Thursday, February 28, 2013

Psoaring thru Psalm 111

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 definitely cooler this morning as the cold front gradually moves down on us, and the blowing wind makes it feel even cooler. So I guess this means March is coming in like a lion, so maybe it will go out like a lamb!

I was watching TV while eating my breakfast and saw the live broadcast from the Plant City strawberry festival. MMM! the shortcake really looked good! I had fresh strawberries on my oatmeal this morning and they were good and sweet, so it is a good crop this year. This is also the year of the worms, since I noticed yesterday, much to my dismay, webs hanging down from the oaks. They swing in the breeze and dangle and sway when the wind blows.. While the shade is a power saver in the summer, still trees require a lot of sweeping, yard cleaning and grumbling on my part. I am still grateful that we planted them forty or more years ago! 

I went to Sweetbay after my cleaning ladies left yesterday, and Jason had come to clean up the yard before them, so I took off to get some milk and other stuff. After I finished shopping I drove to the park, and saw the water in the canal was higher since the good rain we had Tuesday. I spotted three or four ibis as white spots on the berm, pecking around one of the picnic tables.. A small crowd was there walking dogs, jogging, and enjoying the good weather. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 111
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.

Everything he does reveals his glory  and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
Who can forget the wonders he performs?
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
He gives food to those who trust him;
he always remembers his covenant.
He has shown his great power to his people,
by giving them the lands of other nations.
All he does is just and good
and all his commandments are trustworthy.

They are forever true,
to be observed faithfully and with integrity.
He has paid a full ransom for his people.
He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. 
What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!

Reverence for the Lord is the foundation
of true wisdom.
The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him.
Praise his name forever!

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


Love and hugs, 
Amaryllis

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Roamin' thru Romans

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 cloudy now, but we have had sun this morning. I was just standing outside talking with my yard man and the air was definitely cooler than it has been, so I guess the prediction of the cold weather coming this weekend is true.  Well, we take what the Lord gives!

With the shed gone and a sprinkler system in my future, soon, the outside will be looking better, then I have to think about painting the inside of the house. There is always something, but I am thankful for the people that I have helping me. My cleaning ladies are coming today, so I am getting quite a payroll!

The only place I drove to yesterday was the park, after the hard rain. I noticed about a dozen or more cars and people walking their dogs and even picnicking, so everything must have dried off pretty quickly. I noticed a young gator on the bank by the weir and stopped a minute to look at him, and then admired the azaleas which are still pretty. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 12:6
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 that of 
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 respon-
siblity  seriously. And if you have a gift for showing 
kindness to others, do it gladly.

Don't just pretend that 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.

Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in 
trouble, and always be prayerful. When God's children are in need.
be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting
guests home for dinner, or, if they need lodging, for the night. 

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

A new Commandment

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 are in the midst of a storm right now, with the wind blowing and rain pouring.  However, it is supposed to blow over quickly and then the sun will shine again, although cold weather is if the offing by the weekend. We surely needed the rain!

My handy man, Rick, came an hour early so he could beat the rain in doing his work, which he did. I now have a nice brick patio in the backyard, where the shed once stood. Rick beat the short concrete foundation out with a sledge hammer and broke it up, then took down my old clothes line poles which have been standing for perhaps forty years... No end to maintenance!

I did a little shopping yesterday and then wound up at the park, where the small flock of ibis were pecking away in nearly the same spot as the day before...in the hollow between the circle roads. I also saw an almost invisible great blue heron standing by the weir, with a large, wet snapper turtle a short ways away. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 John 2:9-14

"If anyone says, "I am living in the light", but hates
a Christian brother or sister" that person is still 
living in darkness. Anyone who loves other
Christians  is living in the light and does not cause anyone to stumble. 
Anyone who hates  a Christian brother or sister is
living or walking in darkness. Such a person is lost, 
having been blinded by the darkness.

I am writing to you, my dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven because of Jesus.

I am writing to you who are mature because
you know Christ, the one who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you who are young, because
you have won your battle with Satan.

I have written to you, children, because  you have 
known the Father.

I have written to you who are young  because
you are strong with God's Word living in your
hearts, and you have won your battle with Satan.

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

 
Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Monday, February 25, 2013

The Power of Prayer

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! The sun is burning through the clouds and fog, so once again, we will have a very warm day ahead. Yesterday, the temp reached 80. I wear a pendant around the house that I can press in case I fall, and since the light on the home unit was blinking, indicating that the pendants needed testing, I called the number and got an operator with a very southern accent, who said her name was Jeannine. When she saw my address on her pc, she remarked on "pretty St. Petersburg." I told her that the temp. was 80 and she was impressed. At the end of the testing I asked her what part of the south she was from and she said Tennessee. I told her my grandson and son lived in TN and she said "Enjoy your eighty degrees". I'm thinking it was not that warm where she is.

Well, I am the excited and ignorant owner of a new iphone 4. Brian upgraded his phone to the iphone 5 and put me on his family plan. I managed to text a couple times yesterday, and Gil showed me how to take a photo with the camera, which turned out to be a good one of him, but I am not too swift in picking up new electronic workings. Brian will go to a class and wants me to accompany him, but I think I will let him go and he can teach me. I have difficulty with the small keypad, because the lightest touch results in a letter and mostly not the one I want. I know it will open up a whole new world, once I learn how to utilize all the features. So, I will plod along until I get up to speed with it. We were at the Verizon store about 2 hours, waiting an then getting taken care of. It was the middle of the day, so after that, we went next door to Larry's and had lunch. I know it won't take Brian long to learn his phone, So there is hope for me!

I visited the park after church yesterday, and saw an anhinga airing out the wings on the weir and more people driving in, since it was such a nice day. A small group of ibis were pecking away in the hollow between the circle drives and a great blue heron was standing in the canal fishing. Lots of activity with people walking, running, and eating at the picnic tables. The azaleas are really pretty in the park, because they were not trimmed back last year, so that means more blossoms. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

James 5:13-18
Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it.
 And those who have reason to be thankful
should continually sing praises to the Lord.
Are any among you sick? They should call for
the elders of the church and have them pray
over them, anointing them with oil in the name
of the Lord. And their prayer offered in faith
will heal the sick. and the Lord will make them
well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each
other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer
of a righteous person has great power and wonderful
results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when
he prayed  earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell
for the next three and a half years! Then he prayed for
rain and down it poured. The grass turned green
and the crops began to grow again.

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


Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Friday, February 22, 2013

Psoaring thru Psalm 100

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! I just heard from the meteorologist on TV that we have the best weather in the whole country! Yay! Florida! It is beautiful today...lots of sunshine and, even though the wind is blowing, it is already in the seventies. We are blessed!

I had a quiet day yesterday, just doing some things in the house and finishing up a book, I had been reading. Later on, I went to the park and saw few people there, but the anhinga was on the weir, drying out the wings, and the ibis were pecking around, I noticed a couple weeks ago that blue recycling cans has been placed where the trash cans are, and I have seen different people taking advantage of that and taking cans out so they can do their own recycling. I don't know what the county was planning to do with the recycling money, but they aren't getting as much as they had hoped with some patrons taking the cans for their own monies.  If this goes on at Sawgrass, it is probably the same at the other parks. Oh, well, someone will get caught. But God is still good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 100

Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
 We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.

For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each
generation.

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


Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Night Lights

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Another beautiful day is in store for us. with few clouds, cool breezes and warm sunshine. Perfect! The only thing marring this beauty is the pollen that is still filling the air.

I took my van to the car wash yesterday and, after wrestling with the cash machine for five minutes to get it to take my dollars, I made it through and now the car is gleaming. I know clean does not last, either in the house or on a car, but it makes me feel better to know the dust and grime are gone for a little while. While I was cleaning the windows, I notice little spots of yellow, which is really hard to clean off. That is from some kind of tree, but I am thinking maybe pine trees.  

I visited the Park yesterday, and noticed more azaleas are blooming, as mine are, looking very pretty for a little while. My large one in the back yard is gorgeous with the deep pink blooms all over and falling on the ground. Going into the park, I saw turtles plastered on one side of the weir and on the other side of the street, the large gator was sunning in his personal spot. Lots of people were walking or looking over the bridge at the water. God is good!

From the devotional book Quiet Moments with God:

You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.
2 Samuel 22:29
 


An Illinois pastor had six couples enrolled in a new members class that met on Sunday evenings in one couple's home. Even after all the couples had completed the course work and joined the church, they continued to meet on Sunday evenings. They enjoyed each other's company and developed a deep sense of commitment to one another.

One night, the pastor received a call from one of the wives in the group. Her husband's plane had gone down, and she didn't know if he was dead or alive. The pastor immediately called the other group members, who rallied around her. They sat and prayed with her until word came that her husband was dead. Then various women took turns baby sitting and staying with her during those first difficult nights.

Group members opened their homes to out of town relatives who came for the funeral.
The men kept her car running and did yard work. And when she decided she would have to sell her house and find a smaller place to live, they helped her locate an apartment, pack, unpack, and settle into her new home.

For many people, this experience would seem like a night without end, a shadow on their lives that would never be erased. But because her friends let their lights shine into her darkness,they reminded her of the God who understood  her pain and promised to see her through it.

"You are the light of the world," Jesus said. "A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." Matthew 5:14-15


In a world that seems to grow darker day by day, let the Lord turn your darkness into light. Then you can brighten the lives of those around you by being one of "God's bright lights".

                                            I don't have to light all
                                            the world, but I do have 
                                                    to light my part.
                                                  Unknown

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


Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Cruisin' thru Colossians

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 overcast right now, but I am thinking that it will soon burn off and then we will have lots of sun like yesterday.  Temp. is still in the high sixties, so our cold spell did not last long. But we could use some more rain, because the yellow pollen is floating around and all the cars that sit outside are coated with it.

Yesterday, Rick, my worker bee came to tear down the old shed in the back yard, and that was interesting. There was stuff in there that I had forgotten all about, if I ever knew it was in there. Some antiques and a lot of junk! Rick made three trips to the dump in his pickup, and he will be back Tuesday to finish up. With the shed gone, the backyard looks bigger, but also bare. When I get the sprinkler system installed, and grass sodded, perhaps things will be green again. Hopefully. 

I invited Rick to have lunch with me, which he did, and we had a nice chat. I found out a lot of personal stuff and trials he has been through. His 17 year old daughter was in a bad auto accident about three weeks ago, and is recovering from a lot of broken ribs, plus other injuries, so he has been taking care of her, since he is divorced. He is a joy to have around, because he is always smiling and very good natured. Tall and rumpled, but a hard worker! God has blessed me with good people to do for me what I can no longer do. 

After Rick was finished, I took the van over to the park and saw that lots of people were there. One couple had their two German shepherds on leashes and they were sniffing at a gopher tortoise, which was not paying them any attention. Even though the wind was blowing and lots of pollen was in the air, it didn't seem to bother anyone. Not everybody has allergies like I have. Brian stopped by after he left work and took me to the new Wawa to get gas, which was 3.59. Afterward, we drove by Walmart to check out their price and it was the same! I could have gotten 5 cents off with my card! Oh, well, God is the provider and He is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Colossians 1:9-14

So we have continued praying for you ever
since we first heard about you. We ask God to 
give you a complete understanding of what he
wants you to do in your lives, and we ask him
to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then 
the way you live will always honor and please
the Lord, and you will continually do good,
 kind things for others. All the while, you will 
learn to know God better and better.

We also pray that you will be strengthened
with his glorious power so that you will have 
all the patience and endurance you need. May
you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father
who has enabled you to share the inheritance
that belongs to God's holy people, who live in
the light. For he has rescued us from the one
who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he
has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear
Son. God has purchased our freedom  with
his blood and has forgiven all our sins.

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


Love and hugs, Amaryllis

Monday, February 18, 2013

Psoaring thru Psalm 98

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! Brrr! Some may like this weather which was in the forties when I got up, but I, personally, will be happy for the warm weather to come back! Soon! The rain preceding the front dampened down the pollen which is falling in buckets off the oaks, but now, the dry air has started  the allergies up again.. So we wait, patiently, for spring to come and for new leaves to take the place of the seeds.

We had a wonderful church service yesterday with a testimony from Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund, who told of her struggle with anorexia, as a result of her ballet training. Then we also had a good sermon. Seemed like a lot more people turned out, and I noticed winter visitors were there from Ind. and other states. After church, I visited the Park and noticed that the big tree that had fallen next to a truck, still had not been moved or chopped up. Seems like it would make good firewood! Lots of turtles were plastered against the side of the berm trying to get dried off and warm. There were quite a few people there Saturday, but not so much yesterday, at least, not when I was there. Although the sun was very warm, still, the air was cold and although I parked the car in the sun, it did not get too warm inside, so that means it was really chilly! But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 98
Sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has done wonderful deeds.
He has won a mighty victory
by his power and holiness.

The Lord has announced his victory
and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!

He has remembered his promise
 to love and be faithful to Israel.
The whole earth has seen the salvation of our God.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
Break out in praise and sing for joy!
Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp.
with the harp and melodious song,
with trumpets and the sound of the ram's horn.
Make a joyful symphony before the Lord the King!

Le t the sea and everything in it shout his Praise!
Let the earth and all living things join in.
Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord.
For the Lord is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice
and the nations with fairness.

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


Love and hugs.
Amaryllis

Friday, February 15, 2013

A word from Hebrews

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Looks like the rain is mostly over, but I still have not seen the sun yet this morning. However, the thermometer is still going down, so by tonight we will begin to see the cold front moving in. Here it is the middle of Feb. and we are facing the coldest weather so far! Go Figure...

Due to the rain all day yesterday, I thought it was prudent for me to stay home. So, I read and then cleaned out a closet some more. Still have three to go! It is amazing how I hang on to clothes I have outgrown (ha) some years ago, thinking I can get in them sometime in the future! Not Likely!

I looked out the window mid-morning and saw a large flock of ibis pecking their way along a neighbor's year, totally unconcerned with the rain. Guess it just rolls off the feathery backs, like water off a duck! We needed the rain, so God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:


Hebrews 6: 7-12

When the ground soaks up the rain that falls
on it and bears a good crop for the farmer,
it has the blessing of God. But if a field bears 
thistles and thorns, it is useless. The farmer will
condemn that field and burn it.

Dear friends, even though we are talking like
this, we really don't believe that it applies to you.
We are confident that you are meant for better
things, things that come with salvation. For God is not
unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked
for him and how you have shown your love for him
by caring for other Christians , as you still do! Our
great desire is that you will keep right on loving others
as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what
you hope for will come true. Then you will not become
spiritually  dull and indifferent. Instead you will follow
the example of those who are going to inherit God's 
promises because of their faith and patience.

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


Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Thursday, February 14, 2013

And the greatest of these is Love

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! Happy wet Valentine's Day! As I type this, rain is dripping down from my roof, after a short shower, but since we need the rain, I am happy for it. A good day to reflect on our blessings and the love of friends and family. My seventeen year old grandson's birthday is today. What a special day!
 

Unfortunately, he is in TN, so I cannot bake a cake for him, but his mom probably will.
 
My cleaning lady friends came yesterday, and we had a good time catching up. They know all the eating places around, since they have to stop and eat during their day of cleaning houses, so I hear of lots of places I would not know of otherwise. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful
or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it
has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice, but
rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives
up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures 
through every circumstance. 

Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in 
unknown languages and special knowledge will all
disappear. Now we know only a little, and even the gift
of prophecy reveals little. But when the end comes, these
special gifts will all disappear.

It's like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and
reasoned as a child does, but when I grew up, I put away
childish things. Now we see things imperfectly  as  in a poor
mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.
All that I know now is imperfect and incomplete, but then
 I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.

There are three things that will endure--faith, hope and love--and 
the greatest of these is Love.

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


Love and hugs, 
Amaryllis

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Temptation

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 a change in the weather coming, and since I have gotten used to the balmy days we have been having, I don't know if I will like having it much colder! Guess I'll have to take whatever comes, anyway! We are supposed to start getting rain this evening, and then by Sunday, it will be very cold! I am just spoiled.

I was out and about a lot more than usual yesterday, running errands. I started with a haircut at Mari's , which is always a pleasure with my cheerful friend,Then I went to Walgreen's on 4th St. and shopped a cart load of sale items. I have not been a customer of Walgreen's for a long time, because CVS is nearer and all my scrips are filled there, but I must say I am impressed by the service at Walgreen's. Very helpful and friendly associates, while at CVS, you are lucky if someone speaks to you! So, anyway, it was a pleasant experience. Then I drove to Disston shopping plaza and did some business there. That is always a busy place. Yesterday I was there about noon and the smell of pizza was fragrant in the air, making me hungry for a Little Italy pizza! 

I managed to make it over to the park, and saw the gator tucked into the shrubs again,but no turtles on the other side. The ibis were moving around the circle pecking and grubbing, and a few people were out and enjoying the beautiful, warm weather. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:


 Ash Wednesday

Do I have the power to resist overwhelming temptation?

Matthew 4:5-7 The devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the
Temple, and said, "IF you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say
"He orders his angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands
to keep you from striking your foot on a stone." Jesus responded, "The scriptures
also say "Do not test the Lord your God."

James 4:7 Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil , and he will flee from
you.
 


The devil can tempt us, but we can resist him just as Jesus did--by responding 
to temptation with the truth of God's Word.

1 John 4:4 You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight
with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the
spirit who lives in the world.

1 John 5:4,5
Every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And
the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus
is the Son of God.
 


We can break free from temptation when we change our focus and our minds.
Instead of thinking about our weakness, we can fill our minds with the promise of
God's strength. In Christ we have power. We must never forget that the Holy Spirit
is great enough to overcome any threat against us.

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


Love and hugs.
 Amaryllis

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Hebrews

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 kinda overcast this morning, but that may be fog that has not burned off, yet. I must have gotten up about twenty minutes earlier than I thought, because my bedside clock has one time on it and the clocks on the other side of the bed have a different time. My PC says 9:39m but my clock says 10:02. Hmm, something is wrong with my clock. It is only about forty years old...a clock, radio, telephone. I bought it from Penney's when the old Pinellas Park Mall was still standing. Sigh. Some changes are good.

Yesterday I ran some errands and ended up at the park, looking for a little peace. I saw a flock of ibis pecking around a picnic table where a man was peacefully enjoying his lunch. The ibis were not looking for handouts; in fact, they were only passing by on their never ending quest to find grubs. The canal was so peaceful and calm, reflecting the trees along side it. Since school was just getting out, there were not too many people, yet.

I was watching the leaves falling, as I was having my devotions this morning, and, since I have not swept the porch off yet, it is getting more and more leaves. But that's okay, because there will be a lot more on it by this afternoon. My azaleas are much prettier this year than I expected, and the old bush in the backyard is just gorgeous, with beautiful deep pink flowers! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Hebrews 6:7-12
When the ground soaks up the rain that falls
on it and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has
the blessing of God. But if a field bears thistles and
thorns, it is useless. The farmer will condemn that field
and burn it.

Dear friends, even though we are talking like this,
we really don't believe that it applies to you. We are
 confident that you  are meant for better things, things
that come with salvation. For God is not unfair. He will
not forget how hard you have worked for him and how
you have shown your love  to him by caring for other
Christians, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will
keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, in order 
to make certain that what  you hope for will come true.
Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent.
Instead, you will follow the example of those who are
going to inherit God's promises because of their faith
and patience.

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


Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Monday, February 11, 2013

Living in the Light

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 sun, cool breezes and a few clouds are a good way to start a Monday! The same weather we have had and the same weather for a couple days in the future! We are blessed! I have seen photos of the snow in the NE and read on Facebook experiences of people living through the blizzard. I have to say that I am so glad I live in Florida!

We had a powerful service at church yesterday, which is still running through my mind, so I am remembering my sins and repenting. Does me good and, hopefully, I will not repeat. After church, I went to Boston Market for my lunch and was very pleased that they have squash casserole back on the menu. That is one of my favorites! I went to the park and saw lots of people enjoying the good weather and a beautiful white egret standing on the far bank of the canal , looking like a Florida painting. Someone had taken time to blow the leaves off the road, which was covered the other day. My porch was blown clean a couple days ago, but now has a windrow of leaves on it again. I made the mistake of parking under the oak trees at church yesterday, and as a result, my van was covered with the seeds and dust. Guess I learned my lesson! But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 John 1:5-10 2 John 1-3

This is the message he has given us to announce
to you. God is light and there is no darkness in him
at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship
with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are
not living in the Truth. But if we are living in the light

we have fellowship with each other, and the blood
of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.

If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and 
refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins
to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse
us from every wrong. IF we claim we have not sinned,
we are calling God a liar and showing that his word
has no place in our hearts.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you 
will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to
plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the
one who pleases God completely. He is the sacrifice for
our sins. He takes away not only our sins, but the sins
of all the world.

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Friday, February 8, 2013

Encouragement

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! What a beautiful blue sky we have this morning after the sprinkles and then thunder and rain last night! Yes, we finally got some much needed rain! I went to bed with thunder rumbling in the distance and it was such a comfort. I like the sound of thunder!

Well, I had a good breakfast of pumpkin Eggos with strawberries and bananas. Yum!

I had my yard man and pest control guy here at the same time yesterday morning. I had asked Steve, the pest control guy, if he could install some new florescent lights in the bathroom for me, and he was very obliging to do it. They were fluttering and just about to drive me crazy every time I turned them on. I started out with Steve, the grandfather, many years ago, then Steve, the son, took over the business, and now Steve, the grandson, is doing the work. I am blessed to have people to do the work I need to have done.

My friend, Carole, sent me an email with a photo of another tabebuia tree, this time yellow, so I looked them up and there are about three colors of blossoms, all just lovely. I have no idea why I have not noticed them before!  

I drove over to the park and saw a lot of people out before the rain, although the wind was really blowing. I saw a lovely, great white heron in the canal, and the gopher was plopped beside his hole, while a man and his dog walked very near to him. The black turtles were flattened against the bank of the weir again, enjoying the sun. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

What do I do when I feel overwhelmed?

Leviticus 26:8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase 
ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath the blows of your weapons.

Joshua 23:10 Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the Lord
your God fights for you, just as he has promised.


Be encouraged that the power of God is for us, regardless of the number of enemies
against us. God used David to overcome Goliath, Gideons' three hundred soldiers
to defeat the armies of Midian, and one hundred and twenty disciples to establish
the church in Acts. He joys when working through our weaknesses and limitations.

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

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!  My day started out right in a glorious sight of the sunrise! Pink clouds scattered over the eastern sky. God's paintbrush at work again! There are a lot more clouds this morning and a prediction of maybe some rain in a couple days. Hoping...

After a good report from my doctor yesterday and the results of my lab work, with some complimentary remarks about my appearance considering my great age, I took a ride down Coffee Pot Blvd. to look at the gorgeous pink trumpet tree that many friends have told me about. They did not exaggerate! It is the only one I have ever seen and it is really beautiful!. Then I made my way back to the Park and saw the gator tucked against the brush next to the flat space that he usually suns in. A cluster of turtles were sunning against the bank of the weir again, and as I drove on to the circle, I saw many people out enjoying the beautiful day. Just perfect! 

Next I went to the library where I turned in five books and checked out five more, including two Nickolas Sparks books. I have only a few pages to go in The Notebook, but can't keep my eyes dry reading it! What a way he has with words! That is why I am late this morning. I was reading while eating breakfast. 

On my way to the library, I drove around Lynch Lake and saw on one side, a flock of tired looking ibis, resting and on the other side a large flock of seagulls resting. So, birds do get tired of looking for food all the time and they do have to take five! But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Thessalonians 5:14-19

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 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.

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


love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Greetings from Paul

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 have been looking at the sky lately when I have been outside and really enjoy the different cloud formations. The high, wispy, feather like, flatness some days and one day I saw a very high contrail so high it was breath taking! Apparently, the winds have been very strong way up. Could that be the jet stream?
 

BTW, today is National Weathermen's Day. They probably know all the answers to questions about cloud formations. 

I am currently reading the book, Safe Harbor, due out as a movie this month, and it is a very good read. This is the first book of Nicolas Spark's that I have read, but I will look for more in the library. Trouble is, when I get started on a book, it is hard for me to put it down, so not much else gets done. Oh, well, tomorrow is another day....

I went to the Park yesterday and did not see many people, but there were plenty of squirrels out, and as many leaves as I have in my yard, are falling and have fallen. I did not see the gator, but the turtles were plastered against the bank of the weir. Also, the usual ibis were missing , but lots of people at picnic tables and runners were about. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Colossians 1:9-14

So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard 
about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he 
wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with 
spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please 
the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while 
you will learn to know God better and better.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that 
you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled
with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enables you to share the 
inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light. For he
has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness and
he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. God has purchased
our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins.


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


Love and hugs, 
Amaryllis