Step Right Up

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! Well, yesterday I decided to take a walk, sore foot or not! So I went to the Park and, even though there were hordes of children and adults, started walking on the boardwalk, I was able to see the baby gator, by finding an opening by a little boy. then I stopped by the new gator nest which is so overgrown, it is hardly visible through the shrubs.

The trail to it seems to be well traveled, so I guess Mama gator is going back and forth to the canal, some distance away, to the nest. I then plodded on to the tower and stopped to watch an osprey slowly gliding in circles to the thermals. While I watched it, it never had to flap its wings to keep going..the wind was quite strong.

I started on back then, because the sun was getting quite warm, but it was an enjoyable walk. God is good!

From Quiet Moments with God:

Getting away from it all takes on a whole new meaning when you decide, as a young Scottish girl did, to walk around the world. A troubled home life convinced her she needed a change of scenery, as well as a challenge that would test her mettle.

How does one go about waking around the world?

In Ffyona's case, she spend 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.

To keep herself going, she had to come up with a way to motivate her often tired feet. She quickly discovered that if she could focus her mind on doing what had to be done to make it through each phase of the walk, her body would do the rest. The stronger her mind, the better her body performed,

Another of Ffyona's important discoveries was that she needed to take one day at a time. Each day she would say to herself, "If I walk ten miles right now, I can stop and have a meal." Building in breaks and small rewards along the way made it much easier for her to stay committed to her bigger goal."

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 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

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

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

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Perseverance and Endurance

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the overcast day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! I was surprised when I went outside much earlier to see all clouds...guess I did not pay attention to the weather forecast. Maybe we will get some more rain as we still need it desperately. Hillsborough Co. is discussing the decision whether or not to ban all sprinkler use and car washes at home. But God knows our need and will fill it in His time! Because God is GoOD!

As I went to the Park yesterday, I saw a big turtle and a little turtle side by side, sunning on the banks of the weir. Lots of people were out with their dogs and kids, since this is spring break. The grass is greener now, with the little rain we had, so even though messy, the park looks better. I got my walking in at Walmart, where I saw one of the Indy cars on display in the parking lot. It was attracting a lot of attention!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

What purposes do endurance and perseverance serve in my life?

1 Peter 1:6-7 Be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

2 peter 1:5-9 Make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least very shortsighted. They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.

Endurance is like the fire that purifies precious metals and hardens valuable pottery. It cleanses, clarifies, and solidifies our faith. Living through the trials and tests of life is often the most significant way to discover the riches of our faith.


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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Perseverance and Endurance

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

Although I have been up for a few hours, my spouse slept late, so I could not really get started on my chores until he was taken care of.

Anyway, here is is the start of a new week and things look promising. I noticed that I have an amaryllis blooming and a large bud on another one. I did not think I would have any blooms this year, because of the dry weather. I did not water them much, but although smaller, they are brightly blooming. God is GOoD!

Well, I did not get to walk Saturday. As most of you know, there was a strong wind all day and the boardwalk was closed. I went to the Park yesterday and walked up on the bridge and spied a large tilapia swimming at the surface. It would have looked good on a platter! :o)

We were unable to attend church because of the rains, but I watched the electronic church... not the same.

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Where do I find the strength to keep going when I'm tempted to give up?

Galatians 6:9 Don;t get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.

Endurance comes from keeping our thoughts on the promise of the harvest, not the problems of the moment.

Philippians 1:6 I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

Philippians 2:12-13 Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

We do not endure through our own strength alone. God is at work in our lives., He gives us strength to keep going when we are exhausted and the reasons to keep believing when we are discouraged.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Encouraging words from 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! Looks like we will have a cloudy day today, which is not good for the air show this weekend at MacDill, but if it brings rain, that is what we need.

I think we have some friendlier squirrels in our trees, now. A little pregnant fuzzy responded to me when I clicked my tongue, so I got a couple peanuts and she went for them. After she was up in the tree, I took some crunchy peanut butter and swabbed it on the knot they like to sit on. The bluejays didn't see it, so she sat up there and ate it all herself! I have a bowl of water out on the wall of our porch and lots of critters come to drink, including a big feral cat! I don't really want him hanging around, but they have to drink, too.

I saw the same gator hanging out on the bank by the weir yesterday at the Park, and a great blue heron standing by the bank hunting for his lunch. Because of the sore foot and cranky knee, I have not been able to walk in the park this week..maybe tomorrow!

Peace In Troubled Times

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding:
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth,
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him.
And delivers them,
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:1-8

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs and have a great weekend!
Amaryllis

Integrity

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! What a windy, cool morning we have! When I stepped outside earlier, the stars were shining, but I didn't linger long because it was quite cool. I heard a prediction that we will have rain and a cold front Sunday. Hmm. March is going out like a lion!

I spotted an alligator on the side of the canal in front of the weir yesterday, and although his tail was all that was visible, it looked like a big one. An egret was looking intently at the water, as usual. I wonder if they ever look up... While I was in the supermarket parking lot I saw the osprey on her nest and also at Sawgrass Elementary. Seems like the ospreys are building nests everywhere this spring! But God is good!

Courage to be Men and Women of Integrity:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in his law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 1:1-6

A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion,
Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance,
He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast; trusting in the Lord.
Psalm 112:5-7

If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my integrity.
Job 31:5-6

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Praying for Patience

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

Yesterday Louis had an early appointment with the audiologist to check the hearing aids, so I did not have time to send the morning email. This has been a good month with no doctor appointments, which means we are pretty healthy physically! Yay!

I had the occasion to have a phone conversation with one of the retired Sawgrass employees and he really vented about the condition of the Park, since everyone left. He was working on the irrigation before he had to retire, and it has never been fixed, so nothing has been watered in months. No one blows the leaves off any more, either and so the roadway is covered.

I know it is declining in appearance, but I still find peace there watching the wildlife, and walking on the boardwalk. Yesterday I watched an egret looking for a fish, and the ibis pecking and very busily looking at the ground. On the way in, Mr. Peacock was proudly displaying his tail feathers for a couple of peahens who were nearby. God is good!

From the little book God's Promises for Men (actually they are for everyone)

God listens to us when we pray for patience:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to each, patient.
2 Timothy 2:24

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 12:1

For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.
Romans 15:3-5

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Happy Birthday, Gil!

My Morning Prayer

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! It seems that a "cold front" is coming through with the clouds and cooler wind blowing...must be a last of the cool air before summer, since this is spring already. :o)

I was able to take a nice walk Saturday morning and enjoyed getting out fairly early. I stopped at the gator spot and watched as Mama popped up out of the water, and then stopped at the new gator nest, but saw no activity. After walking to the tower, I was looking for maybe an osprey, but instead, saw something I had never seen before. A banded kingfisher swooped over the water and hovered for several seconds over the lake!! I was so excited! I have seen smaller kingfishers, but never a banded one hovering. God is good! Then, on the way back, I stopped again to check out Mama gator, and there was a baby! I only saw one, but it was wiggling under a bank.

When I came home, I checked in my bird book and, sure enough, banded kingfishers do hover! There was an illustration of one doing just that! I really was blessed!

I thought I would send a copy of My Morning Prayer again, which I pray every day; a good way to start the week...

"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