Paul'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! Brrr! The fifties and sixties may not seem cold to those in the twenties and thirties, but I turned on the heat this morning and I am still not too warm. It was 54 when I rolled out of my nice, warm bed and 66 in the house. Chilly to me! But the sun is shining and it will warm up soon.

I got an all clear from my doctor yesterday, lungs clear, and heart good, so I guess I am good for another few miles. Talk about old magazines in the office...I looked at one in the examining room that was from 1996! The doc is always interested in what I do, and I told him I was reading a book, so he wanted to know the title and author and talked about the mystery books he had read. I told him mine was a "chick" book, then mentioned I had read most of John Grisham's books, which he had, too. They did not seem too busy yesterday, so I guess most of the tourists have gone home.

After I left the doc's office, I stopped at Romance Jewelers to get a couple watch batteries. Roger was alone, as usual, so we caught up on what was going on in each other's lives. He has a daughter who has a heart problem they have dealt with, but she is doing fine. Since I had two children with heart problems, we have that in common.

I drove on to the park and discovered it was almost full. But the roads and everything is covered with oak tree blossoms and pollen was everywhere! Not a good place to go for people with allergies! The water was still low, which was fine with the ibis who were pecking along the muddy banks again. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ephesians 3:14-21

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 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 power that comes from God.

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

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 Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Rain is still dripping off the roof, but blue skies are peeking through the clouds and the rain is supposed to be over with for now. Meanwhile, the wind is supposed to pick up and the cold front will come through this afternoon, so we will have one last taste of winter as we come to the end of March.

I did not leave the house yesterday, because of the weather, but today I have a check up appointment to keep and two watches that need new batteries, so looks like I will be going out this afternoon. That's when the wind is supposed to pick up. Sigh. Makes for a bad hair day!

The yard guys were here this morning for about five minutes. They only had time to blow off the driveway and porch before it started raining again. It makes it hard to keep up with their work, but they should be able to catch up this afternoon. So, God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 139:1-6,22-24

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!

Search me, O God, and know my heart,
test me and know my thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Forgiveness

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, I did not expect to wake up to rain , because I thought the prediction was for rain starting this evening.  This serves a good purpose, though, because the pollen was getting bad again. There are seeds from the oak trees every place!  My front yard and the back, also, are covered with a carpet of seeds. So, the rain dampens down the airborne dust and that's a good thing!

There was a scarce crowd at church yesterday, because of spring break. I know of at least two families who have gone on cruises, and several people were racing at Ft. DeSoto, so I think the regulars will be back next week. I had two visitors sitting on either end of my row, so people are still coming in.

It looks like my birthday balloons have finally given up floating...the last two are sitting on the hearth, so I will cut them up today. Sigh. It was so thoughtful of Mari to buy all those pretty balloons just for me! I have really enjoyed them!

I drove to the park after church yesterday, which is doubly covered with oak seeds and leaves. I was surprised to see how low the water in the canal was. I really don't know the reason for that. But lots of people were walking dogs, having picnics and watching the ibis and herons fishing along the muddy banks. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Can any sin be forgiven?

Mark 3:28-29
I assure you that any sin can be forgiven, including blasphemy, but anyone
who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin.

Romans 8:38
I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love.
Death can't and life can't . The angels can't, and the demons can't . Our fears for today , 
our worries about tomorrow , and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.

Forgiveness is not based on the magnitude of the sin, but the magnitude of the
forgiver's love. No sin is too great for God 's complete and unconditional love. The
Bible does, however, mention one unforgivable sin---harboring an attitude of defiant
hostility toward God that prevents us from accepting his forgiveness. Those who
don't want his forgiveness place themselves out of its reach.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Phlippin' thru Philippians

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! Yes, it is still morning for another hour or so.. It is another beautiful day and looks like it will be good weather for the MacDill airfest going on tomorrow.

I mostly stayed around the house yesterday, staying out of the sun on my wounded face. It will be another week or more before the scab on my nose comes off. Meanwhile the two spots on the right cheek are still prominent and I do not like them! Ah, vanity is thy name, even at my advanced age!

I drove over to the park late in the afternoon, and quite a few people were there, including those with cameras. There is always something to photograph, even if it is just seeing the natural Florida, which the banks of the canal look like. I saw a black turtle sunning on the banks of the weir on the way in, and the sun was high and bright! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Philippians 4:4-9
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again, rejoice!
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.
Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do
this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more
wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace
will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now,  dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more
thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is
true and honorable and right. Think about things that are
pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that
are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice
all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me
doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 84

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! Cool with lots of sun today, and promises to warm up later on. Almost perfect!

Well,I went to see my dermatologist yesterday, and as a result, I have a spotty face. He took a biopsy of my nose and froze two spots on the left side and two on the right of my face, so I am not looking too good. It really hurt when he put the needle in the side of my nose, but I have had that done before and I try to be brave. I am praying the the biopsy will come back negative for cancer and would appreciate your prayers, also.

I wrote of the tiny pretty bird yesterday, and as nearly as I can figure out, according to the Peterson Guide, it is a warbler. The yellow and black coloring matches and he really is a gorgeous little critter!.

After I left the doc's office (got in and out in just thirty minutes, a record), I decided to go to Publix and get the groceries I needed if I could get  a parking space close to the front door. Well, God answered the little prayer. Just as I approached the store, a car pulled out right in front!

I got everything on my short list, and then some, and a young man came to bag the goods, then said he would help me out. He asked if I wanted to push the cart, but I told him I would use my cane and lead the way. He was so thoughtful to realize I needed the support. He didn't look like he was out of his teens, yet. Shopping was a pleasure!

Then I cruised through the Park, which had lots of visitors on such a pretty day. I saw that the water had gone down already, so the muddy banks were showing which makes the ibis happy, because they can get to the grubs easier. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 84:10-12
A single day in your courts is better than a
thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For 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.
O Lord Almighty, happy are those who trust in you!

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

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! Sunshine and cool temps make for a beautiful day! I just saw a gorgeous tiny bird in the hedge outside my bedroom window! Bright yellow breast, black band around the neck, black head and black top feathers! I will have to consult my bird book to see what kind it was! It was about the size of a canary...

Well, I got to the library yesterday, and came out loaded down with books! There is a new librarian who looks like the least likely candidate for that particular occupation that I can think of. He is scruffy looking, wears baggy jeans, a scuffy bearded face, but who knows what lurks behind the outward appearance? Not my idea of" Marian, the librarian"!

After I left the library, I headed for the park, where I had to avoid a mother with two small children. I have found that moms with little ones try to keep them under their wings, but one cannot be too careful when driving by. I noticed the water was up from all the rain, when it was down last weekend. Lots of hydrilla washed down from the lake and was floating everywhere.
But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Matthew 6:7-15

"When you pray, don't babble on and on as people
of other religions do. They think their prayers are
answered by repeating their words again and again.
Don't be like them, because your Father knows
exactly what you need even before you ask him!

Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be honored.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done here on earth
just as it is in heaven.
Give us our food for today
and forgive us our sins,
just as we have forgiven those who
have sinned against us.
And don't let us yield to temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one."

If you forgive those who sin against you,
your heavenly Father will forgive you. But
if you refuse to forgive others, your Father
will not forgive your sins.

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

Love and hugs
Amaryllis

The Beatitudes

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 stormy weather has cleared out and we have lots of sunshine and a cool breeze. I hope this is the last of the cold weather because spring is just around the corner.

My porch and yard are a mess from the high winds. I will have to go out and get sticks and twigs off the front, pick up a plant that blew over, and the large twigs that are on the sidewalk. I don't know if the yard men are coming today or not, because they are probably busy catching up with the lawns they were unable to do because of the weather.It's very hard on people who have to work outside!

Needless to say, I stayed in all day. Since I just recovered from bronchitis, I did not think it wise to brave the rain to go anywhere. But God is good, and I can go out and about today when I finish laundry!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Matthew 5:3-12
God blesses those who realize their need for him,"
for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.
God blesses those who mourn,
For they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are gentle and lowly,
for the whole earth will belong to them.
God blesses those who are hungry
 and thirsty for justice,
for they will receive it in full.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.

God blesses those who are persecuted
because they live for God
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

God blesses you when you are mocked  and
persecuted and lied about because you are
my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad!
For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And
remember the ancient people who were persecuted, too.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis