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 in our string of sunny, puffy clouds and light wind days! And we are almost into August, which always reminds me that autumn is around the corner, although the weather is not likely to change for another three months or so.
I don't know about anyone else, but I will really be happy when the election is over and I stop getting unwanted phone calls! I am on the "do not call" list, but politicians are exempt and I probably get five or six calls a day which I do not answer, because I have caller ID. Sometimes I just click them off, but one particular person always leaves a long message and I do not intend to vote for him, anyway. Grrr! That is my gripe of the day!
I did get away from the house and went to the park for a little quiet. Two photographers with telephoto lens were busy taking shots at various places. There is always something interesting to see, because it is a very natural place practically in the city. Many people who live here have never even visited it. Since it is only a mile from my house, I have no excuse! I saw some ibis and herons down in the canal fishing and the usual squirrels zipping here and there. The best time to see animals and birds is early in the morning when they all take off looking for food. God is good!
From the little devotional book Knowing God:
Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time.
Proverbs 12:11 NLT
Time is a nonrenewable gift from God. But sometimes, we treat our time here on earth as if it were not a gift at all. We may be tempted to invest our lives in trivial pursuits and mindless diversions. But our Father in heaven wants us to do more...much more.
Are you one of those people who puts things off until the last minute? Do you waste time doing things that don't matter very much while putting off the important things until it's too late to do the job right? If so , it's not time to start making better choices.
It may seem like you've got all the time in the world to do the things you need to do, but time is shorter than you think. Time here on earth is limited....use it or lose it!
Great Thoughts
Our time is short! The time we can invest for God, in creative things, in receiving our fellowmen for Christ, is short!
Billy Graham
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord; you have given me a wonderful gift; time here on earth. Let me use it wisely--for the glory of Your kingdom and the betterment of Your world-today and every day.
Amen
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
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! Sunshine, humidity, and breezes are what's on the weather map for today. It can be felt as soon as I stepped outside this morning, My mowing crew is finished already and the guys were already wet from the heat. And that is the way it will be for them all day.
I thought it was too warm even to shop Saturday, so I didn't! But, I went to the park where the trees give shade and coolness from the heat...at least for a little while. I saw a graceful white heron bending it's very long neck down toward the water, but other than squirrels, that was the only critter I saw.. I think the peacocks must have been relocated, because I have not seen them for months. They are beautiful, but a big nuisance. But God is good!
How can I face challenging, sometimes intimidating, opportunities?
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
Our ability to face challenges is rooted in Christ, not in ourselves. With Christ's help, we can make the most of every opportunity.
Revelation 3:8 I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.
We can trust that nothing will prevent us from fulfilling the opportunity God has for us.
How do I know if an opportunity is from the Lord?
Joshua 1:7-9 Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you---be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
What does God promise to those who make the most of his opportunities?
Matthew 25:29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away.
God honors faithfulness in little things with the privilege of responsibility for greater things.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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! Today is starting out like yesterday with lots of sun and wind, but unexpectedly, in the middle of the day I realized that rain was falling, No thunder, no lightning, just a steady rain for about thirty minutes. The wind was not blowing, but a cloud was just hovering overhead. Then the sun came out again and it was hot for the rest of the day.
I did not get over to the park until later in the afternoon, and saw lots of people hanging over the bridge looking down, so I am assuming that the gator that hangs around there, was very visible. There were a couple dozen cars parked, so there must have been a crowd on the boardwalk. It was something free to see and learn about nature. I saw the mama duck with all her little fuzzies happily pecking in an area of clover in someone's yard. They are super cute, but not so cute when they grow up. There must be hundreds around this area! This morning I saw a lizard inside the water bowl, so I guess in addition to the birds and squirrels, anoles and lizards also drink. So, God is good!
From the little devotional book Knowing God:
"I say this because I know what I am planning for you," says the Lord. "I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future."
Jeremiah 29:11 NCV
How can you get to know God if you're unwilling to trust Him? The answer, of course, is that you can't. That's why you should trust God in everything (and that means entrusting your future to God).
Do you trust in the ultimate goodness of God's plan for your life? Will you face tomorrow's challenges with optimism and hope? You should. After all, God created you for a very important reason. His reason. And you still have important work to do. His work.
Today, as you live in the present and look to the future, remember that God has an amazing plan for you. Act-and believe--accordingly.
Great Thoughts
Take courage. We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land tomorrow.
Never be afraid to trust and unknown future to a known God.
Corrie Ten Boom
Today's Prayer-
Lord, sometimes when I think about the future, I worry. Today, I will do a better job of trusting. You. If i become discouraged, I will turn to You. If is am afraid, I will seek strength in You. You are my Father, and I will place my hope, my trust, and my faith in You. Amen
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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 few clouds around here today and very hot later on, but no rain, I went to the supermarket yesterday with very black clouds hovering and thought that I would surely come out to rain, but the clouds had passed and it was sunshiny and warm by the time I was ready to load up.
The wind is blowing this morning, making the hedge needles tremble like aspens. I saw a squirrel making his way through the thick growth yesterday. I don't know if they like mangos, but all the trees next door have a good crop this year. I see one or two occasionally with a bite mark taken out, in my yard. Squirrels or rats, probably.
The park was busy yesterday, with a few intrepid souls braving the heat to walk. A beautiful, majestic, white heron was waiting for a fish to swim by , and the usual anhinga was drying out his wings while perched on a stump. Lots of activity hidden from view! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I be sure God will guide me?
Psalm 32:8 The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Luke 12:6-7 What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.
Jesus gives this promise to all his followers: If God values the littlest things of his creation, how much more must he value us for whom he gave his own precious Son. When we are anxious or concerned, we need to remind ourselves that God does indeed care about us and is watching over us.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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! These thunderstorms seem to be coming mostly at night, now.l I dragged the dumpster down to the curb last night dodging rain drops, but was afraid a deluge was coming, so did not want to get caught in that! Now, I think the prediction is for a morning TS and afternoon. Well, God is in charge, so I don't worry about it!
Saturday, Brian and I went to Palm Harbor, so I could visit the SAS store there. Besides, Ellenton, that is the closest since they closed the one at Joe's Creek. Anyway, they were having their annual summer sale, so I bought two pair for comfort. My feet are, or have, worn out over the years, so I really need shoes that fit! And they do not have to be fancy or stylish, just comfy. One of the pair I bought are flip flop style sandals. Smooth and soft!
After I left the shoe store, we stopped at Sweet Tomatoes for lunch, then went to visit my sister and niece who live in Palm Harbor. As close in distance as we are, we still don't keep in touch that often. Sad, but true.
I visited the park during a rain and enjoyed the wet squirrels and a great blue heron, still fishing in the rain. There is a quiet, wet beauty in the fresh green of the trees and shrubs and the rushing of the water. I had to stop and let a raccoon cross the street. He should have been in bed asleep, but looked very disgruntled. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Where do we find confidence for every day?
Psalm 27 :1 The Lord is my light and my salvation--so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger--so why should I tremble?
Psalm 121:8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
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.
Many of the greatest athletes say that their real contest is a mental, not a physical one. It's the same way in our spiritual life. Our confidence comes not from looking around at our physical circumstances, but from looking to God.
How can we have confidence in the face of life's greatest hardships?
Proverbs 3-5,6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
When we rely on God, he will not let us down. Our limited understanding is no match for his limitless love and grace.
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.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
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! My yard crew is busy working early this morning, catching up on work missed because of all the rain. I have already spoken to them and so they go about their work very quickly and efficiently. It is supposed to be very hot today, so it is a good thing that they get started early. The ground is so saturated that earthworms are popping up in the front, and over at the park, toad stools are visible. Large, fairy rings we used to call them as children.
I was in the park yesterday, and weeds are rampant and the grass is high, because it only gets mowed about once a month. There were a couple of ibis running ahead of a dog a lady was walking. The dog was not chasing them, but they still did not want him too close! I have not seen the gopher tortoises lately, but hope their tunnels did not get flooded. Looks like ducks and birds have families to take care of. Yesterday, I saw a large blackbird flying home with a large something in its mouth, and a mama duck with tiny, fuzzy babies busy in someone's yard. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Should I be surprised by the stress of life?
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.
Jesus warned us to expect stress. This world is filled with trials and sorrows that generate stress in our lives. Christ gives us lasting peace because his power and grace are able to overcome all sources of stress in our lives.
What can I do to find relief from stress and anxiety?
Isaiah 41:10 Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.We can turn from fear and anxiety to faith and peace. God promises to supply the power to get us through hard times.
Matthew 11:28,29 Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls."
Resting in Christ breaks the hold of stress. When we are yoked together in service to him, we are free from the unrealistic and destructive expectations that can overwhelm us. Jesus' humility and gentleness overcome every conflict and stress in this life.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
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! We have some high clouds and sunshine this morning, but no rain for a change. Instead, there was predicted to be haze from the sandstorm blowing over us from Africa. Very strange!
I went to the cleaners yesterday and got caught in the downpour around Crescent Lake Park, in the car. The car got a good washing from the rain, but not particularly where it needed it most. I decided to drive on to the park since the rain was not severe enough to hamper my seeing. I saw a anhinga trying to dry out wings on the weir, but difficult to do in the rain. Surprisingly, there were almost a dozen cars there with some people looking over the entrance bridge staring at the water, I remember years ago, when I got caught in the rain on a morning walk on the boardwalk. Wow! Was I a drowned rat! There was no shelter, so I just kept walking until I got to the building and dried a little bit with paper towels! I was much younger then, only in my early seventies! That reminds me of what two of my nephews (my husband's side of the family) said to each other not long ago. They realized that all the older aunts and uncles are slowly disappearing and I am the only one left. One said, " Hopefully, she will be around a long while, if we can only keep her off motorcycles!" Ha,ha. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Hebrews 12:1-6
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
And have you entirely forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, his children? He said,
"My child, don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you,
and don't be discouraged when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves and he
punishes those he accepts as his children."
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
