Monday, October 24, 2011

Peter's advice

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 still have perfect weather with cool nights and warmer days. 

Couldn't ask for anything much better.
 

It was a good day all around yesterday..good church service and Tim Tebow helping the Broncos to a win, and the Rangers coming back to win. I was kinda torn between the Cards and the Rangers, but leaning toward the Rangers. Oh, well, may the better team win!

There were water fowl in abundance at Lynch Lake yesterday as I drove around it! Black ducks, and white ibis, and standing in ankle deep water a gray and white woodstork. I guess they have ankles! When I went to the park Saturday, I saw a gopher in a different location on an access road. I remember when Mike, the naturalist showed me an aerial photo of the park, how many gopher tortoise homes were in it. They are all over the Park! The white heron was standing watch over the fish, and ibis were perched in the trees overlooking the water. All was peaceful! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:


1 Peter 3:7
In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. If you don't treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard.

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,
and keep your lips from telling lies.
Turn away from evil and do good.
Work hard at living at 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.

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

Friday, October 21, 2011

Ready to Move Mountains?

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! Well, I got cold last night! I was up at midnight getting another blanket to put on the bed, so this morning when I finally crawled out, I put my winter blanket on, so I will be warm tonight in my flannel jammies! It's in the sixties outside and in, and while that may not seem cold to some of you in colder climates, it's a shock to me! But, I have to admit, the weather is beautiful!

Yesterday, I was really busy running errands. I took a good long walk in Walmart, because God opened up a close parking space almost in front of the door, otherwise, I was going to stop at the Walmart Neighorhood store further down the highway. So, after shopping in there for a while, I had to wait almost as long to check out, as it took me to shop. Sigh. They never have enough cashiers working to take care of the crowds!

After unloading my groceries at home and eating a sandwich, I headed out again to pick up my quilt from the cleaners and had a short delightful conversation with the clerk about the beauty of the Amish quilt. Then on to NE shopping center where the shop where I stopped had  lovely chocolates right at the cashier station, of course, so I just had to buy a large choc. turtle, which I took home and ate one delicious bite at a time! ( I deserved it and besides, I ate it while moving about the house.) 

After another stop at CVS, I drove to the park, and got out to walk to the bridge. I saw lots of black turtles sunning on the weir bank, and another large snapping turtle on the lily pads at the bridge. As I walked on, I saw the young gator sunning on a tree trunk just out of the water. His head was up as if he were posing, which he probably was for all the photos taken of him. There were also ibis fishing and a busy little moorhen, clucking to himself as he walked about on the lily pads. It was cool, the sun was warm, and it was a great day to be alive! God is good!

From the little devotional book Knowing God:


For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, "Move from here to there", and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you. 
Matthew 17:20 NASB
 

Because we live in a demanding world, all of us have mountains to climb and mountains to move. Moving those mountains requires faith.

Are you a mountain-moving Christian whose faith is evident for all to se? Or, are you a spiritual underachiever? As you think about the answer to that question, consider this: God needs more people who are willing to move mountains for His glory and for His kingdom.

Are you willing to let God help you move mountains, or are you still stumbling around over a few little molehills? the answer should be obvious. And so, with no more delays, let the mountain moving begin.
 

We are never stronger than the moment we admit we are weak,
Beth Moore

My faith does not rest on what I am or will be or will feel or will know, but in what Christ is, in what he has done, and in what he is now doing for me.
C.H. Spurgeon

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Isaiah 40

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! So. we finally got our cool weather! Just in the middle sixties, and overcast, but it feels good to get out the winter clothes again! Well, not really winter, but different, anyway.

I had a good chat with my cleaning ladies about their cruise...one would go again and one would not, although she had a good time, she is really afraid of storms. The other objected to the fact that as a single, she had to pay as much as doubles. All in all, they had a good time and urged me to go sometime. Who knows? Maybe I will.

I went to the park yesterday, after being home most of the day and saw the gopher tortoise, which has a tunnel right by the parking lot, and sits on his pile of sand, attracting all kinds of lookers. It was peaceful and fairly quiet with just the wind blowing in the trees.

I have noticed that the almost transparent geckos are still living in the garage, because when I turn on the light unexpectedly at night, there they are doing the wiggle walk up the door, so they can disappear behind some shelves. I really don't know what they live on, but maybe the garage is buggier than I thought. They are interesting creatures. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:
 

Isaiah 40:28-31

Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

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


Love and hugs, 
Amaryllis

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Lamentations 3

Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Well, the weatherman is not always right on. We did not have the rain and thunderstorms that were predicted, although we got a light shower here and this morning the porch was puddly from a rain during the night, but now the sun is shining, and the wind is blowing. So I guess the cold wave is on its way, after all.

Yesterday, I had a doctor's follow up app't. and it was unusually quiet in the office...no patients waiting, except me, so when I was called in, the doctor, after checking me over for any complaints, said my BP was under control, and he decided to chat with me. We spent half an hour chatting about various things and I asked him about his daughter who has gone into body art. She tattoos for a living, and is living with a tattoo supplier. Seems like both his daughters are free spirits, which is all right with him, as he stuck to what he likes to do best...meeting people and talking face to face and being a healer.  He seems to like to chat with me when he has time.

I left with a light sprinkle coming down and before I got home, it was a steady light rain, but I drove to the park to check it out, and was surprised to see a few people taking their time leaving, even though it was raining steadily by that time. The squirrels were still scampering about and I saw two ibis perched in one tree, hanging over the water, and three further down, perched on another limb. The grass had recently been mowed, so it looked peaceful and quiet. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:


Hope in the Lord's faithfulness

Lamentations 3:19
The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:


The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"
 

The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. And it is good for the young to submit to the yoke of his discipline.

Let them sit alone in silence beneath the Lord's demands. Let them lie face down in the dust; then  at last there is hope for them. Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them. Let them accept the insults of their enemies.

For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever.Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion according to the greatness of his unfailing love. For he does not enjoy hurting people or bringing them sorrow.

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


Love and hugs,
Amaryllis 

Monday, October 17, 2011

Habakkuk's Prayer

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 was shining when I looked out awhile ago, but now the clouds have rolled in and looks like we will get the rain tomorrow that has been predicted. Well, God is in control of the weather and everything else!

On my way to church yesterday, I went around Lynch Lake and saw a flock of ibis, and all alone, two sad looking woodstorks, I have mentioned before how depressed they always look. Some birds look happy, but not them. Then, coming back home, the flock of ibis were still there, along with three woodstorks and a bunch of ducks all gathered in front of a bench eating some crumbs someone had left for them. They all seemed to be getting along just fine together.
 

The ducks are very possessive about their crossing the street rights...I made it just before a group of five started crossing in front of me. Once they start, they have no fear of cars and just take their time, all in a row.

I saw the remnants of a beautiful sunset as I was coming home from a meeting at church last night...all reds and pinks, streaking across the eastern sky. Just beautiful! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:


Habakkuk's Prayer (portions)

This prayer was sung by the prophet Havbakkuk:


I have heard all about you, Lord, and I am filled with awe by the amazing things you have done. In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. And in your anger, remember your mercy.

I see God, the Holy one, moving across the deserts from Edom and Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens and the earth if filled with his praise! What a wonderful God he is! Rays of brilliant  light flash from his hands. He rejoices in his awesome power. Pestilence marches before him, plague follows close behind. When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. But his power is not diminished in the least! I see the peoples of Cushan and Midian trembling in terror....

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren, even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as furefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.

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

 
Amaryllis

Friday, October 14, 2011

Psoaring thru Psalm 100

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 beautiful morning with low humidity and lots of sunshine and the promise of a lovely day! 
 

Yesterday, as I was driving east, I could not help admiring the towering, white puffy clouds in the distance..looked like big piles of whipped cream! I don't what kind of clouds they were...alto-cumulus, or whatever, but they were beautiful. Thank you , Jesus! I have to remember to get out to look at the moon tonight and see Jupiter dancing with it, as Paul Delegatto says.  I know it will be a sight to see!

I got a lot of indoor exercise yesterday. I stripped the bed and washed all the sheets and sheet blanket, then put them all back on the bed, one by one, as they came out of the dryer, which meant walking back and forth from bedroom to garage. Then I decided to change the quilt to the winter one. I have two handmade Amish quilts, made for me by an old order Amish friend, who, before she died, lived in Indiana across from my grandfather's farm. The spring and summer quilt is the double wedding ring pattern and the winter is colors of blue, in the triangle pattern. They are treasures!

After all that, I drove to the library, and then to the park, to check out what was going on there. I saw a large flock of ibis, doing their thing, and many squirrels still gathered around the one tree they seem to call home. An egret was posing in the fishing position and the trees were hanging gracefully over the canal, reflecting in the water. It was a peaceful scene. God is good!

This is one of my favorite Psalms. I memorized it while in Sunday school as a child;

A psalm of thanksgiving:

Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy,
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us and we are his.
 We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
 For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

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


Love and hugs, Amaryllis

Thursday, October 13, 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! We have already had a couple showers this morning, but after they pass through, we have the promise of less humidity and a cool and beautiful weekend! Sounds great!

I got an all clear from the NPR yesterday, so the prescription I have to do myself is get more exercise...ugh, hard for me to do these days with the shortness of breath, but if I take just short walks, I'm sure it will gradually build up my stamina.

I visited the park yesterday and was surprised to see so many people out. Mostly, moms and babies in strollers and a couple very engrossed in each other. I didn't hear the hawk, but saw lots of ibis and birds flying about. The butterfly garden is flourishing and the teacher had a class on the boardwalk, instructing them on all nature around them. Nice field trip!
Speaking of birds, I found another dead baby mocker in front of the garage, again, as I was working in the yard trying to clean up part of the mess, since my yard man is having trouble with his truck.
The strange thing is...there was not a mark on the bird and I still cannot see the nest. He was already developed to the point that while still fuzzy on the chest, his wing feathers were already grown, so I could tell it was a mocker. Well, these things happen, I guess, but God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

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.

How does the promise of blessing affect us when we are weary or discouraged?
 

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So,my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 

Galatians 6:9 Don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
 


When we are tempted to give up, new resolve comes from remembering that God promises to bring a harvest in his perfect time.

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis