a Prayer

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is another warm day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside early this morning, the moon was just a sliver of a crescent in the east, but still shining brilliantly.

It is getting entirely too warm to walk, even early in the morning... makes me want to lie in the water all day like Mama gator!

We drove through the park yesterday, looking at the peacocks on the way in, and stopped to talk with Terry, who is getting ready to travel to Michigan on vacation. He likes to work in the fields, harvesting, but this time the harvest in already in.

I was reading my Morning Prayer as I do every morning, and even though I have sent it before, I felt strongly that I should send it again:

"Oh, God, for another day, for another morning, for another hour, for another minute, for another chance to live and serve Thee, I am truly grateful."

Do Thou this day free me
from all fear of the future
from all bitterness toward anyone,
From all cowardice in face of danger
from all laziness in face of work,
from all failure before opportunity
from all weakness when Thy power is
at hand.

But fill me
with love that knows no barrier
with Sympathy that reaches all.
with Courage that cannot be shaken
with Faith strong enough for darkness
with Strength sufficient for my tasks
with Loyalty to Thy Kingdom Goal,
with Power to lift me to Thee.

Be Thou with me for another day and use me as Thou wilt for Christ's sake, I pray.
Amen

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 138

Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is another warm day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! This morning as I stepped out I noticed a nice breeze , which has not been in evidence for awhile. Even though the pre-dawn temps are in the 80s, it was nice to feel the wind.

I walked out to see Mama gator yesterday, and she was partially out of the water, with branches and an uprooted tree lying beside her. Over the weekend, people were busy, trying to make her move or do something. I snapped a couple photos of her, but because it is so dark in the swampy area and she is black, they may not turn out.

On my way back over the bridge, I met Mike leading a big group of little campers, on their way to see Mama gator, I received an affectionate greeting from Mike, followed by the same from Steve, who was bringing up the rear. They also had a new naturalist with them I had not met,,,no greeting from him. :o) God is good!

Psalm 138 NLT

"I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.
I will give thanks to your name
for your unfailing love and faithfulness,
because your promises are backed
by the honor of your name.
When I pray you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me the
strength I need.

Every king in all the earth will give you thanks, O Lord,
for all of them will hear your words.
Yes, they will sing about the Lord's ways,
for the glory of the Lord is very great.
Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble.
but he keeps his distance from the proud.

Though I am surrounded by troubles,
you will preserve me against the anger
of my enemies!
Your power will save me.
The Lord will work out his plans for my life-
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don't abandon me, for you made me."

"There are three things that will endure-
faith, hope, and love-
and the greatest of these
is love.'
1 Corinthians 13:13

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 5:3

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 was already very warm and humid when I stepped outside this morning and the moon was shining brightly as a crescent with a star very close to it. Very beautiful!

We spent a quiet day indoors yesterday, trying to avoid the heat, but did take a ride to the Park and saw the peacocks and peahens walking about the neighborhood. There is a certain house that has a white garage door that the peacock likes to strut in front of and spread his magnificent tail feathers. It's as if he knows that he shows off better with a background. Seems impossible with his little pea brain... God is Awesome!

From Quiet Moments:

"In the morning, O Lord, Thou wilt hear my voice in the morning. I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch," Psalm 5:3 NASB

There is something extraordinarily special about early morning devotions. Before the hectic day begins with its noise and numerous distractions. there is usually a calm that is uncommon to any other time of the day, a peaceful prerequisite for entering into the prayer closet with Christ. Christ set an example for us when He rose up early and prayed....

Morning is a wonderfully private time where intimate conversation and gentle responses can take place between God and His children. This is a time to listen to the very heart of God.

Oswald Chambers said, "Get an inner chamber in which to pray where no one knows you are praying, shut the door, and talk to God in secret. Have no other motive than to know your Father in heaven. It is impossible to conduct your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer."

Between Midnight and Morning
You have faith to look with fearless eyes
Beyond the tragedy of a world of strife,
And trust that out of night and death shall rise
The dawn of ampler life,
Rejoice, whatever anguish rend your heart,
That God has given you, for a priceless dower,
To live in these great times and have your part
In Freedom's crowning hour;
That we may tell your sons who see the light
High in heaven their heritage to take-
"I saw the powers of darkness put to flight!
I saw the morning break!
Owen Seaman

I can tell you that God is alive because I talked with him this morning,
Billy Graham


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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalms 34

Good morning Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is another warm day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! The moon is getting smaller day by day, but still casts a bright light as it moves further east before it disappears.

Yesterday I walked before the sun came out too hot, (because it was overcast). Mama gator was looking rather disgusted with the bottles that have been thrown at her...one was resting against her face. I spoke to her and wished I had a long-handles grabber to clear out all the bottles. I am wondering if she is going to lay eggs, or just came back to the old nest for a visit, because it now has enough water to conceal her massive body...

There was a good breeze blowing at the tower, as there usually is, so I enjoyed that for a few minutes. God is good!

Excerpts from the Promise Bible Psalm 34

I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are discouraged take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness;
let us exalt His name together.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!
Let the Lord's people show him reverence,
for those who honor him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry.
but those who trust in the Lord will
never lack any good thing...

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;
his ears are open to their cries for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;
he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalms 63:1

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the overcast day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Even thought the clouds were thick, I saw the lop-sided moon casting it light on the clouds covering it.

We had a good rain yesterday, but not enough to dampen the firecrackers going off around the neighborhood until late!

Not many people were in the park yesterday, which I thought would be full of picnickers. I walked in WalMart instead of the park...somehow it is not the same! :o) But it was a quiet day and those are a blessing.

From Quiet Moments:

Morning by Morning

"O God, thou art my God, Early will I seek thee'"

Great is Thy faithfulness, Oh God my father!
Morning by morning, new mercies I see.
All I have needed, Thy hands hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

There's something fresh and new about the beginning of each day. As sun filters through the trees, as birds begin their morning song, as day dawns , there is a new awareness of God's hand at work in our hearts and lives. Yesterday is past; tomorrow is still a day away. But today offers a new beginning-here and now.

"In the morning, O lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3...

Just as a good night's sleep refreshes the body, so a quiet moment with God at daybreak revitalizes our spirit before the day's responsibilities descend upon us. Starting the day with a holy hush before the morning rush can make the difference between a day wasted and a day well lived.

"Rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5

No matter what happened yesterday, you have today. It is a gift from your Heavenly Father. Open your heart to a quiet moment with God. May these gently, joyful devotionals help you celebrate your faith in God, renew your mind, refresh your spirit, and encourage your heart.

All the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly for a while each day in our rooms.
Blaise Pascal

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Independence Day

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! And Happy 4th of July! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! A day for picnics, thunderstorms permitting, and fireworks and patriotic music!

Yesterday I had a wonderful walk on the wet boardwalk at the park and stopped to speak to Mama gator back at her old nest. She has grown so much, she is huge! She was totally out of the water and lying not four feet below me, all eight feet of her! People have already been throwing bottles and cans at her...can't understand such ignorance!!

Then I walked on to the tower and watched a pair of ospreys circling lazily over the lake...I was hoping to see one of them hover, but, it didn't happen.

As we drove in to the park, two smaller gators were sunning on the bank, right across from Terry's house. God is good!

Since most of you are not working today I thought I would just send this appropriate scripture from 2 Chronicles 7:14:

"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land."

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

2 Corinthians 4:16 "The inner man is being renewed day by day."

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the warm day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, the moon was almost hidden by clouds, but valiantly trying to shine through. The Lord has seen fit to send us rain now, and we were caught in a rip-roaring thunderstorm yesterday leaving my therapy place, which is just about six minutes from home. As I drove home, the rain diminished and nothing at all here. That's the way it is in Florida!

I noticed at the Park, that several people were busy cleaning debris out of the canal by the weir, that was washed down by the waters the night before. Everything is nice and green and fresh looking, now. God is good!

From the book Quiet Moments:

What Shape are you in?

Clay pots of all shapes and sizes were valuable tools in ancient households. They were used to store water, to eat off of, to bake and cook in, and even small terra-cotta vials held perfume. Homes were lit by clay lamps in the evening.

The potters who supplied these much-needed pots were important to the economic life of ancient villages. A modern potter described her craft like this:

Both my hands shaped this pot. And, the place where it actually forms is a place of tension between the pressure applied from the outside and the pressure of the hand on the inside. That's the way my life has been. Sadness and death and misfortune and the love of friends and all the things that happened to me that I didn't even choose. All of that influenced my life. But, there are things I believe in about myself, my faith in God and the love of some friends that worked on the insides of me. My life, like this pot, is the result of what happened on the outside and what was going on inside of me. Life, like this pot, comes to be in places of tension."

Throughout the day we may be buffeted by stress, pulled apart by responsibilities, and pressed by challenges that come at us from the outside. Without strength of spirit on the inside, those difficulties will cause us to collapse under the external pressure.

During this break, feed your spirit with Scripture. This will keep you strong, renewed, and restored within. You can respond with inner strength and creativity to what could otherwise defeat you.

Remember, your inner life gives you the strength you need to become a useful vessel in the household of God.

Renew thyself completely each day.
Do it again and again and forever again.
Confucius

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis