Still 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! What can I say about the weather? It remains the same around here as the last few weeks...no rain, but abundant sunshine and interesting clouds. I like to see the different formations and used to sprawl out in the grass when I was a teen ager, just to watch the clouds form different shapes and see if I could make out a face or two. Sigh. That was probably the beginning of my skin pre-cancers.

Speaking of that, my nose is basically healed. It still does not look like it, but my last trip to the MOHS surgeon was yesterday, and he said to use a certain scar cream on it to flatten out the graft. So, I started that yesterday and we will see how it goes. My trip to Largo for my appointment was uneventful and pretty fast, since I got a lot of green lights, but coming back was a different story. I had to go through several school zones, and then got behind a county garbage truck which stopped at every house on 62nd,, which is a two lane street at that point, but no one got impatient, and I was able to watch, close up, a hard working man. He would grab multiple cans and empty them into the truck and bags and bags and toss them in. He worked very quickly, and then would hop on the side of the truck and off to the next stop. I am pretty sure he did not dream of being a garbage hauler when he was small, but he was doing honorable work, and was not begging on the street.  So, good for him!

After I got back in my neighborhood, I made a trip to the bank, and then a couple more errands, and was glad to get back home and relax a bit. I took a trip to the park first, just to unwind and saw a small gopher tortoise, squirrels in the same place as the last time, and several beautiful jacaranda trees in bloom. The bougainvillea bushes are also gorgeous and in full bloom! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 12:9-13
Don't pretend that you love others; really love them.
Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight
in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work,
but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble,
and always be prayerful. When God's children are in need,
be the ones to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting
guests home for dinner, or, if they need lodging, for the night.

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! Yesterday I was glad that we had no rain, because the flat roof got power washed and coated, and the whole house was power washed, so everything dried well, except Rick, who was pretty wet by the time he was finished with all the water! But the outside of the house looks much better. Next time it will probably have to be painted. We need rain around here, even though other sections of the county have been getting wet. I am sure it will come all in God's timing.

I did not go out because of the length of time that Rick was here, but am going to Largo today to see my plastic surgeon for a check up on my nose. It is healing well, down to a thin red scabby line now. I don't even think about it when I go out, but it is so prominent, I know people look at my face and wonder about it. Oh, well, better that than to have the cancer there.

I threw some bread crumbs out for the birds and squirrels yesterday, and, as far as I know, it is gone, so somebody enjoyed it! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 12:1-2
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you
to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and
holy sacrifice---the kind he will accept. When you think
of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but
let God transform you into a new person by changing
the way you think. Then you will know what God wants
you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and
perfect his will really is.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Jogging thru John

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 storm raging outside, but it is all man made. My handy man is here power washing the roof and now the house. The nozzle he is using is pretty powerful, so the outside should look almost like freshly painted when he is through.

That is why this is so late...I was waiting for him to come earlier.

After I ran a few errands yesterday, I happened to pass by, slowly, a crash near here, with the victim still lying on the street, and several ER vehicles clustered around him, I could not see any cars damaged, but did not try to look too hard, because of the traffic. One civilian was directing traffic and doing a heroic job, because 62nd Ave. No. at school release time is fierce! I said a prayer for the injured one, and hope he is doing all right.It's a jungle out there!

Tomorrow I have to go to Largo for a checkup on my nose. That is not usually too bad a drive going, but by the time I get out, it is heavy traffic on Bryan Dairy road.

I took time to go in the Park and sit for a few minutes and enjoyed the breeze. I saw six or seven squirrels spread out in a small area and a gopher tortoise strolling along beside them. God is good!

Well, the computer crashed and I have spent the last several minutes trying to work it out.Sigh.

From the Promise Bible NLT:

John 15:5-17
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 in 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 may 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..you are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call
you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants. Now
you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father
told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go
and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you
whatever you ask for, using my name. I command you to love each other.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

John

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 getting a late start this morning, but hope to catch up before the predicted rain showers start. We have another in the string of dry, sunny days that we have had for a month!

