Time for everything

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 seems like this dry weather and blowing winds have made the pollen count high, so people are sneezing and blowing. Even the weather man on TV was indoors instead of his usual place outside. Fortunately, it has not bothered me, yet. My yard crew came just as I finished sending this blog yesterday and they blew the blanket of seeds up against the house and under the azaleas, which had just been cleaned out by my handy man. Guess I will have to speak to them about that. What we need is a good rain to settle things down. And, since I mentioned I had no worms in the trees, yet, I think I spoke too soon. As I walked out in the front yard, one was dangling from a sticky string right in front of my face! Oh, No!

I went shopping at Disston Plaza yesterday, and if it had been later in the afternoon, I would have stopped into Little Italy for a slice of pizza, but it was too early..Sigh. After I finished shopping, I headed for home and stopped in at the Park. Everything was quiet and peaceful, with a couple dozen cars . School was not out yet, so it was not very busy. I saw turtles sunning themselves on the bank of the weir, and a couple ibis pecking around. The azaleas are still blooming and pretty. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a time for everything,
a season for every activity under heaven,
A time to be born and a time to die.
A plant to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to rebuild,
A time to cry and a time to laugh,
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones  and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away,
A time to search and a time to lose.
A time to keep and a time to throw away,
A time to tear and a time to mend,
A time to be quiet and a time to speak up,
A time to love and a time to hate.
 A time for war and a time for peace.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

1 Corinthians

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 was beaming for awhile, but now the clouds have covered the sky and we are to be expecting a little rain this afternoon. However, it is still warm and I have a couple windows open. Due to the wind over the weekend, my yard, porch and driveway are covered with oak seeds! What a mess! Of course, it is not only my yard,,,everyone who has oak trees is suffering from the same problem. Well, it is better than the worms that some have in their trees. At least, I don't have those yet.

I have to admit I am having a hard time adjusting to DST. Each year it is the same--it takes me a couple days to catch up on the missed hour of sleep. I almost dozed off during my prayer time this morning!

I still have not heard from my yard man, so he must not have gotten his truck fixed yet. He is so far behind, I hope he does not lose customers. It's tough when you depend on transportation to do your job and it fails!

Well, I caused a little excitement in the neighborhood yesterday. Apparently, I pressed my Home Companion ADT button that I wear on my wrist when I am here alone, and then I did not answer the phone when they called, because I did not recognize the caller I.D. So..the paramedics came walking in the house calling out to see if I needed help. (The location of the key hidden outside is known to them). I was so surprised! They even called Brian to tell him I did not answer and he should come. Anyway, I apologized and they said they were just glad I was Okay! I had no idea I had pressed the button, but it is good to know I get good response!   God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Corinthians 15:54-58
When this happens--when our perishable earthly bodies have been
transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die--then at last the
scriptures will come true:

Death is swallowed up in victory.
Oh death where is your victory?
Oh, death, where is your sting?"

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
How we thank God who gives us victory over sin and death through
Jesus Christ our Lord!

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always
enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do
for the Lord is ever useless.

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! This is supposed to be the transition day, when we will get cooler as the day progresses and have a couple days of low seventies and then bounce back up into the low eighties again. The sky is overcast right now, but I think it will allow some sun now and then, since I see blue sky peeking through the clouds.

My handy man came by already to check out the size of the florescent tubes in the kitchen. Then he will pick some up and come back to rake and bag leaves. The light tubes go out periodically and it takes three in the fixture, but only one is burning right now. It is good to have someone I can depend on!

My PC lost its sound somehow and since I was unable to fix the problem, I called my trusty computer repair man, who came and found what was wrong in about five minutes. I knew he would. So I was able to listen to Raul Esparza sing. What a marvelous voice!

I got all my work done yesterday, even though it took me all day, but who needs to work fast any more? I was pleasantly tired when the day was over, though. But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 65:1-4
 What mighty praise, O God,
belongs to you in Zion.
We will fulfill our vows to you,
for you answer our prayers,
and to you all people will come.
Though our hearts are filled with sins
you forgive them all.
What joy for those you choose to bring near,
those who live in your holy courts.
What joys await us inside your Holy Temple.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Wisdom from James

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 wind is blowing, but I don't see so many leaves flying by the window, so maybe most of them are off the trees now. The sun has already burned off the fog and warmed up the temps. Yesterday got up to 80 and I think we are on the way to that high today. Meanwhile, a snowstorm is already hitting the midwest and northeast. I love St.Petersburg!

After my cleaning friend finished yesterday, I   prepared for my trip to Dr. Proper, for his look at my nose. I was hoping for a fairly quick visit. Ha. I arrived ten minutes before my 3:30 appointment and he finally took a two minute look while taking a photo of it, at about 5 PM. He was pleased with the progress and left off the bandaid. Meanwhile, Brian and Daryl had been texting and Brian even came to escort me home, but somehow, we missed seeing each other at the office. The sun was shining still, and I got home past my supper time, very hungry, but safe and tired. So I am not due back for a month! Yay!
God is good!

This scripture passage speaks to me today; I have towels waiting in the dryer, and a load in the washer waiting to be put in the dryer...

From the Promise Bible NLT:

James 4:13-17
Look here, you people who say, "Today or tomorrow we are  going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog---it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, " If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise, you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Jesus Promises

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! Lots of sun and the wind is blowing this morning, which means the seeds and leaves will be piling up on the porch again.  I called the yard man yesterday and he said he was running behind because his truck had broken down. That must be very frustrating, since so many people rely on him. I know I am waiting for the blower to make things look clean for a little while! I saw a tractor on 9th St yesterday with a load of sod that looked nice and green, to be placed in one of the spots they tore up due to the destruction and repairs they are making to the street. I couldn't help being envious, because I need sod so badly in my front yard. The grass won't grow because of the shade from the oak trees. Sigh.

I had an appointment with my podiatrist and when I arrived one man was already sitting in the small waiting room. I looked closely and recognized him as the pharmacist who had worked at Galen's when Brian was a baby...over fifty years ago! I spoke to him as he was on his way out, but did not give my name, so I am sure he did not recognize me. He is in his nineties now, so it is a small world!

After I left there, I collected a half price strawberry milkshake with my Steak and Shake gift card from Christmas...took it into the park and enjoyed the peace and quiet for awhile. Just a couple of anhingas drying their wings and an ibis pecking away for his constant lunch and quite a few people were enjoying the beautiful day! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

John 14:21-
Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them.

Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, "Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?

Jesus replied, "All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them. Anyone who doesn't love me will not do what I say. And remember my words are not my own. This message is from the Father who  sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.. But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative---and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit--he will teach you everything and remind  you of everything I myself have told you...

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

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! Lots of sun and warm breezes mean that today will be a day much like yesterday...very warm and more humid.

Because of the beautiful weather yesterday and a cancellation of my dental appointment due to the illness of the hygienist, I did grocery shopping. While I was checking out, the cashier held up my guava preserves with a smile on her face and said that was her favorite! I told her how fond I was of guavas, and that when I was growing up, we lived very close to a guava grovel (it was where Home Depot is now on 22nd Ave. No.) She did not know that guavas would grow here, because she is from Colombia. She wanted to plant a tree in her back yard so she could have guavas. I told her why not? She is a very pretty girl and it was a pleasure talking with her!

After I got my groceries home, I took books back to the library and checked out some more, then took a drive to the Park. I saw a cyclist peddling very fast ahead of me, and though the speed limit through the park is 15 mph, he was going much faster and circled around, then came back out. While I was looking at the high water, azaleas and all the oak leaves and seeds, he was on his way out. I only caught up with him as I approached the light at 62,nd Ave,. then he disappeared. Well, while I was waiting for the light to change, he zoomed down the sidewalk and when I turned in several blocks down, I was able to catch a glimpse of him already two streets ahead of me!  He was single minded and never quit peddling! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

Matthew 6:5-13
And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the
hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and
in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you,
that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go
away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your
Father secretly. then your Father, who knows all secrets, will
reward you.

When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions
do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you
need even before you ask him. Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be honored.
May your Kingdom come soon,
May your will be done here on earth,
just as it is in heaven.
Give us our food for today,
 and forgive us our sins,
just as we have forgiven those who
have sinned against us.
and don't let us yield to temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Amen.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Easin' thru Ezekiel

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! After another day of rain Saturday, Sunday turned out to be very warm and sunshiny. It was almost time for the A/C to be on! I did not even need a sweater in church, which is unusual for me!

On my way to church, I drove around Lynch Lake Park, and saw a dad and daughter on a bench tossing bread to a huge flock of seagulls, ibis, ducks and assorted feathered friends! It was an amazing sight! The birds were all moving to get into the best position for the goodies, so there was constant activity.

There is so much water everywhere, the gutters and yards are mushy. Now that the oaks are shedding the seeds, they are hard to remove when wet. I got out the broom and tried to sweep off the porch late in the afternoon, but a big clump was piled up in front of the step up to the porch from the sidewalk and it was hard to move them because of the wetness underneath. It is partly cloudy and partly sunshiny today, so maybe more drying out is in store.

I spoke to a squirrel hiding behind the large oak and sticking his head out at me, but he just sat and looked at me. I still have some peanuts and if he had seemed interested, I would have given him some. If I throw them out on the ground, the blue jays swoop in and get all before the squirrels can find them! But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ezekiel 36:23-27
Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord:
I am bringing you back again but not because you deserve it. I am doing
it to protect my holy name, which you dishonored while you were
scattered among the nations. I will show how holy my great name is---the
name you dishonored among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness
through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the
nations will know that I am the Lord, for I will gather you up from all the
nations and bring you home again to your land.

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth
will be washed away and you will no longer worship idols. And I will
give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit
in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient
heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so you will obey my laws and do
whatever I command.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis