Gator Bytes

Be On Guard Against Temptation

2012-02-02T10:02:00.005-05:00

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 some high , filmy clouds this morning , but still in the sixties and supposed to warm up to the eighties! What a winter this has been so far! I am not complaining, though!

After running several errands yesterday, I went to the park. listening to the Beatles on the radio and stopped to look at the fat gator sunning on the bank of the lake, and the turtles drying out on the other side, on the bank of the weir. Then on to the gopher tortoise in his usual spot by his tunnel. Maybe there are eggs down in there that he or she is waiting to hatch.

I saw a flock of ibis at Lynch Lake along with lots of ducks and a tri-colored heron. Lots of wildlife all over the lakes and bodies of water. God is good!

From the little devotional book Knowing God:

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing but the body is weak.
Matthew 26:41 NIV

Have you noticed that this world is filled to the brim with temptations? Unless you've been living the life of a hermit, you've observed that that temptations, both great and small are everywhere.

Some temptations are small; eating a second scoop of ice cream, for example, is tempting, but not very dangerous. Other temptations , however, are not nearly so harmless. The devil is working 24/7, and he's causing pain and heartache in more ways than ever before. Thankfully, in the battle against Satan, we are never alone. God is always with us, and He gives us the power to resist temptation whenever we ask Him for the strength to do so.

In a letter to believers, Peter offered a stern warning: "Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:9 NKJV) As Christians, we must take that warning seriously, and we must behave accordingly.

-Great Thoughts-

Jesus faced every temptation known to man, so that he could identify with us.
Beth Moore

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalms

2012-02-01T10:09:00.006-05:00

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 is another in our string of beautiful days, with clear blue skies and cool temps at night. It warmed up so much yesterday, that although I took a sweater with me to the doc's office, even it was warm, so I didn't need it at all!

My dermatologist and his brother are now practicing together and I had the new brother yesterday. He is very young, and I would rather have the older brother, still. My face got several spots frozen, some of which I did not think necessary, but what can I do? He's the one with the degree....

I did get to see downtown, where I don't go too often, but it is a bustling place. The waterfront is really beautiful and there are more and more outdoor cafes! When I was growing up, that was the only place to go to shop, but it was mostly older people. Now, the crowd is much younger!

I got to the park, and that is really the place for outdoor dining! Squirrels, ibis, turtles and the big, fat gator lounging on the bank, Now that is my kind of scenery! I saw the man who lives in his car there with all his stuff spread out over two tables. I don't know where he gets the money from for the upkeep of his Avalon, which is about ten years old, but I guess he gets money from somewhere.

I discovered that my hidden azalea in the backyard has many dark pink blossoms on it and is really pretty. Louis planted that many years ago when the fireplace room was a screened in porch, and useless in the hot summer, but the azalea was a spot of beauty. It thrives without care, unlike some other plants. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 119:1-8

Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the Lord.
Happy are those who obey his decrees
and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your principles!
Then I will not be disgraced
when I compare my life with your commands.
When I learn your righteous laws,
I will thank you by living as I should.
I will obey your principles,
Please don't give up on me!

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Joy

2012-01-31T10:13:00.005-05:00

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 still beautiful with lots of sunshine and wind blowing this morning. However we still desperately need rain all over the state!

My day did not start off too well, I knocked over a large glass of water while I was enjoying breakfast, so had to stop and mop . Well, it could have been milk, so it wasn't all bad...just took a lot longer than I had planned. And this afternoon I go to my dermatologist where I will probably come out stinging where he freezes all the potential skin cancers that develop every six months. That goes with pale skin and living in Florida.

Yesterday I saw in my backyard, a squirrel sitting on top of the fence very still. I stood and watched him for a while, wondering if he was sick, but he just sat there sunning. I checked later and he was gone, so I guess he was just resting, which is unusual for squirrels! And over at the park, the squirrels seem to have thinned out, because the workers have to capture them for relocation after they get so aggressive from people giving them peanuts. I did not see the gator at the lake, but turtles were on the other side and lots of people were enjoying that spot of beauty very near the city. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

How Can I be joyful in hard times?

Habakkuk 3:17,18 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails and the fields lie empty and barren, even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Philippians 4:4,12 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! I know how to live on almost nothing, or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach, or empty, with plenty or little.

Joy is a choice. We may not realize it, but we choose our moods, and our attitudes. God's promises in Christ are the basis for choosing joy no matter what we face.

James 1:2 Dear Brothers and Sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.

Troubles remind us of two things. First, they remind us that this is a fallen world full of futility and frustration. Second they remind us to turn to a God who will never disappoint us. God promises us lasting joy for all those who believe in him. This kind of joy stays with us despite our problems.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Colossians 1:7-14

2012-01-30T09:40:00.002-05:00

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 had such beautiful weather, with blue skies and sunshine, cool temps at night and nice in the day time. The only flaw is a lack of rain which makes for wildfires, so I pray God will send us rain in his time.

I have been fascinated by cloud formations and contrails these past few days. As I was driving a couple days ago, I noticed two different contrails, quite wide because of wind, and one of them had just a strip of rainbow colors. The other had none. But my niece had posted a pic of the halo around the sun and she said the rainbow went all around. I just could see part of it. but it was beautiful! Then yesterday I saw contrails in the making as the plane flew so high I could not see it. Reminds me of the old movie, "High and Mighty", one of my favorite John Wayne films.

I spied two big gators sunning on the bank of the lake at the park Sat. and lots of turtles on the other side of the road. Then, yesterday, only one of the gators was sunning and about a dozen turtles were on the bank of the weir. A tri-colored heron was standing straight and tall and looking very majestic on the bank of the canal, while several ibis were pecking in the muddy water. I just happened to think that I have not seen a robin yet this winter, and usually they are all over. Hmm. Maybe just not in this neighborhood. But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Colossians 1:7

Epaphras, our much-loved co-worker, was the one who brought you the Good News. He is Christ's faithful servant, and he is helping us in your place. He is one who told us about the great love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.

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

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

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Hope

2012-01-27T11:40:00.008-05:00

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 a little rain during the early morning hours, but not enough. At least the oak pollen is dampened, so the air is a bit cleaner. While it's a little cooler, it is still not cold, so it's a nice change.

My handy yardman was here this morning, to take care of some chores, so that is why this is a little late in coming.

I saw lots of people and birds out yesterday at the park, including a long row of ibis over at Lynch Lake. They were lined up perfectly along one of the drainage outlets. Lots of seagulls and ducks, also, one of which dunked his head down while the tail stuck up in the air, while I watched. Very funny!

At the park, I saw turtles sunning, egrets on the bank, with people taking photos of them, and squirrels running all over the ground. I also spotted the gopher on his front porch again. Guess he just likes to watch people go by. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

How can I have hope when times are tough?

Hebrews 16:23
Without wavering, let us hold tight to the hope we say we have , for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Our hope is rooted in God's integrity and faithfulness, When everything else falls apart, we can cling to the fact that God keeps his word.

John 14:1
Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me.

John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you may have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, for I have overcome the world.

Our troubles do not surprise the Lord and should not surprise us. Trouble is rampant in this fallen world. Our focus should be on Jesus who has overcome this world and all its troubles.

Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep in perfect peace, all who trust, whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

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

Love and hugs

Amaryllis

Conflict

2012-01-26T10:20:00.004-05:00

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! God has gifted us with another warm day. Yesterday it was so warm, that I actually had a short sleeved shirt on, and was very comfortable. But the warm weather will be gone by tomorrow, though only for a short time, and then the weekend will be nice again, for the Gasparilla parade Sat.

After my cleaning friends left yesterday, I went to the P.O. and bought some forever stamps, and then did a little shopping. Afterwards, I drove to the park with the shadows getting long. I always like to see the changing play of sunshine and shadow when it's late in the afternoon, but it is not too good for driving, because when the visor doesn't hide the sun, it is right in my eyes!

Once again I saw the white egret outstanding against the green of the canal bank..typical Florida scenery and moorhens happily paddling around in the water. They are such busy little ducks! Lots of people were hanging over the bridge looking at different things in the water, but I did not see any gators. It's time for the azaleas to start blooming, and I saw where my hidden bush in the back of the house has already had two blooms. Nothing in the front, though. Maybe later. But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

How can I find strength to respond to conflict in God's way?

Romans 12:19-21
Dear Friends, never avenge yourselves, leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance. I will repay those who deserve it", says the Lord. Instead do what the scriptures say. "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you." Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

1 Peter 3:9-12
Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say, "If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil".

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

Character

2012-01-25T09:54:00.006-05:00

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 temp is supposed to climb up to 82 today! It doesn't seem like this is still January, because the weather is so warm. The weatherman said yesterday that we would need to turn on the A/C today because of the humidity. I think I need to, because I believe I have developed an allergy to oak leaves, which are falling like rain around here!

Yesterday, as I was driving alongside Turner's creek at low tide, I saw a great gray egret having a fish for lunch, Funny thing, was, two vultures were sitting at the top of the bank, hopefully, waiting for leftovers. The water fowl and birds of prey like low tide because it is easier to fish. Speaking of birds of prey, I saw the baby osprey sticking his head out of the nest on the elem. school grounds. They will probably be nesting over in the parking lot of Gateway Mall any day, now.

BTW, my colorful birthday balloons are still flying high against my ceiling and I have been enjoying wisely the box of Godiva chocolates, I was given. I should put them in the fridge where I won't be so tempted. :o)

I went on to the park when I finished my shopping and lots of people were out enjoying the great weather. Lots of turtles, egrets, and the big gator were also enjoying the weather. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

What does God promise us as we mature in godly character?

Matthew 5:8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

We will experience an increasing sense of God's presence and his blessing.

James 1:4 When your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

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 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, for he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

As we mature in our faith, we will become stronger and stronger people. Character is like a muscle--it gets stronger with exercise. As our character develops, our confidence in our salvation increases, and the assurance of God's love fills our hearts.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Change

2012-01-24T10:18:00.008-05:00

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 is such wonderful weather at the end of January...cool nights and warm days. Lots of sunshine and just lots of blessings!

After taking care of laundry yesterday and other chores around the house, including sweeping a basket full of leaves off the porch, I took a trip to the park. Not many people, but lots of turtles plastered against the banks of the weir, and one lone large one some distance away on the grassy bank of the canal.I have been seeing the large gator sunning on the other side of the road at the lake, but he wasn't there yesterday.

Some group has built a platform and there is a cage on top that has a furry critter in it, but I have not walked over to see what it is. Guess I will have to do that soon. The gopher tortoises have been on the move and I see them nearly every day. They seem to be coming closer to the parking area and getting very used to people standing around looking at them. Always something going on! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Where can I find security and hope in the midst of tumult and change?

Lamentations 5:19 Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation.

Malachi 3 :6 I am the Lord and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed.

James 12:17 Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all Heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Both our security and our hope are rooted in God's unchanging character. People will make promises one day but disappoint us the next. Sin or circumstances beyond their control prevent them from keeping their promises. God's faithfulness and love, however, are not subject to fluctuations of time, space or human mortality. We will never suffer because of God's fickle whims, irrational mood swings, or inability to handle the circumstances.

Are there any unchanging principles that can help me stay anchored?

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.

Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.

God's word gives us the truth that never changes. We find strength and courage when we listen--not to the voices of public opinion- but to God.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Ephesians 1

2012-01-23T10:25:00.004-05:00

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 light clouds this morning, but like yesterday, it will be another warm day in January! In fact, the weatherman say we will have temps in the eighties for a couple days! I'll take it!

I have had the most wonderful week of birthday surprises! I think it started with a breakfast bike ride on my friend David's Gold Wing, then a small group potluck and prayer meeting on Thursday and Brian took me out to dinner on Friday, which resulted in a free dessert for me, because Brian mentioned it was my birthday. I was very glad they didn't sing!! Finally, I was told by Brian that he wanted to take me to Miller's in Bradenton for dinner Saturday. That's about an hour drive, so I was not very enthusiastic and he told me he wanted to stop by a friend's house to say "Hi". I told him I was not going in because she lives in a two story house, which requires walking up stairs, and I don't do that very well any more. Well, sure enough, when we got there, we went in to a totally surprise party. I was almost speechless!! Turns out this had been in the planning for about six months. Mari is very devious. It was a well kept secret and I did not suspect a thing. We had a wonderful dinner with four dear friends and Brian and I now have nine balloons floating on my ceiling plus lovely gifts from everyone, and a beautiful dish garden from my boys. Brian said it's not every day a person turns 85, so that is why the long celebration. If I never live to have another one, I will die happy! It has been a wonderful week! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

Ephesians 1
Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize the rich and glorious inheritance he has given his people.

I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Galatians 6

2012-01-20T10:55:00.002-05:00

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 gettting a late start today because of the bug man coming , but hopefully, I will be catching up soon. The sun is shining and the cool wind blowing, and, as usual, I am always chilly. Guess my age is catching up with me.

Yesterday I went to the park after shopping at the newly remodeled Sweetbay near my house. I actually had good customer service. A man putting up yogurt products went into the back to see if the truck had delivered the product that I could not find, and brought it out for me. Yay, him!

Then I was rewarded at the park by seeing the big gator sunning full length on the bank of the lake. On the other side, a patron was taking a pic of an anhinga with wings outspread. The water in the canal was much higher due to the rain Wed. afternoon, so it looks much better. The big gophers seem to be on the move, because I saw the really old one standing in his front door, and the smaller one around the corner standing on his front porch. We were always warned as kids, not to put our hands down in the tunnels, because there might be snakes in there. Of course, I had to see for myself. Fortunately, I did not find one. God is Good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

We reap what we sow

Dear Brothers and Sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly, should gently and humbly help that person back into the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each others burdens and problems and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody...

Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit....

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

Love,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 5

2012-01-19T10:32:00.006-05:00

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 sunshine this morning and cooler temps. I am getting so lazy in the morning, I usually don't roll out of bed until sevenish, although I am awake long before then. So, this morning, I got up and stripped the bed to wash them and now am waiting for the sheets to dry, so I can put them back on
the bed.

Yesterday's bike/breakfast ride was so much fun! David took us to Skyway Jack's for breakfast...the first time I had been there, and we enjoyed chatting while eating. Then we saddled up and went over to Tampa, riding along Bayshore where workers were busy with preparations for the Gasparilla parade Sat. David took me to Davis Island and on out to Peter O. Knight airport and back to the marina, which I didn't even know was there! Lots of boats were moored in the very still, quiet waters and very few cars on the road.. On the way out of the marina, I noticed serious looking buzzards perched on each pole, just waiting. I really don't like them, because they look menacing to me, although they do the job God created them to do.

Rain had been predicted to come through, and as we traveled, we could see the clouds .building up, and by the time we got near home, the sky was covered, but the weather held until we completed with my birthday/breakfast/just for fun ride! God is Good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 5
O Lord, hear me as I pray;
pay attention to my groaning.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God
for I will never pray to anyone but you.
Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my request to you
and wait expectantly...

because of your unfailing love I can enter your house;
with deepest awe I will worship at your Temple.
Lead me in the right path, O Lord,
or my enemies will conquer me.
Tell me clearly what to do,
and show me which way to turn...

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

Bike ride

2012-01-18T07:13:00.006-05:00

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! There will be no Gator Bytes today because I have been invited to go on a breakfast bike (Gold Wing) ride. Hope to see you tomorrow!

Love and hugs,

Amaryllis

Zephaniah 3:17

2012-01-17T10:22:00.009-05:00

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! Still a bit cool in the morning, but the sun is out and the breeze is blowing, so it will be a pretty day!

I did not go out much yesterday, but did get over to the park, and was surprised to see quite a crowd there. Since it was a holiday, I guess that was to be expected. The big fat gator was once again sunning on the bank of the lake, and, as usual, attracting quite a bit of attention. Usually, people ride right by without looking that way, and it is off the road by quite a bit, so he doesn't get noticed that often.

The remaining leaves on the maple trees are a deep maroon ,now and the rest of the trees, except for oaks, are bare, so it really looks like winter in the park. No snow, though! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

The Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Serve Him

2012-01-16T10:00:00.001-05:00

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 glad that the weather is warming up and the sun is shining, and it promises to be a great day!

I have seen the big fat gator lounging on the bank of the lake at the park these past few days, and the little frisky moorhens swimming very near him, and very unafraid. Coexisting peacefully...wish the rest of the world could take a cue from them!

I have not been sending the morning emails for the past few days, because my old PC would not go on the standard version which allowed me to add the bcc list. However, my computer elves spent their Sunday afternoon running to Walmart to pick me up a new desktop and printer/copier and then spent hours setting it up. I am so blessed with good friends who shower me with kindness!

The following devotional is dedicated to the two of them. You know who you are!

From the little devotional Knowing God:

So prepare your minds for service and have self-control. All your hope
should be for the gift of grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ is shown
to you.
1 Peter 1:11 NCV

The teachings of Jesus are clear. We achieve greatness through service to others. But, as weak human beings, we sometimes fall short as we seek to puff ourselves up and glorify our own accomplishments. Jesus commands otherwise. He teaches us that the most esteemed men and women are not the self-congratulatory leaders of society but are instead the humblest of servants.

Today, you may feel the temptation to build yourselves up in the eyes of others. Resist that temptation. Instead, serve them quietly and without fanfare. Find a need and fill it...humbly. Lend a helping hand and share a word of kindness...anonymously, for this is God's way.

As a humble servant, you will glorify yourself not before men, but before God, and that's what God intends. After all, earthly glory is fleeting; here today and all too soon gone. But heavenly glory endures throughout eternity. So, the choice is yours: Either you can lift yourself up here on earth and be humbled in heaven, or vice versa. Choose vice versa.

                           -Great Thoughts-

Christianity, in its purest form, is nothing more than seeing Jesus. Christian service, in its purist form. is nothing more than imitating him who we see. To see his Majesty and to imitate him; that is the sum of Christianity.

                             Max Lucado

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Decisions

2012-01-11T10:19:00.004-05:00

Good Morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will be glad and rejoice in it! Well, no sunshine this morning and just a little rain, but the wind is blowing and the cold front is blustering its way in, once again.

But yesterday in the great warm day, I drove out to the Mall and tried to pick up our family photos from Penney's studio, only to discover they were closed on Tues. Afternoon. So, I drove back home to do a little shopping, and then visited the park, parked and walked out on the bridge to see the young gator. The water is very low and muddy, due to the construction, but still suits the fish and anhingas. It was very warm in the sun, so I walked over to the butterfly garden, avoiding lots of families. Many blooms were on the plants, but no butterflies.

I seem to be having lots of little things going wrong all at once...the lamp in my bedroom will not turn on, so I need to buy a new one, and now the drain in the shower is clogged. It does that every once in a while, but I have stuff to unclog it. Anyway, the house is warm and I have food, so God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

What kind of help does God give us?

2 Chronicles 16:9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

God wants To help us make the right decisions. He is looking for us to depend fully on him. Our openness is God's opportunity.

James 1:5-8 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.

Some people fear that they are bothering God with their problems. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is looking for ways to help us because he loves. us. Our commitment to him releases his resources for us.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

He's Right Here, Right now.

2012-01-10T10:26:00.005-05:00

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Another sunshiny day and the promise of rain to come sometime later this week. We are blessed!

After a late afternoon trip to the doctor, I went to Wendy's to pick up my supper and then went to the park. Not to have a picnic, but just to see the long shadows, with brilliant green where the sun shone through. I saw two egrets looking beautiful in contrast to the leafless tree they were perched in and the gopher tortoise guarding his tunnel. I was surprised to see quite a few people there as close to dinner time as it was. Yellow butterflies were flitting about on their search for nectar. They are so pretty, and so are the others.

