Thursday, June 30, 2016

Paul's charge to Timothy

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners!

This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! More sunshine, more heat and more humidity; the same as yesterday. We did not get rain, but the water is still running in the gutters, so we don't need any rain for a couple days.

I had to wait until afternoon for my cleaning ladies to come. Cheryl has a cold, which does not slow down her energy. She is always helpful. They picked up a new client with a big house...4/4 which they had just finished cleaning. That is why they were late.

After they left, I ran a few errands and wound up driving through the park and saw a anhinga drying out the wings on the weir. They used to have a butterfly garden, but  pulled all the plants out, the year of the budget cuts.Too bad.. But they have other plants which attract other butterflies. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

2 Timothy 2:14-17
But you must remain faithful to the things you
have been taught for you know they are true for
 you know you can trust those who taught you.
You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood,
and they have given you the wisdom to receive the
salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All
Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach
us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong
in our lives. It strengthens us out and teaches us to
do what is right. It is God's way of preparing  us in
every way; fully equipped for every good thing God
wants us to do.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Paul's Final Thoughts

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! More sun, more heat, more rain, but there is a slight breeze blowing today, so that cools the sweat. Icky but true!

Well, once again I put off going to get groceries early, but I really need to get out and get some fresh fruit. I see mangos hanging off all the trees around here, but they don't look ripe yet. My neighbors on the north side have several mango trees; one of which is growing right outside my window. Unfortunately, the hedge is keeping the fruit from falling in my yard.

I drove to the library yesterday and returned some books in the book drop, and then thought a strawberry shake would be tasty, so went on to Steak and Shake. Fortunately, the line was short, so I did not have a long wait, got my shake and headed over to the park. Very few people were there in the middle of the afternoon, and it had rained a short time before, so everything was wet and steamy, but very green. A couple squirrels were hanging out in the middle of the road, but they scooted out of the way. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Philippians 4:4-8
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 every
thing. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he
has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace,
which is far more wonderful than the human mind can
understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds
as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more
thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true
 and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure
and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are
excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice
all you learned from me, and heard from me and saw me doing,
and the God of peace will be with you.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

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 our usual sunshine this morning, but yesterday, all of a sudden, we had a thundershower in the middle of the afternoon. Probably the same thing will happen today, so this is really the rainy season.

My yard crew has already been here and gone, and since my neighbor next door mowed his yard yesterday, the contrast was great. My grass does not get mowed as short as next door so it always looks longer. Speaking of my neighbor, Cheryl, across the street called me last night to say Jeremy's car trunk had been open for over an hour. She thought maybe he had forgotten it. She did not have his phone number, so I said I would call him, but I could only get a busy signal the four times I tried. So Cheryl said she would walk over and tell him, which she did. Turns out he has a leak in the trunk of his Mustang, so he was just trying to dry it out. But she did get his cell number which she passed on to me. It is certainly a blessing to have a vigilant person like Cheryl to watch over the neighborhood!

Well, it has been on the news and on Facebook, about Tim Tebow praying for a man who apparently had a heart attack on a plane and lost consciousness. He stuck with the family and even saw to it that their luggage got off the plane and looked after them as they went to the hospital. He is my hero, and lives out his faith in a way that I have always been too shy to do!.

I have several things to do today, so I need to stop thinking about how nice it would be if someone else would do ironing, shopping, etc. for me and "get 'er done!"

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 15: 5-9
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement,
help you live in complete harmony with each other---

each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward theother.
Then all of you can join together with one voice giving
praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So accept each other just as Christ  has accepted you;
then God  will be glorified. Remember that God came
as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the
promises  he made to their ancestors, And he came so
the Gentiles might also give glory to God for his mercies to them.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Monday, June 27, 2016

A Call to Trust The Lord

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 not supposed to rain until this afternoon, but who knows? It can rain any time seems like, which makes for a lot of humidity when it stops.

Saturday, I headed out for a hair appointment, and it was raining. The further I got, the harder the rain came down, until I almost could not see where I was going. Traffic had slowed and there was not much of it. I almost drove out of the rain which was moving with me, and kept praying that the Lord would hold the rain off until I got in the salon. Well, the prayer was partially answered, because the drops were coming fast, but I got the walker out and moved as fast as I could into the overhang shelter, then locked the van with my remote. By then, it was pouring!  It was still coming down when I was finished, but my stylist walked me out to the car with a golf umbrella, which she has done before.

So, on my way back, some streets were flooded and a couple cars were stranded in front of a MacDonald's . I don't know how many times warnings are given about driving in flooded areas..."Turn around, Don't drown." but people still hit it too fast and then their cars drown out.

Since the rain had stopped, I drove on to the Park just to check up to see what damage had been done to the trees. Well, the water was flowing rapidly over the weir and the canal was full with several large trees hanging over into the water. I drove down there yesterday and marveled when a hawk flew right in front of the windshield! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Isaiah 8:11-13
The Lord has said to me in the strongest terms:
Do not think like everyone else does. Do not be
afraid that some plan conceived behind closed
doors will be the end of you. Do not fear anything
except the Lord Almighty. He alone is the Holy One.
If you fear him, you need fear nothing else. He will
keep you safe. But to Israel and Judah he will be a
stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that
makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he
will be a trap that entangles them. Many of them will
stumble and fall, never to rise again. Many will be captured.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Friday, June 24, 2016

The Greatest of These

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 hard to believe that this is the last weekend in June,  but sadly, it's true. And another hot weekend! Not a breeze is stirring, but the sun is rising very hot and bright, so for all those people who like the beach, now is a good time to go!

As I was on my way back from the dry cleaners yesterday, I stopped at Chick-fil-a for lunch and to support the spirit of our VBS. Of course, there was the usual long line of cars for the drive thru, but I was able to get off the street and let two cars pull in front of me, so other cars could  get out to the street. The kid taking the orders on his tablet finally got to me, so I gave him my order and about ten minutes later, when I got to the window and picked it up, I did not realize that I was given lemonade instead of the Frosty Lemonade I had ordered! Drat! That's the second time they have messed up my drink order. The lemonade was good, but I really wanted the Frosty!

On the way home. I noticed a large black cloud in the north and hanging down from it was a waterspout! I had not seen one in years, so I was able to follow it swirl and then watch it disappear. I think it must have been over the water at the airport or part of Tampa Bay, but it never reached the ground. Very cool!

After I had lunch, I heard rain starting and it soon was coming down harder, so pretty soon, we had a really hard rain, which lasted for about ten minutes, while the sun was shining just a few miles away. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

! 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.

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 partial and incomplete,
but then I will know ever11ything 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

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Effective 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 humidity is back and what a difference it makes. Even at 7 AM it feels like a sauna outside as the sun climbs. The prediction is for the nineties by noon. I am thankful for air conditioning. My hat's off to Mr Carrier!.

I stopped off at the Park before traveling out to get a Subway chicken Teriyaki sub for my lunch. There were quite a few people walking or just sitting on benches, enjoying nature in the heart of the city.

After I had lunch, I unloaded the washer and put my clothes in the dryer, and read while I waiting for my cleaning ladies to come. Their business has fallen off due to a couple deaths of clients, so they get another day off. So we chatted while they worked and I got caught up on news and restaurants. They eat lunch out every day, so they know a lot of people. Their favorite place for sandwiches is The Sangwich Place.

I ordered a book from Haslam's book store. Something I never do, because I would rather get books from the library. But I had a delightful conversation with the manager who is the great grandson of the original owners. I am happy to give business to an independent bookstore, because it is difficult for them to stay in business. with the big chains.There are four cats living in the bookstore, now. Last time I was in there, which has been over a year, there was only one. Anyway, I have to wait until the book is published next month before I can get it. When I can get my ipad to keep connected to WIFI  maybe I can learn to download books on it. But there is just something about holding a book...

Well, I am praying for comfort for the family of the people who are currently lost in the Gulf, and hope they find some trace of the three teenagers and their dad. In spite of all the tragedies, God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Matthew 7:7,8
Keep on asking and you will be given what
you ask for. Keep on looking and you will find.
Keep on knocking and the door will be opened.
For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who
seeks, finds. And the door is  open to
everyone who knocks. You parents---if your children
ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone
instead? Or if you ask them for a fish, do you give
them a snake? Of course not! If you sinful people
know how to give good gifts to your children, how
much more with your heavenly Father give good gifts
to those who ask him.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

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 a little more humidity today, so the air is not as pleasant as it was yesterday, but still, this is summer, so it is bound to be hot! Lots of people are still talking about the strawberry full moon, which has been photographed so much, with lots of postings on Facebook, I usually have difficulty sleeping during the full moon phase, but I did not notice any interruption the last two nights.(snore)

I was out and about yesterday, with a trip to the Library, where I donated the book, "Me Before You,", since I was finished with it and also had loaned it out and got it back. I am hoping to get the follow up book next.

Then I made a couple more trips, and finally came home, to discover my yard guys had been to do mowing. edging, and blowing. The grass had really grown in just a week! But it looks nice now and will be ready for another trim next week.

I took a ride into Sawgrass Park and did not see many people, but because it was the middle of the day, I did not expect to. It was quiet and the water in the canal is really up and flowing well. The many trees give such shade, it is a restful place to come midday. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

 Psalm 148:6-14
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you creatures from the ocean depths.
fire and hail, snow and storm,
wind and weather that obey him,
mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all livestock,
reptiles and birds,
kings of the earth and all people,
rulers and judges of the earth,
young men and maidens.
old men and children.
Let them all praise the name of the Lord,
for his name is very great;'his glory
towers over the earth and beyond.
He has made his people strong,
honoring his godly ones---
the people of Israel who are close to him.

Praise the Lord!


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

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! The air was actually cool and nice with the lower humidity and I heard the meteorologist say that the temp was in the sixties! Of course, with the sun up, we are up in the high eighties, now, and headed for another hot day.

There are lots of pictures on Facebook of the full Strawberry moon at the same time as the solstice. First time in seventy years that has happened. I have a Farmer's almanac calendar and it has some interesting info on it every month, so I already knew about the strawberry moon.

I delayed my prayer time this morning, because I was fascinated with the story on TV about the black bear loose in Tampa near Adventure Island. Wildlife people came to tranquilize him after he climbed a  large oak tree because he was spooked by the helicopter which came to track him. They shot him three times with the dart and when he fell out of the tree, they put him in a net and secured him in a cage for relocating.
At the same time, there was news of a horrible crash on I-4 involving multiple cars and 4 fatalities. Oh, my. My prayers are with all those people involved..

Since today is Taco Tuesday, I know what I am having for lunch...a free taco from Taco Bell! I do like Tacos! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Praise the Lord from the heavens!
Praise him from the skies!
Praise him, all his angels!
Praise him, all the armies of heaven!
Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
Praise him, skies above!
Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
for he issued his command , and they came into being.

He established them forever and forever, and
his orders with never be revoked.


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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Monday, June 20, 2016

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! I saw on TV this morning that parts of the midwest and western states are having a terrific heat wave, while we are complaining about humidity and temps in the high 80's! And it is only the first day of summer! Well, we had scattered showers here and there yesterday, but for the most part it was very sunshiny and hot.

I took time after church to explore some of the new remodeling that is done and was admiring the new compact kitchen. Brand new large fridge, microwave and new cabinets in what used to be a closet used only for storage.The wall where we used to have all those things, is now blank and the whole overflow area is open and full of seats. What a refreshing change!

The volunteers have done a marvelous job of decorating for the VBS which is now taking place...all sorts of sea related scenes pertaining to the theme of "Submerged". I expect a crowd of children and tired volunteers by the end of the week!

As I drove by Lynch Lake Park on the way to church, I only saw a couple ducks and no ibis. It is usually full of feathered critters of all kinds, but they must move around the city wherever the lakes are.

I noticed that I have one bloom on the Bird of Paradise bush in the backyard and the crepe myrtle is starting to bloom, much later than some of the others I have seen. The poinciana trees with their fiery colored blooms and much in evidence, still. God provides us beauty through all seasons!
God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 John 1:5-10
This is the message he has given to 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 of God's presence , just as Christ is, then
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 our-
selves 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 him that his word has no place in
our hearts.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Friday, June 17, 2016

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! The breeze is picking up on this sunny day and all kinds of critters are out and about. I just watched a yellow and black striped butterfly flit around outside my window for a few seconds and before that a mostly yellow one floated on by. Then a bluejay dived into the hedge, looking very fierce, which is the way they always look. I love nature!

My computer was offline most of the day yesterday and I finally called my tech guy and made an appointment for him to come today to fix it, but I tried it one more time before going to bed and it worked! I don't know what the problem was, but fortunately, it is Okay.

I ran a couple errands yesterday, and decided to visit the park and ran into rain. A hard shower, actually, which was surprising. So I came on back home and, you guessed it, not a drop had fallen. This is only a mile away, but that is Florida. It can rain on one side of the street and not on the other..

As I was coming around Lynch Lake, I saw an osprey sitting on the line, while on the ground, the white duck that hangs out there, was chasing a small dark duck. An anhinga was perched on a drainage pipe drying out his wings. It was peaceful. God is good!

The following is probably my most favorite verse from scripture:

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 15:13
So I pray that God, who gives you hope,
will keep you happy and full of peace as
you believe in him. May you overflow with
hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Thursday, June 16, 2016

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 sun is shining right now, but we must have had a passing shower or sprinkles, because when I looked out the garage door at the dumpster and recycling bin, there were wet drops on them; about three dozen on the dumpster lid and not many more on the bin. Humpf. Or maybe a large bird flew over. Ha!

But, anyway, it will be another hot day with heat indexes up in the 3 digits in some places! Summer is here, although not officially.

After dropping off and picking up articles at the cleaners, I thought it would be a good idea to get a strawberry shake at S&S, but so many other people had the same idea that the line at the drive thru was out to the parking lot, so I decided it was not worth waiting 20 or 30 minutes in the hot car for the sweet treat.. Instead, I went for a drive through the quiet park. Not many people were out in the heat, but it is always cooler under the many trees. Seems like just looking at the water in the canal relieves stress. Speaking of that, several trees were blown over in the storm last week, but I guess they will just lie in the water, since they don't seem to have enough people to cut and drag the trees out.. But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

James 1:2-8
Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes
your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when
your faith is tested, your inheritance 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,
be 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.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

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! The sun is shining, very little breeze is moving the branches on the podacarpus and it is very warm! It was warm and humid at 7:30 and will not get any cooler today.

We did not have any rain yesterday, not that we needed any, so that did not cool the air down any. One of my cleaning ladies keeps saying that this will be a bad year for major hurricanes. I hope she is wrong!

I drove out to Walmart to gas up the van yesterday and when I got there, most of the pumps were open, but before I finished filling up, cars were lines up, waiting. Guess I brought business! After stopping at the Park, I headed for home and did not go down 62nd Ave. because the cones were out and it was still down to one lane.

My ladies came to clean a day early, and I was telling them about a book I had just finished." You Before Me" which was made into a movie. I have not seen the movie and probably will not, but the book was so fascinating, I had to force myself to put it down. So, Kim took it home with her to read. After that, I will donate it to the Library.There is a sequel coming out and I want to read that, also. I am currently reading a novel about an Amish family, which starts out in Pinecrest and Sarasota. Since that religion is part of my heritage, I am always interested in learning more about it.

The butterflies are back zooming back and forth to the Beauty Berry bush. I wish I knew all the names of the different colored butterflies. Most of them have yellow somewhere on their wings, but no matter what color they are, I always enjoy them. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been made right in God's
sight by faith, we have peace with God because of
what Jesus Christ, our Lord has done for us. Because
 of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of
highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently
and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

We can rejoice , too, when we run into problems and
trials , for we know that they are good for us---they help
us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength
in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation
of salvation. and this expectation will not disappoint us.
For you 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

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

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! We have our usual sunshine and clouds with a very warm breeze stirring the leaves. Humid, sticky, juicy, is the way the weatherman describes the conditions today.

We did not have any rain yesterday, though, so I was able to run some errands, and, just as I pulled out of the garage, my lawn crew came, so they got the grass mowed, edged and blown off while I was gone. Then, after I got back, my handy man showed up and got the roof repaired, (again!) cleaned out the gutter which was packed, and trimmed up the Podacarpus. Big jobs, but it did not take him long. He is worth his weight in gold!

As I was driving around Lynch Lake, I noticed the lack of ducks and seagulls. I saw only one great blue heron. That is very unusual. ( I am reminded of a silly joke on FB the other day; If a seagull flies over the bay, should he be called a Bagel?  Sorry.

The intersection of 62nd and 16th St. was all coned off yesterday while the road guys repaired the sections of street that had not been repaved yet, although all of 62nd is finished. While traffic was backed up in a long line, it seemed like people were being patient. 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 in these
evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try
to understand  what the Lord wants you to do.
Don't be drunk with wine, because that will
ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill
and control you. Then you will sing psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves
making music to the Lord in your hearts. And
you will always give thanks for everything to
God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Monday, June 13, 2016

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! I know there is no rejoicing in Orlando because of the horrible terrorist attack. I did not have the TV on before I left for church, therefore, did not know anything about it until Pastor Kevin prayed for the situation and all those affected. It is a sad, situation. Many people still do not know whether their loved ones are alive or not. My heartfelt prayers are with them.

On another note; we had a large group of young people, plus the pastor and his wife, and Youth pastor and wife go off to Detroit today to minister to the people in the inner city. This is an annual event and hopefully, many souls will be saved after hearing about Jesus.

The gathering room at the church is finished and furnished, as is the sitting, reading, browsing room. Many from first service were enjoying coffee and treats at the small tables, and others were browsing through the new books displayed on the new bookshelves. The new carpeting is down and my walker bumps over the unusual pattern.  We had a lot of people in attendance at second service, which is good! 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,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 to God! By his mighty power at work within
us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we
could ever dare to hope. May he be given glory in the
church and in Christ Jesus through endless ages. Amen


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Friday, June 10, 2016

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 lots of sunshine right now, although it rained earlier. And the prediction is for a strong thundershower later this afternoon.

The yard crew came after I finished sending this blog yesterday, so the yard got picked up and looks neat once again. I took a load of books back to the Library and checked out more, hoping I could make it before a black cloud dropped its load.

Well, I almost made it. It started raining as I checked out, but people were still coming in, so I hurried to the van as fast as I could and was able to get the books and walker in without getting too damp!

Then I went home and changed to a cane, instead of the walker and headed to CVS to pick up a scrip and a few other things. I had three coupons with me and saved $17 dollars! They were all CVS coupons! It pays to shop there!

I decided to drive over to the Park before going home, since the rain had stopped, but it started again before I got there. However, I kept on, and much to my surprise, saw David, the Ranger I had not seen for over a year! We had been really good friends for several years, and then he got transferred to another park and we did not keep in touch. He is back at Sawgrass permanently now, so I will be seeing him again. Meanwhile, while we were talking in the sprinkles, a kite flew over. It was the first one I had ever seen. They are a large bird with a split tail. David said he has been hanging around the park for quiet a while and the Audubon people want to come and band it, but that will be difficult if they can't catch him! I was so excited! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 20
In times of trouble, may the Lord respond to your cry.
May the God of Israel keep you safe from all harm.
May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.

May he grant your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans.
May we shout for joy when we hear of
your victory, flying banners to honor our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.

Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed King.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him by his great power.
Some nations boast of their armies and weapons
but we boast in the Lord our God.
Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm.

Give victory to our king, O Lord!
Respond to our cry for help.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Thursday, June 9, 2016

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 lots of sun this morning, but thundershowers are expected sometime during the day. It is Hot and humid!

I made it out to the dentist yesterday without any rain, although a dark cloud was hanging over my neighborhood. But when I drove out to the Tyrone area, it was sunshiny. By the time I came out an hour later, the dark clouds had moved over the northwest area, so, instead of shopping as I had planned, I decided to head for home. I ran into rain halfway here, but it was not heavy, so I was able to make it without any difficulty. Not too sure about my tooth, however. It is still sensitive.

Well, my yard is still a mess, with branches and twigs scattered over the sidewalk and yard. My yard crew may not come this week, since they skip once in a while, but my handy man will be here tomorrow and maybe he will have time to work on it a bit. The main thing is to get the flat roof fixed so it does not leak any more!

I saw three squirrels scampering up my big oak, when I stepped out to survey the mess, and now the birds are singing, so most everything is back to normal. As I drove around Lynch Lake I saw a graceful white egret and a couple ducks. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 57:7-13
My heart is confident in you, O God.
no wonder I can sing your praises!
Wake up my soul!
Wake up, O harp and lyre!
I will waken the dawn with my song.
I will thank you, Lord, in front of all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.

For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Paul's Thorn In the Flesh

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! So far no rain, but all at once the sun has disappeared. Hopefully, that does not mean more rain, because my flat roof is just drying out inside, and my handy man has truck issues. Meanwhile, the front yard is still a mess, so if the yard crew is able to get out today, maybe they will pick up all the trash.

Since I had cancelled an appointment for yesterday afternoon, I did some chores in the house...my ironing, (yay!) and finished my last library book. I now have to return five and collect some more.I once read about a man who upon retirement vowed to read every book in his Library. Since new books are published nearly every day, I would say he has a never ending job!

Uh, oh, it is raining again! Not good for my roof! I did not see that on the forecast, but maybe I missed it. Sigh.

I am thankful for my higher elevation, though, because no streets around this area flood and I have a way to leave should it be necessary. I was looking at the aftermath of the floods on TV this morning, and saw that some people are slowly returning to their flooded homes. So Sad.

We had sunshine for a while yesterday and this morning , so God is good! But the rain causes strange things to happen...a couple manatees were nibbling on a ladies'a yard when the water overflowed the seawall, and a gopher tortoise came visiting another person's house. Worse of all, a gator was spotted with a human body in its mouth! That is still a mystery.We should hear more about that today...

from the Promise Bible NLT:

2 Corinthians 12:6-10
I have plenty to boast about and would
be no fool in doing it . I am going to boast
only about my weaknesses.

 because I would be telling the truth. But
I won't do it . I don't want anyone to think
more highly of me, than what they can see, even
though I have received wonderful revelations
from God. But to keep me from getting puffed up
I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger
from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting
proud.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need.
My power works best in your weakness. So now I am
 glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power
of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all
for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses
and with insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Roamin' thru Romans( the sun has just peeked out!)

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 a little tougher to rejoice when my flat roof is leaking again, and the yard is full of trash from the oaks, but all those things will gradually be taken care of in due time. I am just rejoicing that I have power and the rest of the house is dry and comfortable!

The rain has stopped right at this minute but the clouds are still heavy and reporters are standing outside in the midst of flooded streets, where they should not be. But TV news has to go on!

We had some strong wind gusts last night after I went to bed and I'm sure that's what made the trees shed so many twigs and branches. My yard men will come whenever the weather clears and they will pick up a lot of stuff.My paper was thrown in front of the front door this morning, so I am blessed that the delivery person tossed it that far!

I wonder where the birds and squirrels and butterflies have gone during the storm. I have not seen or heard any in a couple days. The squirrels probably hole up in trees, but I don't know where the birds go. I think God may take care of his critters! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 15:3-5
May God, who gives this patience and
encouragement, help you live in complete
harmony with each other-- each with the
attitude of Christ Jesus toward each other.
Then all of you can join  together with one
voice , giving praise and glory to God, the
Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Monday, June 6, 2016

An old poem

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! Well it is morning for another two minutes. I was going to skip this blog today, since I am lazy because of the rain and dark skies...a good day for a cup of tea and a good book.

I keep getting weather bulletins on my iphone and TV when I have it on, so it looks like a wet afternoon, but I am not so sure it will be this wet tomorrow.

I was concerned about the garbage man getting wet when he came to get my dumpster, but he had a nice, big umbrella and walked back and forth without getting too soaked. I told the city people I only need one pickup a week, so Monday is the day. It was kinda strange. Last week I noticed another triangle painted in the street right next to the original. I didn't see any need for two of them, which indicate that the garbage and recycle bins need to be carted down and back, so...a couple days later the second triangle was painted over! As I said, strange.

Well, the new carpeting is down in the church. I don't know who picked it out, but it reminds me of waves. It is textured with aqua blue and grayish stripes running through it. My walker had to be pushed to run over the sculpture outline. It is pretty, though and I could only faintly smell the newness. Also, the gathering rooms are finished and people were sitting at the small tables and enjoying cake, when I walked in. A nice way to get friends out of the walkway.

We are having a really good sermon series on Praying, which I really need. I am always happy to learn as much about prayer as I can.

When I drove by Lynch Lake yesterday, I did not see any ducks or other wild life! Amazing, because there are always ducks there! Oh, well, God is good!

The following is an old poem, or saying that I clipped from A Dear Abby column several years ago;

Take time to work,
it is the price of success.
Take time to think,
It is the source of power.
Take time to play,
It is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read,
it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly.
It is the road to happiness.
Take time to love and be loved,
It is the privilege of the gods.
Take time to share,
Live is too short to be selfish.
Take time to laugh.
Laughter is the music of the soul.
( and I add)
Take time to pray!
This is the source of power!

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Friday, June 3, 2016

Happy National Donut Day!

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 hot weather with the threat of rain this afternoon is the prediction for today! And I am still hearing that we will have a rainy Monday and Tues. next week. I have appointments both days, so I may have to cancel. Not only do I not want to drive in the rain, but I haven't figured out how to hold an umbrella and my walker at the same time. This is also a problem at church, which is why I got sprinkled on last Sunday.

After a trip to CVS yesterday afternoon, I drove to PDQ to pick up a salad and zucchini  fries, got home and consumed half of the large salad and half of the fries, then was ready to put them in the fridge. Well, I got the fries in, but the top was not securely on the salad, so it flipped lettuce, cranberries, carrots, spinach, etc down the bag in the walker and on the floor! It took me about twenty minutes to clean it all up and then use my Swiffer mop to get the dressing and stuff cleaned off the floor. I mourn the salad, because it was good!

I will try to get out and go to the Publix today, because I need fruit and veggies. I heard on the market report today about the online ordering for grocery delivery and how it has caught on, even with Walmart. Hmmm. I see possibilities! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Jude 26
A Prayer of Praise

And now, all glory to God, who is able to
keep you from stumbling, and who will bring
you into his glorious presence innocent of sin
and with great joy. All glory to him, who alone
is God our Savior, through Jesus Christ, our
Lord, Yes, glory, majesty, power, and authority
belong to him, in the beginning, now and forevermore.
Amen


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Thursday, June 2, 2016

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! Well, I hope we don't have another thunderstorm like we had yesterday evening. Wow! What a lot of thunder cracks and booms and lights flickering, and finally going off for a minute! I was having my dinner during all this, but I kept jumping at the loud booms! It lasted about thirty minutes and the rain just poured! That's enough of that!

Earlier in the afternoon, I had taken one of my Amish quilts to the cleaners and then took "a road less traveled" by me, and discovered a whole neighborhood of new houses I had never seen before! Seems like there is always something new, even though these particular houses could have been there for two or three years. I just never had occasion to use that street before.

I was watching the news this morning about another Allegiant plane that had to abort it flight to NY and come back to ST.Pete Clearwater airport because of engine difficulties. The hundred and sixty passengers had to remain on the plane for a couple hours; first, because they had to circle for an hour using up fuel and then on the ground while mechanics investigated the problem. That airlines has had more than its share of problems lately.

I took a ride through the Park on my way home yesterday and saw very few people out and about. I spied one anhinga on the weir and the usual squirrels, but everything was quiet and peaceful. One table was crowded with a lot of young people standing around talking and planning something it looked like.
But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 139:17,18 23-24
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

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

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! Well, the prediction is for temps in the nineties for the rest of the week so I am very glad my A/C is working in the house and in the van!

Also today is the start of hurricane season! So Happy June First!

I forgot to mention that when I opened the garage door to put my flag up Monday, I was startled to see a large dog looking at me just outside the door. She looked to be a boxer mix and seemed to be very intelligent. I spoke to her and she cocked her head, trying to understand , but, being cautious, I did not approach her. Instead, I slowly walked backwards and closed the door. Then she started barking, so I went into the house and looked out the window to see  she had turned around and was announcing to the neighborhood how rude I was to close the door in her face. After a few minutes, she went across the street and sniffed around the neighbor's yard, following the trail of their dog. Then off she went trotting down the street woofing all the way. She had no collar or tag that I could see, so I don't know where she belongs. I finally got the flag out.

Those of you on Facebook may notice a memory from six years ago, of me riding a Sea-Doo behind David Massey. He and Gil took me on some "great adventures" after Louis had passed away, which included motorcycle rides and one on the Sea-doo. I was so grateful to them for the relaxation that brought after years of caregiving! Good times with good friends! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 52:8,9
But I am like an olive tree,
thriving in the house of God.
I trust in God's unfailing love
forever and ever.
I will praise you forever, O God.
for what you have done.
I will wait for your mercies
in the presence of your people.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis