Give God Your Complete Attention

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! And it is a beautiful day! The sun is shining brightly and very little breeze is blowing, butterflies are flitting about and not a cloud in the sky! Temp is supposed to warm up to almost eighty today, while the rest of the country prepares for a deep freeze!We are blessed!

My yard men came a while ago, and I told him I expected him last week, but he said he had gone to Alabama for Thanksgiving, and was stuck in the airport for sixteen hours, was told to go to another an hour away, and the same situation happened there,, so he did not get home until 1 AM and took the day off Monday. Since the grass does not grow much in the winter, it was just messy from the twigs and acorns and leaves that are still falling. Anyway, they mowed today and edged, so it will be good for a couple weeks, now.

Yesterday,, on my way to the park, I spied the Metlife blimp cruising along over the interstate. I was hoping to get to a spot where I could take a picture of it, but by the time I got to a stopping place, it was already gone. Since today is so pretty, maybe they will have it up again. I guess it is in town or the area for bowl games coming up!

There weren't many people at the park, but lots of ibis and squirrels. The joggers and runners are really enjoying the space and exercise, and I even saw a lady pushing her walker all the way down the sidewalk, getting a good bit of exercise! Good for her! God is good!

From the little devotional book, Knowing God:

Worship the Lord your God and...serve him only.

Matthew4:10 HCSB

Who rules your heart? Is it God, or is it something else?Do you give God
your firstfruits or your last? Have you ever given Christ your heart, your soul,
your talents, your time and your testimony , or have you given him little more
than a few hours each Sunday morning?

In the book of Exodus, God warns that we should place no gods before Him. Yet all
too often we place our Lord in second, third or fourth place as we worship the
gods of pride, greed, power or lust. When we unwittingly place possessions
or relationships above our love for the Creator , we must seek His forgiveness
and repent from our sins.

Does God rule your heart? Make sure that the honest answer to this question
is a resounding yes! In the life of every righteous believer, God comes first.
And that's precisely the place that He reserves in your heart.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Luke 1

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 fog is still hanging on, but we will probably have bright sunshine once the fog burns off. This is what happened yesterday, as the weather gradually warms up. Once again, we are in the seventies in the day and high sixties at night. Not bad for December!

Well, I got started on the decorations over the weekend, with Brian's help. Without small children around any more, it is difficult for me to be enthusiastic about decorating.  I am always pleased when it is done, though! I will have to call on my handyman for the hanging of the outside lights.. I like to see houses that are lighted up. They look so cheery!

We had the lighting of the first Advent candle to start off worship yesterday...always a good family event. Then a good sermon and singing by Pastor Jim followed by communion. It is always good to sing the Christmas songs and worship songs.

I saw a large flock of ibis around Lynch Lake on my way to church and afterwards, went to the Park and saw more ibis and an anhinga . A few Ontario cars and several runners going into and out of the park. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Luke 1:26

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!" Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. "Don't be frightened, Mary," the angel told her, " for God has decided to bless you!" You will become pregnant and have a son and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!"

Mary asked the angel, "But How can I have a baby? I am a virgin." The angel replied, " The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born will be called Holy and he will be called the Son of God. What's more, your relative, Elizabeth, has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she is already in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God!"

Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant  and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true." and then the angel left."

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Greetings from Paul

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 still have the heat on in the house, but the temp is slowly warming up, and if the sun decides to shine, it will feel even warmer. Then I will have to get out the broom and clean off the porch. With all the wind we have had, I have a carpet of acorns, leaves and twigs covering it.

Brian and I had a good drive to Dunnellon yesterday, going up the Suncoast Parkway, and back on 41 as far as Brooksville. I really like that part of Florida, because of the rolling hills, and pastures still in use...cows and horses. That is a rare sight any more!

As Brian was driving with the sun almost in my eyes the whole way, I noticed an unusual sight to the side of the sun, some distance away. It looked like a rainbow stripe, and I mentioned it to Brian, but then I noticed the same thing on the other side of the sun, and that the colors were just a peachy and yellow, not like a rainbow. Then when the thin clouds cleared away from the top of the sun, all that was left were the two colorful stripes! It was like an aura, but I have never seen anything like it!  They stayed beside the sun until the sun set. I wish I knew what caused the phenom! Any meteorologists out there know?

As we came over the bridge into Pinellas County, the sunset was spectacular and the sun was not in my eyes any more!

We had a really good time catching up with family news and enjoying lots of good food, thanks to Kim for her work in preparing everything! God is good!

-- From the Promise Bible NLT:

Colossians 2:6
 And now, just as you have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord,
you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots
grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him , so
you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were
taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

A Thanksgiving Prayer

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! Well, the wind is blowing and we have overcast and sunshine and the temps will be dropping all day, so it looks like we will have a freezy Thanksgiving as we head to Dunnellon tomorrow.

I drove to Sweetbay yesterday to get some things for my contribution to the dinner. I had already checked out Winn-Dixie, and their parking lot was so full, I gave up. That the parking lot at Sweetbay was not, does not speak well for their business, but it was good for me. I am blessed that I have five or six supermarkets within about five miles of my house!

I took a cruise through the park after shopping and although there weren't many people there, it looked neat and freshly mowed. It will be closed tomorrow and Friday, so all the little critters will have the park to themselves!

