Good morning Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the beautiful day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!
While I was setting out the sprinklers this morning, I heard a beautiful song and looked up to see a brilliant, scarlet cardinal greeting the day with a joyous song! What a day brightener!
Matthew and I took a walk in the Park yesterday, (the first long walk since my bout with bronchitis,) and found crowds of people, coming toward us. From the ages, it looked like day care children and chaperones. We walked on out to the tower and were blessed to see two ospreys circling and gliding. I told Matthew we might see them hover, and, sure enough, he saw the first one and then the other hovered!
We were excited to see that!
On our way back, we stopped at the shelter to look at the baby gators, and no one was there, so we took our time looking and could only see two, which are getting much bigger. Mama gator was under the shelter, keeping watch. It was a good walk! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 145:5-10 Happy are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the one who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He is the one who keeps every promise forever, who gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads. The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. The Lord will reign forever, O Jerusalem.,your God is King in every generation! Praise the Lord!
Our hope is rooted in the wonderful acts of God in creation and history. The Bible gives full testimony to the fact that God is able to deliver us from any and every circumstance. He will either get us out of it or bring us through it--for his glory and our joy.
Romans 15:13 I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 94:19 When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Romans 5:1-5 Since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Expectation builds endurance. We can get through a great deal when we realize the wonderful gifts God has for us in this life and in the life to come.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Hope
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 we had a good hard shower for about fifteen minutes, and this morning the Mexican petunias look more purple, and everything looks so green! God is Awesome!
It doesn't seem to matter how much you water, a little rain does more good! After a good church service with preaching on forgiveness and communion, we drove through the Park, and saw the peacocks around the same two houses. Very few people were in the park that early; hopefully they were in church.
I am feeling so much better that I hope to walk with Matthew this morning, before it gets too hot!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What is my hope?
1 Peter 1:21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God.
The resurrection, the greatest event in history, is the foundation of our hope.
1 Peter 1:3-6 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.
When people get motion sickness, they need to fix their eyes on the horizon in order to regain composure. Remaining fixed on a point in the distance helps us travel. Jesus' followers fix their eyes on an eternal horizon. This gives us hope in all the discomforts of daily life.
How can I have hope when times are tough?
Hebrews 10:23 Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Our hope is rooted in God's integrity and faithfulness. When everything else falls apart we can cling to the fact that God keeps his word.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
It doesn't seem to matter how much you water, a little rain does more good! After a good church service with preaching on forgiveness and communion, we drove through the Park, and saw the peacocks around the same two houses. Very few people were in the park that early; hopefully they were in church.
I am feeling so much better that I hope to walk with Matthew this morning, before it gets too hot!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What is my hope?
1 Peter 1:21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God.
The resurrection, the greatest event in history, is the foundation of our hope.
1 Peter 1:3-6 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.
When people get motion sickness, they need to fix their eyes on the horizon in order to regain composure. Remaining fixed on a point in the distance helps us travel. Jesus' followers fix their eyes on an eternal horizon. This gives us hope in all the discomforts of daily life.
How can I have hope when times are tough?
Hebrews 10:23 Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Our hope is rooted in God's integrity and faithfulness. When everything else falls apart we can cling to the fact that God keeps his word.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Hope
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 we had a good hard shower for about fifteen minutes, and this morning the Mexican petunias look more purple, and everything looks so green! God is Awesome!
It doesn't seem to matter how much you water, a little rain does more good! After a good church service with preaching on forgiveness and communion, we drove through the Park, and saw the peacocks around the same two houses. Very few people were in the park that early; hopefully they were in church.
I am feeling so much better that I hope to walk with Matthew this morning, before it gets too hot!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What is my hope?
1 Peter 1:21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God.
The resurrection, the greatest event in history, is the foundation of our hope.
1 Peter 1:3-6 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.
When people get motion sickness, they need to fix their eyes on the horizon in order to regain composure. Remaining fixed on a point in the distance helps us travel. Jesus' followers fix their eyes on an eternal horizon. This gives us hope in all the discomforts of daily life.
How can I have hope when times are tough?
Hebrews 10:23 Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Our hope is rooted in God's integrity and faithfulness. When everything else falls apart we can cling to the fact that God keeps his word.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
It doesn't seem to matter how much you water, a little rain does more good! After a good church service with preaching on forgiveness and communion, we drove through the Park, and saw the peacocks around the same two houses. Very few people were in the park that early; hopefully they were in church.
I am feeling so much better that I hope to walk with Matthew this morning, before it gets too hot!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What is my hope?
1 Peter 1:21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God.
The resurrection, the greatest event in history, is the foundation of our hope.
1 Peter 1:3-6 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.
When people get motion sickness, they need to fix their eyes on the horizon in order to regain composure. Remaining fixed on a point in the distance helps us travel. Jesus' followers fix their eyes on an eternal horizon. This gives us hope in all the discomforts of daily life.
How can I have hope when times are tough?
Hebrews 10:23 Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Our hope is rooted in God's integrity and faithfulness. When everything else falls apart we can cling to the fact that God keeps his word.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Hope
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 we had a good hard shower for about fifteen minutes, and this morning the Mexican petunias look more purple, and everything looks so green! God is Awesome!
It doesn't seem to matter how much you water, a little rain does more good! After a good church service with preaching on forgiveness and communion, we drove through the Park, and saw the peacocks around the same two houses. Very few people were in the park that early; hopefully they were in church.
I am feeling so much better that I hope to walk with Matthew this morning, before it gets too hot!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What is my hope?
1 Peter 1:21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God.
The resurrection, the greatest event in history, is the foundation of our hope.
1 Peter 1:3-6 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.
When people get motion sickness, they need to fix their eyes on the horizon in order to regain composure. Remaining fixed on a point in the distance helps us travel. Jesus' followers fix their eyes on an eternal horizon. This gives us hope in all the discomforts of daily life.
How can I have hope when times are tough?
Hebrews 10:23 Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Our hope is rooted in God's integrity and faithfulness. When everything else falls apart we can cling to the fact that God keeps his word.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
It doesn't seem to matter how much you water, a little rain does more good! After a good church service with preaching on forgiveness and communion, we drove through the Park, and saw the peacocks around the same two houses. Very few people were in the park that early; hopefully they were in church.
I am feeling so much better that I hope to walk with Matthew this morning, before it gets too hot!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What is my hope?
1 Peter 1:21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God.
The resurrection, the greatest event in history, is the foundation of our hope.
1 Peter 1:3-6 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.
When people get motion sickness, they need to fix their eyes on the horizon in order to regain composure. Remaining fixed on a point in the distance helps us travel. Jesus' followers fix their eyes on an eternal horizon. This gives us hope in all the discomforts of daily life.
How can I have hope when times are tough?
Hebrews 10:23 Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Our hope is rooted in God's integrity and faithfulness. When everything else falls apart we can cling to the fact that God keeps his word.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, May 30, 2008
Sweet Revenge
Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the beautiful day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside earlier the thin crescent moon was hanging high in the eastern sky as it slowly disappears from sight for awhile.
I have been putting a dab of peanut butter on a big knot on our oak tree and watching the squirrels go after it. They look so funny holding the bite in their paws and then gumming the sticky stuff. But they love it! Doesn't matter if it's chunky or smooth.
Matthew discovered a lizard with a leg hanging by a thread, and looked for it yesterday morning, and found it dead. Looked like it had been caught by something. Sigh. That's the way God planned for things to work out.
We waited so long for our door to be painted, that we didn't get to walk through the Park in the morning and it was too hot in the afternoon, but we rode through and not many people were there.
Pray for good weather and that the space shuttle will go off on time, because Brian and Matthew are driving over to the Cape to watch it tomorrow!
From Quiet Moments with God:
Romans 12:20-21 KJV
If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
John Wesley found a positive and helpful way to settle quarrels. In his journal he wrote of a disagreement that took place in one of the religious gatherings called Societies. Fourteen people were expelled from the group as a result. Not seeing any good reason why such an action should have taken place, Wesley called the entire group together to try to bring about reconciliation.
Prior to the sermon, prayer, and communion, Wesley recalls, "I willing received then all again, requiring only one condition of the contenders on both sides, to say not one word of anything that was past."
He then goes on to describe the healing that took place in the group when the recounting of old wounds was eliminated as a possibility.
Extending God's grace to those who have wronged us can repair just about any broken relationship. Instead of returning anger with anger, choose to use kindness.
By taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing over it, he is superior.
Francis Bacon
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I have been putting a dab of peanut butter on a big knot on our oak tree and watching the squirrels go after it. They look so funny holding the bite in their paws and then gumming the sticky stuff. But they love it! Doesn't matter if it's chunky or smooth.
Matthew discovered a lizard with a leg hanging by a thread, and looked for it yesterday morning, and found it dead. Looked like it had been caught by something. Sigh. That's the way God planned for things to work out.
We waited so long for our door to be painted, that we didn't get to walk through the Park in the morning and it was too hot in the afternoon, but we rode through and not many people were there.
Pray for good weather and that the space shuttle will go off on time, because Brian and Matthew are driving over to the Cape to watch it tomorrow!
From Quiet Moments with God:
Romans 12:20-21 KJV
If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
John Wesley found a positive and helpful way to settle quarrels. In his journal he wrote of a disagreement that took place in one of the religious gatherings called Societies. Fourteen people were expelled from the group as a result. Not seeing any good reason why such an action should have taken place, Wesley called the entire group together to try to bring about reconciliation.
Prior to the sermon, prayer, and communion, Wesley recalls, "I willing received then all again, requiring only one condition of the contenders on both sides, to say not one word of anything that was past."
He then goes on to describe the healing that took place in the group when the recounting of old wounds was eliminated as a possibility.
Extending God's grace to those who have wronged us can repair just about any broken relationship. Instead of returning anger with anger, choose to use kindness.
By taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing over it, he is superior.
Francis Bacon
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Work
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, better late than never!
Yesterday, after a trip to Lowe's, I felt strong enough to take a walk with Matthew, out to see the baby gators. We thought we would be disappointed, but after carefully looking, I discovered three of them almost hidden in the mud under a bush. The biggest one has really grown.. he is about a foot long and very fat, so whatever they eat, agrees with them. It was good to walk again, even though a little warm.
And, I discovered this morning, that not only do I have an amaryllis blooming, but another stalk is about to pop open with blossoms! God is good!
From the Promise Bible:
How is my work important to the Lord?
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs."
Work is God's plan for our lives. Those who work diligently experience many benefits in their own lives and bring benefits to others. God promises two basic rewards for faithful work: (1) having a more credible witness to nonbelievers and (2) having our needs met without having to financially depend on others.
Romans 12:8 If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
God blesses us us when we do work that is in keeping with our gifts and abilities.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Well, better late than never!
Yesterday, after a trip to Lowe's, I felt strong enough to take a walk with Matthew, out to see the baby gators. We thought we would be disappointed, but after carefully looking, I discovered three of them almost hidden in the mud under a bush. The biggest one has really grown.. he is about a foot long and very fat, so whatever they eat, agrees with them. It was good to walk again, even though a little warm.
And, I discovered this morning, that not only do I have an amaryllis blooming, but another stalk is about to pop open with blossoms! God is good!
From the Promise Bible:
How is my work important to the Lord?
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs."
Work is God's plan for our lives. Those who work diligently experience many benefits in their own lives and bring benefits to others. God promises two basic rewards for faithful work: (1) having a more credible witness to nonbelievers and (2) having our needs met without having to financially depend on others.
Romans 12:8 If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
God blesses us us when we do work that is in keeping with our gifts and abilities.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Today in the Word
Good morning, a little late, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside much earlier, the half moon was beaming brightly in the clear sky and the air was cool! It felt wonderful and promises to be a good day!
We drove through the Park yesterday, and already throngs of people were gathering for picnics. We had our picnic at home, and tried to save the driving.
But we did see the peacocks and watched the anhingas and lot of ibis pecking in the yards and all around the park. The park looked really nice, since it is all mowed.
From Today in the Word by Moody:
Today's devotional focuses on Jonah, who disobeyed God by running from his assignment. He sailed in the opposite direction and was thrown overboard, and as he thought he was drowning, he called out to God, and God answered. He sent a fish to swallow Jonah and save him.
Jonah's redeeming moment came after he was swallowed. He didn't exactly acknowledge his sin, although he did know he was being punished. He didn't promise to obey the command of God.
The most compelling part of Jonah's prayer was when he acknowledged the very fact about God he would later come to regret: salvation comes from Him. Jonah knew he desperately needed the Lord's help.
Today along the way
Jonah didn't reach the pinnacle of godly behavior or attitude, but God still used him to deliver His message to Nineveh, and to us. His saving grace was that he recognized his need for God, and he called on Him for help. If you ever doubt your ability to accomplish what God has called you do do, call out to Him for help. Don't rely on your strength alone to achieve great things for God. If He can send a fish to save a reluctant prophet, He can provide for you.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We drove through the Park yesterday, and already throngs of people were gathering for picnics. We had our picnic at home, and tried to save the driving.
But we did see the peacocks and watched the anhingas and lot of ibis pecking in the yards and all around the park. The park looked really nice, since it is all mowed.
From Today in the Word by Moody:
Today's devotional focuses on Jonah, who disobeyed God by running from his assignment. He sailed in the opposite direction and was thrown overboard, and as he thought he was drowning, he called out to God, and God answered. He sent a fish to swallow Jonah and save him.
Jonah's redeeming moment came after he was swallowed. He didn't exactly acknowledge his sin, although he did know he was being punished. He didn't promise to obey the command of God.
The most compelling part of Jonah's prayer was when he acknowledged the very fact about God he would later come to regret: salvation comes from Him. Jonah knew he desperately needed the Lord's help.
Today along the way
Jonah didn't reach the pinnacle of godly behavior or attitude, but God still used him to deliver His message to Nineveh, and to us. His saving grace was that he recognized his need for God, and he called on Him for help. If you ever doubt your ability to accomplish what God has called you do do, call out to Him for help. Don't rely on your strength alone to achieve great things for God. If He can send a fish to save a reluctant prophet, He can provide for you.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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