Last night I saw the "wolf moon". I had to google that to see why it is called by that name. Interesting That the native Americans gave it that name, because the full moon in January caused the wolves to howl for food when the icy snows covered their territory...things I never knew before.

God is good!

From the little devotional book Knowing God:

The Lord is with you when you are with Him.
If you seek Him, He will be found by you.
2 Chronicles 15:2 HCSB
Did you ever wonder if God is really "right here, right now"? Do you wonder if God hears your prayers, if He understands your feelings, or if He really knows your heart? If so, you're not alone: Lots of very faithful Christians have experienced periods of doubt. In fact, some of the biggest heroes in the Bible had plent of doubts-and so, perhaps, will you. But when you have doubts, remember this: God isn't on a coffee break, and He hasn't moved out of town. He's right here, right now, listening to your thoughts and prayers, watching over your every move.

If you'd like to get to know God a little bit better, He's always available--always ready to listen to your prayers, and always ready to speak to your heart. Are you ready to talk to Him? If so, congratulations. If not, what are you waiting for?

Great Thoughts

God's presence is with you, but you have to make a choice to believe--and I mean, really believe--that this is true. This conscious decision is yours alone.
Bill Hybels

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

John 3:16

2012-01-09T09:38:00.004-05:00

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, and the temps are warming up, so it will be another beautiful day! We are blessed!

I was so excited last night watching the Broncos game and Tim Tebow's inspired playing, I was shouting at the TV, trying to urge on the players! A columnist in the Times this morning wrote, "did you notice that there was not a sideline reporter? And now that you know, did you miss one?" I have to say, no and no. I don't really like the gals out there when they have never played football...

So, win or lose, I am looking forward to Sat. and the game with the Patriots. Go, Broncos!

I saw an unusual sight on my way to church yesterday. A small flock of five woodstorks were moving through a private yard. I have never seen them in a yard, before, just sitting by ditches and lakes. And, I stepped outside in the morning, in time to see a flock of ibis pecking its way through my yard and into the neighbors. They do a good job of aereating. When I drove to the park after church, I found it crowded with lots of people and dog-walkers, big folks and little folks. It was a good day to be out in the warm weather. Also, a cluster of black turtles were sunning themselves on the bank of the weir. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Remembering Tebow's yardage yesterday and eyeblack scripture from college...
John 3:16-21

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. Their judgment is based on this fact. The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants.

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

Love and Hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 95

2012-01-05T09:53:00.006-05:00

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the slightly warmer day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Temps are going up instead of down and by this weekend we will be in the seventies again! Yay! My hands stay so cold that it's hard to warm them up even to type...guess I would not be happy in snowy country!

I was ambitious this morning and felt like making cheese biscuits, so, as usual, when I took them out of the very hot oven, the detector went off with a loud screech. At least I know it works. And the biscuits were good, but maybe not as good as Red Lobster!

But the sun is shining and it is a beautiful day! After doing some cleaning yesterday, I went over to the park and saw a tri-colored heron all huddled up looking very sad, an anhinga with wings outspread, drying, and an ibis in the water, looking for lunch. The maples have lost their leaves now, and the bare branches look very stark, as they are reflected in the water. It is good to see the seasons change even in Florida...just a little later than north of here. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 95
Come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us give a joyous shout to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come before him with thanksgiving.
Let us sing him psalms of praise.
For the Lord is a great God,
the great King above all gods,
He owns the depths of the earth,
and even the mightiest mountains are his.

The sea belongs to him, for he made it .
His hands formed the dry land, too.

Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
for He is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
the sheep under his care.

Oh, that you would listen to his voice today!
The Lord says, "Don't harden your hearts,
as Israel did at Meribah,
as they did at Massah in the wilderness.For there your ancestors tried my patience,
they courted my wrath though they had seen my many miracles.
For forty years I was angry with them and I said,
They are a people whose hearts turn away from me.
They refuse to do what I tell them
So in my anger I made a vow.
They will never enter my place of rest.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Loving One Another

2012-01-04T09:40:00.005-05:00

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 not rejoicing so much as I am trying not to shiver...I have the space heater going in the bedroom because it is always cooler in there than the rest of the house! But our cold wave will soon be over and temps will warm up again to the seventies by the next few days!

I was out and about yesterday and it was chilly but sunshiny and pleasant.

What a contrast in attendance at the Park between yesterday and Sunday! Hardly anybody there yesterday, but Sunday it was packed! The ( I think it is Koreans) had their annual gathering and the picnic shelter was full and overflowing with people listening to the speaker. The bridge was crowded with people looking over at the turtles and maybe gators and others were walking along the sidewalk. I saw lots of black turtles sunning on the weir and the gopher tortoise lumbering along by his tunnel. God is Good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 John 4:7

Dear Friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God---for God is love.

God showed how much he loves us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God-for God is love.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

A Stewardship Prayer

2011-12-22T08:15:00.004-05:00

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! Seems like the sun is a little reluctant to come up these mornings, but goes down too early. Can't get used to darkness at 5:30! This is my small rant about DST. I don't like it!

This will be my last Gator Bytes for a week or so, since I am looking forward to having Daryl and Matthew driving down from TN tomorrow night for Christmas and staying for a week afterwards. They will have warm weather while here if this warmth keeps up!

I have been trying to say out of crowds, which is pretty much impossible if you are out and about, but a man behind me in a store had a really bad cough and I really prayed for the germs not to touch me. I don't have that problem in the park...out in the open with lots of space around. The water is still very low but it doesn't seem to bother the birds and wildlife. I don't know where the squirrels get their water. I have an old Cool Whip container on my porch wall the birds and squirrels help themselves to. The bluejays are very possessive and keep the others away until they are satisfied. Then they hop in and with great splashing, wash and cool off. They are funny! Maybe I told you before, but I saw a bob-tailed squirrel in the park last week, and at first, I thought it was a bunny, but it didn't hop, just scampered about. Apparently, he got along fine without the tail! God is good!

From Hymns for the Family of God:

A Stewardship Prayer

Lord, we gather in comfort and security today, while many of Your children huddle in fear and die of starvation. We know that merely feeling guilty for our comfort does not minister to the needs of others. Lord, we want to be involved in helping and serving, and healing. Help us this day to gain more understanding, to feel more deeply the hurt of others, to come to new commitments of ourselves and our substance to You.

Amen -Gary W. Demarest-

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

Love and hugs and a very Merry Christmas to all!
Amaryllis

Open Up Your Heart

2011-12-20T09:53:00.009-05:00

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Another beautiful day waits for us to go and do! the Wind is blowing today, though, which makes the air feel cooler, but the sun is shining and will get up to seventies today. Beautiful!

While driving around Lynch Lake yesterday, in front of the newly finished Lynch School, I watched a couple of woodstorks by themselves, and across the lake another woodstork with a flock of ducks, the white contrasting with the black ducks. The woodstorks seem to really like Lynch Lake.

Later in the afternoon, I drove to the park, which was very quiet, and enjoyed the lengthening shadows, the moss hanging down and swaying in the breeze and a single white egret standing beside a tri-colored heron. God is good!

From the little devotional book Knowing God:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 NIV
If you want to know God in a more meaningful way, you'll need to open up your heart and let Him in. C. S. Lewis observed, "A person's spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God." If you hope to receive a full measure of God's spiritual blessings, you must invite your Creator to rule over your heart. When you honor God in this way, His love expands to fill your heart and bless your life.

St. Augustine wrote, "I love you, Lord, not doubtingly, but with absolute certainty. Your Word beat upon my heart until I fell in love with you, and now the universe and everything in it tells me to love you."

Today, open your heart to the Father. And let your obedience be a fitting response to His never-ending love.The truth of the Gospel is intended to free us to love God and others with our whole heart.
John Eldredge

-Great Thoughts-

You will trust God only as much as you love Him. And you will love him not because you have studied him; you will love him because you have touched him-in response to his touch.
Brennan Manning

Man was created by God to know and love Him in a permanent, personal relationship.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Luke 2:6-11

2011-12-19T09:20:00.004-05:00

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! Yesterday and today have been just perfect with bright blue skies and cool temps. It is good to get out the sweaters for a change in the mornings and shed them by noon, with many people in shorts no matter how cool it gets! Ah, St. Petersburg!!

Seen at the park over the weekend... a couple of gopher tortoises walking one in front of the other, and the same size and color, as I drove in, and black turtles sunning across the street on the bank of the weir. A flock of ibis in the canal, with the water very low and muddy banks showing.

Crowds of people with babies in strollers, kids on skateboards, older folks with walkers and canes and young people jogging...and on the way out, the same two gophers, only one had flipped over and was frantically trying to right himself. The man driving a pickup in front of me stopped and waved me by, so I asked him if he was going to turn him over and he said "Yes!". God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Luke 2:6-11
...And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.

That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. they were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: you will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God:

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors."

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Faith brings joy

2011-12-16T09:58:00.002-05:00

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 sky is mostly clear this morning and very bright blue, and the sun is shining nicely on the new roof coating, which is good!

Yesterday, instead of walking in the park, I did my walking in Home Depot. The scenery was quite different, but interesting and a favorite for contractors and diys. My friend, Terry, and I went there to get the coating for the flat roof, and then we came back and he set out to wash, blow dry and seal the shingles over the place where the leak happened. He worked about four or five hours, climbing up and down the ladder, then trimmed some branches off the oak trees in the backyard, and blew off everything. I am so blessed to have friends who do work for me! 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 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, and enjoy the fourth Sunday in Advent coming!
Amaryllis

God doesn't Change

2011-12-15T10:10:00.010-05:00

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 day started out with sunshine, but now it is a little overcast, but, hopefully, no rain until the flat roof gets repaired! The sunset was beautiful last night, with peach and yellow colors on the clouds..God was using his paintbrush again!

After a great lunch with two long time friends, I went to the park, where all was quiet and peaceful. The canal water level is really low, with lots of the muddy bank showing, but still enough water for the gators and anhingas to swim in. I had to almost stop to allow a squirrel to make up its mind about crossing the road.

I heard a cardinal tweeting its call outside the house after I came home, but could not see it. They are very nervous birds, never still for long, but always moving. God is good!

From the little devotional book, Knowing God:

John said, "Change your hearts and lives because the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matthew 3:2 NCV

We live in a world that is always changing, but we worship a God that never changes--thank goodness! That means that we can be comforted in the knowledge that our Heavenly Father is the rock that simply cannot be moved: "I am the Lord, I do not change." (Malachi 3:6 NKJV)

The next time you face difficult circumstances, tough times, unfair treatment, or unwelcome changes, remember that some things never change--things like the love that you feel in your heart for your family and friends...and the love that God feels for you. So instead of worrying too much about life's inevitable challenges, focus your energies on finding solutions. Have faith in your own abilities, do your best to solve your problems, and leave the rest up to God.

With God, it isn't who you were that matters; it's who you are becoming.
Liz Curtis Higgs.

Conditions are always changing; therefore, I must not be dependent upon conditions. What matters supremely is my soul and my relationship to God.
-Corrie Ten Boom-

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

Deal With It!

2011-12-14T09:48:00.007-05:00

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 sunshine already this morning, even though the air feels a little cool. Very pleasant for people who work outdoors..

Speaking of outdoors, I saw the big gator lounging on the bank of the lake yesterday. He had turned around, so his nose was facing the water. Do you suppose this is where the expression "lounge lizard" came from? :o) Anyway, as I drove further, I saw a car on the wrong side of the street, and saw the driver was looking at a large soft shell turtle right at the edge of the drive. Then, as I rounded the curve, another soft shell was on the grass, waiting for a chance to cross. For some reason they were on the move! I saw one egret in a tree overlooking the water, and a couple ibis below it, pecking along the water. It was a beautiful place to be! God is good!

From the devotional Quiet Moments with God:

"Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath." Ephesians 4:26 KJV

One of the most controversial events in America occurred when Bernard Goetz had had enough and decided he wasn't going to take it any more. He did what many people have wanted to do--he fought back and pulled a gun when he was attacked on the subway.

Goetz's action received an outpouring of support. He touched a nerve in people who have simply had enough of other people threatening their lives. Criticism comes, however, when we allow guns in the hands of angry, violent people. As Christians, anger can be a terrible enemy.

The beginnings of anger almost go unnoticed: petty irritations, ordinary frustrations, minor aggravations--things we experience daily. Then these small things start adding up. Pressures build and turn into rage. Without relief, pent-up anger can turn violent, with devastating consequences.

How do we keep our passions from becoming uncontrolled anger? How do we defuse the anger that makes us want to retaliate?....

There are several things we can do to take control of our anger before it takes control of us:

1. Yell at God first! He already knows you're upset.

2. Ask God to give you understanding about the situation, to show you the root of your anger, if that's the case.

3. Turn the situation over to God. Forgive those who have hurt you, and let Him deal with them. Turn His power loose in the circumstances.

4. Don't do anything without having complete inner peace from His Spirit.

Then you can sleep easily at night, knowing God can turn anything around to work for your good.

CONTROL YOURSELF! ANGER IS ONLY ONE LETTER SHORT OF DANGER!
author unknown

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

A Hint of Eternity

2011-12-13T09:36:00.007-05:00

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 sunshine in the afternoon yesterday, we have overcast skies again today, but they may clear up again and once again, we will be having very warm weather.

After the estimator came to look at my flat roof, I went on over to the park and looked for the big gator again. He was there, but partially submerged, so only the fat middle part was showing, A brave, little moorhen was swimming around him, very unconcerned. Across the street a couple turtles were sunning themselves on the weir, but no ibis. This is leaf falling time and maple leaves are all over at the park, with the boardwalk pretty much covered and oak leaves are falling here at home. I swept up a big pile from the front porch, but more will be falling today in the wind which has picked up. But, God is good!

From Quiet Moments with God:

We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen, is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18

Eternity is a difficult concept for us to grasp. In human terms, it seems a matter of time---or more accurately, timelessness. But eternity is more than a measure of time. Things said to be "eternal" have a quality of permanence. The benefits of eternal things are not found solely in the hereafter; they provide an incredible sense of satisfaction in this life as well.

The late Lorado Taft, on of America's great artists, often said that a real work of art must have in it "a hint of eternity." The writer of Ecclesiastes says that God has not only made everything beautiful, but also He has set eternity in the hearts of people. When we do a good peice of work, whether it is part of our vocation or not, we may find in it a hint of eternity, the abiding value that outlasts silver or gold.

Daniel Webster, one of America's most famous statesmen, once said;

If we work on marble, it will perish,; if on brass time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work on immortal souls and imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and love of our fellowmen, we engrave on those tablets something that will brighten to all eternity.

Ascending to the top of one of the magnificent stairways in the Library of Congress, one reads this inscription on the wall" "Too low they build who build beneath the stars."

In building your life, build with God for eternity. In building the Church build to the glory of Jesus Christ for the salvation of soul.

Ask the Lord to show you this evening how to make your life and effort count for eternity. Pray for an awareness of eternity as you face every decision and task each day.

If we build to please ourselves we are building on the sand.
If we build for the love of God, we are building on the rick.
Oswald Chambers

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 63

2011-12-12T09:45:00.001-05:00

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the foggy day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! The air is misty and damp, but once this burns off, it will probably be in the high seventies or low eighties! Ahh, Christmas in Florida! No snow, for sure!

Yesterday, after church I drove to the park, and noticed several ibis sitting on the weir, looking very downcast. This is strange, because I almost never see them sitting. They are always moving and pecking. And I looked across at the lake and sure enough, the big, fat gator was back on the bank. I have been looking for him every day and thought he had moved on. He is about 8-10 ft. long and very wide in the middle. Must be a grandpa to many gators around there. I went on down to see the rest of the park and saw quite a few people enjoying the sun and looking over the bridge at the small gators. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 63:1-8

O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory,
Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself;
how I praise you!
I will honor you as long as I live,
lifting my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest of foods.
I will praise you with songs of joy.

I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
I think how much you have helped me;
I sing for joy in the shadow of your protecting wings.
I follow close behind you,
your strong right hand holds me securely...

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

2011-12-09T09:22:00.005-05:00

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 and the cool breezes blowing, but it is about twenty degrees warmer than yesterday at this time. So the cold spell was short lived, just as the weather guys said it would be.

I looked up in the sky yesterday and saw a beautiful pattern of dozens of contrails criss-crossing the blue, blue sky. Just took my breath away! It was a gorgeous day!

After doing some shopping, I went to the park and got out to walk on the bridge. I had seen a very wet anhinga just emerging from the water to climb up on the weir with a fish to eat, so drove on down to look at the gopher tortoise. When I got on the bridge, I looked for the gators that usually hang out there in the water, and sure enough, the young one was at the far end and started moving as I watched him. He went a little ways, then turned his head and scratched with his hind leg. I had never seen one do that before! I didn't know they itched. I had almost given up looking for the little one, but all at once I spotted him flat out on a branch sticking out of the water...eyes closed, totally relaxed with legs hanging down. So funny! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT! (and my paraphrase)

Psalm 23
Thank you, Lord, for being my shepherd;
Thank you for giving me everything I need.
Thank you for letting me rest in green meadows;
and for leading me beside peaceful streams.
Thank you that you renew my strength.
Thank you for guiding me along right paths,
so I can bring honor to your name.

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death,
I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Thank you for preparing a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You welcome me as a guest anointing my head with oil.
You make my cup overflow with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love
will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in your house forever.
Amen

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 133

2011-12-08T09:23:00.000-05:00

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the chilly day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! My indoor/outdoor thermometer says 48 right now, and the furnace is doing its job of keeping the house warm. I have not used the fireplace, yet, and probably won't until the Tenn. part of the family comes. That is, if it is cold enough.

I was disappointed with the rain yesterday, because my flat roof is still not fixed. I am hoping no more water seeped into the leak. I am not expecting an estimate until Monday. Wish he could have come sooner,.

I did not leave the house yesterday., By the time I got laundry done and chores around the house, it had started raining, so I settled in for a cup of tea and relaxing for the rest of the afternoon. And, BTW, I read that the acorns only fall in abundance every five to seven years, so last year was the big one, because millions fell, and this year , hardly any. Very interesting. I never new that. But the squirrels are certainly not starving, nor the blue jays. Yes, I have seen them with large acorns in their beaks.
God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 133

How wonderful it is, how pleasant,
when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron's head,
that ran down his beard,
and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life forevermore.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 149

2011-12-07T10:13:00.003-05:00

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! While it is a beautiful day today, cold weather is on the way and so this morning I stripped the bed and put a flannel sheet on the bottom, so I can be warmer tonight. I am not a person who likes cold sheets!

Yesterday was shopping day. I was gone about two hours enjoying shopping and thinking about Christmas gifts for various people. I have already ordered some by phone, so a lot is done. I had a fun time with the manager at CVS, because I had taken a rusty, very squeaky cart in from outside because it was the only one left besides a bent one. He was working on a display and I guess he could not stand the squeak, because he started to joke about me not being able to hide where I was. He asked if that was the only cart, and I told him about the bent one, so he went outside while I squeaked my way on back, and in he came, running with a non-squeaky cart. I finished my shopping and walked up behind him and he said he didn't hear me. I told him I snuck up on him, and we had a good laugh.

After I had my lunch, I went to the park and saw two gopher tortoises at their different homes, and a few people walking around. Then I drove on to Cartek and had a rear brake lamp installed by Ray. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 149
Praise the Lord!

'Sing to the Lord a new song.
Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.
O Israel, rejoice in your Maker.
O people of Jerusalem, exult in your king.
Praise his name with dancing,
accompanied by tambourine and harp.
For the Lord delights in his people;
he crowns the humble with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in this honor.
Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds.
Let the praises of God be in their mouths
and a sharp sword in their hands--
to execute vengeance on the nations,
and punishment on the peoples.
To bind their kings with shackles
and their leaders with iron chains,
to execute the judgment written against them.
This is the glory of his faithful ones.
Praise the Lord!

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Paul's final advice

2011-12-06T09:12:00.002-05:00

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 is another beautiful clear day with cool temps this morning, and like yesterday, warming up to about 80 this afternoon! Ah, Christmas in Florida!

I already had a visit from the Circulation Mgr. of the Times this morning, She called yesterday to check on my delivery, because I had requested the paper be placed on the porch and it took nine calls to get it to happen. Even now, sometimes, it is thrown under the azaleas, and one time was on the roof! However, I told her it had pretty consistently, been placed on the porch for the past week, but she wanted to check for herself. It was thoughtful of her...

As I drove around Lynch Lake yesterday, I was amused to see a pair of woodstorks, one lying down in the grass, and the other standing beside it. I rarely see two together like that, and never scrunched down, resting. I went on to the park and noticed that the water is way down, and the muddy banks are showing. Several black turtles were sunning on the banks of the weir and a small flock of ibis were further down in the canal. Didn't see so many squirrels, though. But, as always, God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Thessalonians 5:12

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work. And remember to live peaceably with each other.

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from eveery kind of evil.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God, who calls you, is faithful, he will do this.

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

Guidance

2011-12-05T10:08:00.018-05:00

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 clouds have blown away and now lots of sunshine and breezes and temps going up in the seventies today! Beautiful weather!

I was so engrossed in the story Pastor Jim was relating about his experience in seeing a nativity set over a strip club in W.Palm Beach some years ago, that I forgot it was communion Sunday until the end of his true story yesterday. It just shows God is everywhere!

As I came home from church I stopped in the driveway to watch an egret at the edge of the yard, stretching to investigate a bush, looking for a tasty morsel, I guess. They are so graceful and beautiful. After lunch I went to the park and was interested in people watching;

Scenes from Sawgrass:

A group of young adults gathered in the street...one with a camera and tripod.

A lady in a white ankle-length dress and four inch heels walking a dog.

Young mothers pushing strollers and carrying backpacks.

A young couple being very affectionate under an oak tree. (They were standing.)

More dog walkers in the middle of the street.

Squirrels scampering around a car, hoping for a handout.

As Louis Armstrong sang, "What a wonderful world."

God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

How can I be sure God will guide me?

Psalm 32:8 The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."

Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Luke 12:6-7 What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.
Jesus gives this promise to all his followers. If God values the littlest things of his creation, how much more must he value us for whom he gave his own precious Son. When we are anxious or concerned, we need to remind ourselves that God does indeed care about us and is watching over us.

Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope".

God is always seeking the best future for us. There are times that we delay it through our disobedience, but when we come back to God, he is always ready to give us his best.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Jesus, the Light of the World

2011-12-02T09:50:00.009-05:00

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Another chilly morning, but warming up today, lots of sunshine and that north wind blowing again. I started shivering during the night, and got up to put another blanket on the bed, til I was toasty.

The yard looks good for awhile, because my yard man came yesterday, and not only picked up all the branches, but put up the outside Christmas lights and then inspected my flat roof trying to discern where the leak is coming from. If God keeps the rain away for another week, I will have it fixed. After I made him and myself lunch, I took off shopping and got a good walk in at the Neighborhood Market. As I came out, I stopped to put a donation in the Salvation Army bucket. A little ways away, there was a lottery tent and giveaways and people were swarming to buy tickets. I told the bellringer that it was too bad the money was going to the lottery instead of his bucket, where it would do more good.

After I got home I went to the park, where a lot of people were enjoying the cool, sunshiny weather, walking dogs and just enjoying the outdoors. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

John 8:12-20
Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."
The Pharisees replied, "You are making false claims about yourself!" Jesus told them, "These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don't know this about me. You judge me with all your human limitations, but I am not judging anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone--I have with me the Father who sent me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other." "Where is your father?" they asked. Jesus answered, "Since you don't know who I am, you don't know who my Father is. If you knew me, then you would know my Father, too." Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time has not yet come.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

A call to Persevere

2011-11-30T10:15:00.004-05:00

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 kind of overcast today with high thin clouds, and a very cool wind blowing. The cold snap definitely came in last night, so I have the heat on for a little while.

I made up for staying home out of the rain, Monday, by running lots of errands yesterday. After an hour and a half in the dentist's chair for my six month cleaning, x-rays, and gum check, I was tired of lying down for such a long time, and glad to go! I have a very nice hygienist who has a five month old baby girl. The last time I saw her, she was ready to take maternity leave, but now, she is back at work with pics of her family on the wall.

So, that chore over, I went home to have lunch and then did the rest of my running around, which included a drive to the park. Everything looked refreshed after the rain and lots of people were out. I have mentioned before how the squirrels were gathered under one of the oak trees...well, there is now a sign there, telling people that for the health of the little critters, they should not be fed. Aha! So that was why they were gathered there! I did not see the usual anhingas, egrets or ibises, so it must have been the wrong time of day, but God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Hebrews 10:25
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by means of his death for us.

And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's people, let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

The Magnificat: Mary's Song of Praise

2011-11-29T09:34:00.012-05:00

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! Yesterday's rain has passed through and today we have sunshine and a much cooler breeze. I did not leave the house at all because of wet weather and there was really no reason to get out in it. However, I have a dental appointment this morning, so I will have to go clear across town right near the Mall. I don't look forward to that!

So when I went out in the garage and looked out, I saw the tiny wrens that come down from the north each winter. They were flitting about on the ground and in and out of the hibiscus next door. They are smaller than canaries and brown, and they have a tiny chirp, when they are talking with each other. Very cute. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Luke 1:47-55

Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed. For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me. His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear him. His mighty arm does tremendous things! How he scatters the proud and haughty ones! He has taken princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. And how he has helped his servant Israel! He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful. For he promised our ancestors - Abraham and his children - to be merciful to them forever.

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

Paul's Thanksgiving and Prayer

2011-11-28T10:04:00.004-05:00

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 hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are now looking forward to celebrating the birth of our Lord!

As I said before, Brian and I went to Dunnellon to be with family, and had a joyful time of catching up and eating too much! We had a perfect day, with no clouds in the sky at all as we made good time on the Suncoast Parkway. Very little traffic, and a few people biking, jogging or walking on the Suncoast Trail.

Then Brian took me out to dinner yesterday at the Collonnade (sp) in Tampa, because it was my and Louis' 64th wedding anniversary. Or would have been...

I got to the park a couple times over the weekend, and saw that the outside mowing crew mowed a lot of territory that they have neglected for a year, and it certainly looks better! Just as I mentioned a few days ago, that I had not seen any woodstorks at the park, sure enough, one was standing on the weir, near the anhinga that is usually there! Lots of people were there, Saturday, quite a few walking down the middle of the road, totally oblivious to the cars, including me, wanting to get around them. I was polite and did not toot the horn.

I got to watch the Broncos/Chargers game yesterday and cheered when Tim Tebow took the team, in overtime, close enough so the kicker could get a field goal to win the game! The best part was watching Tim kneel to pray and then give thanks after the win! What a witness! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Philippians 1:3-11

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been my pratners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work util it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes gack again.

It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

Now Thank Thee All our God

2011-11-23T09:35:00.004-05:00

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Looks like we have some rain coming in about noon today, but tomorrow should be good for Thanksgiving!

And because of that special day, this will be short this morning and I will take the day off tomorrow. Brian and I will be going out of town to join family in celebrating and eating too much!

From Hymns for the Family of God:

Now thank we all our God
with hearts and hands and voices.
Who wondrous things has done,
In whom His world rejoices.

Who from our mother's arms,
Hath blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given.
The Son, and Him who reigns
With them in highest heaven.

The one eternal God,
Whom earth and heaven adore.
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be ever more. Amen

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

Love and hugs and Happy Thanksgiving,
Amaryllis

Jesus' prayer of Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T10:01:00.004-05:00

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 hope some or all of you were able to view the sunrise this morning! It was a beautiful pink as the clouds were stretched across the eastern sky! Painted as only God can! I still have the A/C on as it continues to be warm and humid, but soon the cool weather will return.

Yesterday, I visited the Sweetbay super market on 4th St. where massive remodeling is going on. I thought it would probably be the least crowded of all the markets and it was. A couple cashiers were open with lines, so I went to one at the beginning where she was not doing anything, and got checked out right away. After she told me my total I asked if I could add 10 dollars to feed a family for a day. This is a program that they have going for Thanksgiving and Christmas. She seemed flustered and had to collect her thoughts to reach for the package and scan it, so apparently, they are not pushing the program much. This is too bad because it is very little to give.

After that, I went to the park and enjoyed the peacefulness, away from traffic and people. A couple of turtles were sunning on the bank of the weir, and an egret was standing near a lily pad watching for lunch to swim by. Since school is out, a couple of children were there on bikes and several families were starting out for a walk. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Matthew 11:25-30
Then Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Belonging

2011-11-21T09:46:00.007-05:00

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Another cool morning and a warm afternoon in store for us. Actually, my yard and staghorn fern could use some water. Guess I will have to use the hose sometime when I don't mind getting all wet, because it leaks.

Heard a good sermon yesterday and then drove through the park on the way back home. A flock of ibis was by Lynch Lake on my way to church along with one lone woodstork, with feathers all ruffled from the wind. At the park, lots of people were hanging over the bridge rail looking at the gator, always hanging around there. He is growing up right in plain sight. Also, a lady was standing right in front of one of the gopher holes, apparently looking at him. I guess they are quite unusual to our northern visitors.

I missed the chili dinner at church last night, because I took a nap and woke up too late to take the chili and go. As a result I have a lot of white chicken chili left over, which is pretty tasty! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Belonging

What happens to those who belong to God?

Isaiah 26:19
We have this assurance; Those who belong to God will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For God's light of life will fall like dew on his people in the place of the dead!

Belonging to God is an eternal relationship, not merely for this world, but for the world to come. The grave is not the last chapter, merely the transitional one.

John 15:9-17 I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. You are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me, I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for using my name. I command you to love each other.

When we belong to God we belong to each other. Jesus' command to love is rooted in his promise of love for us. The fact that we belong to Jesus compels us to love one another. As friends of God we are responsible to all our fellow believers.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Joy

2011-11-18T09:40:00.004-05:00

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, sure enough, our one day cool front is here, but will soon move out and we will have warm weather clear through to Thanksgiving, so we enjoy the change while we can!

I had an appointment with my cardiologist yesterday, whose office is attached to the St. Anthony's complex. They have finally finished the outside of the new ER and other rooms enough so that the regular route to the office is now open, after months of driving through a maze to get to it! The new addition still has finish work to do on the inside, but is already landscaped on the grounds. Nice!

After waiting thirty minutes in the waiting room (I always bring a book),I was taken back to the examining room and, surprisingly, only waited five mins. for the doctor to come in. He's a talker and I have to interrupt him to tell him anything or ask any questions, but he is tops in his field and has interesting stories to tell. BTW, I checked out ok.

It was late when I left, so I went to the park when the shadows were long, and the sun was brilliant setting in the west...not good driving. The gopher was still sitting on his front porch, in the same position as Wed. and the squirrels were gathered under the same oak. Sometimes it seems like time stands still there, although everything is constantly moving. Then I drove to Wendy's and ordered a Jr. cheeseburger and small salad. When I got home, I discovered no burger, but the salad. So, I got in the car and drove back to Wendy's where they were very apologetic and gave me a free Frosty because of the mistake. I actually thought it was my fault, because I assumed both items were in the same bag, but they simply forgot to give the burger to me. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

How can I be joyful in hard times?

Habakkuk 3:17-18 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.

Philippians 4:4,12 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again---rejoice!...I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
Joy is a choice. We may not realize it, but we choose our moods and our attitudes. God's promises in Christ are the basis for choosing joy no matter what we face.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Teaching About Giving to the Needy

2011-11-17T10:06:00.004-05:00

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! When I stepped outside this morning, there was a peculiar light to the sky, almost yellowish, so I knew something was going to happen with the weather, Sure enough, when I turned on the TV, I saw the long line of showers that was moving toward us, bringing cooler air behind it. So I was hoping for a downpour, but instead, we had a very short rain and water is still dripping off the roof, but the rain looks to be over. The clouds are breaking up and it looks like a nice day coming up.

My ladies came to clean house yesterday afternoon, and they are always fun to be with and catch up on the neighborhood news! One likes to talk and the other likes to clean, but they make a good team together. I enjoy them and enjoy the way the house looks when they finish. Cheryl is a caregiver at heart, and always reminds me to lock the door when they leave.

I went to the park yesterday and saw a couple turtles clinging to the side of the weir, and further down, the large gopher tortoise was crouched outside his tunnel home, watching the world go by. Not many people were out, but the busy squirrels certainly were. they are getting fat and sassy! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Matthew 6:1-4
"Take care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to someone in need, don't shout about it as the hypocrites do---blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone, don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father who knows all secrets, will reward you.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Discernment

2011-11-16T09:25:00.004-05:00

Good morning, dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Another overcast day with fog, I guess, although not visible around here. This was how yesterday started, but it got up in the lower eighties by afternoon. So warm, in fact, that I turned on the A/C for awhile. Changeable weather!

I had to take the van to Ray at Cartek in the morning, because the button on my ac blower decided not to stay on, and even though this is Nov., the car still gets warm. So after taking time, to look up the problem, he showed me how to make it stay on and didn't have to work on the car. I am blessed to have a good mechanic who knows what he is doing and is reliable!

I drove to the car wash, but discovered I didn't have the right change, so came on back home to the park and observed the peace and quiet. I had seen a woodstork by Lynch Lake preening his feathers, but saw just the ibis and squirrels at the park. I think I have only seen one woodstork there, for some reason. The trees are shedding and seem to be getting ready for winter to come, when all will be a grayish color, because the greenery will mostly be gone. A time for sleeping ....God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

When I am confused, where do I turn for clarity, wisdom, understanding, and direction?

James 1:5-8 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.

Psalm 119:125 Give discernment to me, your servant, then I will understand your decrees.
Discernment is the ability to interpret events and to understand the true nature of people and situations. Discernment is an aspect of wisdom. It enables us to see behind the facades that mask the truth. Discernment shows us the way through the maze of options that face us. Like the sun that burns away the fog, discernment cuts through confusion and distractions. Whereas the devil is the "father of lies", God is the father of the truth, and he gives discernment to those who seek it.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

When the Path is Dark

2011-11-15T09:18:00.003-05:00

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! No sunshine this morning, because of fog, but that usually means a very warm day, later on.

Yesterday, in the late afternoon, I went to the park and walked out on the bridge to check on the gators. Sure enough, they were hanging in the water...the three footer and the smaller one closer together and at the other end of the bridge the small one was almost invisible in the lily pads. I watched an anhinga swallowing a fish, which was very visible going down his long neck. I have often wondered is the fish tickles when it gets to the craw or wherever it goes inside the bird. Probably it is better not to think about the eventual demise. But God means for everything in creation to have a purpose and I guess the fishes is to feed the anhinga. I saw a lot of ripples, but could not tell if they were turtles or something else. It was a very warm afternoon, so I avoided the sun as much as possible, and walked a ways in the shade. It was a good walk and God is good!

From the little devotional book Knowing God:

Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
Micah 7:8 HCSB

Doubts come in several shapes and sizes: doubts about God, doubts about the future, and doubts about our own abilities, for starters. But when doubts creep in, as they will from time to time, we need not despair. As Sheila Walsh observed, "To wrestle with God does not mean that we have lost faith, but that we are fighting for it."

God never leaves our side, not for an instant. He is always with us, always willing to calm the storms of life. When we sincerely seek His presence-and when we genuinely seek to establish a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Him--God is prepared to touch our hearts, to calm our fears, to answer oiur doubts, and to restore oiur confidence.

-Great Thoughts-
Struggling with God over the issues of life doesn't show a lack of faith-that is faith.
Lee Strobel

Doubting may temporarily disturb, but will not permanently destroy, your faith in Christ.
Charles Swindoll

-Today's Prayer-

Dear God, sometimes this world can be a puzzling place, filled with uncertainty and doubt. When I am unsure of my next step, keep me mindful that You are always near and that you can overcome any challenge. Give me faith, Father, and let me remember always that with Your love and Your power, I can live courageously and faithfully today and every day. Amen.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 112

2011-11-14T10:03:00.008-05:00

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 a string of cool, warm days. Good for the visitors and good for us natives!

I visited the park yesterday and it was packed! Some group was having a meeting under the shelter and I waited for a three wheeled motorcycle to back into a space. It was really packed with a lot of traveling equipment, but I couldn't see the tag to see where he was from. John, the Ranger, was holding court under the first shelter talking to patrons, which is what he likes to do. He is a real people person. The squirrels were hanging out by all the cars parked in the circle, looking for handouts, which they have gotten used to. I think they wouldn't need much encouragement to hop in the cars, if invited. :o) God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 112:1-5

Happy are those who fear the Lord.
Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands.
Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will never be forgotten.
When darkness overtakes the godly,
light will come bursting in.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
All goes well for those who are generous,
who lend freely and conduct their business fairly.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T09:28:00.009-05:00

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Brrr! It is finally chilly! The wind is blowing, making the fifties seem a lot colder. When I went out at daylight to put the flag up, the wind caught it before I really had it in the holder! People are wearing coats at the outdoor services commemorating Veteran's Day today.

Well, I have more information about the incident that brought out the Sheriff's Deputies to Sawgrass Monday. It seems that a couple of patrons got into a shoving match, because one was feeding the gators (illegal) and the other objected. I have often wanted to say something , but kept quiet because you never know what the reaction will be!

Also, Dave C. the Park Ranger who does my yard, said there were about ten complaints of squirrels biting people who didn't feed them, so he and another ranger took a walk with traps and got about six to relocate them to Weedon Island. It always seems such a peaceful place on the surface, but much is going on behind the scenes, so to speak. God is good!

Psoaring thru Psalm 82 NLT:

God presides over heaven's court:
he pronounces judgment on the judges:
How long will you judges hand down unjust decisions?
How long will you shower special favors on the wicked?

Give fair treatment to the poor and orphan;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.
Rescue the poor and helpless;
deliver them from the grasp of evil people.

But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant!
And because they are in darkness,
the whole world is shaken to the core.
I say, "You are gods and children of the most High.
But in death you are mere men.
You will fall as any prince, for all must die.

Rise up, O God, and judge the earth,
for all the nations belong to you.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Prayer of Concern for Others

2011-11-10T09:31:00.013-05:00

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 another beautiful day with the cold front creeping closer, so we will probably have a reason to wear sweaters in the next couple days.

I hope many of you stepped outside or had occasion to see the gorgeous full moon and Jupiter right beside it in the night sky last evening. It was just awesome! No one can outdo God when it comes to putting on a heavenly show! I am thankful for eyes to see!

I drove out to Bay Pines Cemetery yesterday to visit Louis' grave and was surprised to see a lot of construction going on. I read in the Times that a program will be held there tomorrow, but I was wondering how that will be handled, because the entrance road is torn up and the old office building is torn down and a new one being built. There is a substitute road made for a new entrance and exit, so I was able to go back to the section I was headed for. Everything was so peaceful and the grass was freshly cut. I was the only one there for a few minutes, until some people drove up saying they were having a funeral later that afternoon and asking directions as to where they should go. I directed them back to the temporary office, so I hope everything went well with them. I arranged the flowers I brought and put them in the container provided, so they should stay fresh for several days. It was a good visit. God is good!

This is from Hymns For the Family of God:

Prayer of Concern for Others

Father, help me to talk like a Christian:
to speak in such a way that I build up another person's confidence in himself, instead of tearing down his reputation.

Father, help me to drive like a Christian:
to be watchful and careful lest I cause harm to someone else on the highways.

Father, help me to give like a Christian;
without thought of return, without anyone knowing what I do, and with Your approval as sufficient reward.

Father, Help me to dress like a Christian:
by not attracting attention to myself for being too fashionable or too casual; and help me to show by my appearance that I want people to know me for what I am inside myself.

Father, help me to sleep like a Christian
at peace with myself because sin is forgiven; and at peace with others because I do not allow my anger to last through a day.

Father, help me to eat like a Christian;
to eat healthily, to eat moderately, to eat gratefully, giving thanks to you who provide my food, and for the one who prepares my food.

Father, keep me from being so pious that I keep You out of the practical areas or life. Be with me when I am alone, and when I shed my inhibitions, lest in those moments I cancel out all that I seem to be when I'm on my best behavior.

Father, I ask this because I follow a Master who was never guilty of the slightest wrong doing, and who always showed His love in the small details of living. Amen.
Bryan Jeffery Leech

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

God's Plan

2011-11-09T09:46:00.009-05:00

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 will be a day like yesterday....cool start and warm finish, but then comes another cold front, so tomorrow night we will finally have a big change and I may have to turn the furnace on for the first time this year!

I got some good walking yesterday when I visited the Neighborhood Walmart store. All in all, it was a good shopping experience. Not many people in the store and they had everything I wanted and then some! I had seen a segment on the local news yesterday of some of the weird things and people that happen in Walmart stores, featuring the manager of the local superstore. Unbelievable what some people will do in public!

So, after that I put away the groceries and drove to the park to see what was going on. On the way there, I saw the ever present woodstorks and ibis around Lynch Lake. But just as I got through the gate at the park, a crowd of people, with cars parked along the road, were gathered at the lake on the right, looking at a large gator. He hasn't been there in quite a
while, but, until he sank from all the onlookers, he really thrilled a lot of people. I can't blame them, because I never lose my excitement over seeing them in the wild. God is good!

From the devotional book Quiet Moments with God:

Genesis 2:15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

Thomas Edison, probably the greatest inventor in history, once said, "I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun."

He changed the lives of millions with his inventions of the electric light and the phonograph. He also helped perfect the motion picture, the telephone, and the electric generator. Edison patented more tha 1100 inventions in sixty years.

What was the secret of his success? He defined it himself as "1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration," Perhaps Edison's greatest contribution to modern society was his attitude toward work.

Have you ever thought about the fact that God worked? After He had completed His Creation work in six days, He rested on the seventh. Some people think work was a condemnation upon human beings after Adam's sin. But work was part of Adam's life from the very beginning. God created Adam in His image, and He placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate His creation.

Work has its rewards and laziness its consequences. The ant is a good worker. It busily gathers food for the winter without anyone giving a command. In like manner we are to initiate work ourselves and do our best. Paul reminds us not to grow weary of doing good. Work may not always be fun, but it is essential and gives us a sense of accomplishment that nothing else can bring.

Now I wake me up to work,
I pray thee, Lord, I will not shirk.
And if You should come tonight,
I pray You'll find my work's all right.

It is our best work that God wants, not the dregs of our exhaustion. I think he must prefer quality to quantity.
Gordon MacDonald

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

Amaryllis

Roamin' thru Romans 8

2011-11-08T09:58:00.003-05:00

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Another bright sunshiny day with cool temps now, but warming up again this afternoon. Just perfect weather!

I did laundry yesterday and still have closets to clean out..seems like I have a lot more clothes than I really need, and I have already eliminated bags and bags of clothes. It takes time..

But I took time to go to the park after running a few errands, and saw just one black turtle sunning himself on the bank of the weir. Not many people were out in the middle of the day, but a flock of ibis, and a beautiful egret fishing were admired by me. I think the egrets look so Florida when standing against the greens and grays of the woods and muddy banks. They look like a postcard. The young gators are still hanging around the entrance bridge. They seem to like it there.

I don't know what was going on at the park, but two sheriff's deputy cars were parked outside the office and the Ranger's SUV came in just as I was leaving. Guess I will hear about it from Dave, the yard man. But, God is still in control and He is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 8

For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying , for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

A letter from John

2011-11-07T09:25:00.002-05:00

Good Morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Another cool, sunshiny morning in a string of beautiful days! The weather was perfect for the airfest at MacDill over the weekend. At one time, it sounded like one of the jets flew directly over the house, but was going so fast, it only lasted a few seconds and then the sound was gone I should have gone to Gandy beach to see if I could catch sight of the Thunderbirds as they flew over the air show. Oh, well, maybe another time...

For the first time, I saw a woodstork standing in the water in Lynch Lake. They are always standing on the bank, looking sad, but this time, he was in the water up to his ankles. Well, I guess he has ankles. I hardly ever see any at the park, for some reason, but maybe they are not fast enough to escape the small gators.

I had to stop and wait for several ducks to cross over the street, because, as numerous as they are, people still protect them. We had two of them hanging around this meighborhood for a week or two, but they finally moved on. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

2 John (written to the chosen lady and her children)

May grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God our Father and from Jesus Christ his Son, be with us who live in truth and love.

How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.

And now I want to urge you, dear lady, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

Many deceivers have gone out into the world. They do not believe that Jesus Christ came to earth in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out, so that you do not lose the prize for which we have been working so hard. Be diligent so that you will receive your full reward. For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God. But if you continue in the teaching of Christ, you will have fellowship with both the Father and the Son.

If someone comes to your meetings and does not teach the truth about Christ, don't invite him into your house or encourage him in any way. Anyone who encourages him becomes a partner in his evil work.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Love

2011-11-04T09:12:00.004-04:00

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 an overcast morning with showers which I did not expect. Maybe I didn't pay attention to the forecast last night, but it is still a good day.

Yesterday was another in a string of beautiful days with lots of sunshine. After getting a workout at a supermarket, just walking around, I went to the park and the gators are still attracting attention at the entrance bridge. This is the time of year that they are moving and having babies...well, laying eggs, anyway.

The crazy little squirrels were racing back and forth in front of the car, and I even stopped for one, but should have known that he was already across the street! They are fast! I also saw some black turtles sunning on the bank of the weir. There was evidence on the boardwalk where the raccoons had their potty station. Many berries! :o). I heard the hawk again but couldn't spot it in the trees. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Corinthians 13

If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth, but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. 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 refoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear...

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

Looking back

2011-11-03T09:50:00.007-04:00

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Another cool morning with a warm afternoon coming up;, another in a string of days when the heat or A/C is not needed. Wonderful! We wait for this weather all summer, and it finally comes!

I just puttered around the house yesterday, ironing, laundry and various other things until my cleaning ladies came. They called from Dunkin' Donuts and asked if I wanted one of their coffee drinks. I told Cheryl I would rather have a pumpkin muffin, since I am not a coffee drinker, so they brought me a pumpkin muffin and a pumpkin donut, which I didn't know they had! I ate the donut with them, and then saved the muffin which is huge!

I had a call from David, my yard man, and his truck won't be repaired until Monday or Tuesday, so he said he would bring in heavy equipment to do the yard, since it hasn't been mowed for three or four weeks. I had to laugh, because it isn't that bad!
So, God is good!

From the devotional book, Quiet Moments with God:

When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
Psalm 4:4
We all know the story of the movie It's a Wonderful Life. George Bailey's Uncle Billy loses eight thousand dollars on the day the bank examiner shows up, and George is frantic. In despair, he goes home and looks at his house and family with discouraged eyes. He decides he is a failure at Business, his child is sick, his house is all but coming down around his ears--why not just put an end to his life?

Thank God for Clarence! Through a series of events, this angel without wings shows George how much his life has meant to his family and friends. Without George, his brother, Harry, would be dead; Mr. Gower, the druggist, would be in prison; his wife would be a frightened old maid; and Bedford Falls would be known as Pottersville---a town as mean and miserable as its namesake.

When George Bailey took an honest look at his life, he could see that despite all the disappointments, there were more than enough triumphs to balance the scales. He had done the best he could, and that had brought tremendoous blessing to his family, friends, and community.

Have you had a similar crisis of conscience, a moment when you wondered if your life was worth anything? Take note of these words from Bishop thomas Wilson, and ask yourself these questions at the close of each day:

What good am I doing in the world?

Am I bringing up my children to fear God?

Have I been kind and helpful to poor and needy people?

Have I been honest in all my dealings?

Have I lived in the fear of God and worshipped Him both publicly and privately?

The wisest thing to do is keep short accounts. Take stock of your life often. Don't wait for the closing chapter to decide how your book will end!

How boundless is that volume which God hath written of the world! Every creature is a letter. Every day a new page.
Joseph Hale

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Colossians

2011-11-02T10:08:00.006-04:00

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 another beautiful day with sun shining and very cool air. I will probably walk again today, since it felt so good yesterday, but I was really dragging by evening.

I did not expect to walk but after running some errands, I went to the park, and got out my old gnarly, walking stick, and decided to start out, at least across the bridge. At the same time, a couple of tourists came up and were taking pics of a couple of ibis, then the man remarked about my walking stick and admired it, and asked what kind of bird the ibis was. I walked on to the bridge and was looking for the gators when the Ranger came up and I asked about Dave, and he knew that Dave mowed my yard. He had heard about me and knew I lived not far away from the park.

So, he stuck around and was talking to the tourists, and meanwhile, I saw the gators sunning across the bridge on opposite sides of the bridge. Alongside the one, was a baby covered in mud. They were trying to warm up, since the air was a little cool. While the Ranger was talking to the couple. I headed on to the first shelter and saw another gator about 4 ft. long in front of the shelter and a baby off to the side, with at tiny Carolina wren flitting about right above its head! The tiny bird was so cute! More people were coming and the Ranger was sort of giving a guided tour, so I decided to walk on back. Seems like each time I use the walking stick I get admiring remarks about it. I have two of them, both given to me by park people. One from Terry and one from David. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Colossians 3:13
Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

What are the benefits of discernment?

2011-11-01T10:10:00.004-04:00

Good Nov. first 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 was cooler than I had expected when I arose this morning, but lots of wind and drier air are moving in, so another touch of fall is here.

Last night, I left my porch light off, as did most of the neighbors, and just heard the doorbell ring about 6:30, but was busy in the kitchen and did not get to the door before whoever it was had turned away. So, I turned the light on about 9:30 and heard a noisy group come and pound on the door and ring the doorbell. I honestly was a little afraid to open the door, because it was later than they should have been out, so after more noise they kicked the door or threw something at it and left and I turned the light back off. Not a happy Halloween for them...

But, on a happier note, I walked out to the entrance bridge at Sawgrass, and looked for the young gators, and much to my surprise, I saw two of them, twins, facing each other on a mud bank, with their eyes half closed and heads up, enjoying the sun, which by that time, was shining brightly after a morning rain. While I was watching them, a baby gator came crawling up beside them and then crossed over behind them and rested there, too.I walked on to the end of the bridge and saw movement in the hydrilla,. and there was another older baby gator crawling up on a small log out of the water. I thought there was another baby lying in the water beside that one, but couldn't be sure. The water was flowing swiftly, pushing hydrilla bunches along with it. It was a beautiful day! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding.

Proverbs 3:21-23 My child, don't lose 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.

Proverbs 4:12 If you live a life guided by wisdom, you won't limp or stumble as you run.
Discernment enhances the quality of our life and our discipleship. Godly wisdom and understanding keep us from tripping over the lies and deceptions of the devil.

9:11 Wisdom will multiply your day and add years to your life.

Discernment preserves our lives, keeping us from the dangers that threaten to destroy us.

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

2011-10-31T10:19:00.004-04:00

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 was kinda hoping that the rain would continue all day to keep the trick or treaters in, but maybe that's selfish on my part...I did not have a single one last year, I think because most of the little kids who used to live on the block have grown up or moved away. In the early days there used to be carloads from out of the neighborhood going door to door; we actually had over a hundred one year!. Well, I will leave my light off, anyway.

There were lots of people at the park yesterday, enjoying the sun and shade and walking for health and exercise. The young gator was hanging out at the bridge and people were pointing and taking pics of him. I did not see any ibis or herons, for some reason, but the squirrels were in abundance!

I watched a baby squirrel at the base of my oak tree yesterday, pluck a small toadstool and start nibbling on it, then took it in his mouth, and zoomed up the tree, following his mom. They are really cute. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ephesians 5:15
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.

Ephesians 6:6-9
Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though your were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

And in the same way, you masters must treat your slaves right. Don't threaten them;
remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

Roamin' thru Romans 13

2011-10-28T09:15:00.001-04:00

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Looks like we had a gently falling rain last night. Everything is freshly wet and water is still falling off the roof, but since we have not had rain for a few weeks, it is most welcome!

Yesterday, I ran a few errands, before tiring because of my very late night Wed. I drove to the park and was peacefully watching the swaying limbs and the ibis sitting in a tree. People were pointing and taking pictures of the young gator, and all was well. I saw an osprey perched on a line over Turner's creek, looking for lunch, so wildlife is everywhere!! 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 inviting guests home for dinner, or, if they need lodging, for the night.

If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Jesus, Author of Salvation

2011-10-27T09:57:00.005-04:00

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Another beautiful day, but a few clouds and warmer than it has been. I threw off the big blanket, but then pulled it up sometime early this morning, when I got a little chilly. The prediction is for very cool coming sometime this weekend, but it usually does turn cool around Halloween. Speaking of that, I made the mistake of buying a bag of mini Twix bars supposedly for trick or treaters, but I seem to be making them disappear all by myself. I knew I should have bought something I don't like!!

The subject today does not have anything to do with the scripture. That song has been going over and over in my mind, since last night when I heard it at the Michael W. Smith/Amy Grant concert. We all sang along with them and I can't get it out of my head. I had forgotten that those concerts are very loud, and at one point, I removed my hearing aids. However, the amplification was up so high that even Brian could not understand the lyrics of some of the songs. It was better when Michael came on with his half of the show, because the electronic keyboard was his and he could be understood when he talked and sang. He is really gifted with songwriting and I enjoyed the music, and was glad I went. Cindy Plotts DiMarco was sitting in the same aisle...small world. But the auditorium was filled with lots of believers. I saw one baby there, probably about 2 to 3 months old and could not help thinking how damaging the loudness must be to her little ears.

I really like the song "He is Mighty to Save" the way our worship team arranges it, and especially Andrew's drumming. Two drummers were featured last night, both veterans with their own sets and I was fascinated with their skill. The concert lasted three hours, so I was very late getting home, but it was a good evening. My thanks to Brian. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ecclesiastes 3 A time for everything

There is a time for everything.
a season for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to rebuild.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to lose.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak up.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.

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

Love and hugs
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 20

2011-10-26T09:40:00.011-04:00

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 had such a string of perfect weather, but now it looks like we are in for a change, with cold weather bearing down on us and hurricane Lina pushing back from the gulf. Never a dull moment for the weatherman!

I went to the drivers' license place in Pinellas Park yesterday and waited in line, only to discover that I should have gone to the tax collector's office on 66th St. to conduct my business. So, because I was frustrated, I went to Steak and Shake and bought myself a refreshing mint/ cookies and cream milkshake for half price! Nice mood lifter! Then I went to the park and took a walk along the sidewalk, enjoying the cool breeze and calm waters of the canal. Saw the tendrils of moss blowing gently in the breeze, black turtles sunning on the old logs, and on the way in, the ibis once again, doing a slow motion dance of drinking at the same time and raising their heads all in unison

I am looking forward to attending the Michael W. Smith/Amy Grant concert tonight with Brian. And I am hoping Michael will sing one of my favorite songs, "Breathe". 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

In Progress

2011-10-25T09:44:00.007-04:00

Good Morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Another beautiful day lies before us with blue skies and little wind, and temps in the low sixties. I am determined not to turn on the furnace until it gets much cooler...well, maybe not much cooler, but a little.

I was sweeping acorns off the sidewalk and porch yesterday, again, and watched the squirrels scampering up the oak trees and zipping along the branches. They have about three new nests and all the evidence is on the ground in the twigs and stuff . They must have a lot more than that on the ground at the park, but there is so much other stuff there, that a few more leaves are not unusual. More and more birds are coming from the north. I saw a huge flock of blackbirds, circling in the air at a busy intersection yesterday.

When I drove into the park, I saw a very unusual sight; a flock of ibis were standing in a row on the bank of the weir and all had their heads down and were drinking. Alongside them were a lot of black turtles. I should have taken a picture of them. The park was crowded, because it was such a nice day, and a class was waiting for the teacher to take them on a tour. Nice field trip! God is good!

From Quiet Moments with God:

He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6 NKJV

A sign in a hotel lobby that was being remodeled stated, " Please be patient. Renovation in progress to produce something new and wonderful." Perhaps we all need to wear a sign like that! We are all unfinished projects under construction, being made into something wonderful. Being mindful of this, we might have greater grace and patience for others, as well as for ourselves, while the work is underway.

Hope is the anticipation of good. Like the hotel lobby in the disarray of renovation, our hope is often in spite of our present circumstances. What is the basis for our hope?

For the Christian, hope is not simple optimism or a denial of reality. The reason for our hope is Jesus Christ, the solid Rock of our faith. As the hymn writer wrote, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.". We are never without hope for our lives if we know the Lord Jesus.

The focus of our hope is to be like Jesus. This goal may seem too great and way beyond our ability to achieve, and it is. So how do we reach it?

The Scriptures tell us it is "Christ in you" that is our hope. (See Colossians 1:27.) The transformation of our lives into Christlikeness is a goal that is larger than life. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, to have hope only for this life is to be miserable. (See 1 Corinthians 15:19). The Christian hope if for this life and for eternity.

A little chapel in the hills of the Scottish Highlands has a sign chiseled in Gaelic on the front door. Translated into English it reads; "Come as you are, but don't leave as you came." When we come to Jesus, we can come as we are. But He will not leave us the same. That is our sure hope.

Our hope lies not in the man we put on the moon, But in the Man we put on the cross.
Don Basham

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

Peter's advice

2011-10-24T09:12:00.007-04:00

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 still have perfect weather with cool nights and warmer days.

Couldn't ask for anything much better.

It was a good day all around yesterday..good church service and Tim Tebow helping the Broncos to a win, and the Rangers coming back to win. I was kinda torn between the Cards and the Rangers, but leaning toward the Rangers. Oh, well, may the better team win!

There were water fowl in abundance at Lynch Lake yesterday as I drove around it! Black ducks, and white ibis, and standing in ankle deep water a gray and white woodstork. I guess they have ankles! When I went to the park Saturday, I saw a gopher in a different location on an access road. I remember when Mike, the naturalist showed me an aerial photo of the park, how many gopher tortoise homes were in it. They are all over the Park! The white heron was standing watch over the fish, and ibis were perched in the trees overlooking the water. All was peaceful! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Peter 3:7
In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. If you don't treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard.

Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say,
If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil,
and keep your lips from telling lies.
Turn away from evil and do good.
Work hard at living at peace with others.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.

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