My lawn crew have already come and gone, and brought the dumpster back up and for that I am grateful. I did not think they would come today, but I guess the grass has started to grow again. My handy man is coming tomorrow to power wash the flat roof and then coat it with the rainproof coating that is already on it. It needs to be applied about once a year or so.. This is one time I hope it does not rain!

We heard a good sermon yesterday and attendance was down just a little bit from Easter, which is to be expected, but it was good to see all the friends and worship with music. I drove to the park afterwards and saw a beautiful egret with graceful, bent neck looking at something in the water. Then a couple ibis were pecking around the canal. I notice jacaranda trees are now blooming...so pretty with the lavender blossoms! After that the Royal Poinciana trees will bloom. There is always a lot of color waiting for me to notice! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

John 14:22-26

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 will 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

Psoaring thru Psalms

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! This is another day just like yesterday, and the day before, etc,. There are a few more clouds, so maybe,  and that is a big maybe, we will get a shower later on. Quite a breeze is blowing, so maybe the surf is up. All the spring breakers that are left, should like that!

I think I will be mostly staying home today, because I have ironing to do, and I want to look again for more photos, among the thousands that I have. I have had a long life, and took many photos along the way. I have come across early church pics, baby pictures of people who now have grandchildren, mountain views, vacation trips to D.C., Shaker Village in Ky. where we stayed overnight, and still more to go through. Ah, memories!

I made a trip to the library yesterday...returned some books and borrowed more, then drove to Chick-fil-A and bought a refreshing Frosted Lemonade, to enjoy on a very warm afternoon. On the way there I went around Lynch Lake and saw a wood stork watching a small duck and several egrets, along with a couple ibis. The stark white of the feathers are a nice contrast with the dark lake.

I also drove to the park, where all was quiet and green and still in the heat of the afternoon.

God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 139:33,34

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.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Paul's 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! All I can say about the weather is that it is the same as yesterday, the day before, etc., Just warm and perfect! I have been running the A/C for over a month, because we are getting up to nearly ninety some days.

I attended the services for a dear friend and organist at my church, yesterday afternoon. It was a happy and sad tribute to a funny, talented and deeply committed woman who touched many lives. Among the good parts, was the opportunity to see many old friends, whom I had not seen in a long time.

One of them was a friend who walked across the new span of the Howard Frankland Bridge with me, back in the summer of '91. This was something I really wanted to do, and she was kind enough to accompany me. The problem was, I did not drink enough water, the sun was hot, I did not wear a hat, and so I wound up faint, and almost had heat stroke, so the paramedics had to carry me to their tent and put cold water under my arms, legs and make me drink a couple bottles before I recovered enough to go. Now if I could only do a tandem parachute jump...That's on my bucket list.

On my way to church, I drove around Lynch Lake, and there was the roseate spoonbill, in all its pink glory! It was busy pecking alongside some white herons, with seagulls a little ways further on. That was better than anything I saw in the park! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ephesians 3:14-

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan,
I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of
everything, in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his
glorious, unlimited resources, he will give you mighty
inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that
Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts
as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into
the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the
power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide,
how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May
you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great
you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled
with life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within
us he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would
ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.
Amen

( I may have sent this recently, but it is one of my favorite scriptures.)

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 promises to be another in the string of beautiful days...sun, passing clouds, and cool breezes. Just beautiful!

Yesterday, I finally had to go grocery shopping. I keep putting it off, because it is not my favorite thing to do, but I was running out of a lot of things, so off I went to Publix. Besides, I had clipped out a $10 coupon from them if I spent over 50 dollars, and I knew that would be easy! So when the carry out boy put them in the car, I had to open all the windows, because the car was hot! I had the sunscreen up in the windshield, or the steering wheel would have been so hot, I would not have been comfortable touching it.

After getting everything put away, I was tired, but still had to empty the dryer, which had a load of laundry waiting to be folded. I was glad to finally sit down and eat my supper. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 91:14-16

The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue them and honor them.
I will satisfy them with a long life,
and give them my salvation."

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis