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 humidity is lower and the breeze feels cool so far this morning, so this is a wonderful day!
Yesterday was a good day,too, with a good sermon and communion and lots of shoes all over the church to be sent all over the world, for people who cannot afford shoes. A good project! When I think of the devastation in Alabama, Tenn. and Georgia, I know many of those people will need shoes, along with everything else. I can't even imagine being without everything. I am blessed!
When I went to the park yesterday, I had to go around a paramedic truck which was on a call to the sidewalk. Apparently, from what I could see, someone in a motorized wheelchair needed assistance, and when I came out of the park there was a sheriff's cruiser and a FHP patrol car just drove up. I said a prayer for whoever needed help and drove on.
But when I was in the park, I saw a great blue heron waiting patiently for a fish, and an anhinga drying out the wings. Not many people were there, but lots was going on in town and in Tampa to draw people out. I keep looking for the old gopher tortoise, but have not seen him for a couple weeks. But God is good!
From the book Quiet Moments with God devotional:
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9
At the turn of the century there was a city worker whose youth had been spent in evil ways. But one night during a revival meeting, he was spiritually born anew. Soon after, he ran into one of his old drinking pals. Knowing his friend needed Jesus, he attempted to witness to him about his newly found peace. His friend rebuffed him rudely and made fun of him for "turning pious."
"I'll tell you what," said the new Christian, "you know that I am the city lamplighter. When I go 'round turning out the lights, I look back, and all the road over which I've been walking is blackness. That's what my past is like." He went on, "I look on in front, and there's a long row of twinkling lights to guide me, and that's what the future is like since I found Jesus."
"Yes," says the friend, "but by-and-by you get to the last lamp and turn it out, and where are you then?"
"Then" said the Christian, "why, when he last lamp goes out it's dawn, and there ain't no need for lamps when the morning comes."
Many children carry their fear of the dark into adulthood in the form of other kinds of fears-fear of failure, rejection, loss, pain, loneliness, or disappointment. Each of these fears seems to grow in darkness. Darkness is a metaphor for many things; death, night, uncertainty, evil--but in all of them, Jesus is the Light that brings illumination and comfort.
When light shines, not only is darkness eliminated, but fears are relieved as well. Indeed, not only does Jesus give you as much light as you need to proceed in faith, but because of His sacrifice at Calvary, you can be assured of His eternal dawn when the last lamp goes out! Like the lamplighter said, "And there ain't no need for lamps when the morning comes."
O for a closer walk with God. A calm and heavenly frame.
A light to shine upon the road that leads me to the lamb!
William Cowper
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis (Happy Cinco de Mayo, Gil!)
