Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Integrity

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 bright and the wind is blowing slightly, but I read the warning that the wind will pick up and it is turning cold with a frost warning for Levy County for tonight!! Hard to believe when it is almost seventy right now!

Well, I could not have had a better day yesterday! Once again, I was completely in the dark about the surprise lunch planned by friend, Mari. Brian is so good at keeping secrets that when he said we were going to Cheddars for lunch, I thought that was a little much since we had reservations for Texas Cattle Co. for dinner. So I had a late breakfast and was taking my time when he called and said he was coming, I rushed to dress and when we got to Cheddar's was completely surprised to find my friends, Gil, David and Cheryl, Mari and Kris waiting for the birthday girl!! Lots of balloons, and gifts and best of all, lots of catching up and chatting. I felt very much loved! Thanks to all for keeping secrets! I also got the promise of another Great Adventure coming up in the near future. Details later...

I took me a long time to read and answer all the best wishes coming in on Facebook! What a lot of friends I have! I am blessed and God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:
Integrity

How does God respond to my commitment to integrity?

Psalm18:20-25
The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he compensated me because
of my innocence. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned
from my God to follow evil. For all his laws are constantly before me; I
have never abandoned his principles. I am blameless before God; I have
kept myself from sin. The Lord rewarded me for doing right because of the
innocence of my hands in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself
faithful; to those with integrity, you show integrity.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Monday, January 20, 2014

The Greatest of these...

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! This is another beautiful, sunshiny, cool day  and from my window I cannot see any clouds. I was impressed yesterday when I drove to church in lots of sun and when I came out about an hour and a half later, it was all cloudy! But what impressed me, was that I could see where the shelf of the overcast ended and the sky was blue and sun was shining downtown! There was a definite division! It was awesome!

I drove on to the park and saw an anhinga trying to swallow a fish, by flipping and turning, so it would get in the right direction to go straight down. It is a lot of work for a tasty tid bit!

Well, it looks like the whole country is celebrating my birthday today! Parades, no mail delivery,banks are closed, or could it be just a little thing like M. L. King, Jr. is having a celebration, too? :o) Anyway, God is good! And I am grateful for all the messages and best wishes on my FB timeline! Thanks to all!

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.....


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

Friday, January 17, 2014

Roamin' thru Romans

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! Although it has warmed up to 55 outside, my hands are cold inside and I am having difficulty typing. If I could type with gloves on, I would! Well, we are still warmer than some places, and we do not have snow on the ground...in my case, just a pile of leaves!

After doing some shopping yesterday, and buying stamps, which are going up in price, soon, I wandered over to the park and saw a anhinga with spread wings, alongside several black turtles sunning on the banks of the weir. There were a few cars. but not as many as earlier in the week. But it was a beautiful day and people were enjoying the outdoors.

I am having a problem keeping a bulb burning in the light on my front porch...seems like it burns out in a hurry,. I called Brian as he was on his way home and he stopped by to change the bulb once again, (which I cannot reach), so we will see how long this one lasts.

Cheryl, across the street, usually calls me to tell me it is out, but she did not call this time. She usually knows everything that goes on in the neighborhood, and looks out for me. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 12:1-2
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your
bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice ---the kind
he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this
too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way
you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and
you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Love from John

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! It is in the fifties and sunny, but the wind is blowing which makes the temps seem even colder! The oak trees are still shedding and the porch has a hundred acorns on it even though it was cleaned off Monday. Oh, well, the cleaning does not last! I like the way my yard men "rake" the yard with their blowers. They blow everything in the driveway and get a big pile, then rake the piles into the dumpster. A lot less time and effort than raking by hand and bagging! And the lawn looks pretty good afterwards.

Well, I got my ironing done yesterday! I had been putting it off for about three weeks and decided not to procrastinate any more, so I spent about twenty minutes away from a book , (I enjoy reading) just long enough to get a big task finished. Of course, I will have more ironing after I do laundry today, but that's life!

I went to the park after running a couple errands, and saw more alien cars there, that is, from the northern states...Maine, , New York, several local cars and of course, Ontario. Lots of ibis were about and the squirrels were fat and sassy. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

John 15:5-9
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me,
and I , in them, will produce much fruit, for apart from me, you
can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me, is thrown away like a
useless branch, and withers. Such branches are gathered up into
a pile to be burned, but if you stay joined to me , and my words
remain in you, you may ask any request you like and it will be
granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings much
glory to my Father!


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Jogging thru Jeremiah

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! After the rain brought another cold front in last night, the temp is cooler than I like it, but once again, the heat is on. My indoor thermometer says 68 inside and only up to 60 outside! That is ideal for some, but too cool for these old bones!

My cleaning ladies came yesterday, instead of the usual Wednesday, because Cheryl is having her second cataract surgery today. She is amazed at what a difference seeing well does for her! She has to wear sunglasses, now, but did not before, because the brightness bothers her.

We were discussing the man who came to my door about five minutes after I arrived home Monday and had closed the garage door right away, something I don't usually do. He rang the doorbell and pounded on the door. I could see who it was out the window and was hesitant to open the door, but did, after he pounded again. He looked like a homeless man with scruffy clothes and gray in his curly black beard, Right away, he started talking about being new in the neighborhood, the economy, etc, etc, then asked for work and finally food. I told him sorry, no, and shut the door. I did not have a good feeling about him. Cheryl was watching from across the street and said there were two men; both walking down the street concentrating on this side. I saw no car, and had not noticed anything unusual when I drove in, so, anyway, they are gone! All agreed, I should not have opened the door. Lesson learned!

On a happier note, I drove to the park and saw the happy squirrels zipping around the trees seemingly without a care, and a flock of ibis pecking their way along the ground. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not
for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will
listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be
found by you", says the Lord.


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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Monday, January 13, 2014

Worry

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! Seems like our weather is up and down...yesterday was sunny and just a little cool but today is chilly, but still sunshiny! Just right for a lot of folks, even for those whose work takes them outside.

We met our retired interim pastor yesterday, and, of course, there was a reception with cake in between services! Our church people like to eat! I saw some more new faces in the crowd and I don't know how many were at first service, but I have a lot of gratitude and respect for all the volunteers who are giving service in any capacity needed, while we are searching for a new pastor. We are blessed with talented people!

I visited the park over the weekend and saw the large gopher tortoise, hurrying on all fours to a spot overgrown near the drive.I don't often see them walking, since they are usually nibbling as the meander along. They look as comical as gators with their short legs. A lot of people were out and I thought there must have been a celebration under the shelter, but no one was there, so the boardwalk must have been crowded with people walking and enjoying the beautiful day! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

What do I do with the problems that worry me?

Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to the Lord and he will take care of you. He will not
permit the godly to slip and fall.


Philippians 4:6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God
what you need, and thank him for all he has done.


1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens
to you.


Prayers and a godly perspective drive worry from our minds and hearts. Peace
comes when we pray, release all our cares to the Lord, and focus our minds
on the promise of God.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Friday, January 10, 2014

Easin' thru Ephesians

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 a difference a day makes! While yesterday was overcast and rainy nearly all day, today there are few clouds and the sun is bright! It has also warmed up and the temp is in the low seventies and will climb higher this afternoon. According to the weatherman, there was a heavy fog bank early today, but no sign of it now.

Since it was such a gloomy day yesterday, I saw no need for going out, so I stayed busy with reading, and doing a few chores, and listening to the phone ring numerous times. Since Christmas, the soliciting calls have started up again. I am so glad I have caller ID!

I have to be out and about today with two appointments scheduled, so I will find out the results of the tests I had done last week! When the tech. was doing the ultrasound of my heart, I could hear the swish, thump of the heartbeat, and I told the lady, I was fearfully and wonderfully made.She just said, "Hmmm." I don't think she knew I was quoting from Psalms. But God is wonderfully good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ephesians 3:14-
Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Empowering

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan I fall to my knees and pray to
the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his
glorious, unlimited resources, he will give you mighty, inner strength through his
Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts
as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous
love. And may you have the power  to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ. though it is so great you will never fully understand it . Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and the power  that comes from God.


Now glory be to God! By the mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish
infinitely more than we could ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in
the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through countless ages.  Amen.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis