Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the warm day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! As I stepped outside this morning, I saw the glow from the full moon over the house high in the west and noticed a large misty ring glowing in its brightness. I took off my glasses, thinking my eyes were blurry, but there it was. It must have been the misty fog that created the halo effect. God is Awesome!
As I was driving into the park yesterday, I saw Mr. Peacock, once more in front of a white garage door, just folding his tail feathers, although there were no peahens present. I think he was just strutting to show off! ;o)
The clouds were threatening, but it was warm, so lots of people were taking advantage of the spring-like weather. The community service workers were raking up leaves and had a pickup truck full with lots more to rake! The leaves are falling and the pollen is floating! Allergy time is here. But, we are thankful for the good weather we have!
From the Promise Bible NLT
A Time for Everything Ecc. 3
"There is a time for everything,
a season for every activity under heaven,
a time to be born and a time to die.
A time 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 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
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Stress
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 clouds eclipsed the lunar eclipse last night, so I guess we will have to wait until 2010 to see one again. I stepped outside about 10 PM to see if the sky had cleared and got sprinkles on my face. That was the answer!
I took a walk around Arrow Lake at the park yesterday and was rewarded by seeing a tri-colored heron standing very still in the water and very well hidden. Three little moorhens were clucking softly to each other and apparently they have their nest in the sawgrass stand in the water. I watched them swimming in and out of the tall grass. They are pretty well protected at the far end of the lake, although I have seen a large gator there in years past. The gators go where ever they please.
On my way back to the car, two Muscovy ducks came toward me looking for a hand out. It is rare to see these ducks at the park and they probably won't last long. Too many predators!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Should I be surprised by the stress of life?
John 16:33 "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
Jesus warned us to expect stress. This world is filled with trials and sorrows that generate stress in our lives. Christ gives us lasting peace because his power and grace are able to overcome all sources of stress in our lives.
What can I do to find relief from stress and anxiety?
Isaiah 41:10 "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."
We can turn from fear and anxiety to faith and peace. God promises to supply the power to get through the hard times.
Matthew 11:28-29 "Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls."
Resting in Christ breaks the hold of stress. When we are yoked together in service to him, we are free from the unrealistic and destructive expectations that can overwhelm us. Jesus' humility and gentleness overcome every conflict and stress in this life.
What do we learn from stress?
Galatians 6:9 "Don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."
We keep going because God has promised a rich harvest in his perfect time.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Well, the clouds eclipsed the lunar eclipse last night, so I guess we will have to wait until 2010 to see one again. I stepped outside about 10 PM to see if the sky had cleared and got sprinkles on my face. That was the answer!
I took a walk around Arrow Lake at the park yesterday and was rewarded by seeing a tri-colored heron standing very still in the water and very well hidden. Three little moorhens were clucking softly to each other and apparently they have their nest in the sawgrass stand in the water. I watched them swimming in and out of the tall grass. They are pretty well protected at the far end of the lake, although I have seen a large gator there in years past. The gators go where ever they please.
On my way back to the car, two Muscovy ducks came toward me looking for a hand out. It is rare to see these ducks at the park and they probably won't last long. Too many predators!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Should I be surprised by the stress of life?
John 16:33 "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
Jesus warned us to expect stress. This world is filled with trials and sorrows that generate stress in our lives. Christ gives us lasting peace because his power and grace are able to overcome all sources of stress in our lives.
What can I do to find relief from stress and anxiety?
Isaiah 41:10 "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."
We can turn from fear and anxiety to faith and peace. God promises to supply the power to get through the hard times.
Matthew 11:28-29 "Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls."
Resting in Christ breaks the hold of stress. When we are yoked together in service to him, we are free from the unrealistic and destructive expectations that can overwhelm us. Jesus' humility and gentleness overcome every conflict and stress in this life.
What do we learn from stress?
Galatians 6:9 "Don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."
We keep going because God has promised a rich harvest in his perfect time.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Sunrise
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the cool day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! As I stepped outside this morning, the moon was blazing its light in the west, directly over the house and was eclipsing the brilliance of the stars, which were barely visible. Tonight is to be the lunar eclipse, so, if the sky stays clear, we should be able to see part of it, anyway.
It should be a good day for walking with dry air and warming up. Once more, we will have spring-like weather in the middle of Feb. I see the piles of snow on the weather channel on TV and am very grateful that I live in Florida!
Lots of people were enjoying the outdoors at the park yesterday, I saw them hanging over the bridge looking at the water, and wondered if they were looking at turtles or if a gator was hanging in the canal.
A great white heron was looking at a bush at the edge of our yard yesterday, with his neck undulating. It was fascinating to watch! Usually, they don't come in our yard, because sometimes a feral cat hangs around. It doesn't seem to bother the Mama duck and her three almost grown ducklings, though. They like to rest by the plumbago in the shade in the afternoon. God is good!
From the book, Quiet Moments with God for Teachers:
Sunrise, shining its beams through the window on a cold winter's morning, is a welcome sight. Even if the air outside is icy cold, sunrise gives the illusion of warmth. With the rising sun, the city opens its shutters and make preparations for the day; in the country, the farm animals are let out to pasture. Kids are off to school, adults are on their way to work, and each has a different perspective of the sunrise.
Sunrise happens whether we see it or not. Clouds may cover the sky so totally that we can't experience the beauty of the sunbeams making their way to the earth. No matter what the climate, the sun still rises in the eastern horizon and sets over the west. Sunrise is set by God's clock, and it is ours to enjoy in the early mornings when we can see it clearly. It is just as much there for us to enjoy when the clouds cover it. We can trust it to be there-even though it may be hidden for a while.
We can also trust God to be there every morning because He is the one, irrefutable reality in this life, and He remains constant and true!
"The sunrise from on high will visit us to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Luke 1:78-79 NASB
Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain. Laughter and teardrops, pleasure and pain - low tides
and high tides, mountains and plains.
Triumphs, defeats and losses and gains. But there never was a cloud that the son didn't shine through and there's nothing that's impossible for Jesus Christ to do!
Helen Steiner Rice
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
It should be a good day for walking with dry air and warming up. Once more, we will have spring-like weather in the middle of Feb. I see the piles of snow on the weather channel on TV and am very grateful that I live in Florida!
Lots of people were enjoying the outdoors at the park yesterday, I saw them hanging over the bridge looking at the water, and wondered if they were looking at turtles or if a gator was hanging in the canal.
A great white heron was looking at a bush at the edge of our yard yesterday, with his neck undulating. It was fascinating to watch! Usually, they don't come in our yard, because sometimes a feral cat hangs around. It doesn't seem to bother the Mama duck and her three almost grown ducklings, though. They like to rest by the plumbago in the shade in the afternoon. God is good!
From the book, Quiet Moments with God for Teachers:
Sunrise, shining its beams through the window on a cold winter's morning, is a welcome sight. Even if the air outside is icy cold, sunrise gives the illusion of warmth. With the rising sun, the city opens its shutters and make preparations for the day; in the country, the farm animals are let out to pasture. Kids are off to school, adults are on their way to work, and each has a different perspective of the sunrise.
Sunrise happens whether we see it or not. Clouds may cover the sky so totally that we can't experience the beauty of the sunbeams making their way to the earth. No matter what the climate, the sun still rises in the eastern horizon and sets over the west. Sunrise is set by God's clock, and it is ours to enjoy in the early mornings when we can see it clearly. It is just as much there for us to enjoy when the clouds cover it. We can trust it to be there-even though it may be hidden for a while.
We can also trust God to be there every morning because He is the one, irrefutable reality in this life, and He remains constant and true!
"The sunrise from on high will visit us to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Luke 1:78-79 NASB
Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain. Laughter and teardrops, pleasure and pain - low tides
and high tides, mountains and plains.
Triumphs, defeats and losses and gains. But there never was a cloud that the son didn't shine through and there's nothing that's impossible for Jesus Christ to do!
Helen Steiner Rice
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Psoaring thru Psalms 32 and 33
Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the clear, cool day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! After the overcast, very warm day yesterday, it is nice to have sixtiest weather for a day or two.
As we drove into the park yesterday, I saw a strange sight coming toward us behind the fence. At first, I thought a huge gopher tortoise, but I stopped and it was a HUGE gator. I had never seen one walking toward me, before! He was out of the lake and walking on the dry ground. When he saw us in the car, he plopped down in the grass and was almost invisible from the road. I drove on down to the office to tell Terry, but when I turned around and went back, he was calmly swimming on down the canal, on the other side of the street! That was exciting! He must have been at least 10 feet long! God's Creation is good!
From Psalm 32 NLT:
6 "Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide them.
I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord."
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Therefore; let all the godly confess their
rebellion to you while there is time,
that they may not drown in the
floodwaters of judgment.
For you are my hiding place
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
The Lord says, "I will guide you along the
best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it
under control.
Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who
trust the Lord.
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!"
Psalm 33"We depend on the Lord alone to save us.
Only he can help us protecting us like a shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we are trusting in his holy name.
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord.
for our hope in in your alone."
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs.
Amaryllis
As we drove into the park yesterday, I saw a strange sight coming toward us behind the fence. At first, I thought a huge gopher tortoise, but I stopped and it was a HUGE gator. I had never seen one walking toward me, before! He was out of the lake and walking on the dry ground. When he saw us in the car, he plopped down in the grass and was almost invisible from the road. I drove on down to the office to tell Terry, but when I turned around and went back, he was calmly swimming on down the canal, on the other side of the street! That was exciting! He must have been at least 10 feet long! God's Creation is good!
From Psalm 32 NLT:
6 "Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide them.
I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord."
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Therefore; let all the godly confess their
rebellion to you while there is time,
that they may not drown in the
floodwaters of judgment.
For you are my hiding place
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
The Lord says, "I will guide you along the
best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it
under control.
Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who
trust the Lord.
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!"
Psalm 33"We depend on the Lord alone to save us.
Only he can help us protecting us like a shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we are trusting in his holy name.
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord.
for our hope in in your alone."
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs.
Amaryllis
Monday, February 18, 2008
John 9:4
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the cloudy, windy day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Rain is threatening, but we need it on this President's day. I thought about putting out our flag, but didn't want it to get wet.
Yesterday we took a ride to downtown St. Petersburg. What a change since I was a child. I remember when we used to have all celebrations downtown... no shopping malls, no strip centers. The city ended at 54th Avenue North, and 9th St. was brick with grass growing between the bricks. What a bustling place it is now!
We went through the park and saw lots of people enjoying the sun and having picnics and walking dogs. It was too hot for me to take a walk after church, so I was lazy! I really enjoyed looking at the flowers, impatiens and petunias, and azaleas blooming all over town, and in the park, This is a good time of the year. God is good!
From the little book, Knowing God, 2 minutes a day devotional:
"We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day, Night is coming when no one can work."
John9:4
The words of John 9:4 remind us that "night is coming" for all of us. But until then, God gives us each day and fills it to the brim with possibilities. The day is presented to us fresh and clean at midnight, free of charge, but we must beware. Today is a non-renewable resource - once it's gone it's gone forever Our responsibility, of course, is to use this day in the service of God's will and in accordance with His commandments.
Today, treasure the time that God has given you. And search for the hidden possibilities that God has placed along your path. This day is a priceless gift from your Creator, so use it joyfully and productively. And encourage others to do likewise. After all, night is coming when no one can work.
"Overcommitment and time pressures are the greatest destroyers of marriages and families. It takes time to develop any friendship, whether with a loved one or with God Himself."
James Dobson
"Live in such a way that any day would make a suitable capstone for life. Live so that you need not change your mode of living, even if your sudden departure were immediately predicted to you."
Charles H. Spurgeon
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday we took a ride to downtown St. Petersburg. What a change since I was a child. I remember when we used to have all celebrations downtown... no shopping malls, no strip centers. The city ended at 54th Avenue North, and 9th St. was brick with grass growing between the bricks. What a bustling place it is now!
We went through the park and saw lots of people enjoying the sun and having picnics and walking dogs. It was too hot for me to take a walk after church, so I was lazy! I really enjoyed looking at the flowers, impatiens and petunias, and azaleas blooming all over town, and in the park, This is a good time of the year. God is good!
From the little book, Knowing God, 2 minutes a day devotional:
"We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day, Night is coming when no one can work."
John9:4
The words of John 9:4 remind us that "night is coming" for all of us. But until then, God gives us each day and fills it to the brim with possibilities. The day is presented to us fresh and clean at midnight, free of charge, but we must beware. Today is a non-renewable resource - once it's gone it's gone forever Our responsibility, of course, is to use this day in the service of God's will and in accordance with His commandments.
Today, treasure the time that God has given you. And search for the hidden possibilities that God has placed along your path. This day is a priceless gift from your Creator, so use it joyfully and productively. And encourage others to do likewise. After all, night is coming when no one can work.
"Overcommitment and time pressures are the greatest destroyers of marriages and families. It takes time to develop any friendship, whether with a loved one or with God Himself."
James Dobson
"Live in such a way that any day would make a suitable capstone for life. Live so that you need not change your mode of living, even if your sudden departure were immediately predicted to you."
Charles H. Spurgeon
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Love
Good morning, and Happy Valentine's Day dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the chilly day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!
I enjoyed walking yesterday in the warm sunshine and cool breezes, but the park was very crowded with tourists and few regulars, It is interesting to hear them talking about the different "birds" and taking pictures . Some of them borrow the guides from the building which are very helpful in identifying the different plants. Anyway, the azaleas are blooming and everything looks lovely after the rain! God is good!
1 Corinthians 13 NLT
"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....
There are three things that will endure--faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love."
I always thank God for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I enjoyed walking yesterday in the warm sunshine and cool breezes, but the park was very crowded with tourists and few regulars, It is interesting to hear them talking about the different "birds" and taking pictures . Some of them borrow the guides from the building which are very helpful in identifying the different plants. Anyway, the azaleas are blooming and everything looks lovely after the rain! God is good!
1 Corinthians 13 NLT
"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....
There are three things that will endure--faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love."
I always thank God for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Protection
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the changing day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Well, God protected us from any tornadoes and severe weather last night and I, for one, am thankful! When I stepped outside in the pre-dawn darkness, I could tell the sky was partly clear, because a few stars were dimly sparkling. God is good!
We had some much needed rain that is sure to settle the pollen, which is a good thing. The ducks around here seem to like the gutter water better than the lake and canals that are nearby. I saw the mama duck and her three, almost grown, ducklings splashing in the gutter yesterday. They seem to like to nestle down in the corner of our yard every noonday. They walk for miles during the day, up and down the street. Funny quackers!
Nothing much was going on at the Park yesterday, Francia was leading a group of students off the boardwalk, after teaching them the joys of being out in nature and learning much they didn't know. She takes the screech owls home on the weekends and during the summer, and they fly around her house. Hmm.
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Where can I find protection and safety?
Psalm 121:2-8 "My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth! He will not let you stumble and fall - the one who watches over you will not sleep. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. the Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go both now and forever."
Our protection is directly related to the character, competence, and capability of our protector. The Lord is unsurpassed in all areas. The Maker of heaven and earth is our personal protector. He never sleeps and never turns his attention from us. We walk securely because he guards our every step.
1 Samuel 2:9 "He will protect his godly ones, but the wicked will perish in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone."
Job 5:19 "He will rescue you again and again so that no evil can touch you."
Psalm 9:9 "The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."
Though troubles and threats will find us in this fallen rebellious world, they are not a surprise to the Lord. He never tires of saving us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We had some much needed rain that is sure to settle the pollen, which is a good thing. The ducks around here seem to like the gutter water better than the lake and canals that are nearby. I saw the mama duck and her three, almost grown, ducklings splashing in the gutter yesterday. They seem to like to nestle down in the corner of our yard every noonday. They walk for miles during the day, up and down the street. Funny quackers!
Nothing much was going on at the Park yesterday, Francia was leading a group of students off the boardwalk, after teaching them the joys of being out in nature and learning much they didn't know. She takes the screech owls home on the weekends and during the summer, and they fly around her house. Hmm.
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Where can I find protection and safety?
Psalm 121:2-8 "My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth! He will not let you stumble and fall - the one who watches over you will not sleep. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. the Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go both now and forever."
Our protection is directly related to the character, competence, and capability of our protector. The Lord is unsurpassed in all areas. The Maker of heaven and earth is our personal protector. He never sleeps and never turns his attention from us. We walk securely because he guards our every step.
1 Samuel 2:9 "He will protect his godly ones, but the wicked will perish in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone."
Job 5:19 "He will rescue you again and again so that no evil can touch you."
Psalm 9:9 "The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."
Though troubles and threats will find us in this fallen rebellious world, they are not a surprise to the Lord. He never tires of saving us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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