Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! Well, March roared in like a lion yesterday, but we were able to get to church in the rain without getting too damp. But today, while chilly, is still the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!
Since I parked under an oak tree at church, all the seeds fell all over the van, and I tracked in a lot getting into the car. Oh, well, I swept most of them out, but now the van really needs washing. I almost took it to the car wash Saturday, and am very glad I didn't!
After the clouds passed over, we got out to run a couple errands, and drove through the almost deserted Park, We saw a large gator sunning on the bank of the borrow pit lake and the gopher tortoise was in his usual spot at the fence. On the way home, the kingfisher was on the line overlooking Lynch Lake. God is good!
The following is a prayer sent to me by Lon Allison, director of the Billy Graham Center:
A Daily Prayer
"I discovered this prayer and find it deeply helpful in my own prayer life. I commend it to you on your journey of life with God."
O Holy Spirit of God, visit now this soul of mine, and tarry
within it until eventide.
Inspire all my thoughts.
Pervade all my imaginations.
Suggest all my decisions.
Lodge in my will's most inward citadel and order all my doings.
Be with me in my silence and in my speech, in my haste and in my leisure, in company and in solitude, in the freshness of the morning and in the weariness of evening;
And give me grace at all times to rejoice in thy mysterious companionship.
From "A Diary of Private Prayer" -John Baillie
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, March 2, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Time
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! When I stepped outside much earlier, the stars were not visible, and dawn had not peeked through the trees yet. It was a little strange that the sky looked like an unpainted canvas.. not black and not blue.. just sort of blank. But now, the sky is blue, and it looks like a very warm day again, before another cold front shows up. Tomorrow is the last day of Feb. We will see if March comes in like a lion!
Well, Louis got his new wheels yesterday... three of them on his new walker. He is now using it instead of the cane, and with good results. It is a little more work for me to get it into the back of the car after putting him in, but it is very good for his balance. It squeezes together to get into small spaces, so he can take it through the bathroom door with no problem. God is good!
We drove through the messy park yesterday and I noticed the piles of oak leaves everywhere. It used to be so neat with all the leaves raked up and blown off the road daily. Sigh. Not any more. But the azaleas are still blooming and pretty and the turtles were sunning again. Maple seeds are all over the boardwalk, so spring is almost here! Yay!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Ecclesiastes 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 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.
And one of my favorites; Ecc.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, Louis got his new wheels yesterday... three of them on his new walker. He is now using it instead of the cane, and with good results. It is a little more work for me to get it into the back of the car after putting him in, but it is very good for his balance. It squeezes together to get into small spaces, so he can take it through the bathroom door with no problem. God is good!
We drove through the messy park yesterday and I noticed the piles of oak leaves everywhere. It used to be so neat with all the leaves raked up and blown off the road daily. Sigh. Not any more. But the azaleas are still blooming and pretty and the turtles were sunning again. Maple seeds are all over the boardwalk, so spring is almost here! Yay!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Ecclesiastes 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 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.
And one of my favorites; Ecc.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
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Psoaring thru Psalm 20
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! Wow! What a beautiful day! I just came in from chatting with my neighbor and the sun was so bright, I was blinded for a few minutes when I came back inside. They have had their house painted and we were discussing how nice it looked. It was in really bad shape before!
Well, after waiting for hours for the walker to come yesterday, I called the supplier and discovered it was out of stock and would be delivered today, instead. She apologized for not calling to inform me.
So, anyway, we got to leave the house and go to the Park, where it was totally crowded with people enjoying the beautiful weather and all the sights at the park. I would rather walk when only a few people are on the boardwalk, so I did not walk. Instead, I enjoyed seeing the five turtles lined up enjoying the sun on the weir and the squirrels acting squirreley in the road and on the trees. :o) God is good!
Psalm 20 NLT
In times of trouble, may the Lord respond to your cry.
May the God of Israel keep you safe from all harm.
May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
May he grant your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans.
May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory,
flying banners to honor our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.
Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him from his holy heaven.
Some nations boast of their armies and weapons
but we boast in the Lord our God.
Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm.
Give victory to our King, O Lord!
Respond to our cry for help.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Well, after waiting for hours for the walker to come yesterday, I called the supplier and discovered it was out of stock and would be delivered today, instead. She apologized for not calling to inform me.
So, anyway, we got to leave the house and go to the Park, where it was totally crowded with people enjoying the beautiful weather and all the sights at the park. I would rather walk when only a few people are on the boardwalk, so I did not walk. Instead, I enjoyed seeing the five turtles lined up enjoying the sun on the weir and the squirrels acting squirreley in the road and on the trees. :o) God is good!
Psalm 20 NLT
In times of trouble, may the Lord respond to your cry.
May the God of Israel keep you safe from all harm.
May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
May he grant your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans.
May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory,
flying banners to honor our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.
Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him from his holy heaven.
Some nations boast of their armies and weapons
but we boast in the Lord our God.
Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm.
Give victory to our King, O Lord!
Respond to our cry for help.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
More 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! When I stepped outside this morning, the sky was overcast and no stars were visible, but now the sky is clear and a slight wind is blowing. It is a beautiful day!
We did not get out much yesterday, because I have been reading a series of books I started when I was sick. I finished a "page-turner" and now must catch up with work I have been neglecting. That's what happens when I start to read! :o)
We did get to the Park, though and while no gators were visible from the road, lots of turtles were sunning and the snowy egrets were pecking. I really like the snowy egrets, because of their delicate feathers which blow in the breeze. God is good!
God is full of surprises! I thought I would have to go out to Seminole to buy a three-wheeled walker for Louis, but got a phone call from the doctor's office that the doctor had ordered one to be delivered today, charged to insurance! Hopefully, Louis will be able to handle it after he test drives it, because it has hand brakes. It should be more helpful to him, because it will go through narrow openings much better than the old four legged one. God knows our needs!
From the Promise Bible continued from yesterday:
Psalm 130:7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love and an overflowing supply of salvation.
Psalm 146:5-10 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 lefts 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 wonder 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 when 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
We did not get out much yesterday, because I have been reading a series of books I started when I was sick. I finished a "page-turner" and now must catch up with work I have been neglecting. That's what happens when I start to read! :o)
We did get to the Park, though and while no gators were visible from the road, lots of turtles were sunning and the snowy egrets were pecking. I really like the snowy egrets, because of their delicate feathers which blow in the breeze. God is good!
God is full of surprises! I thought I would have to go out to Seminole to buy a three-wheeled walker for Louis, but got a phone call from the doctor's office that the doctor had ordered one to be delivered today, charged to insurance! Hopefully, Louis will be able to handle it after he test drives it, because it has hand brakes. It should be more helpful to him, because it will go through narrow openings much better than the old four legged one. God knows our needs!
From the Promise Bible continued from yesterday:
Psalm 130:7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love and an overflowing supply of salvation.
Psalm 146:5-10 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 lefts 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 wonder 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 when 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, February 24, 2009
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! Well it's another beautiful sunshiny day with cool temps and very low humidity.
Yesterday was so lovely, I took a walk for the first time in a month, it seemed. We saw a black gator sunning on the bank of the lake as we drove in, and I walked out to the first covered shelter and the gray Mama gator was sunning full length on the bank by the shelter. First time I had seen her out of the water. Apparently she has babies again, according to Mike, but many people were there looking at her, so I couldn't get close enough to see the babies. God is good!
I saw Mike, the naturalist, wave at me, so I walked into the building to talk with him and he said he had taken a group of French exchange students from Shorecrest for a walk to see the gator on the bank and they were thrilled to have their photos taken with the gator in the background. He is really interesting to talk to, and very nice, with eyes as blue as the sky. Being outdoors suits him.
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 1:3-5 All honor to 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 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.
John 14:1 Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me.
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 sorrow. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Our troubles do not surprise the Lord and should not surprise us. Trouble is rampant in this fallen world. Our focus should be on Jesus who has overcome this world and all its troubles.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday was so lovely, I took a walk for the first time in a month, it seemed. We saw a black gator sunning on the bank of the lake as we drove in, and I walked out to the first covered shelter and the gray Mama gator was sunning full length on the bank by the shelter. First time I had seen her out of the water. Apparently she has babies again, according to Mike, but many people were there looking at her, so I couldn't get close enough to see the babies. God is good!
I saw Mike, the naturalist, wave at me, so I walked into the building to talk with him and he said he had taken a group of French exchange students from Shorecrest for a walk to see the gator on the bank and they were thrilled to have their photos taken with the gator in the background. He is really interesting to talk to, and very nice, with eyes as blue as the sky. Being outdoors suits him.
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 1:3-5 All honor to 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 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.
John 14:1 Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me.
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 sorrow. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Our troubles do not surprise the Lord and should not surprise us. Trouble is rampant in this fallen world. Our focus should be on Jesus who has overcome this world and all its troubles.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, February 23, 2009
Power of God
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! The air is cool, the sun is shining and God is good!
I was able to go to church yesterday for the second time this month, because I was finally healed from the upper respiratory infection. However, I apparently strained a back muscle reaching in a top cabinet and was really in a lot of pain when I moved. I asked my sons for prayer and a good friend... went to bed in pain and full of pain killers and woke up healed! God is the great Physician!
We went to the Park after church and saw Miss Peahen walking about, then a gator under the bridge, a beautiful egret, and several turtles sunning themselves. Since there are no staff people around, more and more signs are popping up. In addition to the frog xing, and turtle xing, there is a new sign on the entrance bridge stating what is not allowed on the boardwalk. Hope they work!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What is God's power like?
Psalm 20:4-7 May he grant your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers. Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power. Some nations boast of their armies and weapons, but we boast in the Lord our God.
God's power is greater than that of the greatest kings who ever ruled or the mightiest armies that ever marched . That power is ours as we trust him, obey him, and honor his name.
Psalm 44:4-7 You are my King and my God You command victories for your people. Only by your power can we push back our enemies, only in your name can we trample our foes. I do not trust my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. It is you who gives us victory over our enemies; it is you who humbles those who hate us.
God's power is greater than any of the skills or resources we have at our disposal. While we may use the means that God has provided to us, we know that victory comes from God alone.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I was able to go to church yesterday for the second time this month, because I was finally healed from the upper respiratory infection. However, I apparently strained a back muscle reaching in a top cabinet and was really in a lot of pain when I moved. I asked my sons for prayer and a good friend... went to bed in pain and full of pain killers and woke up healed! God is the great Physician!
We went to the Park after church and saw Miss Peahen walking about, then a gator under the bridge, a beautiful egret, and several turtles sunning themselves. Since there are no staff people around, more and more signs are popping up. In addition to the frog xing, and turtle xing, there is a new sign on the entrance bridge stating what is not allowed on the boardwalk. Hope they work!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What is God's power like?
Psalm 20:4-7 May he grant your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers. Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power. Some nations boast of their armies and weapons, but we boast in the Lord our God.
God's power is greater than that of the greatest kings who ever ruled or the mightiest armies that ever marched . That power is ours as we trust him, obey him, and honor his name.
Psalm 44:4-7 You are my King and my God You command victories for your people. Only by your power can we push back our enemies, only in your name can we trample our foes. I do not trust my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. It is you who gives us victory over our enemies; it is you who humbles those who hate us.
God's power is greater than any of the skills or resources we have at our disposal. While we may use the means that God has provided to us, we know that victory comes from God alone.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, February 20, 2009
Fix Your Focus
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! Brrr! When I stepped outside in the chilly dawn, the wind was blowing but the sky was almost clear... just a few wispy clouds over the bright crescent moon. However, the temp. has dropped since I arose and will be even colder tomorrow. Looks like March will roar in like a lion!
We had a little rain yesterday, (thank you, Lord) and could use more, but at least the pollen got settled for a while. It didn't seem to make much difference when we drove through the Park. Leaves were still on the ground, but the azaleas looked very pretty. They were trimmed way down last year, so that means fewer blooms, but they still looked nice. God is Good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard address the nature of true humility by suggesting we think of an arrow soaring on its course toward its target. Suddenly the swift moving arrow halts in mid-flight to see how far it has come, how high it has soared, how its speed and ease with which it flies. Right at the moment when it turns to focus on itself, the arrow falls to the ground.
Preoccupation with self is counterproductive to reaching our goals. It is the opposite of humility, which is preoccupation with the Lord.
As for evaluating ourselves, the Bible says we are to examine our hearts, making certain wee are walking in faith and purity toward the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:28 and 2 Corinthians 12:5.)
Second Timothy 1:6 exhorts us to stir up the gifts God has given us, and Jesus made it quite clear in the parable of the talents that we are to use all the abilities and resources God gives us to give glory to Him.
Whether we are examining our hearts or using the gifts and talents God gave us, our focus is always on the Lord. Our motivation is to please Him, draw closer to Him, and serve those He leads us to serve.
The irony of the Christian life is that when we give our lives to God and to others, we receive true joy and fulfillment. It is when we hold onto our lives and are consumed with our own selfish desires and interests that we are miserable and nonproductive.
Take your mind off yourself, and concentrate on your loving Heavenly Father. Ask Him about His plan for your life.
Trust the past to the mercy of God. The present to his love, and the future to his providence.
Saint Augustine of Hippo
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We had a little rain yesterday, (thank you, Lord) and could use more, but at least the pollen got settled for a while. It didn't seem to make much difference when we drove through the Park. Leaves were still on the ground, but the azaleas looked very pretty. They were trimmed way down last year, so that means fewer blooms, but they still looked nice. God is Good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard address the nature of true humility by suggesting we think of an arrow soaring on its course toward its target. Suddenly the swift moving arrow halts in mid-flight to see how far it has come, how high it has soared, how its speed and ease with which it flies. Right at the moment when it turns to focus on itself, the arrow falls to the ground.
Preoccupation with self is counterproductive to reaching our goals. It is the opposite of humility, which is preoccupation with the Lord.
As for evaluating ourselves, the Bible says we are to examine our hearts, making certain wee are walking in faith and purity toward the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:28 and 2 Corinthians 12:5.)
Second Timothy 1:6 exhorts us to stir up the gifts God has given us, and Jesus made it quite clear in the parable of the talents that we are to use all the abilities and resources God gives us to give glory to Him.
Whether we are examining our hearts or using the gifts and talents God gave us, our focus is always on the Lord. Our motivation is to please Him, draw closer to Him, and serve those He leads us to serve.
The irony of the Christian life is that when we give our lives to God and to others, we receive true joy and fulfillment. It is when we hold onto our lives and are consumed with our own selfish desires and interests that we are miserable and nonproductive.
Take your mind off yourself, and concentrate on your loving Heavenly Father. Ask Him about His plan for your life.
Trust the past to the mercy of God. The present to his love, and the future to his providence.
Saint Augustine of Hippo
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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