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 waited until the storm passed to write this, because I don't like to be on the PC when wind, thunder and lightning are flashing about. God was good to me again and this was not as bad as last Thursday's storm. The front yard does not look bad at all, compared to all the twigs and trash that was on it last week. Water is still pouring off the roof and it is still very overcast, with the sound of thunder in the distance, but for the most part, the storm is over! Bless the Lord!
The water should be up in the park again, which had not gone down, yet from the deluge last week, so I don't know if the work on the lake has been delayed or not, but the ibis, herons, and gators like the rain! Yesterday, I saw a large soft-shell turtle hanging onto the bags of the weir and an anhinga drying the wings, in the midst of all the trash that washed up and over. Well, the saying is; April showers bring May flowers. We already have flowers, some bloomed out already, but more will be coming.
I had a sad thing happen yesterday on my way to church for my training session. A squirrel dashed across the road right under the car, and the wheel hit it. I have had them dash in front of the car many times, but not under. I had no chance to avoid it and I felt so badly about it. Our lesson for the day was about suicide, so that may have been what the squirrel had in mind. (just kidding.)
Anyway, God is still Good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth!
Sing about the glory of his name!
Tell the world how glorious he is.
Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.
Everything on earth will worship you;
They will sing your praises,
shouting your name in glorious songs."
Come and see what our God has done,'
What awesome miracles he does for his people!
He made a dry path through the Red Sea."
and his people went across on foot .
Come, let us rejoice in what he is.
For by his great power he rules forever.
He watches every movement of the nations;
Let no rebel rise in defiance.
Let the whole world bless our God
and sing aloud his praises.
Our lives are in his hands,
and he keeps our feet from stumbling.
You have tested us, O God,
You have purified us like silver melted in a crucible.
You captured us in your net
and laid the burden of slavery on our backs.
You sent troops to ride across our broken bodies.
We went through fire and flood.
But you brought us to a place of great abundance....
I always thank God for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Put Faith Above Feelings
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 contrast between todays weather and yesterdays. Today the sun is shining brilliantly, although water is still dripping off the roof and trees and the wind has died down, so it looks like the peace after the storm.
I watched two squirrels chasing each other around and around the trees, leaping from branch to branch and even flying through the air to the neighboring hedge! They are fearless! I have often wondered where the small critters go during a storm like we had yesterday. But the birds are flying, so they must take shelter some place. I will check on the ospreys that I see nesting high on poles in the neighborhood,because they are really vulnerable to all kinds of weather. But God is good to take care of all his creation!
From the little devotional book, Knowing God:
Put Faith Above Feelings
Now the just shall live by faith.
Hebrews 10:38 NKJV
Hebrews 10:38 teaches that we should live by faith. Yet sometimes, despite our best intentions, negative feelings can rob us of the peace and abundance that would otherwise be ours through Christ. When anger or anxiety separates us from the spiritual blessings that God has in store, we must rethink our priorities and renew our faith. And we must place faith above feelings. Human emotions are highly variable, decidedly unpredictable, and often unreliable. Our emotions are like the weather, only far more fickle. So we must learn to live by faith, not by the ups and downs of our own emotional roller coasters.
Sometime during this day, you will probably be gripped by a strong negative emotion. Distrust it. Reign it in.Test it. And turn it over to God. Your emotions will inevitably change; God will not. So trust him completely as you watch your feelings slowly evaporate into thin air-which, of course, they will.
I do not need to feel good or be ecstatic in order to be in the center of God's will.
Heavenly Father, You are my strength and my refuge, As I journey through this day, I will encounter events that cause me emotional distress. Lord, when I am troubled, let me turn to You. Keep me steady, Lord, and in those difficult moments, renew a right spirit inside my heart. Amen.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
Happy April Fool's Day!!
I watched two squirrels chasing each other around and around the trees, leaping from branch to branch and even flying through the air to the neighboring hedge! They are fearless! I have often wondered where the small critters go during a storm like we had yesterday. But the birds are flying, so they must take shelter some place. I will check on the ospreys that I see nesting high on poles in the neighborhood,because they are really vulnerable to all kinds of weather. But God is good to take care of all his creation!
From the little devotional book, Knowing God:
Put Faith Above Feelings
Now the just shall live by faith.
Hebrews 10:38 NKJV
Hebrews 10:38 teaches that we should live by faith. Yet sometimes, despite our best intentions, negative feelings can rob us of the peace and abundance that would otherwise be ours through Christ. When anger or anxiety separates us from the spiritual blessings that God has in store, we must rethink our priorities and renew our faith. And we must place faith above feelings. Human emotions are highly variable, decidedly unpredictable, and often unreliable. Our emotions are like the weather, only far more fickle. So we must learn to live by faith, not by the ups and downs of our own emotional roller coasters.
Sometime during this day, you will probably be gripped by a strong negative emotion. Distrust it. Reign it in.Test it. And turn it over to God. Your emotions will inevitably change; God will not. So trust him completely as you watch your feelings slowly evaporate into thin air-which, of course, they will.
I do not need to feel good or be ecstatic in order to be in the center of God's will.
Heavenly Father, You are my strength and my refuge, As I journey through this day, I will encounter events that cause me emotional distress. Lord, when I am troubled, let me turn to You. Keep me steady, Lord, and in those difficult moments, renew a right spirit inside my heart. Amen.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
Happy April Fool's Day!!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Peace in the Midst of the Storm
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 late this morning, because I have been watching the TV meteorologists tracking all the tornadoes and the storms that are threatening this area. Fox 13 has just about all their weather crew on duty, just like during a hurricane.
There is another big cell heading right for us, so I am staying in and safe, like I did yesterday. It's good that this is spring break for the schools here right now, but I know this is not the kind of weather the kids want when they don't have school. No fun! But it also means that the school buses are not on the roads and the students don't have to wait in the bad weather, so God is Good!
I went out a while ago and picked up some dead branches that broke off from the oaks and dragged them over into the side yard. The rain had stopped at that time, although I went to sleep about 2 AM with the thunder and lightning all around. Looks like a nap is in my future today!
From Hymns for the Family of God Hymnal:
- PEACE-
I know not what I shall become; it seems to me that peace of soul and repose of spirit descend on me, even in sleep. To be without the sense of this peace, would be affliction, indeed....
I know not what God purposes with me, or keeps me for; I am in a calm so great that I fear naught. What can I fear when I am with Him; and with Him, in His presence, I hold myself the most I can. May all things praise Him. Amen
Mosie Lister wrote a great old hymn "Til the Storm Passes By'; This is the chorus,
Til the storm passes over,
Til the thunder sounds no more.
Til the clouds roll forever across the sky,
Hold me fast, Let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.
As I type this, the thunder is rumbling and the wind is blowing the trees in all directions, but I am safe in the hollow of His hand.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
There is another big cell heading right for us, so I am staying in and safe, like I did yesterday. It's good that this is spring break for the schools here right now, but I know this is not the kind of weather the kids want when they don't have school. No fun! But it also means that the school buses are not on the roads and the students don't have to wait in the bad weather, so God is Good!
I went out a while ago and picked up some dead branches that broke off from the oaks and dragged them over into the side yard. The rain had stopped at that time, although I went to sleep about 2 AM with the thunder and lightning all around. Looks like a nap is in my future today!
From Hymns for the Family of God Hymnal:
- PEACE-
I know not what I shall become; it seems to me that peace of soul and repose of spirit descend on me, even in sleep. To be without the sense of this peace, would be affliction, indeed....
I know not what God purposes with me, or keeps me for; I am in a calm so great that I fear naught. What can I fear when I am with Him; and with Him, in His presence, I hold myself the most I can. May all things praise Him. Amen
Mosie Lister wrote a great old hymn "Til the Storm Passes By'; This is the chorus,
Til the storm passes over,
Til the thunder sounds no more.
Til the clouds roll forever across the sky,
Hold me fast, Let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.
As I type this, the thunder is rumbling and the wind is blowing the trees in all directions, but I am safe in the hollow of His hand.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Hope
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 noticed the wind has picked up and I just received a weather warning, to expect severe weather today, which is a surprise, although I saw the bad weather in the panhandle on radar on TV. Well, I can do without tornadoes and hail, but more rain doesn't hurt.
Yesterday when I went to the park, I saw lots of debris in the canal floating against the berm. It always washes down from behind the houses that back up to the canal. A lone turtle was trying to warm up on the bank, and as I drove on further I saw a large gopher tortoise hurrying at warp speed along the path. He definitely had a destination in mind. The hydrilla is really choking the canal in spots, now, so I suppose the crews will have to get in the boat to spray it soon. The trees are all green, and the park looks really pretty. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I have hope when times are tough?
Hebrews 10:23 Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Our hope is rooted in God's integrity and faithfulness. When everything else falls apart we can cling to the fact that God keeps his word.
John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Our troubles do not surprise the Lord and should not surprise us. Trouble is rampant in this fallen world. Our focus should be on Jesus who has overcome the world and all its troubles.
Romans 15:13 I pray that God who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our hope is rooted in the wonderful acts of God in creation and history. The Bible gives full testimony to the fact that God is able to deliver us from any and every circumstance. He will either get us out of it or bring us through it--for his glory and our joy.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday when I went to the park, I saw lots of debris in the canal floating against the berm. It always washes down from behind the houses that back up to the canal. A lone turtle was trying to warm up on the bank, and as I drove on further I saw a large gopher tortoise hurrying at warp speed along the path. He definitely had a destination in mind. The hydrilla is really choking the canal in spots, now, so I suppose the crews will have to get in the boat to spray it soon. The trees are all green, and the park looks really pretty. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I have hope when times are tough?
Hebrews 10:23 Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Our hope is rooted in God's integrity and faithfulness. When everything else falls apart we can cling to the fact that God keeps his word.
John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Our troubles do not surprise the Lord and should not surprise us. Trouble is rampant in this fallen world. Our focus should be on Jesus who has overcome the world and all its troubles.
Romans 15:13 I pray that God who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our hope is rooted in the wonderful acts of God in creation and history. The Bible gives full testimony to the fact that God is able to deliver us from any and every circumstance. He will either get us out of it or bring us through it--for his glory and our joy.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Suffering
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! Wow! What a deluge we had yesterday. God answered prayers for rain, abundantly! I'll have to be careful what I pray for!
I had a couple meetings yesterday, plus an appointment in the afternoon, so I was out in the rain a lot! I had a doctor's appointment in the middle of the afternoon, and since the office is in the St. Anthony's office building, I had a tough time getting to it, because of the huge construction project going on. After asking directions of a workman, who was standing in the rain, I found the way to drive in and then got escorted through a maze of new roadways to the valet who parked for me, I have no idea where. There was a green barrier separating the road from the construction.
I was covered in prayer by my friend, I could tell, because right after I got in the car, the heavy rain started, and I drove home in the pouring rain, but got green lights all the way! Now, maybe I pray for green lights sometimes, but God never promised that we would always have them, but I really appreciated the green lights yesterday!
While I was in the waiting room, an old friend from our former church, signed in and saw my name and was talking to her daughter about me. She spotted me and we talked for about five minutes before she was called in. She was in rather frail health with two stents in her heart already. I hadn't seen her in about thirty years. She said I hadn't changed, but she had, but frail health will do that.
I did get to the park before the heavy rain started and a few people were taking advantage of the lull, to walk, and a couple bus loads of Shorecrest students were picnicing under the shelter. I think most of the pollen has been washed off the trees now, so the allergies should not be so bad. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
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."
We belong to the Lord. He knows us by name and will not allow anything to cause us lasting harm. We may go through deep waters of trouble and intense fires of trial and testing, but we will not go through them alone.
Romans 8: 36,39 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, 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.
The greatest comfort in life is knowing that God will never leave us. Nothing can drive us from his presence. No matter what we are going through, he is there to comfort, sustain, encourage, and direct us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I had a couple meetings yesterday, plus an appointment in the afternoon, so I was out in the rain a lot! I had a doctor's appointment in the middle of the afternoon, and since the office is in the St. Anthony's office building, I had a tough time getting to it, because of the huge construction project going on. After asking directions of a workman, who was standing in the rain, I found the way to drive in and then got escorted through a maze of new roadways to the valet who parked for me, I have no idea where. There was a green barrier separating the road from the construction.
I was covered in prayer by my friend, I could tell, because right after I got in the car, the heavy rain started, and I drove home in the pouring rain, but got green lights all the way! Now, maybe I pray for green lights sometimes, but God never promised that we would always have them, but I really appreciated the green lights yesterday!
While I was in the waiting room, an old friend from our former church, signed in and saw my name and was talking to her daughter about me. She spotted me and we talked for about five minutes before she was called in. She was in rather frail health with two stents in her heart already. I hadn't seen her in about thirty years. She said I hadn't changed, but she had, but frail health will do that.
I did get to the park before the heavy rain started and a few people were taking advantage of the lull, to walk, and a couple bus loads of Shorecrest students were picnicing under the shelter. I think most of the pollen has been washed off the trees now, so the allergies should not be so bad. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
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."
We belong to the Lord. He knows us by name and will not allow anything to cause us lasting harm. We may go through deep waters of trouble and intense fires of trial and testing, but we will not go through them alone.
Romans 8: 36,39 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, 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.
The greatest comfort in life is knowing that God will never leave us. Nothing can drive us from his presence. No matter what we are going through, he is there to comfort, sustain, encourage, and direct us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, March 28, 2011
Grow In Your Walk
Good evening, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This was the day that the Lord made, and I rejoiced and was glad in it! It is almost bedtime, but since I have a Stephen Ministry class tomorrow morning, I thought I would send a word for tomorrow, tonight.
We had a good sermon, accompanied by the Concordia visiting choir (forgive me if that is not their name). Students with lovely voices on a long trip from Minnesota. The director said it was 23 degrees when they lift home and they came to 80 degrees. Quite a difference!
On my way home I saw a baby osprey high on a pole built for a nest. He was sticking his head up looking around. A true birds eye view! Lots of birds were singing as I stuck my head out before church and the wind was blowing a little stronger than usua, wafting the sweet scent of orange blossoms to freshen the air. There are supposed to be thundershowers blowing in tonight, which is good, because we need the rain! God is good!
Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
and I shall keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your Law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart,
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
Psalm 119:33-35
Now by this we know that we know Him. if we keep his commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
1 John 2:3-6
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We had a good sermon, accompanied by the Concordia visiting choir (forgive me if that is not their name). Students with lovely voices on a long trip from Minnesota. The director said it was 23 degrees when they lift home and they came to 80 degrees. Quite a difference!
On my way home I saw a baby osprey high on a pole built for a nest. He was sticking his head up looking around. A true birds eye view! Lots of birds were singing as I stuck my head out before church and the wind was blowing a little stronger than usua, wafting the sweet scent of orange blossoms to freshen the air. There are supposed to be thundershowers blowing in tonight, which is good, because we need the rain! God is good!
Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
and I shall keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your Law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart,
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
Psalm 119:33-35
Now by this we know that we know Him. if we keep his commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
1 John 2:3-6
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, March 25, 2011
Wisdom from Hebrews and James
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 beautiful day with sunshine and maybe a few clouds, but warm. I have had my windows closed for a week and the A/C runs occasionally. but my nose is much happier with the pollen outside, instead of in. Until the oak trees stop shedding, the pollen count will remain high, but other blooming trees and shrubs are taking their place. A good rain would dampen everything down, once we are blessed with it.
There wasn't much going on at the park when I finally got over there yesterday. It was later in the day, because of the yard work being done. Next week, Dave will bring his hedge trimmer and the azaleas will get trimmed. After they bloomed, they really started to shoot up.
I saw an anhinga sunning and drying out, and egrets and ibises, standing and pecking, but the gators are pretty scarce, now. It's amazing how many turtles exist in the canal and the lakes, because I think they are a food source for the gators. But God is good to provide for all the critters He created!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
James 1:2-4
Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy., For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
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.
Hebrews 13:29-21
And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to Him. Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep by an everlasiing covenant, signed with his blood. To him be glory, forever and ever. Amen.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Happy Birthday, Gil!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
There wasn't much going on at the park when I finally got over there yesterday. It was later in the day, because of the yard work being done. Next week, Dave will bring his hedge trimmer and the azaleas will get trimmed. After they bloomed, they really started to shoot up.
I saw an anhinga sunning and drying out, and egrets and ibises, standing and pecking, but the gators are pretty scarce, now. It's amazing how many turtles exist in the canal and the lakes, because I think they are a food source for the gators. But God is good to provide for all the critters He created!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
James 1:2-4
Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy., For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
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.
Hebrews 13:29-21
And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to Him. Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep by an everlasiing covenant, signed with his blood. To him be glory, forever and ever. Amen.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Happy Birthday, Gil!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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