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 some high clouds and sunshine this morning, but no rain for a change. Instead, there was predicted to be haze from the sandstorm blowing over us from Africa. Very strange!
I went to the cleaners yesterday and got caught in the downpour around Crescent Lake Park, in the car. The car got a good washing from the rain, but not particularly where it needed it most. I decided to drive on to the park since the rain was not severe enough to hamper my seeing. I saw a anhinga trying to dry out wings on the weir, but difficult to do in the rain. Surprisingly, there were almost a dozen cars there with some people looking over the entrance bridge staring at the water, I remember years ago, when I got caught in the rain on a morning walk on the boardwalk. Wow! Was I a drowned rat! There was no shelter, so I just kept walking until I got to the building and dried a little bit with paper towels! I was much younger then, only in my early seventies! That reminds me of what two of my nephews (my husband's side of the family) said to each other not long ago. They realized that all the older aunts and uncles are slowly disappearing and I am the only one left. One said, " Hopefully, she will be around a long while, if we can only keep her off motorcycles!" Ha,ha. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Hebrews 12:1-6
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
And have you entirely forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, his children? He said,
"My child, don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you,
and don't be discouraged when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves and he
punishes those he accepts as his children."
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
