
Much depression is caused by trusting in the things of this world instead of in God. We will be disappointed if our happiness is based on security, prestige, possessions and popularity. These things come and go. Trusting in God helps us travel through the toughest times with surefooted confidence.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, December 8, 2008
A Benediction for this week
Good morning, dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the chilly day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!
When I stepped outside this morning, stars were brilliant, but I could see no sign of the moon. I know it is getting full, but it was hidden earlier.
Yesterday, we saw a large, fat gator basking in the sun at the park, and lots of people enjoying the perfect weather with picnics and walking. God os good!
Something strange happened last night. I stayed up later than usual watching the three hankie Hall of Fame presentation, and when I came back to the bedroom, the two anniversary balloons were floating in front of the mirror. What is strange is that they had to float down the hall, through the living room and I never saw them!! Creepy. Their long ribbons got caught in the fan and now they have a very short string hanging down. The fan has not been untangled yet...not the ceiling fan, but a floor fan. Sigh. Another job. But at least I will learn how to clean the floor fan... :o)
I saw this in the Hymns for the Family of God and thought it would be great for this week:
May the Lord take from you all resistance to His will.
May He give to you the fullness of His life.
and the sufficiency of His practical, daily help.
May the Lord send you during this week to come to those
He can only serve through your unique experience of His
and your very special abilities.
May the Lord bring us together even when we are apart,
as we learn to be supportive of one another in our prayers
and our service.
Amen
Bryan Jeffrey Leech
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
When I stepped outside this morning, stars were brilliant, but I could see no sign of the moon. I know it is getting full, but it was hidden earlier.
Yesterday, we saw a large, fat gator basking in the sun at the park, and lots of people enjoying the perfect weather with picnics and walking. God os good!
Something strange happened last night. I stayed up later than usual watching the three hankie Hall of Fame presentation, and when I came back to the bedroom, the two anniversary balloons were floating in front of the mirror. What is strange is that they had to float down the hall, through the living room and I never saw them!! Creepy. Their long ribbons got caught in the fan and now they have a very short string hanging down. The fan has not been untangled yet...not the ceiling fan, but a floor fan. Sigh. Another job. But at least I will learn how to clean the floor fan... :o)
I saw this in the Hymns for the Family of God and thought it would be great for this week:
May the Lord take from you all resistance to His will.
May He give to you the fullness of His life.
and the sufficiency of His practical, daily help.
May the Lord send you during this week to come to those
He can only serve through your unique experience of His
and your very special abilities.
May the Lord bring us together even when we are apart,
as we learn to be supportive of one another in our prayers
and our service.
Amen
Bryan Jeffrey Leech
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, December 5, 2008
A Firm Foundation
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside much earlier steady Venus was still in place, but the moon was nowhere to be seen, It was a chilly morning, but now the sun is shining and the day is warming up.
Our friend, David, was already here to mow the front yard and blow all the acorns and leaves off the driveway. We are blessed to have someone dependable to rely on to do" fix up "things for us.
We saw a very large, fat gator half in and half out of the water yesterday at the Park. At least he was getting the tail warmed up! As i was walking Wednesday, I stopped to let a patron take a photo with his tripod camera. I couldn't see what he was aiming at, but when he finished, I walked on and saw a butterfly posing on the top rail. It didn't fly away until I had passed it. It was orange with black spots, but I don't remember the name. God's Creation is Awesome!
From Quiet Moments with God:
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:25
The world's tallest tower stands in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The first observation deck rises to 1,136 feet, and second is even higher at 1,915 feet. Photographs and information located inside the tower help visitors comprehend the enormous undertaking of the project. Sixty two tons of earth and shale were removed from fifty feet into the ground for laying the concrete that rises to the sky.
From 1972 to 1974, 3,000 workers were at the tower site. Harnessed by safety ropes, some of the laborers dangled outside the giant for their finishing work. Remarkably, no one sustained injuries nor died on location.
Today, a rapid elevator transports visitors upward for a breathtaking view of the city and all surrounding areas. Many feel it was well worth the money, time, and effort required to build the CN tower.
We, too, need a good foundation for facing life each day. As we pray and spend time with our Heavenly Father, we are strengthening our spiritual foundation, our support base for life. We are able to see more from His point of view and not just our own. Thus we are not overwhelmed by whatever comes our way. When we feel we're hanging on the edge or suspended in mid-air, we can take courage in knowing He is holding us-firmly planted- in the palm of his hand His foundation is strong and sure, and He will not crumble and fall.
Faith is the Christian's
foundation. Hope is
his anchor. Dearh is his
harbor. Christ is his pilot,
and heaven is
his country.
Jeremy Taylor
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Our friend, David, was already here to mow the front yard and blow all the acorns and leaves off the driveway. We are blessed to have someone dependable to rely on to do" fix up "things for us.
We saw a very large, fat gator half in and half out of the water yesterday at the Park. At least he was getting the tail warmed up! As i was walking Wednesday, I stopped to let a patron take a photo with his tripod camera. I couldn't see what he was aiming at, but when he finished, I walked on and saw a butterfly posing on the top rail. It didn't fly away until I had passed it. It was orange with black spots, but I don't remember the name. God's Creation is Awesome!
From Quiet Moments with God:
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:25
The world's tallest tower stands in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The first observation deck rises to 1,136 feet, and second is even higher at 1,915 feet. Photographs and information located inside the tower help visitors comprehend the enormous undertaking of the project. Sixty two tons of earth and shale were removed from fifty feet into the ground for laying the concrete that rises to the sky.
From 1972 to 1974, 3,000 workers were at the tower site. Harnessed by safety ropes, some of the laborers dangled outside the giant for their finishing work. Remarkably, no one sustained injuries nor died on location.
Today, a rapid elevator transports visitors upward for a breathtaking view of the city and all surrounding areas. Many feel it was well worth the money, time, and effort required to build the CN tower.
We, too, need a good foundation for facing life each day. As we pray and spend time with our Heavenly Father, we are strengthening our spiritual foundation, our support base for life. We are able to see more from His point of view and not just our own. Thus we are not overwhelmed by whatever comes our way. When we feel we're hanging on the edge or suspended in mid-air, we can take courage in knowing He is holding us-firmly planted- in the palm of his hand His foundation is strong and sure, and He will not crumble and fall.
Faith is the Christian's
foundation. Hope is
his anchor. Dearh is his
harbor. Christ is his pilot,
and heaven is
his country.
Jeremy Taylor
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The First New Shoes
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Well, I overslept this morning, so the daylight had already washed away the darkness, but last evening, I looked once again at the crescent moon, which has moved further to the south, and saw Venus and Jupiter in their same positions. Awesome!
Yesterday afternoon, I was determined to take a Park walk, so I enjoyed the coolish air, and looked at Mama gator for a few minutes, then on to the tower. I heard a small chirp and watched a tiny wren flitting around the nude maple trees. Then I saw a single moorhen at the tower. They have not been around for some time, but usually are in pairs, so I wonder where the other half was? Anyway, the wind was blowing quite strongly, and the leaves were all over the boardwalk, so I just scuffed through them and really enjoyed the outdoors. I was really warm by the time I finished the walk! But God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God
Matthew 25:40
The king will reply,"I tell you the truth, watever you did for one of the least of these brothers or mine, you did for me."
As the depression continued, the kitchen cabinets remained empty. Money was scarce. Their father, who had already deserted his family once before, couldn't handle the pressure and left again. As the oldest son, Jerry hit the road to try to earn some money to buy food for his three younger brothers. The air was bitterly cold, and the ground was frozen.
As Jerry walked, he saw some men digging a hold beside the road. "Can I help?" he asked.
"Sure," one of the men said as he handed him a shovel.
Jerry worked hard. For hours he dug in the bitter cold through frozen dirt while sleet pelted the ground. The men handed him a few coins before quitting. The yound boy stopped by the corner market to buy some canned goods for Christmas dinner the following day.
As he walked out of the store, the rain and sleet picked up and poured down on him. He had placed cardboard inside his shoes to replace the worn-out soles, and that had worked fine until the freezing wateer soaked his socks and feet. He sat down on the cold ground to adjust the cardboard.
"Son, are those the only shoes you have?" a man in uniform asked.
"Yes, sir," Jerry replied.
"Come with me," the man said, and he took him to a shoe store down the street, where he bought him his first pair of brand new shoes.
The light of Christmas shone brightly at the kitchen table as Jerry's family enjoyed the meal that he had earned the day before, digging a ditch in the freezing cold. The Love of Jesus--and the memory of a kind man in a uniform--brought tears to Jerry's eyes as he thanked God for taking care of them all, even in the worst of times.
Love goes without, that
another may have.
Rev. J. M. Gibbon
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday afternoon, I was determined to take a Park walk, so I enjoyed the coolish air, and looked at Mama gator for a few minutes, then on to the tower. I heard a small chirp and watched a tiny wren flitting around the nude maple trees. Then I saw a single moorhen at the tower. They have not been around for some time, but usually are in pairs, so I wonder where the other half was? Anyway, the wind was blowing quite strongly, and the leaves were all over the boardwalk, so I just scuffed through them and really enjoyed the outdoors. I was really warm by the time I finished the walk! But God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God
Matthew 25:40
The king will reply,"I tell you the truth, watever you did for one of the least of these brothers or mine, you did for me."
As the depression continued, the kitchen cabinets remained empty. Money was scarce. Their father, who had already deserted his family once before, couldn't handle the pressure and left again. As the oldest son, Jerry hit the road to try to earn some money to buy food for his three younger brothers. The air was bitterly cold, and the ground was frozen.
As Jerry walked, he saw some men digging a hold beside the road. "Can I help?" he asked.
"Sure," one of the men said as he handed him a shovel.
Jerry worked hard. For hours he dug in the bitter cold through frozen dirt while sleet pelted the ground. The men handed him a few coins before quitting. The yound boy stopped by the corner market to buy some canned goods for Christmas dinner the following day.
As he walked out of the store, the rain and sleet picked up and poured down on him. He had placed cardboard inside his shoes to replace the worn-out soles, and that had worked fine until the freezing wateer soaked his socks and feet. He sat down on the cold ground to adjust the cardboard.
"Son, are those the only shoes you have?" a man in uniform asked.
"Yes, sir," Jerry replied.
"Come with me," the man said, and he took him to a shoe store down the street, where he bought him his first pair of brand new shoes.
The light of Christmas shone brightly at the kitchen table as Jerry's family enjoyed the meal that he had earned the day before, digging a ditch in the freezing cold. The Love of Jesus--and the memory of a kind man in a uniform--brought tears to Jerry's eyes as he thanked God for taking care of them all, even in the worst of times.
Love goes without, that
another may have.
Rev. J. M. Gibbon
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Beatitudes
Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the chilly day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, it was too early to see the frost across the street, but when the sun came up, all the roofs were covered and the lawns were white and frosty. It was pretty, but very cold!
Did you all see the convergence of the moon and Venus and Jupiter last evening? Beautiful! God has arranged a show for all who look up at sunset in the southwestern sky. The waxing moon and the two planets are very close together right now. They won't be that close again until 2052. This is believed to be the star that told of the birth of Jesus, when Jupiter and Venus were so close they seemed to be one.
God is Awesome!
As we drove through the Park yesterday, I noticed that the cypress trees are all brown and shedding, and the maple trees are nearly through casting off their leaves. A fat gator was basking in the sun on a bank by the lake, unnoticed by many people who drove right by and are not looking. God is good!
The Beatitudes from the NIV:
Now when He saw the crowds,
He went up on a mountainside and sat down.
His disciples came to Him
and He began to teach them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God
Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you and falsely say
all kinds of evil against you
because of Me.
Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven.
For in the same way
They persecuted the prophets
who were before you.
Matthew 5:1-12
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Did you all see the convergence of the moon and Venus and Jupiter last evening? Beautiful! God has arranged a show for all who look up at sunset in the southwestern sky. The waxing moon and the two planets are very close together right now. They won't be that close again until 2052. This is believed to be the star that told of the birth of Jesus, when Jupiter and Venus were so close they seemed to be one.
God is Awesome!
As we drove through the Park yesterday, I noticed that the cypress trees are all brown and shedding, and the maple trees are nearly through casting off their leaves. A fat gator was basking in the sun on a bank by the lake, unnoticed by many people who drove right by and are not looking. God is good!
The Beatitudes from the NIV:
Now when He saw the crowds,
He went up on a mountainside and sat down.
His disciples came to Him
and He began to teach them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God
Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you and falsely say
all kinds of evil against you
because of Me.
Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven.
For in the same way
They persecuted the prophets
who were before you.
Matthew 5:1-12
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Strength
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside much earlier, the clouds were scudding swiftly across the darkened sky and a few stars were shining. The north wind was very chilly, and the temp. seems to be dropping.
I went to sleep with the sound of rain coming softly down, and everything was very wet, which is good. We still need lots of rain.
Yesterday, I walked through the Park and looked at mama gator still standing watch over the one or two babies left. I could hardly see her for the people hanging over the railing looking at her. We also went to Walmart after that, and I walked from Christmas to oatmeal, so that was another good bit of exercise! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I experience God's strength in my life?
Jeremiah 8:10 Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. this is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Strength starts in the heart long before it is exerted in other aspects of life. The joy of the Lord gives us strength to obey, to endure, and to triumph in all circumstances.
Isaiah 40:29,31 He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak...Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. they will walk and not faint.
Life wears us out, but waiting on the Lord renews our strength. Our limitations remind us to rely more fully on the Lord.
What can I do in God's strength?
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
There are no limits to what God can do in and through us.
Psalm 18:1,2 I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior, my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold...In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. As for God, his way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
Ephesians 3:20 Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
God's strength in us is a result of his love for us. In his strength we have the power to do things that we could never do on our own. We can withstand the toughest attacks and can take the offensive to overcome our problems.
Psalm 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength; always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.
By God's strength we can live without fear, because God's strength drives out fear.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I went to sleep with the sound of rain coming softly down, and everything was very wet, which is good. We still need lots of rain.
Yesterday, I walked through the Park and looked at mama gator still standing watch over the one or two babies left. I could hardly see her for the people hanging over the railing looking at her. We also went to Walmart after that, and I walked from Christmas to oatmeal, so that was another good bit of exercise! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I experience God's strength in my life?
Jeremiah 8:10 Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. this is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Strength starts in the heart long before it is exerted in other aspects of life. The joy of the Lord gives us strength to obey, to endure, and to triumph in all circumstances.
Isaiah 40:29,31 He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak...Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. they will walk and not faint.
Life wears us out, but waiting on the Lord renews our strength. Our limitations remind us to rely more fully on the Lord.
What can I do in God's strength?
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
There are no limits to what God can do in and through us.
Psalm 18:1,2 I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior, my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold...In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. As for God, his way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
Ephesians 3:20 Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
God's strength in us is a result of his love for us. In his strength we have the power to do things that we could never do on our own. We can withstand the toughest attacks and can take the offensive to overcome our problems.
Psalm 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength; always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.
By God's strength we can live without fear, because God's strength drives out fear.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, December 1, 2008
Happy December First!
Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, the sky was clear and dark and Venus was shining brightly as was an airplane as high, it seemed, as Venus.
I really enjoyed the rain yesterday. Everything looks fresh today and wet. Lots of leaves and twigs were blown down by the strong winds that preceded the rain and I picked up some to put in the dumpster which gets emptied today.
We drove through the Park and even though the weather was threatening and blowing, there were still quite a lot of people out enjoying it. I spotted some anhingas and turtles, but no gator. There was a very interesting article in the paper yesterday about the bike trail through the Everglades and how many times gators are on the trail. I once was coming back down the sidewalk at Sawgrass, when a very large gator crossed the sidewalk in front of me to get to the canal. I gave him the right of way!! God is Awesome!
Excerpts from Psalm 139 NLT:
O lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my every thought when far away.
You Chart the path ahead of me.
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You both precede and follow me,
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to know!
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night--
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines bright as day.
Darkness and light are both alike to you.
...Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you..
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I really enjoyed the rain yesterday. Everything looks fresh today and wet. Lots of leaves and twigs were blown down by the strong winds that preceded the rain and I picked up some to put in the dumpster which gets emptied today.
We drove through the Park and even though the weather was threatening and blowing, there were still quite a lot of people out enjoying it. I spotted some anhingas and turtles, but no gator. There was a very interesting article in the paper yesterday about the bike trail through the Everglades and how many times gators are on the trail. I once was coming back down the sidewalk at Sawgrass, when a very large gator crossed the sidewalk in front of me to get to the canal. I gave him the right of way!! God is Awesome!
Excerpts from Psalm 139 NLT:
O lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my every thought when far away.
You Chart the path ahead of me.
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You both precede and follow me,
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to know!
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night--
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines bright as day.
Darkness and light are both alike to you.
...Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you..
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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