Psalm 100

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!

Due to the smoggy air from the wildfires on the other coasts, I am staying in as much as possible and treating cold symptoms.

Please pray that the Zicam and prayers will have me back to my old self soon!


Psalm 100 NLT

Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the Lord is good;
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.


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

Love and hugs,
amaryllis

I saw the sunrise!

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 sunrise was glorious this morning, in spite of the ozone, which is unhealthy today. Last night the sunset was lovely, too.

Yesterday, the air was so cool, there was no way I was staying in, so off to the Park we went! The tree trimming crew was at work, blocking off most of the sidewalk around the building, but I headed off to the boardwalk. That part that leads to the tower will be closed off today because of resealing, but I was able to head for the shelter to check on the baby gators. There was a very large one on the bank across from the canal, but I only saw one baby and then another came and was lying on the big baby's back. I looked under the shelter and saw another one, so at least three survived.

We saw two peacocks with fully spread tail feathers, slowly turning around and around, attracting lots of attention! The colors are really beautiful. God is Awesome!

I have been putting chunky peanut butter on a part of our oak tree that sticks out and the little squirrels love it! Let's see you hang upside down by your toenails and eat sticky peanut butter! :o)

From the Promise Bible NLT:

What are the benefits of wisdom?

Proverbs 9:10 "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding."

Psalm 111:10 "Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him Praise his name forever!"

Wisdom is not simply knowing facts and figures' it is understanding that an all-powerful, all-knowing God has designed a moral universe with consequences for our good and evil choices. Wisdom begins with understanding our accountability to and our full dependence on our Creator. It's not what we know, but who we know.

Proverbs 3: 21-26 "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. You can lie down without fear and enjoy pleasant dreams. You need not be afraid of disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap."

Wisdom produces honor in our lives and protects us from trouble. Wise people know the difference between right and wrong and choose to do what is right. More than that, wisdom is choosing to apply God's truth and principles to our daily relationships and situations.

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

Judgment

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 surprised to feel the cool air when I stepped outside this morning! 68 may not seem cool to some of you all, but after lows of high seventies, it was most welcome.

When I set out the sprinklers, I noticed and heard a mockingbird singing on our roof, and then saw another one with a twig in its beak flying to build a nest. Spring and summer all around! God is good!

As I walked out to the shelter yesterday, I noticed Mama gator a little distance away, almost submerged in the water. This one is younger than the Mama gator that built her nest at the old place. I didn't see any babies at first, but then one finally came out from under the bridge. I think they try to avoid people, because a coke can and water bottle and styrofoam cup were all thrown down where they hang out, and there is a trash can just across the boardwalk. I don't understand the thinking of people who do things like that. If I had had a "grabber" I would have picked the trash up. Sigh. Anyway, I walked on to the Tower and when I came back, Mama was under the shelter and two babies were out. She really guards them.

From the Promise Bible NLT:

How will I be able to face the judgment of God?

Romans 5:9-10 "Since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment. For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life."

Our hope is based on the fact that Jesus Christ stood in our place for judgment. God no longer looks at us as enemies but as friends-even as his own children.

Romans 8:1-2 Now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-given Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death."

Jesus Christ has relieved us from the threat of condemnation and death.

How does the future judgment affect my life now?

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 No one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have-Jesus Christ. Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone's work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames."

The promise of salvation does not eliminate our responsibility. God has given us all that is necessary to lead meaningful, spiritually productive lives. We ignore his promises and provisions at great risk.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring Thru Psalms

Good Monday 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, the air was heavy and humid, but the wind was blowing. The stars were shining dimly, but it promises to be another beautiful summer day! God is good!

We saw two peacocks on our way into the Park yesterday. People were getting ready for picnics for Mother's day out. Birds were singing and the little screech owl was peeking out of her box. The anhingas spend about as much time airing their wings, as they do swimming under water for food. There is always something interesting to see at the park!

Psalm 119 NLT

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 have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you , O Lord;
teach me your principles.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Coping Skills

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is another beautiful day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside this morning, only Venus was visible, and puffy clouds were scudding across the sky with the wind pushing them.

I now have an amaryllis blooming! It is the first one since October, so both blooms are kinda out of season, but I'm happy about it! And yesterday, I received a beautiful pink rose and carnation bouquet from my boys and grandson, in a rose teapot. Life is good!

I walked out to the first covered shelter yesterday to see the baby gators, but none were in sight, so I stuck around looking under and at the sides, until the biggest one came out from under the bridge. So they were there - just hidden. On the way to the entrance bridge, I stopped to look at a black, shiny gator on the bank across the water. He was just enjoying the sun.

The mama screech owl was peering out of her box, with her tiny eyes taking in everything. Maybe one day I will see the baby owl. God is good!

From the devotional book Quiet Moments with God:

"My times are in your hand."

Psalm 31:15 NRSV

How we handle delays tells us a lot about ourselves. How do you handle a traffic jam when you left the house already late for work? What do you do when your flight is delayed because of mechanical difficulty or bad weather? How do you respond when the register in your checkout lane runs out of tape just as you get to the head of the line? Can you take a deep breath and enjoy a five minute break at the railroad crossing when the guard rail goes down to allow a train to pass?

Things rarely go as smoothly as we would like, and we don't usually schedule ourselves any extra time just in case something goes wrong.

The ability to accept disappointments, delays and setbacks with a pleasant, generous spirit is a gift of graciousness that comes from one who has received grace from others in pressured circumstances. Life is a series of choices, and no matter what situation we are in. we always have the freedom to choose how we are going to respond.

Refuse to get out of sorts the next time your schedule gets interrupted or turned upside down. Pray for strength to remain calm, cheerful, relaxed, and refreshed in the midst of the crisis. And always remember; God's plans for you are not thwarted by delays!

Never become irritable while waiting. If you are patient, you'll find that you can wait much faster.
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I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Time in a Bottle

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!

As I stepped outside this morning, the only star I could see was Venus, so we still have a lot of haze in the atmosphere, but another sunny warm day is coming up and, although we need rain, God will supply in His time. God is good!

I am not getting over to the Park as early as I would like, but I slather with sun block and try to stay in the shade. All four baby gators were at the shelter yesterday and Mama was under the shelter...first time I have seen her close by. The babies are getting bigger each day, so they must be finding plenty to eat.

On the way in, we saw the peacocks, two had their tails fully fanned out and were showing off, by slowly turning round and round. Such vanity!

On my way out of the boardwalk, as I walked down the bridge, I startled a cottontail, who gave great leaps and ran straight across the road and into the bushes! So fast!

The Mama screech owl was peeking out of her nest, looking very wise. Francia said the baby was peeking out yesterday with only the eyes showing in the hole in the box. They are so cute!

From Quiet Moments with God:

"This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 NKJV

"Where does the time go?" we ask. Here it is-a new day on the horizon-and we can't remember how it arrived so quickly. Why, last week seems like yesterday, and last year flew by like a video in fast forward.

And worse, it's hard to remember what we spent it on.

"Shouldn't I have more great memories? we wonder. What did I accomplish? Is this all I've done with all that time?"

Singer Jim Croce mused in his hit song "Time in a Bottle" that " there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do, once you find them." We search so hard for happiness. But often, we don't understand that happiness is not a goal to be won, but a by-product of a life well spent.

This "Old English Prayer" offers simple instructions for enjoying the day that the Lord has made.

Take time to work, it is the price of success.
Take time to think, it is the source of power.
Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream, it is hitching your wagon to a star.
Take time to love and be loved, it is the privilege of the gods.
Take time to look around, it is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.

True happiness comes from the job of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalms

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

I hope you all saw the sun setting last night with the sliver of the new moon showing right above it! Gorgeous! Not a cloud in the sky to dim the reddish hues slowly fading into darkness. And this morning is just as beautiful with the sun shining brightly, even though I couldn't see the stars for the haze. But God is Awesome!

There was only one baby gator visible yesterday, so I don't know if the rest were hiding, or whether they are still alive. I hope to find out today. But while I was at the shelter, the huge gator was sunning on the opposite bank, and a Mosquito control truck was slowly approaching, so I watched and, sure enough, when the truck got too close, the gator gave a mighty leap right into the canal, and disappeared. He moved so fast!

We saw Mr. Peacock with his tail feathers spread out like a bride's train on the ground, as he was getting ready to fold them up, so we missed the show that time. I'm sure we'll see him again strutting slowly around.

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 112

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.
Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
They are confident and fearless.
and can face their foes triumphantly.
They give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will never be forgotten.
They will have influence and honor.
The wicked will be infuriated when they see this.
They will grind their teeth in anger.
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.


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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis