Perseverance and Endurance

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! I was surprised when I went outside much earlier to see all clouds...guess I did not pay attention to the weather forecast. Maybe we will get some more rain as we still need it desperately. Hillsborough Co. is discussing the decision whether or not to ban all sprinkler use and car washes at home. But God knows our need and will fill it in His time! Because God is GoOD!

As I went to the Park yesterday, I saw a big turtle and a little turtle side by side, sunning on the banks of the weir. Lots of people were out with their dogs and kids, since this is spring break. The grass is greener now, with the little rain we had, so even though messy, the park looks better. I got my walking in at Walmart, where I saw one of the Indy cars on display in the parking lot. It was attracting a lot of attention!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

What purposes do endurance and perseverance serve in my life?

1 Peter 1:6-7 Be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

2 peter 1:5-9 Make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least very shortsighted. They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.

Endurance is like the fire that purifies precious metals and hardens valuable pottery. It cleanses, clarifies, and solidifies our faith. Living through the trials and tests of life is often the most significant way to discover the riches of our faith.


I always thank God for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Perseverance and Endurance

Good Morning Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the cool, clear day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Although I have been up for a few hours, my spouse slept late, so I could not really get started on my chores until he was taken care of.

Anyway, here is is the start of a new week and things look promising. I noticed that I have an amaryllis blooming and a large bud on another one. I did not think I would have any blooms this year, because of the dry weather. I did not water them much, but although smaller, they are brightly blooming. God is GOoD!

Well, I did not get to walk Saturday. As most of you know, there was a strong wind all day and the boardwalk was closed. I went to the Park yesterday and walked up on the bridge and spied a large tilapia swimming at the surface. It would have looked good on a platter! :o)

We were unable to attend church because of the rains, but I watched the electronic church... not the same.

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Where do I find the strength to keep going when I'm tempted to give up?

Galatians 6:9 Don;t get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.

Endurance comes from keeping our thoughts on the promise of the harvest, not the problems of the moment.

Philippians 1:6 I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

Philippians 2:12-13 Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

We do not endure through our own strength alone. God is at work in our lives., He gives us strength to keep going when we are exhausted and the reasons to keep believing when we are discouraged.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Encouraging words from 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! Looks like we will have a cloudy day today, which is not good for the air show this weekend at MacDill, but if it brings rain, that is what we need.

I think we have some friendlier squirrels in our trees, now. A little pregnant fuzzy responded to me when I clicked my tongue, so I got a couple peanuts and she went for them. After she was up in the tree, I took some crunchy peanut butter and swabbed it on the knot they like to sit on. The bluejays didn't see it, so she sat up there and ate it all herself! I have a bowl of water out on the wall of our porch and lots of critters come to drink, including a big feral cat! I don't really want him hanging around, but they have to drink, too.

I saw the same gator hanging out on the bank by the weir yesterday at the Park, and a great blue heron standing by the bank hunting for his lunch. Because of the sore foot and cranky knee, I have not been able to walk in the park this week..maybe tomorrow!

Peace In Troubled Times

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding:
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth,
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him.
And delivers them,
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:1-8

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs and have a great weekend!
Amaryllis

Integrity

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! What a windy, cool morning we have! When I stepped outside earlier, the stars were shining, but I didn't linger long because it was quite cool. I heard a prediction that we will have rain and a cold front Sunday. Hmm. March is going out like a lion!

I spotted an alligator on the side of the canal in front of the weir yesterday, and although his tail was all that was visible, it looked like a big one. An egret was looking intently at the water, as usual. I wonder if they ever look up... While I was in the supermarket parking lot I saw the osprey on her nest and also at Sawgrass Elementary. Seems like the ospreys are building nests everywhere this spring! But God is good!

Courage to be Men and Women of Integrity:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in his law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 1:1-6

A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion,
Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance,
He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast; trusting in the Lord.
Psalm 112:5-7

If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my integrity.
Job 31:5-6

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Praying for Patience

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the coolish morning that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Yesterday Louis had an early appointment with the audiologist to check the hearing aids, so I did not have time to send the morning email. This has been a good month with no doctor appointments, which means we are pretty healthy physically! Yay!

I had the occasion to have a phone conversation with one of the retired Sawgrass employees and he really vented about the condition of the Park, since everyone left. He was working on the irrigation before he had to retire, and it has never been fixed, so nothing has been watered in months. No one blows the leaves off any more, either and so the roadway is covered.

I know it is declining in appearance, but I still find peace there watching the wildlife, and walking on the boardwalk. Yesterday I watched an egret looking for a fish, and the ibis pecking and very busily looking at the ground. On the way in, Mr. Peacock was proudly displaying his tail feathers for a couple of peahens who were nearby. God is good!

From the little book God's Promises for Men (actually they are for everyone)

God listens to us when we pray for patience:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to each, patient.
2 Timothy 2:24

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 12:1

For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.
Romans 15:3-5

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Happy Birthday, Gil!

My Morning Prayer

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the cool day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! It seems that a "cold front" is coming through with the clouds and cooler wind blowing...must be a last of the cool air before summer, since this is spring already. :o)

I was able to take a nice walk Saturday morning and enjoyed getting out fairly early. I stopped at the gator spot and watched as Mama popped up out of the water, and then stopped at the new gator nest, but saw no activity. After walking to the tower, I was looking for maybe an osprey, but instead, saw something I had never seen before. A banded kingfisher swooped over the water and hovered for several seconds over the lake!! I was so excited! I have seen smaller kingfishers, but never a banded one hovering. God is good! Then, on the way back, I stopped again to check out Mama gator, and there was a baby! I only saw one, but it was wiggling under a bank.

When I came home, I checked in my bird book and, sure enough, banded kingfishers do hover! There was an illustration of one doing just that! I really was blessed!

I thought I would send a copy of My Morning Prayer again, which I pray every day; a good way to start the week...

"Oh, God, for another day, for another morning,
for another hour for another minute, for another
chance to live and serve Thee, I am truly grateful."
Do Thou this day free me
from all fear of the future.
from all bitterness toward anyone.
From all cowardice in face of danger
from all laziness in face of work,
from all failure before opportunity
from all weakness when Thy power is at hand.

But fill me
with Love that knows no barrier
with Sympathy that reaches all
with Courage that cannot be shaken
with Faith strong enough for darkness,
with Strength sufficient for my tasks,
with Loyalty to Thy Kingdom Goal,
with Power to lift me to Thee.

Be Thou with me for another day and use
me as Thou wilt for Christ's sake, I pray,
Amen

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 119

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 birds were already chirping and dawn was breaking. the air was cool and promising to be warm later on.
We are still very dry and needing a good rain. We keep praying that God will provide because He knows our needs.

Speaking of birds, my little bowl of water on the wall is attracting all critters. A large cat was drinking the other day, and bluejays always drink. Yesterday, a tiny warbler landed and twittered about...they are nervous little birds. Even the squirrels come to get water. This drought affects everyone and everything.

I saw a great blue heron at the Park yesterday, silently keeping watch over the canal, as he waited for his lunch to come along. Lots of ibis and squirrels scampering about. There is one large turtle that has been hanging out there for years...seems like he knows how to escape the gators! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 119:1-8
Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the Lord.
Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your principles!
Then I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with your commands.
When I learn your righteous laws, I will thank you by living as I should!
I will obey your principles.
Please don't give up on me!

156... Lord how great is your mercy;
in your justice, give me back my life.
Many persecute and trouble me,
yet I have not swerved from your decrees.
I hate these traitors because they care nothing for your word.
See how I love your commandments, Lord.
Give me back my life because of your unfailing love.
All your words are true; all your just laws will stand forever.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Neighbors and discernment

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, we now have several big bags of leaves waiting to be disposed of. After much sneezing and blowing, the student and his Mom got a bunch of the leaves and "feathers" raked up, and after I decided that they were not going to be able to get them all, I pitched in and raked enough to get a blister on the lower part of my thumb. Now, the yard just needs mowing.

While I was out, many of the neighbors were walking dogs, or just getting exercise. Mr. Soon , (from Cambodia, I think)Was out walking with his daughter. He used to bring me flowers on Friday nights, but had to retire from his job due to his health...the neighbors across the street and others shouted out encouragement and greetings! It was a good evening!

I walked to the tower yesterday, after I gave Mike some shamrock cookies. He was fishing for the aquarium fish and turtles, and he showed me his catch of the day. Then I started my walk and discovered a new gator nest, and also saw Mama gator in her usual spot by the shelter. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NT:

When I am confused, where do I turn for clarity, wisdom, understanding, and direction?

James 1:5-8 If you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. they can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.

Psalm 119:125 Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your decrees.

Discernment is the ability to interpret events and to understand the true nature of people and situations. Discernment is an aspect of wisdom. It enables us to see behind the facades that mask the truth. Discernment shows us the way through the maze of options that face us. Like the sun that burns away the fog, discernment cuts through confusion and distractions. Whereas the devil is the "father of lies," God is the father of the truth, and he gives discernment to those who seek it.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Integrity

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, the clouds from yesterday have disappeared and now the sky is clear and the sun is shining! Believe it or not, as I came out of the Library yesterday, a fine sprinkle was falling, but it soon quit...not enough to wet anything, but maybe a promise.

There seem to be more and more people finding Sawgrass Park these days. Maybe because it is free and a great place just to set up your comfy chair and read or enjoy gazing at the canal and all the wildlife. It always seems to have a crowd at all hours. We had to stop behind a truck yesterday while the passenger snapped some shots of a peacock that walked right up to the person, thinking they had a handout for him. He ran his ungainly self away when the truck drove off. :o) They are beautiful but awkward.

From a little book, God's Promises:

Courage to be men of integrity

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 1:1-6

Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight. When Pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom, the integrity of the upright will guide them. But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
Proverbs 11:1-3

The righteous man walks in his integrity, His children are blessed after him.
Proverbs 20:7

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Happy St. Patrick's day!

Happy March 17th, dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! It is overcast, but I don't see rain in our future any time soon, so we keep on praying. Yesterday, I watered our staghorn fern and it is so weird to see the blanket of oak seeds on the ground. and that is what it is, a blanket. If the youth from church don't come soon, I will have to get out and start raking.

I know they have a lot of yards to do, because everyone is raking leaves and seeds.

We saw two peacocks on the way to the park yesterday...beautiful feathers! God used his palette when he created them!

A few scriptures from a little book I have:

Therefore is there is any consolation in Christ, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:1-4

But those who wait on the Lord
shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:7-9

The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Ecclesiastes 7:8

And now, An Irish Blessing;

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields,
and until we meet again
May the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand.

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Excerpts from Ecclesiastes

Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it1 When I stepped outside in the darkness this morning, the half moon had lost some of its brilliance, so I could see the stars faintly twinkling all around it. Now, I think it must be a little misty because the sun is not shining, yet.

I spied two peacocks yesterday on our trip to the Park...the male has very long tail feathers, which do not seem to bother him when he hops up on cars or fences. I have seen them roost in trees, with the long feathers hanging down. Sometimes they fly up on roof tops. I also saw a beautiful egret reflected in the canal and yesterday a lady cardinal came to get water from a bowl I put out on our wall. She just sat and let the breeze blow her tiny feathers on her top knot. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ecclesiastes 4
The Advantages of Companionship

I observed yet another example of meaninglessness in our world. This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, "Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?" It is all so meaningless and depressing.

Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Paul's Prayer

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 moon was hidden by clouds, but I could tell it was valiantly trying to shine through them. The sky is still pretty cloudy, but I don't think it will bring rain.

Yesterday, I walked to the tower at the Park, stopping along the way, to look at Mama gator, still in her spot at the first shelter. She was in the water, with her head out at the bank. She is gray, but the large one on the bank across from the entrance bridge, was very black. The sun was hot, because it was almost noon, so I should have carried an umbrella for shade, but I enjoyed the walk, anyway, It was odd that I didn't see any squirrels and no birds, but God is good!

From Ephesians 1:15-23

Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.

I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Send in the Clowns

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 about 6 AM The moon was still brightly shining, even though a little lop-sided. Now, the sun is shining, as usual, and the day will be warm.

Yesterday as I was taking some lemon cake to Mike at Sawgrass, I saw a gator's tail on the bank, but the rest of the gator was in the water..guess his tail needed some sun.:o) Mike and a volunteer have been working on locating all the gopher tortoise holes in the Park, and were using an Earth Google photo. I was amazed that the white sand shows up clearly, indicating where the holes are. Mike is worried about the gophers being vulnerable to the dogs and people that can now walk to where they are, since the fence was taken down. He is very interesting to talk to. While I was there, he had a phone call from someone who wanted to know who owned the place. Mike told him "As a matter of fact, you do. This is a public park belonging to the taxpayers." Click. End of telemarketing. He gets several calls like that periodically.

From the book Quiet Moments with God for Teachers:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23

When the circus came to town, posters, bulletin boards, billboards announced the performance dates, and TV commercials urged everyone to "Come one, come all!" The most anticipated performance of all the acts were the clowns. With their crazy antics and outlandish costumes, they livened up each performance.

Clowns work hard at their profession. In fact, in order to travel with the Ringling Bros. Circus, clowns must successfully complete clown college-an intense course of study that covers everything from makeup to pratfalls,costuming to making balloon animals, juggling to sleight of hand. Only after clowns have mastered all of these skills can they take their place in the circus ring.

As Sheila stood at the stove sauteing vegetables for supper, she sensed a connection to this group of performers in the circus. Though she didn't wear a costume or makeup, she worked hard at juggling-balancing her time among home, family, students, friends and church. She wasn't skilled at card tricks or sleight of hand, but she could work "magic," explaining math concepts in ways any student could understand. And while she might not know the ins and outs of balloon animal art, Sheila make lots of other things, from costumes for school plays to crafty Christmas gifts and decorated birthday cakes.

God's Word says that we are to work at whatever we do with all our hearts, remembering that whatever we do is for the Lord. Whether we're clowns or cooks, tightrope walkers or teachers, we need to work hard at our professions. And when we do, we might just provide our students and families with some laughter along the way!

The average person puts only 25 percent of his energy and ability into his work.
Andrew Carnegie

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

More Prayer

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, there was no doubt where the full moon was this morning when I stepped outside! There it was, like a big floodlight, beaming down right over the house. It outshone all the stars around it. I heard and then saw a tiny airplane very high flying right over it. Their view must have been magnificent!. The plane looked tiny because of the distance, of course.

When we went to the Park yesterday, a lot of people still were there. This is spring break for a lot of kids, I guess, but lots of adults were there, also. PIcnics, reading, strolling, and just walking their dogs; all were enjoying the spring weather. I saw turtles sunning again, and a great white heron looking for a fish, plus the tribe of ibis. They all seem to stick together. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Why is prayer important?

Matthew 7:7-11 Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. You parents--if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

There's more to prayer than just getting an answer. God also does a work of grace in our own hearts through the act of prayer. As we persist in asking, seeking, and knocking, we gain a greater understanding of ourselves and of God.

How will God respond to my prayers?

Psalm 9:12 He who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore those who cry to him for help.

Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and care to God, for he cares about what happens to you.

We experience freedom when we give a burden over to the Lord in prayer--even before the prayer is answered. The assurance of God's love and concern refreshes us and renews our hope.

Philippians 4:6-7 Don't worry about anything: instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

There's no limit on prayer. Big requests, small requests, and all sizes in between are welcomed by God. If something bothers us, it should be brought to God.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Prayer

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, I could still see the stars and outside house lights on. All was quiet. There was no sign of the full moon, so it must really zoom around the earth fast, or vice versa.

Yesterday, I spied the kingfisher perched in almost the same spot where I see him looking over Lynch Lake. And I also saw the osprey on the nest at the supermarket parking lot. She left one day and landed on a pole not far away, and eliminated the day's food...not a pretty sight! I was happy the car was not near! :o)

There must be some ospreys nesting somewhere at Sawgrass, but I have not seen them..matter of fact, I have never seen an ibis nest or heron nest. When the tiny moorhens were there, they used to nest in the lilies that were eliminated. One time there were six eggs visible from the bridge, but the creatures move on. God has his plan.

From the Promise Bible NLT:

How can I know God hears my prayers?

Psalm 145:18 The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely.

The Lord invites us to make prayer our first response rather than our last resort. He always listens to those who are honest with him.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

1 Peter 3:12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.

Since prayer is a conversation with God, we must approach God with the same love and courtesy we bring to any relationship we value. We must be humble, not arrogant. We must admit our sin and seek God's forgiveness.

1 John 5:14-15 We can be4confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.

While we may not know God's specific will for every situation, we do know that his will is to empower our obedience, to overcome evil with good, and to equip us to be his witnesses. We can pray confidently for his power and guidance, knowing that we are asking for the very things he most longs to give.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Night Driving

Good morning. dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the DST day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! It seems really weird to step outside and have the sky dark and stars shining at 7 AM. It takes me awhile to get used to springing forward.

Yesterday I was able , thanks to the kindness of Brian to stay with Louis, to go to Weedon Island to see and hear Jeff Klinkenberg give a presentation about alligators. He was promoting his new book, "A Pilgrim in the Land of Alligators." The parking lot and room was packed. I had to park out by the street, and extra chairs were brought in, so I got a seat in the very back, but felt good to have it because some people had to stand for an hour and a half. Jeff is one of my favorite writers for the St. Pete Times, so I bought the book and had him autograph it. I have emailed him several times when I really enjoyed one of his articles. God is Good!

From the book Quiet Moments with God for Teachers:

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105 KJV

A woman confessed to a friend her confusion and hesitancy about an important life decision she was facing. She professed to believe in God but could not bring herself to rely on her faith to help choose her path.

"How can I know I'm doing the right thing?" she asked. "How can I possibly believe my decision will be right when I can't even see tomorrow?"

Her friend thought and finally said, "Here's how I look at it. You know when you're driving down a dark country road with no streetlights to give you any notion of where you are? It's a little scary. But you rely on the headlights. Now, those headlights may only show you ten yards of road in front of you, but you see where to go for that little stretch. And as you travel that ten-yard stretch of road, the headlights show you ten more yards, and ten more, until eventually you reach your destination safe and sound.

"That's how I feel about living by faith. I may not be able to see tomorrow, next week, or next year, but I know that God will give me the light to find my way when I need it."

When you come to the
edge of all the light
you know and are about
to step off into the
darkness of the
unknown. Faith is knowing one of two
things will happen.
There will be something
solid to stand on, or
you will be taught
how to fly.
Barbara J. Winter


-- I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Wise words from Colossians

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! I did get up earlier than usual, and saw the stars in the clear sky, but could not find the moon. I am planning to go to bed and hopefully sleep by 9 PM tomorrow night, since the time changes then. Sigh. I will probably feel the effects for a couple days.

Yesterday, I saw a young peacock with his tail feathers spread. I never noticed before how much prettier the young cocks are in color. It seems to be brighter and the "eyes" more pronounced in the tail feathers than the old guys. God made them very beautiful and colorful. Well, a leaf vacuum has been sweeping up the Park and it looks better...doesn't get up all the leaves, but most of them and is an improvement.I took some brownies over for Mike, but he had apparently left early, so I will try again. I also took some to my across the street neighbor, who very kindly came over and used her chain-saw to cut up a large branch that fell from our tree. She was a blessing!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Colossians 3 excerpts:

Since God chose you to be holy people whom he loves, you must clothe your selves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace and always be thankful'

Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites who can get away with evil.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Print It!

Good morning, dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the cool, sunny day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! I overslept again this morning,...seems like I do that a lot lately, so when I arose, no stars, just daylight and tons of oak seeds all over everything. We live in a yellow world these days, with the pollen flying around. Achoo!!

Even the Park is covered with seeds and oak trees. Not a good time for walking for those with allergies. I saw the reflection of an ibis in the canal and it was so old Florida. It looked beautiful , perched and waiting for lunch to swim along. God is good!

From the book Quiet Moments with God:

Be very careful then how you live. Not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.
Ephesians 5:15-16

When we come to the end of the day and wonder why things went wrong, we usually don't have to look very far to discover the answer. Somehow, we lost our sense of direction and couldn't seem to get back on track. To ensure this doesn't happen again, or at least not as often, we can take some advice from National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones.:

1. If there's a problem at work that
has you stymied, try looking at it from different
points of view. Pray for the eyes of your
understanding to be enlightened. (See Ephesians 1:18.)
Before he goes out to shoot, Jones knows he has
to have a good camera with the right lens.
Different lenses give different perspectives.
Jones experiments until he finds the right one.

2. Another important factor is focus.
A picture can be razor sharp, or if Jones prefers,
just the subject in the foreground will
be clearly in focus.

3. We sometimes become so focused on one aspect
of a problem, we lose sight of the big picture--
of other circumstances influencing the situation
or how the problem is going to affect others
if it isn't resolved properly. Look at the big
picture, then consider all individuals involved.
Jones allows his creative instincts to drive him
to find more than one "right" way to shoot a
photo. He uses about 400 rolls of film per
article--and each published article uses
approximately fifty photos.

4. Don't be afraid of experimenting with new
ideas and methods. Ask God to show you
great and mighty things that you haven't
known before. (See Jeremiah 33:3) When
Dewitt Jones empties his camera at the
end of a shoot, he knows he's given it his
best shot. He's looked at the subject he's
photographing in a many different ways
as he can think of.

If we've found the right perspective, stayed focused on what's truly important; been willing to try something different; and refused to let fear of failure paralyze us; we, too, can look back at our day and say, "Print it!"

No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.
Harry Emerson Fosdick

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

No Longer Enemies

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, daylight savings time will be here Sunday, and I can see why. When I stepped outside much earlier, the daylight had already obscured the stars. Still, I wish we would stay on Eastern all year. Sigh.

I took a courageous trip to Walmart yesterday and God was good to give me a close by parking space to the retail door. Apparently, they once more have rearranged the store, so the aisles are wider and the store looked very clean. Lots of Easter candy and baskets taking up a couple aisles. So I got my exercise inside, rather than outside.

We did drive through the Park and saw lots of people enjoying the crisp air and walking dogs. Turtles were sunning, as usual, and anhingas were drying out the feathers. the azaleas are really pretty there this year, even though they were trimmed down a lot last year.God is good!

From the book Quiet Moments with God:

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them."
Isaiah 11:6 KJV

The orange kitten was hungry. The grizzly bear was lonely. The man was apprehensive.

The cat weighed no more than 10 ounces when he first slid under the fence into the bear's pen. The man was almost in a panic, thinking the hungry grizzly would kill him with one swat and eat him for dinner.

The grizzly, whose name was Griz, had come to the Oregon wildlife center in 1990, when he was just a cub. Hit by a train while foraging on railroad tracks in Montana, he suffered severe head injuries and was deemed unfit to return to the wild.

The kitten was one of four kittens abandoned at the center early in the summer. Volunteers were able to find homes for the rest of the litter, but Cat, as he was now called, somehow eluded them.

Then, one day in July, Cat turned up in Griz's pen. Afraid to do anything that might alarm Griz, the man just watched, expecting the worst. As the 650 pound grizzly was eating his midday meal, something extraordinary happened. The bear very gently picked out a chicken wing with his forepaw and dropped it near Cat.

From that moment on, Griz and Cat became something of a slapstick animal act. Cat would lay in ambush, then leap out and swat Griz on his nose. Griz would carry Cat in his mouth. Cat would ride on Griz's back, and sometimes Griz would lick Cat.

Their friendly relationship defies both the patterns of nature, as well as their own troubled life histories. Griz never took advantage of Cat's weaknesses, and each animal has accommodated the other's needs.

What a lesson Griz and Cat offer! We can help each other break free from the patterns of our pasts that keep us from loving each other. As we pray for and care for others with the love of Jesus Christ, we obtain healing by the grace of God, both for them and ourselves!

Love is the by-product of our capacity to give what is deepest within ourselves, and to receive what is deepest within another person.
LLoyd J. Averill

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Character

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! It was hard to climb out of the warm covers this morning, but the day will warm up and later this week will be Hot! Yay!

I saw two fat gators lazying on the bank of the borrow pit lake yesterday and people were stopping their cars and running to take photos. Of all the gators I have seen at the Park over the many years I have been walking, I still get excited about seeing them in the wild. I also enjoy seeing the intense look in the great white heron's eyes as he looks for an unwary fish to swim by. I also saw the large, old gopher tortoise once again at the fence, trying to dig under. If he only would walk a little ways, he would find no fence, but I guess his little turtle brain does not know that. :o) God is good!

On a sadder note, I heard the Coast Guard plane flying over our house this morning, still searching for the three men lost in the Gulf. The CG does a tremendous job with their search and rescue duties! I pray for their safety.

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Will God do anything to change my character, or it it all up to me?

Galatians 5:22-23 When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce his kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, k9indness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.

Philippians 2:5, 12-13 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had....Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

A transformed character reflects God's work within us and our own choices. The Holy Spirit awakens our desire for love, integrity, and responsibility, but we must choose these in every situation.

What does God promise as we mature in godly character?

Matthew 5:8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

We will experience an increasing sense of God's presence and his blessing.

James 1:4 When your endurance is fully developed, yuou will be strong in character and ready for anything.

Romans 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us-they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

As we mature in our faith, we will become stronger and stronger people. Character is like a muscle-it gets stronger with exercise. As our character develops, our confidence in our salvation increases, and the assurance of God's love fills our hearts.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

A Daily Prayer

Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! Well, March roared in like a lion yesterday, but we were able to get to church in the rain without getting too damp. But today, while chilly, is still the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Since I parked under an oak tree at church, all the seeds fell all over the van, and I tracked in a lot getting into the car. Oh, well, I swept most of them out, but now the van really needs washing. I almost took it to the car wash Saturday, and am very glad I didn't!

After the clouds passed over, we got out to run a couple errands, and drove through the almost deserted Park, We saw a large gator sunning on the bank of the borrow pit lake and the gopher tortoise was in his usual spot at the fence. On the way home, the kingfisher was on the line overlooking Lynch Lake. God is good!

The following is a prayer sent to me by Lon Allison, director of the Billy Graham Center:

A Daily Prayer

"I discovered this prayer and find it deeply helpful in my own prayer life. I commend it to you on your journey of life with God."

O Holy Spirit of God, visit now this soul of mine, and tarry
within it until eventide.

Inspire all my thoughts.
Pervade all my imaginations.
Suggest all my decisions.

Lodge in my will's most inward citadel and order all my doings.

Be with me in my silence and in my speech, in my haste and in my leisure, in company and in solitude, in the freshness of the morning and in the weariness of evening;

And give me grace at all times to rejoice in thy mysterious companionship.

From "A Diary of Private Prayer" -John Baillie

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis