Wednesday, October 24, 2012

A Word from Hebrews 4

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 overcast skies this morning, and a possibility of rain, which we haven't seen for a couple weeks or more. In fact, the street gutters are almost dried up in front, so that means it has been dry. When my handyman was here, he tried to shut off the water at the meter, but it was so full of   water, that he could not see the valve!

I discovered that Checkers has a better fish sandwich than MacDonalds, which I told you about the other day.  Someone should clue the food editor, or I think the art editor at the Times about it! I never eat the burgers at Checkers, but the fish sandwich is better, anyway. I stopped in there, after I had finished shopping  and going to the park. Not many people were at the park, but the weather was gorgeous once again. I saw a family of moorhens which was really cute. The babies were carefully tended by mom and pa and all were in the water. I also saw a large flock of ibis around Lynch lake , where they love to hang out. Sunday afternoon, I saw the flock all taking a siesta, in the shade of a small tree. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Hebrews 4:12-13

For the word of God is full of living power.
 It is sharper than the sharpest knife,
 cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires.
It exposes us for what we really are.
Nothing in all creation can hide from him.
Everything is naked  and exposed before his
eyes. This is the God to whom we must
explain all that we have done.

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Do the right thing

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, sunshiny fall day starts off this morning, but it will be warmer this afternoon, I am sure. There is quite a breeze blowing now, and the acorns are falling, so even though the front porch was clear for about fifteen minutes yesterday, today it is full again!

Speaking of acorns falling, something is going on with my chimney. We have a fireplace and I know the top of the chimney is covered, but I have heard noises inside it and sounds like something is dropping on the damper. I will have to think of someone who can climb up on the roof and take a look. I am afraid to open the damper, because of what might come out! This is in the back of the house, but there are also oak trees back there.

Yesterday I made another trip to the library, which was fairly quiet, though very busy, with a lot of people inside. Since the kids were still in school, only a couple were inside and they were very quiet. This is only one branch and since I see many people carrying books out, it is good to know that the written page is still appreciated! I have always had a love of reading  and used to read ahead in my sister's Literature books she brought home from school. She was a couple years ahead of me.

I took a little drive to the park and it was also very busy. The weather has been so nice, it is good to take advantage of the great outdoors! The benches were almost full as people just sat and enjoyed the breeze and the water flowing nicely. Squirrels were scampering about, as usual. and dog walkers were getting exercise along with their dogs. I did not see our feathered friends , which was very unusual, but, as usual, God is good!

From the little devotional book Knowing God:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6 NIV


If you want to know God, you should obey God, but obeying Him isn't always easy. You live in a world that presents countless temptations to stray far from God's path. So here's some timely advice: when you're confronted with sin, walk-or better yet, run-in the opposite direction.

When you seek righteousness for yourself-and when you seek the companionship of people who do likewise-you will reap the spiritual rewards that God has in store for you.


When you live in accordance with God's commandments, you will be blessed. When you genuinely seek to follow in the footsteps of God's Son, you will experience God's presence, God's peace, and God's abundance.


So make yourself this promise: Support only those activities that further God's Kingdom and your own spiritual growth. Then, prepare to reap the blessings that God has promised to all those who live according to His will and His Word.

                                                                                       -Great Thoughts-


Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long, and the pay is low, but the retirement benefits are out of this world.
Anonymous

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Monday, October 22, 2012

Warning about self confidence

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! Those cooler temps felt good as I was standing outside talking with Jason, the yard man. I noticed he had not broken a sweat, so he was appreciating the cool breezes, also. I never know when he will come, but I heard the sound of his trimmer as I was finishing dressing and starting to go prepare my breakfast. He did some extra work today, like trimming the neighbor's hedge, which borders my yard, and also taking care of the podacarpus in the back yard. The grass has slowed down in growth, so he only comes about every ten days now...,the acorns are blown off the driveway for the next fifteen minutes, then, I suppose it will be covered again. Sigh. If I want the shade, I have to put up with the tree fall.

I had kind of a busy Sunday. After church, I went home for lunch, then got ready to go back to church for a dear friend's memorial services. I picked up Phyllis and drove her to church and stayed awhile afterwards while she greeted and chatted with a lot of her friends. I went to speak to Max's son, who gave a nice eulogy and thanked him for posting updates on FB about his dad. I was surprised when he asked if I was Amaryllis, because I had not introduced myself! He said his Dad and Mom had often spoken of me and Louis. I am still a little puzzled about how he knew who I was, but I guess the Holy Spirit spoke to him.

Saturday, I decided to get the van washed at the Touch-free car wash, but the machine would not take my 5 dollar bill. It kept spitting it out, so I finally backed up and drove away. Maybe I will try the one on 66th St. So, later on, I drove to the park, which was really busy with lots of people and cars. Everyone was out enjoying the weather!  I watched a flock of ibis ignoring the people and doing their pecking thing. God is good!

-- From the Promise Bible NLT:

James 4:13-17

Look here, you people who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town
 and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.
 "How do you know what will happen tomorrow?
For your life is like the morning fog--it's here for a little while, then it's gone.
"What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that."
Otherwise your will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

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


Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Friday, October 19, 2012

God offers comfort to all

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, few clouds and cooler temps on the way! Should be a beautiful weekend! Yesterday it was very hot in the sun, which I usually try to stay out of, but I was walking into Beall's in the sun, and couldn't help that!

I returned a book and checked out some more at the Library, and there was a younger male librarian checking books. Now, I don't want to seem prejudiced or anything, but it just seems strange to me that a guy would choose library science as his future career. Maybe that is because I hardly ever see men in that profession...just a thought. But, anyway, he was efficient, but not as friendly as the other, older man that works there. After I left there, I went on to the park and enjoyed the quiet, sunny, shady shadows on the freshly mowed berms; long strings of gray moss swaying in the breezes and squirrels scampering across the road and climbing up the trees. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:


2 Corinthians 1:3-7

All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of  every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you.Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that  as you share in suffering, you will also share God's comfort.

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Living to please others

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 today and yesterday! Lots of sunshine and very few clouds today...yesterday all clouds and the sun didn't peek through until about 5 PM just before sunset! I noticed the rain delay in St. Louis for the ball game and the postponement of the game in NY,  I know Tropicana Field has a lot of drawbacks, but games were not called because of rain!

I had a call from my house cleaners yesterday, that they would be coming in 45 minutes or so, so I thought I would have time to go to CVS, to pick up a few things. When I got back, they were already cleaning and kidded me about being gone. They know where the key is hidden, so they just let themselves in. I now have them coming every week, instead of two weeks. This is a luxury I allow myself at this time in my life and I am thankful for it!

When I opened the front door yesterday to get the paper, a little frog hopped away. Guess he was in a good place under the light, to catch bugs for his breakfast. Speaking of the paper, this morning I was reading about the fallen champion, Lance Armstrong. I thought it doesn't pay to put your hopes in humans because they fail, but Jesus never does! God is good!


From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 15:5-9
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you, then God will be glorified. Remember that God came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to his ancestors. And he came so that Gentiles might also give glory to God for his mercies to them. 

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


Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Love God and get busy

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! No sun this morning and the prediction is for rain later on, but that's okay, since we have not had rain for a week or so. We are slowly creeping into fall with high temps in the eighties and low at night in the low seventies. Feels good!

After I did some grocery shopping yesterday, I drove to the park and saw freshly mowed grass, squirrels, of course, and an egret in the canal.There were quite a few people out enjoying the sun and fresh air. Then, later on, I went to the Post office and since it was close to the Dunkin' Donuts, I picked up three pumpkin muffins. They are huge and so good! I am glad when pumpkin season rolls around, just so I get their muffins! I can only eat half at a time, but that makes them last longer. God is good! ( am not brave enough to try the latte.)

From the little devotional book Knowing God:


So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
Galatians 6:9 NLT
The old saying is both familiar and true: actions speak louder than words. And , as believers, we must beware: our actions should always give credence to the changes that Christ can make in the loves of those who walk with Him.

God calls upon each of us to act in accordance with His will and with respect for His commandment. If we are to be responsible believers, we must realize that it is never enough simply to hear the instructions of God, we must also live by them.
And it is never enough to wait idly by while others do God's work here on earth; we, too, must act. Doing God's work is a responsibility that each of us must bear, and when we do, our loving Heavenly Father rewards our efforts with a bountiful harvest.


It is by acts and not by ideas that people live.
Harry Emerson Fosdick

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, I have heard your Word, and I have felt Your presence in my heart; let me act accordingly. Let my words and deeds serve as a testimony to the changes. You have made in my life. Let me praise you, Father, by following in the footsteps of Your Son, and let others see Him through me.
Amen

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


Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Psoaring thru Psalm 51

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 are still waiting for the lower humidity to come, but maybe one of these days....The temps are lower, though, and the water is gradually drying up in the street gutters. I called the city rep about a pothole in front of the house and sure enough, someone came to check it out, but nothing has been done about it yet. Guess it takes a while to schedule something like that. Actually, to my knowledge, this street has not been resurfaced or had anything done to it since we moved in 43 years ago. Amazing the shape it is in!

Well, yesterday I had a quiet day, which I will have to make up for today. Shopping, etc. So. whenever I procrastinate, I have to make up for it all in one day. Serves me right! One thing that needs doing again is sweeping off the acorns from the porch! I can be hit on the head while sweeping, because they are falling so fast! They are getting crunched all over the driveway, and that makes them hard to scrape up.

I got to the park and saw the usual anhinga sunning the wings on the weir, and a couple of great blue herons down in the canal near the entrance bridge. They are so beautiful! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 51:7-15

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again,
you have broken me-- now let me rejoice.
Don't keep looking at my sins,
Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
Renew a right spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don't take your Holy Spirit  from me. 
Restore to me again the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to sinners,
and they will return to you.

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


Love and hugs, 
Amaryllis