Psoaring thru Psalms

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! We have another copy of the weather that we had yesterday...lots of sun and no rain, but white clouds floating around here and there. This morning I saw a single contrail high up in the southeastern sky, and I wonder where are they going and why? Just passing thoughts.

I was interested in the section of the paper Wed. that was a "how to" on telling your story. Since I am currently struggling to write my biography, this was just what I needed to give me a boost. It is hard just to write down the bare facts, because thoughts I had at the time events happened or didn't, keep coming to mind, after I have finished with one moment in time. But I will keep plugging away, I am doing this for the newly discovered second cousin in England, who has requested it.

Yesterday I did a little shopping and then visited the park to see what was going on. Not much, but it was freshly mowed and a few people were enjoying nature and just being in a natural place so close to the heart of St. Petersburg. The trees make it a lot cooler, but in the sun, it is very hot. I saw butterflies, but no egrets or ibis. But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 139:23,24

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

Psoaring thru Psalms

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! We had no rain yesterday, and it looks like the same weather today. Lots of sun and humidity, blue skies and white puffy clouds. Perfect!

I forgot to mention that I have a beautiful amaryllis blooming! This is a Christmas flower, so I don't know why it is just now blooming, but it has survived the yard man trimming all the leaves, a raking of mulch off it and the rest of the bulbs barely poking up. So, I am very pleased that it is showing four blossoms on the long stem. Yay, for it!  (And yes, I cautioned the yard guy about weed eating the wrong thing.)

I took a ride over to the park yesterday and saw that not much was going on. It was hot and quiet. The water was still high in the canal, so no egrets were interested in pecking around, but, as usual the squirrels were busy racing around and the mower was going. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 37:3-9

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

Psoaring thru Psalms

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! this is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! After a very warm day of sun and breezes, last night lots of thunder, lightning and rain fell in some areas. I heard a few drops start to fall here, but then it moved on and we did not get any of the heavy rain. Today is sunny and very warm, already...

I did more laundry yesterday and have another load today, just catching up after the weekend. I enjoyed the eating out we did while we were all together. We had wanted to go to one restaurant, but the rain started to pour and when we got there, it was packed with people waiting on the porch, so we were about to go home, when I remembered Jack's English Pub, which was not crowded at all, so we ordered fish and chips for Brian and Daryl and I had a pasty dish..I forget the name of it, but I could not eat it all, so brought half of it home. I should have ordered the Shepherd's Pie again.

My yard crew came yesterday, but did not stay long, and the cleaning ladies are coming today, so I will be all tidied up.  I have another gecko in the house who was sitting on the front window last night. I don't know where he is now, but maybe Cheryl will find him. She does not like lizards of any kind, but she caught a baby one a couple weeks ago and escorted him out the door.

I saw ducks in the front yard yesterday, and a flock of ibis rose up in flight from the front and took off after foraging for grubs and whatever else they eat from the ground. God is good!

from the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 15
Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
Those who lead blameless lives
and do what is right, speaking the truth
from sincere hearts.
Those who refuse to slander others
or harm their neighbors or speak evil
of their friends.
Those who despise persistent sinners
and honor the faithful followers of the
Lord and keep their promises even when it hurts.
Those who do not charge interest on the
money they lend, and refuse to accept
bribes to testify against the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalms

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! It is another beautiful day in the long string of them we have had. But..when the late afternoon thunderstorms come, they are noisy and scary with the lightning flashing all around!

We had a wonderful weekend! I say, "we" because Daryl drove down from TN and Brian was off Fri. thru Monday. We did lots of eating out, and Sunday after church, we visited three cemeteries. As always, we visited Louis at Bay Pines National Cemetery, where the Boy Scouts plant a flag at every grave. What an inspiring sight! The wind was blowing, so all the flags were rippling in the wind. It seems like too many more markers have been put down since the five years that Louis was  put there .

After we left Bay Pines, we went across to Seminole Cemetery, but once again, the gate was locked, so we could not get in. So we went on and toured the beaches, seeing lots of people in swim suits and others just walking and shopping. As we came back, we stopped at the Amish ice cream parlor, and went in to get one of their many flavors to enjoy. It started to rain while we were still licking and spooning the good stuff. It seemed like we brought in a lot of business, because several other ice cream patrons dropped in, some still wet from swimming, but all were wanting ice cream.

I bought a pint of vanilla  and some cheese to bring home, but the cup I ate while waiting out the rain was mint chip. YUM!

On the way back home, we stopped in at Memorial Park, where my step-father and mother are buried. So, it was a good weekend of visiting with my sister and niece who came over, and yes, my sister has recovered from her broken pelvis and seems to be doing well. We looked at some very old family photos, so it was a good visit. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 5:11,12
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice, let them sing joyful praises forever.
Protect them; so all who love your name may be filled with joy.
For you bless the godly. O Lord, surrounding them with your shield of love.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Fragrance of Christ

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 wind is blowing , so the surf must be up for all the people who like surfing at the beaches. Also, it is a sunny, very warm morning, so a good day to get an early start for the Memorial weekend.

I see lots of pretty butterflies floating by my window. It looks like they are on their way to the Beauty Berry Bush, which grows wild in the backyard. I don't know the names of all the different colored ones, but I do know the swallowtail and sulfur   (sp) yellow ones. I enjoy watching them.

I had to go grocery shopping yesterday to pick up a few things I was running out of. So I did not go to Publix, but instead I shopped at Winn Dixie. It was a good time to go, because the store did not seem too crowded. You're never supposed to shop when you are hungry and since it was noon, I was hungry, but did not get anything much that was not on my list. Yay for me!

After that I had to take a trip to the Park, where all was quiet, just simmering in the heat. A few brave souls were walking dogs, and out on the very warm boardwalk, but it was pleasant in the shade.

We have some towering clouds , which sometimes drift across the sun, and make it look like rain. I am praying that Daryl will not run into rain on his way down from TN tonight. It will be good to have him home for the weekend, so there will be no blog tomorrow.

But God is still good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

2 Corinthians 2:14-17
But thanks be to God, who made us his captives
and leads us along in Christ's triumphal procession.
Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about
the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet
 perfume .Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ
to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by
those being saved and by those perishing. To those
who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom.
But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving
perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
You see, we are not like those hucksters--and there are
many of them--who preach just to make money. We
preach God's message with sincerity and with Christ's
authority . And we now that the God who sent us is watching us.

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

Love and hugs,
 amaryllis

Promised Rest

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 clouds and blue sky and no breeze yet, but the day started out the same yesterday, and then, all at once, we had rain for about an hour!

I had planned to return books to the Library, but by the time I was ready to go, the rain was pouring, so I decided it was a good time to work some more on my biography. I am remembering places the family traveled to when I was a teenager and before. That was such a long time ago, I am surprised I can picture in my mind all that I have seen. I think they are more impressions now. Some things are just imprinted and never leave.

So, after the rain finally stopped, it was later in the afternoon, but as I left the house, I noticed a flock of ibis in the front yard, happily pecking around one of the oaks, while a squirrel was just sitting and watching. Cute. Lynch Lake was full...that was a hard rain, and a lot of water fell, and all the gutters were running. Fortunately, for me, school was out and all the zones cleared, so I didn't have to wait for the streets to clear. The library was crowded, so maybe people were waiting for the rain to be over, as I was.

Well, the paper was delivered after my call reporting it missing, and was thrown down at the foot of the driveway. I went out to get it, just as the sprinkles started before the heavy downpour.This morning it was on the porch, but not in the chair next to the door, as I had requested. The customer service lady told me to call again if it was not where I wanted it, so I guess I will. Sigh.I hate to complain.

After I finished at the library, I drove on to the Park, and saw that the canal was full and flowing swiftly. The trees made for a nice, shady drive into the bridge area, and there were quite a few cars out. I saw some people looking at what looked like a snapper turtle who had wandered up from the lake near the entrance. Very wet, and very shiny. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Hebrews 4:12-
For the word of God is full of living power.
It is sharper than the sharpest knife cutting
deep into our innermost thoughts and desires.
It exposes us for what we really are. Nothing
in all creation can hide from him. Everything
is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is
the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

The Tree and its Fruit

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 weather is the same as yesterday, so nothing new to report on that..Sunshine, clouds and very hot in the afternoon.

I am late getting this out because I was watching Live with Kelly and Michael from Disneyland. It was fun and they had some good guest stars, but life goes on away from TV.

My yard crew came yesterday and trimmed the azaleas, or maybe I already posted that. My neighbors across the street had the tree trimmers busy all day. The cut down a large oak tree and now the house is totally exposed to the sun in the west. But the same thing happened to my house when the trees were trimmed. Now I have the western sun on the back side of the house in the afternoon, which makes more heat. Oh, well, the A/C just works harder.

I finished my last book from the Library, so will have to make a trip over there sometime today to gather up some more. Meanwhile, I looked for more old photos and came across some very old greeting cards from my boys I had saved. I think it is time to let go of them, because I get new ones each year. Sigh. Cleaning out is hard to do. but I think of the job we had after my mother's passing..it took months!

I drove to the Park after picking up my dry cleaning yesterday, and all was quiet and cool with all the shade from the trees. Very few cars and no people were visible, but they were probably on the boardwalk. I don't know where the birds go when it is so warm, but I do know they like to start out in the morning with their never ending quest for food. But, God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Luke 6:42-45
A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.
A tree is identified by the kind of fruit it produces.
Figs never grow on thornbushes or grapes on bramble bushes.
A good person produces good deeds from a good heart,
as an evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart.
Whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Loping thru Luke

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 and a cool breeze so far, but it is already in the eighties and will be getting warmer later on. Just another summer day!

Last week in celebration of Mothers Day, the pastor's family were taking pics of all the mothers, individually, so when I walked in, they ushered me to a chair and snapped a photo of me holding the MOM letters. It turned out pretty good on Facebook.  All of the kids and moms looked good, in fact. It was a good idea. Even some of the guys got in on the fun and turned the letters around so they spelled "WOW". Typical guy thing!

I thought the crowd was a little sparse yesterday, and then I counted in my mind all the couples that were missing and a lot were on vacation. But many of the college students were home and it was good to see them. The singing and worship was lively, as usual. I really enjoy the drums!

Well, I have a new Times carrier as of this morning, and he or she tossed the paper down at the foot of the driveway. My old carrier, Joe, put a note in the Sunday edition yesterday and said it was the last day he would be delivering and thanked me for being his customer. He has faithfully put the paper in a chair right by the front door for over a year rain or dark of night. So, I called delivery this morning, and asked to have the new carrier do the same. Since I use the cane, it is difficult for me to go get it and have to bend down. Ah, the joys (and pains) of getting old!

I drove through the park after church and all was quiet. No herons, or egrets in sight, but lots of greenery and people having picnics or walking dogs. Of course, the squirrels were out scampering about and daring me to run over them, as they stopped in the middle of the street. They usually move at the last minute, though. But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Luke 7:27-31
But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies.
Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness
of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If
someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek.
If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give
what you have to anyone who asks you for it, and when
things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back.
Do for others, as you would like them to do for you.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Pondering Proverbs

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 sun, interesting clouds and maybe rain in the late afternoon...just the same old, same old. The A/C is running overtime since the trees were trimmed letting more sun hit the house, but I am grateful it is working!

I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday and got there 15 minutes early, then as I started to get out of the van, realized I had forgotten my cane. I don't use it all the time in the house, so I just did not pick it up when I left. So, I quickly started the car and came back home, got the cane and arrived back at the office just five minutes late. I only live about five minutes from the doc's office. It did not matter that I was a little late, because there was only one patient waiting, and I had to wait anyway. I found out from the lab work that I am good in most areas, and not so good in a couple. All in all, for my age, the doc thinks I am doing pretty well. Good news!

I drove over to Wendy's and bought a salad and, I confess, a Frosty, which I had later. I made a couple other stops and then went over to the park, where everything was quiet. I saw an osprey nest with a baby in it high on the light pole at Sawgrass Elem. but only a few ibis were pecking around at the park. It was so hot, I was glad to get home, but God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

The Benefits of Wisdom

Proverbs 2:1-11
My child, listen to me and treasure my instructions. Tune your
ears to wisdom and concentrate on understanding. Cry out
for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would
for lost money or hidden treasure. Then you will understand
what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge
of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come
knowledge  and understanding. He grants a treasure of good
sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk
with integrity. He guards the paths of justice and protects those
who are faithful to him.

Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalms

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! We have another beautiful summer day waiting for us to make the best of it. Lots of sun and heat and maybe a slight, cooling breeze. A little sun is good for me, but something, odd, my eye doctor told me I had sun damage to my eyes. I should have asked her what that meant, because apparently it does not affect my vision. I always wear sunglasses when I go out, because my eyes are sensitive to the light. Oh, well, just one more thing when you reach my ancient age!

My mechanic, Ray, came and got the van to take it in for axle replacements. Naturally, it was an expensive job, He said I had only driven 3000 miles since last Sept. I don't travel much because I don't feel comfortable going too far out of my neighborhood, which means the north end of the city.After Ray brought the van back, I decided to go to Boston Market for my dinner. which was good, as usual.

Cheryl came to clean while I was stranded and I felt really drowsy, because of the lack of sleep from the throbbing toe the night before. Thanks be to God, the toe calmed down and I was able to get a solid night's sleep last night.

The ospreys must be nesting now, because I have seen a nest on a tall light pole at one school and seen the birds sitting on the lines here and at the Gateway shopping center. So, God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 18:25-30

To the faithful, you show yourself faithful;
to those with integrity you show integrity.
To the pure you show yourself pure.
but to the wicked you show yourself  hostile.
You rescue those who are humble,
but you humiliate the proud.
Lord, you have brought light to my life;
my God, you light up my darkness.
In your strength, I can crush an army.
With my God, I can scale any wall.

As for God, his way is perfect,
All the Lord's promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him
for protection.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

The Beatitudes

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! Today is the calm after the storm, sunny and breezy. But what a thunderstorm we had last night!Lots of lightning, thunder cracking all around, and pouring rain. It even hailed in some places! I was glad I had my trees trimmed last month, because very few branches broke off this time. I wonder where the squirrels and birds hide out when we have storms like that,,,

Well, I am hoping to get a nap sometime today. Due to a sharp pain in a big toe, every few seconds, I dozed only about thirty minutes last night. I was up at 3, reading and crawled back in bed at 4. Yawn. I don't have to go any place today, which is good, because my van in in the shop getting some expensive work done.

I ran some errands yesterday, knowing I would not have a car today, and wound up at the Park, which was practically deserted. Only a hand full of cars, and no dog walkers that I could see. But I did see the large, brown gopher tortoise, munching away on some sparse grass. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Matthew 5:2-

"God blesses those who realize their need for him."
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are gentle and lowly,
for the whole earth will belong to them.
God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty
for justice, for they will receive it in full.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will receive mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who are persecuted
because they live for God, for the Kingdom of
Heaven is theirs.

God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted
and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about
it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And
remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Phlippin' Thru Philippians

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Today is a duplicate of yesterday...more sun, few clouds, but we have wind blowing today, and it was mostly calm yesterday. So, since it is definitely summer, I guess I will take the red velvet coat off my antique doll. She can be comfortable in her long sleeved summer dress.

I am still digging through old photos, and I mean old, mothers and fathers, back to WW1. Mostly people I don't know and, of course, the pics are not marked as to who and where, so I have a feeling most will be tossed.

I took time to go to the Park, which was nearly deserted, as school was not out yet, and saw that the water in the canal was still high, but otherwise, not much was going on. My yard crew came this morning instead of yesterday, and I spoke to Jim about trimming the azaleas. He said he had the flu and not to come too close, so we agreed on next week. I also told him not to trim the amaryllis lilies which I noticed had been done ...first the grasshoppers ate them and then they get trimmed. Sigh. But I noticed a large bud is struggling to come up, even though it is way out of season! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

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 about anything; instead, pray about everything,
Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.
If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is
far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in
Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing
as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and
honorable and right. Thank about things that are pure and lovely
and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Keep putting into practice all you have 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

Pondering Proverbs

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 had beautiful, hot weather for Mother's Day and today looks like the same, except today we get more breezes. I saw on the weather map a line of bad weather moving slowly across the states toward the east, so I hope no more tornados like what Oklahoma had.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day! Lots of greetings at church, plus, Mom's photos being taken as we walked in to the resource room, lots of hugs and good chats. Plus good worship music and sermon. Daryl had called me first thing in the morning to wish me a Happy Mother's day, and the flowers the boys had sent are still beautiful!

Then, after church, Brian came to take me to lunch. I had suggested Cheddars, but, even though we found a parking space right near the door, when we went in a large crowd was waiting for tables and we could see the wait time was going to be long and there were no more seats left. So, we decided to go to plan B, which was a family restaurant in Seminole called...are you ready for this?..Mamas! However, in this case, the Mamas is named for a Greek saint. We were seated right away, had excellent service, even had bread plates and extra napkins provided, a good meal, and I topped mine off with lemon meringue pie. Also, all ladies were given long stemmed carnations as soon as they got in the door! The outdoor scenery was not so good, since it is right across from the old Orange Blossom Groves which is no more..just a sandy field getting prepared for the building of condos. Sigh. Another landmark gone...

After we left the restaurant, we headed for a remote cemetery owned and kept up by the Seminole U. M. Church, where my Uncle Paul is buried. However, it is gated and padlocked, so we could not get in. Brian had never been there before and it had been years since I had been there, so we were just curious.

After we got back to my house, we spent time going over very old pictures and looking up online information on the old cemetery.. It was a good day!   God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Proverbs 3:5,6 21-23-25

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

My child, don't lose sight of good planning and insight. Hang on to them, for
they will fill you with life and bring you honor and respect. They keep you
safe on your way and keep your feet from stumbling. You can lie down without
fear and enjoy pleasant dreams. You need not be afraid of disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your feet from being caught in a trap.

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

1 Chronicles

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! Cool air, warm sunshine and no breeze means it will be a beautiful day for beach goers, and for most any other outside activity.

I put my flag  out today, in honor of remembering the service men and women. Louis was in the Army for two years, during which time our daughter was born, and I currently have a great-niece serving in the Air Force.

I spent a busy day at home yesterday, catching up with laundry, and various chores.I had finished my ironing a couple days ago. Yay, me! You know that is not my favorite thing to do. I had a call from my doctor's office checking up on me, on Wednesday. This is something that started the first of the year. They have someone on call 24/7 trying to keep you from going to the ER, which I think is a great idea!

Mother's Day is Sunday, so yesterday I received a beautiful arrangement of roses and carnations  in a butterfly bowl, from the men in my life...Brian, Daryl, and Matthew, though I doubt Matthew knows anything about it! But,  God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Chronicles 17:31-36

Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice!
Tell all the nations that the Lord is king.
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the fields and their crops burst forth with joy!
Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord!
For he is coming to judge the earth.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
 Cry out, "Save us, O God of our salvation!
Gather and rescue us from among the nation,
so we can thank your holy name, and rejoice and praise you."

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!

And all the people shouted "Amen!" and praised the Lord.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalms

Good Morning Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Today is a duplicate of yesterday...sunshine, puffy clouds and a slight breeze. It will be almost 90 by this afternoon with more humidity, so time for sunscreen and lots of fluids!

My friend who cleans my house and is always looking out for me, came yesterday to work and we had a nice chat while she cleaned. She also has a part time job at an office supply, so she is very active..and a really nice person. Her partner was busy with family so Cheryl was working alone.

After she left, I ran a couple errands, which included a stop at CVS to pick up dental floss and ice cream. I wanted to bake an apple for my dessert after supper and top it off with ice cream. I did, and it was so good! Yum!

Then I drove to the park, and as I was driving out, I was just in time to see a large gator walk out of the canal onto the weir, plop down and warm his tummy for a couple minutes, and then walk down the other side and into the water. I tried to get a picture but a gate was in the way. It is unusual to see a gator walking, and I am always excited when I see it! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 86:5-10

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask your aid.
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord, hear my
urgent cry. I will call on you whenever trouble
strikes, and you will answer me.

Nowhere among the pagan gods is there a god like
you, O Lord. There are no other miracles like yours.
All the nations---and you made each one---will come
and bow before you, Lord: they will praise your great
and holy name.

For you are great and perform  great miracles.
You alone are God.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

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! We have another beautiful sunshiny day, with some white puffy clouds and a cool breeze blowing. One more in our spring days!

I was watching a squirrel in the oak tree, while I was having my morning quiet time. He was very still, which is unusual, but I caught a glimpse of something moving in the neighbor's yard, and realized it was one of the stray cats that roam the neighborhood. I think the squirrel was aware of the cat's presence and decided to stay very still. Unusual for a squirrel! Just one of life's little dramas...

I had an appointment with my podiatrist yesterday and there were only a couple other patients besides me which is pretty unusual. Maybe some of the winter visitors have gone home. After I finished there, I had a hankerin' for a frosted lemonade, so I headed for Chick-fil-a and soon had one. I drove on to the park, which was not very crowded; saw one lone ibis enjoying a grub, and then saw the smaller brown gopher tortoise. After that I took off the straw and enjoyed some of my frosted lemonade! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 9-13

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 having
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

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! Today's weather is just like yesterdays and the day before, etc., But we are likely to have a thundershower later on, and just maybe, in the future we will be having some weather from the disturbance in the Atlantic off the east coast. Well, my trees are trimmed, so that should keep the breaking of twigs and stuff down to a minimum. I remember years ago, maybe it was the no name storm or the last hurricane, when the front yard was a mess from the wind, and Louis and I were out trying to clean it up. A couple neighbors came over to help, but what a job! Trees are nice for shade, but sometimes a lot of work.

The yard crew came yesterday, but it still looked pretty clean after the tree men cleaned up, so all Jim had to do was mow, edge and blow. I have to get the azaleas trimmed, though, as they are through blooming and have taken a growth spurt.

I made a trip to the library to return books and check out more before school let out for the day. It is always less crowded then. So after that, I went over to my friends house and chatted with her a bit, then took a trip to the park, where there was a good crowd for midday. I saw an osprey, and anhinga drying its wings and a couple of ibis. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 12:6-8
God has given each of us, the ability to do certain
things well. So if God has given you the ability tp
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
responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for
showing kindness to others do it gladly.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

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! This may be the last day in the series of low humidity. cool breeze days, but I have really enjoyed them! I took the van through the touch free car wash Friday and it dried on the way home...not a drop of water was left anywhere! Even though it says "spot free rinse" there are always a few spots left on the windows and side mirrors, so I usually clean them anyway.

We had a long church service yesterday.  It included receiving new members, choir singing, worship songs, preaching, and communion. Since I attend second service, it did not really matter how long it took, because I was not going to a restaurant. Brian had taken me to dinner at Cody's Roadhouse, Saturday, which we enjoyed. But I must say, those peanuts leave a mess on the floor. Must be a big cleanup job for someone after hours!

Well, the freshly trimmed trees really let a lot of light in the west facing windows, which include my bedroom. The reason the trees were planted in the back yard, was to keep the sun off the windows and provide some relief from heat. Now, the sun shines brightly in the late afternoon and it will be hotter as we get into summer. Hopefully, the trees will continue to grow quickly to provide more shade.

As I drove to the park after church, I noticed some large magnolia trees in bloom with their huge waxy, flowers, and the jacarandas are still blooming with lavender blossoms dropping on the streets and yards. I have also seen some large gardenia bushes in full bloom. A beautiful time of year! The park was crowded with lots of people on the bridge and having picnics and parties! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Colossians 3:2-25

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

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Paul's Prayer

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners!  Happy May First! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Sunshine and cool air; a spring day at last instead of summer. The lower humidity makes for a beautiful time for outside activities, like the beach!

That is for other folks, not me. I avoid the sun as much as possible, with my sensitive skin.

Have I ever told you about the time I was almost elected May Queen at Woodlawn Elem. school? I was in 4th grade and the talent show decided the winner. I sang Harbor Lights, a pop song and would have won, except for the chickenpox, which I came down with and could not be queen. We even had a Maypole with ribbons, which pupils wound around and around. Sigh. Those were days before drugs and other violence became prevalent in our schools..

I have already had an estimate on trimming my oak trees in front and back, and have another tree man coming tomorrow morning with his estimate. They give wonderful shade, but they need upkeep. Fortunately, .they are healthy.

I was able to get some errands run yesterday, that I had been putting off, so I felt good about that, which included lab work at the order of my primary care doctor. The tech was so good that there is not a trace of a bruise where the needle went in. I asked him if he was good and he said yes. He was right!

After I left there, I drove on to the Park, saw an anhinga, several ibis, and noted that the water was still high in the canal. Everything is so fresh and green with all the rain we have had in just a couple days. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ephesians 3:14-23

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 his 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 might power at work within us, he is able
to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.
May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and
ever through endless ages. Amen.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis