Faith and Endurance

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 rain held off until last night, so I enjoyed going to worship and the powerful sermon on Love Illuminated.

After church I went to Boston Market for my dinner and ordered an extra salad for later. They have a small Mediterranean salad that I like very much.

When I got home, I turned on the TV to catch a little of the replay of the Eagles/Packers game on NFL, but discovered that neither of my TVS were working. After checking with BH I just decided to go  without and settled down to eat and read. Later on, when I tried them, they both worked. Humph. Another mystery.

Brian came over Saturday and did my bookkeeping for me which he does every month. Even when I mess up, he usually does not say anything. He just fixes the problem. He also put the battery in the digital scales I had been trying to get in the right way. and then he switched light bulbs on the front porch and put in the LED that is supposed to last 25,000 hours. I am not counting!

My crape myrtle is showing its last blossoms,and the bird of paradise is still blooming and the acorns are falling more rapidly from the oaks. I was interested in watching a flock of ibis moving from yard to yard across the street after the neighbor had freshly mowed. They were like a wave, almost in unison, up and down, all together with their heads down and pecking. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

James 1:2-8,13
Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes
your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your
faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character
and ready for anything.

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 make sure that  you
really expect him to 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...

God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward
they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to
those who love him.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Living by the Spirit's Power

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 contrast from yesterday..cloudy and dark and rainy as compared to today's sun and heat build up. Seems like the meteorologists are not certain about which way Tropical storm Erika is headed, but we will most likely have a lot of rain Monday or Tuesday. We will stay tuned for further developments!

I mostly stayed around the house, since it was so rainy until late afternoon. I finished one book and tried to get the lithium battery in the bathroom scales, but still have not inserted it correctly, because they still don't work, I have taken it out and put it back a couple times, but I must be doing it wrong. Hm. I will try again even though it is tricky trying to slip it in and out of the spot where it goes.

I watched the Rays win last night. Good for them! I like to watch Kevin Kiermaier  in action in the outfield and on base. Ah, youth! He is so fast and has so much hustle! It is inspiring to watch his enthusiasm.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy whatever you do. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ephesians 5:15-20
So be careful how you live, not as fools
but as those who are wise. Make the most of
every opportunity for doing good to 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 your-
selves making music to the Lord in your hearts.
And you will always give thanks for everything
to God the Father in the name of your
Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Love for Enemies

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 rather dark now and rain is still dripping off the roof. Shortly after I got out of bed I heard thunder and sure enough, we had a loud and wet thunderstorm already. And it looks like more rain is in store. At least it keeps the temp. down a few degrees!

While my ladies were cleaning yesterday afternoon, I watched the horrible news about the TV anchor and photog. getting shot and killed on live TV. And the director seriously wounded. Someone needed to get that man the mental help he needed before this all happened. I prayed for those left behind.

Afterwards, I made another trip to CVS and purchased a lithium battery for my bathroom scales. They last over a year or more.I also found a LED light bulb which I am hoping will solve the problem of a burned out porch light for a long time to come. The package says 25,000 hours...humm, I don't know if I have 25,000 hours left. Someone figure out how long that is, please.

Then I went to the library, returned and checked out more books, then on to the park where two big, brown, gopher tortoises were munching and wandering about, but not many people. Then home to see lots of ibis and an egret at Lynch Lake. 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

Wisdom from 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! Sun, heat and humidity...the same as yesterday, is the prediction for today. We had no rain yesterday, though. That was good.

I had a check up scheduled with my doc and put the sun shield up in my windshield when I parked, because by the time I came out about an hour later, I knew the car would be hot enough to fry eggs on the hood! I had a nice social visit with the Doctor since I had no complaints and he ended the visit with a joke. After the appointment I zipped across and drove a few blocks to Wendy's to get a nice, cold, chocolate Frosty. It was so good! I drove on to the Park, where few cars were parked, checked my iphone messages and headed for home.

My crape myrtle is still blooming and healthy looking, and the bird of paradise is looking good, so all the rain has been beneficial to the plants. I also have healthy green weeds growing under the oak trees where the grass won't grow because of too much shade. As long as it's green, it's ok with me! The squirrels and birds are enjoying the acorns and the beauty berry bush. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Proverbs 3:5-21,24
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 lost sight of good planning and
insight. Hang on to them, for they 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 foot 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

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! Daryl said it was 61 in Cleveland TN this morning and 48 in Murphy NC! Fall is coming, so take heart! This heat may soon be less and coolness may come in. The acorns are falling all over, so fall must be on the way here, also!

The ceiling still looks good this morning, so the paint job took nicely, and the yard guys came also, so the grass, which  had grown pretty much the past week, looks good, too, since it got trimmed.

After the helpers had left, I heard thunder about lunch time, and heard a few drops fall on the vent, so I went to the front door and opened it just it time to see a flash of lightning, and a loud clap of thunder! I had intended to go to the Winn Dixie, but thought that's where the rain was coming down. I was right, because later on, I went over there and puddles were everywhere. I am only about a mile from that shopping center, and yet we had no more than a few drops.!

But, after I left the store and headed for a brief visit to the Park, rain started to fall once again and I got into a steady rain before I got home, so we did get more rain. But I saw ibis and egrets and ducks around Lynch Lake. School started yesterday, so there were not as many people out as usual. But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 92:1-4 
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.
It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening,
accompanied by the harp and lute
and the harmony of the lyre.
You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!
I sing for joy because of what you have done!

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Strength

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 heat already and the heat index is supposed to be 100 or 105 today! Seems like a good day to stay indoors or an A/C equipped car. My handy man has already come to paint the ceiling where the leak stains were visible. He did a good job and opened the back door to let the fumes out and the heat in.    Now it looks as good as new!

Seems like the rain has brought in several critters. I had a cricket in the house, and three flies yesterday and today, then I escorted a tiny anole out who had been in the house for about three days. He was on his last legs and I don't know if he survived or not. Teeny, tiny ants come in once in awhile, then disappear. Sounds like I am living in a zoo!

I was ready to go to church yesterday, when I got an ocular migraine. Not being able to drive with the disturbance in my eye, I reluctantly stayed home, and then it settled in my jaw. That has never happened before. I took a Tylenol and rested, but felt kind of blah all day. I am thankful they don't happen very often! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Who can help me when I grow weary?

Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to those who are tired and worn out;
he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become
exhausted and young men will give up.But those who
wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly
high on wings like eagles. they will run and not grow
weary. They will walk and not faint.

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! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! We have another sunny morning, but when I opened the door to get the paper, the heat and humidity felt like a sauna!  Like yesterday, it is sun in the morning, and then, by noon or later, the dark clouds start to roll in, We had a sprinkle yesterday, and thunder, but then the sprinkles stopped and once again, the sun came out. The prediction is for a cold, wet winter! That seems far off, because school hasn't started yet.

I had some errands to run yesterday, which included buying more batteries for my electric candles. My power has not gone off yet, during a lightning storm, but across the street it was off for six hours. That was the result of the loud booms I heard last week. It pays to be prepared!

I visited the park and saw the smaller gopher tortoise wandering around, and when I came back by Lynch Lake there were lots of ibis and one lone great blue heron all huddled up like he was cold. I went to Boston Market for my dinner and saw their resident egret standing very tall and hopeful right in front of the exit door. That is his usual station. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ephesians 3:14-21
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 him. May your roots go down deep into
all of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power
to understand , as all God's people should, how wide, how
 long, 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
dare to act 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

Work

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 sun and a lot of heat up until about 3 yesterday and just as my cleaning gals got through, the rain started. Everything got dark, but when I looked out the window, I could see blue skies, so the showers were localized. It came down really hard once again, so the saturated ground is once more muddy.

While I think the recycling, city wide, is good, some of the things we have to do are not so good. For instance, no food contaminated papers are to be put in, so that means everything has to be washed. I washed a soup can yesterday and sliced my little finger on a sharp edge. From now on, I will just rinse, rather than cutting myself!

On another note; the pier is being demolished! I am sad that it is being done, and hopeful that in my lifetime, another will be built. I remember it from the beginning, back when I was going to high school and Louis and I used to go to the burger place at the old pier and hang out with friends. Then that building was torn down and rebuilt, and now this one is going. All in the name of progress! Well, we will see.

The staghorn fern is so big that I fear for the limb it is hanging from. The oak limb is sturdy, but still, that is a lot of weight on it. But the squirrels like to hop through it and enjoy the banana skins that occasionally are put in it! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
This should be your ambition; to live a quiet life,
minding your own business and working with your
hands, just as we commanded you before. As a result
 people who are not Christians will respect the way you
live, and you will not need to depend on others to meet
your financial needs.
Work is God's plan for our lives. Those who work diligently
experience many benefits in their own lives and bring benefits
to others. God promises two basic rewards for faithful work;
(1) having a more credible witness to nonbelievers and (2) having
our needs met without having to financially depend on others.

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! Sun, and warm breezes, and today I was up in time to see the pink clouds stretched across the eastern sky for the sunrise. We had no rain yesterday, even though I heard thunder for awhile in the evening. But apparently, it was far enough away so that it did not come to this neighborhood.

I noticed the man at the end of the block, who has tried for a week or more to have concrete poured for his driveway, but could not because of water standing at the curb end, finally got the cement poured and then had to cover it with a tarp because of rain. But yesterday it was uncovered and drying out and looks good. The ground is so saturated, that he has deep grooves in his yard from driving his cars onto the yard to park. Tire tracks can be seen in my grass from the heavy ride- on mower that my yard man uses.

I was pleased to see that gas prices are still going down when I went to Walmart to fill the tank of the van.On my way out there, I stopped off at the park, and saw a young mother with three little ones under the age of seven getting them all ready for a walk. She had a two level stroller with one toddler perched above the baby, and the older child walking. Bless her heart! She was a busy mom!

Also, I noticed that there were some beautiful, towering, white clouds piled across the eastern sky where Tampa Bay is. And off in the northwest, was a dark cloud with a sheet of rain falling from it. The white clouds were so puffy and piled up, they looked like whipped cream and I could imagine taking a bite of them! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 139:14
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous--and how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God!
They are innumerable!
I can't even count them; they outnumber the
grains of sand. And when I wake up in the morning
you are still with me....

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

Benefits of Wisdom

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 sunshine today and we had no rain yesterday! All the gutters are still full of water and retention ponds are nearly overflowing, so the drippy skies can stop for awhile. However, that is not the prediction. More storms are the prediction. Sigh.

My friend, Ray, came to get the tarp and weights of various kinds, that he used to cover the leak in my roof. He also was kind enough to replace the outdoor porch light which my neighbor had informed me was burned out. This was one of those new, curly lights that is supposed to last a thousand hours or something like that. So much for that!

I got laundry done and walked around the back yard to note that the ground is saturated. Where the grass did not grow under the trees, there is now a lot of green. It may not be grass, but it is green and that is okay by me! The crape myrtle is almost through blooming but the Bird of Paradise is loving the wetness, and has several nice flowers on it. They are hard to arrange when cut, so I usually let them stay on the plant.

Well, I have to go gas up the van sometime today, so I'll see how low it is at Walmart. I am so happy it is going down! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

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

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! The weather pattern seems to be sunshine in the morning and dark clouds and rain in the afternoon. We have had enough rain for a good while, but the storms are what I don't like!

Brian had come over for a visit Sat. afternoon, when this terrific storm blew in and the oak trees were waving their limbs back and forth, and of course, small twigs and bigger dead branches were falling all over the place. We had thunder and lots of lightning and it seemed to hover over head for about twenty minutes, just pouring!

When it slacked off enough for Brian to leave, I heard two loud booms and wondered what in the world was exploding. I stepped out on the front porch under the overhang, just in time to see and hear another loud boom as the transformer across the street exploded with a ball of fire! I never lost my power, but probably a lot of people did.

The yard was a mess, but Brian came over yesterday and put all the limbs into the dumpster and the garbage man has already picked it up. We had another storm yesterday, but it did not last as long.

Otherwise, my weekend was good. My handyman has fixed the leaking in the pipe on the roof. The flashing was cracked, and I have a date for him to come paint the stains resulting from the leak. My friends at church are still coming to take care of the fence, since I think with the second spraying, the wasps or bees or whatever they are, should be mostly under control.

I was able to get to the park a couple times and the water is high everywhere, but that does not stop the gopher tortoises from munching and wandering, and makes for tasty lunches for the egrets when the fish swim by. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1st Corinthians 13:3-6,13

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even
sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if
I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.

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 when
ever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith,
is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance....

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

Friendship

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 more sunshine and a prediction of rain, but we had no rain yesterday, even though the dark clouds came over in the afternoon.

When I walked in to Publix the dark clouds were lurking overhead, and I was hoping it would not rain before I came out. Well, when I finished the sun was shining brightly and it was sprinkling! As the stock man was putting my groceries in the car, it started coming down a little harder, but then I drove right out of it, and there was not a drop at my house.

Speaking of Publix, while in the produce section, I saw my dear friend, Judy, so we had a little chat amidst the carrots, lettuce and potatoes. One of the guys working with bananas even made a little quip about another worker. It was a pleasant encounter!

Well, as far as I know, the roof is fixed. But, of course, I won't know until we have a good rain. Rick always does a good job, so I have to take his word that the leak is sealed.

I watched the Packers win over the Patriots last night...another good reason to have access to the NFL channel! Aaron Rodgers did not play much, but looked good. Unfortunately, the game was in Foxboro, and the announcers must have been paid by the Pats, because they could not say much about anybody besides Brady. Oh, well, it's just a game...

When I drove through the Park after shopping, the only critters stirring were the squirrels and the small brown gopher tortoise strolling along the grass. but God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

God provides for us through fellowship:

Acts 4:32-35
All the believers were of one heart and mind and
they felt that what they owned was not their own.
and the apostles were powerful witness to the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus and God's great favor was upon them all.
There was no poverty among them, because people who
owned land or houses sold them and brought the money
to the apostles to give to others in need.
Our fellowship with other believers is meant to provide for our needs in
the most practical ways. God's love for us moves us to share our
resources with each other. This practical expression of love unleashes
God's power and empowers our witness to the world.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Prowling thru 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! I am very late because my handyman came early and got started on sealing the leak in the roof. The prediction is for rain today, so we will see if all is well. The problem was the vent which had a crack in the sealant around it, where the water got in. I am blessed to have someone I can depend on.

My cleaning ladies came yesterday afternoon, late, so I did not go out much. When I did, I drove around Lynch Lake just as a large flock of ibis came swooping in for a landing to join another group on the bank of the lake. Very graceful and beautiful! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Proverbs 2:1-5
My child, listen to me and treasure my
instructions. Tune your ears to wisdom, and
concentrate on understanding. Search 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 wisdom 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.

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 had made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Well, we had no rain yesterday even though it was predicted, and today is the same, so far. Lots of sunshine and a slight, humid breeze. I had to walk out on the front porch to retrieve the Times and I was bathed immediately by the warm, humid air. It was good to step back into the cool Air of the house.

I took a trip to CVS to pick up a few things, including an scrip. That is an easy store for me to get in and out of. ..a short walk to the carts outside and parking right in front of the door, usually. It means a lot to someone using a cane or who is otherwise handicapped. It's a longer walk to get into the Publix, and the handicapped spaces are usually full, but I still like to shop there, because I know where most everything I buy is located.

I stopped by the Park and saw a couple squirrels hanging on tree trunks, eyeing me as I went by. The canal in front of the weir is still clear of all debris from the rains, and the water has gone down just a little, but the canal under the bridge is still pretty full. However, everything looks very green and lush. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 37:3-7
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.
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.

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 sunshine and clouds already, and it looks like we may have a shower , but these days it is hard to predict. Yesterday, I started out for the front porch to trim a hanging plant, which has grown so much, it has tendrils dragging on the floor, but much to my surprise, it was raining! The sun was shining brightly, but a gentle rain was falling!  I was told as I was growing up, that that meant it would rain tomorrow at the same time...so we will see if that comes true.

Later in the middle of the afternoon, I decided to take a ride to beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, so I drove down 16th st. to Central Avenue and all the way down to Beach Drive. It was a beautiful afternoon, but very hot. Not many strollers, but parking up and down Central was at a premium, so there must have been a lot of shoppers inside enjoying the A/C. The water was beautiful and very calm. I am glad this is my city.

I also checked out the park and Lynch Lake. Lots of ibis were around Lynch and a flock of smaller ducks were gathered in a cove. I also saw a moorhen walking around the shore.All was quiet at the park, with quite a few cars parked, which means people on the boardwalk. The speed limit is 15 from the entrance, all the way down the road, but a car behind me was on my bumper all the way, trying to get me to go faster. She finally pulled in to park at the circle and I noticed it was a young woman. Maybe she will learn to slow down and enjoy the beauty surrounding her sooner rather than later. But, anyway, God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 25:1-5
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
No one who trusts in you will ever be
disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to
deceive others.

Show me the path where I should walk,
O Lord,
point out the right road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.

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 did not have rain yesterday, but it was so hot! Today will be more of the same, so I will be careful not to say outside too long.

But I got to enjoy worship since the weather was so nice. It seems like the attendance was down and I can think of several people who are on vacation, but I also saw many faces I did not recognize, so new people are still coming. Pastor Dave was preaching in Pastor Kevin's absence due to a prior commitment in Detroit with a Mission's outreach. But we had good worship music with one of my favorite's "O Happy Day"!, a rousing song with a good message!

My yard man came this morning, even though he was just here last Thursday. I think he is trying to get back on schedule which has been disrupted because of the rain. Also, I am to hear back from my handy man about his schedule so he can start work on the roof. Ray and Tim stopped by unexpectedly Sat. morning to look at what needs to be done with the fence and another friend volunteered to help whenever they decide to go ahead with the repairs. I am blessed with good friends!

I drove to the Park yesterday and saw the large brown gopher tortoise speeding along on the freshly cut grass. There were lots of people out enjoying the heat and sun, and most of all, the shade from the trees. The water is still quite high in the canal and was over the weir during the heavy rain, but is now, just below the top of the weir. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 139:1-5
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
where 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 always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Gems from Joshua

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, white clouds and a humid breeze, the same as yesterday, greets us today. But everything is still drying out from all the rain, so we don't need any for awhile.

I had a busy day yesterday...the yard crew came and mowed, even though the grass was soggy, then I had a delightful visit with my friend David, who gave me some advice for fixing the roof and also encouragement for the wallpaper, which he says is dry and okay, so that was a big relief. I still have to have the stained ceiling painted, and the tarp over the roof removed, so the drying can begin.

Then, shortly after David left, with instructions not to open the door to strangers, which is the same thing my sons have told me over and over, I heard a knock on the door and there was a man I did not recognize. I did not answer, but then I saw him turn away and take a picture. After I saw the City emblem on the side of his car, I recognized him as the code inspector, so stepped outside and he came back to check to see if the wasps had been sprayed next door. I did not know they followed up on these things. And BTW, he was taking a pic of my giant staghorn fern to show his wife. He has never seen one that big!

So, after that, I went shopping, and by the time I finished with that, I was very tired.I have to go back today and exchange what I bought yesterday. Sigh

But I stopped in at the park, and saw a group of people looking at the brown gopher tortoise, and a graceful white egret, with its head just visible, beside the canal. The grass had been recently mowed and it looked good. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Joshua 1:6-9
Be Strong and courageous, for you will lead my people
to possess all the land I swore to give  their ancestors.
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.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Faith brings Joy

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 sunshine again and a warm, moist breeze, which means it will be very hot later on. I don't think we can complain about the heat after the steady rain we had for a week. Many people are still flooded in parts of Hillsborough County, with lots of damage done to roads that were under water. Not to mention foolish people who tried to drive through deep water and stalled their cars, causing damage.

Yesterday the cleaning friends came and we caught up on the neighborhood news. The wasps got sprayed next door. I happened to be in the garage when I saw him, (the sprayer) in the back yard jumping back each time he sprayed.. Hopefully, he got all of them.

I am hoping to get some info from my friend about who to call for the wallpaper/drywall damage inspection and repair. That needs to be taken care of soon. Then the roof which is still covered with a tarp needs to be repaired. That's the joy of owning your own home!

I received a letter from Teco gas, offering sympathy for my loss. (which was 5 1/2 years ago) and basically wanting to know who was going to pay the bill. I have been paying online for all that time, so someone is just waking up at the gas company.  Oh, well.

It is good to see the birds and butterflies out and about now and enjoying their pursuit of food. The sky is blue, the sun is bright and all is well. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 5:3-5
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems
and trials, for we know that they are good for us---
they help us to learn to endure. And endurance
develops strength of character in us, and character
strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.
And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we
know how dearly God loves us, because he has given
us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Teaching about Prayer

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the sunshiny day that the Lord has made and we will be glad  and rejoice in it! Once again it is a beautiful day with no rain in sight as was yesterday.

I was able to get out to do some shopping and from the traffic, that was the idea of a lot of other people. I had made a list of my goals for the day and got most of them accomplished before I ran out of "get up and go". It was interesting ...I went to the library and the parking lot was full, so I expected a crowd. It was fairly quiet, though, because nearly all of the many computers were busy. That's where the crowd was. I say "fairly quiet" because libraries aren't necessarily quiet places any more. There is a large children's section with computers for them, and, of course, children are not very quiet. Adults talk loudly to each other, and so the shushing and quiet down signals I used to get in the library, don't apply any more. It is still much calmer than dept. stores, however.

Much water is still evident in retention ponds, and as I visited the park with my half price shake from Steak and Shake, the canal was way up, and I noticed a tree had fallen over into the canal near the entrance. There is a very swampy area all along the roadway where the canal has overflowed, but all the trees and shrubs are welcoming the wetness! It is good to see the birds, squirrels and butterflies back after not seeing them because of all the rain. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Matthew 6:7-13
When you pray, don't babble on and on as people
of other religions do. they think their prayers are
answered only by repeating their words again and again.
Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly
what you need even before you ask him!
Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,'may your name be honored.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done here on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us our food for today,
and forgive us our sins,
just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.
And don't let us yield to temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

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 so good to see the sun today, even though it will be hot and humid! Puddles are everywhere, and my yard is soggy in the side and back. God's timing was perfect, because Monday was Ray's day off and I am so blessed that he was able to come out and get the tarp, working in the rain, to cover the roof.

Ray got a tarp and covered my leading flat roof, but very little rain is expected for the next few days, so that will give it time to dry out. Meantime, I need to find a wallpaper person to see if the covering over the drywall can be saved, because of the leak. Brian came by after work to poke holes in it and press the water out that was being held in. I turned the ceiling fan on so it could run all night, but unless the wallpaper is removed, the air will not hit the drywall. Sigh. It could be much worse.

At least, I did not have to evacuate like a lot of people. When I called my handy man, he said he had three buckets catching water from the leaks in his roof, and he was getting a tummy ache from thinking of the expense to fix it. So, like I said, mine could be worse!
But God is in control and God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 106:1-3
Give thanks to the Lord,for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord?
Who can ever praise him half enough?
Happy are those who deal justly with others
and always do what is right.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis