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! The sun has shone for a little bit, but it is still overcast and now the wind is blowing, so it is pretty chilly. I turned the heat on yesterday , after having the A/C on the day before, so the weather is very changeable. But I heard on the TV about the Nor'easter that NY is getting and watched the Packers play in Green Bay, while a light snow was falling, so I can't complain!

I did not go out yesterday, so just did laundry and took it easy, since it rained right after the yard guys left. And, yes, the garbage dumpster is still sitting at the foot of the driveway, full of leaves, and too heavy to move. And the leaves are not through falling by any means! The trees are still full, so there are a lot more to come off!

But God is good to give us trees for shade!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Colossians 3:12-15
Since God chose you to be the holy people, whom he loves, you must
clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make
 allowance for each others faults, and forgive the
person who offends you.Remember, the Lord forgave you,
so you must forgive others. And the most important
piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what
binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace
that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members
of one body, you are all called to live in peace.
And always be thankful.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Roamin' thru Romans 12

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 is another overcast day and rather chilly to me. Yesterday was overcast and misty in the morning. (Sounds like a song title.) I don't think it is misty today, but surely could be!

I have spent the last ten minutes or so watching my yard men blow thousands of leaves into the gutter, then put as many as possible in the empty dumpster, and also a yard bag. The younger guy even climbed in the dumpster and jumped up and down so he could  pack more leaves in. Of course, it will have to stay down at the foot of the driveway until Thursday, because it is too heavy to carry back and forth. I was really happy to see them pick up the leaves, though, because everything was covered. I did not think they would take time to do that.

While channel hopping Saturday, I came across a movie just starting and it turned out to be" Message in A Bottle", which I had never seen. I had been wanting to read the book by Nicholas Sparks, but had not seen it at the library, so, of course, I had to watch the whole thing and I am glad I did, even though I was teary eyed at the ending. Sigh.

On my way around Lynch Lake Saturday, I noticed a whole flock of wood storks standing solemnly in a carport at a house. There must have been almost a dozen. Now, I thought they only ate fish and stork food, but someone must have been feeding them or they would not have invited themselves to that house.  I am sure they left their calling cards behind.

And yesterday, on my way home from church, I noticed the tide was low and an egret and a pretty pink roseate spoonbill were pecking along the muddy bottom for food. ,God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 12:14-21

If people persecute you because you are a Christian,
don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. When
others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share
their sorrow. Live in harmony with each other. Don't try
to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people.
And don't think you know it all!
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a
way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part
to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.

Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God.
For it is written,
I will take vengeance;
I will repay those who deserve it."
says the Lord.

Instead, do what the Scriptures say:

"If your enemies are hungry, feed them,.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink,
and they will be ashamed of what they have
done to you."

Don't  let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

A Living Sacrifice to God

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 can I say? We are continuing in the string of beautiful weather, with sun, breezes and temps near 80 around noon and sixties at night....could not be better!

I did not see the Orion blast off earlier, but saw it on TV. We have too many tall trees in this neighborhood to see contrails from the blast offs that we used to be able to see in the early days of the shuttles. It is still a thrilling sight! Just to think that this one is going to Mars eventually!

Well, I had very mixed feelings yesterday when I got my hair cut by someone other that Mari, who has been my friend and stylist over thirty years. She has retired, so now I cannot rely on her any more. What a friend she has been! Seasons in life change and so I must flow with the seasons, but that does not make it easy. Sigh.

To comfort myself, I went shopping and bought some pretty tops, which I have to take back and exchange because I did not try them on and they are too big. Oh, well, I don't mind. I may pick out something else I like!

I stopped in at the park and saw all the usual birds in the canal ,  and then went on to the Library, although I was pretty tired by that time. I had stopped at the Subway and got a good sandwich with lots of veggies in it, so I had energy enough to get some more books. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 12:
As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning; Be
honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your
value by how much Faith God has given you. Just as our
bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,
so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body,
and each of us has different work to do. And since we are
of one body in Christ, we belong to each other and each of
us needs all the others....

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

A Living Sacrifice to God

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! I have had a couple windows open for the past few days, because the weather is so perfect! Sunshine and temps between the sixties and high seventies!

I was outside for over an hour yesterday, watching and talking with my handy man, Rick, as he hung the lights. Unfortunately, I had not bought enough, so,, I have two different kinds of icicle lights, and not enough of them. I am wondering if I should leave them as is, and be unique in the neighborhood, or go and get some more. Decisions, decisions...But they did look pretty last night!

Then my cleaning ladies came and so they will come two more times before Daryl and Matthew come from TN. Can hardly wait!

I did get to the ATM at the bank and was so pleased to discover they had installed a new one which is so much easier to use than the old one., I used to have to insert my card several times to get it to work, but this new one is touch screen and the card just slides in and out so easily! My money at work!

Then I went on to the park and just a few people were there. I guess because school was not out yet, but lots of dogs were being walked. The usual ibis were there and egrets in the canal, but all was quiet. 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 accept?
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

Jesus, the True Vine

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 had a little rain last night early, but today is sunshiny and warm with just a cool breeze blowing. It is predicted to reach almost 80 by the end of the week!

My yard man did not come yesterday, so I called him to see if he had quit, but he said he had taken off Thanksgiving week, and yesterday his helper did not show up. But he was already here this morning, so all the leaves and acorns have been blown off temporarily, (they are still falling), and the yard cleaned up in the front. I am glad that is taken care of..

I made a shopping trip to CVS yesterday and got some needed things. Then, after I came home I decided to go on over to Big Lots to get another string of lights, because my handy man is coming Wed. to put up the outside lights. I think I did not get what I wanted the first time I was in, but this time I got the long icicle lights, which I think are so unusual. While I was there, at the Rutland Plaza, I had thought to go in the Romance Jewelers to get a couple watch batteries replaced, and much to my dismay, discovered they had gone out of business! I really enjoyed visiting with Roger when I went in! Sigh. So sad to see another small business close. Guess I will have to go to Northeast Shopping Center now, for the batteries.

I drove on to the park after that disappointment, and, once again, lots of people were out enjoying the sun and exercise. One man was crouched down just watching a gopher tortoise, who was staring right back at him. Ibis and egrets were in the canal again, but when I drove by Lynch Lake earlier, there were flocks of seagulls, an osprey on the line, wood storks on the banks, and one pink beauty shining among the ibis! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

John 15:5-8
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 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

Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

 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 one more in the string of perfect days we have been having! Blue skies, lots of sun, gentle breezes...who could ask for anything more?

I watched the Packers-Patriots game yesterday, played in below freezing weather, at Green Bay WS, with thousands of screaming fans sitting in the cold and not seeming to mind at all, since the Packers won! Yay! My mother was from Wisconsin and my sister was born there, so I have a connection. I also watched the Gators narrowly lose, but that's another story. Sigh.

I hope you all had as good a Thanksgiving as I did. Brian and I drove up to Dunnellon to be with my two nieces, my sister, my great nephew and a couple cousins of theirs, so there was good company, and great food. Much laughter, and memories!

The drive up was perfect and we made good time on the Suncoast Parkway. Not much traffic and blue skies! We were interested in a shiny, black new looking Corvette, that we picked up in Pasco Co. and followed and passed back and forth until we got to Crystal River. We sorta wondered where they were headed and missed them when we turned off to head for Dunnellon. We stopped by my mother's old house on Blue Run and saw that it looks much the same as when we sold it. Those were good times! Then we headed for home and once again, had really good weather and a great trip!

I have seen more wood storks around the various lakes and yesterday on my way to church had to suddenly stop to let one cross in front of me unexpectedly! they have taken to hanging out in people's yards around Lynch Lake and this one was crossing the street from a house. There were several more around the lake and ducks, ibis, and seagulls. A busy place! Over at the park I saw turtles of various sizes sunning on the banks of the weir, and ibis and egrets in the canal. Lots of people were at the park, which was closed Friday. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Matthew 11:25-30

Then Jesus prayed this prayer, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves
so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. Yes, Father,
it pleased you to do it this way!

My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really
knows the Son, except the Father, and no one really knows the
Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

Then Jesus said, " Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry
heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,
and let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you
will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the
burden I give you is light."

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Giving Thanks

Good Morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! The rain has almost stopped, although the sky is overcast and it has really cooled off, so we will have a chilly Thanksgiving.

This is just a short note today, to give thanks for Jesus saving me with all my faults, and for my family who love me, and for tomorrow, which would have been the 66th anniversary of the day I married my one true love, Louis.

It will be a happy day filled with love and lots of talk and catching up, but also a little sad.
I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and pray for safety for those on the road, including Brian and me.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis