Faith and endurance

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 know most people love this cool weather, but I do not like to wear a vest or something to keep me warm in the house without heating indoors too much. I have to admit that the blue skies and sunshine are truly beautiful, but I am waiting for the weather to warm up some, which should be in a couple days.

Well, all the clocks and watches were reset over the weekend, and I made it to church at 9:30 for the exciting sermon by our lead pastor candidate. I must say, I thought it was a dynamic sermon and I was looking forward with anticipation to hearing the vote last night in favor of calling him to FCC. Of course, the fact that I have known him since he was 14 did not have much to do with my vote. So, I see an exciting future in store for my church!

Not so exciting news...I received my tax bill Friday. Oh, well," render unto Caesar what is Caesar's"...or words to that effect.

I still have not heard back from Dr. Nelson's office about the plastic surgeon for my nose. There was one listed in my provider directory who seemed highly rated, so I will see what he thinks. The ones I would like to contact do not accept my insurance, so I have to go with the one that will. I just have to wait to hear what the verdict will be. But God is in control and I know it will turn out all right.

I visited the Park yesterday and Saturday and both times there were many visitors. The large gopher tortoise was ambling about and another one was trying to get into his tunnel.  A very wet anhinga was drying out on the weir and a large flock of ibis was walking around on the canal bottom, since the water is almost gone. But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

James 1:2-8,13

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....

God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward,
they will receive the Crown of life that God has promised to those
who love him.

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 still have lots of sunshine, but the wind is picking up as the cold front approaches for tomorrow. It is supposed to get down to 49 for Sunday morning, but will warm up rapidly for the middle of next week.

I shopped at Big Lots for the first time in about two years and was pleasantly surprised to find that the store is completely remodeled inside. What I hated about the store was the disorganization, hard to get around with a shopping cart and general messiness. But, the place was organized, with lots of aisles neatly stacked with merchandise and a large grocery area which I did not get into. However, they had a large Christmas section, which I browsed through and was impressed by. I found what I was looking for, plus a couple other things. I did not go into the furniture part, but probably will in the future just to look around. All in all, it was kinda interesting.

I went to Audibel and since they now have two audiologists there was no waiting, so Keith took me right away and commended me on taking care of my aids. He said some people only come in when they have a serious problem. He likened it to a car which needs to be serviced regularly, so problems do not develop. He has a wonderful manner with people and I like him very much.

After that, I cruised through the Park and saw picnickers, dog walkers and a flock of ibis moving as one over the hills. It was nice and peaceful. God is good!

Romans 8:25-30
 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress . For we
don't even know what we should pray for,  nor how we
should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings
that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who
knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the
Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own
will. And we know that God causes everything to work
together for the good of  those who love God and are called according
to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance
and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son
would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.
And having chosen them, he called them to come to him.
And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised
them his glory.

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

Love and hugs.
 Amaryllis

Wisdom from Matthew

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 are in transition today. There is a front coming through and so the sky is partly overcast and we may get a shower or two today. Then it will turn colder over the weekend. It will be a nice change, but it won't last long.

Well, I got some disturbing news yesterday. My dermatologist called to say the biopsy on my nose showed that I have basal cell carcinoma on my nose which will have to be excised by a plastic surgeon. I don't have the name of a surgeon yet, and don't know any details as to how much will have to be removed, but I do know that I am not looking forward to it, since the doctor said I will have to have stitches. That sounds major to me! I would appreciate prayers starting now for all the details to be finalized according to God's will..that is, surgeon, healing and not too much off the nose, etc.!

My cleaning ladies came yesterday and  they are always cheerful to be around, so I appreciated them and their work. After they left I went to the park , which was very quiet, with only ibis and dogs moving around. The dogs, of course, were with their humans. Then I drove on to Audibel to get one of my hearing aids fixed, So, God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Matthew 6:5-13

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like
the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street
corners and in the synagogues where everyone can
see them. I assure you. that is all the reward they will
ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut
the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly.
Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.

When you pray, don't babble on and on as people  of other
religions do. They think their prayers are answered only
by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them
because your Father knows exactly what you need even
before you ask him. Pray like this:

 Our Father is heaven,
may your name be honored.
May your Kingdom come soon.'May your will be done here on earth,
just as in heaven.
Give us our food for today,
and forgive us our sins
just as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
And don't let us yield to temptation
but deliver us from the evil one.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalms

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 keep hearing that more clouds and humidity are on the way, but today is another bright, sunshiny, cool one, so maybe tomorrow the change will come. I have mixed emotions about that. I really like the weather we have now, but know that is not possible to have it all year long. Sigh.

Last night I stepped outside and saw the ISS fly over for six whole minutes. It was so bright and looked bigger than the last time I watched it, Also, it seemed to flutter a bit when I first saw it, but maybe that was due to my eyes! And the crescent moon was making a beautiful display with Mars beneath it! "The heavens declare the glory of God!"

After some shopping yesterday, I went on to the park and saw several birds, including an ibis, anhinga, and egret, all moseying about the water and doing their thing. A few people were walking about enjoying the beautiful day. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 147:7-11

Sing out your thanks to the Lord;
sing praises to our God, accompanied by harps.
He covers the heavens with clouds,
provides rain for the earth,
and makes the green grass grow in mountain pastures.
He feeds the wild animals,
and the young ravens cry to him for food.

The strength of a horse does not impress him.
How puny in his sight is the strength of a man.
Rather,m the Lord's delight is in those who honor him,
those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Cruisin' thru Chronicles

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 another in the string of cooler, clear sky days that are so beautiful! Here it is almost the end of October and the only rain predicted is on Halloween. Maybe. Which does not bother me, since the ground is still very wet and water is still in the gutters.

Hooray for me! I purposed to go through my purses piled up in the closet yesterday, (something I had been putting off) and filled a garbage bag with them. I carefully went through each one, and found my long lost valet key in one of them. I could not imagine what had happened to it, but it had been missing for over a year or more. So, yay!

I returned some books to the library yesterday, and checked out more. But I noticed that two favorite authors of mine, only had a couple books on the shelf, which I had already read. I think it must have been due to the Festival of Reading presented by the Times on Saturday. Those particular authors were present for the book signing. But I can always wait until the books get back on the shelves.

After I left the library, I drove to the park and saw quite a few people for early afternoon. I also noticed a very large egret near the weir and one down in the canal near the first bridge. He was very near an ibis which was walking on the muddy bank. Also, the large brown gopher and the baby gopher were munching their ways around the areas where the tunnel is. Also in the area of people watching, I saw a young woman (girl) get out of a car with her boyfriend (?) and she had spike heels with sparkles with straps wrapped around her ankles and was wearing shorts. For walking in the park? To each his own! But God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Chronicles 16:31-36

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice!
Tell all the nations that the Lord is king.
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the fields and their crops burst forth with joy!
Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord!
For he is coming to judge the earth.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
 Cry out, "Save us. O God of our salvation!
Gather and rescue us from among the nations.
so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you."

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel.
from everlasting to everlasting!

And all the people shouted "Amen!" and
praised the Lord.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

My Morning Prayer

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 almost missed the yard men because once again, they just blew and went. The grass has definitely slowed down its growing, because of our cooler air and no rain. It is another beautiful morning with clear skies and lots of sunshine!

Well, Friday, I finally did it! I shopped at the new 4th St. Station Publix, where shopping is a pleasure.That store is huge! I remember the first time I walked into the new Albertson's that was there and I got so tired just walking the whole store. Well, this time I did not get tired, but I sure got a nice, long walk in! I discovered they had one item that the Gateway store no longer carries, but did not have an item that I always buy at the Gateway store. So, I still will go to my usual Gateway store. It is small but convenient. Another plus for the new store..a cashier opened up her aisle just for me and asked a stock man to bag for me. He also took my groceries out to the van and unloaded them. Wish I could have brought him home to unload at home!

After church yesterday, I drove on to the Park, and saw two large great blue herons in separate places; one at the weir, and one standing in the canal..both looking for a tasty fish for lunch. Then, I spotted a shiny, slick black turtle out of his element, at the base of a tree. I don't know how mixed up he got when he should have been in the water, but he had a ways to go before he got wet again! I saw another smaller turtle sunning on the bank of the weirl. God is good!

I have sent this prayer before, but thought it would be good to send again:

My Morning Prayer

"Oh, God, for another day, for another morning,
for another hour, for another minute, for another
chance to live and serve Thee, I am truly grateful."
Do Thou this day free me
 from all fear of the future
 from all bitterness toward anyone.
 From all cowardice in face of danger
 from all laziness in face of work,
 from all failure before opportunity
 from all weakness when Thy power is  at hand.

But fill me
 with Love that knows no barrier
 with Sympathy that reaches all
 with Courage that cannot be shaken
 with Faith strong enough for darkness.
 With Strength sufficient for my tasks
 with Loyalty to Thy Kingdom Goal,
 with Power to lift me to Thee.

Be Thou with me for another day and use me as Thou
wilt for Christ's sake, I pray.
Amen

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Zipping thru Zephaniah

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 another sunny, coolish morning, but heating up before long. I really like this time of year, when it is not too hot and there is less humidity.

Yesterday, after I had been shopping at Disston Plaza, I drove on out to the Touchfree Car Wash and got the van washed nice and clean. The air was dry enough that by the time I got home, there were only a few drops on the car. Now, if only the carpet inside was vacuumed...All the pay cleaners are out in the sun, and since I avoid the sun because of my nose, it is not practical for me to do it. I usually just sweep it out, but it is not something I obsess about! I noticed on the way that a couple gas stations were down to 2.87! Yay!!

I noticed at the park that the water has gone down quite a lot in just a couple days, but the ibis still like to peck around on the muddy banks. A few more people were enjoying the park, which was good on a perfect weather day! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God has arrived
to live among you. He is a mighty Savior:
He will rejoice over you with great gladness.

With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will exult over you by singing a happy song.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis