Thursday, December 20, 2012

1 Thessalonians

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 is a windy, breezy, day with a cold front headed our way later on. However, we are supposed to get up to near eighty this afternoon. Sounds good to me!

This will be the last email from me since I am taking a Christmas vacation , so I can enjoy  Daryl and Matthew's company while they are here. I was busy getting a few gifts wrapped yesterday, while the ladies cleaned and chatted. It's always fun to hear what is going on in their lives, while they want to know what is going on in mine. I was also remembering that Brian's birthday is Christmas Eve, which almost gets lost in the busyness of Christmas. God is good to have given me two wonderful sons!

1 Thessalonians 3:12 NLB

And may the Lord make your love to grow and overflow to each other and to everyone else, just as our love does toward you.


Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the Prayer Partners and Friends!
 I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Put God in His Rightful Place

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 is a little chilly this morning, so I have to keep moving, but the sun is shining and the air is dryer, so our cool front came through. I washed the blankets on my bed yesterday and it took me half a day to get the bed made, while I waited for them to dry. They felt good last night!

I did some more shopping, and stood in line which was moving very quickly. Guess you have to expect that this time of year! I still need to go back out and get the rest of what I forgot! No matter how much I write notes, I still forget to add something I need! Sigh. Oh, well,  some things never change.

My yard man was here this morning, so I am already running late with what I had planned to do and time is not waiting for me. My cleaning ladies are coming this afternoon, so I need to get some things done before they come. I will just keep plugging away until I catch up!

I drove through the park on my last lap of the day, and saw the anhinga wiring out his wings on the weir. There has been a truck parked across the canal for a couple days, and I can't read the insignia on the side, but I am curious about it. Maybe my friend, Dave, will know what it is and why it is there. Anyway, I enjoy the unhurried pace and peacefulness in the park. God is good!

From the little devotional book Knowing God:


Do not worship any other gods besides me.
              Exodus 20:3 NLT


If you really want to know God, you should start by putting Him first in your life. So here's a question worth thinking about. Have you made God your top priority by offering Him your heart, your soul, your talents, and your time? Or are you in the habit of giving God little more than a few hours on Sunday morning? The answer to these questions will determine, to a surprising extent, the quality of your life and the content of your character.

As you contemplate your own relationship with God remember this: all of mankind is engaged in the practice of worship.Some folks choose to worship God and, as a result reap the joy that He offers to His children. Other folks, folks who are stubbornly determined to do it" their way", distance themselves from  God by worshiping such things as earthly possessions or personal gratification...and when they do, they suffer.

Does God rule your heart? If you sincerely want to know Him, you must answer yes-you must put your Creator in first place. No exceptions.

                       -Today's Prayer_

Dear Lord, you are the rock upon which I will build my life.
You have given me so much, and I am thankful. Today I will
strive to put You first in all I do.
Amen

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Psoaring thru Psalm 145

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! While it is nice and warm and sunny, the report is that a cold front will be moving through and Saturday will be much cooler! I even heart mention of 48 degrees Sat. morning.  Well, maybe it will warm up again very fast!

I watched most of the Jets/ Titans game last night and while Tim Tebow was in for only one play while I was watching, I think if the coach would have put him in for more plays, maybe they would have won. He certainly could not have been worse than Sanchez! Just my opinion, for what it's worth. 

 
Because of Tim's faith, even the announcer quoted his scripture for the survivors of the horrible event at Newtown. . That is one tiny bit of good that has come out of this. Even Obama quoted scripture in his speech!

I ran some errands yesterday, and patiently waited in line at the Christian bookstore for the only cashier??? Why only one at a busy time is beyond me! After I got most of my running around done, I headed for the park and  saw a few people there, the school bus leaving and turtles on the bank of the weir. Before I left, I noticed a large white egret across the street with the long, neck undulating as it studied the shrubs for a tasty tidbit.

 
After that, he gracefully ambled across their driveway and disappeared from my view. God is good!

Psalm 145:13-21

The Lord is faithful in all he says;
he is gracious is all he does.
The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.
When you open your hand,
you satisfy every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in everything he does.
He is filled with kindness.
The Lord is close to all who call on him.
Yes, to all who call on him sincerely.
He fulfills the desires of all those who fear him,
He hears their cries for help and rescues them.
The Lord protects all those who love him
but he destroys the wicked.

I will praise the Lord,
and everyone on earth will bless his holy name
forever and ever.

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Monday, December 17, 2012

Opportunities

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! Cool these mornings with sunshine, and warm later in the day, seems to be the constant weather report lately.  There is quite a strong breeze now, but when I went outside a while ago, it was already in the seventies!

I was out and about quite a bit over the weekend, which is unusual for me, but since I am expecting my son and grandson here this weekend, I have many things to get done. As I was going around Lynch Lake one of the days, the ibis flock was spilling out into the street, it was so large. A couple just took their time walking ahead of the car, before they got out of the way. I also saw moorhens and ducks splashing around, Then, when I went to the park, the black, shiny gator was sunning on the lake bank both days, with lots of turtles on the bank of the weir and the spread-wing anhinga in the middle. Driving around the circle, I saw a couple taking photos of the gopher tortoise, which was perched at the edge of his tunnel home.

Yesterday we had a most moving end to the sermon, with a video Pastor Rick put together as a background to the song he composed, "When Does God Weep".  The photos were of scenes from the terrible tragedy in Newtown. I think most everyone was weeping. But we know that God is still in control and He is Good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:


How do I know if an opportunity is from the Lord?

Joshua 1:7-0 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 the book of the Law continually. Meditate on it 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.

Ephesians 5:15-20 Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good  in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and  spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God's opportunities conform to his word Anything that contradicts God's word is not an opportunity from God.

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Friday, December 14, 2012

Jesus, the True Vine

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, we got our cooler weather last night. My thermometer read 58 outside for this morning, but the prediction is for warming up into the seventies as soon as the foggy overcast burns off.. So we will have great weather for awhile longer!

I drove over to the park during  a cloudy afternoon and saw a worse problem with leaves and acorns than I have! Of course, there are a lot more trees than I have, but since the drive is not blown off any more, it stays full of all kinds of oak dust, which is why I keep sneezing and blowing.  So, you take the good with the bad. I saw a couple of ibis in the bare trees along the canal and noticed the water is still high from the rain a couple days ago.

Well, I loaded up the back of the van with the bag of clothes from the closet cleaning and another bag of belts. Things really do accumulate! Now, I am determined to put about six irons, still working, in with the clothes and take everything over to the Salvation Army. Someone will get some good from these things! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

John 15:5-8

Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. 
Those who remain in me, and I in them, 
will produce much fruit,. For apart from me
you can do nothing. Anyone  who parts from
me is thrown away like a useless branch
and withers. Such branches are gathered
into a pile to be burned. But if you stay
joined to me and my words remain in you,
you may ask any request you like, and it will
be granted! My true disciples  produce much
fruit. This brings much glory to my Father.

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Psoaring thru Psalm 84

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 already had sunshine, but now the clouds are building up, and it feels like a change is in the air. Hopefully, it will not be too drastic, too fast. Yesterday, while my cleaning ladies were here, I turned the A/C on , because it was warm in the house. It didn't take long to dry out and cool off, do the rest of the day was comfy.

I just did ironing, and worked on the closets some more and did not really have a reason to go out, so stayed in all day. So, that means I will have to run errands and catch up, soon! It's probably good for me to stay out of traffic as much as possible these busy days, anyway..but God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 84:10-13
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!

I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

For the Lord is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory.
No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right.

O Lord Almighty, happy are those who trust in you.

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


Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Don't Fall Prey to Envy

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! Happy 12/12/12! I have already read several postings about the date which is the last I will see in my lifetime..But today is sunshiny so far, however, the weatherman says rain this afternoon, as the cold front is sneaking in. It is already quite cool north of here, but I had the A/C on for a little while this morning, because the house seemed stuffy after my shower. My cleaning ladies always notice the temp in the house as they work so hard they get quite warm!.

I found my candle rings! I decided to put them some place easier to find and store last year, but then could not remember where that place was. Yesterday, I looked high up in a closet and there they were, so I climbed up on a stool (carefully holding on to shelves) and got them down, put candles in them, and placed them where I wanted them. Another job done! I am already receiving some Christmas cards, but I have dropped most of my card mailing in the last few years.  I still like to read the ones that come in, though.

After sweeping off the wet porch, which I practically had to shovel, because the leaves were so wet; I drove over to the park for a little bit. The anhinga was airing out the wings, even though it had started raining, and I saw two egrets standing on the bank of the canal by the bridge. The water was up high after the rain from the day before and it looked good. People were leaving, because it had started coming down pretty hard. But God is good!

From the little book of devotions Knowing God:

We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these
precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence,
in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing
everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed!
Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute.
Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!
                                      Romans 13:13-14 MSG


Because we are imperfect, we are sometimes envious of others.
but to be envious is to be foolish. So we must guard ourselves
against the natural tendency to feel resentment and jealousy
when other people experience good fortune. Rather than
succumbing to feelings of envy, we should focus on the marvelous
 things that God has done for us (and we should refrain from 
preoccupying ourselves  with the blessings that God has chosen
to give others.)

St. John Chrysostom offered thses words of caution: "As a moth
gnaws a garment, so does envy consume a man."
Count your own blessings and let your neighbors count theirs.
It's the best way to live.

                                                                Great Thoughts
What God asks, does, or requires of others is not my business, it is His.
                  Kay Arthur

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


Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis