Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! What beautiful weather we are having! Blue skies and lots of sun; still chilly in the mornings, but warm in the rest of the day! Just perfect! The fruit trees next door are loaded with oranges and grapefruit, and my beauty berry bush in the backyard is all bloomed out and filling in with leaves. It seems like spring is here, but this is only Feb. so we should have more cold weather, before it really warms up.
After spending a couple hours in the doctors's office yesterday, to find out I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in, I decided to shop a little, which I did, in a quiet store without many people. It was good just to look around and take my time, with no rush. BTW, I really like my doctor. He takes his time and we chat and he really listens. Now everything is electronic and so no paper work. The doctors and nurses walk around with their laptops that contain all the info on every patient. Even the next appointments are on paper now, and you have to cut them out to post them, Sure don't want the doctors to be robots, next! After watching Watson, the robot, beat two smart guys at Jeopardy last night, I have to remind myself that humans still had to program everything. So we are still good for something!
I went to the Park yesterday afternoon, and was reminded of how God is still in control, and created everything! The big gator was sunning on the bank of the lake on one side and lots of turtles sunning on the other side. Flocks of ibis and the great blue heron were busy doing their thing, which is getting as much to eat as they can every day. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 103; excerpts
Praise the Lord, I tell myself;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins, and heals all my diseases. He ransoms me from death
and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, He is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love,
He will not constantly accuse us , nor remain angry forever.
He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. ..
(con't tomorrow)
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Open up Your Heart
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! A little chilly this morning, like yesterday, but we will have sunny skies and warm temps later on. Beautiful weather!
I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day, as I did. I received a loving card from a friend, and a beautiful bouquet in a lovely vase from my sons. Then an evening with our Faith Group friends. It was a good day!
I saw the gator sunning full length on the bank of the lake at the Park Sunday,, but yesterday he was not there, but on the other side, on the bank of the weir, was a cluster of turtles of all sizes drying out. The park was so crowded Sunday, there was hardly a parking space to be found, so I decided not to walk. I would really rather walk in solitude, than with a crowd of people, but that's just me. I see lots of maple seeds everywhere, on the boardwalk, and floating on the water in the canal. The pollen count is high and I sneeze and blow, but it will yellow up the cars and windowsills, and then relief for awhile. But God is good!
From the little devotional book, Knowing God
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 NIV
If you want to know God in a more meaningful way, you'll need to open up your heart and let Him in. C.S. Lewis observed, "A person's spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God." If you hope to receive a full measure of God's spiritual blessings, you must invite your Creator to rule over your heart. When you honor God in this way, His love expands to fill your heart and bless your life.
St. Augustine wrote, "I love you. Lord, not doubtingly, but with absolute certainty. Your Word beat upon my heart until I fell in love with you, and now the universe and everything in it tells me to love you."
Today, open your heart to the Father. And let your obedience be a fitting response to His never-ending love.
You will trust God only as much as you love him. And you will love him not because you have studied him; you will love him because you have touched him-in response to his touch.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day, as I did. I received a loving card from a friend, and a beautiful bouquet in a lovely vase from my sons. Then an evening with our Faith Group friends. It was a good day!
I saw the gator sunning full length on the bank of the lake at the Park Sunday,, but yesterday he was not there, but on the other side, on the bank of the weir, was a cluster of turtles of all sizes drying out. The park was so crowded Sunday, there was hardly a parking space to be found, so I decided not to walk. I would really rather walk in solitude, than with a crowd of people, but that's just me. I see lots of maple seeds everywhere, on the boardwalk, and floating on the water in the canal. The pollen count is high and I sneeze and blow, but it will yellow up the cars and windowsills, and then relief for awhile. But God is good!
From the little devotional book, Knowing God
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 NIV
If you want to know God in a more meaningful way, you'll need to open up your heart and let Him in. C.S. Lewis observed, "A person's spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God." If you hope to receive a full measure of God's spiritual blessings, you must invite your Creator to rule over your heart. When you honor God in this way, His love expands to fill your heart and bless your life.
St. Augustine wrote, "I love you. Lord, not doubtingly, but with absolute certainty. Your Word beat upon my heart until I fell in love with you, and now the universe and everything in it tells me to love you."
Today, open your heart to the Father. And let your obedience be a fitting response to His never-ending love.
You will trust God only as much as you love him. And you will love him not because you have studied him; you will love him because you have touched him-in response to his touch.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, February 11, 2011
Love Chapter
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! A little overcast and cool this morning with the wind blowing, but the sun will probably come out soon like yesterday, so every day I can get out of bed is a good day!
Yesterday I drove to the park and was blessed by seeing a pale, roseate spoonbill; a spot of beauty against the gray mud, and right beside the beauty, was a tri-colored heron, who was very big and dark looking. Always the ibis, in their white beauty, are pecking around and the little ducks and moor hens. I was very startled by a crazy squirrel who dashed out in front of the car, and changed his mind right in front of me. I put on the brakes, thinking I hit him, but he dashed on across. Almost gave me a heart attack! But God is good!
From the Message:
The Way of Love
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't strut.
Love doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others.
Doesn't fly off the handle.
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others.
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything.
Trusts God always.
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
...But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that concummation. Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
AmaryllisIsn't always "me first"
Yesterday I drove to the park and was blessed by seeing a pale, roseate spoonbill; a spot of beauty against the gray mud, and right beside the beauty, was a tri-colored heron, who was very big and dark looking. Always the ibis, in their white beauty, are pecking around and the little ducks and moor hens. I was very startled by a crazy squirrel who dashed out in front of the car, and changed his mind right in front of me. I put on the brakes, thinking I hit him, but he dashed on across. Almost gave me a heart attack! But God is good!
From the Message:
The Way of Love
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't strut.
Love doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others.
Doesn't fly off the handle.
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others.
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything.
Trusts God always.
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
...But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that concummation. Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
AmaryllisIsn't always "me first"
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Blessings
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, what a contrast in the weather compared to yesterday! The rain has stopped and it is still in the high sixties, but overcast and maybe turning cooler. Well, we need the rain, because we usually don't get much in Feb.
After I went to get gas yesterday I stopped in at the park, and took a walk on the sidewalk, trudged up a hill, just to see the view, and on over the bridge. I paused along the way to look at several turtles, an anhinga, and moorhen all by the same log. A man with a nice camera was taking their picture, and one man had his camera phone snapping away. the background was not too pretty, because of all the mud, caused by the low water. I also noticed lots of maple seeds floating on the water, so spring will soon be here and all the bare, gnarly gray branches will be filled with bright green leaves.
On the way in to the park, I saw the wet, shiny black gator just out of the water, on the bank of the lake, and on the way out, he was all dried out and not shiny any more. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How has God promised to bless his people?
Numbers 6:24-26 May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
God's blessing encompasses all of life. We live in his protection, his presence and his peace. Nothing this world can compare in scope or duration with the blessing of God.
Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
We are tempted to base our hope and confidence on worldly circumstances such as a good job or financial security. But these cannot compare to the promises that we have in God, the creator of heaven and earth. Put your hope where it cannot and will not be shaken.
Can we do things that affect how much God blesses us?
Psalm 84:11 The Lord God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right.
God promises to bless those who do what is right; he doesn't extend the same promise to those who don't do what is right.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
After I went to get gas yesterday I stopped in at the park, and took a walk on the sidewalk, trudged up a hill, just to see the view, and on over the bridge. I paused along the way to look at several turtles, an anhinga, and moorhen all by the same log. A man with a nice camera was taking their picture, and one man had his camera phone snapping away. the background was not too pretty, because of all the mud, caused by the low water. I also noticed lots of maple seeds floating on the water, so spring will soon be here and all the bare, gnarly gray branches will be filled with bright green leaves.
On the way in to the park, I saw the wet, shiny black gator just out of the water, on the bank of the lake, and on the way out, he was all dried out and not shiny any more. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How has God promised to bless his people?
Numbers 6:24-26 May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
God's blessing encompasses all of life. We live in his protection, his presence and his peace. Nothing this world can compare in scope or duration with the blessing of God.
Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
We are tempted to base our hope and confidence on worldly circumstances such as a good job or financial security. But these cannot compare to the promises that we have in God, the creator of heaven and earth. Put your hope where it cannot and will not be shaken.
Can we do things that affect how much God blesses us?
Psalm 84:11 The Lord God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right.
God promises to bless those who do what is right; he doesn't extend the same promise to those who don't do what is right.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Assurance
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! Lots of sunshine today, but the weather turned colder overnight and we were only fifty when I crawled out of my warm bed. But I knew winter is not over,yet even though all the plants are budding out. I also heard on the weather report that our pollen count is highest in the country right now, even after all the rain. I can usually tell by the sneezing fits I have.
Once again, I have proof that there are no coincidences with God. I watched the widow of one of the officers slain two weeks ago, give a remarkable testimony on TV last evening. She describes how God has planned all the events and how she knows she will see her husband again one day. Her children are also strong believers, but the 5 and a half year old is having trouble understanding why his daddy won't be coming home again . She is planning to go back to teaching kindergarten today.
Well, when I sat down for breakfast I looked at my Daily Blessings calendar, and there was , in big letters, Companionship .
and above that was this...If there is a sense of God's abiding presence,
I have found that to be true, and the widow's photo and testimony are on the front page of today's Times. Praise God for her strong witness. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I be assured of God's love in difficult times?
Isaiah 43:1-2 Now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble,. I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up, the flames will not consume you." You are mine, you are precious in my sight."
Life's circumstances don't come between God and his people. They don't get in God's way. Hard times are often when God reveals his infinite love and care for us.
The assurance of God's love gives us courage to come to him with any problem, struggle, or concern. Our prayers are never interruptions to the Lord. When we knock, the door is always open to us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Once again, I have proof that there are no coincidences with God. I watched the widow of one of the officers slain two weeks ago, give a remarkable testimony on TV last evening. She describes how God has planned all the events and how she knows she will see her husband again one day. Her children are also strong believers, but the 5 and a half year old is having trouble understanding why his daddy won't be coming home again . She is planning to go back to teaching kindergarten today.
Well, when I sat down for breakfast I looked at my Daily Blessings calendar, and there was , in big letters, Companionship .
and above that was this...If there is a sense of God's abiding presence,
I have found that to be true, and the widow's photo and testimony are on the front page of today's Times. Praise God for her strong witness. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I be assured of God's love in difficult times?
Isaiah 43:1-2 Now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble,. I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up, the flames will not consume you." You are mine, you are precious in my sight."
Life's circumstances don't come between God and his people. They don't get in God's way. Hard times are often when God reveals his infinite love and care for us.
The assurance of God's love gives us courage to come to him with any problem, struggle, or concern. Our prayers are never interruptions to the Lord. When we knock, the door is always open to us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Open yourself up to God's surprising plans
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! Not as much wind today, but it definitely brought in colder weather! We are in the high fifties today, but the sun is trying to shine, so it will still be a nice day.
A really busy day yesterday left no time for walking, but I did ride through the park, and saw only a few cars parked, so a lot of people stayed away. Of course, with all that wind and heavy clouds threatening rain, it was not a good day to walk. I noticed one turtle on the bank of the weir, and one medium sized gator on the other side. Wind and rain do not matter to them.
I made the mistake of driving by Lynch School at dismissal time, and passed a hundred cars, lined up past the lake and out to 70th Ave. Because of the rain clouds, most of the relatives drove to pick up their students. I should have come a different way! I discovered you have to watch out for the drivers, also, because even in our quiet neighborhood, they run through stop signs and drive very fast down the streets. Not a good example for the little ones! I try to avoid going out at dismissal time, because of the traffic, but had an appointment , so had no choice. But God is good!
From the little devotional book Knowing God:
But as it is written;
What no eye has seen and no ear has heard,
and what has never come into a man's heart,
is what God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 HCSB
God has plans for your life, wonderful, surprising plans...but He won't force those plans upon you. To the contrary, He has given you free will, the ability to make decisions on your own. With that freedom to choose comes the responsibility of living with the consequences of the choices you make.
If you seek to live in accordance with God's will for your life--and you should--then you should live in accordance with His commandments. You will study God's word, and you will be watchful for his signs. You will associate with fellow Christians who will encourage your spiritual growth, and you will listen to that inner voice that speaks to you in the quiet moments of our daily devotionals.
God intends to use you in wonderful, unexpected ways if you let Him. The decision to seek God's plan is yours and yours alone. The consequences of that decision have implications that are both profound and eternal so choose carefully.
Even when we cannot see the why and wherefore of God's dealings, we know that there is love in and behind them, so we can rejoice always.
-J.J. Packer-
-Today's Prayer-
Dear Lord, I know that You have a plan for me. Today, I will seek Your will in every aspect of my life. I will seek to live obediently, courageously, and wisely. Heavenly Father, please make me watchful for your signs and accepting of Your love, for this day and forever. Amen
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
A really busy day yesterday left no time for walking, but I did ride through the park, and saw only a few cars parked, so a lot of people stayed away. Of course, with all that wind and heavy clouds threatening rain, it was not a good day to walk. I noticed one turtle on the bank of the weir, and one medium sized gator on the other side. Wind and rain do not matter to them.
I made the mistake of driving by Lynch School at dismissal time, and passed a hundred cars, lined up past the lake and out to 70th Ave. Because of the rain clouds, most of the relatives drove to pick up their students. I should have come a different way! I discovered you have to watch out for the drivers, also, because even in our quiet neighborhood, they run through stop signs and drive very fast down the streets. Not a good example for the little ones! I try to avoid going out at dismissal time, because of the traffic, but had an appointment , so had no choice. But God is good!
From the little devotional book Knowing God:
But as it is written;
What no eye has seen and no ear has heard,
and what has never come into a man's heart,
is what God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 HCSB
God has plans for your life, wonderful, surprising plans...but He won't force those plans upon you. To the contrary, He has given you free will, the ability to make decisions on your own. With that freedom to choose comes the responsibility of living with the consequences of the choices you make.
If you seek to live in accordance with God's will for your life--and you should--then you should live in accordance with His commandments. You will study God's word, and you will be watchful for his signs. You will associate with fellow Christians who will encourage your spiritual growth, and you will listen to that inner voice that speaks to you in the quiet moments of our daily devotionals.
God intends to use you in wonderful, unexpected ways if you let Him. The decision to seek God's plan is yours and yours alone. The consequences of that decision have implications that are both profound and eternal so choose carefully.
Even when we cannot see the why and wherefore of God's dealings, we know that there is love in and behind them, so we can rejoice always.
-J.J. Packer-
-Today's Prayer-
Dear Lord, I know that You have a plan for me. Today, I will seek Your will in every aspect of my life. I will seek to live obediently, courageously, and wisely. Heavenly Father, please make me watchful for your signs and accepting of Your love, for this day and forever. Amen
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, February 7, 2011
Healing
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, water is dripping off the roof again after what looks like an all night gentle rain. But we have needed rain so all is well.
Yesterday, the sun came out for a little while, so after lunch, I went to the cemetery, because it would have been Louis' 84th birthday, had God not called him home. I was surprised to see the flowers that I placed there last week, still there and not looking too wilted. I think because we had mostly overcast skies that that helped preserve them.
The caretakers do a wonderful job taking care of the grounds. There were a couple muddy spots last week at the beginning of the path, but this week new sod was put down and it was good walking. Lots of new graves with flowers in stands marking them, but still a lovely resting place for all the service people.
I stopped by the park after church, and saw the two black, shiny gators resting there on the muddy bank. (Yes, Gil, they did kinda look like my shoes!) Even though the sun was not shining, I guess they needed warming up. Some turtles were also drying out on the other side, and the usual ibis and pretty white egrets were in the canal.
And then, the Super Bowl! I was not rooting for either team until the game started and then I was for the Packers, because I like Aaron Rodgers. It sure was Mr. Rodgers' neighborhood last night! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Luke 5: 12-13 In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he fell to the ground, face down in the dust, begging to be healed. "Lord," he said, "IF you want to, you can make me well again." Jesus reached out and touched the man. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
Jesus has the ability and the willingness to heal us. We are not bothering God when we pray for healing, we are expressing our faith and trust in him
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday, the sun came out for a little while, so after lunch, I went to the cemetery, because it would have been Louis' 84th birthday, had God not called him home. I was surprised to see the flowers that I placed there last week, still there and not looking too wilted. I think because we had mostly overcast skies that that helped preserve them.
The caretakers do a wonderful job taking care of the grounds. There were a couple muddy spots last week at the beginning of the path, but this week new sod was put down and it was good walking. Lots of new graves with flowers in stands marking them, but still a lovely resting place for all the service people.
I stopped by the park after church, and saw the two black, shiny gators resting there on the muddy bank. (Yes, Gil, they did kinda look like my shoes!) Even though the sun was not shining, I guess they needed warming up. Some turtles were also drying out on the other side, and the usual ibis and pretty white egrets were in the canal.
And then, the Super Bowl! I was not rooting for either team until the game started and then I was for the Packers, because I like Aaron Rodgers. It sure was Mr. Rodgers' neighborhood last night! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Luke 5: 12-13 In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he fell to the ground, face down in the dust, begging to be healed. "Lord," he said, "IF you want to, you can make me well again." Jesus reached out and touched the man. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
Jesus has the ability and the willingness to heal us. We are not bothering God when we pray for healing, we are expressing our faith and trust in him
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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