God's will

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! This is another warm, sunny day in Paradise, with the promise of heat and humidity, blue skies, and puffy white clouds. Sounds like a good long weekend coming up!

I did some shopping yesterday, and after finishing, went to Steak and Shake for one of their steak franks. (Hot dogs to me). I ordered it with chili and cheese, but when I got home with it, realized there was no cheese on it. Oh, well.

I have seen the mama duck with her babies still in the neighborhood, but the flock has diminished in size. Some of the babies have disappeared while roaming all over the streets. Mama pretty much lets them go where they want, but she stands and waits patiently  for them wherever they are.

I went to the park later on, and all was quiet. Not very many people; just ibises pecking around. The moss is hanging lower and lower from some of the older trees, so it sways in the breeze. Very much Florida!

As I was opening the garage door and getting ready to take the dumpster down to the curb, My friend and cleaning lady across the street came over and said she would take it down for me! What a kind and caring person she is! I am blessed and God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Does God really have a plan for my life?

Psalm 139:3 You chart the path ahead of me and tell me
where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am.

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 138:8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life--for
your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don't abandon me
for you made me.

God has a plan for our lives. It is not an unthinking, automated
script that we must follow. It is a journey with various destinations
and appointments and a great deal of freedom as to the pace and
scope of the travel. God's plan for us will always have a sense of
mystery, but we can be certain that he will guide us as long as we
rely on his leading.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Roamin' thru Romans

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 the promise of rain again this afternoon.

We had a really good downpour late yesterday afternoon that gave the ground a good soaking. It must have rained for a good twenty minutes or half an hour! We needed it!

I did not do much yesterday...just stayed in and did laundry. I looked up florists in San Antonio, TX online and called one and asked for flowers to be delivered to our daughter's grave in Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.  I wanted to have photos taken of it with the flowers and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they do that regularly and will email the photos to me both before and after the flowers are placed! What a blessing!

I noticed some more tiny mangoes are developing on the neighbor's tree right outside my window. The first ones fell off, but maybe these will stay on the branch. I also watched two crazy tiny bugs flying in very tight, very fast circles back and forth in front of the hedge. I have no idea what they are, but God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 15:2-7
We should please others. If we do what helps them,
we will build them up in the Lord. For even Christ
did not please himself. As the Scriptures say, "Those
who insult you, are also insulting me." Such things
were written in the scriptures long ago to teach us.
They give us hope and encouragement as we wait
for God's promises.

May God, who gave 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 as Christ has accepted you, then
God will be glorified.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Philippians 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! I can't help thinking of the people in Moore, OK and the fact that not many of them are rejoicing today. My heart goes out to them, especially the ones who lost their children.

I watched Dancing with the Stars last night, and was moved to tears by Kellie and Derek's dance which was so appropriate for expressing the mood of the disaster. Just beautiful!

I drove to Walmart yesterday and filled the van up with gas. which was still lower in price than most places, then went to the library. Stopped at Chick-fil-a for a salad and after that went to the park. The light tan gopher tortoise was on display by the parking lot, so a car pulled over while the people took photos of him. I saw two ibis, rooting around in the shrubs, and an egret silhouetted against the green trees.

The mowing crew has mowed all the weeds down and cleared a much wider path than they have been doing, so, the park looks much neater than when they were leaving a lot unmowed.. And the buildings look really good and spiffy since the light colored metal roofs have been installed.God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Philippians 4:4
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--\rejoice!
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.
Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
If you do this, you will experience God's peace which is
far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.
But peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in
Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more
thing as I close this letter. Keep your thoughts on what is
true and honorable and right. Think about things that are
lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent
and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned
from me  and heard from me, and saw me doing and
the God of peace will be with you.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 119

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! More sunshine with the promise of maybe a thunderstorm coming.

The weather could not be better!

It was a quiet Saturday and a busy Sunday for me. After church, where I was sandwiched between two godly men, both came after I was already seated, I stayed and visited awhile, then went home to eat and back at church to celebrate a fortieth wedding anniversary with friends and family of the couple.

Congratulations, Ray and Marilou!

I came home in time to see the end of the Rays game, with the Rays winning again!  Yay! Then I drove to the park and after coming home again, gathered up all my library books and returned them in the drop off containers. It saves me having to tote all the heavy books back in by hand. Yes, I am a bit lazy! But God loves me anyway, and He is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 119: 1-8
Happy are people of integrity,
who follow the law of the Lord.
Happy are those who obey his decrees
and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us to keep your
commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your principles!
Then I will not be disgraced
when I compare my life with your commands.
When I learn your righteous laws,
I will thank you by living as I should!
I will obey your principles.
Please don't give up on me!

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Faith brings Joy

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! More sunshine, cool breezes. Who could ask for more?

Yesterday, as I was going around Lynch Lake, I saw an osprey land on a very tall pole and after a minute, it spied lunch and made a swift dive into the water and came up with a fish clutched in its claws! Wow! All this while I was circling the lake! Birds have eagle eyes!

After I was through with my doctor's appointment and shopping at Sweetbay, I drove to the park and noticed the workmen were installing another metal roof on top of the environmental bldg. The old tin roof was very rusty and really looked bad. I really like the looks of the new roofs and I am sure they are good for a lifetime.

Well, last night I heard a loud explosion and an hour or so later another loud one. Sounded like either a large tire blowing or a huge firecracker under a tin can, but then I saw a Duke Energy truck driving down the street, so a transformer must have blown, but I did not lose my power. Cheryl called me because she saw me and Kim go out to look around. However, the power went off sometime during the night, because all the digitals were blinking this morning. Had to set the clocks, but no harm done.

And the breaking news here is that a bear is sitting up in a tree over in Tampa, so people are trying to get someone to tranquilize and get it down. Always something going on! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 5:5
We can rejoice, too when we run into problems and
trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help
us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of
character in us and character strengthens our confident
expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not
disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us,
because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts
with His love.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Colossians 3

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 a string of beautiful days is here, although the air is growing warmer, and more humid. Can't complain with all this sunshine!

I think I know why all the butterflies have been flitting by the window. My beauty berry bush is all bloomed out and they love the flowers, so I really do have a butterfly garden, or, at least,  a bush!

I picked up my maple syrup from Lake Beauty, MN, yesterday, so I had to have waffles this morning to use some of it. Yum! It is light and delicate in taste. What a treat! I noticed that it is already turning to sugar around the lid, so guess I should refrigerate the open pint jar. I think the people at Lake Beauty Bible Camp made 128 pints after boiling down the sap. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Colossians 3:23,24
Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do,
 as though you were working for the Lord rather
than for people. Remember that the Lord will
give you an inheritance as your reward, and the
Master you are serving is Christ.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 46

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 had such a string of beautiful weather it seems as if it could go on forever, but unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and we will soon be having high humidity and high temps soon! But, we enjoy this perfection while we can!

I mentioned butterflies yesterday, and I am just so enthralled watching them flit by. Seems like there are more than usual in my yard, and they are so beautiful! God has made things beautiful in His time.

Well, I noticed the driveway is covered in green leaves and twigs once again. A squirrel must be building his nest right above and is not too neat about it! Jason, the yard man, just cleaned up the mess from a few days ago, and now it is messed up again. Tsk!

I don't know if they are that messy in the park, but I drove through yesterday, and saw a baby chasing after its mother. Speaking of babies, I noticed a mama duck and about twelve babies at the end of my street. There is no water near, so they must have come a long way, just out and about. They are so cute, but turn into nuisances when they get older. But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
God himself lives in that city, it cannot be destroyed.
God will protect it at the break of day.
The nations are in an uproar,
and kingdoms crumble!
God thunders and the earth melts!

The Lord Almighty is here among us,
the God of Israel is our fortress.

Come see the glorious works of the Lord.
See how he brings destruction upon the world
and causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear in two.
He burns the shields with fire.

Be silent, and know that I am God.
I will be honored by every nation,
I will be honored throughout the world"

The Lord Almighty is here among us
the  God of Israel is our fortress.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis