Easin' Thru Ephesians

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the lovely day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

As I stepped outside this morning, I looked up to see the quarter moon shining brightly among the stars, but I still cannot see Venus. Not knowing much about the rotation, I don't quite know where to look. But anyway, the ones I could see, were twinkling reassuringly, seeming to say "All is well with the Universe."

I noticed on my walk yesterday, that the water level in the park has come up and the old gator hole is once more filled with water. The breeze was blowing briskly and it was so warm that I did not need a sweater. I noticed a lady ahead of me, peeling off her jacket and scarf in the brilliant sunshine.

I saw an anhinga dive into the water as I approached the bridge and stood to watch it swim and dive underwater. Four of them were drying out in the tall shrubs hanging over the water out at the tower. They seem to find plenty to eat.

I took a grapefruit pie to Terry, to share with the staff, but I don't know how much they got to eat. They all say once it gets to Terry, they don't see it! :o) I can always make another one. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ephesians 6

"Be strong in the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood. But against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world; against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.

Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. ....Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.

"May God give you peace , dear brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God's grace be upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying love."

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

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! I hope some of you saw the gorgeous pink sunrise this morning, that matched the sunset last night, God has really excelled in painting the sky these days!

Another family of ducks has come to the neighborhood. Mama duck has about a dozen babies (hard to make a running count), but the other family remains at three young'uns . They are now pin-feather size and not nearly so cute as fuzzy, yellow babies. Strangely, the Muscovys do not come to the park. Maybe because there are too many predators there. They wouldn't last long with the hawks and the eagles flying around. But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Conflict

Shouldn't those who believe in Jesus Christ be free from conflict?

Psalm 27:1-3 "The Lord is my light and my salvation-so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger-so why should I tremble? When evil people come to destroy me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear. Even if they attack me, I remain confident."

Evil is inevitable. Because we live in a fallen world filled with broken people, we will find ourselves in many types of conflict. Our focus should not be on the dark forces that attack us but on the Lord who defends us.

Psalm 55:18 "He rescues me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, even though many still oppose me."

While God doesn't keep us out of all conflict, he is present with us in it.

How can I find strength to respond to conflict in God's way?

Matthew 5:9 "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

Romans 12:19-21 "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."

Peace lies in the power of love, not the love of power. If we trust in God, he promises to protect and vindicate us. Followers of Christ know better than to take revenge into their own hands. They know that fighting according to the world's ways brings even greater problems. We are to practice "the principle of paradox"; bless when cursed, give when threatened, and feed those who would take our food. This principle unleashes God's power into the situation.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalms

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the cool day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Oh, what a beautiful morning! The sun is shining and mostly the sky is clear. When I stepped outside this morning early, a half moon was very brightly shining, but for some reason, Venus is no longer in sight. The heavens declare the glory of God!

I had a good walk yesterday in the Park, and will be glad when the trees no longer look so stark. All the leaves are off the maples, but, of course, there is plenty of green shrubbery and trees. The wind was blowing, and making waves on the lake, but I stood at the tower and watched an osprey gliding and enjoying the thermals... he hardly flapped his wings as he soared higher and higher. God is great!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 34

"I will praise the Lord at all times,
I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only of the Lord;
let all who are encouraged take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness'
let us exalt his name together.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me,
freeing me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be
radiant with joy;
no shadow or shame will darken their faces.
I cried out to the Lord in my suffering,
and he heard me.
He set me free from all my fears
For the angel of the Lord guards all who fear him
And he rescues them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!
Let the Lord's people show him reverence,
For those who honor him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry.
But those who trust in the Lord will
never lack any good thing."


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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Faith is a verb

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the cool, clear day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

When I stepped outside this morning, I enjoyed looking at the half moon shining brightly in the pre-dawn sky, almost eclipsing the stars, We are having January cool weather, but the azaleas, petunias and impatiens are blooming (in other peoples gardens) and the city looks beautiful.

We visited three parks over the weekend and saw a big, fat, armored armadillo, walking beside the road in one park and a hawk landing on a light pole. On the way in to Sawgrass, three peacocks were pecking around in the grass, with the male dragging his gorgeous plumage around. I think God made them beautiful and then gave them raucous calls to keep them from being conceited. :o) God is good!

From the book Quiet Moments for Teachers:

Faith is a Verb

" We live by faith, not by sight."2 Corinthians 5:7

In "You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought" , John Roger and Peter McWilliams offered a new description of faith. They chose the word "faithing" to describe their proactive approach to confidence in life"s outcomes.

In their thinking, faithing works in the present, acknowledging that there is a purpose to everything and that life is unfolding exactly as it should. It is actively trusting that God can handle our troubles and needs better thank we can. All we must do is let them go so that He can do His work.

The Two Boxes

I have in my hand two boxes
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black,
And all your joys in the gold."
I heeded His words, and in the two boxes
Both my joys and sorrows I store,
But though the gold became heavier each day
the black was as light as before.
With curiosity, I opened the black
I wanted to find out why
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.
I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,
"I wonder where all my sorrows could be."
He smiled a gentle smile at me,
"My child, they're all here, with Me."
I asked, "
"God, why give me the boxes,
Why the gold, and the black with the hole?"
"My child, the gold is to count your blessings,
the black is for you to let go."


Faith can put a candle in the darkest night.
Margaret Sangster


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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Roamin' Thru Romans

Good chilly morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the windy, cold day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice in it! Well, even though it is 51 outside, the sky is clear and sunshine will soon warm us up! So, things could be worse!

I watched a tiny wren flitting about in the freshly cut grass in the front yard yesterday, and a squirrel was eying me from the roof, trying to decide if he could make the leap from roof to tree limb. He finally decided it was too far.

I took a short stroll through the park yesterday, as far as the first shelter and noticed maple seeds on the boardwalk, even though the trees are still shedding. The warm weather has them fooled. I looked over the railing and watched ripples in the water, but couldn't tell if an otter was there or not. They really like the cool weather. Also, the azaleas I mentioned yesterday have started to bloom, so, even though it is still winter, we will have colorful flowers. Lots of homes have impatiens blooming in the flower beds. I wish I did! But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Justice: What can I do when I suffer injustice?

Romans 12:17-19 "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."

Proverbs 20:22 "Don't say, "I will get even for this wrong. Wait for the Lord to handle the matter."

God teaches us to respond differently to injustice than the world does. Vengeance and retribution are the way of the world. God teaches us to trust in him and allow him to settle the score.

How can I respond to persecution?

Matthew 5:11-12 "God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too."

2 Thessalonians 1:5-6 "God will use this persecution to show his justice. For he will make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering, and in his justice he will punish those who persecute you."

Persecution is part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. God blesses those who bear dishonor and hardship for his sake.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

From a Tiny Seed

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! When I stepped outside before dawn, it looked like the fog was just overhead, waiting to sink down on us silently. We are still wet from the good rain that blew through, and although yesterday was very warm, today is supposed to be cooling down again.

Our azaleas are blooming more and more and making the front yard look colorful. Soon they will be blooming at the park, where lots of hedges and flower beds bloom this time of year.

I drove to the park yesterday... big mistake! A really bad accident had happened just beyond the street that leads to the park, and people kept driving down the street thinking they could drive around the site, but there is no outlet in that neighborhood, so they had to turn around and get in a looong line, waiting for the officer to let us out. I prayed that no one was seriously injured in the overturned pickup.

But God is good and even though more glitches have turned up in the bathroom renovation, I am sure they will be fixed today! Praise God!

From the devotional Quiet Moments with God:

"Other seeds fell into the good soil and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty sixty, and a hundredfold."
Mark 4:8 NASB

The story goes that a century ago a German princess lay dying. While on her deathbed, she requested that her grave be covered with a large granite slab and that stone blocks be placed all around the slabs to seal the grave. She also gave orders for the granite and stones to be held together with large fasteners made of iron. At her request, the inscription in the top of the stone read, "The burial place, purchased to all eternity, must never be opened."

Apparently during the burial, a tiny acorn found its way into the grave. Sometime later, a small shoot began to push its way up through a thin crack in the granite slab. The acorn was able to absorb in just enough nourishment to grow. After years of growth, the mighty oak tree broke through the aging iron clamps. The iron was no match for the oak, and the clamps burst, exposing the grave that was never to be opened. New life sprang forth from a deathbed and one tiny seedling.

Every day we are given numerous opportunities to take advantage of fresh new starts. New beginnings often come when something else has ended. When we allow sin to die in our hearts, we find new life in Christ. Perhaps it is no accident that the mighty oak, which is one of the tallest and strongest trees in the world, starts from a tiny little seed.

What seems to be the end
may really be a new beginning.
Unknown

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Temptations

Good cloudy 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 a nice rain we had last evening and this morning, early. God always supplies what we need when we need it, even if we have to wait awhile!

I mentioned the woodstorks yesterday and saw the flock again by a canal near our house. There were six or seven, some lying down and some standing with heads down. They seem to form colonies, but they are really interesting to watch.

I saw lots of people at the park yesterday, because it turned out so warm in the afternoon. Since we are still in the midst of the bathroom makeover, I have been sticking closer to home, but we are almost finished! Praise God for good people who are conscientious about their work! Thanks, Brian S.!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Do I have the power to resist overwhelming temptation?

Matthew 4:5-7 "The devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, "He orders his angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone." Jesus responded, " The Scriptures also say, "Do not test the Lord your God."

James 4:7 "Humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you."

The devil can tempt us, but we can resist him just as Jesus did - by responding to the temptation with the truth of God's word.

1 John 4:4 "You belong to God my dear children. You have already won your fight with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world."

1 John 5:4-5 "Every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus in the Son of God."

We can break free from temptation when we change our focus and our minds. Instead of thinking about our weakness, we can fill our minds with the presence of God's strength. In Christ we have power. We must never forget that the Holy Spirit is great enough to overcome any threat against us.

Jude 1:24-25 "Now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy. All glory to him, who alone is God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes, glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to him, in the beginning, now, and forevermore. Amen."

Our ultimate confidence is in the Lord. As we depend more and more fully on him, he will give us the power to resist temptation.

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

Love and Hugs,
Amaryllis