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, all the stars were shining brightly. It was a beautiful sight! Soon the moon will be full again and then it will be even brighter! God is good!
We had a work crew from church Saturday, and they trimmed, and cleaned out the rain gutters and carried off a truckload of trash! What great workers! We were blessed! The youngest was about four and really cute! :o) Worker, I mean.
The park is really overgrown where no mowing has been done for months, and I noticed four new posts at the beginning of the path around the borrow pits. A large gator bit a woman's leg there a week ago, while she was walking her dog along the path. She slipped and fell and the gator came after her. Other than teeth scars she will have, and bad memories, she will be all right. Mike was wishing it had happened after he retires, which will be Tuesday. I will miss him greatly. He is the last of the old crew that was there for thirty years. Times change. Sigh.
Time
How can I best use time?
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to rebuild. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak up. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. What do people really get for all their hard work? I have thought about this in connection with the various kinds of work God has given people to do. God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.
Valuing time begins with seeing it from God's perspective. When we do this, we learn that there is always time for accomplishing God's plans for our lives.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, September 28, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
a prayer
I just wanted to send a prayer this morning, so here it is:
A Prayer for Strength
O God, you have given us life through Your son, Jesus Christ. You have given us the security of faith in a world that longs for something on which to rely. We thank You for Your gifts to us.
Teach us to stand strong for Your Kingdom: to be free in this world in order to be Christ's men and women.
Help us to know Your love and the love of each other. Set us free to become our true selves because we are loved, and to free others because we love,.
Give us enough tests to make us strong.
enough vision and endurance to follow Your wayl
enough patience to persist when the going is difficult;
enough of reality to know our weaknesses;
and enough humility to know these gifts come from you.
Go before us to prepare the way;
walk behind us to be our protection;
and walk beside us to be our companion,
through Christ our Lord, Amen.
--Richard Langford
(from Hymns for the Family of God)
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, September 24, 2009
A Photographic Memory
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 stars were glowing brilliantly overhead and I could see their brightness casting shadows through the oak tree leaves. Beautiful! The sky has not been that clear in several days, so that was a real treat! No birds were singing yet, so the early bird yesterday, must have decided to sleep in!
Last night I discovered a tiny, baby lizard trying to cling to the Charmin. Strange that it was there, so I quickly took it and the Charmin to the front door and shook him outside. We have our house sprayed every month, so if it had gotten on the floor, it would have expired. Critters get in from everywhere!
Yesterday I enjoyed having lunch with our nephew and good conversation. Seems like families don't get together as much as when I was growing up. We all get too busy and use the phone or email to keep in touch, but face to face is wonderful. God is good!
Our staghorn fern has gotten so big, it is touching the ground as it hangs from the tree, The rain is just what it needed. and the beauty berry bush is flourishing on its own. Birds love the purple berries! Even the Mexican petunias that I had neglected and thought were dead are now blooming their pretty lavendar blooms from all the rain. God's beauty is everywhere!
From the book Quiet Moments with God:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 NKJV
Famed photographer and conservationist Ansel Adams was known for his visionary photos of western landscapes, inspired by a boyhood trip to Yosemite National Park. His love of nature's raw perfection is apparent in his stark, mysterious, black and white wilderness photos.
In 1944, he shot a beautiful scene, later entitled, "Winter Sunrise: The Sierra Nevada, from Lone Pine, California.". It portrays the craggy Sierra mountains in the bright morning sunlight, a small dark horse appearing in the foothills.
But the story is later told that, as Adams developed the negative, he noticed an "LP" carved in the hillside. Apparently, some local high school teenagers had etched their initials on the mountain.
Intent on recapturing nature's original, he took a brush and ink and carefully removed the initials from his negative. The man who gave the Sierra Club its look believed in preserving, even perfecting, nature in life as well as in photography.
Ansel Adams probably never gave a second thought to the unsightly scar on the mountian in his photo creation. In his mind's eye, he saw the beauty of the original and took steps to bring that beauty back into focus.
Someone once observed that "the purpose of the Cross is to repair the irreparable." Through the blood of Christ, we know that our sins have been forgiven--our scars erased--and that once removed, our sins ore forgotten. the Lord remembers them no more. When we are willing to confess our sins, He takes joy in restoring us to our original beauty.
(This makes me think of my nose, now red and scarred, but maybe it will one day be restored when it heals.)
The cross is rough,
And it is deadly.
But it is effective.
A.W. Tozer
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Last night I discovered a tiny, baby lizard trying to cling to the Charmin. Strange that it was there, so I quickly took it and the Charmin to the front door and shook him outside. We have our house sprayed every month, so if it had gotten on the floor, it would have expired. Critters get in from everywhere!
Yesterday I enjoyed having lunch with our nephew and good conversation. Seems like families don't get together as much as when I was growing up. We all get too busy and use the phone or email to keep in touch, but face to face is wonderful. God is good!
Our staghorn fern has gotten so big, it is touching the ground as it hangs from the tree, The rain is just what it needed. and the beauty berry bush is flourishing on its own. Birds love the purple berries! Even the Mexican petunias that I had neglected and thought were dead are now blooming their pretty lavendar blooms from all the rain. God's beauty is everywhere!
From the book Quiet Moments with God:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 NKJV
Famed photographer and conservationist Ansel Adams was known for his visionary photos of western landscapes, inspired by a boyhood trip to Yosemite National Park. His love of nature's raw perfection is apparent in his stark, mysterious, black and white wilderness photos.
In 1944, he shot a beautiful scene, later entitled, "Winter Sunrise: The Sierra Nevada, from Lone Pine, California.". It portrays the craggy Sierra mountains in the bright morning sunlight, a small dark horse appearing in the foothills.
But the story is later told that, as Adams developed the negative, he noticed an "LP" carved in the hillside. Apparently, some local high school teenagers had etched their initials on the mountain.
Intent on recapturing nature's original, he took a brush and ink and carefully removed the initials from his negative. The man who gave the Sierra Club its look believed in preserving, even perfecting, nature in life as well as in photography.
Ansel Adams probably never gave a second thought to the unsightly scar on the mountian in his photo creation. In his mind's eye, he saw the beauty of the original and took steps to bring that beauty back into focus.
Someone once observed that "the purpose of the Cross is to repair the irreparable." Through the blood of Christ, we know that our sins have been forgiven--our scars erased--and that once removed, our sins ore forgotten. the Lord remembers them no more. When we are willing to confess our sins, He takes joy in restoring us to our original beauty.
(This makes me think of my nose, now red and scarred, but maybe it will one day be restored when it heals.)
The cross is rough,
And it is deadly.
But it is effective.
A.W. Tozer
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Assurance con't.
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 stars were sprinkled across the sky and a lone mockingbird gave me a loud salute! The early bird gets the worm, is the old saying and he was early! Yesterday a tiny frog was hopping on the flagstones outside our garage, and I knew the mower was coming, so I told him to get out of the way. Hopefully, he did.
David came and mowed and broke up the large branch that broke off the tree a few days ago. All the acorns and twigs and messy leaves were blown off the driveway and porch and the lawn really looks nice. He does a good job. The squirrels were once again busily digging and picking up acorns after he left. Nothing keeps them from looking for food all day! God is good!
The park was quiet when I drove in yesterday. Mike was there for one of his last days, but was busy and I did not see him. The water is very high and a lone tri-colored heron was fishing by the bank of the canal. All was peaceful on the surface in God's country!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What does this assurance do for me when I confront everyday problems?
Hebrews 4:14-16 We have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven. Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.
Ephesians 3:12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome.
The assurance of God's love gives us courage to come to him with any problem, struggle or concern. Our prayers are never interruptions to the Lord. When we knock, the door is always open to us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
David came and mowed and broke up the large branch that broke off the tree a few days ago. All the acorns and twigs and messy leaves were blown off the driveway and porch and the lawn really looks nice. He does a good job. The squirrels were once again busily digging and picking up acorns after he left. Nothing keeps them from looking for food all day! God is good!
The park was quiet when I drove in yesterday. Mike was there for one of his last days, but was busy and I did not see him. The water is very high and a lone tri-colored heron was fishing by the bank of the canal. All was peaceful on the surface in God's country!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What does this assurance do for me when I confront everyday problems?
Hebrews 4:14-16 We have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven. Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.
Ephesians 3:12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome.
The assurance of God's love gives us courage to come to him with any problem, struggle or concern. Our prayers are never interruptions to the Lord. When we knock, the door is always open to us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Assurance
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 am a little later than usual this morning because I have been busy with Louis getting up early, and the friend who does our yard came, so here I am.
Yesterday, I took some limeade pie and a retirement card over to Mike because this is his last week at Sawgrass. He is the last of the old crew whom I knew who still works there. He has painted some nice pictures of wildlife and now they have a display under glass for stuffed animals and birds where the aquarium used to be. So, it looks a lot better than bare walls. When I left ,Mike, who was very appreciative of the card and pie,had said he was going to have lunch, and then I passed him walking on the road with a grabber in his hand. I asked him if he was going to catch his lunch and he said he was going to pick up roadkill. Then I saw the pretty yellow, corn snake lying in the road after someone ran over it. I will miss Mike. He is always so friendly. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I be assured of God's love in difficult times?
Isaiah 43:1-2 Now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."
Romans 8:35, 38-39 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? ...I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't and life can't. the angels can't and the demons can't. Our fears for today, and our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Life's circumstances don't come between God and his people. They don't get in God's way. Hard times are often when God reveals his infinite love and care for us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I am a little later than usual this morning because I have been busy with Louis getting up early, and the friend who does our yard came, so here I am.
Yesterday, I took some limeade pie and a retirement card over to Mike because this is his last week at Sawgrass. He is the last of the old crew whom I knew who still works there. He has painted some nice pictures of wildlife and now they have a display under glass for stuffed animals and birds where the aquarium used to be. So, it looks a lot better than bare walls. When I left ,Mike, who was very appreciative of the card and pie,had said he was going to have lunch, and then I passed him walking on the road with a grabber in his hand. I asked him if he was going to catch his lunch and he said he was going to pick up roadkill. Then I saw the pretty yellow, corn snake lying in the road after someone ran over it. I will miss Mike. He is always so friendly. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I be assured of God's love in difficult times?
Isaiah 43:1-2 Now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."
Romans 8:35, 38-39 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? ...I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't and life can't. the angels can't and the demons can't. Our fears for today, and our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Life's circumstances don't come between God and his people. They don't get in God's way. Hard times are often when God reveals his infinite love and care for us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, September 21, 2009
Work
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! After a beautiful sunshiny day yesterday, last night the clouds and thunderstorms rolled in! About 9:30 the power totally went out for about three minutes...long enough for me to find flashlights and a lantern that always works.Then, all at once, the lights came back on and all I had to do was set all the digital clocks in the house. God is good!
When I stepped outside this morning, all was dark, because the moon is hiding and no stars were visible. But, already the sun is up and it will be a good day. We had a visitor in our yard the past day or so. A young, brown ibis was packing around in our driveway and the neighborhood. I saw him with a lizard in his mouth, so he is being well fed. At the Park, they catch small fish and then have a time swallowing them alive!
Daryl said they have spotted two roadkill armadillos in and around Cleveland, TN lately, so they must be going further north. There are lots of them back in the hammock area of the park, but hard to catch!
From the little book God's Promises:
God keeps a man secure when...
He makes a major job change.
For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
1 Timothy 5:18
What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor...it is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-13
Do not overwork to be rich:
Because of your own understanding, cease!
Will you set your eyes on that which is not?
For riches certainly make themselves wings;
They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.
Proverbs 23:4-5
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
When I stepped outside this morning, all was dark, because the moon is hiding and no stars were visible. But, already the sun is up and it will be a good day. We had a visitor in our yard the past day or so. A young, brown ibis was packing around in our driveway and the neighborhood. I saw him with a lizard in his mouth, so he is being well fed. At the Park, they catch small fish and then have a time swallowing them alive!
Daryl said they have spotted two roadkill armadillos in and around Cleveland, TN lately, so they must be going further north. There are lots of them back in the hammock area of the park, but hard to catch!
From the little book God's Promises:
God keeps a man secure when...
He makes a major job change.
For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
1 Timothy 5:18
What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor...it is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-13
Do not overwork to be rich:
Because of your own understanding, cease!
Will you set your eyes on that which is not?
For riches certainly make themselves wings;
They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.
Proverbs 23:4-5
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, September 18, 2009
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! When I stepped outside this morning, I saw something dark lying across the sidewalk, and discovered it was a large branch that had fallen off the oak during the night. Glad I wasn't standing under it when it broke and fell! It was still dark, so I couldn't see it clearly until later.
We had our first adventure with Dart Careride yesterday as Louis had an appointment to get his toenails clipped. The medical building we were going to does not have good handicapped spaces and only two, so I thought it would be a good idea to have us just dropped off and escorted in. It was a good idea and was a help, but we had to wait for them to come and get us after the appointment. On the way home, we passed two beautiful roseate spoonbills in the ditch alongside 62nd Ave. I had seen them there before. For some reason they seem to like the ditch in that highly industrial area. But God's beauty is everywhere! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
When I am confused, where do I turn for clarity, wisdom, understanding, and direction?
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 God has actually given us his spirit (not the world's spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren't Christians can't understand these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means. We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can't understand us at all. How could they? For , "Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel?" But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
Those who believe in Jesus Christ will find that God gives them a new perspective on life. We have the mind of Christ , coming primarily from God's word. It also comes through the Holy Spirit's guiding our thoughts and decisions.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We had our first adventure with Dart Careride yesterday as Louis had an appointment to get his toenails clipped. The medical building we were going to does not have good handicapped spaces and only two, so I thought it would be a good idea to have us just dropped off and escorted in. It was a good idea and was a help, but we had to wait for them to come and get us after the appointment. On the way home, we passed two beautiful roseate spoonbills in the ditch alongside 62nd Ave. I had seen them there before. For some reason they seem to like the ditch in that highly industrial area. But God's beauty is everywhere! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
When I am confused, where do I turn for clarity, wisdom, understanding, and direction?
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 God has actually given us his spirit (not the world's spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren't Christians can't understand these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means. We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can't understand us at all. How could they? For , "Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel?" But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
Those who believe in Jesus Christ will find that God gives them a new perspective on life. We have the mind of Christ , coming primarily from God's word. It also comes through the Holy Spirit's guiding our thoughts and decisions.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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