Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the coolish day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! What a lovely, refreshing rain we had mid-afternoon yesterday! A little thunder came with it, but the grass is growing and the flowers blooming and God's timing is perfect!. Maybe we will have another rainstorm today, we pray.
I took a nice long walk yesterday in the Park, with not many people there. I was in time to see a large gator swimming along beside the first covered shelter, where he likes to hang out, and when I spoke to him, he stopped and sank, until only his eyes and nose were visible. I had been warned that the boardwalk was closed off further on, but I saw Bob and a helper finishing up for a break, and asked if I could go on out to the tower. Bob said they would be back in about 15 minutes, and I said I would be finished by then. So they fastened up the "caution tape" again and I had a nice solitary walk and got to see Mama gator in her usual spot. I just ducked under the tape when I finished my walk. God is good!
From the Promise Bible, excerpts from Romans 3
"And so, dear brother 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....
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 all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.
God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Don't just pretend that you love others, really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand for the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never by lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
