The Message

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 thought I heard thunder just now, but it must be the construction, (destruction) taking place at Lynch School near here. I don't understand how the students can learn with all the noise from the trucks and breaking of the concrete. Tough on teachers, too.

Well, anyway, I noticed this morning, that my huge Bird of Paradise plant in the back is just full of brilliant blooms. The bush is so thick that the blooms are almost hidden in all the long leaves. It really should be out front where it is more visible, but we never thought of that when we planted it many years ago. There is also another golden tree blooming on the way in to the park. Two different trees, both with gorgeous yellow blossoms. Messy, like the jacaranda, but so pretty! All was quiet at the Park yesterday. Just a few walkers and the usual service trucks from different companies taking a break. The squirrels and anhingas are what are most visible all the time, and, of course, the turtles. There must be hundreds of them!

We had an interesting Faith Group meeting last night. It's always good to get together with friends, new and old. God is good!

From The Message:

The Way of Love 1 Corinthians 13

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstacy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and If I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others.
Isn't always "me first".
Doesn't always fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
takes pleasure in the flowering of truth.
Puts up with anything/
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best.
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

What to do About Evil

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 early this morning, I was refreshed by the cool wind blowing and walked a bit, admiring the pink streaked clouds as the sun came up. I saw two planes in the wild blue yonder, and birds were flitting about on their morning search for the early worm. Just a beautiful day!

When I went to the park yesterday, I saw an anhinga on the weir with its wings fully extended drying out and the day before, one was there with wings folded and just sitting. They are very ungainly looking because of their bent legs, whenever they try to walk.But they are very sleek in the water. Since they swim and fly, they are versatile.

Since I have a lot of errands to run this morning, I need to get started, but things will get done in due time. I had to pause and reflect after yesterday's church service how many friends I have who genuinely care about me. I have a heart full of thankfulness for the friends and family and their love. God is good!

What to do about Evil..
From the devotional Knowing God.

Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die.
Proverbs 11:19 MSG

The better you get to know God, the more you'll understand how God wants you to respond to evil. and make no mistake, this world is inhabited by quite a few people who are very determined to do evil things. The devil and his human helpers are working 24/7 to cause pain and heartbreak in every corner of the globe including your corner. So you'd better beware. Your job, if you choose to accept it, is to recognize and fight it. The moment that you decide to fight evil whenever you see it, you can no longer be a lukewarm, halfhearted Christian. And when you are no longer a lukewarm Christian, God rejoices while the Devil despairs.

When will you choose to get serious about fighting the evils of our world? Before you answer that question, consider this in the battle of good versus evil, the devil never takes a day off...and neither should you.

God loves you, and He yearns for you to turn away from the path of evil. You need His forgiveness, and you need Him to come into your life and remake you from within,
--Billy Graham

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 23

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! Just when I think it's time for fall (and it is according to the calendar), the weather is very warm when I step outside. And there is another tropical storm in the Caribbean named "Matthew," Well, we may get some rain from this one.

The wind came up all at once last night, and since my yard was mowed and the porch blown off, the wind took care of that. Twigs and leaves are all over it once again. Oh, well, it looked good for awhile, anyway. The Beauty berry bush is so big,now, and has grown so much this summer, with absolutely no care, but still has not had one purple berry on it. Very strange. But it was a volunteer in the first place, so I can't complain. The mockers certainly have enough berries without the bush, because the podacarpus is still full of berries and they fly in and out of it all day.

I watched a yellow butterfly chase a mockingbird yesterday. At least, that's what it looked like. The butterfly was flitting erratically and the bird was trying to fly around it. Of course, the bird won that flight!

I ran several errands yesterday after the lawn was mowed, including returning books to the library and checking out more and was tired at the end of the day. But some things never change, including the park, It just keeps growing and the canal keeps on flowing. Ibis and anhinga were present as usual and all was peaceful. God is good!

From The Message;

God, my shepherd!
I don't need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.

Even when the way goes through Death Valley.
I'm not afraid when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd's crook
Makes me feel secure.

You serve me a six course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.

Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I'm back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

P.S. I hope all the punctuation is correct, because this is National Punctuation Day :o).

Don't Fall Prey to Envy

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! I did not get to see the full moon and Jupiter last night, because we had rain and overcast skies, but I did get to see the full moon peeking through the lacy clouds at about nine o'clock when I stepped outside. I thought I would not be able to sleep, but I was wrong. I slept soundly, even with the full moon.

Yesterday, I looked out the front window, and saw three ibis standing as still as statues in the middle of the street. They were there for about five minutes, and then one of them slowly lifted up one leg, so he was standing on only one for awhile, Then they slowly walked over to my yard and started pecking like they usually do. I should have had a camera, but I was just fascinated watching them.

I can always tell when the weather has been dry for awhile, because the birds and squirrels come to the porch wall and drink out of the bowl I have for them. The birds like to get in and take a bath, leaving very little water for anyone else. They are fun to watch.

Nothing much going on at the park, but I saw three turtles resting on a log that was half in the water. They were big, middlesized and little. And I saw another one airing on the bank of the weir, also an anhinga with its wings folded. God is good!

From Knowing God devotional:

We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed!
Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about! Romans 13:13-14 MSG

Because we are imperfect, we are sometimes envious of others. But to be envious is to be foolish. So we must guard ourselves against the natural tendency to feel resentment and jealousy when other people experience good fortune. Rather than succumbing to feelings of envy, we should focus on the marvelous things that God has done for us (and we should refrain from preoccupying ourselves with the blessings that God has chosen to give others).

St John Chrysotom offered these words of caution:" As a moth gnaws a garment, so does envy consume a man." So here's a proven formula for a happier, heathier life. Count your own blessings and let your neighbors count theirs. It's the best way to live.

When you worry about what you don't have, you won't be able to enjoy what you do have.
-Chuck Swindoll

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

The Power of Encouragement

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! There is a definite touch of fall in the air these days, The morning temp. is down in the seventies although it's expected to zoom to the nineties this afternoon, but the cool morning air feel wonderful. Also the acorns are falling and that is not so wonderful. Good for the squirrels, bad for stepping on, on the porch and sidewalk. A small price to pay for cooler weather.

Yesterday, I had a long walk in Walmart. I don't go out there very often these days, but when I really want to save money, that is definitely the place to go. Surprisingly, it was not crowded, and except for a small child who had an ear-piercing scream and seemed to be screaming for the sheer joy of it, it was pleasant shopping. Not a pleasure like Publix, but pleasant. I got my Dan-Active yogurt there for 3.83 and it is 4.89 at Publix. So that's a savings!

Then I went to the park, and enjoyed the peace and quiet there, after the screaming. Nothing but the trees and moss swaying in the breeze and squirrels scampering, and the flock of ibis gathered on the hills, pecking away. God is good!

From the devotional book Knowing God:

Patience and encouragement come from God. And I pray that God will help you all agree with each other the way Christ Jesus wants. Romans 15:5 NCV

Here's a question only you can answer. During a typical day, how many opportunities will you have to encourage other human beings? Unless you're living on a deserted island, the answer is "a lot!" and here's a follow-up question; How often do you take advantage of those opportunities? Hopefully, the answer is "more often than not."

Romans 14:19 advises us to "Pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another" (HCSB) And whenever we do, God smiles.

Whether you realize it or not, you're surrounded by people who need an encouraging word, a helping hand, or a pat on the back. And every time you encourage one of these folks, you'll be doing God's will by obeying God's word. So, without further ado, let the encouragement begin.

I can usually sense that a leading is from the Holy Spirit when it calls me to humble myself, to serve somebody, to encourage somebody or to give something away. Very rarely will the evil one lead us to do those kind of things
-Bill Hybels

Todays Prayer-
Lord, make us mindful of our words. This world can be a difficult place and many of Your children are discouraged and afraid.
Make each member of our family a powerful source of encouragement to those in need, and let our words and deeds be worthy of Your Son, the One who gives us courage and strength, this day and for all eternity.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm138

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! What a beautiful morning, with a light breeze blowing and cooler air. Still hot in the daytime, though and I am still wearing # 49 sunblock!

I hope some of you saw the beautiful moon and star last night. When I came out of our Faith Group meeting, there it was almost full shining in the clear sky. Just amazing! It will be full on Thursday, so I will try to remember to go out and look at it.

Yesterday, I saw the old gopher tortoise in the park moving at warp speed up the slight hill to his home, munching on grass along the way. He has been around a long time. Two snapping turtles were sunning on the bank of the weir and an egret was posed next to the shrubbery, peering down into the lake. If I were an artist, it would be a typical Florida scene to paint. God is good!

From the Promise Bible 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 all 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!
You will clench your fist against my
angry 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.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Learn to trust God

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 definitely cooler this morning! I was tempted to go for a walk before breakfast or praying, but knew that I would be much later getting things done that need to be done, so...maybe later!

There are such strange geckos, or lizards, critters, anyway, hanging around my front door. A tiny flat one with a striped tail was plastered against the wall right beside the door one morning, and I also found a dried one on my floor. IT had been in the house too long. They are always running in and out of the mailbox, so getting the mail is always an adventure!

I went to the park yesterday After a wonderful worship service yesterday. Several ibises were gathered in a tree, which is unusual for them, but they were just looking down into the canal, resting their beaks I guess. The nice wind was blowing and several people were walking with their camera and binoculars ready. God is good!

From the Knowing God devotional:

Lord, I give myself to you; my God, I trust you. Psalm 25:1-2 NCV

If you want to know God, then you must learn to trust God. Yet sometimes, when you feel overwhelmed by fears and doubts, you'll find that trusting God is difficult. So here's a question for you to ponder. Are you willing to trust God completely or are you still sitting squarely on the spiritual fence? The answer to this question will determine the tone, the quality and the direction of your life.

Trusting God means trusting Him with every aspect of your life. You must trust Him with your relationships, your dreams, your finances, and your career. You must follow His commandments, and you must pray for His g

When you trust your Heavenly Father without reservation, you can be sure that, in His own fashion and in His own time, God will reveal Himself to you in ways that you could never have imagined. So trust Him. And then prepare yourself for the abundance and the joy that will most certainly be yours when you do.

"As God's children, we are the recipients of lavish love-a love that motivates us to keep trusting even when we have no idea what God is doing."
-Beth Moore

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis