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, it is another cool morning and we have had the heat on, but the days warm up rapidly and no heat or A/C is needed...the best part of this time of the year!
As part of my thankfulness for this past year, I am thankful for dear friends who always unexpectedly give of themselves and their material things and always joyfully! I am thankful for the help that comes from dear ones and the encouragement.
We were able to go to church yesterday and it was good to be there as I saw quite a few faces I was not familiar with. Hopefully, Louis will get up early enough for us to go several times in the coming month. God is good!
Yesterday, on the way home, an osprey was flying very low in front of the car as it headed for its nest high on a pole at Sawgrass Elem. School. They are huge in their wingspan! I also went by two sad looking woodstorks by the lake , on my way to church and a mama duck with a row of her ducklings paddling across the same lake. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
I look up to the mountains---
does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made the heavens and the earth!
He will not let you stumble and fall,
the one who watches over you will not sleep.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never tires and never sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your
protective shade.
The sun will not hurt you by day,
nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all evil
and preserves your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you
come and go
both now and forever.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Whose Strength?
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the rainy day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Well, I was thankful for the rain yesterday, which we needed, but the Lord has brought it again today, and I have to go out to the store for a little more shopping for thanksgiving dinner, I hope I can be thankful for rain then! I took the trash can down to the curb this morning for pickup today rather than tomorrow. Thankfully, the rain had paused long enough for me to do that!
We did not go out all day yesterday...just stayed off the roads, reading and doing chores around the house. But I saw a tiny wren hopping about on the grass-the first one I have seen this winter! They have brown wings and a lighter tan body, and are very hard to see on the ground, but really cute! God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
When I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV
In the springtime it's fun to watch tiny baby birds with downy crowns begin to find their way around. They make their way to the edge of their nest and take a peek over to view the very large, unexplored world around them.
At first they may look into the abyss and then shrink back to the familiar security of their nest. Perhaps they imagine the strength of their own untried wings is all that will save them from a fatal fall--and they know how weak and unproven those little wings are! Yet, when they are either pushed out of the nest or gather courage to launch oiut on their own to try that first flight, they find the air supports them when they spread their wings.
How often do we allow unfamiliar situations and circumstances to loom large and threatening in our imaginations? Sometimes when we look at circumstances that lie outside our familiar "nest" we may feel just like a baby bird. We take a look at our own weakness, and we may want to turn around and head back to safety.
In times of crisis--either real or imagined--what is it that God has called us to do? He may be trying to push us out of our nest and "stretch our wings," so we can grow in our faith.
When Peter saw the Lord Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee, he cried out, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus replied, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. It was when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the wind, that he became frightened and began to sink. He cried out, "Lord, save me!" And, of course Jesus did! (Matthew 14:27-31.)
When you look to your resources, you may get a "sinking" feeling. This morning, look to Jesus and His resources. Then you will have courage to venture into unknown territory!
Let us not pray for lighter burdens,
but for stronger backs.
-Amish saying
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We did not go out all day yesterday...just stayed off the roads, reading and doing chores around the house. But I saw a tiny wren hopping about on the grass-the first one I have seen this winter! They have brown wings and a lighter tan body, and are very hard to see on the ground, but really cute! God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
When I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV
In the springtime it's fun to watch tiny baby birds with downy crowns begin to find their way around. They make their way to the edge of their nest and take a peek over to view the very large, unexplored world around them.
At first they may look into the abyss and then shrink back to the familiar security of their nest. Perhaps they imagine the strength of their own untried wings is all that will save them from a fatal fall--and they know how weak and unproven those little wings are! Yet, when they are either pushed out of the nest or gather courage to launch oiut on their own to try that first flight, they find the air supports them when they spread their wings.
How often do we allow unfamiliar situations and circumstances to loom large and threatening in our imaginations? Sometimes when we look at circumstances that lie outside our familiar "nest" we may feel just like a baby bird. We take a look at our own weakness, and we may want to turn around and head back to safety.
In times of crisis--either real or imagined--what is it that God has called us to do? He may be trying to push us out of our nest and "stretch our wings," so we can grow in our faith.
When Peter saw the Lord Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee, he cried out, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus replied, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. It was when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the wind, that he became frightened and began to sink. He cried out, "Lord, save me!" And, of course Jesus did! (Matthew 14:27-31.)
When you look to your resources, you may get a "sinking" feeling. This morning, look to Jesus and His resources. Then you will have courage to venture into unknown territory!
Let us not pray for lighter burdens,
but for stronger backs.
-Amish saying
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Giving Thanks
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 may be getting rain today and then turning colder, but we really need the rain! A good day for soup and baking!
I took a trip to Walmart yesterday and realized children had no school, mostly because they were all in the store with their Moms! Lots of people buying Thanksgiving stuff, blocking aisles, and concentrating on their lists. I managed to get all that was on my list and was glad to leave!
It was good to stop at the quietness and peace of the Park, and see the wildlife carrying on as usual, instead of the wildlife in Walmart.
The turtles were sunning and a flock of ibis peacefully pecking on the ground. A friend pointed out to me that ospreys are nesting on top of a pole in the parking lot between CVS and Publix. They pick any tall spot they can find to build their nests! God is good!
This is one of my favorite songs to sing in church or anywhere...from the Covenant Hymnal Especially good at this time of year.
Give Thanks
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the holy One,
give thanks because he's given
Jesus Christ, his son.
And now, let the weak say "I am strong."
let the poor say, "I am rich,"
because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the holy One,
give thanks because he's given
Jesus Christ, his son....give thanks!
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I took a trip to Walmart yesterday and realized children had no school, mostly because they were all in the store with their Moms! Lots of people buying Thanksgiving stuff, blocking aisles, and concentrating on their lists. I managed to get all that was on my list and was glad to leave!
It was good to stop at the quietness and peace of the Park, and see the wildlife carrying on as usual, instead of the wildlife in Walmart.
The turtles were sunning and a flock of ibis peacefully pecking on the ground. A friend pointed out to me that ospreys are nesting on top of a pole in the parking lot between CVS and Publix. They pick any tall spot they can find to build their nests! God is good!
This is one of my favorite songs to sing in church or anywhere...from the Covenant Hymnal Especially good at this time of year.
Give Thanks
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the holy One,
give thanks because he's given
Jesus Christ, his son.
And now, let the weak say "I am strong."
let the poor say, "I am rich,"
because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the holy One,
give thanks because he's given
Jesus Christ, his son....give thanks!
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, November 23, 2009
Not by Bread Alone
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, after a gloomy day yesterday with a little much needed rain, today looks like it will be sunny, although not right away. We had a quiet day because of the overcast and wind yesterday, but Saturday we went to the park and there was Mr. Gator sunning on the bank again. Across the way were the usual turtles drying off and being lazy.
This morning I noticed a bloom on the very old hibiscus bush in the back yard. It is a spot of beauty just before good daylight. God is good!
Not by Bread alone
Man does not live by bread alone,
but by beauty and harmony,
truth and goodness,
work and recreation.
attention and friendship,
aspiration and worship.
Man does not live by bread alone,
but by the splendor of the starry firmament at midnight.
The glory of the heavens at dawn,
the gorgeous blending of colors at sunset,
the luxuriant loveliness of magnolia trees,
the sheer magnificence of mountains.
Man does not live by bread alone,
but by the lyrics and sonnets of poets,
the mature wisdom of sages,
the holiness of saints,
the biographies of great souls,
the life-giving words of Holy Scripture.
Man does not live by bread alone,
but by being faithful in prayer,
responding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
taking up the cross and following the living Christ,
finding and doing the loving will of God now and eternally.
-Kirby Page
(From the Hymns for the Family of God)
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
This morning I noticed a bloom on the very old hibiscus bush in the back yard. It is a spot of beauty just before good daylight. God is good!
Not by Bread alone
Man does not live by bread alone,
but by beauty and harmony,
truth and goodness,
work and recreation.
attention and friendship,
aspiration and worship.
Man does not live by bread alone,
but by the splendor of the starry firmament at midnight.
The glory of the heavens at dawn,
the gorgeous blending of colors at sunset,
the luxuriant loveliness of magnolia trees,
the sheer magnificence of mountains.
Man does not live by bread alone,
but by the lyrics and sonnets of poets,
the mature wisdom of sages,
the holiness of saints,
the biographies of great souls,
the life-giving words of Holy Scripture.
Man does not live by bread alone,
but by being faithful in prayer,
responding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
taking up the cross and following the living Christ,
finding and doing the loving will of God now and eternally.
-Kirby Page
(From the Hymns for the Family of God)
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, November 20, 2009
Blessings
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the foggy day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!
I read a poem a long time ago about fog..."The fog creeps in on little cat feet and sits..." don't remember the rest of it, Maybe it was by c.c. cummings, but anyway, that's what I was reminded of when I stepped outside this morning.
David came yesterday to mow and clean up the yard. After he was finished the property looked wonderful with all the acorns gone. However, as I stood and talked with him, we were pelted with acorns again, so it doesn't last long. The squirrels should have enough stocked for two years! David also took care of several wasp nests that were under the porch chairs. I keep spraying and they keep coming back. All God's creatures, but I sometimes wonder what good they do! But God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How does the promise of blessing affect us when we are weary or discouraged?
1 Corinthians 15:57,58 How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
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.
When we are tempted to give up, new resolve comes from remembering that God promises to bring a harvest in his perfect time.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I read a poem a long time ago about fog..."The fog creeps in on little cat feet and sits..." don't remember the rest of it, Maybe it was by c.c. cummings, but anyway, that's what I was reminded of when I stepped outside this morning.
David came yesterday to mow and clean up the yard. After he was finished the property looked wonderful with all the acorns gone. However, as I stood and talked with him, we were pelted with acorns again, so it doesn't last long. The squirrels should have enough stocked for two years! David also took care of several wasp nests that were under the porch chairs. I keep spraying and they keep coming back. All God's creatures, but I sometimes wonder what good they do! But God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How does the promise of blessing affect us when we are weary or discouraged?
1 Corinthians 15:57,58 How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
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.
When we are tempted to give up, new resolve comes from remembering that God promises to bring a harvest in his perfect time.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, November 19, 2009
A 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! Another chilly morning with the sun already rising and the temps supposed to go up to eighty today! Wonderful weather! I saw our neighbor out taking his morning walk around the neighborhood a little while ago and he was wearing shorts. I think I would be a little chilly in shorts, but not this afternoon!
Yesterday, we saw the firemen at Lynch school showing their ladder truck. It had the ladder fully extended into the sky and was very impressive. The little students were all sitting in front of the fireman and very attentive. They also had a paramedic truck there for educating the kids. I am not a little kid, but I am fascinated with the equipment, also. :o)
There was lots of wildlife around the lake, including the ever-present woodstorks. As I went to the Park later, the turtles were back on the bank sunning, but no sign of the gator. Many of the trees are bare now, having lost their leaves during the chilly spell. Winter is almost here! God is good!
This is a Franciscan Blessing:
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers.
half truths and superficial relationships
so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice,
oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may wish for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference in this world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen!
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday, we saw the firemen at Lynch school showing their ladder truck. It had the ladder fully extended into the sky and was very impressive. The little students were all sitting in front of the fireman and very attentive. They also had a paramedic truck there for educating the kids. I am not a little kid, but I am fascinated with the equipment, also. :o)
There was lots of wildlife around the lake, including the ever-present woodstorks. As I went to the Park later, the turtles were back on the bank sunning, but no sign of the gator. Many of the trees are bare now, having lost their leaves during the chilly spell. Winter is almost here! God is good!
This is a Franciscan Blessing:
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers.
half truths and superficial relationships
so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice,
oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may wish for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference in this world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen!
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Jeremiah 29:11
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 stepped outside earlier just in time to see the feral cat that hangs around, chasing a squirrel up the tree. The cat went a little ways up, but the squirrel was much faster and scampered up to the very top very quickly! I don't want the cat to get the squirrel!
We had a quiet day yesterday with a visit to the doc for a check-up for Louis and a trip to the park. Very quiet at the park, with no animals in sight for a change. Not even a heron or turtle. Unusual! The only activity was a man with his car door open, with the squirrels gathered around, because he was feeding them, which is a no no, but no one is around to enforce the rule. Oh, well, that is why the squirrel was so insistent that I feed it the other day when I was eating in the car!
God's plan for my life:
"I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
Sometimes we are tempted to question God's will for our lives, thinking he has made a mistake. God promises to give us the best as we follow his ways. Ultimately, even what looks like a mistake can become the means to something wonderful.
From the Promise Bible NLT:
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We had a quiet day yesterday with a visit to the doc for a check-up for Louis and a trip to the park. Very quiet at the park, with no animals in sight for a change. Not even a heron or turtle. Unusual! The only activity was a man with his car door open, with the squirrels gathered around, because he was feeding them, which is a no no, but no one is around to enforce the rule. Oh, well, that is why the squirrel was so insistent that I feed it the other day when I was eating in the car!
God's plan for my life:
"I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
Sometimes we are tempted to question God's will for our lives, thinking he has made a mistake. God promises to give us the best as we follow his ways. Ultimately, even what looks like a mistake can become the means to something wonderful.
From the Promise Bible NLT:
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Ministry and the Spiritual 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! Acorns are falling all around and when I stepped outside this morning, I had to avoid stepping on them, even though the porch was swept yesterday! But the weather is perfect and the sun will shine, and God is good!
I saw a woodstork yesterday at Lynch Lake, looking very disgruntled as it stood near a flock of ibis, which were not paying any attention to the woodstork. Usually, the woodstorks just look depressed, but this one was animated. And up above on a wire, was a hawk. Seems like the lake was teeming with wildlife. Must have been good dining around there! I went to the Park and the big, shiny gator was on the bank again, and across the street on the weir bank were three turtles. A little ways down on the grassy bank, were another three turtles, only one of them was a very large, soft shell, snapping turtle. All were enjoying the sunshine!
From Bread for the Journey
by Henri Nouwen
All Jesus' words and actions emerge from his intimate relationship with his Father. "Do you not believe," Jesus says, "that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I say to you I do not speak of my own accord. It is the Father living in me, who is doing his works, You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe it on the evidence of these works." (John 14:10-11)
Just as all Jesus' words and actions emerge from his communion with his Father, so all our words and actions must emerge from our communion with Jesus. "In all truth I tell you," he says, "whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, and will perform even greater works...Whatever you ask for in my name I will do" (John 14:12-13). It is this profound truth that reveals the relationship between the spiritual life and the life of ministry.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I saw a woodstork yesterday at Lynch Lake, looking very disgruntled as it stood near a flock of ibis, which were not paying any attention to the woodstork. Usually, the woodstorks just look depressed, but this one was animated. And up above on a wire, was a hawk. Seems like the lake was teeming with wildlife. Must have been good dining around there! I went to the Park and the big, shiny gator was on the bank again, and across the street on the weir bank were three turtles. A little ways down on the grassy bank, were another three turtles, only one of them was a very large, soft shell, snapping turtle. All were enjoying the sunshine!
From Bread for the Journey
by Henri Nouwen
All Jesus' words and actions emerge from his intimate relationship with his Father. "Do you not believe," Jesus says, "that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I say to you I do not speak of my own accord. It is the Father living in me, who is doing his works, You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe it on the evidence of these works." (John 14:10-11)
Just as all Jesus' words and actions emerge from his communion with his Father, so all our words and actions must emerge from our communion with Jesus. "In all truth I tell you," he says, "whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, and will perform even greater works...Whatever you ask for in my name I will do" (John 14:12-13). It is this profound truth that reveals the relationship between the spiritual life and the life of ministry.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, November 16, 2009
Psoaring thru Psalm 100
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! It is still a little chilly in the mornings but the afternoons are beautiful. We have waited a long time for cooler weather and now we have it! Yesterday evening at sunset I stepped outside and saw a lovely pink contrail crossing the sky, and then looked to the west and saw the gorgeous sunset. What a display God had for us to enjoy!
We went to the Park in the late afternoon, and the shiny, black gator was in his spot on the lake bank, and on the other side on the weir, a turtle and an anhinga were sunning. As we drove in, a young peacock crossed the road in front of us, splendid in his colors!
We took a walk, with me pushing the wheelchair and looked at lots of people, dogs and children. When you don't want to spend money to have a fun afternoon, head for a park and picnic or just walk and enjoy God's great outdoors! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 100
Shout with joy to the Lord, O Earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before Him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us and we are His.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each
generation.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We went to the Park in the late afternoon, and the shiny, black gator was in his spot on the lake bank, and on the other side on the weir, a turtle and an anhinga were sunning. As we drove in, a young peacock crossed the road in front of us, splendid in his colors!
We took a walk, with me pushing the wheelchair and looked at lots of people, dogs and children. When you don't want to spend money to have a fun afternoon, head for a park and picnic or just walk and enjoy God's great outdoors! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 100
Shout with joy to the Lord, O Earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before Him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us and we are His.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each
generation.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, November 13, 2009
Philippians
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! Brr! It is cool enough that I turned on the furnace for the first time this winter, just to take the chill off the house! The extra blanket felt good, too last night, But it is a wonderful change from the heat and good for soup and hot chocolate! God is good!
Yesterday I went to CVS and saw a very unusual looking man waiting at the pharmacy. He obviously had a wig on and was wearing what looked like a woman's shirt. God loves us all , doesn't he? The young man who helped me used to have a wild fro, but has had his hair cut and is very nice looking, so I told him I liked his hair, and he gave me a beautiful smile and thanked me. I hoped I brightened his day.
Later on we took Careride out to the dentist's office for Louis' appointment and had a nice talk with the driver. On the way back, the different driver turned out to have lived here 55 years, so we had a long talk about all the changes in St. Petersburg since I grew up here and he just about did. I saw where the big two story Publix is , out in the Tyrone area...very unusual. It has a parking garage underneath the store! While we were gone, the two cleaning gals from across the street cleaned the house, so it was sparkling when we returned. All in all, a good day! God is Awesome!
Philippians 4:4-9
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! Let everyone see that you are consideerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
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.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday I went to CVS and saw a very unusual looking man waiting at the pharmacy. He obviously had a wig on and was wearing what looked like a woman's shirt. God loves us all , doesn't he? The young man who helped me used to have a wild fro, but has had his hair cut and is very nice looking, so I told him I liked his hair, and he gave me a beautiful smile and thanked me. I hoped I brightened his day.
Later on we took Careride out to the dentist's office for Louis' appointment and had a nice talk with the driver. On the way back, the different driver turned out to have lived here 55 years, so we had a long talk about all the changes in St. Petersburg since I grew up here and he just about did. I saw where the big two story Publix is , out in the Tyrone area...very unusual. It has a parking garage underneath the store! While we were gone, the two cleaning gals from across the street cleaned the house, so it was sparkling when we returned. All in all, a good day! God is Awesome!
Philippians 4:4-9
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! Let everyone see that you are consideerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
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.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Sunrise
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 cold front came through just as predicted and today is overcast and chilly,in the sixties, anyway. The wind is still blowing and a sweater would feel good outside. It has been a loong summer!
Yesterday, I visited beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, and saw lots of people enjoying lunch at the sidewalk tables outside the cafes and restaurants. Looked like a lot of people were out and about, shopping and sightseeing. Then I went to the Park, and saw the shiny black gator lying on the bank of the borrow pit again and across the road, a turtle resting on the bank of the weir, close to an anhinga, also drying out. God is good!
From the book, Quiet Moments With God devotional:
Luke 1:78-79 The sunrise from on high will visit us...to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Sunrise, shining its beams through the window on a cold winter's morning, is a welcome sight. Even if the air outside is icy cold, sunrise gives the illusion of warmth With the rising sun .the city opens its shutters and makes preparations for the day; in the country, the farm animals are let out to pasture. Kids are off to school, adults are on their way to work, and each has a different perspective of the sunrise.
Sunrise happens whether we see it or not. Clouds may cover the sky so totally that we can't experience the beauty of the sunbeams making their way to the earth. No matter what the climate, the sun still rises in the eastern horizon and sets over the west. Sunrise is set by God's clock, and it is ours to enjoy in the early mornings when we can see it clearly. It is just as much there for us to enjoy when the clouds cover it. We can trust it to be there-even though it may be hidden for a while.
We can also trust God to be there every morning because He is the one, irrefutable reality in this life, and He remains constant and true!
Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain;
laughter and teardrops,
pleasure and pain- Low tides
and high tides, mountains and
plains, triumphs, defeats and
losses and gains, but there
never was a cloud that the
Son didn't shine through and
there's nothing that's impossible
for Jesus Christ to do!
Helen Steiner Rice
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday, I visited beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, and saw lots of people enjoying lunch at the sidewalk tables outside the cafes and restaurants. Looked like a lot of people were out and about, shopping and sightseeing. Then I went to the Park, and saw the shiny black gator lying on the bank of the borrow pit again and across the road, a turtle resting on the bank of the weir, close to an anhinga, also drying out. God is good!
From the book, Quiet Moments With God devotional:
Luke 1:78-79 The sunrise from on high will visit us...to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Sunrise, shining its beams through the window on a cold winter's morning, is a welcome sight. Even if the air outside is icy cold, sunrise gives the illusion of warmth With the rising sun .the city opens its shutters and makes preparations for the day; in the country, the farm animals are let out to pasture. Kids are off to school, adults are on their way to work, and each has a different perspective of the sunrise.
Sunrise happens whether we see it or not. Clouds may cover the sky so totally that we can't experience the beauty of the sunbeams making their way to the earth. No matter what the climate, the sun still rises in the eastern horizon and sets over the west. Sunrise is set by God's clock, and it is ours to enjoy in the early mornings when we can see it clearly. It is just as much there for us to enjoy when the clouds cover it. We can trust it to be there-even though it may be hidden for a while.
We can also trust God to be there every morning because He is the one, irrefutable reality in this life, and He remains constant and true!
Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain;
laughter and teardrops,
pleasure and pain- Low tides
and high tides, mountains and
plains, triumphs, defeats and
losses and gains, but there
never was a cloud that the
Son didn't shine through and
there's nothing that's impossible
for Jesus Christ to do!
Helen Steiner Rice
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Daniel's gloves
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!
I read this email and recognized the story as one I had read long ago, but thought it would be a good morning devotional for us all, as a reminder to continue to pray. Also, we may meet a stranger who is an angel unaware. God is good!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Date: Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 6:53 AM
Subject: Daniel's gloves]
To:
I read this email and recognized the story as one I had read long ago, but thought it would be a good morning devotional for us all, as a reminder to continue to pray. Also, we may meet a stranger who is an angel unaware. God is good!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Date: Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 6:53 AM
Subject: Daniel's gloves]
To:
I think this is a Wonderful story!
(Author Unknown or is it? Please. Read on.)
Daniel's Gloves:
I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the
town-square. The food and the company were both especially good that day.
As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street. There, walking into town,
was a man who appeared to be carrying all his worldly goods on his back. He was
carrying, a well-worn sign that read, 'I will work for food.' My heart sank.
I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others around us had stopped
eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of sadness and disbelief.
We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. We finished our meal and
went our separate ways. I had errands to do and quickly set out to accomplish them.
I glanced toward the town square, looking somewhat half heartedly for the strange visitor.
I was fearful, knowing that seeing him again would call some response.
I drove through town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store
and got back in my car. Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me:
'Don't go back to the office until you've at least driven once more around the square.'
Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town.. As I turned the square's third corner,
I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the store front church, going through his sack.
I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet wanting to drive on.
The empty parking space on the corner seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation to park.
I pulled in, got out and approached the town's newest visitor. 'Looking for the pastor?'
I asked. 'Not really,' he replied, 'just resting.' 'Have you eaten today?' 'Oh, I ate something
early this morning.' 'Would you like to have lunch with me?'
'Do you have some work I could do for you?'
'No work,' I replied 'I commute here to work from the city,but I would like to take you to lunch.'
'Sure,' he replied with a smile. As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions.
Where you headed?' St. Louis ' 'Where you from?' 'Oh, all over; mostly Florida..'
'How long you been walking?' 'Fourteen years,' came the reply.
I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the same restaurant
I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly beyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet
clear, and he spoke with an eloquence and articulation that was startling He removed his jacket
to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, 'Jesus is The Never Ending Story.'
Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in life.
He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences..
Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had stopped on the
beach in Daytona.. He tried to hire on with some men who were putting up a large tent
and some equipment. A concert, he thought. He was hired, but the tent would not house
a concert but revival services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave
his life over to God 'Nothing's been the same since,' he said, 'I felt the Lord telling me to
keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now..' 'Ever think of stopping?' I asked.
'Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me But God has given me this calling.
I give out Bibles That's what's in my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I
give them out when His Spirit leads.' I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless.
He was on a mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for a
moment and then I asked: 'What's it like?' 'What?' ;'To walk into a town carrying all your
things on your back and to show your sign?' 'Oh, it was humiliating at first.
People would stare and make comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten
bread and made a gesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became
humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people's concepts of
other folks like me.' My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and
gathered his things. Just outside the door, he paused He turned to me and said,
'Come Ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I've prepared for you.
For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger
and you took me in.' I felt as if we were on holy ground. 'Could you use another Bible?'
I asked. He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too heavy.
It was also his personal favorite.. 'I've read through it 14 times,' he said.
'I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and see'
I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and he seemed very grateful.
'Where are you headed from here?' I asked. 'Well, I found this little map on the back of this
amusement park coupon.' 'Are you hoping to hire on there for awhile?' 'No, I just figure I
should go there. I figure someone under that star right there needs a Bible, so that's where
I'm going next..' He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his mission.
I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met two hours earlier, and as we drove,
it started raining. We parked and unloaded his things.
'Would you sign my autograph book?' he asked.. 'I like to keep messages from folks I meet.'
I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had touched my life. I encouraged
him to stay strong. And I left him with a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, 'I know the plans
I have for you, declared the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you;
Plans to give you a future and a hope.' 'Thanks, man,' he said. 'I know we just met and we're
really just strangers, but I love you.' 'I know,' I said, 'I love you, too.' 'The Lord is good!'
'Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?' I asked. A long time,' he
replied' and so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend and I embraced,
and I felt deep inside that I had been changed.. He put his things on his back, smiled his
winning smile and said, 'See you in the New Jerusalem.' 'I'll be there!' was my reply.
He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from his bedroll and pack
of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, 'When you see something that makes you think of me,
will you pray for me?' 'You bet,' I shouted back, 'God bless.' 'God bless.' And that was the
last I saw of him.
Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold front had settled hard upon
the town. I bundled up and hurried to my car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency
brake, I saw them... a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of the
handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands would stay warm
that night without them.
Then I remembered his words: 'If you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray
for me?' Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office... They help me to see the world and its
people in a new way, and they help me remember those two hours with my unique friend and
to pray for his ministry. 'See you in the New Jerusalem,' he said. Yes, Daniel, I know I will...
'I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show,
let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.'
This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. Please do not break this pattern. Prayer is
one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for
one another. God bless and have a nice day!
'Father, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives and e-mail buddies reading this right now.
Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask you to minister
to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy.
Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace,
In Jesus' precious Name Amen.'
GOD BLESS YOU, MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Psoaring thru Psalm 19:7-14
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 weather forecast calls for rain today, but already blue is showing in the sky and the wind is not blowing, as much as yesterday, so perhaps we won't be getting the much needed rain.
On my way to Walmart yesterday, I stopped at the Park, and saw the black, shiny gator sunning himself once again, although there was no sun at the time. A flock of ibis took off as I came home and they perched on the overhead wires. That was funny, because they are always on the ground and looked very uncomfortable trying to balance on the wires. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The commandments of the Lord are clear,
giving insight to life.
Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.
They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
They are a warning to those who hear them;
There is great reward for those who obey them.
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from all these hidden faults.
Keep me from deliberate sins!
Don't let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
May the words of my mouth and the
thoughts of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
On my way to Walmart yesterday, I stopped at the Park, and saw the black, shiny gator sunning himself once again, although there was no sun at the time. A flock of ibis took off as I came home and they perched on the overhead wires. That was funny, because they are always on the ground and looked very uncomfortable trying to balance on the wires. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The commandments of the Lord are clear,
giving insight to life.
Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.
They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
They are a warning to those who hear them;
There is great reward for those who obey them.
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from all these hidden faults.
Keep me from deliberate sins!
Don't let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
May the words of my mouth and the
thoughts of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, November 9, 2009
2 Corinthians
Good Monday Morning, dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! We have an overcast day today because of hurricane Ida, I think, with a windy day in store. Already the driveway and porch do not look like I blew all the acorns off Saturday! Sigh. Oh, well I knew it wouldn't last!
I actually saw a sleek, black gator sunning at the Park on the bank of the borrow pit lake, Friday. First time in a while that one has been at that spot near where the lady was attacked. On the other side, in the canal, a turtle was sunning himself and further on the great blue heron was looking for dinner, as usual. Lots of people were at the Park Saturday, picnicking and enjoying the beautiful weather. God is good!
2 Corinthians 4:8-10, 15-18
We are hardpressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed--always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment , is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I actually saw a sleek, black gator sunning at the Park on the bank of the borrow pit lake, Friday. First time in a while that one has been at that spot near where the lady was attacked. On the other side, in the canal, a turtle was sunning himself and further on the great blue heron was looking for dinner, as usual. Lots of people were at the Park Saturday, picnicking and enjoying the beautiful weather. God is good!
2 Corinthians 4:8-10, 15-18
We are hardpressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed--always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment , is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, November 6, 2009
God keeps a man secure when...
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! Well, we wished for cooler weather and we have it! A nice 64 degrees this morning, no A/C and , in fact, just right for long pants and sleeves. Great! When I stepped outside earlier I saw wispy, pink clouds as the sun started to rise. With the time change, I have to get out really early to see stars any more.
Lots of people were at the Park yesterday because of the cooler weather, I think. Although the tourists are beginning to come down, according to the license tags. There was a large party under the picnic shelter and more people sitting at the tables under the trees. I saw a turtle sunning on the bank of the weir, and butterflies flitting about enjoying the butterfly gardens. God is good!
He makes a major job change. (From God's Promises)
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink;
nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?"
or" What shall we wear?" For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:25-34
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Lots of people were at the Park yesterday because of the cooler weather, I think. Although the tourists are beginning to come down, according to the license tags. There was a large party under the picnic shelter and more people sitting at the tables under the trees. I saw a turtle sunning on the bank of the weir, and butterflies flitting about enjoying the butterfly gardens. God is good!
He makes a major job change. (From God's Promises)
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink;
nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?"
or" What shall we wear?" For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:25-34
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Psoaring thru Psalm 138
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! I saw the slightly less than full moon beaming brightly in the dawning sky, (I still do not like the time change) and acorns all over the porch and driveway as I stepped outside this morning. Guess I will have to get the blower out again and clear off the crunchies.
Yesterday I walked along the canal for a ways at the Park, and watched the still waters with hardly a ripple. A great white heron came walking majestically toward me, totally unafraid, but i slowly backed away, not wanting to disturb it. I also saw a hawk high in a dead tree. Funny thing;, they used to be everywhere over there, but I haven't seen any lately. Maybe I am not there when they put in an appearance. But God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 138
I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
I bow before your Holy Temple as I worship.
I will give thanks to your name
for your unfailing love and faithfulness,
because your promises are backed
by the honor of your name.
Before I pray you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me the
strength that I need.
Every king in all the earth will give you thanks,
O Lord,
for all of them will hear your words.
Yes, they will sing about the Lord's ways,
for the glory of the Lord is very great.
Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,
but he keeps his distance from the proud.
Though I am surrounded by troubles,
you will preserve me against the anger
of my enemies.
You will clench your fist against my angry enemies!
Your power will save me.
The Lord will work out his plans for my life---
for your faithful love, O Lord endures forever.
Don't abandon me, for you made me.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday I walked along the canal for a ways at the Park, and watched the still waters with hardly a ripple. A great white heron came walking majestically toward me, totally unafraid, but i slowly backed away, not wanting to disturb it. I also saw a hawk high in a dead tree. Funny thing;, they used to be everywhere over there, but I haven't seen any lately. Maybe I am not there when they put in an appearance. But God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 138
I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
I bow before your Holy Temple as I worship.
I will give thanks to your name
for your unfailing love and faithfulness,
because your promises are backed
by the honor of your name.
Before I pray you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me the
strength that I need.
Every king in all the earth will give you thanks,
O Lord,
for all of them will hear your words.
Yes, they will sing about the Lord's ways,
for the glory of the Lord is very great.
Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,
but he keeps his distance from the proud.
Though I am surrounded by troubles,
you will preserve me against the anger
of my enemies.
You will clench your fist against my angry enemies!
Your power will save me.
The Lord will work out his plans for my life---
for your faithful love, O Lord endures forever.
Don't abandon me, for you made me.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Unspoken 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, (in the daylight), I was able to see the moon..."like a ghostly galleon, riding on cloudy seas.." from the poem, The Highwayman" but most of the clouds were gone, so I guess no rain. Sigh. In God's timing.
We had a quiet day yesterday and did not go out. I swept off the porch and admired the beauty berry bush which has the purple berries on it that the birds love so much, and noticed that the hibiscus in a pot, shed its one flower. Our staghorn needed a drink, so I lugged an ancient watering can to it and tried to water it without getting too much on myself! God is good!
I was outside when the mailman came, and he was really enjoying the cool air. Our mail was not wet for a change. We are the last on his route in our block and we always get sweaty mail. Ewww!
From Quiet Moments with God devotional book:
Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8
The kitchen phone jarred Jody's thoughts. "I'll be there as soon as I can," she said, turning off the bubbling stew. Hurriedly, she hung up. "Come on, Tim," she called, "Let's go pick up your sister." Her daughter would be waiting outside in thirty-degree weather following the school' choir rehearsal.
Both mother and son shivered as they pulled the car out of the driveway. the heater had finally begun to blow warm air as they rounded a corner and headed up a back street toward the school. Just ahead, under a streetlight, they spotted a small brown-and-white dog, lying motionless. The headlights lit up the dog as Jody slowly drove around the animal. Starting up the hill, she glanced in the rearview mirror..
"It moved," she said. "Son, that dog's alive!" She pulled the car over and jumped out, running back. Tears filled her eyes as she allowed the injured animal to smell her hand. "Go get help!" she shouted. "There-at that house!"
Tim raced up to the nearest home and banged on the door. The man who answered, fearful of being bitten by the dog, refused to help and closed the door. When her son explained to her what had happened, she prayed about what to do next. Although her daughter was waiting in front of the school and was probably cold, she was torn by the idea of leaving the dog alone. It was so helpless.
Of the few cars that traveled that back street, none would stop. then as if God had heard her unspoken prayer, a black sport utility vehicle drove up, and out climbed a man wearing a green medical smock. After checking the injured dog, he said he'd be glad to take it in for treatment. It turned out that he worked for a local veterinarian in town!
On reflection, Jody knew she had felt the real presence of God on that back street late on a cold winter night when the exact person she and the dog needed appeared. How comforting to know the Lord hears our prayers and answers them even before we speak the words! God cares deeply for all His creatures-even injured dogs.
Beware in your prayer, above
everything, of limiting God,
not only by unbelief, but by
fancying that you know what
He can do.
Andrew Murray
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We had a quiet day yesterday and did not go out. I swept off the porch and admired the beauty berry bush which has the purple berries on it that the birds love so much, and noticed that the hibiscus in a pot, shed its one flower. Our staghorn needed a drink, so I lugged an ancient watering can to it and tried to water it without getting too much on myself! God is good!
I was outside when the mailman came, and he was really enjoying the cool air. Our mail was not wet for a change. We are the last on his route in our block and we always get sweaty mail. Ewww!
From Quiet Moments with God devotional book:
Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8
The kitchen phone jarred Jody's thoughts. "I'll be there as soon as I can," she said, turning off the bubbling stew. Hurriedly, she hung up. "Come on, Tim," she called, "Let's go pick up your sister." Her daughter would be waiting outside in thirty-degree weather following the school' choir rehearsal.
Both mother and son shivered as they pulled the car out of the driveway. the heater had finally begun to blow warm air as they rounded a corner and headed up a back street toward the school. Just ahead, under a streetlight, they spotted a small brown-and-white dog, lying motionless. The headlights lit up the dog as Jody slowly drove around the animal. Starting up the hill, she glanced in the rearview mirror..