Well, today I celebrate the memory of my wedding to the love of my life 65 years ago. Memories are bittersweet! But God is always good!

Thanksgiving Day   (a prayer)

Father, we around this table thank Thee; for Thy great gift of life,
That Thy love for us is not dependent upon any
unworthiness of ours, for good health,
that we know neither hunger nor want,
for warm clothes to wear,
for those who love us best,
for friends whose words of encouragement have often chased away dark clouds,
for the zest of living,
got many an answered prayer,
for kindly providences that have preserved us from danger and harm.

We thank Thee that still we live in a land bountifully able to supply all
our needs , a land which still by Thy Providence knows peace, whose
skies are not darkened by the machines of the enemy, who fields and
woodlands are still unblasted  by the flames of war; a land with peaceful
valleys and smiling meadows still serene.
O help us to appreciate  all that we have, to be content with it,
to be grateful for it, to be proud of it ; not in an arrogant pride that
boasts, but in a grateful pride that strives to be more worthy.
In Thy name, to whose bounty we owe these blessings spread before
us, to Thee we give our gratitude. Amen.
                                           Peter Marshall

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, TO ALL!

Psoaring thru Psalm 103

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 front coming through now, and the wind is blowing, the sky is overcast and the temp is in the low seventies. Still, we are warmer than most of the country, so, even though we will be chilly on Thanksgiving, we won't have snow or sleet. Another thing to be thankful for!

I got caught up with some things yesterday...did my ironing, swept the porch, which does not look like it now, and took a walk around the house, noting the mildew on the north side, which does not get any sun, due to the neighbors towering podacarpus hedge. I just had the house washed about a month and a half ago, but clean does not last..

I took a ride into the park and saw a gopher tortoise busily digging a new hole. The dirt was just flying, and it really was amusing. If there had not been people standing around filming, I would have done the same, but I have never used the video on my iphone, so maybe the pics would not have turned out well. but, anyway, God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

 Psalm 103:9

He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
He has not punished us for all our sins,
nor does he deal with us as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he understands how weak we are.
He knows we are only dust.
Our days are like grass.
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
The wind blows, we are gone---
as though we had never been here.
But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children's children
of those who are faithful to his covenant
of those who obey his commandment...

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 103

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! Our cold front came through, but the temp did not drop as I had expected. It was cool enough last night that I had put the heavy blanket on before climbing into bed, and I was glad I did! Up and down is the way the weather goes these days!

I watched part of the Packers game yesterday and the players and spectators were so wrapped up the weather must have been below freezing! I don't know how those guys can play in short sleeves and barehanded. They sure had heavy coats put on them when they got off the field! That is why I stay in Florida! No place like home!

We had a Thanksgiving service yesterday, which reminded me of all I have to be thankful for, and moved one long time old friend to come up to me and show his appreciation for our longtime friendship.

I went to the park a couple times and was kind of surprised to see people out even in the overcast weather. Ibis, turtles and egrets were also visible, and there must have been a gator near the bridge, because a small crowd was looking over at the water. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 103

Praise the Lord, I tell myself:
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, I tell myself,
and never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He ransoms me from death
and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord gives righteousness and
justice to all who are treated unfairly...( to be con't)

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

A Firm Foundation

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partner! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! We have another overcast morning, but like yesterday, the sun will probably come out later and we will be in the eighties again. Seems like the winter wear will not get used much this year, although we could still have a cold winter. And thank you, Jesus, that the hurricane season is almost over and we have not had one, yet!

After I got through at the lab yesterday and had my delayed breakfast, I started out for the library, and finding the parking lot almost full, decided to go to Publix instead, and do some much needed shopping. Everything you could ever want for a Thanksgiving meal was on display and the bakery smell as I walked in the door, was mouth-watering! I did not have my list with me, but once I write down what I need, I pretty much remember it. Which I did!

When I went by Lynch Lake, it was full of ducks and moorhens. I also saw a group of wood storks, so they are escaping from the cold weather in the north already! I noticed the Florida orchid trees are blooming around the neighborhood, and they look very pretty. There is always something in bloom in Florida! God is good!

From the devotional book Quiet Moments with God:

The rain came, down, the streams rose, and the winds
blew and beat against that house. Yet it did not fall, because
it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:25

The world's tallest tower stands in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The
first observation deck rises to 1,136 feet, and the second is even higher at 1,815
feet. Photographs and information  located inside the tower help visitors
comprehend the enormous undertaking of the project. Sixty-two tons of
earth and shale were removed from fifty feet into the ground for laying the
concrete that rises to the sky.

From 1972 to 1974, 3,000 workers were at the tower site. Harnessed by safety
ropes, some of the laborers dangled outside the giant for their finishing
work. Remarkably, no one sustained injuries nor died on location.

Today a rapid elevator transports visitors upward for a breathtaking view
of the city and all surrounding areas. Many feel it was well worth the money,
time and effort required to build the CN tower.

We, too, need a good foundation for facing life each day. As we pray and spend
time with our Heavenly Father, we are strengthening our spiritual
foundation, our support base for life. We are able to see more from His point
of view and not just our own. Thus, we are not overwhelmed  by whatever
comes our way. When we feel we're hanging on the edge or suspended in
mid-air, we can take courage in knowing He is holding us-firmly planted-in
the palm of His hand. His foundation is strong and sure,and He will not
crumble and fall.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis