He's Right Here, Right now.

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! We had some much needed rain yesterday and today is still gloomy and damp, but I saw a little ray of sunshine late yesterday afternoon, so maybe after the fog burns off,.it will be beautiful today!

I did not have the car out all day on the holiday, because of the rain, but instead, baked cookies and did some laundry. When I went to the park Saturday, the fat gator was on the bank once again at the lake and this time, in addition to a couple turtles, a anhinga was drying his wings on the weir. Lots of cars and people walking around and picnicking because of the sunshine and warm temps.

We had a wonderful chili dinner and tribute to Miss Jan Sunday night at church. It was so good to hear from all the past pastors, and people associated with FCC long ago, and some more recently. Jan was her usual sweet self, although a little paler, but able to receive and give hugs. We have known each other for around forty years or so. A  beautiful friendship! God is good!

From the little devotional book, Knowing God:
 
The Lord is with you when you are with Him.
If you seek Him, He will be found by you. 2 Chronicles 15:2 HCSB
Do you ever wonder if God is really "right here, right now"? Do you wonder if God hears your prayers, if He understands your feelings, or if He really knows your heart? If so, you're not alone. Lots of very faithful Christians have experienced periods of doubt. In fact, some of the biggest heroes in the Bible had plenty of doubts--and so, perhaps will you. But when you have doubts, remember this: God isn't on a coffee break, and He hasn't moved out of town. He's right here, right now, listening to your thoughts and prayers, watching over your every move.

If you'd like to get to know God a little bit better, He's always available--always ready to listen to your prayers, and always ready to speak to your heart. Are you ready to talk to Him? If so, congratulations. If not, what are you waiting for?

                                 - GREAT THOUGHTS-

Our body is a portable sanctuary through which we are daily experiencing the presence of God.
                                                 Richard Foster

God expresses His love toward us by His uninterrupted  presence  in our lives.
                                                 -Bill Hybels_
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

JOY

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! It's a beautiful, sunshiny day already, but still cold. I have to go to the dermatologist this morning, and I hope I don't have to disrobe on top, because I will be very chilly in one of those paper gowns! Brrr. And then, have to sit and wait for the good doc to come in. Sigh.

Did you all notice the gorgeous blue sky yesterday, criss-crossed with all the contrails? Outstanding! Paul, the weatherman, explained that those were caused by ice at about 25.000 ft. I thought of my friend, David, flying that high and leaving a contrail behind. I was going to the park when I noticed them. Then I slowed down to look at the long, narrow gator sunning on the bank of the lake on the way in. Lots of ducks were walking along the canal again. I think the green-headed ones are mallards. That's what Dave, the yard man told me. He is also a park ranger for his full time job. So, the driveway got blown off, and also the porch, but more leaves are coming! This is only the beginning! But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Philippians 4:4, 12 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
 
Joy is a choice. We may not realize it, but we choose our moods and our attitudes. God's promises in Christ are the basis for choosing joy no matter what we face.

Romans 5:3,5 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 expectations 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.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 139

Good chilly morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Whoo! I just came in from outside and the wind chill must be in the twenties! I put on gloves to drag the dumpster back up, and should have had ear muffs on! The sun is shining, but the thermometer says it is only 38 still. Looks like a cup of hot tea will be good when I finish this!

I went for a walk yesterday about noon, and was dressed warmly, but forgot my gloves. I walked along the sidewalk at the park, and saw so many different kinds of ducks, some just standing, some swimming. I watched three green headed ducks, (don't know the names) swim across the canal, then come to a stop just beneath me and start taking baths. They were happily splashing, and grooming wet feathers and having a grand time in the cold water and colder air! I also saw a great gray heron, a white egret with the wind blowing the feathers like a lacy skirt around the legs, and a tri-colored heron. The usual ibis were also pecking along the muddy bank. Also, on the way in, two gators were curled up on the bank of the lake by the road and an anhinga was drying out on the other side. Several little gallinules were happily chirping and swimming about. So, apparently, the cold weather suits the wildlife just fine!

 God is good!

Psalm 139:1-6 NLT
O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my every thought when far away.
 You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You both precede and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to know! 

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 37

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! It is cold here this morning, and my hands are so cold, I have trouble typing, but I realize we are warmer than most of the rest of the country. There is still snow in Atlanta, and Cleveland TN, where Daryl and Matthew are. There has been no school all week because of snow and ice, and that suits Matthew fine, as he has been having fun on a snowboard! Of course, that missed time will be made up in the summer when other kids will be out!

I am playing lazy this morning. Yesterday, I had people coming in, including my cleaning ladies who come once a month and leave the house spic and span for a little while, until I mess it up again. :o) They are my across the street neighbors, so we always catch up on the neighborhood goings on.  The night of the Auburn game, I had gone to bed before it ended, when I heard a loud "Boom!" and got out of bed to check in the garage to see if a tire blew on the van. Well, turns out Cheryl, who watches over my house looked out and saw flashing lights from the power company on the street in back of her. A transformer had blown, and the neighborhood in back of her was without power. It sounded like a gun shot, it was so loud!

I drove over to the park late in the afternoon, and saw the fat gator curled up on the bank, but not many people were walking because it was rather chilly. But, once again I saw the peacock. His tail feathers were so beautiful even though the sun was not shining. I saw several  ibis and an egret with white feathers blowing like lace in the wind. God is good!


From Psalm 37:1-9 NLT:
Don't worry about the wicked.
Don't envy those who do wrong.

For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like springtime flowers, they soon wither.

Trust in the LORD and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart's desires.

Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you.

He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act.

Don't worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

Stop your anger! Turn from your rage!
Do not envy others — it only leads to harm.

For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Jesus was a Servant (and you must be, too)

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!  Already we can feel the air cooling down as the cold front gradually moves through, but nothing like the deep South which is still snow covered. Schools are still out in TN and I think the snow on the ground will last a few more days.

We only got a sprinkle of rain yesterday, but the clouds looked so threatening, I thought we would get a really hard shower. I had such an unexpected surprise yesterday! Terry called while I was on my way home from shopping, and wanted to know if he and his wife could take me to lunch. Well, I try never to turn down an invitation to eat, so after I got home we went to Red Lobster and I ordered the lobster pizza, since I didn't get my pizza the day before. God is good!

Then, afterwards, Terry drove through Sawgrass Park, to look over the not-so-good changes, since he used to be superintendent there before retiring. Even though the article in the Sunday paper was mostly positive, the truth is, most of the landscaping was ripped out because of maintenance , such as the low hedge around the house and entrance . Well, it is still a nice retreat for those looking for exercise, or a place to walk their dogs.

Another surprise was a box of Honeybells that arrived from my niece, Kim. She had ordered them for a Christmas gift, knowing that they are not ready until January. So, I had a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice with breakfast this morning. God is good!

From the little devotional book Knowing God:

Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God-my God- will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
1 Chronicles 28:20 NKJV
If you want to know God, you should do your best to imitate His Son. How? One way you can do it is by being a humble servant, just like Jesus was.

You live in a world that glorifies power, prestige, fame, and money. But the words of Jesus teach us that the most esteemed men and women are not the widely acclaimed leaders of society; the most esteemed among us are the humble servants of society.

So here's your choice; you can serve yourself (and follow the ways of the world) or you can serve your friends and neighbors (and follow Jesus.) If you really want to know the Father and the Son, you must choose the latter.

                    -GREAT THOUGHTS-
There are times when we are called to love, expecting nothing in return. There are times when we are called to give money to people who will never say thanks, to forgive those who won't forgive us, to come early and stay late when no one else notices.
                                              Max Lucado
                                    
                                       -Today's Prayer-
Dear Lord, let me help others in every way that I can. Jesus served others; I can too. I will serve other people with my good deeds and with my prayers. and I will give thanks for everybody who helps me. Amen

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

1 Peter

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! We should really be glad about our weather this morning,! I just finished talking with Daryl, who is snowed in for the first time, and could not get out to work! Seven inches on the ground and still falling. Matthew has been messaging me on Facebook and says he is going to try snowboarding. He lives on a very hilly street, so should be fun. Atlanta is at a standstill, and my nephew, who is a police captain in Albany, Ga, said their power is down, and every officer who does not wear a uniform, has been sent home to get into uniform, so they can get out on the streets to help. This is a bad ice/snow storm!

So, I told Daryl the temp. here and he said "That's right, rub it in!" :o)

Well, last night I really got hungry for pizza for supper. I hardly ever eat pizza, because it's too much for me by myself, but I have had a single slice from Little Italy. However, they don't deliver, so I wound up with a bowl of cereal...not at all like pizza. Looks like pizza is in my future today...

We had a great worship yesterday, and looks like Pastor Jim is plunging right in to work with the children. He will be a blessing, I'm sure. He has a way with the little ones.

I went to the park after church and saw the turtles clustered together on the bank of the weir and the fat gator on the other side. There was an interesting article about Sawgrass Park in the Neighborhood Times yesterday, which two people told me about at church. I had not read the paper, yet.. BTW, the wind is blowing hard here, probably bringing the cold with it, but God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Peter 1:7

These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--
and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
2 Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say,
"If you want a happy life and good days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil,
turn away from evil and do good.
Work hard at living in peace with others.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those
who do right
and his ears are open to  their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
against those who do evil."

1 Peter 1 "May you have more and more of God's special favor and wonderful peace."

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Decisions

Good morning, dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! The sun is shining, the leaves are falling and it looks like a beautiful day, though a little chilly.

I saw a young peacock yesterday on my way in to the park . I had not seen one in months, and thought maybe someone had removed them. It was beautiful with the sun shining on the gorgeous blue and green feathers.
Then when I went through the gate, there was a black, young gator on the bank of the canal beyond the weir, and the usual fat one on the other side, so looks like they enjoyed the rain. also. The water was up in the canal, so the rain did some good. God always provides and God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT :

What do we do when we don't know what to do?

2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, won't you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do. but we are looking to you for help.
We don't have to know what to do, but we do need to know where to look. As the saying goes, it isn't so much what we know but who we know!

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom.Instead, fear the Lord and turn your back on evil.
Trust the Lord to direct your steps, even when the way is confusing. God will guide you.

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

Love and hugs, and have a wonderful weekend!
Amaryllis