Good morning, Dear friends and Prayer Partners! This is the beautiful day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! I know the weather is frightful just a few hundred miles north of us, but we can't complain here, as we have windows open and enjoy this springlike weather.
Instead of walking yesterday, to give my sore knee and foot a rest, we just drove through the park, but still saw turtles sunning, anhingas drying out wings in the trees and ibis everywhere! Lots of people from all over were enjoying the sun...Maine, Ontario, New Hampshire, and of course, lots of Florida tags.
As I turned off sprinklers in the back yard, I disturbed Mama duck and her three half grown ducklings, splashing in a puddle and enjoying a bath. She looked at me and quickly called her babes away from me, but I just walked the other way. They really stick together as a family and the little quackers mind Mama immediately. God is Awesome!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Will God do anything to change my character, or is it all up to me?
Galatians 5:22-23 "When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law."
Philippians 2:5, 12-13 "Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had...Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him."
A transformed character reflects God's work within us and our own choices. The Holy Spirit awakens our desire for love, integrity, and responsibility, but we must choose these in every situation.
What does God promise as we mature in godly character?
Matthew 5:8 "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. We will experience an increasing sense of God's presence and his blessing."
James 1:4 "When your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."
Romans 5:3-5 "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 of 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."
As we mature in our faith, we will become stronger and stronger people. Character is like a muscle - it gets stronger with exercise. As our character develops, our confidence in our salvation increases, and the assurance of God's love fills our hearts.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
