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 is in store for us. with few clouds, cool breezes and warm sunshine. Perfect! The only thing marring this beauty is the pollen that is still filling the air.
I took my van to the car wash yesterday and, after wrestling with the cash machine for five minutes to get it to take my dollars, I made it through and now the car is gleaming. I know clean does not last, either in the house or on a car, but it makes me feel better to know the dust and grime are gone for a little while. While I was cleaning the windows, I notice little spots of yellow, which is really hard to clean off. That is from some kind of tree, but I am thinking maybe pine trees.
I visited the Park yesterday, and noticed more azaleas are blooming, as mine are, looking very pretty for a little while. My large one in the back yard is gorgeous with the deep pink blooms all over and falling on the ground. Going into the park, I saw turtles plastered on one side of the weir and on the other side of the street, the large gator was sunning in his personal spot. Lots of people were walking or looking over the bridge at the water. God is good!
From the devotional book Quiet Moments with God:
You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.
2 Samuel 22:29
An Illinois pastor had six couples enrolled in a new members class that met on Sunday evenings in one couple's home. Even after all the couples had completed the course work and joined the church, they continued to meet on Sunday evenings. They enjoyed each other's company and developed a deep sense of commitment to one another.
One night, the pastor received a call from one of the wives in the group. Her husband's plane had gone down, and she didn't know if he was dead or alive. The pastor immediately called the other group members, who rallied around her. They sat and prayed with her until word came that her husband was dead. Then various women took turns baby sitting and staying with her during those first difficult nights.
Group members opened their homes to out of town relatives who came for the funeral.
The men kept her car running and did yard work. And when she decided she would have to sell her house and find a smaller place to live, they helped her locate an apartment, pack, unpack, and settle into her new home.
For many people, this experience would seem like a night without end, a shadow on their lives that would never be erased. But because her friends let their lights shine into her darkness,they reminded her of the God who understood her pain and promised to see her through it.
"You are the light of the world," Jesus said. "A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." Matthew 5:14-15
In a world that seems to grow darker day by day, let the Lord turn your darkness into light. Then you can brighten the lives of those around you by being one of "God's bright lights".
I don't have to light all
the world, but I do have
to light my part.
Unknown
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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 overcast right now, but I am thinking that it will soon burn off and then we will have lots of sun like yesterday. Temp. is still in the high sixties, so our cold spell did not last long. But we could use some more rain, because the yellow pollen is floating around and all the cars that sit outside are coated with it.
Yesterday, Rick, my worker bee came to tear down the old shed in the back yard, and that was interesting. There was stuff in there that I had forgotten all about, if I ever knew it was in there. Some antiques and a lot of junk! Rick made three trips to the dump in his pickup, and he will be back Tuesday to finish up. With the shed gone, the backyard looks bigger, but also bare. When I get the sprinkler system installed, and grass sodded, perhaps things will be green again. Hopefully.
I invited Rick to have lunch with me, which he did, and we had a nice chat. I found out a lot of personal stuff and trials he has been through. His 17 year old daughter was in a bad auto accident about three weeks ago, and is recovering from a lot of broken ribs, plus other injuries, so he has been taking care of her, since he is divorced. He is a joy to have around, because he is always smiling and very good natured. Tall and rumpled, but a hard worker! God has blessed me with good people to do for me what I can no longer do.
After Rick was finished, I took the van over to the park and saw that lots of people were there. One couple had their two German shepherds on leashes and they were sniffing at a gopher tortoise, which was not paying them any attention. Even though the wind was blowing and lots of pollen was in the air, it didn't seem to bother anyone. Not everybody has allergies like I have. Brian stopped by after he left work and took me to the new Wawa to get gas, which was 3.59. Afterward, we drove by Walmart to check out their price and it was the same! I could have gotten 5 cents off with my card! Oh, well, God is the provider and He is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Colossians 1:9-14
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 you 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 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
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
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! Some may like this weather which was in the forties when I got up, but I, personally, will be happy for the warm weather to come back! Soon! The rain preceding the front dampened down the pollen which is falling in buckets off the oaks, but now, the dry air has started the allergies up again.. So we wait, patiently, for spring to come and for new leaves to take the place of the seeds.
We had a wonderful church service yesterday with a testimony from Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund, who told of her struggle with anorexia, as a result of her ballet training. Then we also had a good sermon. Seemed like a lot more people turned out, and I noticed winter visitors were there from Ind. and other states. After church, I visited the Park and noticed that the big tree that had fallen next to a truck, still had not been moved or chopped up. Seems like it would make good firewood! Lots of turtles were plastered against the side of the berm trying to get dried off and warm. There were quite a few people there Saturday, but not so much yesterday, at least, not when I was there. Although the sun was very warm, still, the air was cold and although I parked the car in the sun, it did not get too warm inside, so that means it was really chilly! But God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 98
Sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has done wonderful deeds.
He has won a mighty victory
by his power and holiness.
The Lord has announced his victory
and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!
He has remembered his promise
to love and be faithful to Israel.
The whole earth has seen the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
Break out in praise and sing for joy!
Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp.
with the harp and melodious song,
with trumpets and the sound of the ram's horn.
Make a joyful symphony before the Lord the King!
Le t the sea and everything in it shout his Praise!
Let the earth and all living things join in.
Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord.
For the Lord is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice
and the nations with fairness.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs.
Amaryllis
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 the rain is mostly over, but I still have not seen the sun yet this morning. However, the thermometer is still going down, so by tonight we will begin to see the cold front moving in. Here it is the middle of Feb. and we are facing the coldest weather so far! Go Figure...
Due to the rain all day yesterday, I thought it was prudent for me to stay home. So, I read and then cleaned out a closet some more. Still have three to go! It is amazing how I hang on to clothes I have outgrown (ha) some years ago, thinking I can get in them sometime in the future! Not Likely!
I looked out the window mid-morning and saw a large flock of ibis pecking their way along a neighbor's year, totally unconcerned with the rain. Guess it just rolls off the feathery backs, like water off a duck! We needed the rain, so God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Hebrews 6: 7-12
When the ground soaks up the rain that falls
on it and bears a good crop for the farmer,
it has the blessing of God. But if a field bears
thistles and thorns, it is useless. The farmer will
condemn that field and burn it.
Dear friends, even though we are talking like
this, we really don't believe that it applies to you.
We are confident that you are meant for better
things, things that come with salvation. For God is not
unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked
for him and how you have shown your love for him
by caring for other Christians , as you still do! Our
great desire is that you will keep right on loving others
as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what
you hope for will come true. Then you will not become
spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead you will follow
the example of those who are going to inherit God's
promises because of their faith and patience.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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! Happy wet Valentine's Day! As I type this, rain is dripping down from my roof, after a short shower, but since we need the rain, I am happy for it. A good day to reflect on our blessings and the love of friends and family. My seventeen year old grandson's birthday is today. What a special day!
Unfortunately, he is in TN, so I cannot bake a cake for him, but his mom probably will.
My cleaning lady friends came yesterday, and we had a good time catching up. They know all the eating places around, since they have to stop and eat during their day of cleaning houses, so I hear of lots of places I would not know of otherwise. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
1 Corinthians 13:4
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
rejoices 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. Now we know only a little, and even the gift
of prophecy reveals little. But when the end comes, these
special gifts will all disappear.
It's like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and
reasoned as a child does, but when I grew up, I put away
childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor
mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.
All that I know now is imperfect and incomplete, but then
I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.
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
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 a change in the weather coming, and since I have gotten used to the balmy days we have been having, I don't know if I will like having it much colder! Guess I'll have to take whatever comes, anyway! We are supposed to start getting rain this evening, and then by Sunday, it will be very cold! I am just spoiled.
I was out and about a lot more than usual yesterday, running errands. I started with a haircut at Mari's , which is always a pleasure with my cheerful friend,Then I went to Walgreen's on 4th St. and shopped a cart load of sale items. I have not been a customer of Walgreen's for a long time, because CVS is nearer and all my scrips are filled there, but I must say I am impressed by the service at Walgreen's. Very helpful and friendly associates, while at CVS, you are lucky if someone speaks to you! So, anyway, it was a pleasant experience. Then I drove to Disston shopping plaza and did some business there. That is always a busy place. Yesterday I was there about noon and the smell of pizza was fragrant in the air, making me hungry for a Little Italy pizza!
I managed to make it over to the park, and saw the gator tucked into the shrubs again,but no turtles on the other side. The ibis were moving around the circle pecking and grubbing, and a few people were out and enjoying the beautiful, warm weather. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Ash Wednesday
Do I have the power to resist overwhelming temptation?
Matthew 4:5-7 The devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the
Temple, and said, "IF you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say
"He orders his angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands
to keep you from striking your foot on a stone." Jesus responded, "The scriptures
also say "Do not test the Lord your God."
James 4:7 Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil , and he will flee from
you.
The devil can tempt us, but we can resist him just as Jesus did--by responding
to temptation with the truth of God's Word.
1 John 4:4 You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight
with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the
spirit who lives in the world.
1 John 5:4,5
Every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And
the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus
is the Son of God.
We can break free from temptation when we change our focus and our minds.
Instead of thinking about our weakness, we can fill our minds with the promise of
God's strength. In Christ we have power. We must never forget that the Holy Spirit
is great enough to overcome any threat against us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs.
Amaryllis
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 kinda overcast this morning, but that may be fog that has not burned off, yet. I must have gotten up about twenty minutes earlier than I thought, because my bedside clock has one time on it and the clocks on the other side of the bed have a different time. My PC says 9:39m but my clock says 10:02. Hmm, something is wrong with my clock. It is only about forty years old...a clock, radio, telephone. I bought it from Penney's when the old Pinellas Park Mall was still standing. Sigh. Some changes are good.
Yesterday I ran some errands and ended up at the park, looking for a little peace. I saw a flock of ibis pecking around a picnic table where a man was peacefully enjoying his lunch. The ibis were not looking for handouts; in fact, they were only passing by on their never ending quest to find grubs. The canal was so peaceful and calm, reflecting the trees along side it. Since school was just getting out, there were not too many people, yet.
I was watching the leaves falling, as I was having my devotions this morning, and, since I have not swept the porch off yet, it is getting more and more leaves. But that's okay, because there will be a lot more on it by this afternoon. My azaleas are much prettier this year than I expected, and the old bush in the backyard is just gorgeous, with beautiful deep pink flowers! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Hebrews 6:7-12
When the ground soaks up the rain that falls
on it and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has
the blessing of God. But if a field bears thistles and
thorns, it is useless. The farmer will condemn that field
and burn it.
Dear friends, even though we are talking like this,
we really don't believe that it applies to you. We are
confident that you are meant for better things, things
that come with salvation. For God is not unfair. He will
not forget how hard you have worked for him and how
you have shown your love to him by caring for other
Christians, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will
keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, in order
to make certain that what you hope for will come true.
Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent.
Instead, you will follow the example of those who are
going to inherit God's promises because of their faith
and patience.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
