Faith and Endurance

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 was a couple degrees warmer today than yesterday, but 51 is still cold to me. The temp. inside was 68 and that still seems chilly to me, if I am not moving around much. It seems strange that we are supposed to be using the A/C by Sunday...I will have to wait and see about that!

My ladies came to clean yesterday and for once, Cheryl did not have flip-flops on. Instead, she was wearing sneakers. I kid her, because she is so warm natured, but she and Kim were both wearing coats and long sleeved shirts. That wind was icy when I was sweeping the trash off the porch. Kim has been getting estimates for roof replacement and I was totally surprised by how much it costs now days to get a new roof! I have a 25 year warranty on my roof, and it is in its 14th year, so I will probably not be around when it has to be replaced.

I shopped at CVS yesterday, and loaded up on tissues, which were on sale. I have such allergies, that I use tissues by the ton, it seems. Nearly every other day, I have a sneezing fit and sneeze for about a dozen times, then I'm done for a good long time. I think I am allergic to my house.

When I drove on to the Park, I saw some bundled up people on the bridge and further down toward the second bridge, some beautiful pink was showing as a couple of spoonbills were busy in the middle of the canal. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

James 1:2-8

Dear Brothers and Sisters, whenever trouble comes your
way. let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith
is tested your endurance has a chance to grow. So let
it grow for when your endurance is fully developed, you
will be strong in character and ready for anything.

If you need wisdom---if you want to know what God wants
you to do---, ask him and he will gladly tell you. He will
not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure
that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind
is an unsettled as a wave of the sea, that is driven and tossed
by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive
anything from the Lord. they can't make up their minds.
They waver back and forth in everything they do.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Love

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 have to keep rubbing my hands together to keep them warm, because the temp. was 45 when I arose ,(not inside) and 67 in the bedroom. Now the sun is shining sometimes, and we have climbed up to 49. That is still cold, especially with the wind blowing. Oh, well, at least we do not have to shovel white stuff off the sidewalks!

Seems like today would be a good day to do my ironing, since I definitely will not get too warm! After doing laundry, I went to the library, to check out more books and drop off the six I had finished. There was what looked like a homeless person bundled up on a bench out front. I couldn't tell if it was a man or woman, but I really hope they found shelter indoors someplace last night. That time of day was a busy one for the usually fairly calm library, but school was out and the parking lot was almost full. My particular branch is a very busy place!

Afterwards, I drove on to the Park, and, since it was late in the afternoon, not many people were there and none walking dogs, which is very unusual. there were a lot of ducks gathered on the weir, looking very cold, as they were all huddled up. That was the same situation around Lynch Lake, with a flock of seagulls and ducks and once again, the lone beauty of the roseate spoonbill outstanding amongst the white feathers of the other birds. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Corinthians 13
Love is the Greatest
If I could speak in any language in heaven or in earth,
but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless
noise like a loud gong or a changing cymbal. If I had the gift
of prophecy, and I knew all the mysteries of the future and
knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what
good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak
to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good
to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed
my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn't love others, I would
be of no value whatsoever.

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.

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 is a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect
clarity. All that I know now is partial 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

Roamin' thru Romans

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 sun is not shining, the sky is overcast, a cold breeze is blowing , but still, I am thankful that I have a warm house, and a roof over my head to keep me dry! Daryl texted that it is snowing in Cleveland, TN, so, at least we don't have that to contend with.

My front porch is a mess from the high winds yesterday...the yard guys came and blew everything off nice and clean, but after they had left, the winds and rain started and now branches , leaves, acorns and a large poinsettia potted plant has blown over. I will have to go clean things up when I finish here.

I enjoyed a quiet day at home yesterday, because after I had washed and dried the sheets and got the bed made up, it was noon and the rain had already started. Since I had an unfinished book to read, I ignored the ironing and when I sat down I sort of zoned out and dozed for an hour. It was as dark at 4 as it usually is at 6 because of the tornado watch. But we needed the rain, so God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 8:35-

Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love?
Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or
calamity, or are persecuted , or are hungry or cold
or in danger or threatened with death?( Even the Scriptures
say, "For your sake we are killed every day, we are being slaughtered
like sheep.) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory
is ours through Christ who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his
love. Death can't and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons
can't. Our fears for today. our worries about tomorrow and even
the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we
are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all
creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God
that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Roamin' thru Romans

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 day started out with sunshine and was warm, but one look at the weather map and I see where the cloud covering came from, as a cold front is moving through. The temp. should be dropping today, and we will have a couple cold nights,but then a nice warm up will happen again and, once again, it will be nice!

I watched a couple football games yesterday that were played in below freezing weather. While the players were exercising with bare arms by playing the game, the spectators were sitting in the cold, and actually acted like they were enjoying it! Of course, if you live in Green Bay, I guess you have the clothes for weather like that! Brrr! That's not for me!

In 1958, Louis and I bought our burial plots at a local cemetery, but since he was in the service, he was eligible for interment at Bay Pines National Cemetery, where I am eligible, also. So, I called the cemetery to see about the procedure for transfering the plots to my sons. I was told there was no need, because upon my demise, they would automatically go to Brian and Daryl as my heirs. When I told Daryl he would be a property owner in Florida, he said maybe he could build a tiny condo on it. When I told a friend at church about it, he laughed and suggested perhaps like the pier..(inverted pyramid).  It is good to laugh about the future!

As I drove around Lynch Lake yesterday, I noticed lots of ibis, several woodstorks, another flock of seagulls and, of course, ducks. And one outstanding beauty, a roseate spoonbill! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 8:26-30
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what
we should pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that
cannot be expressed in words. and the Father who knows all hearts knows
what the Spirit is saying for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony
with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work
together for the good of those who love God and are called according
to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose
them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with
many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to
come to him. And He gave them right standing with himself, and he promised
them his glory.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

The True Vine

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! Once again, we have a perfect day, with sun and a few clouds and temps in the low seventies already! When I see the weather maps with snow and below freezing temps over most of the rest of the country, I am thankful once again that I live in this part of Florida!

I had a quiet day yesterday. My cleaning ladies came in the middle of the day, and caught me up on the neighborhood news. It seems an ambulance came at 3:30 Tues. Morning to my next door neighbors and took someone to the hospital. I know the two women who live there, Mother and daughter, are both disabled, but they keep to themselves and don't make an effort to stay in touch with the friends around, so, even though the son still lives there, also, I have no idea how they are. I have been friends with them in the past, but because I don't walk well on uneven grass, I cannot get over there, any more. It is sad.

I have been enjoying pictures on Facebook of my new step great-granddaughter, born 11/11 in Tenn. She looks a little like her mother right now, but I am sure she will be changing. She already has three half sisters, so she will be well loved.

I swept the acorns off the porch, along with the leaves and watched a squirrel peeking around the oak tree at me . His nest and tummy should be full with all the bounty of the acorns now falling. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

John 15:5-13

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.
Those who remain in me, and I in them, will
produce much fruit. For apart from me you
can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me
is thrown away like a useless branch  and withers.
Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
But if you stay joined to me and my words remain
in you, you may ask any request you like, and it
will be granted. My true disciples produce much
fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.
Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain
in my love, just as I obey my Father  and remain in
his love. I have told you this so that  you will be filled
with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command
you to love each other in the same way that I love you.
And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is
shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.
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 am always chilly in the house when I roll out of bed, but other people think it is just right with no heat and no air. Of course, this weather is perfect, compared to the rest of the country with the early snowfall! I am just wimpy when it comes to getting in the shower. After I move around a bit, I am fine and warmed up. Just old bones, I guess.

Yesterday, while I was sitting here typing, I heard a loud blower, and wondered who was doing it. I got up to see if the lawn guy's truck was out front, but did not see anything. However, when I opened the front door later, I saw that the driveway and porch had been blown off. Most of the acorns and leaves were gone. So, someone had come and done the good deed, but it was Tuesday, and my lawn guys come on Monday. Well, I am not complaining! It will just remain a mystery.

I drove out to the Disston Shopping Plaza yesterday, which is always busy, but found a parking space right in front of LIttle Italy. The tantalizing smells of pizza and other goodies were tempting, but it was the middle of the afternoon and I was not hungry. Sigh. Wouldn't you know?

On the way back home, I stopped at the park and saw the turtles once again sunning on the bank of the weir and, further on, a couple taking pictures of the very large, brown gopher tortoise. They were standing right in front of him, and he is so used to people that he sometimes does not even pull his head in. A couple of egrets were in the canal, which is still really overgrown, and people were strolling around. One couple was sitting on a bench totally engrossed in each other. Ah, Love! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 139:23,24  Psalm 141 :3,4

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 141: 3,4
Take control of what I say, O Lord,
and keep my lips sealed.
Don't let me lust for evil things.
Don't let me participate in acts of wickedness.

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! While we still have temps in the sixties and climbing into the seventies today, I see photos of all the snow in Minn. and Wyoming. People shoveling white stuff and traffic all tied up, and here it isn't even January! Give me Florida, any day!

Well, it was time for me to do my two week grocery shopping, so, yesterday, I headed up to my Publix and saw the most adorable little baby with his mama . He must have been about four months old, with strawberry blond hair. I wanted to touch his hair, but held back because you just don't do that with someone else's child. Of course, I would have asked permission. But, anyway, each time he saw me, he gave me a big smile, and we kept running into each other all through the store. He was so interested in all the people that walked by and only started to fuss when Mom was almost through with her shopping. He was a bright spot in the day! He made shopping a pleasure, because the new cashier and new stock man did not know much about what they were doing. Oh, well, everyone has to learn!

I have my appointment with the plastic surgeon for Dec. 2. That will be for a consultation, I am thinking, then will follow the date for the surgery. Her office is in Largo, which is only a little over 6 miles from here. I think that is as the crow flies!

After I got through with putting groceries away, I took off for the park and saw lots of turtles sunning on the bank of the weir, along with a couple of anhingas. But while the canal had more water in it, because of the rain, I did not see any ibis or herons in it. It must have been the wrong time of day for me to be there. But it was peaceful and quiet and I enjoyed just absorbing. God is good!

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,
and 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 remember you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love! And I remember the men and women who served us in all the wars. God bless them!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis