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! And it is a glorious morning. The air is cooler and the breeze is blowing and no rain yesterday and so far, none today.
I was able to accomplish a lot yesterday, some that I really didn't plan on doing, but I had batteries put in three watches, went to the library to return and check out some books...it was very quiet, because school was not out yet...and also, decided to get some new frames for my new glasses with a little help from my niece, who works at Dowdy Optical. This is always very difficult for me to do because what I want does not look good on my face, so I have to decide what an alternative is. Sigh. Decisions, decisions.
Well, after that, I went to the supermarket and who should be there but two friends from church, so we chatted for a bit, and then parted to finish our chores.
Of course, I always have time to go to the Park, which I did, and enjoyed the large egret, anhingas drying their wings and patches of toadstools which are popping up all over due to all the rain. By mid-afternoon, I was worn out, but thankful for all I was able to get done! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How does God comfort us?
Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Psalm 30:5 His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.
Matthew 5:4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God comforts us by staying close beside us in difficulty, by blessing us even when we are in mourning, and by promising us joy to come.
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
God measures problems by love, not by size. Even small things can be avenues for God's great care. Don't look at the size of your problem but look at the greatness of God's love and concern.
(The scriptures above were written because of a conversation I had yesterday with a friend, who sympathized with me on the rough year it has been for her and me so far. But there have also been many joys during the year and God is always faithful to bring joy after sorrows. I am thankful for my loving friends and the caring they have shown me).
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Psoaring thru Psalm 37
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, it really felt like a touch of fall! Cool breeze and lower temps. Yay! Perhaps we really are going to cool off soon. We had our usual rain last night, so I'm sure that helped keep the air cool.
We had a wonderful church service yesterday, and I felt loved from the moment I walked in the door. Hugs, and greetings and inquiries about how I was! It is a wonderful feeling to know there are so many kind, caring friends around. That is the only place for me to be on Sunday morning. "Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place," A favorite hymn.
I went to the Park several times over the weekend and sometimes saw lots of people, sometimes very few. One family was carefully watching a gopher tortoise walking across the parking lot to the other side where he usually hangs out. They were fascinated with him. I also saw a group in camos doing something loosely resembling totally uncoordinated calisthenics. Well, at least they were trying! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Don't worry about the wicked.
Don't envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away,
Like springtime flowers,
they soon wither.
Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord.
and He will give you your heart's desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him and he will help you.
He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will
shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don't worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
Stop your anger!
Turn from your rage!
Do not envy others---
it only leads to harm.
For the wicked will be destroyed
but those who trust in the Lord
will possess the land.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We had a wonderful church service yesterday, and I felt loved from the moment I walked in the door. Hugs, and greetings and inquiries about how I was! It is a wonderful feeling to know there are so many kind, caring friends around. That is the only place for me to be on Sunday morning. "Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place," A favorite hymn.
I went to the Park several times over the weekend and sometimes saw lots of people, sometimes very few. One family was carefully watching a gopher tortoise walking across the parking lot to the other side where he usually hangs out. They were fascinated with him. I also saw a group in camos doing something loosely resembling totally uncoordinated calisthenics. Well, at least they were trying! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Don't worry about the wicked.
Don't envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away,
Like springtime flowers,
they soon wither.
Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord.
and He will give you your heart's desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him and he will help you.
He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will
shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don't worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
Stop your anger!
Turn from your rage!
Do not envy others---
it only leads to harm.
For the wicked will be destroyed
but those who trust in the Lord
will possess the land.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, August 27, 2010
Prayer and Action
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! More sunshine and blue skies this morning, but I think it rained a little last night..at least, the porch was wet. I can't believe I slept so late this morning...didn't roll out of bed until after seven. That's late for me! Fortunately, I have nothing except laundry scheduled this morning, so the day belongs to the Lord to tell me what to do.
Yesterday, after some errands I went to the Park and was delighted to see the gopher tortoise out of his usual place. I had not seen him in a month or so, but there he was climbing out of a shallow place in the trees about to cross the road in the circle drive. He seemed determined to go wherever he was headed, but I was careful to give him room. I also saw an egret all hunched up, looking cold, but I knew it couldn't possibly be, as the temp. was in the eighties. Actually, it was a very pleasant day..high humidity, but cooler. Today will probably be a lot warmer because of the sun .But, God is always good!
From Hymns for the Family of God:
God is not a personage who orders us to prostrate ourselves before Him
-a radically false position
but one who says:
" Stand up,
here us my task for you;
take it and get on with it."
God does not require incense from us;
what He does require
is that we should listen and take action-
the true response of love.
God did not stop speaking two thousand years ago.
He speaks to you personally today
every time an inward voice asks you to do a kind or generous deed
or to suffer for the sake of someone else.
It is to you that God speaks at this moment,
and it is through you that He speaks when He inspires you to do some service.
Be brave enough to listen at first hand to what God says to you.
John W. Harvey and Christina Yates
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday, after some errands I went to the Park and was delighted to see the gopher tortoise out of his usual place. I had not seen him in a month or so, but there he was climbing out of a shallow place in the trees about to cross the road in the circle drive. He seemed determined to go wherever he was headed, but I was careful to give him room. I also saw an egret all hunched up, looking cold, but I knew it couldn't possibly be, as the temp. was in the eighties. Actually, it was a very pleasant day..high humidity, but cooler. Today will probably be a lot warmer because of the sun .But, God is always good!
From Hymns for the Family of God:
God is not a personage who orders us to prostrate ourselves before Him
-a radically false position
but one who says:
" Stand up,
here us my task for you;
take it and get on with it."
God does not require incense from us;
what He does require
is that we should listen and take action-
the true response of love.
God did not stop speaking two thousand years ago.
He speaks to you personally today
every time an inward voice asks you to do a kind or generous deed
or to suffer for the sake of someone else.
It is to you that God speaks at this moment,
and it is through you that He speaks when He inspires you to do some service.
Be brave enough to listen at first hand to what God says to you.
John W. Harvey and Christina Yates
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Night Watch
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 looks to me like the bright, shiny glow I see outside must be the SUN! What a joy to see the sun after several days of cloudy gloom. I am not complaining about the rain, but we seem to be saturated now, and could use a little drying out.
I had a good nights sleep for the first time in about a week, The radiation on my nose, stops it up and then I can't breathe too well except through my mouth, and I don't breathe well through it. So, Praise God! I hope this means healing is taking place.
I enjoyed going to the park in the rain yesterday. The teacher is back, but no students yet, and it has been too wet to take the kids for a tour on the boardwalk. She has lots of interesting things in the classroom, though, and they can learn a lot if they listen. It is good to see all the green in the park and the squirrels are always running around getting their acorns and chasing each other up and around the trees.
God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
You are my hope, O Lord God. Psalm 71:1 NKJV
Vaclav Havel is a former president of what used to be Czechoslovakia. In 1948, the Communists took power in his country and confiscated his family land holdings. From that time, Havel was part of a defiant underground that opposed the Soviet government.
When the Soviets marched into Prague twenty years later, Havel remained to form a coalition that would be ready to take over then the time was right. He spoke out boldly, writing defiantly against communism. He was put under surveillance and eventually jailed for his activities.
In 1970, several United States senators met with Havel in Czechoslovakia. They brought what they thought would be good news for him. They told him they intended to press for legislation allowing dissidents like him to immigrate to the West. Havel replied by saying he was not interested in going to the West. "What good would that do?" he asked. "Only by staying here and struggling here can we ever hope to change things." Like a watchman in the night, Havel stayed on duty in his country.
Times of trial and struggle often seem like long, dark nights. But doing the right thing--even the hard thing--gives us hope. How do we maintain those long night watches when there seems to be little change in our circumstances?
1. Take one step at a time. Don't attempt to tackle the whole task at once. "A man's steps are directed by the Lord."
(Proverbs 20:24)
2. Keep your struggles in perspective. Separate the mountains from the molehills. "What, then , shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
3.Cultivate the discipline of delayed gratification. "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."( James 1:4 KJV)
4. Learn to recognize the invisible God in the world around you. "By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:27"
Placing your hope in the Lord helps you to do all these things. He will lead you; He will remove your mountains. He will strengthen you, helping you to be patient; and He will open your eyes to His works all around you.
If it were not for hope the heart would break.
English proverb.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I had a good nights sleep for the first time in about a week, The radiation on my nose, stops it up and then I can't breathe too well except through my mouth, and I don't breathe well through it. So, Praise God! I hope this means healing is taking place.
I enjoyed going to the park in the rain yesterday. The teacher is back, but no students yet, and it has been too wet to take the kids for a tour on the boardwalk. She has lots of interesting things in the classroom, though, and they can learn a lot if they listen. It is good to see all the green in the park and the squirrels are always running around getting their acorns and chasing each other up and around the trees.
God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
You are my hope, O Lord God. Psalm 71:1 NKJV
Vaclav Havel is a former president of what used to be Czechoslovakia. In 1948, the Communists took power in his country and confiscated his family land holdings. From that time, Havel was part of a defiant underground that opposed the Soviet government.
When the Soviets marched into Prague twenty years later, Havel remained to form a coalition that would be ready to take over then the time was right. He spoke out boldly, writing defiantly against communism. He was put under surveillance and eventually jailed for his activities.
In 1970, several United States senators met with Havel in Czechoslovakia. They brought what they thought would be good news for him. They told him they intended to press for legislation allowing dissidents like him to immigrate to the West. Havel replied by saying he was not interested in going to the West. "What good would that do?" he asked. "Only by staying here and struggling here can we ever hope to change things." Like a watchman in the night, Havel stayed on duty in his country.
Times of trial and struggle often seem like long, dark nights. But doing the right thing--even the hard thing--gives us hope. How do we maintain those long night watches when there seems to be little change in our circumstances?
1. Take one step at a time. Don't attempt to tackle the whole task at once. "A man's steps are directed by the Lord."
(Proverbs 20:24)
2. Keep your struggles in perspective. Separate the mountains from the molehills. "What, then , shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
3.Cultivate the discipline of delayed gratification. "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."( James 1:4 KJV)
4. Learn to recognize the invisible God in the world around you. "By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:27"
Placing your hope in the Lord helps you to do all these things. He will lead you; He will remove your mountains. He will strengthen you, helping you to be patient; and He will open your eyes to His works all around you.
If it were not for hope the heart would break.
English proverb.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Empowering
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 isn't raining yet, but the sky is overcast, so it probably will rain later on. But that's Ok, because God controls the rain and all the other weather and He will stop it when it is time.
I was thankful that it was only sprinkling yesterday when I had an appointment and didn't have to use my umbrella. But I saw lots of puddles and water everywhere. I have lots of trash and twigs in the yard from the wind that really cleaned out the trees. Since the trees are still dripping a little bit, it's a good excuse not to go out and clean it up. Besides, David, who does the yard, said just leave it and he will do it when he comes to mow.
I am blessed with great friends who help me with most anything I need help with! I drove through the park in the sprinkling rain and looked like the mowers had not finished yet. I saw the big truck and trailer parked back in the maintenance area, so they will probably work again today. No anhingas were airing out wings, because there was no sun to dry them out. I saw the beautiful white egret stalking a fish, though. They are so graceful with their long necks and slow movements! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Ephesians 3:14 When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from the glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love, And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now glory be to God !By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.
Amen.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I was thankful that it was only sprinkling yesterday when I had an appointment and didn't have to use my umbrella. But I saw lots of puddles and water everywhere. I have lots of trash and twigs in the yard from the wind that really cleaned out the trees. Since the trees are still dripping a little bit, it's a good excuse not to go out and clean it up. Besides, David, who does the yard, said just leave it and he will do it when he comes to mow.
I am blessed with great friends who help me with most anything I need help with! I drove through the park in the sprinkling rain and looked like the mowers had not finished yet. I saw the big truck and trailer parked back in the maintenance area, so they will probably work again today. No anhingas were airing out wings, because there was no sun to dry them out. I saw the beautiful white egret stalking a fish, though. They are so graceful with their long necks and slow movements! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Ephesians 3:14 When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from the glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love, And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now glory be to God !By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.
Amen.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Paul's final advice
Good morning, dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Well, I know a lot of people are not rejoicing, since this is the first day of school and voting day and the rain has been pouring down! To be honest, I had a hard time staying awake while praying, because of the sound of rain on the roof and the trees moving in the wind. Good day for staying in bed!
Yesterday, I took the opportunity to get out when the rain stopped for a little bit. I went to Wendy's and got a small Frosty and took it to the Park. Of course, the sprinkles were coming by that time, but I sat in the car and slurped my Frosty and watched a squirrel creep over to a school bus which was parked . Obviously, the squirrel was looking for a handout. Lots of buses were on the streets yesterday, going over their routes, I'm sure.
All was peaceful at the Park, however, and quiet. The mowing crew was in and trimmed all the paths they are supposed to do. so everything looked neater. However, there were fallen branches which had not been picked up, but that is what happens when there is not enough help. At least there won't be a charge for a while for going in the park. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Romans 5:12
Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work. And remember to live peaceably with each other.
Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else.
Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophesies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil.
Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God who calls you, is faithful, he will do this.
Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all the brothers and sisters in Christian love.
I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday, I took the opportunity to get out when the rain stopped for a little bit. I went to Wendy's and got a small Frosty and took it to the Park. Of course, the sprinkles were coming by that time, but I sat in the car and slurped my Frosty and watched a squirrel creep over to a school bus which was parked . Obviously, the squirrel was looking for a handout. Lots of buses were on the streets yesterday, going over their routes, I'm sure.
All was peaceful at the Park, however, and quiet. The mowing crew was in and trimmed all the paths they are supposed to do. so everything looked neater. However, there were fallen branches which had not been picked up, but that is what happens when there is not enough help. At least there won't be a charge for a while for going in the park. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Romans 5:12
Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work. And remember to live peaceably with each other.
Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else.
Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophesies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil.
Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God who calls you, is faithful, he will do this.
Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all the brothers and sisters in Christian love.
I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, August 23, 2010
Psoaring thru Psalm 139
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's a wet world out there this morning. I heard a gentle rain falling just about all night , but it looks like blue sky is peeking through and I think it will be a sunshiny very warm day before noon. That's just my prediction, and I am no weatherman. I thought I would have to go through rain to get to church yesterday morning, but just before I was ready to leave, the rain stopped and it was hot and sunshiny by the time church was over.
This morning when I stepped outside, a tiny frog, no bigger than my thumbnail went zipping across the porch! I don't know how those tiny guys move so fast! Speaking of tiny, a baby lizard went wriggling across the bathroom floor yesterday and headed someplace in this bedroom. I am not too happy about that, but who knows where he is now? Anyway, the rain is good. I took a different route back home after running errands the other day and came by Meadowlawn park, A very pretty park, with a flock of ibis and an anhinga stretching his wings out wide to dry. The problem with that park is there is no shade at all, especially over the play equipment. That's probably why the park was empty.
I also went to Sawgrass and saw the weeds getting taller and the grass growing so fast the mowing crew can't keep up with it. Can't complain because we have been through drought and God is supplying our needs now. God is good!
From Psalm 139 NLT:
O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my every thought when far away.
You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me when to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You both precede and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to know!
I can never escape from your spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the place of the dead,
you are there.
If I ride on the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night--
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines on as bright as day,
Darkness and light are both alike to you....
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of
everlasting life.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
This morning when I stepped outside, a tiny frog, no bigger than my thumbnail went zipping across the porch! I don't know how those tiny guys move so fast! Speaking of tiny, a baby lizard went wriggling across the bathroom floor yesterday and headed someplace in this bedroom. I am not too happy about that, but who knows where he is now? Anyway, the rain is good. I took a different route back home after running errands the other day and came by Meadowlawn park, A very pretty park, with a flock of ibis and an anhinga stretching his wings out wide to dry. The problem with that park is there is no shade at all, especially over the play equipment. That's probably why the park was empty.
I also went to Sawgrass and saw the weeds getting taller and the grass growing so fast the mowing crew can't keep up with it. Can't complain because we have been through drought and God is supplying our needs now. God is good!
From Psalm 139 NLT:
O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my every thought when far away.
You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me when to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You both precede and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to know!
I can never escape from your spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the place of the dead,
you are there.
If I ride on the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night--
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines on as bright as day,
Darkness and light are both alike to you....
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of
everlasting life.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, August 20, 2010
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! It's a beautiful, sunshiny, windless day so far, but the wind usually picks up in the afternoon. We have had no rain for a couple days so the gutter is slowly drying out front
The yard was mowed yesterday, and already the squirrels have made a mess of twigs right in the middle of the front yard. If they are building a nest, it must be a condo, because they have been making the same mess of twigs for over three weeks. Sometimes they can be pests!
I noticed that another maple tree or at least a large part of it, had fallen onto the log, where sometimes the gators and anhingas like to hang out in the canal at the park. The maples can't take too much water and this one was right by the canal, so all that ground is very wet there. I hope that as it decays, the animals will come back to the log. The turtles like to catch some sun there, too.
There seems to be an abundance of butterflies this year. There are always a lot of them at the park flitting around the butterfly gardens. And on my way home, as I pulled into the driveway., a large black one was fluttering in front of the car, so I stopped and watched as it made its erratic flight on around the corner and off to a bush. God made all forms of beauty when He created the earth and all that lives. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
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 an 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 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
The yard was mowed yesterday, and already the squirrels have made a mess of twigs right in the middle of the front yard. If they are building a nest, it must be a condo, because they have been making the same mess of twigs for over three weeks. Sometimes they can be pests!
I noticed that another maple tree or at least a large part of it, had fallen onto the log, where sometimes the gators and anhingas like to hang out in the canal at the park. The maples can't take too much water and this one was right by the canal, so all that ground is very wet there. I hope that as it decays, the animals will come back to the log. The turtles like to catch some sun there, too.
There seems to be an abundance of butterflies this year. There are always a lot of them at the park flitting around the butterfly gardens. And on my way home, as I pulled into the driveway., a large black one was fluttering in front of the car, so I stopped and watched as it made its erratic flight on around the corner and off to a bush. God made all forms of beauty when He created the earth and all that lives. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
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 an 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 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
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Seasons
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! The sky is blue and the clouds are white and puffy and so far, no rain this morning. Last night the power went off unexpectedly about 7 or 7:30, because no storms were going on and the sky was clear. Of course, I was in the kitchen, the only room without a handy flashlight, so I had to feel my way into the living room where I have a couple flashlights, and then out to the fireplace room to get my Coleman tube lantern. I also decided it was time to open up another Coleman lantern which I hadn't even taken out of the box, so I put that together with batteries. They really put out a good light.
I had called Progress Energy on my cell and the automated voice said it was damage to their equipment and it would take until 11:59 for the power to come back on. So I prayed that it would come back sooner and our faithful God heard. The power came back on two hours later! I was brushing my teeth by lantern light and happened to notice the night light was burning. Big clue that the power was back on! And instead of turning off the lights, I discovered they were blazing , so, even if I had gone on to bed, the light would have gotten me up again. God is good!
I went to the park yesterday during the heat of the day and only saw a couple ibis, and the usual anhinga stretching out his wings. Not many people were out and about in the middle of the day, but the shadows were deep under the oaks. I noticed that the maple trees are already starting to change color. A promise that fall is coming! God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
Now with a view to righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 NASB
At a dinner party honoring Albert Einstein, a student asked the great scientist, "What do you actually do as a profession?"
Mr. Einstein said, "I devote myself to the study of physics."
The student then exclaimed, "You mean that you're still studying physics? I finished mine last year."
One of the very real temptations of life is to divide it into seasons and then think of each season as an end within itself. Students may think of the high school diploma as the goal and not relate it to what they want to do with their lives. Graduates may get the jobs of their choice and never consider that other jobs could be in their futures.
How often have you seen a young man and woman become engaged to be married, then spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours preparing for the wedding, with little or no preparation for the years of marriage ahead? Or, the couple may look forward with great anticipation to the birth of a child, with no plan for proper parenting.
The Garden of Life is a continuing cycle of seasons and years. Those who reap the greatest harvests seem to look both backward and forward. They look to the future to decide which seeds they should plant today to help them attain their goals for the future.
God is present in every segment of our lives, coaxing us to learn from both our experiences and goals, so that our gardens will reach their full potential.
Though God be everywhere
present, yet he is present to you
in the deepest and most
central part of the soul.
William Law
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I had called Progress Energy on my cell and the automated voice said it was damage to their equipment and it would take until 11:59 for the power to come back on. So I prayed that it would come back sooner and our faithful God heard. The power came back on two hours later! I was brushing my teeth by lantern light and happened to notice the night light was burning. Big clue that the power was back on! And instead of turning off the lights, I discovered they were blazing , so, even if I had gone on to bed, the light would have gotten me up again. God is good!
I went to the park yesterday during the heat of the day and only saw a couple ibis, and the usual anhinga stretching out his wings. Not many people were out and about in the middle of the day, but the shadows were deep under the oaks. I noticed that the maple trees are already starting to change color. A promise that fall is coming! God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
Now with a view to righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 NASB
At a dinner party honoring Albert Einstein, a student asked the great scientist, "What do you actually do as a profession?"
Mr. Einstein said, "I devote myself to the study of physics."
The student then exclaimed, "You mean that you're still studying physics? I finished mine last year."
One of the very real temptations of life is to divide it into seasons and then think of each season as an end within itself. Students may think of the high school diploma as the goal and not relate it to what they want to do with their lives. Graduates may get the jobs of their choice and never consider that other jobs could be in their futures.
How often have you seen a young man and woman become engaged to be married, then spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours preparing for the wedding, with little or no preparation for the years of marriage ahead? Or, the couple may look forward with great anticipation to the birth of a child, with no plan for proper parenting.
The Garden of Life is a continuing cycle of seasons and years. Those who reap the greatest harvests seem to look both backward and forward. They look to the future to decide which seeds they should plant today to help them attain their goals for the future.
God is present in every segment of our lives, coaxing us to learn from both our experiences and goals, so that our gardens will reach their full potential.
Though God be everywhere
present, yet he is present to you
in the deepest and most
central part of the soul.
William Law
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Looking at Luke12
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! Imagine my surprise last night when I heard a rainstorm rumbling in about midnight! After a hot, sunshiny day I did not expect rain, so I had to get out of bed and toddle out to the garage to close the window on the side door which was already wet with rain splashing in. Then I went on back to bed after debating whether I wanted to stay up and read, but snuggling under the covers seemed more attractive, even though I was not sleepy by that time.
When I visited the Park yesterday, very few people were there, but I saw the determined lady again who runs but looks like she does not enjoy it. She has a lot of gumption, though, because I know she is very hot. More power to her! All the toadstools have disappeared, but maybe after last nights rain, they will pop up again. I walked right by a squirrel, who was chewing on something and didn't pay any attention to me, but I asked him anyway, what he was eating, because it was not a nut or acorn..looked like part of an animal. So, he dropped whatever it was, and I looked closely, but still could not make it out. As far as I know, squirrels do not eat meat, so I guess that will remain a mystery. But, God is good!
Luke 12:22
So, I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. For life consists of far more than food or clothing. Look at the ravens. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not! And if worry can't do little things like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger thinks?
Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing , yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! And don't worry about food-what to eat and drink. Don't worry whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
When I visited the Park yesterday, very few people were there, but I saw the determined lady again who runs but looks like she does not enjoy it. She has a lot of gumption, though, because I know she is very hot. More power to her! All the toadstools have disappeared, but maybe after last nights rain, they will pop up again. I walked right by a squirrel, who was chewing on something and didn't pay any attention to me, but I asked him anyway, what he was eating, because it was not a nut or acorn..looked like part of an animal. So, he dropped whatever it was, and I looked closely, but still could not make it out. As far as I know, squirrels do not eat meat, so I guess that will remain a mystery. But, God is good!
Luke 12:22
So, I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. For life consists of far more than food or clothing. Look at the ravens. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not! And if worry can't do little things like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger thinks?
Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing , yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! And don't worry about food-what to eat and drink. Don't worry whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Gems from 1 Thessalonians 5
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! The sun is shining today as it did yesterday, and it promises to be another very warm and humid day. I don't know where the time goes, I get up early and before I know it, it is already mid-morning. If I had a schedule to follow, I would probably have a lot done by now!
I had to go grocery shopping yesterday, because of the procedure I had done Friday. I could not eat Thursday and so did not need anything until the milk and bread and other necessities started to run out. I just went to Publix, where shopping is a pleasure and had the carry out service, because of heavy bags. . But there is always something I forget to put on my list, so I will have to pick up a couple things today that I forgot yesterday!
I went to the Park after supper last night. The wind was still, but it was pleasant and not too humid. Actually, I thought the humidity would make my nose feel better. It still gets very dry inside from the radiation and bleeds a lot, so anyway, as I walked along the sidewalk, a gator started swimming toward the bank by me. I stopped and watched it, and then, a larger one came swimming under the bridge, zipping along toward the second bridge. All at once, he skidded to a halt and turned in to a dead log. The object of his eye were several egrets by the log, . Aware of his presence, they kept on doing what they were doing and looked like they were getting ready to settle down for the night. I walked out on the bridge to see what the other gator was attracted to, and, hidden by the tall weeds, were two ibises. One was mature and the other dark colored and immature. The gator sank down until the eyes and nose were showing, but, once again, the birds were very aware of it and kept moving slowly away. I was really pleased that I got to see that bit of God's creation. God is good!
From 1 Thessalonians 5:12 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work. And remember to live peaceably with each other.
Brother and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other. and to everyone else.
Always be joyful. Keep on praying, No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophesies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil.
Paul's Final Greetings:
Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul, and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
God, who calls you, is faithful. He will do this.
Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.
Greet all the brothers and sisters in Christian love.
I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I had to go grocery shopping yesterday, because of the procedure I had done Friday. I could not eat Thursday and so did not need anything until the milk and bread and other necessities started to run out. I just went to Publix, where shopping is a pleasure and had the carry out service, because of heavy bags. . But there is always something I forget to put on my list, so I will have to pick up a couple things today that I forgot yesterday!
I went to the Park after supper last night. The wind was still, but it was pleasant and not too humid. Actually, I thought the humidity would make my nose feel better. It still gets very dry inside from the radiation and bleeds a lot, so anyway, as I walked along the sidewalk, a gator started swimming toward the bank by me. I stopped and watched it, and then, a larger one came swimming under the bridge, zipping along toward the second bridge. All at once, he skidded to a halt and turned in to a dead log. The object of his eye were several egrets by the log, . Aware of his presence, they kept on doing what they were doing and looked like they were getting ready to settle down for the night. I walked out on the bridge to see what the other gator was attracted to, and, hidden by the tall weeds, were two ibises. One was mature and the other dark colored and immature. The gator sank down until the eyes and nose were showing, but, once again, the birds were very aware of it and kept moving slowly away. I was really pleased that I got to see that bit of God's creation. God is good!
From 1 Thessalonians 5:12 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work. And remember to live peaceably with each other.
Brother and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other. and to everyone else.
Always be joyful. Keep on praying, No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophesies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil.
Paul's Final Greetings:
Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul, and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
God, who calls you, is faithful. He will do this.
Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.
Greet all the brothers and sisters in Christian love.
I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, August 16, 2010
Wise words from Romans 12
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! We have not had any rain for about three days, so it looks like a good day to put a coating on my flat roof that has been waiting to dry out.
I went into the tranquil park yesterday after church and was impressed as always by the serenity and calmness of the place where people can go and enjoy God's beauty and the different critters He has created. Even though it was very hot and humid, a few people were out, including the ever present squirrels. The toadstools have almost disappeared, but will be back once the rain comes again.
I really enjoyed seeing the Logue family at church yesterday! I have known them since Drew was a baby, so it's always good to see old friends. I had to explain my nose, because it is so red and ugly looking from the radiation and won't stop bleeding inside. AArrgh! But it will soon heal up and won't be so bad . God is good!
