Cruisin' thru Colossians

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 overcast right now, but I am thinking that it will soon burn off and then we will have lots of sun like yesterday.  Temp. is still in the high sixties, so our cold spell did not last long. But we could use some more rain, because the yellow pollen is floating around and all the cars that sit outside are coated with it.

Yesterday, Rick, my worker bee came to tear down the old shed in the back yard, and that was interesting. There was stuff in there that I had forgotten all about, if I ever knew it was in there. Some antiques and a lot of junk! Rick made three trips to the dump in his pickup, and he will be back Tuesday to finish up. With the shed gone, the backyard looks bigger, but also bare. When I get the sprinkler system installed, and grass sodded, perhaps things will be green again. Hopefully. 

I invited Rick to have lunch with me, which he did, and we had a nice chat. I found out a lot of personal stuff and trials he has been through. His 17 year old daughter was in a bad auto accident about three weeks ago, and is recovering from a lot of broken ribs, plus other injuries, so he has been taking care of her, since he is divorced. He is a joy to have around, because he is always smiling and very good natured. Tall and rumpled, but a hard worker! God has blessed me with good people to do for me what I can no longer do. 

After Rick was finished, I took the van over to the park and saw that lots of people were there. One couple had their two German shepherds on leashes and they were sniffing at a gopher tortoise, which was not paying them any attention. Even though the wind was blowing and lots of pollen was in the air, it didn't seem to bother anyone. Not everybody has allergies like I have. Brian stopped by after he left work and took me to the new Wawa to get gas, which was 3.59. Afterward, we drove by Walmart to check out their price and it was the same! I could have gotten 5 cents off with my card! Oh, well, God is the provider and He is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Colossians 1:9-14

So we have continued praying for you ever
since we first heard about you. We ask God to 
give you a complete understanding of what he
wants you to do in your lives, and we ask him
to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then 
the way you live will always honor and please
the Lord, and you will continually do good,
 kind things for others. All the while, you will 
learn to know God better and better.

We also pray that you will be strengthened
with his glorious power so that you will have 
all the patience and endurance you need. May
you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father
who has enabled you to share the inheritance
that belongs to God's holy people, who live in
the light. For he has rescued us from the one
who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he
has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear
Son. God has purchased our freedom  with
his blood and has forgiven all our sins.

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

Love and hugs, Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 98

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! Some may like this weather which was in the forties when I got up, but I, personally, will be happy for the warm weather to come back! Soon! The rain preceding the front dampened down the pollen which is falling in buckets off the oaks, but now, the dry air has started  the allergies up again.. So we wait, patiently, for spring to come and for new leaves to take the place of the seeds.

We had a wonderful church service yesterday with a testimony from Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund, who told of her struggle with anorexia, as a result of her ballet training. Then we also had a good sermon. Seemed like a lot more people turned out, and I noticed winter visitors were there from Ind. and other states. After church, I visited the Park and noticed that the big tree that had fallen next to a truck, still had not been moved or chopped up. Seems like it would make good firewood! Lots of turtles were plastered against the side of the berm trying to get dried off and warm. There were quite a few people there Saturday, but not so much yesterday, at least, not when I was there. Although the sun was very warm, still, the air was cold and although I parked the car in the sun, it did not get too warm inside, so that means it was really chilly! But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 98
Sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has done wonderful deeds.
He has won a mighty victory
by his power and holiness.

The Lord has announced his victory
and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!

He has remembered his promise
 to love and be faithful to Israel.
The whole earth has seen the salvation of our God.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
Break out in praise and sing for joy!
Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp.
with the harp and melodious song,
with trumpets and the sound of the ram's horn.
Make a joyful symphony before the Lord the King!

Le t the sea and everything in it shout his Praise!
Let the earth and all living things join in.
Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord.
For the Lord is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice
and the nations with fairness.

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

Love and hugs.
Amaryllis

A word from Hebrews

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! Looks like the rain is mostly over, but I still have not seen the sun yet this morning. However, the thermometer is still going down, so by tonight we will begin to see the cold front moving in. Here it is the middle of Feb. and we are facing the coldest weather so far! Go Figure...

Due to the rain all day yesterday, I thought it was prudent for me to stay home. So, I read and then cleaned out a closet some more. Still have three to go! It is amazing how I hang on to clothes I have outgrown (ha) some years ago, thinking I can get in them sometime in the future! Not Likely!

I looked out the window mid-morning and saw a large flock of ibis pecking their way along a neighbor's year, totally unconcerned with the rain. Guess it just rolls off the feathery backs, like water off a duck! We needed the rain, so God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Hebrews 6: 7-12
When the ground soaks up the rain that falls
on it and bears a good crop for the farmer,
it has the blessing of God. But if a field bears 
thistles and thorns, it is useless. The farmer will
condemn that field and burn it.

Dear friends, even though we are talking like
this, we really don't believe that it applies to you.
We are confident that you are meant for better
things, things that come with salvation. For God is not
unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked
for him and how you have shown your love for him
by caring for other Christians , as you still do! Our
great desire is that you will keep right on loving others
as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what
you hope for will come true. Then you will not become
spiritually  dull and indifferent. Instead you will follow
the example of those who are going to inherit God's 
promises because of their faith and patience.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

And the greatest of these is Love

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! Happy wet Valentine's Day! As I type this, rain is dripping down from my roof, after a short shower, but since we need the rain, I am happy for it. A good day to reflect on our blessings and the love of friends and family. My seventeen year old grandson's birthday is today. What a special day!
 
Unfortunately, he is in TN, so I cannot bake a cake for him, but his mom probably will.
 
My cleaning lady friends came yesterday, and we had a good time catching up. They know all the eating places around, since they have to stop and eat during their day of cleaning houses, so I hear of lots of places I would not know of otherwise. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful
or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it
has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice, but
rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives
up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures 
through every circumstance. 

Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in 
unknown languages and special knowledge will all
disappear. Now we know only a little, and even the gift
of prophecy reveals little. But when the end comes, these
special gifts will all disappear.

It's like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and
reasoned as a child does, but when I grew up, I put away
childish things. Now we see things imperfectly  as  in a poor
mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.
All that I know now is imperfect and incomplete, but then
 I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.

There are three things that will endure--faith, hope and love--and 
the greatest of these is Love.

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

Love and hugs, 
Amaryllis

Temptation

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 a change in the weather coming, and since I have gotten used to the balmy days we have been having, I don't know if I will like having it much colder! Guess I'll have to take whatever comes, anyway! We are supposed to start getting rain this evening, and then by Sunday, it will be very cold! I am just spoiled.

I was out and about a lot more than usual yesterday, running errands. I started with a haircut at Mari's , which is always a pleasure with my cheerful friend,Then I went to Walgreen's on 4th St. and shopped a cart load of sale items. I have not been a customer of Walgreen's for a long time, because CVS is nearer and all my scrips are filled there, but I must say I am impressed by the service at Walgreen's. Very helpful and friendly associates, while at CVS, you are lucky if someone speaks to you! So, anyway, it was a pleasant experience. Then I drove to Disston shopping plaza and did some business there. That is always a busy place. Yesterday I was there about noon and the smell of pizza was fragrant in the air, making me hungry for a Little Italy pizza! 

I managed to make it over to the park, and saw the gator tucked into the shrubs again,but no turtles on the other side. The ibis were moving around the circle pecking and grubbing, and a few people were out and enjoying the beautiful, warm weather. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

 Ash Wednesday

Do I have the power to resist overwhelming temptation?

Matthew 4:5-7 The devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the
Temple, and said, "IF you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say
"He orders his angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands
to keep you from striking your foot on a stone." Jesus responded, "The scriptures
also say "Do not test the Lord your God."

James 4:7 Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil , and he will flee from
you. 

The devil can tempt us, but we can resist him just as Jesus did--by responding 
to temptation with the truth of God's Word.

1 John 4:4 You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight
with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the
spirit who lives in the world.

1 John 5:4,5
Every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And
the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus
is the Son of God. 

We can break free from temptation when we change our focus and our minds.
Instead of thinking about our weakness, we can fill our minds with the promise of
God's strength. In Christ we have power. We must never forget that the Holy Spirit
is great enough to overcome any threat against us.

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

Love and hugs.
 Amaryllis

Hebrews

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 kinda overcast this morning, but that may be fog that has not burned off, yet. I must have gotten up about twenty minutes earlier than I thought, because my bedside clock has one time on it and the clocks on the other side of the bed have a different time. My PC says 9:39m but my clock says 10:02. Hmm, something is wrong with my clock. It is only about forty years old...a clock, radio, telephone. I bought it from Penney's when the old Pinellas Park Mall was still standing. Sigh. Some changes are good.

Yesterday I ran some errands and ended up at the park, looking for a little peace. I saw a flock of ibis pecking around a picnic table where a man was peacefully enjoying his lunch. The ibis were not looking for handouts; in fact, they were only passing by on their never ending quest to find grubs. The canal was so peaceful and calm, reflecting the trees along side it. Since school was just getting out, there were not too many people, yet.

I was watching the leaves falling, as I was having my devotions this morning, and, since I have not swept the porch off yet, it is getting more and more leaves. But that's okay, because there will be a lot more on it by this afternoon. My azaleas are much prettier this year than I expected, and the old bush in the backyard is just gorgeous, with beautiful deep pink flowers! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Hebrews 6:7-12
When the ground soaks up the rain that falls
on it and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has
the blessing of God. But if a field bears thistles and
thorns, it is useless. The farmer will condemn that field
and burn it.

Dear friends, even though we are talking like this,
we really don't believe that it applies to you. We are
 confident that you  are meant for better things, things
that come with salvation. For God is not unfair. He will
not forget how hard you have worked for him and how
you have shown your love  to him by caring for other
Christians, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will
keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, in order 
to make certain that what  you hope for will come true.
Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent.
Instead, you will follow the example of those who are
going to inherit God's promises because of their faith
and patience.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Living in the Light

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 sun, cool breezes and a few clouds are a good way to start a Monday! The same weather we have had and the same weather for a couple days in the future! We are blessed! I have seen photos of the snow in the NE and read on Facebook experiences of people living through the blizzard. I have to say that I am so glad I live in Florida!

We had a powerful service at church yesterday, which is still running through my mind, so I am remembering my sins and repenting. Does me good and, hopefully, I will not repeat. After church, I went to Boston Market for my lunch and was very pleased that they have squash casserole back on the menu. That is one of my favorites! I went to the park and saw lots of people enjoying the good weather and a beautiful white egret standing on the far bank of the canal , looking like a Florida painting. Someone had taken time to blow the leaves off the road, which was covered the other day. My porch was blown clean a couple days ago, but now has a windrow of leaves on it again. I made the mistake of parking under the oak trees at church yesterday, and as a result, my van was covered with the seeds and dust. Guess I learned my lesson! But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 John 1:5-10 2 John 1-3

This is the message he has given us to announce
to you. God is light and there is no darkness in him
at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship
with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are
not living in the Truth. But if we are living in the light
we have fellowship with each other, and the blood
of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.

If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and 
refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins
to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse
us from every wrong. IF we claim we have not sinned,
we are calling God a liar and showing that his word
has no place in our hearts.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you 
will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to
plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the
one who pleases God completely. He is the sacrifice for
our sins. He takes away not only our sins, but the sins
of all the world.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis