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! Another cool morning with temps in the seventies and drier air! What a change from the heat and humidity we have had all summer! The sun is shining and very few clouds in the sky so far. Thank you, Lord, for keeping hurricane Earl away from us!

Yesterday, our flat roof was coated and should be dry by now. The weather was hot and perfect for it. I went to the Park, and very few people were there, but the mowers had been there so no toadstools were left and the most used spaces were nice and trim. The ibises were enjoying the newly exposed grubs and whatever else they eat and I watched an anhinga zoom along the canal looking for a place to land. I wonder if they can spy fish from the air...Anyway, God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Excerpts from Paul's letter to the Colossians:

So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need...

Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and the Master you are serving is Christ.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

The Beatitudes

Good Morning Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! Happy September First! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! And what a beautiful start to the day! I hope some of you saw the sunrise with the beautiful pinks glowing against the blue in the sky!

Just gorgeous!

When I stepped out on the porch, a fat, little frog was perched right on the edge of the step, looking just like a little Buddha the way he was posed. He soon hopped away, though, knowing snack time was over since I turned off the light.

The air is definitely cooler and still feels like a touch of fall and cooler weather to come. A welcome relief from the heat and humidity. I went to the Park yesterday for some quiet meditation and watched as an anhinga came up out of the water with a fish in its beak. He expertly flipped it until the head was aimed down and gulped the fish down. I could see the large bulge in his neck as the snack went down. Then the anhinga flew up to a branch over head and started flipping his feathers and spread his wings to dry out for the next underwater dive. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

"God blesses those who realize their need for him.
for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are gentle and lowly,
for the whole world will belong to them.
God blesses those who are hungry and
thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted
because they live for God,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

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.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Comfort

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! And it is a glorious morning. The air is cooler and the breeze is blowing and no rain yesterday and so far, none today.

I was able to accomplish a lot yesterday, some that I really didn't plan on doing, but I had batteries put in three watches, went to the library to return and check out some books...it was very quiet, because school was not out yet...and also, decided to get some new frames for my new glasses with a little help from my niece, who works at Dowdy Optical. This is always very difficult for me to do because what I want does not look good on my face, so I have to decide what an alternative is. Sigh. Decisions, decisions.

Well, after that, I went to the supermarket and who should be there but two friends from church, so we chatted for a bit, and then parted to finish our chores.

Of course, I always have time to go to the Park, which I did, and enjoyed the large egret, anhingas drying their wings and patches of toadstools which are popping up all over due to all the rain. By mid-afternoon, I was worn out, but thankful for all I was able to get done! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

How does God comfort us?

Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Psalm 30:5 His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.

Matthew 5:4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God comforts us by staying close beside us in difficulty, by blessing us even when we are in mourning, and by promising us joy to come.

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.

God measures problems by love, not by size. Even small things can be avenues for God's great care. Don't look at the size of your problem but look at the greatness of God's love and concern.

(The scriptures above were written because of a conversation I had yesterday with a friend, who sympathized with me on the rough year it has been for her and me so far. But there have also been many joys during the year and God is always faithful to bring joy after sorrows. I am thankful for my loving friends and the caring they have shown me).

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 37

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, it really felt like a touch of fall! Cool breeze and lower temps. Yay! Perhaps we really are going to cool off soon. We had our usual rain last night, so I'm sure that helped keep the air cool.

We had a wonderful church service yesterday, and I felt loved from the moment I walked in the door. Hugs, and greetings and inquiries about how I was! It is a wonderful feeling to know there are so many kind, caring friends around. That is the only place for me to be on Sunday morning. "Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place," A favorite hymn.

I went to the Park several times over the weekend and sometimes saw lots of people, sometimes very few. One family was carefully watching a gopher tortoise walking across the parking lot to the other side where he usually hangs out. They were fascinated with him. I also saw a group in camos doing something loosely resembling totally uncoordinated calisthenics. Well, at least they were trying! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Don't worry about the wicked.
Don't envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away,
Like springtime flowers,
they soon wither.

Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord.
and He will give you your heart's desires.

Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him and he will help you.
He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will
shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don't worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

Stop your anger!
Turn from your rage!
Do not envy others---
it only leads to harm.
For the wicked will be destroyed
but those who trust in the Lord
will possess the land.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Prayer and Action

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! More sunshine and blue skies this morning, but I think it rained a little last night..at least, the porch was wet. I can't believe I slept so late this morning...didn't roll out of bed until after seven. That's late for me! Fortunately, I have nothing except laundry scheduled this morning, so the day belongs to the Lord to tell me what to do.

Yesterday, after some errands I went to the Park and was delighted to see the gopher tortoise out of his usual place. I had not seen him in a month or so, but there he was climbing out of a shallow place in the trees about to cross the road in the circle drive. He seemed determined to go wherever he was headed, but I was careful to give him room. I also saw an egret all hunched up, looking cold, but I knew it couldn't possibly be, as the temp. was in the eighties. Actually, it was a very pleasant day..high humidity, but cooler. Today will probably be a lot warmer because of the sun .But, God is always good!

From Hymns for the Family of God:

God is not a personage who orders us to prostrate ourselves before Him
-a radically false position
but one who says:
" Stand up,
here us my task for you;
take it and get on with it."

God does not require incense from us;
what He does require
is that we should listen and take action-
the true response of love.

God did not stop speaking two thousand years ago.
He speaks to you personally today
every time an inward voice asks you to do a kind or generous deed
or to suffer for the sake of someone else.

It is to you that God speaks at this moment,
and it is through you that He speaks when He inspires you to do some service.
Be brave enough to listen at first hand to what God says to you.
John W. Harvey and Christina Yates

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Night Watch

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! It looks to me like the bright, shiny glow I see outside must be the SUN! What a joy to see the sun after several days of cloudy gloom. I am not complaining about the rain, but we seem to be saturated now, and could use a little drying out.

I had a good nights sleep for the first time in about a week, The radiation on my nose, stops it up and then I can't breathe too well except through my mouth, and I don't breathe well through it. So, Praise God! I hope this means healing is taking place.

I enjoyed going to the park in the rain yesterday. The teacher is back, but no students yet, and it has been too wet to take the kids for a tour on the boardwalk. She has lots of interesting things in the classroom, though, and they can learn a lot if they listen. It is good to see all the green in the park and the squirrels are always running around getting their acorns and chasing each other up and around the trees.
God is good!

From Quiet Moments with God:

You are my hope, O Lord God. Psalm 71:1 NKJV

Vaclav Havel is a former president of what used to be Czechoslovakia. In 1948, the Communists took power in his country and confiscated his family land holdings. From that time, Havel was part of a defiant underground that opposed the Soviet government.

When the Soviets marched into Prague twenty years later, Havel remained to form a coalition that would be ready to take over then the time was right. He spoke out boldly, writing defiantly against communism. He was put under surveillance and eventually jailed for his activities.

In 1970, several United States senators met with Havel in Czechoslovakia. They brought what they thought would be good news for him. They told him they intended to press for legislation allowing dissidents like him to immigrate to the West. Havel replied by saying he was not interested in going to the West. "What good would that do?" he asked. "Only by staying here and struggling here can we ever hope to change things." Like a watchman in the night, Havel stayed on duty in his country.

Times of trial and struggle often seem like long, dark nights. But doing the right thing--even the hard thing--gives us hope. How do we maintain those long night watches when there seems to be little change in our circumstances?

1. Take one step at a time. Don't attempt to tackle the whole task at once. "A man's steps are directed by the Lord."
(Proverbs 20:24)

2. Keep your struggles in perspective. Separate the mountains from the molehills. "What, then , shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

3.Cultivate the discipline of delayed gratification. "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."( James 1:4 KJV)

4. Learn to recognize the invisible God in the world around you. "By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:27"

Placing your hope in the Lord helps you to do all these things. He will lead you; He will remove your mountains. He will strengthen you, helping you to be patient; and He will open your eyes to His works all around you.

If it were not for hope the heart would break.
English proverb.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Empowering

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, it isn't raining yet, but the sky is overcast, so it probably will rain later on. But that's Ok, because God controls the rain and all the other weather and He will stop it when it is time.

I was thankful that it was only sprinkling yesterday when I had an appointment and didn't have to use my umbrella. But I saw lots of puddles and water everywhere. I have lots of trash and twigs in the yard from the wind that really cleaned out the trees. Since the trees are still dripping a little bit, it's a good excuse not to go out and clean it up. Besides, David, who does the yard, said just leave it and he will do it when he comes to mow.

I am blessed with great friends who help me with most anything I need help with! I drove through the park in the sprinkling rain and looked like the mowers had not finished yet. I saw the big truck and trailer parked back in the maintenance area, so they will probably work again today. No anhingas were airing out wings, because there was no sun to dry them out. I saw the beautiful white egret stalking a fish, though. They are so graceful with their long necks and slow movements! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ephesians 3:14 When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from the glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love, And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God !By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.
Amen.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis