Perseverance and Endurance

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!

Although I have been up for a few hours, my spouse slept late, so I could not really get started on my chores until he was taken care of.

Anyway, here is is the start of a new week and things look promising. I noticed that I have an amaryllis blooming and a large bud on another one. I did not think I would have any blooms this year, because of the dry weather. I did not water them much, but although smaller, they are brightly blooming. God is GOoD!

Well, I did not get to walk Saturday. As most of you know, there was a strong wind all day and the boardwalk was closed. I went to the Park yesterday and walked up on the bridge and spied a large tilapia swimming at the surface. It would have looked good on a platter! :o)

We were unable to attend church because of the rains, but I watched the electronic church... not the same.

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Where do I find the strength to keep going when I'm tempted to give up?

Galatians 6:9 Don;t get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.

Endurance comes from keeping our thoughts on the promise of the harvest, not the problems of the moment.

Philippians 1:6 I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

Philippians 2:12-13 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.

We do not endure through our own strength alone. God is at work in our lives., He gives us strength to keep going when we are exhausted and the reasons to keep believing when we are discouraged.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Encouraging words from 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! Looks like we will have a cloudy day today, which is not good for the air show this weekend at MacDill, but if it brings rain, that is what we need.

I think we have some friendlier squirrels in our trees, now. A little pregnant fuzzy responded to me when I clicked my tongue, so I got a couple peanuts and she went for them. After she was up in the tree, I took some crunchy peanut butter and swabbed it on the knot they like to sit on. The bluejays didn't see it, so she sat up there and ate it all herself! I have a bowl of water out on the wall of our porch and lots of critters come to drink, including a big feral cat! I don't really want him hanging around, but they have to drink, too.

I saw the same gator hanging out on the bank by the weir yesterday at the Park, and a great blue heron standing by the bank hunting for his lunch. Because of the sore foot and cranky knee, I have not been able to walk in the park this week..maybe tomorrow!

Peace In Troubled Times

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding:
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth,
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him.
And delivers them,
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:1-8

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs and have a great weekend!
Amaryllis

Integrity

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! What a windy, cool morning we have! When I stepped outside earlier, the stars were shining, but I didn't linger long because it was quite cool. I heard a prediction that we will have rain and a cold front Sunday. Hmm. March is going out like a lion!

I spotted an alligator on the side of the canal in front of the weir yesterday, and although his tail was all that was visible, it looked like a big one. An egret was looking intently at the water, as usual. I wonder if they ever look up... While I was in the supermarket parking lot I saw the osprey on her nest and also at Sawgrass Elementary. Seems like the ospreys are building nests everywhere this spring! But God is good!

Courage to be Men and Women of Integrity:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in his law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 1:1-6

A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion,
Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance,
He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast; trusting in the Lord.
Psalm 112:5-7

If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my integrity.
Job 31:5-6

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Praying for Patience

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

Yesterday Louis had an early appointment with the audiologist to check the hearing aids, so I did not have time to send the morning email. This has been a good month with no doctor appointments, which means we are pretty healthy physically! Yay!

I had the occasion to have a phone conversation with one of the retired Sawgrass employees and he really vented about the condition of the Park, since everyone left. He was working on the irrigation before he had to retire, and it has never been fixed, so nothing has been watered in months. No one blows the leaves off any more, either and so the roadway is covered.

I know it is declining in appearance, but I still find peace there watching the wildlife, and walking on the boardwalk. Yesterday I watched an egret looking for a fish, and the ibis pecking and very busily looking at the ground. On the way in, Mr. Peacock was proudly displaying his tail feathers for a couple of peahens who were nearby. God is good!

From the little book God's Promises for Men (actually they are for everyone)

God listens to us when we pray for patience:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to each, patient.
2 Timothy 2:24

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 12:1

For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.
Romans 15:3-5

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Happy Birthday, Gil!

My Morning Prayer

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! It seems that a "cold front" is coming through with the clouds and cooler wind blowing...must be a last of the cool air before summer, since this is spring already. :o)

I was able to take a nice walk Saturday morning and enjoyed getting out fairly early. I stopped at the gator spot and watched as Mama popped up out of the water, and then stopped at the new gator nest, but saw no activity. After walking to the tower, I was looking for maybe an osprey, but instead, saw something I had never seen before. A banded kingfisher swooped over the water and hovered for several seconds over the lake!! I was so excited! I have seen smaller kingfishers, but never a banded one hovering. God is good! Then, on the way back, I stopped again to check out Mama gator, and there was a baby! I only saw one, but it was wiggling under a bank.

When I came home, I checked in my bird book and, sure enough, banded kingfishers do hover! There was an illustration of one doing just that! I really was blessed!

I thought I would send a copy of My Morning Prayer again, which I pray every day; a good way to start the week...

"Oh, God, for another day, for another morning,
for another hour for another minute, for another
chance to live and serve Thee, I am truly grateful."
Do Thou this day free me
from all fear of the future.
from all bitterness toward anyone.
From all cowardice in face of danger
from all laziness in face of work,
from all failure before opportunity
from all weakness when Thy power is at hand.

But fill me
with Love that knows no barrier
with Sympathy that reaches all
with Courage that cannot be shaken
with Faith strong enough for darkness,
with Strength sufficient for my tasks,
with Loyalty to Thy Kingdom Goal,
with Power to lift me to Thee.

Be Thou with me for another day and use
me as Thou wilt for Christ's sake, I pray,
Amen

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 119

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 this morning, the birds were already chirping and dawn was breaking. the air was cool and promising to be warm later on.
We are still very dry and needing a good rain. We keep praying that God will provide because He knows our needs.

Speaking of birds, my little bowl of water on the wall is attracting all critters. A large cat was drinking the other day, and bluejays always drink. Yesterday, a tiny warbler landed and twittered about...they are nervous little birds. Even the squirrels come to get water. This drought affects everyone and everything.

I saw a great blue heron at the Park yesterday, silently keeping watch over the canal, as he waited for his lunch to come along. Lots of ibis and squirrels scampering about. There is one large turtle that has been hanging out there for years...seems like he knows how to escape the gators! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 119:1-8
Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the Lord.
Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your principles!
Then I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with your commands.
When I learn your righteous laws, I will thank you by living as I should!
I will obey your principles.
Please don't give up on me!

156... Lord how great is your mercy;
in your justice, give me back my life.
Many persecute and trouble me,
yet I have not swerved from your decrees.
I hate these traitors because they care nothing for your word.
See how I love your commandments, Lord.
Give me back my life because of your unfailing love.
All your words are true; all your just laws will stand forever.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Neighbors and discernment

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! Well, we now have several big bags of leaves waiting to be disposed of. After much sneezing and blowing, the student and his Mom got a bunch of the leaves and "feathers" raked up, and after I decided that they were not going to be able to get them all, I pitched in and raked enough to get a blister on the lower part of my thumb. Now, the yard just needs mowing.

While I was out, many of the neighbors were walking dogs, or just getting exercise. Mr. Soon , (from Cambodia, I think)Was out walking with his daughter. He used to bring me flowers on Friday nights, but had to retire from his job due to his health...the neighbors across the street and others shouted out encouragement and greetings! It was a good evening!

I walked to the tower yesterday, after I gave Mike some shamrock cookies. He was fishing for the aquarium fish and turtles, and he showed me his catch of the day. Then I started my walk and discovered a new gator nest, and also saw Mama gator in her usual spot by the shelter. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NT:

When I am confused, where do I turn for clarity, wisdom, understanding, and direction?

James 1:5-8 If you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. they can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.

Psalm 119:125 Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your decrees.

Discernment is the ability to interpret events and to understand the true nature of people and situations. Discernment is an aspect of wisdom. It enables us to see behind the facades that mask the truth. Discernment shows us the way through the maze of options that face us. Like the sun that burns away the fog, discernment cuts through confusion and distractions. Whereas the devil is the "father of lies," God is the father of the truth, and he gives discernment to those who seek it.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis