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! Once again , one of those beautiful, breezy, but not so cool days that make us appreciate living here. I saw contrails this morning early when I stepped out, which makes me think of people on the go or perhaps coming home that early.
My friend, Terry, called, since he is home from a six week vacation in MI, working on his brother's farm. Since Terry retired from the county as supervisor of Sawgrass Park, seems like he's working harder than ever. He's a great friend.
Yesterday, I saw a flock of almost 24 ibis pecking away in my yard, I just stood and watched them for a while because they are so intent on what they are doing, they seem to pay very little attention to anything around them. Then, all at once, they fluidly moved across the street, like a smooth, white blanket. Very Beautiful! I didn't see any ibis in the park, just a lot of squirrels, because a man was feeding them from his car. There was some work going on some place, because the trucks were in the park, but I couldn't see anything. But God is good!
From the devotional book Knowing God:
Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.
Philippians 4:6 NCV
In the game of life, you win some, and you lose some. Live is a risky business; you live in an uncertain world, a world in which trouble may come calling at any moment. No wonder you may find yourself feeling a little panicky at times.
Do you sometimes spend more time worrying about a problem than you spend solving it? If so, here's a strategy for dealing with your worries. Take them to God. Take your troubles to Him, take your fears to Him...and leave them all there. God is the Rock that cannot be moved. When you build your life upon that Rock, you have absolutely no need to worry...not now, not ever.
Walk by faith!
Stop the plague of worry. Relax!
Learn to say," Lord, this is your battle."
Charles Swindoll.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Get Beyond the Distractions
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! Lots of sunshine and breezes this morning, but not as cool as yesterday. Oh, well, October is on they way and we will soon have all the cool weather we can handle. The grass has slowed its growing, so I told the friend who cuts my grass, he could skip this week.
I was amazed to see how tall the weeds are across the canal at the park, They haven't been mowed all summer and it is really overgrown. Large gators used to like to lie in the sun on the bank, but the weeds would cut out the sun now, if they tried it. Some of the "regulars" that have been walking there for years, are still walking and enjoying their workouts, I talked to one lady yesterday who has been coming for about fifteen years. I need to go out and see where the gator nest is that two men asked me about. I could see a trail, but could not see a nest at the end of it and the nests are built up really high. Well, maybe this evening now that the Rays and Yankees are over.
God is good!
From Knowing God devotional:
If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.
Matthew 6:25 MSG
All of us must live through those days when the traffic jams, the computer crashes, and the dog makes a main course out of our favorite slippers. But, when we find ourselves distracted by the minor frustrations of life, we must catch ourselves, take a deep breath, and lift our thoughts upward.
Although we may, at times, struggle mightily to rise above the distractions of everyday living, we need never struggle alone. God is here-eternal and faithful, with infinite patience and love-and, if we reach out to him, He will restore our sense of perspective and give peace to our souls.
Among the enemies to devotion, none is so harmful as distractions. Whatever excites the curiosity, scatters the thoughts, disquiets the heart, absorbs the interests, or shifts our life focus from the kingdom of God within us to the world around us--that is a distraction, and the world is full of them.
---A. W. Tozer
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to face this day with a spirit of optimism and thanksgiving. And let me focus my thoughts on You and Your incomparable gifts. Amen
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I was amazed to see how tall the weeds are across the canal at the park, They haven't been mowed all summer and it is really overgrown. Large gators used to like to lie in the sun on the bank, but the weeds would cut out the sun now, if they tried it. Some of the "regulars" that have been walking there for years, are still walking and enjoying their workouts, I talked to one lady yesterday who has been coming for about fifteen years. I need to go out and see where the gator nest is that two men asked me about. I could see a trail, but could not see a nest at the end of it and the nests are built up really high. Well, maybe this evening now that the Rays and Yankees are over.
God is good!
From Knowing God devotional:
If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.
Matthew 6:25 MSG
All of us must live through those days when the traffic jams, the computer crashes, and the dog makes a main course out of our favorite slippers. But, when we find ourselves distracted by the minor frustrations of life, we must catch ourselves, take a deep breath, and lift our thoughts upward.
Although we may, at times, struggle mightily to rise above the distractions of everyday living, we need never struggle alone. God is here-eternal and faithful, with infinite patience and love-and, if we reach out to him, He will restore our sense of perspective and give peace to our souls.
Among the enemies to devotion, none is so harmful as distractions. Whatever excites the curiosity, scatters the thoughts, disquiets the heart, absorbs the interests, or shifts our life focus from the kingdom of God within us to the world around us--that is a distraction, and the world is full of them.
---A. W. Tozer
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to face this day with a spirit of optimism and thanksgiving. And let me focus my thoughts on You and Your incomparable gifts. Amen
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The advantages of companionship
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! The sun is shining and the breeze is blowing drier air, (yay) so I couldn't resist and had to go for a walk in the park. I walked out to the first shelter, unknowing that it was supposed to be closed off for work further along the way. Someone had taken the sign down and hung it on the other side, so, anyway, I got to see gator tracks.
A couple guys from out of town asked me where the nest was that they heard about, but all I saw was a path that looked like it led to a nest, but I couldn't see a nest because the weeds are so high. They also asked me what the gray stuff was hanging from the trees. Well, I guess to someone new to Florida they were ignorant of what hangs from trees all over the south.
But I enjoyed the walk, and especially, the breeze! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. IF one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much, but the rich are always worrying and seldom get a good night's sleep.
I always thank God for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
A couple guys from out of town asked me where the nest was that they heard about, but all I saw was a path that looked like it led to a nest, but I couldn't see a nest because the weeds are so high. They also asked me what the gray stuff was hanging from the trees. Well, I guess to someone new to Florida they were ignorant of what hangs from trees all over the south.
But I enjoyed the walk, and especially, the breeze! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. IF one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much, but the rich are always worrying and seldom get a good night's sleep.
I always thank God for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
2 Chronicles 15:2
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 few sprinkles of rain last night, it has turned into a beautiful day...still warm, Okay, hot, but clear skies so far. I really enjoy looking at the billowing clouds during the hot afternoons. They look so white against the pure blue of the sky. When I was a teenager we used to lie on the grass and look for different faces and shapes in the clouds. Of course, they didn't last long, because the wind was always changing the shapes. Ah, those were the days!
The park seldom changes, either. Always peaceful and fairly quiet except for the roar of the interstate close by, but still peaceful. The water looked still yesterday, but always has a current. Lots of lilies still floating, because the canal does not get cleaned like it used to, but the fish and anhingas don't seem to mind. God is good!
The Lord is with you when you are with Him.
If you seek HIm, He will be found by you. 2 Chronicles 15:2 HCSB
Do you ever wonder if God is really "right here, right now?" Do you wonder if God hears your prayers, if He understands your feelings, or if He really knows your heart? If so, you're not alone: lots of very faithful Christians have experienced periods of doubt. In fact, some of the biggest heroes in the Bible had plenty of doubts--and so, perhaps will you. But when you have doubts, remember this: God isn't on a coffee break,and He hasn't moved out of town. He's right here, right now, listening to your thoughts and prayers, watching over your every move.
If you'd like to get to know God a little bit better, He's always available--always ready to listen to your prayers, and always ready to speak to your heart. Are you ready to talk to Him? If so, congratulations. If not, what are you waiting for?
"God's presence is with you, but you have to make a choice to believe--and I mean really believe --that this is true. This conscious decision is yours alone.
-Bill Hybels
From the devotional book, Knowing God.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
amaryllis
The park seldom changes, either. Always peaceful and fairly quiet except for the roar of the interstate close by, but still peaceful. The water looked still yesterday, but always has a current. Lots of lilies still floating, because the canal does not get cleaned like it used to, but the fish and anhingas don't seem to mind. God is good!
The Lord is with you when you are with Him.
If you seek HIm, He will be found by you. 2 Chronicles 15:2 HCSB
Do you ever wonder if God is really "right here, right now?" Do you wonder if God hears your prayers, if He understands your feelings, or if He really knows your heart? If so, you're not alone: lots of very faithful Christians have experienced periods of doubt. In fact, some of the biggest heroes in the Bible had plenty of doubts--and so, perhaps will you. But when you have doubts, remember this: God isn't on a coffee break,and He hasn't moved out of town. He's right here, right now, listening to your thoughts and prayers, watching over your every move.
If you'd like to get to know God a little bit better, He's always available--always ready to listen to your prayers, and always ready to speak to your heart. Are you ready to talk to Him? If so, congratulations. If not, what are you waiting for?
"God's presence is with you, but you have to make a choice to believe--and I mean really believe --that this is true. This conscious decision is yours alone.
-Bill Hybels
From the devotional book, Knowing God.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
amaryllis
Monday, September 13, 2010
How can I know God hears my prayers?
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!
The sun is shining and few clouds are in the sky this morning, but that is the way Sunday started out, and then in the afternoon, later, we had about a thirty minute downpour! After that the sun came out again and it was very humid.
Yesterday was the first day of our new church schedule and picnic. I thought it would be too hot to stay for me, but I did stay and sat with the Massey's and enjoyed a simple meal. It took a lot of volunteers to set up the colorful tables and umbrellas in the parking lot and prepare the boxed lunches! We are blessed to have those volunteers.
I went to the park before it rained and saw butterflies flitting about, but not many people out. An anhinga had his wings spread out drying on a dead stump and there is a small maple tree that was newly planted earlier in the spring and now it is nearly all a pretty red. I am seriously considering flying to TN next month for a week, so I can see some color in the mountains, which should be pretty by then. I will get to see Daryl and maybe Matthew when he is out of school. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 145:18 The Lord is close to all who call on him,yes, to all who call on HIm sincerely.
The Lord invites us to make prayer our first response rather than our last resort. He always listens to those who are honest with him.
1 John 14:15 We can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give what we ask for.
While we may not know God's specific will for every situation, we do know that his will is to empower our obedience, to overcome evil with good, and to equip us to be his witnesses. We can pray confidently for his power and guidance, knowing that we are asking for the very things he most longs to give.
Philippians 4:6,7 Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all e has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
There's no limit on prayer Big requests, small requests, and all sizes in between are weicomed by God. If something bothers us, it should be brought to God.
I always thank God for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
The sun is shining and few clouds are in the sky this morning, but that is the way Sunday started out, and then in the afternoon, later, we had about a thirty minute downpour! After that the sun came out again and it was very humid.
Yesterday was the first day of our new church schedule and picnic. I thought it would be too hot to stay for me, but I did stay and sat with the Massey's and enjoyed a simple meal. It took a lot of volunteers to set up the colorful tables and umbrellas in the parking lot and prepare the boxed lunches! We are blessed to have those volunteers.
I went to the park before it rained and saw butterflies flitting about, but not many people out. An anhinga had his wings spread out drying on a dead stump and there is a small maple tree that was newly planted earlier in the spring and now it is nearly all a pretty red. I am seriously considering flying to TN next month for a week, so I can see some color in the mountains, which should be pretty by then. I will get to see Daryl and maybe Matthew when he is out of school. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 145:18 The Lord is close to all who call on him,yes, to all who call on HIm sincerely.
The Lord invites us to make prayer our first response rather than our last resort. He always listens to those who are honest with him.
1 John 14:15 We can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give what we ask for.
While we may not know God's specific will for every situation, we do know that his will is to empower our obedience, to overcome evil with good, and to equip us to be his witnesses. We can pray confidently for his power and guidance, knowing that we are asking for the very things he most longs to give.
Philippians 4:6,7 Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all e has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
There's no limit on prayer Big requests, small requests, and all sizes in between are weicomed by God. If something bothers us, it should be brought to God.
I always thank God for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, September 10, 2010
A Prayer
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, our evening rainstorm turned out to be just a few sprinkles and never did get started into a full-fledged shower, but that's okay because our gutters are still running full of water.
I watched a squirrel in the yard with his mouth full of something, waiting for me to put the car in the garage, and then he raced up the tree to either eat whatever or stash it away. I couldn't tell what it was. Sometimes they eat toadstools and other times they leave them alone. They seem to know which ones are not good.
I saw a large flock of ibis on a berm in the park yesterday, but they were at a distance, and they really looked pink. Maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part, because I haven't seen any roseate spoonbills lately. The weeds and grass is really overgrown there at the park, so it is past time for the mowing crew to get in and busy. The animals don't seem to mind, though, especially the gophers and the squirrels. The clouds were dark and threatening while I was there, so I did not linger long. But God is good!
From the NIV Ephesians 3:14-21:
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom the whole family of believers in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Crist may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever!
Amen
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I watched a squirrel in the yard with his mouth full of something, waiting for me to put the car in the garage, and then he raced up the tree to either eat whatever or stash it away. I couldn't tell what it was. Sometimes they eat toadstools and other times they leave them alone. They seem to know which ones are not good.
I saw a large flock of ibis on a berm in the park yesterday, but they were at a distance, and they really looked pink. Maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part, because I haven't seen any roseate spoonbills lately. The weeds and grass is really overgrown there at the park, so it is past time for the mowing crew to get in and busy. The animals don't seem to mind, though, especially the gophers and the squirrels. The clouds were dark and threatening while I was there, so I did not linger long. But God is good!
From the NIV Ephesians 3:14-21:
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom the whole family of believers in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Crist may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever!
Amen
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Good Soil
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 many of you got to see the sunrise this morning. It was all pink and blue and lovely. Seems like after a night rain, the sunrise is always beautiful! I did not see the sun set, though because of the clouds. Once again, we got our evening rain.
I didn't realize school was out at 1:30 on Wednesdays, until I decided to run some errands about that time and discovered lots of school buses and crossing guards getting to their jobs. I try not to go out when schools are letting out. Too much traffic on the roads!
I went to the Park, and saw a group having a picnic under the shelter, the usual Neighborly Center bus drivers, enjoying the breeze under the trees, and two anhingas airing out the wings. A great, blue heron was standing majestically in the canal fishing. God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
Ezekiel 17:8 It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine.
An employee approached his employer and said, "I've had ten years of experience on this job, and I'm still making the same salary that I made when I started. It's time that I got a raise."
His boss retorted, "You haven't had ten years of experience. You've had one experience for ten years!"
Many of us feel that our lives could be described in the same way: one experience over and over again---or at best, boringly few experiences. When this is the pattern of our lives, we not only become depressed, but we also have no growth. Just as a garden needs fertilizer and nutrients to enrich its soil, we need the enrichment of activities and experiences to broaden our lives and stimulate our souls,
Joseph Campbell once said, "I don't believe people are looking for the meaning of live as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive."
How, then may we enrich our lives? It must be intentional. Don't think that someone else can do it for you. There are multitudes of ways to get started:
. Take up a sport that you always wanted to play.
. Take you spouse or a friend out to dinner and the entertainment of your choice.
. Plan a trip to see something or someone interesting.
. Volunteer to do work that will help the less fortunate.
. Visit a friend that you haven't seen for a while.
. Get involved in a place of worship that challenges you.
Participate! Learn! Sing! Read! Praise! Listen! Give! Talk with your God! In experiences such as these you will fine the source of all the excitement that you can handle.
Experience is the mother of truth, and by experience we learn wisdom.
William Shippen Jr.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
I didn't realize school was out at 1:30 on Wednesdays, until I decided to run some errands about that time and discovered lots of school buses and crossing guards getting to their jobs. I try not to go out when schools are letting out. Too much traffic on the roads!
I went to the Park, and saw a group having a picnic under the shelter, the usual Neighborly Center bus drivers, enjoying the breeze under the trees, and two anhingas airing out the wings. A great, blue heron was standing majestically in the canal fishing. God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God:
Ezekiel 17:8 It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine.
An employee approached his employer and said, "I've had ten years of experience on this job, and I'm still making the same salary that I made when I started. It's time that I got a raise."
His boss retorted, "You haven't had ten years of experience. You've had one experience for ten years!"
Many of us feel that our lives could be described in the same way: one experience over and over again---or at best, boringly few experiences. When this is the pattern of our lives, we not only become depressed, but we also have no growth. Just as a garden needs fertilizer and nutrients to enrich its soil, we need the enrichment of activities and experiences to broaden our lives and stimulate our souls,
Joseph Campbell once said, "I don't believe people are looking for the meaning of live as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive."
How, then may we enrich our lives? It must be intentional. Don't think that someone else can do it for you. There are multitudes of ways to get started:
. Take up a sport that you always wanted to play.
. Take you spouse or a friend out to dinner and the entertainment of your choice.
. Plan a trip to see something or someone interesting.
. Volunteer to do work that will help the less fortunate.
. Visit a friend that you haven't seen for a while.
. Get involved in a place of worship that challenges you.
Participate! Learn! Sing! Read! Praise! Listen! Give! Talk with your God! In experiences such as these you will fine the source of all the excitement that you can handle.
Experience is the mother of truth, and by experience we learn wisdom.
William Shippen Jr.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
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