Psoaring thru Psalms

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 warmer temps today and lots of sunshine, which is not a good thing, since we need rain. My large staghorn fern is looking wilted as it hangs from the oak tree.

Well, we got good news last night! Daryl is coming home for Thanksgiving and my sister's services!

I did not expect that! It will be so good to see him!

For some reason, I went to McDonald's this morning and got breakfast. It was only about the third time I have done that, and will probably be the last. Apparently, they reconstitute their orange juice with water, because it tastes like water with a little orange flavoring.

I am feeling better since I quit taking the new meds the doctor prescribed, except I am still sleepy. Now I have spots all over where my dermatologist froze several spots on my skin, including my nose and forehead! Bad timing, coming just before Thanksgiving and my sister's services!

But, as always, God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 121
I look up to the mountains---
does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord
who made the heavens and the earth.

He will not let you stumble and fall;
the one who watches over you will not
sleep.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never tires and never sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you.
The Lord stands beside you as your
protective shade,
The sun will not hurt you by day
nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps
you from all evil and preserves your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you
come and go
both now and forevermore.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Time

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 air is still very dry but we have lots of sun, and the temp is supposed to go up to near eighty today. Very pleasant!

Well, I got some good news last night! Daryl is coming home for Thanksgiving! He is scheduled to work that day, so he can get Christmas off, but he will try to work something out, so he can come not only for Thanksgiving, but also for my sister's services on Friday. It will be great to have both my my boys here!

So, I did some thingS around the house before I knew he was coming, so timing is everything! Today I have to go see my dermatologist. I do not like stripping and putting on a flimsy paper gown, then sitting for thirty minutes, freezing. He always apologizes for the wait, but I would rather have him skip the apology and be on time! Excuse the vent!

My cleaning ladies are coming today instead of their usual Wednesday, and the yard crew is also due today, so whether I will be here for all that is doubtful. Cheryl and Kim know how to get in the house if I am not here, so that's no problem. They had to skip me last week, so I am glad they are coming this week!

I watched DWTS last night and i hope my couple wins tonight! I have voted for James and Sharna the last few weeks, because James is so good , with no experience at all in dancing. He had a terrible wreck in his Indy car in a race and was not expected to live, but except for a deep indentation in his hip, he looks fine. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ecclesiastes 3:9-12
What do people really get for all their hard work?
I have thought about this in connection with the
various kinds of work God has given people to do.
God has made everything beautiful for its own time.
He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even
so people cannot see the whole scope of God's work
from beginning to end. So I concluded that there is
nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy
themselves as long as they can. And people should eat
and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these
are gifts from God.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Faith brings Joy

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 lots of sunshine even though the temp. was in the high fifties this morning. I put my winter blanket on the bed last night, and even though the sheet felt icy, it soon warmed up. Guess I will have to put my flannel sheet on next, then I will really be cozy!

I am so sleepy this morning, I fell like I should go back to bed and start all over again about noon! The doctor changed my BP meds and maybe that is making me sleepy. I'll go outside in a little while and get some sun in my face. That should wake me up!

I received a comforting phone call from Pastor Dave, our visitation pastor, Saturday and he prayed for me for comfort on my sister;s passing. He is a good asset to our staff. And I discovered his wife, Kay, grew up in Johnstown, PA which my several greats grandfather founded! Small world!

Wade Anderson, our intergenerational pastor, preached yesterday because Pastor Kevin and Lori are on a 25th anniversary cruise. He was very good and gave a good message And before going into church, I rejoiced with my friend, Dan. about the Gators big win with their goal line stand!. My new young friend, Judy sat next to me. She is bouncy, pretty, and has a boy friend. I don't know why she wants to sit with an old lady, but we get along well.

After church I took a tour through the park and was hoping to see the gopher tortoise that I had

 spied Saturday, but he wasn't out. I did see, however, several egrets and an anhinga, and coming home the other day, an osprey was perched on the line around Lynch Lake. God is good!
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From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been made right in
God's sight by faith, we have peace with God
because of what Jesus Christ, our Lord has
done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has
brought us into this place of highest privilege
where we now stand and we confidently and
joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems
and trials, for we know that they are good for us---
they help us learn to endure. And endurance
develops strength and character in us, and character
strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.
And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we
know how dearly God loves us , because he has given
us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Paul's Final Greeting

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 lots of sun and still no rain in sight, now or in the near future. We really need rain, but not nearly as much as the Carolinas and Tenn. where the wildfires are burning. Daryl said the smoke is so bad in Cleveland, TN where he lives that they are all coughing and sniffling.

He sent a photo of Nantahala Lodge, with smoke all around it. I hear that a couple of the cabins were burned up, but I have not confirmed that. We stayed there when Brian graduated from Stetson, as a family celebration of his achievement. It is a beautiful place, or was.

Yesterday I went to church to board a bus to Miller's in Bradenton for a Thanksgiving, lunch. While waiting for the bus, I was able to talk with several people who were all sympathetic about my sister's passing and offered their condolences and love, with a lot of hugs. Even one lady who I have never been introduced to sent me an email and spoke to me. with a hug. That was love from the family of God!

Getting on the bus was a whole other adventure! The step was so high, even though I grabbed hold of both rails, it took About five guys to lift me up onto the first step so I could get on.. I had expected that, but hoped that there would be a lower step. Getting off was good, because someone had produced a small step stool to take up the space between the step and the ground..

The meal was good and the fellowship even better.  So today I am thankful for blessings, even though I have achy muscles from stretching for the high step. But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Thessalonians 5:14,18
Brothers, and sisters, we urge you to warn
those who are lazy. Encourage those who
are timid. Take tender care of those who
are weak. Be patient with everyone.
See that on one pays back evil for evil,
but always try to do good to each other and
to everyone else. ...

Now may the God of peace make you holy
in every way and may your whole spirit and
soul and body, be kept blameless until that
day when Our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
God, who calls you , is faithful. He will do this.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Memories

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!

Today I thought I would share some memories and thoughts with you about my sister, Marilyn. She passed away yesterday, peacefully at home with her daughter, Dena holding her hand.

I remember her as having asthma when she was small and, of course, back then, there were no inhalers like today or any of the remedies we have now. She was given medicated cigarettes, which did not work that well, and, of course, Vick's salve on the chest. And, when we had chest congestion, a spoonful of sugar with a few drops of kerosene on it. But we survived and she gradually outgrew the asthma for the most part.

Both our parents worked at my father's gas station, so it was up to us to get the evening meal started...potatoes every night. I don't remember my brother ever helping much, but then he was younger and a boy.

We would sing duets while washing the dishes, and I would always take the alto part, because she could only sing melody. "Go Down Moses" was a favorite. I don' know if that is the title, but I remember the song well!'

I remember waiting for her class to get out at Woodlawn Elem. and getting to ring the bell which was in the hall. The principal allowed me to do that! Then we would walk home down 16th St. No. Following her a couple years behind in high school was not too good for me. At SPHS I had a couple of her teachers, and since, she was very smart and, me, not so much, they expected me to perform like she did in class. Hmm. Not only that, a couple called me by her name and not mine. Not the way to instill self esteem in a young mind!

But on the other hand, I got to read all the stories in her literature book before I got into her grade. I loved to read and still do. But my sister was always a bookworm, which is what we called her, and I was always the active one...more comfortable outdoors playing with the boys and climbing trees or doing other stuff outside with my brother. These are some good memories!

I will miss my sister, Marilyn, but rejoice that she is now with Jesus!

From the NKJV:

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in
green pastures.
He leads me beside the still
waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil.
For you are with me;
Your rod and Your staff
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil,
my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days
of my life and I will dwell in the house
of the Lord
Forever.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Isaiah 43

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 skies have cleared and we have sunshiny, cool weather Now! By cool, I mean really cool compared to what we have had. We are down in the sixties, now, and it takes awhile to warm up into the high seventies. We may even reach 80 in a couple days. I am wearing longer sleeves and jeans, which I never wear in the summer because I think they are too hot, but they feel good, now!

My friend, Gil, gave me some of his mixture of collards, blackeyed peas, and other ingredients, the other day, which I have been enjoying for several meals. For supper last night, I baked Trader Joe's cornbread mix and had a pan of cornbread to go with the "stew". Very tasty! Of course, I had a piece of the cornbread with my breakfast today!

I took a ride through the park yesterday, after shopping, and saw that another large oak tree has fallen over into the canal. That makes 3 or 4 now in the canal. I also have seen the middle sized gopher tortoise and black turtles on the banks of the weir.. And in my front yard. the squirrels are still busy hoarding acorns and eating them on the wall of the porch and leaving the hulls behind.

There is no further news about my sister, so she is still in God's hands..

Yesterday I was so absorbed in writing about the battery problems, that I neglected to send the scripture, so I will include that today, since I have one reader who only reads the scripture I send and doesn't bother with the rest, but God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Isaiah 43:1-6,8
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters and great
trouble, I will be with you. When you go through
rivers of difficulty you will not drown! When
you walk through the fires of oppression, you
will not be burned up; the flames will not
consume you. For I am the Holy God...
because you are precious to me. You are
honored and I love you."

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Isaiah 43

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! Since it was overcast yesterday, I did not think we would have a chance to see the "supermoon" but I saw several photos of it on Facebook, so the skies must have cleared off for a bit later in the evening. Oh, well. perhaps I can see the waning moon tonight, since the sky is pretty clear and the weather is quite cool.

I had an interesting weekend. I was all ready to go to church Sunday; put the walker in the van,shut the side door, got in the driver's seat, turned the key and nothing. Not even a grunt. So, I called Gil, and told him I would not make it to church, and called AAA who told me it would be about ninety minutes before a truck could come.

Meanwhile, I tried to get my walker out of the van, but when the power is off, the side door would not open and since there is no keyhole for it, there was no way get the walker out. Well, the AAA techie came and examined the battery and discovered that the terminals were so corroded that they had been eaten up. Since it would have had to be towed to a garage, I called Ray, my friend and mechanic, late,r and asked if the shop would be open on Monday. He said it would be, but later said he would come over and look at it.

Thanks to Ray and his work, he was able to clean off the corrosion, and go to a parts place and get new terminals and start the van right up! Yay! I was so thankful for him! My church family looks after me, well! BTW, the AAA driver lifted the walker over the front seats and got the walker out for me. I feel more secure using it than relying on my cane.

So, I was able to keep my doctor's appointment in the afternoon. The doc is always amazed that at my age, I still drive, live independently, although I have a lot of help in the form of yard guys, a handyman, and cleaning ladies. While I was at the doc's I saw several people using walkers and a couple with canes, so I am not the only one.

I am good to go for another three months, so even with all the aches and pains that come and go with advanced age, God has allowed me to live this long.

Now I ask your prayers for my sister, who is two and a half years older that I. She is preparing to go to her heavenly home. My niece Dena, with the help of a hospice nurse  is taking care of her at home. Please pray that her homegoing will be peaceful and painless, for I know that God is good!

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis