What a walk!

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!

Instead of a walk in the park, yesterday, my day started at 4 AM. Gil came to pick me up at 5:30 and we were off to TIA to catch a flight to San Juan, PR. We had a smooth flight, watching "Facing the Giants" DVD on Gil's PC. What a wonderful movie!


After we arrived in San Juan, the first little bump in our plans was the rental car agency. We had to waste about 45 minutes getting the van to take us to "Charlie's" and then got the Hyundai and off we went to see old San Juan and El Yunque rainforest. Since this was my first visit to PR, and Gil is an experienced traveler, I was thrilled and thankful to have such a tour guide. Gil got in his "aggressive" mode to match the traffic, which was heavy and fast. I noticed that patience was thin in most drivers. When the light turns green, the first thing you do is blow your horn to make the first driver in line take off! Our first stop was at BK, where we had to get a ticket to open the gate to the parking lot!! Since neither of us had much breakfast, we welcomed the burgers and shakes as we kept going. I was excited to see the mountains in the distance, since it has been a long time since I have left Florida.

The rainforest was peaceful, quiet and lovely with mountain sides overflowing with ferns and waterfalls cascading down the black rocks. Large stands of bamboo were growing wild as were impatiens which were blooming. The little car chugged right along up the steep hills and many people were also enjoying the views. We stopped at the Tower, but since the altitude already had me breathing kinda hard, I did not climb up to the top.

Gil took pictures of me everywhere, so be prepared!

We visited Suzuki del Caribe next, to visit briefly with some of the staff and Barry, the manager, and they treated me royally. I was welcomed with open arms as a friend of Gil's, who has had a business relationship for many years with them. Some of the girls gave me a lovely bouquet of roses and a green puff flower which I had never seen before, and I also received from Barry and Judy, a little souvenir of San Juan.

Since Matthew is so enthusiastic about Hayabusa motorcycles, we had to visit the showroom, where, once again, Gil took a photo of me standing beside one, just to show Matthew!

I did not get to taste "Mondongo" which I understand is some kind of delicacy, but I am not sure I missed out on something good...:o)

We could see God's humor and hand in many instances...the Admiral's Club was right near our landing and departure gates, and we made connections right when we needed to. The shuttles were waiting as we arrived..most people were very nice and friendly, and we had a great loooong day. Our returning flight was delayed, so we were booked on another with did not leave until 12:40 AM, as it was also delayed. We waited a couple hours in the Admiral's lounge in Miami, which even had about ten showers, which I did not take advantage of, but it also had tea, coffee, milk and cheese and cracker snacks which we helped ourselves to. Seems like the longer I stay up past my bedtime, the hungrier I get!.

We had long fast walks in various terminals, but found many humorous things to chuckle about. It was a wonderful day which ended for me about 3:30 this morning, when I finally sank into my bed.

I praise God for dear friends like Gil and for family and for watching over us and preparing the way.

I always thank God for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving,joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

My trip to Puerto Rico - click on the photo below to view album!

Photobucket Album

Friendship (fellowship)

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the warm, humid day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! We chatted with Terry at Sawgrass, for a while yesterday evening and Matthew has great fun with him, but we didn't do any walking, except for touring the Police Dept. building in Zephyrhills. Our nephew is Chief of Police there, and he showed us their new facilities, which are state of the art. The building is so self-contained that people can stay there in a hurricane, because all the generators are inside. It was fun and informative. Matthew has decided he does not want to stay in a holding cell. :)

From the Promise Bible:

How does the Lord change the quality of our fellowship?

Matthew 18:20 "Where two or three gather together because they are mine. I am there among them."

The promise of the Lord's presence transforms our fellowship. We draw strength from the testimony of God's faithfulness in other's lives. We learn to comfort one another with the comfort we receive from the Lord. And we experience love and forgiveness in practical ways.

How does God provide for us through fellowship?

Acts 4:32-35 "All the believers were of one heart and mind, and they felt that what they owned was not their own, they shared everything they had. And the apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great favor was upon them all. There was no poverty among them, because people who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need."

Our fellowship with other believers is meant to provide for our needs in the most practical ways, God's love for us moves us to share our resources with each other. This practical expression of love unleashes God's power and empowers our witness to the world.

"You wake up in the morning with twenty four hours of the unmanufactured tissue of the universe of your life. It is yours. It is the most precious of possessions. No one can take it from you. It is unstealable and no one receives either more or less."
Arnold Bennett

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis (tomorrow, tomorrow...it's only a day away!)

Wisdom

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the warm day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Since we have had a couple of thunderstorms lately, you can almost watch the grass grow! Everyday we have ibises pecking in it, so I am sure they keep it aerated and keep the bugs out.

I had a nice chat with Terry yesterday evening and it looks like budget cuts will be affecting the way the parks get mowed and cared for. Sawgrass always looks nicely groomed and picked up. Children like to roll down the berms and many people walk their dogs, careful to pick up after them. This will probably not change, even though there won't be as many people to work at keeping the parks pretty.

The boardwalk work will be finished next week, and then they start on the next phase, which will mean closing the second and third bridges and replacing the boardwalk there. Progress! It will still mean a good walk! God is good!

Wisdom (from the Promise Bible)

What are the benefits of wisdom?

Proverbs 9:10 "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding."

Psalm 111:10 "Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him. Praise his name forever!"

Wisdom is not simply knowing facts and figures; it is understanding that an all-powerful, all-knowing God has designed a moral universe with consequences for our good and evil choices. Wisdom begins with understanding our accountability to and our full dependence on our Creator. It's not what we know, but who we know.

Proverbs 3:21,26 "My child, don't lose sight of good planning and insight. Hang on to them, for they fill you with life and bring you honor and respect. They keep you safe on your way and keep your feet from stumbling. You can lie down without fear and enjoy pleasant dreams. You need not be afraid of disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap."

Wisdom produces honor in our lives and protects us from trouble. Wise people know the difference between right and wrong and choose to do what's right. More than that, wisdom is choosing to apply God's truth and principles to our daily relationships and situations.

I always thank God for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis (day after tomorrow!!)

God's Promise

Good clear 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 already getting to be too warm to walk, but there was a pretty pink streak of clouds as the sun came up this morning.

Yesterday we went to the Park and briefly saw Terry to speak to. The work on the boardwalk is almost finished. That is very hot work. The man in charge, Richard, works harder than most anyone I know and is always dripping wet, even early in the morning. They have to be sure that they take plenty of liquid out on the worksite to drink and hydrate themselves. But when the work is finished I know the boardwalk will be beautiful! God is good!

From the book, Quiet Moments:

Someone who conducted an informal survey about the prayers of the people in his church found that most people pray one or two types of prayers. The first was an SOS - not only Save our Souls, but also, "Oh, God, help us now."

The second was SOP - "Solve Our Problems". People asked the Lord to eliminate all needs, struggles, trials, and temptations. They wanted carefree, perfect lives, and they fully believed that is what God had promised them.

The conclusion: "Most people want God to do it all."

God has not promised however, to live our lives for us - but rather, to walk through our lives with us. Our part is to be faithful and obedient; his part is to lead us, guide us, protect us, and help us. Annie Johnson Flint recognized the true nature of god's promise in this poem:

What God Hath Promised

God hath not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through;
God hath not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.
But God hath promised
Strength for the day.
Rest for the labor,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love..

Do what you know you can do today - and then trust God to do what you cannot do.

"You cannot control the length of your life, but you can
control its width and depth.
Evan Esar

"I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion) to the {very} close and consummation of the age. Matthew 28:20 Amp.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis (THREE and counting)

Psoaring thru Psalms

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is another warm day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

I went to sleep to the sound of thunder last night, but never heard the rain come down!

Saturday we watched a wedding at the Park, after the rain the night before, and the wedding party stood on the wet grass, under the dripping trees, while waiting for the bride, dressed in a beautiful, flowing white gown, with a train, to walk with her father down the sidewalk. She had to stop at one point while her dad picked up the train to keep from dragging it through a puddle. They had four attendants and two dogs present....a small but lovely wedding with the groom dressed in a white tux.

One curious thing...on a hill just a few feet from the proceedings, a hawk was on the ground eating his catch of the day, totally oblivious of the goings on just a short distance away. He flew up in a tree, then back down on the ground again. God is good!

From Psalm 1 NLT

"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers.
But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants-
day and night they think about his law.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank
bearing fruit each season without fail.
Their leaves never wither,
and in all they do, they prosper.

But this is not true of the wicked.
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.

For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis (4 and counting)

Step right up

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the warm June day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Matthew and I had a very interesting walk yesterday. We arrived at the tower to find the class with Steve and Mike on the top story watching an osprey looking for a fish. The osprey was hovering ! I had never seen an osprey hover and, of course, neither had Matthew. It was amazing to see those huge wings flapping and flapping and staying in one place! God is Awesome!

Also, to make things even more interesting, Mama gator was hiding under the platform and we had to peek way over to see her head. She is really big! On the way back, we watched a gator lazily swimming toward the lake, and later saw a hawk sitting on a picnic table, waiting for lunch! Always something interesting to see at the Park!

From Quiet Moments:

A young Scottish girl, Ffyona, decided to challenge her mettle, and get a change of scenery, by walking around the world. She spent eleven years and covered more than nineteen thousand miles walking from northern Scotland to southern England; New York to Los Angeles; Sydney to Perth, Australia; and South Africa to Morocco. Along the way, she fought disease, poisonous insects, bad weather, blisters, stonings, and loneliness.

She kept herself going by motivating her tired feet by promising herself that if she could make it just ten more miles, she could have a meal, The stronger her mind, the better her body performed.

Another important discovery she made, was that she had to take one day at a time.

Walking seems like such a simple thing to do. But, Oh, the power of a walk! Even when we have no particular destination, our feet can take us to a new place and give us both a physical and a psychological break from where we've been. Walking away from a heated debate is sometimes the smartest thing to do and the best way to protect a relationship. Crossing a room to talk to someone who looks lonely is often the first step in building a new friendship.

"The steps of good men are directed by the Lord." Psalm 37:23 TLB

"Blessed are those who hear the joyful blast of the trumpet, for they shall walk in the light of your presence." Psalm 89:15 TLB

When we are obedient, God guides our steps and our stops.
Corrie ten Boom

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis (one week and counting, Wheeee!)