"It moved," she said. "Son, that dog's alive!" She pulled the car over and jumped out, running back. Tears filled her eyes as she allowed the injured animal to smell her hand. "Go get help!" she shouted. "There-at that house!"
Tim raced up to the nearest home and banged on the door. The man who answered, fearful of being bitten by the dog, refused to help and closed the door. When her son explained to her what had happened, she prayed about what to do next. Although her daughter was waiting in front of the school and was probably cold, she was torn by the idea of leaving the dog alone. It was so helpless.
Of the few cars that traveled that back street, none would stop. then as if God had heard her unspoken prayer, a black sport utility vehicle drove up, and out climbed a man wearing a green medical smock. After checking the injured dog, he said he'd be glad to take it in for treatment. It turned out that he worked for a local veterinarian in town!
On reflection, Jody knew she had felt the real presence of God on that back street late on a cold winter night when the exact person she and the dog needed appeared. How comforting to know the Lord hears our prayers and answers them even before we speak the words! God cares deeply for all His creatures-even injured dogs.
Beware in your prayer, above
everything, of limiting God,
not only by unbelief, but by
fancying that you know what
He can do.
Andrew Murray
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Change
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! It is overcast and I could not see the moon or stars when I stepped outside, so I hope that means rain, which we really need. The air is still cool and nice, but I don't think summer is over, yet.
Every day I sweep acorns off the porch and every day more fall. A strange happening Saturday..I noticed a little boy and girl outside on our sidewalk and they came up to the porch and sat down and started playing with
The pile of acorns that had accumulated from the sweeping. I opened the door and asked them what they were doing and when they said collecting acorns, I told them to take all they wanted. The little boy was surprised that I did not want them! I had never seen them before and did not have the heart to tell them they should not be trespassing on stranger's property. Seems like their Mom should have known where they were.
I went to the Park and parked long enough to set the van clock and to watch the heron and anhingas. It was pretty crowded for a work day, with people enjoying the cool air and greenery. I admired the memorial benches...one of them says, "He leadeth me beside the still waters.." and the names of the couple memorialized. A very cool way to be remembered! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Where can I find security and hope in the midst of tumult and change?
Lamentations 5:19 Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation.
Malachi 3:6 I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed.
James 1:17 Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Both our security and our hope are rooted in God's unchanging character. People will make promises one day but disappoint us the next. Sin or circumstances beyond their control prevent them from keeping their promises. God's faithfulness and love, however, are not subject to the fluctuations of time, space, or human mortality. We will never suffer because of God's fickle whims, irrational mood swings, or inability to handle the circumstances.
Are there any unchanging principles that can help me stay anchored?
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever
Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.
God's word gives us the truth that never changes. We find strength and courage when we listen-not to the voices of public opinion-but to God.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Every day I sweep acorns off the porch and every day more fall. A strange happening Saturday..I noticed a little boy and girl outside on our sidewalk and they came up to the porch and sat down and started playing with
The pile of acorns that had accumulated from the sweeping. I opened the door and asked them what they were doing and when they said collecting acorns, I told them to take all they wanted. The little boy was surprised that I did not want them! I had never seen them before and did not have the heart to tell them they should not be trespassing on stranger's property. Seems like their Mom should have known where they were.
I went to the Park and parked long enough to set the van clock and to watch the heron and anhingas. It was pretty crowded for a work day, with people enjoying the cool air and greenery. I admired the memorial benches...one of them says, "He leadeth me beside the still waters.." and the names of the couple memorialized. A very cool way to be remembered! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Where can I find security and hope in the midst of tumult and change?
Lamentations 5:19 Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation.
Malachi 3:6 I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed.
James 1:17 Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Both our security and our hope are rooted in God's unchanging character. People will make promises one day but disappoint us the next. Sin or circumstances beyond their control prevent them from keeping their promises. God's faithfulness and love, however, are not subject to the fluctuations of time, space, or human mortality. We will never suffer because of God's fickle whims, irrational mood swings, or inability to handle the circumstances.
Are there any unchanging principles that can help me stay anchored?
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever
Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.
God's word gives us the truth that never changes. We find strength and courage when we listen-not to the voices of public opinion-but to God.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, November 2, 2009
My Morning Prayer
Happy November and Good Morning, dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the coolish day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Well, many people have been wishing for cool weather and here it is! The air is dryer and the breeze very cool, so it is a nice day
While driving to church yesterday, a sad looking woodstork crossed the street in front of me headed toward Lynch Lake. I don't know why they always look so depressed, maybe it is the way their heads are always hanging down, but I hope something cheers them up. Lots of people were in the park yesterday, enjoying picnics, walking their dogs and just walking and sitting enjoying the beauty God has made. God is good!
As I read this prayer this morning, (as i do every morning) it took on new meaning after a difficult evening with Louis as he sinks deeper into this evil Alzheimers disease.
My Morning Prayer
"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
While driving to church yesterday, a sad looking woodstork crossed the street in front of me headed toward Lynch Lake. I don't know why they always look so depressed, maybe it is the way their heads are always hanging down, but I hope something cheers them up. Lots of people were in the park yesterday, enjoying picnics, walking their dogs and just walking and sitting enjoying the beauty God has made. God is good!
As I read this prayer this morning, (as i do every morning) it took on new meaning after a difficult evening with Louis as he sinks deeper into this evil Alzheimers disease.
My Morning Prayer
"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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)