Monday, June 16, 2008

Encouragement

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! The breeze is blowing, and the sun is shining, and it is a bit cooler this morning, so God is Good!

My amaryllis are still blooming and a potted hibiscus has had several ruffled blooms and this morning I noticed my lone caladium has a big colorful leaf showing! I had given up on it.

Yesterday, after church, we drove through the Park and Matthew saw Terry and wanted to go see him so we pulled into the Maintenance area and chatted with him for awhile. Matthew spied a couple gators swimming and then discussed with Terry the merits of different sport bikes (motorcycles).

Later in the day, I discovered I needed milk (again!) and so we once again took a detour through the Park, and noticed a car stopped on the road, so we looked and on the grass behind the fence was a large gator. We were in time to see him walk back into the water! There is always something going on at the Park!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

What do I do when I feel overwhelmed?

Leviticus 26:2 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 enables you to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light. For he has rescued me 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 the power to be patient and persistent and to keep our minds set on the great hope that awaits us. When we remember that we are already free, the problems of this 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