Good afternoon, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! The Lord has already given us this day and it is extremely warm!! We haven't had any rain in about a week, but the grass is still growing and the toadstools are popping up in the yard. There was a very peculiar one I noticed yesterday in the front yard...very large and orangeish brown on top with a yellow stem. Apparently the squirrels
Find it tasty, because half of it was gone with a squirrel nearby, flicking his tail!
David came to mow the yard this morning, so with one thing and another,I couldn't find time to sit down and type, but wanted to pass this on from the Promise Bible NLT:
Where do we find confidence for every day?
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation-so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger-so why should I tremble?
Psalm 121:8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Many of the greatest athletes say that their real contest is a mental, not a physical one. It's the same way in our spiritual life. Our confidence comes not from looking around at our physical circumstances, but from looking to God
Continued tomorrow...
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Give me a Dream
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, in the very warm air, the full moon I saw yesterday is already waning, and was misty high in the southeast. But, as usual, the birds were already up and singing. No sleepy heads there!
I saw Mama osprey feeding her babe high on a light pole in the Publix parking lot. Already the trash from the nest is scattered all over the area below the nest, but no one seems to mind. Most people do not look up to see the birds, anyway. Busy people going about their own lives! I did not get out until evening after Brian came to stay with his Dad, because it is too hot for me to take Louis out yet, and his back is still very sore. Bur, thank God, no broken bones from his fall! God is good!
Give Me a Dream
Father,
Once I had such big dreams-so much anticipation of the future,
Now no shimmering horizon beckons me; my days are lack-lustre.
I see so little of lasting value in the daily round.
Where is your plan for my life?
You have told us that without vision, we men perish.
So, Father in heaven, knowing that I can ask in confidence
for what is Your expressed will to give me, I ask you
to deposit in my mind and heart that particular dream
the special vision You have for my life.
And along with the dream, will You give me whatever graces,
patience, and stamina it takes to see the dream
through to fruition?
I sense this may involve adventures I have not bargained for.
But I want to trust you
enough to follow even if You lead along new paths.
I admit to liking some of my ruts,
But I know that habit patterns that seem like cozy nests from
the inside,
from your vantage point
may be prison cells.
Lord,If you have to break down
any prisons of mine
before I can see the stars and catch the vision,
then, Lord begin the process now.
In joyous expectation,
Amen
-Catherine Marshall
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I saw Mama osprey feeding her babe high on a light pole in the Publix parking lot. Already the trash from the nest is scattered all over the area below the nest, but no one seems to mind. Most people do not look up to see the birds, anyway. Busy people going about their own lives! I did not get out until evening after Brian came to stay with his Dad, because it is too hot for me to take Louis out yet, and his back is still very sore. Bur, thank God, no broken bones from his fall! God is good!
Give Me a Dream
Father,
Once I had such big dreams-so much anticipation of the future,
Now no shimmering horizon beckons me; my days are lack-lustre.
I see so little of lasting value in the daily round.
Where is your plan for my life?
You have told us that without vision, we men perish.
So, Father in heaven, knowing that I can ask in confidence
for what is Your expressed will to give me, I ask you
to deposit in my mind and heart that particular dream
the special vision You have for my life.
And along with the dream, will You give me whatever graces,
patience, and stamina it takes to see the dream
through to fruition?
I sense this may involve adventures I have not bargained for.
But I want to trust you
enough to follow even if You lead along new paths.
I admit to liking some of my ruts,
But I know that habit patterns that seem like cozy nests from
the inside,
from your vantage point
may be prison cells.
Lord,If you have to break down
any prisons of mine
before I can see the stars and catch the vision,
then, Lord begin the process now.
In joyous expectation,
Amen
-Catherine Marshall
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Holy Hush
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 was really surprised when I stepped outside this morning, and saw the full moon! I had not been able to see the moon for a couple weeks, because of clouds, so this was really pretty. I also saw the fat frog on the porch, who is responsible for leaving his calling card in front of the door the past week. Those bugs flitting around the light must be pretty tasty!
Louis seems to be doing better, except for a very sore muscle in his back which makes it difficult for him to move out of his chair. His wound is healing nicely, but he does not know what happened to make him hurt. Sometimes that is good. It hasn't affected his appetite, though! He still likes to eat! And I do, too. God is good!
From the book Quiet Moments with God:
You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15
All is still as a man sits at his dining room table, allowing the pages of a well-worn Bible to slip slowly through his fingers and basking in the peace of the moment. The pages have a comfortable feel, and the soft plop they make as they fall barely disturbs the quiet. Early morning always brings with it a hush of holiness for him. In his mind's eye he remembers another such morning.
The new dawn air is tangy and sharp as he and his brother turn onto a gravel road bordered by wheat fields. Early in the growing season the wheat is about two feet high and brilliant green. Suddenly the boy catches his breath. From the edge of the wheat field, a ring necked pleasant comes into view just as a bright ray of sunshine creates a natural spotlight. as if showing off for God himself, the pheasant stops and strikes a pose. (this reminds me of the peacocks outside Sawgrass)
Time stands still, sound ceases, and God paints an image on the young boy's mind that will remain for a lifetime. The beautiful hues of the pheasant, with its shining white collar glistening in the sunshine against the vivid green of the wheat remain sharply etched in his memory. Whenever he relives that day, he experiences anew the presence of God and a supernatural sense of contentment. Slowly the memory recedes, but the presence of God remains.
Sir Thomas Brown said, "Nature is the art of God."
All around us are awesome reminders of a big God who created everything in a matter of days. Isn't it great to know the Artist firsthand?
When God makes his presence felt through us, we are like the burning bush. Moses never took any heed what sort of bush it was--He only saw the brightness of the Lord.
George Eliot
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Louis seems to be doing better, except for a very sore muscle in his back which makes it difficult for him to move out of his chair. His wound is healing nicely, but he does not know what happened to make him hurt. Sometimes that is good. It hasn't affected his appetite, though! He still likes to eat! And I do, too. God is good!
From the book Quiet Moments with God:
You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15
All is still as a man sits at his dining room table, allowing the pages of a well-worn Bible to slip slowly through his fingers and basking in the peace of the moment. The pages have a comfortable feel, and the soft plop they make as they fall barely disturbs the quiet. Early morning always brings with it a hush of holiness for him. In his mind's eye he remembers another such morning.
The new dawn air is tangy and sharp as he and his brother turn onto a gravel road bordered by wheat fields. Early in the growing season the wheat is about two feet high and brilliant green. Suddenly the boy catches his breath. From the edge of the wheat field, a ring necked pleasant comes into view just as a bright ray of sunshine creates a natural spotlight. as if showing off for God himself, the pheasant stops and strikes a pose. (this reminds me of the peacocks outside Sawgrass)
Time stands still, sound ceases, and God paints an image on the young boy's mind that will remain for a lifetime. The beautiful hues of the pheasant, with its shining white collar glistening in the sunshine against the vivid green of the wheat remain sharply etched in his memory. Whenever he relives that day, he experiences anew the presence of God and a supernatural sense of contentment. Slowly the memory recedes, but the presence of God remains.
Sir Thomas Brown said, "Nature is the art of God."
All around us are awesome reminders of a big God who created everything in a matter of days. Isn't it great to know the Artist firsthand?
When God makes his presence felt through us, we are like the burning bush. Moses never took any heed what sort of bush it was--He only saw the brightness of the Lord.
George Eliot
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, June 8, 2009
Time
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 air was moist and not much cooler than last night, but all the birds were up and singing, and squirrels waste no time in climbing, running, leaping and digging for acorns and whatever else they eat! I think squirrels are busier than ants!
What a day we had Saturday! It started off okay, with me looking forward to going to a retirement celebration, but God had other plans. As I came home from errands, Louis lost his balance while getting out of the van, and stumbled backward down the driveway, until he fell flat on his back on the driveway, smacking his head on the concrete. Our friend and neighbor, saw it from her window and came rushing over and held a thick towel on his head, while I called 911 and got the paramedics on the way. Louis kept trying to get up, and was talking to the medics while I answered questions. They finally got him ready to go the the ER, while Brian and I got in the van and drove to Bayfront. Our wait was only three and a half hours while they did a CTscan and xrayed his back. No damage there, thank God! He's pretty tough. He now has five blue stitches in the back of his head and a very sore back, but he is able to walk with the walker and pretty much get around with pain. I am so thankful for our neighbor, Cheryl, and for the kind nurses at Bayfront. God is Good!
I did go through the Park, though, and was very disappointed to see how high the weeds and grass have grown, since it was last mown who knows when. It does not look like the same park where I have been walking for over twenty years. Very sad. People still come and enjoy the picnics and the boardwalk and the walking their dogs. It is still free and that is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I best use time?
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 There is a time for everything; a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to rebuild. A time to cry and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. a time to be quiet and a time to speak up. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. What do people really get for all their hard work? I have thought about this in connection with the various kinds of work God has given people to do. God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.
Valuing time begins with seeing it from God's perspective. When we do this, we learn that there is always time for accomplishing God's plans for our lives.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
What a day we had Saturday! It started off okay, with me looking forward to going to a retirement celebration, but God had other plans. As I came home from errands, Louis lost his balance while getting out of the van, and stumbled backward down the driveway, until he fell flat on his back on the driveway, smacking his head on the concrete. Our friend and neighbor, saw it from her window and came rushing over and held a thick towel on his head, while I called 911 and got the paramedics on the way. Louis kept trying to get up, and was talking to the medics while I answered questions. They finally got him ready to go the the ER, while Brian and I got in the van and drove to Bayfront. Our wait was only three and a half hours while they did a CTscan and xrayed his back. No damage there, thank God! He's pretty tough. He now has five blue stitches in the back of his head and a very sore back, but he is able to walk with the walker and pretty much get around with pain. I am so thankful for our neighbor, Cheryl, and for the kind nurses at Bayfront. God is Good!
I did go through the Park, though, and was very disappointed to see how high the weeds and grass have grown, since it was last mown who knows when. It does not look like the same park where I have been walking for over twenty years. Very sad. People still come and enjoy the picnics and the boardwalk and the walking their dogs. It is still free and that is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
How can I best use time?
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 There is a time for everything; a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to rebuild. A time to cry and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. a time to be quiet and a time to speak up. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. What do people really get for all their hard work? I have thought about this in connection with the various kinds of work God has given people to do. God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.
Valuing time begins with seeing it from God's perspective. When we do this, we learn that there is always time for accomplishing God's plans for our lives.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, June 5, 2009
Hope
Good mid morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! David was here mowing this morning, so I was delayed in getting to the PC. It has been raining slightly and is nice and cloudy, so that makes the grass grow even faster. But David does a good job. We are blessed to have him.
Yesterday we went to Sawgrass, where I hoped to see Francia for her next to last day. Since she was not there yet, I went ahead and took my walk, stopped to see Mama gator at her usual spot beside the first shelter, and then on to the tower, where I watched an osprey soaring round and round over the lake. I was hoping to see it hover, and , sure enough, he hovered twice. I am always excited when I see one hover.
So I came on back and saw Francia with Mark W., one of the former staff, They were wheeling out a large aquarium with a large snake in it. Mark put it in the back of his truck to care for it until Francia needs it again. I gave her a retirement card and told her she would be missed. She had an emotional day the day before, cleaning out her desk and taking a last walk around the park. Things are ever changing, but God never changes. God is good!
A short benediction today from one of my favorite verses:
Romans 15:13 NKJV
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday we went to Sawgrass, where I hoped to see Francia for her next to last day. Since she was not there yet, I went ahead and took my walk, stopped to see Mama gator at her usual spot beside the first shelter, and then on to the tower, where I watched an osprey soaring round and round over the lake. I was hoping to see it hover, and , sure enough, he hovered twice. I am always excited when I see one hover.
So I came on back and saw Francia with Mark W., one of the former staff, They were wheeling out a large aquarium with a large snake in it. Mark put it in the back of his truck to care for it until Francia needs it again. I gave her a retirement card and told her she would be missed. She had an emotional day the day before, cleaning out her desk and taking a last walk around the park. Things are ever changing, but God never changes. God is good!
A short benediction today from one of my favorite verses:
Romans 15:13 NKJV
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Patience
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 before dawn this morning, I saw lightning in the southeast and a little later, a dark cloud was hanging right over our house and sprinkled a little, but now the sun is shining, the wind is blowing and it looks like a wonderful day ahead! God is good!
We had a good rain last night and that helps the grass to grow, so it will probably need mowing again next week I drove through the park yesterday afternoon...the first time we were out..and it still has not been mowed, but , at least, it is green. Francia was busy packing up the last of her things, so no one will be at the park full time during the summer. But we saw a beautiful great white heron busy preening and getting ready for fishing, and an anhinga was drying out on a dead tree, so life goes on.
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Where do I find the resources to be patient?
Galatians 5:22 When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
The Holy Spirit produces patience in our lives. As we relax and trust in him, we release our need to control life's circumstances.
We also pray that you will strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy.
Prayer infuses patience into our lives. When we admit a need in prayer, the Lord begins to meet that need.
Psalm 37:34 Don't be impatient for the Lord to act! Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you, giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.
Patience comes from simply trusting God day by day. Even when we don't think we can last very long, Christ gives us the strength to "travel steadily." Our commitments to faith and obedience will keep us on God's path for longer than we thought possible.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving. joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We had a good rain last night and that helps the grass to grow, so it will probably need mowing again next week I drove through the park yesterday afternoon...the first time we were out..and it still has not been mowed, but , at least, it is green. Francia was busy packing up the last of her things, so no one will be at the park full time during the summer. But we saw a beautiful great white heron busy preening and getting ready for fishing, and an anhinga was drying out on a dead tree, so life goes on.
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Where do I find the resources to be patient?
Galatians 5:22 When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
The Holy Spirit produces patience in our lives. As we relax and trust in him, we release our need to control life's circumstances.
We also pray that you will strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy.
Prayer infuses patience into our lives. When we admit a need in prayer, the Lord begins to meet that need.
Psalm 37:34 Don't be impatient for the Lord to act! Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you, giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.
Patience comes from simply trusting God day by day. Even when we don't think we can last very long, Christ gives us the strength to "travel steadily." Our commitments to faith and obedience will keep us on God's path for longer than we thought possible.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving. joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
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! While the sun is shining brightly now, last night we had a nice steady rain, but not for long. I noticed a pink sunrise when I stepped outside earlier. Just gorgeous!
Looks like the messy squirrels are building a nest in our oaks. Fresh green twigs are all over where they have trimmed them. I will have the job of picking them up, which I did yesterday. Also, I was hoping that the Park would be mowed and neat again, but not so. The grass and weeds are long as usual, so I don't know what the mowers did yesterday. But... the squirrels, egrets and herons do not mind how high the grass is. They carry on with their busyness and take care of feeding themselves. God is good!
We also saw a peacock lying flat on the grass by the street, looking very comfy. His long tail feathers were gleaming in the sun. Guess he was tired! :o)
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.
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 Book 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.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Looks like the messy squirrels are building a nest in our oaks. Fresh green twigs are all over where they have trimmed them. I will have the job of picking them up, which I did yesterday. Also, I was hoping that the Park would be mowed and neat again, but not so. The grass and weeds are long as usual, so I don't know what the mowers did yesterday. But... the squirrels, egrets and herons do not mind how high the grass is. They carry on with their busyness and take care of feeding themselves. God is good!
We also saw a peacock lying flat on the grass by the street, looking very comfy. His long tail feathers were gleaming in the sun. Guess he was tired! :o)
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.
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 Book 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.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)