Worry Wednesday

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the cool day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! We had very little rain with the cold front that blew through yesterday and we could really use more, but God knows our every need and He will provide, I am sure.

We had a little excitement here last night, when Louis fell in the bathroom and Brian and I could not get him up, so I called the paramedics. They were here in five minutes, and lifted him up on a chair. He was not hurt, so we got him ready for bed and he slept about ten hours and seems fine this morning, with no memory of falling or anything else, for that matter. Sometimes expecting the unexpected is difficult!

Well, I intend to stay up tonight and watch the Gators win the National Championship! (I hope)!

We went to the Park yesterday and lots of stuff going on. The fencing has been removed, for some reason, and big piles of dirt are heaped where no one can walk. I will have to call Mike to find out what is going on. Just curious. :o) Turtles were sunning along the weir, and anhingas drying their wings. God is good!

From Quiet Moments with God for Teachers:

Matthew 6:14 NKJV
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble.

Many people lose sleep by worrying. They lie awake in bed, wondering if they made a right decision the day before--if they did the wrong thing--and what they should do tomorrow.

Here's a creative way one woman handled worry. With so many things to worry about, she decided to set aside one day each week to worry. As worrying situations occurred, she wrote them down and put them in her worry box. Then, on Worry Wednesday, she read through each worry. To her amazement, most of the things she had been disturbed about had already been taken care of in some way. Thus, she learned there was seldom a justifiable reason to worry. As the psalmist wrote in Psalm 127:2 NKJV, it is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows, for so He gives His beloved sleep.

As a child of God, you can rest in the knowledge that you are surrounded by a loving Father who cares for you. Jesus said, " Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26 NKJV) The same Creator who placed each star in the sky is watching over you.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Go Gators!!

Psoaring thru Psalm 4

Good morning, dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the windy, transition day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Did you happen to see the brilliant Venus in the southwestern sky right after sunset last night? I was totally surprised to see the swollen moon right overhead in the darkening but still blue sky! Gorgeous! God is Awesome!

Yesterday I took a walk in the Park, and saw lots of activity going on. Apparently, the Audubon Society was out in full force with tables set up with refreshments, and lots of cars in the circle... people with cameras and telescopes, dressed in their hats and boots, ready for a tour to see what birds have migrated from the snowy North.

As for me, I just walked and looked and saw Mama gator in her same spot where she has been for months, but I didn't see a baby. I saw a flock of birds circling over the lake, but couldn't tell what they were, and then, two ospreys suddenly appeared and I watched to see if one would hover, but it didn't. It was a lovely morning for a walk, but I was very warm when I finished. God is good! BTW, apparently Francia did not retire, as she was teaching a class when I arrived. Good for the pupils who learn a lot about nature from her teaching.

Psalm 4:1-8 NLT
Answer me when I call,
O God who declares me innocent.
Take away my distress,
Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

How long will you people ruin my reputation?
How long will you make these
groundless accusations?
How long will you pursue lies?

You can be sure of this;
The Lord has set apart the godly for himself.
The Lord will answer when I call to him.

Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent.
Offer proper sacrifices, and trust in the Lord.

Many people say, "Who will show us
better times?Let the smile of your face shine on us, Lord.
You have given me greater joy
than those who have abundant harvests
of grain and wine.

I will lie down in peace and sleep
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me
safe.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Happy Birthday, Lee!

GOD KNOWS!

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! Once again we have a beautiful day with sun and warm temps. But tomorrow we are supposed to get some rain, which we need, and cooler weather. This is the time of year, when no A/C and no heat are needed.

When I stepped outside this morning, I was able to see some stars high overhead, even though fog was predicted... maybe on the highway, but not here. I need to go to the Park today to see if Francia has retired. She has been teaching about thirty years and never in a regular classroom. She really knows all about bugs and creatures of the wild. She is very interesting to talk with and to hear her adventures. God brings interesting people into our lives. He is good!

From Quiet Moments with God for Teachers:

Do you ever wonder if God has lost your address? Perhaps He has lost track of you or even forgotten you? God's Word answers that thought with a resounding, "Not so!"

Jesus taught His followers, "Are not two little sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave {consent} and notice...Fear not, then, you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31 AMP)

Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:30 Amp

The psalmist also recognized God's thorough and innate knowledge of us. Read these words from Psalm 139 and be encouraged.

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me, and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment, you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it. You both precede and follow me, and place your hand of blessing on my head. This is too glorious, too wonderful... I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God!...

You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book!

How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can't even count how many times a day your thoughts turn towards me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!
Psalm 139:1-7, 16-18 TLB

Consider then thyself, O noble
soul, and the nobility within
thee for thou art honored above
all creatures in that thou art an image of God...
thou art destined to greatness!
Meister Eckhardt

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

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! When I stepped outside early this morning, the clouds were thick and the air was a little cool, but now the clouds have mostly gone and the sun is shining! Another beautiful day in Paradise!

We enjoyed a quiet day yesterday after church. I finished a book I had started, and then watered the staghorn fern, which was looking droopy. We haven't had much rain for a couple weeks, so I also watered the azaleas, which have a few blooms on them. Afterward, we took a drive to beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, and admired the lovely waterfront... saw lots of people walking, sitting at outside tables in front of restaurants, biking, running, and lots of dogs in the dog park near the water.

We also visited Sawgrass and noticed the Vietnamese society was having their yearly gathering under the large covered shelter. Lots of people there! On the way in we saw two peacocks looking at themselves in a window, and a big, fat gator sunning on the bank of the lake on the right. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

How can I face challenging, sometimes intimidating, opportunities?

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

Our ability to face challenges is rooted in Christ, not in ourselves. With Christ's help, we can make the most of every opportunity.

Revelation 3:6 I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.

We can trust that nothing will prevent us from fulfilling the opportunity God has for us.

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

Joshua 1:7:9 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 this Bood of the Law 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.

What does God promise to those who make the most of his opportunities?

Matthew 25:29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away.

God honors faithfulness in little things with the privilege of responsibility for greater things.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Challenges

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! When I stepped outside much earlier, clouds covered the sky, and I thought perhaps we would have rain, but now the clouds have cleared and the sun is bright. It is warmer than I expected, so another beautiful day! God is good!

Well, Christmas is pretty much put away at this house. Thanks to Brian for his hard work in taking down the tree and packing it away, and for taking down the outside lights. I have all the candles and Santas put away, but keep the Ecuadorian nativity out all year. I keep thinking of goals I should set for 2009, and one of them, is being faithful to read my One Year Bible regularly. I had to skip a couple chapters last year, but did finish up on time. I have done this for the past ten years or so. Funny, how all the stories seem new each year. God's Word is timeless!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Why does God allow challenges in our lives?

James 1:2-4 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.

Challenges that threaten and try us are the very tools that God uses to strengthen and mature us. As we endure, we gain greater wisdom, integrity, and courage to face whatever comes our way.

Are some challenges too small to bother God?

Psalm 37:5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you.

Nothing is too small for God. When we commit our plans to the Lord, he commits himself and his infinite resources to us.

What has God given me to face my challenges?

Joshua 1:7 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.

God has given us his word to direct us. The promise of success is embedded in our commitment to obedience.

1 Chronicles 28:20 David continued, " Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged by the size of the size of the task, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.

Instead of being discouraged by the size of the task, we should be encouraged by the limitless power of God.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Hope for today and tomorrow

Good New Year's Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Even though it's a bit chilly, (58), the sun is shining and a breeze blowing, so it should be a great day for the Bowl game in Tampa. I have been seeing pictures of the snow and bad weather conditions all over the north, so, once again, I am thankful for living in Florida!

Lots of people are in the Park these days, because of all the bowl games, and just visiting on winter break. They all look for gators, but sometimes none are around to be seen. Most of the leaves are off the trees now, and they look stark, but once spring comes, all the new green leaves burst forth, and everything is green again! God is good!

We have been seeing the peacocks again in the neighborhood outside the park. The sun was shining on the male yesterday and the colors were gorgeous! They may be a nuisance, with their yowl, and tearing up and scratching cars, but they are a sight to behold!

I thought this familiar verse from the NIV would be a good way to start off 2009:

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

And from the Promise Bible:

Philippians 4: 4, 12
Always be full of joy in the Lord . I say it again ---rejoice! I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

Joy is a choice. We may not realize it, but we choose our moods and our attitudes. God's promises in Christ are the basis for choosing joy no matter what we face.


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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Happy New Year!!

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! When I stepped outside this morning, the chilly air was kind of a surprise, because we have been warm for so long. But I know it will soon warm up and we will be at almost 80 degrees again! God is good!

Have you noticed the evening sky lately? For a gorgeous sight, look to the west, and see the crescent moon with Venus high above and tiny Jupiter far to the bottom west. God's Creation is Awesome!

I have enjoyed my brief vacation from the morning email, almost as much as I enjoyed having the family here for Christmas. It was wonderful to have our sons and grandson here and to spend time with them, even though Brian spent most of Christmas day in bed and did not feel too perky for several days due to some kind of virus. But the rest of us did not get it, and the weather stayed perfect. We were blessed!

My prayer for all in the New Year, is that you will be blessed with whatever you need; work, good health, rest and a deep reliance on our Lord for all you need!

From Hymns for the Family of God:

Prayer of Concern for Others

Father, help me to talk like a Christian:
to speak in such a way that I build up another person's
confidence in himself, instead of tearing down his reputation.

Father, help me to drive like a Christian:
to be watchful and careful lest I cause harm to someone else
on the highways.

Father, help me to give like a Christian:
without thought of return, without anyone knowing what I
do, and with Your approval as sufficient reward.

Father, help me to dress like a Christian:
by not attracting attention to myself for being too fashionable
or too casual; and help me to show by my appearance
that I want people to know me for what I am inside myself.

Father, help me to sleep like a Christian:
At peace with myself because sin is forgiven; and at peace with
others because I do not allow my anger to last through a day.

Father, help me to eat like a Christian:
to eat healthily, to eat moderately, to eat gratefully, giving
thanks to You who provide my food, and for the one
who prepares my food.

Father, keep me from being so pious that I keep You out of the
practical areas of life. Be with me when I am along, and
when I shed my inhibitions, lest in those moments I cancel
out all that I seem to be when I'm on my best behavior.

Father, I ask this because I follow a Master who was never guilty
of the slightest wrong-doing, and who always showed His love
in the small details of living. Amen.

- Bryan Jeffery Leech

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis