Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the beautiful day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!
I saw a few stars when I stepped outside in the darkness this morning, but mostly the sky was a little misty.
Although it is chilly now, as soon as the sun comes up, it will warm up. God is good!
We watched the sun come up at the VA Hospital grounds yesterday, After the first appointment at 6:45AM, we went to the car and had a small breakfast with the food I had brought. Our next appointment was at 8:40AM, and I have sampled the canteen food before, so I brought our own. :o)
The campus is quite lovely and well kept, so it was almost, but not quite, like being in a park. We didn't leave until 11:30AM after Louis' third appointment, so we were happy to get home and eat a good meal.
From the tiny book, Hugs to Encourage and Inspire come these hopeful words:
Be full of strength and courage,
Do not be terrified:
Do not be discouraged,
I will be with you
wherever you go.
Love,
Your God of strength and courage.
Joshua 1:9
Would you describe yourself as a person of courage?
Probably not.
Your image of courage may have been shaped by
television and movies;
Courage is Superwoman or man flying
to rescue a helpless child from a burning building.
Make believe courage is hard to live up to.
But real courage, in real life,
May describe you to a tee.
It takes courage to care abut family and friends enough to get involved with their struggles. It takes courage to complete what you start. It takes courage to confront weakness in your own life and in the lives of those you love.
It takes courage to confess that your thoughtless words or negligent actions have hurt someone you love.
Quite simply, it takes courage to live each day with integrity.
You may not describe yourself as a person of courage, but look again--you may discover courageous feats of kindness or heroic manifestations of unconditional love.
Say, would you like to be in a movie?
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, March 14, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Happy Thursday!
Good evening, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! Due to a 6:45 AM appointment , fasting for Louis at the VA hospital tomorrow, Yikes!, there will be no email devotional from me... so I thought I would send these thoughts along now.
I walked this morning, and was delighted to see my favorite bird, the catbird, land on the rail just as walked over the bridge. I stood and watched and listened to him chirp, mew his little song, and then he flew off and I continued my walk, I noticed that a large maple tree had broken in the storm a couple days ago, and broke down the railing which is now mostly repaired, except for the crossbars. The guys get busy right away, repairing the storm damage.
On our way into the park, we watched a large gator walking from one lake to another. I love to watch them walk, because the reality of their size and age is very apparent. They look prehistoric.
This is a repeat from an anonymous source:
Take time to work.
It is the price of success.
Take time to think.
It is the source of power.
Take time to play,
It is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to be friendly,
It is the road to happiness.
Take time to love and be loved,
It is the privilege of the gods.
Take time to share,
Life is too short to be selfish.
Take time to laugh,
Laughter is the music of the soul.
I always give thanks for you, and pray for you with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis (Yawn)
I walked this morning, and was delighted to see my favorite bird, the catbird, land on the rail just as walked over the bridge. I stood and watched and listened to him chirp, mew his little song, and then he flew off and I continued my walk, I noticed that a large maple tree had broken in the storm a couple days ago, and broke down the railing which is now mostly repaired, except for the crossbars. The guys get busy right away, repairing the storm damage.
On our way into the park, we watched a large gator walking from one lake to another. I love to watch them walk, because the reality of their size and age is very apparent. They look prehistoric.
This is a repeat from an anonymous source:
Take time to work.
It is the price of success.
Take time to think.
It is the source of power.
Take time to play,
It is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to be friendly,
It is the road to happiness.
Take time to love and be loved,
It is the privilege of the gods.
Take time to share,
Life is too short to be selfish.
Take time to laugh,
Laughter is the music of the soul.
I always give thanks for you, and pray for you with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis (Yawn)
The Butterfly Inside
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! Yes, it is still morning, although I am a little later this morning. I got up at 12:30 this morning to close the windows that were open, because of a sudden rainstorm that woke me up. It just poured for awhile, very unexpectedly. God knows we need rain!
Anyway, now that the furnace is fixed, we will have warm weather for awhile. It was actually too warm to walk yesterday afternoon, after the repairmen left, but I did ride through the park, and took a little comfort in seeing the azaleas, the calm water and the trees all turning bright green, with spring growth. God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
1 John 4:7 "Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God."
Jean Thompson stood in front of her fifth grade class on the first day of school and told them that she loved each child in the class equally. But she knew that wasn't entirely true, because there in front of her was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed he didn't play well with the other children. His clothes were unkempt, and he always seemed to need a bath.
When Mrs Thompson reviewed Teddy's records, she found that his first grade teacher has written, "Teddy is a bright, inquisitive child." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is well liked by his classmates, but troubled because his mother has a terminal illness."
His third grade teacher wrote, "Teddy continues to work hard, but his mother's death has affected him." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn..."
At Christmas, Teddy brought Mrs Thompson a present. She opened the package and found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a partial bottle of cologne. She mentioned how pretty the bracelet was and dabbed some of the perfume behind her wrist. Teddy said, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smell just like my mom used to."
Just as Mrs. Thompson realized that she had let Teddy's physical appearance and poor attitude color her judgment of him, many of us are guilty of doing the same thing at times. The words and actions of other people fan wound a tender spirit, especially that of a child.
As you reflect upon your day, ask yourself how your actions impacted other people? It's important to remember that Jesus loved everyone regardless of position in life, character, intelligence, or physical beauty. The Bible says, "Love thy neighbor." It doesn't say love them only if they're pretty, or the mayor, or the minister. Remember, there is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly.
Do not judge men by mere appearances; for the light laughter that bubbles on the lip often mantles over the depths of sadness, and the serious look may be the sober veil that covers a divine peace and joy.
Edwin Hubbell
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Anyway, now that the furnace is fixed, we will have warm weather for awhile. It was actually too warm to walk yesterday afternoon, after the repairmen left, but I did ride through the park, and took a little comfort in seeing the azaleas, the calm water and the trees all turning bright green, with spring growth. God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
1 John 4:7 "Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God."
Jean Thompson stood in front of her fifth grade class on the first day of school and told them that she loved each child in the class equally. But she knew that wasn't entirely true, because there in front of her was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed he didn't play well with the other children. His clothes were unkempt, and he always seemed to need a bath.
When Mrs Thompson reviewed Teddy's records, she found that his first grade teacher has written, "Teddy is a bright, inquisitive child." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is well liked by his classmates, but troubled because his mother has a terminal illness."
His third grade teacher wrote, "Teddy continues to work hard, but his mother's death has affected him." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn..."
At Christmas, Teddy brought Mrs Thompson a present. She opened the package and found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a partial bottle of cologne. She mentioned how pretty the bracelet was and dabbed some of the perfume behind her wrist. Teddy said, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smell just like my mom used to."
Just as Mrs. Thompson realized that she had let Teddy's physical appearance and poor attitude color her judgment of him, many of us are guilty of doing the same thing at times. The words and actions of other people fan wound a tender spirit, especially that of a child.
As you reflect upon your day, ask yourself how your actions impacted other people? It's important to remember that Jesus loved everyone regardless of position in life, character, intelligence, or physical beauty. The Bible says, "Love thy neighbor." It doesn't say love them only if they're pretty, or the mayor, or the minister. Remember, there is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly.
Do not judge men by mere appearances; for the light laughter that bubbles on the lip often mantles over the depths of sadness, and the serious look may be the sober veil that covers a divine peace and joy.
Edwin Hubbell
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Living by the Spirit's Power
Good morning Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the cloudy, cool morning that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! No stars or moon visible for the last couple days, because of clouds, but bright sunshine will probably come this afternoon. God is good!
I arrived at the Park yesterday in time to watch a large gator swim lazily down the canal in back of the building, with a small crowd watching him. More azaleas are blooming and the oak trees are shedding seeds, making for allergies! Even though it is dark later, now, I heard a mockingbird chirping an early morning greeting to anyone who might be listening. It was a cheerful sound to start the day.
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Ephesians 5 excerpts:
"Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But when the light shines on them, it becomes clear how evil these things are. And where your light shines, it will expose their evil deeds. This is why it is said;
Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light."
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..
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 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 you 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
I arrived at the Park yesterday in time to watch a large gator swim lazily down the canal in back of the building, with a small crowd watching him. More azaleas are blooming and the oak trees are shedding seeds, making for allergies! Even though it is dark later, now, I heard a mockingbird chirping an early morning greeting to anyone who might be listening. It was a cheerful sound to start the day.
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Ephesians 5 excerpts:
"Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But when the light shines on them, it becomes clear how evil these things are. And where your light shines, it will expose their evil deeds. This is why it is said;
Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light."
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..
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 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 you 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
Monday, March 10, 2008
Hope
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the beautiful day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! I am a little later than usual because I made up for my lost hour of sleep yesterday, by sleeping later this morning!
Observations from around town yesterday: a traffic jam on Central Ave. on Sunday afternoon... hundreds of people downtown for no special event - just visiting restaurants, museums, the Pier, and shopping. St. Petersburg is a happening place! I grew up here and how it has changed.
Then I saw a kingfisher on the line by the lake near our home, a gator swimming in the canal at the Park and flocks of ibises near the school. As I was picking up twigs and stuff blown off the oak trees after the windy storm, I heard a hawk nearby, but couldn't see it. It sounded like it was in one of our oaks. God's Creation is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
1 Peter 1:21 "Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God."
The resurrection, the greatest event in history, is the foundation of our hope.
When people get motion sickness, they need to fix their eyes on the horizon in the distance in order to regain composure. Remaining fixed on a point in the distance helps us travel. Jesus' followers fix their eyes on an eternal horizon. This gives us hope in all the discomforts of daily life.
How can I hope when times are tough?
Hebrews 10:23 "Without wavering, let us hold tightly 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."
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.
Romans 15:13 "I pray that God who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (my favorite verse)
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Observations from around town yesterday: a traffic jam on Central Ave. on Sunday afternoon... hundreds of people downtown for no special event - just visiting restaurants, museums, the Pier, and shopping. St. Petersburg is a happening place! I grew up here and how it has changed.
Then I saw a kingfisher on the line by the lake near our home, a gator swimming in the canal at the Park and flocks of ibises near the school. As I was picking up twigs and stuff blown off the oak trees after the windy storm, I heard a hawk nearby, but couldn't see it. It sounded like it was in one of our oaks. God's Creation is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
1 Peter 1:21 "Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God."
The resurrection, the greatest event in history, is the foundation of our hope.
When people get motion sickness, they need to fix their eyes on the horizon in the distance in order to regain composure. Remaining fixed on a point in the distance helps us travel. Jesus' followers fix their eyes on an eternal horizon. This gives us hope in all the discomforts of daily life.
How can I hope when times are tough?
Hebrews 10:23 "Without wavering, let us hold tightly 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."
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.
Romans 15:13 "I pray that God who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (my favorite verse)
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, March 7, 2008
Cruisin' thru Colossians
Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the cloudy day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!
We usually welcome a cloudy, rainy day because of the mostly sunshine we have all the time, so even though it is windy, the air is warm and humid, so we rejoice!
No stars this morning when I stepped outside and I did all the outside errands yesterday before any rain could dampen my spirits!
I saw a big, fat, shiny black gator heave himself up on the bank of the canal yesterday at the Park in the bright sun. Guess he was hoping to warm up a bit. There is always something going on in the Park.
As I walked recently, one of the staff that I had met briefly and never conversed with, came toward me in a cart, so I stopped to let him by, and he stopped, turned off the motor, and chatted with me. There are budget cuts in the county and seventy or so employees will be laid off, or moved around, and he thinks he may be one of them, because he doesn't have many years in. I feel sorry for those who feel the pinch of the economy.
But I give praises that God has always provided for our needs and a lot of our wants! God is good!!
Excerpts from Colossians NLT:
Col. 3 "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."
"Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ."
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We usually welcome a cloudy, rainy day because of the mostly sunshine we have all the time, so even though it is windy, the air is warm and humid, so we rejoice!
No stars this morning when I stepped outside and I did all the outside errands yesterday before any rain could dampen my spirits!
I saw a big, fat, shiny black gator heave himself up on the bank of the canal yesterday at the Park in the bright sun. Guess he was hoping to warm up a bit. There is always something going on in the Park.
As I walked recently, one of the staff that I had met briefly and never conversed with, came toward me in a cart, so I stopped to let him by, and he stopped, turned off the motor, and chatted with me. There are budget cuts in the county and seventy or so employees will be laid off, or moved around, and he thinks he may be one of them, because he doesn't have many years in. I feel sorry for those who feel the pinch of the economy.
But I give praises that God has always provided for our needs and a lot of our wants! God is good!!
Excerpts from Colossians NLT:
Col. 3 "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."
"Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ."
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Roamin' Thru Romans
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is another cool day that the Lord has made and we will be glad and rejoice in it! When I stepped outside this morning, I could feel the cool air and was surprised that it was not as cold as I thought. I didn't want to leave the cozy bed because I thought it was colder than it is!
But the stars were glittering through the puffy clouds and shining in the darkness, so all is well.
As I drove into the Park yesterday, Terry was standing beside a huge truck talking with the supervisor who did the work on rebuilding the boardwalk, so I stopped and we greeted each other. He always asks me where I've been and I always tell him he is the one missing, because I am there every day!
There weren't too many people on the boardwalk, just a few tourists and a runner, who cheerfully greeted everyone she passed. I enjoyed the wind on my face to cool me down, and watched a tiny wren flitting around the colorful azaleas. The azaleas are really pretty this year at the Park, They usually trim them so far down that they don't bloom much, but God is Good!
From the book, Quiet Moments:
A Cork's Influence
"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 13:13-14
A tour group passed through a particular room in a factory. They viewed an elongated bar of steel, which weighed five hundred pounds, suspended vertically by a chain. Near it, an average size cork was suspended by a silk thread.
The attendant told the group they would shortly see something seemingly impossible. She said the cork was going to set the steel bar in motion.
She took the cork in her hand, pulled it only slightly to the side of its original position, and released it. The cork swung gently against the steel bark, which remained motionless.
For ten minutes the cork struck the iron bar. Finally the bar vibrated slightly. By the time the tour group passed through the room an hour later, the great bar was swinging like the pendulum of a clock!
Many of us feel we are not exerting a feather's weight of influence upon others or making a dent in the bastions of evil in the world. No so! Sometimes we don't realize how powerful the cumulative influence of God's goodness, which we walk in, is to those around us.
Not everyone is called to spread the love of Jesus through the pulpit, on the evangelistic trail, or in a full time counseling ministry., Most of us are called to live our lives as "corks", through word and example - quietly, gently tapping away through the work of our daily lives. Tap by loving tap, in God's time, even the quietest Christian can make a huge difference in the lives of those whom preachers may never reach.
As you go about your day today, remember that even a smile can warm a person's heart and draw them to Jesus.
The greatest thing a man can do for his heavenly Father is to be kind to some of his other children.
Henry Drummond
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving,. joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
But the stars were glittering through the puffy clouds and shining in the darkness, so all is well.
As I drove into the Park yesterday, Terry was standing beside a huge truck talking with the supervisor who did the work on rebuilding the boardwalk, so I stopped and we greeted each other. He always asks me where I've been and I always tell him he is the one missing, because I am there every day!
There weren't too many people on the boardwalk, just a few tourists and a runner, who cheerfully greeted everyone she passed. I enjoyed the wind on my face to cool me down, and watched a tiny wren flitting around the colorful azaleas. The azaleas are really pretty this year at the Park, They usually trim them so far down that they don't bloom much, but God is Good!
From the book, Quiet Moments:
A Cork's Influence
"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 13:13-14
A tour group passed through a particular room in a factory. They viewed an elongated bar of steel, which weighed five hundred pounds, suspended vertically by a chain. Near it, an average size cork was suspended by a silk thread.
The attendant told the group they would shortly see something seemingly impossible. She said the cork was going to set the steel bar in motion.
She took the cork in her hand, pulled it only slightly to the side of its original position, and released it. The cork swung gently against the steel bark, which remained motionless.
For ten minutes the cork struck the iron bar. Finally the bar vibrated slightly. By the time the tour group passed through the room an hour later, the great bar was swinging like the pendulum of a clock!
Many of us feel we are not exerting a feather's weight of influence upon others or making a dent in the bastions of evil in the world. No so! Sometimes we don't realize how powerful the cumulative influence of God's goodness, which we walk in, is to those around us.
Not everyone is called to spread the love of Jesus through the pulpit, on the evangelistic trail, or in a full time counseling ministry., Most of us are called to live our lives as "corks", through word and example - quietly, gently tapping away through the work of our daily lives. Tap by loving tap, in God's time, even the quietest Christian can make a huge difference in the lives of those whom preachers may never reach.
As you go about your day today, remember that even a smile can warm a person's heart and draw them to Jesus.
The greatest thing a man can do for his heavenly Father is to be kind to some of his other children.
Henry Drummond
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving,. joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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