BTW, I saw a large woodstork slowly ambling along the side of the canal on 77th yesterday. He was up close and personal. I don't think they ever move fast, but he actually looked quite graceful.
Romans 12:3 -12 NLT
As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning. Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body.
We are all parts of his one body , and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others..
God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophecy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Don't just pretend you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I went into the tranquil park yesterday after church and was impressed as always by the serenity and calmness of the place where people can go and enjoy God's beauty and the different critters He has created. Even though it was very hot and humid, a few people were out, including the ever present squirrels. The toadstools have almost disappeared, but will be back once the rain comes again.
I really enjoyed seeing the Logue family at church yesterday! I have known them since Drew was a baby, so it's always good to see old friends. I had to explain my nose, because it is so red and ugly looking from the radiation and won't stop bleeding inside. AArrgh! But it will soon heal up and won't be so bad . God is good!
BTW, I saw a large woodstork slowly ambling along the side of the canal on 77th yesterday. He was up close and personal. I don't think they ever move fast, but he actually looked quite graceful.
Romans 12:3 -12 NLT
As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning. Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body.
We are all parts of his one body , and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others..
God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophecy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Don't just pretend you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, August 13, 2010
Explanation
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
For those of you who may or may not have noticed, there was no Gator Bytes this morning, Due to an early appointment I had for a colonoscopy. I should have written last night, but better late than never!
Everything is fine and I have finally thawed out from the unusually cold prep room. Bayfront had a problem with the A/C which had been set at "freeze" for three days. all the staff were wearing anything warm they had to put on.
Anyway, I hope some of you got to see the meteor shower last night. It is too light around here to see many and I went to bed a little early.
I hope you all have a blessed weekend!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
For those of you who may or may not have noticed, there was no Gator Bytes this morning, Due to an early appointment I had for a colonoscopy. I should have written last night, but better late than never!
Everything is fine and I have finally thawed out from the unusually cold prep room. Bayfront had a problem with the A/C which had been set at "freeze" for three days. all the staff were wearing anything warm they had to put on.
Anyway, I hope some of you got to see the meteor shower last night. It is too light around here to see many and I went to bed a little early.
I hope you all have a blessed weekend!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Shortsighted
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! Wet, wet, wet! Everything around here is wet. I am not complaining, because I remember when it was dry and I was praying for rain. Well, God supplies abundantly! I heard it raining a lot during the night, and everything is soaked today, so I guess the yard doesn't get mowed today. We have puffy clouds today and sunshine off and on, but will probably have more rain today.
Lots of really big white toadstools were popping up in the park yesterday, one of the only times I ventured out. A flock of ibis were covering one side of a berm and a few people were walking, but although there was a lot of sun in the afternoon, it was too hot for me to walk. My nose is very red now, and is very tender, but God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
Galatians 6:10 KJV As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men. Especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Do you miss life-changing opportunities because of shortsightedness? Consider this example:
A fellow approached a cab driver in New York and said, "Take me to London." The cab driver told him there was no possible way for him to drive across the Atlantic. The customer insisted there was. "You'll drive me down to the pier; we'll put the taxi on a freighter to Liverpool, and you; drive me to London, where I'll pay you whatever is on the meter."
The driver agreed, and when they arrived in London, the passenger paid the total on the meter, plus a thousand dollar tip.
The driver roamed around London, not quite knowing what to do. Then an Englishman hailed him and said, "I want you to drive me to New York." The cab driver couldn't believe his good luck. How often can you pick up a person who wants to go to New York?
When the passenger began to say, "First we take a boat..."the driver cut him off.
"That I know, But where to in New York?"
The passenger said, "Riverside Drive and 104th Street."
The driver responded, "Sorry, I don't go to the west side."
Jesus was well schooled in the Scriptures, and He often followed the traditions of His heritage. He also had a daily routine of praying and ministering to the needs of the people. However, He didn't allow traditions or personal preferences to stand in the way of carrying out God's will for the day.
Look for God-given opportunities to serve Him by serving others. Don't allow your daily routines, personal biases, or shortsightedness cause you to miss what the Lord wants to do in you and through you today.
A good deed is never lost:
He who shows courtesy reaps
friendship and he who plants
kindness gathers love.
Saint Basil
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Lots of really big white toadstools were popping up in the park yesterday, one of the only times I ventured out. A flock of ibis were covering one side of a berm and a few people were walking, but although there was a lot of sun in the afternoon, it was too hot for me to walk. My nose is very red now, and is very tender, but God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
Galatians 6:10 KJV As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men. Especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Do you miss life-changing opportunities because of shortsightedness? Consider this example:
A fellow approached a cab driver in New York and said, "Take me to London." The cab driver told him there was no possible way for him to drive across the Atlantic. The customer insisted there was. "You'll drive me down to the pier; we'll put the taxi on a freighter to Liverpool, and you; drive me to London, where I'll pay you whatever is on the meter."
The driver agreed, and when they arrived in London, the passenger paid the total on the meter, plus a thousand dollar tip.
The driver roamed around London, not quite knowing what to do. Then an Englishman hailed him and said, "I want you to drive me to New York." The cab driver couldn't believe his good luck. How often can you pick up a person who wants to go to New York?
When the passenger began to say, "First we take a boat..."the driver cut him off.
"That I know, But where to in New York?"
The passenger said, "Riverside Drive and 104th Street."
The driver responded, "Sorry, I don't go to the west side."
Jesus was well schooled in the Scriptures, and He often followed the traditions of His heritage. He also had a daily routine of praying and ministering to the needs of the people. However, He didn't allow traditions or personal preferences to stand in the way of carrying out God's will for the day.
Look for God-given opportunities to serve Him by serving others. Don't allow your daily routines, personal biases, or shortsightedness cause you to miss what the Lord wants to do in you and through you today.
A good deed is never lost:
He who shows courtesy reaps
friendship and he who plants
kindness gathers love.
Saint Basil
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Psoaring thru Psalm 8
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 just got the weather report that gusty winds and rain are expected until about noon, and I notice that the wind is really blowing all the trees and shrubs already. Guess that's the tropical storm moving out.
But yesterday, I really enjoyed the cooler weather which never got out of the eighties. I went for a walk in the park, careful to stay in the shade because of my healing nose, which is really red this morning. I walked along the sidewalk, admiring the thick underbrush across the canal which really looked like the original Florida. There were big ripples in the water either from tilapia or unknown critters down in the deeps. Lots of white toadstools are popping up all over from all the rain, but the ibises like to get the underground critters that the rain brings out. Once in a great while I see one on top of a light pole, but for the most part, they keep their heads to the ground.
The rain is good for the plants and brings out a lot of flowers, God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 8
O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and nursing
infants to give you praise.
They silence your enemies
who were seeking revenge.
When I look at the night sky and see the work
of your fingers--
the moon and stars you have set in place--
what are mortals that you should
think of us,
mere humans that you should care for us?
For you made us only a little lower than God
and you crowned us with glory and honor.
You put us in charge of everything you
made,
giving us authority over all things--
the sheep and the cattle
and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims in the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name
fills the earth!
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
But yesterday, I really enjoyed the cooler weather which never got out of the eighties. I went for a walk in the park, careful to stay in the shade because of my healing nose, which is really red this morning. I walked along the sidewalk, admiring the thick underbrush across the canal which really looked like the original Florida. There were big ripples in the water either from tilapia or unknown critters down in the deeps. Lots of white toadstools are popping up all over from all the rain, but the ibises like to get the underground critters that the rain brings out. Once in a great while I see one on top of a light pole, but for the most part, they keep their heads to the ground.
The rain is good for the plants and brings out a lot of flowers, God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 8
O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and nursing
infants to give you praise.
They silence your enemies
who were seeking revenge.
When I look at the night sky and see the work
of your fingers--
the moon and stars you have set in place--
what are mortals that you should
think of us,
mere humans that you should care for us?
For you made us only a little lower than God
and you crowned us with glory and honor.
You put us in charge of everything you
made,
giving us authority over all things--
the sheep and the cattle
and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims in the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name
fills the earth!
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
What's the Problem?
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! Lots of sunshine today with puffy white clouds so far, but more rain is predicted. Yesterday I ran some errands in the morning, before the rain came in the afternoon. I like rainy afternoons, because I can read instead of organizing which I really need to do.
As I pulled into the driveway from an errand, I stopped to watch a very large woodpecker darting under and around the Crown of Thorns which grows right beside the garage door. I have no idea what he was pecking at, but was really concentrating on doing it. I saw a very large tri-colored heron at the park, along with a lot of trash in the canal from all the rain. I think volunteers will soon pick it up. The trash , not the heron. :o)
Last night I attended a wedding reception at the church, which was lovely, with lots of people, but some of the love songs really touched me emotionally. It was a little difficult, but God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
Philippians 4:13 NKJV I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Ever had a difficulty that gives you "2 AM wake up calls"? It could be a project at work, a committee you've suddenly ended up chairing, or simply the challenge of trying to figure out how to get everything done with only two hands. Whatever the issue, it ruins your sleep and saps your energy for the upcoming day.
The developer of a popular series of business training films describes the phenomenon of discovering your problem-solving skills are going nowhere.
"You start thinking, I'm uncomfortable,I'm anxious, I'm nervous. I can't do this. I should never have started to try. I m not creative. I was never creative in school. I'm a complete failure. I'm going to be fired, and that means my spouse will leave me and-in other words, you start enjoying a real, good old-fashioned panic attack."
Problems can feel ten times as large in the middle of the night. But in reality--and by daylight--solutions might not be as distant as they seem.
Inventor Charles Kettering had a unique problem-solving method. He would divide each problem into the smallest possible pieces, then research the pieces to determine which ones had already been solved. He often found that what looked like a huge problem was already 98 percent solved by others. Then he tackled what was left.
In bite-sized pieces, problems become more manageable. Remember that, with God, all things are possible. He can give us peace in our darkest nights and bring wisdom with the morning.
Obstacles in the pathway of the weak, become stepping stones in
the pathway of the strong.
Thomas Carlyle
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
As I pulled into the driveway from an errand, I stopped to watch a very large woodpecker darting under and around the Crown of Thorns which grows right beside the garage door. I have no idea what he was pecking at, but was really concentrating on doing it. I saw a very large tri-colored heron at the park, along with a lot of trash in the canal from all the rain. I think volunteers will soon pick it up. The trash , not the heron. :o)
Last night I attended a wedding reception at the church, which was lovely, with lots of people, but some of the love songs really touched me emotionally. It was a little difficult, but God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
Philippians 4:13 NKJV I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Ever had a difficulty that gives you "2 AM wake up calls"? It could be a project at work, a committee you've suddenly ended up chairing, or simply the challenge of trying to figure out how to get everything done with only two hands. Whatever the issue, it ruins your sleep and saps your energy for the upcoming day.
The developer of a popular series of business training films describes the phenomenon of discovering your problem-solving skills are going nowhere.
"You start thinking, I'm uncomfortable,I'm anxious, I'm nervous. I can't do this. I should never have started to try. I m not creative. I was never creative in school. I'm a complete failure. I'm going to be fired, and that means my spouse will leave me and-in other words, you start enjoying a real, good old-fashioned panic attack."
Problems can feel ten times as large in the middle of the night. But in reality--and by daylight--solutions might not be as distant as they seem.
Inventor Charles Kettering had a unique problem-solving method. He would divide each problem into the smallest possible pieces, then research the pieces to determine which ones had already been solved. He often found that what looked like a huge problem was already 98 percent solved by others. Then he tackled what was left.
In bite-sized pieces, problems become more manageable. Remember that, with God, all things are possible. He can give us peace in our darkest nights and bring wisdom with the morning.
Obstacles in the pathway of the weak, become stepping stones in
the pathway of the strong.
Thomas Carlyle
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, August 9, 2010
Thinking things through
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! After a deluge from a storm last night, I thought we might have sunshine today, but not yet. However, I like the cooler temps that come with overcast skies. I just saw a butterfly flit past my window, and then a bird zipped by, so nothing stops the creatures that God created for our pleasure. Even the squirrels that are so silly sometimes, chasing each other around and around the oak trees.
I went to the Park yesterday and watched an anhinga drag himself over the weir drying his wings. They look very graceful and sleek swimming underwater, but on land...not so much. I also watched a young woman come running on the other side of the canal, where it is not open to the public, but somehow, she got over there and then kept running down to the boardwalk. She looked like a runner, very swift and steady in her gait. I saw another runner the other day, who was definitely pushing it and looked exhausted, but she was determined.
There is a purple flowering tree down at the end of my block and I don't know the name of it, but it is beautiful, and I admire it each time I drive by. God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. the streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain. For so you have ordained it. Psalm 65:9
One of America's most popular contemporary painters, Andrew Wyeth, portrays life in rural Penn. and Maine so meticulously and naturally that it sometimes appears surreal. A story told by his brother Nat gives a great deal of insight into the source of Wyeth's intensity.
Andy did a picture of Lafayette's quarters near Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, with a sycamore tree behind the building. When I first saw the painting, he wasn't finished with it. He showed me a lot of drawings of the trunk and the sycamore's gnarled roots, and I said, "Where's all that in the picture?"
"It's not in ther picture, Nat," he said. "For me to get what I want in the part of the tree that's showing, I've got to know thoroughly how it is anchored in back of the house."
The act of thinking things through is important to eveery task in our lives. For example, we cannot overlook the importance of good preparation when we are planning our garden, or we risk damaging the plants with poor soil or by setting them too close together to grow freely.
Wall Street legend, Barnard Baruch emphasized this need, stating, "Whatever failures I have known, whatever errors I have committed, whatever follies I have witnessed in private and public life have been the consequence of action without thought."
It is a joy to commune with God and ask His advice as we plan our daily activities. When you have an important task to think through, take time to ask, "Lord, what is your will?" He will be glad to help.
Four steps to achievement"
Plan purposefully. prepare prayerfully,
proceed positively,
Pursue persistently.
William Arthur Ward
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I went to the Park yesterday and watched an anhinga drag himself over the weir drying his wings. They look very graceful and sleek swimming underwater, but on land...not so much. I also watched a young woman come running on the other side of the canal, where it is not open to the public, but somehow, she got over there and then kept running down to the boardwalk. She looked like a runner, very swift and steady in her gait. I saw another runner the other day, who was definitely pushing it and looked exhausted, but she was determined.
There is a purple flowering tree down at the end of my block and I don't know the name of it, but it is beautiful, and I admire it each time I drive by. God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. the streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain. For so you have ordained it. Psalm 65:9
One of America's most popular contemporary painters, Andrew Wyeth, portrays life in rural Penn. and Maine so meticulously and naturally that it sometimes appears surreal. A story told by his brother Nat gives a great deal of insight into the source of Wyeth's intensity.
Andy did a picture of Lafayette's quarters near Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, with a sycamore tree behind the building. When I first saw the painting, he wasn't finished with it. He showed me a lot of drawings of the trunk and the sycamore's gnarled roots, and I said, "Where's all that in the picture?"
"It's not in ther picture, Nat," he said. "For me to get what I want in the part of the tree that's showing, I've got to know thoroughly how it is anchored in back of the house."
The act of thinking things through is important to eveery task in our lives. For example, we cannot overlook the importance of good preparation when we are planning our garden, or we risk damaging the plants with poor soil or by setting them too close together to grow freely.
Wall Street legend, Barnard Baruch emphasized this need, stating, "Whatever failures I have known, whatever errors I have committed, whatever follies I have witnessed in private and public life have been the consequence of action without thought."
It is a joy to commune with God and ask His advice as we plan our daily activities. When you have an important task to think through, take time to ask, "Lord, what is your will?" He will be glad to help.
Four steps to achievement"
Plan purposefully. prepare prayerfully,
proceed positively,
Pursue persistently.
William Arthur Ward
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, August 6, 2010
Love Chapter
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 really a beautiful morning, with lots of sunshine, blue skies and a few puffy white clouds here and there. We had an earlier rain yesterday, coming in the early afternoon, instead of later, and the lawn had just been mowed, so that was good timing.
I spent over an hour in the doctor's office again, trying to get the BP regulated. I got so cold! I should know by now to take a sweater with me, even though it is 98 outside! And today, I have my last radiation treatment on my nose. I will probably get a small potted plant because they always give one to their "graduates". It's a nice place, but I hope I don't have to go there any more.
Well, I have a tiny, baby lizard in the house again. I saw it high on the wall by the front door as I was turning out the lights last night. I knew he would be too quick for me, so I didn't even try to catch him. Hope he gets out soon, though, because he is doomed if he stays in here. On the way back from the oncology place, I saw lots of ibis pecking around the large retention pond. but no roseates. Boo. I was disappointed. I went to the park, and saw a woodstork all huddled up. That was strange, because they are not usually here this time of year. The weeds are getting higher and higher with all this rain, but the shrub trimmer crew was there, and going around to all the lower shrubs and trimming them. I am kind of surprised because just about all plants that require trimming have been eliminated. Oh, well, one thing for sure, God is good!!
From The Message:
1 Corinthians 13 The Way of Love;
If i speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy ut don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "jump" and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned a a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, nomatter what I say, what I velieve, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love,
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn' have.
Love doesn't strut.
Love doesn't have a swelled head.
Doesn't force itself on others.
Isn't always "me first".
Doesn't fly off the handle.
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others.
Doesn't revel when others grovel.
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth.
Puts up with anything.
Trusts God always.
Always looks for the best.
Never looks back.
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day, praying in tongues will end, understanding will reach it limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly as as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation; Trust steadily in God, Hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (Amen)
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I spent over an hour in the doctor's office again, trying to get the BP regulated. I got so cold! I should know by now to take a sweater with me, even though it is 98 outside! And today, I have my last radiation treatment on my nose. I will probably get a small potted plant because they always give one to their "graduates". It's a nice place, but I hope I don't have to go there any more.
Well, I have a tiny, baby lizard in the house again. I saw it high on the wall by the front door as I was turning out the lights last night. I knew he would be too quick for me, so I didn't even try to catch him. Hope he gets out soon, though, because he is doomed if he stays in here. On the way back from the oncology place, I saw lots of ibis pecking around the large retention pond. but no roseates. Boo. I was disappointed. I went to the park, and saw a woodstork all huddled up. That was strange, because they are not usually here this time of year. The weeds are getting higher and higher with all this rain, but the shrub trimmer crew was there, and going around to all the lower shrubs and trimming them. I am kind of surprised because just about all plants that require trimming have been eliminated. Oh, well, one thing for sure, God is good!!
From The Message:
1 Corinthians 13 The Way of Love;
If i speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy ut don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "jump" and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned a a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, nomatter what I say, what I velieve, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love,
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn' have.
Love doesn't strut.
Love doesn't have a swelled head.
Doesn't force itself on others.
Isn't always "me first".
Doesn't fly off the handle.
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others.
Doesn't revel when others grovel.
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth.
Puts up with anything.
Trusts God always.
Always looks for the best.
Never looks back.
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day, praying in tongues will end, understanding will reach it limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly as as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation; Trust steadily in God, Hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (Amen)
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Ephesians 3:20,21
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! This will be a short one today, because the yard man came and I always enjoy spending time with him and seeing how a purely worldly view looks at the state of politics and what's going on in sports.
Yesterday, I received a call from the Hospice counselor, who will check on me for a year, just to see how I am doing, and she said I was the most interesting person. In spite of all the health issues I have had since Louis' death, she said I sounded good and strong. She can tell a lot by a person's voice. I told her I had a good support system with my church friends and my sons, and she knows about the motorcycle ride and Sea-doo ride. My God is so good!
Tomorrow is my last nose treatment, and I am so glad! I had to wait an hour because of a new patient with three treatment sites. I should have taken a book, but I didn't know. I finally got lunch about 2, but had a snack bar and cheese and crackers to tide me over.
We had another storm last night, but the trash is off the yard, now that the grass is cut and everything blown clean. God is really good!
Ephesians 3:20,21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever!
Amen.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday, I received a call from the Hospice counselor, who will check on me for a year, just to see how I am doing, and she said I was the most interesting person. In spite of all the health issues I have had since Louis' death, she said I sounded good and strong. She can tell a lot by a person's voice. I told her I had a good support system with my church friends and my sons, and she knows about the motorcycle ride and Sea-doo ride. My God is so good!
Tomorrow is my last nose treatment, and I am so glad! I had to wait an hour because of a new patient with three treatment sites. I should have taken a book, but I didn't know. I finally got lunch about 2, but had a snack bar and cheese and crackers to tide me over.
We had another storm last night, but the trash is off the yard, now that the grass is cut and everything blown clean. God is really good!
Ephesians 3:20,21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever!
Amen.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Paul's Final Thoughts
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! The sun is shining brilliantly after the thunderstorms of last night. I thought the lightning and thunder would never end! Our power went off three times and came back on after a minute or two.l That's the kind of storm I really don't care for. The trees sure got cleaned out, though, There is trash all over the yard and driveway..leaves and broken twigs, especially in the driveway and it looks like a nest at the end of the drive. Maybe just a big clump of leaves. Anyway, I will have to go clean it off, before the heat gets too fierce.
Today I go for my next to last radiation treatment. Yay! The best part is coming or going and seeing roseate spoonbills by the road. I saw one way out in the field Monday, all by himself. They are so beautiful! I watched a DVD about the environment in a rain forest on the big screen at the oncology place and saw lots of different hummingbirds with many colors, but still, the roseate is the prettiest.
I didn't see any birds except a tri-colored heron, and an anhinga at the park yesterday. Very few people there, But the clouds were already building up, so it's a good idea not to be out among the trees. But God is good!
Philippians 4:4-9
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don't worry abour 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 pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice and 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
Today I go for my next to last radiation treatment. Yay! The best part is coming or going and seeing roseate spoonbills by the road. I saw one way out in the field Monday, all by himself. They are so beautiful! I watched a DVD about the environment in a rain forest on the big screen at the oncology place and saw lots of different hummingbirds with many colors, but still, the roseate is the prettiest.
I didn't see any birds except a tri-colored heron, and an anhinga at the park yesterday. Very few people there, But the clouds were already building up, so it's a good idea not to be out among the trees. But God is good!
Philippians 4:4-9
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don't worry abour 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 pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice and 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
Opportunities
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 am a little later than usual this morning, because I felt so ambitious that I changed the sheets and put them in the washer before breakfast. I'm sure I will run out of energy very soon, though! :o)
I always find something interesting in the mailbox on on the porch. Yesterday, when I took the mail out, I noticed one of those little striped lizards clinging to one of the envelopes. It was only about two inches long, including the tail, but fortunately for me, I was able to brush him off before bringing him into the house. Then this morning when I stepped outside there was a plump little frog, hopping away from the door. I think he was probably under the mailbox, because that is where the outside light is left on all night, attracting lots of bugs. Yum.
When I went to the park, after my radiation treatment, all was peaceful with few people there. It's best to go early in the morning or in the evening if you want to avoid so much heat. However, we did have a nice little storm last night, and water is still dripping off the roof. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I face challenging, sometimes intimidating, opportunities?
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
Our ability to face challenges is rooted in Christ, not in ourselves. With Christ's help, we can make the most of every opportunity.
Revelation 3:8 I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you, that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.
We can trust that nothing will prevent us from fulfilling the opportunity God has for us.
How do I know that an opportunity is from the Lord?
Joshua 1:7-9 Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Ephesians 5:15-20 Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God's opportunities conform to his word. Anything that contradicts God"s word i not an opportunity from God.
What does God promise to those who make the most of his opportunities?
Matthew 25-29
To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have, will be taken away.
God honors faithfulness in little things with the privilege of responsibility for greater things.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I always find something interesting in the mailbox on on the porch. Yesterday, when I took the mail out, I noticed one of those little striped lizards clinging to one of the envelopes. It was only about two inches long, including the tail, but fortunately for me, I was able to brush him off before bringing him into the house. Then this morning when I stepped outside there was a plump little frog, hopping away from the door. I think he was probably under the mailbox, because that is where the outside light is left on all night, attracting lots of bugs. Yum.
When I went to the park, after my radiation treatment, all was peaceful with few people there. It's best to go early in the morning or in the evening if you want to avoid so much heat. However, we did have a nice little storm last night, and water is still dripping off the roof. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I face challenging, sometimes intimidating, opportunities?
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
Our ability to face challenges is rooted in Christ, not in ourselves. With Christ's help, we can make the most of every opportunity.
Revelation 3:8 I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you, that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.
We can trust that nothing will prevent us from fulfilling the opportunity God has for us.
How do I know that an opportunity is from the Lord?
Joshua 1:7-9 Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Ephesians 5:15-20 Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God's opportunities conform to his word. Anything that contradicts God"s word i not an opportunity from God.
What does God promise to those who make the most of his opportunities?
Matthew 25-29
To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have, will be taken away.
God honors faithfulness in little things with the privilege of responsibility for greater things.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, August 2, 2010
Psoaring thru Psalm 113
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's a little cloudy and overcast this morning, but I went to sleep with the sound of thunder in my ears and flashes of lightning through the drapes. Nice. I didn't think we got any of the rain, though, but the porch was wet and so was the yard, so we got a little , anyway. That was good because we have not had any for a week.
I spent a lazy afternoon yesterday, mostly resting and reading. Oh, yes, I watched the Rays beat the Yankees, too!! I went to the park after church, but not a lot of people were out...mostly parents with little ones. Since there is no playground, most of the older kids don't come, but there is plenty of nature to see if they are interested. During school time, if you know the teacher, you might get invited in to see the interesting critters; some alive and some stuffed, in the classroom. She also usually has snakes, spiders and when Francia was the teacher, she always had screech owls, who had various disabilities , in their cages. So cute!
But I just saw the usual squirrels, and ibises and egrets yesterday. Oh, yes, I heard and then saw the red-headed woodpecker in our oak tree again, yesterday. God is good!
From The Message:
Psalm 113
Hallelujah!
You who serve God, praise God!
Just to speak his name is praise!
Just to remember God is a blessing-
now, and tomorrow and always.
From east to west, from dawn to dusk,
keep lifting all your praises to God!
God is higher than anything and anyone
outshining everything you can see in the skies.
Who can compare with God, our God
so majestically enthroned,
Surveying his magnificent
heavens and earth?
He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,
rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash,
Seats them among the honored guests,
a place of honor among the brightest and best.
He gives childless couples a family.
gives them joy as the parents of children.
Hallelujah!
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
amaryllis
I spent a lazy afternoon yesterday, mostly resting and reading. Oh, yes, I watched the Rays beat the Yankees, too!! I went to the park after church, but not a lot of people were out...mostly parents with little ones. Since there is no playground, most of the older kids don't come, but there is plenty of nature to see if they are interested. During school time, if you know the teacher, you might get invited in to see the interesting critters; some alive and some stuffed, in the classroom. She also usually has snakes, spiders and when Francia was the teacher, she always had screech owls, who had various disabilities , in their cages. So cute!
But I just saw the usual squirrels, and ibises and egrets yesterday. Oh, yes, I heard and then saw the red-headed woodpecker in our oak tree again, yesterday. God is good!
From The Message:
Psalm 113
Hallelujah!
You who serve God, praise God!
Just to speak his name is praise!
Just to remember God is a blessing-
now, and tomorrow and always.
From east to west, from dawn to dusk,
keep lifting all your praises to God!
God is higher than anything and anyone
outshining everything you can see in the skies.
Who can compare with God, our God
so majestically enthroned,
Surveying his magnificent
heavens and earth?
He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,
rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash,
Seats them among the honored guests,
a place of honor among the brightest and best.
He gives childless couples a family.
gives them joy as the parents of children.
Hallelujah!
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
amaryllis
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