More stress

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! The sun is shining brightly this morning, but WOW, what a storm last night! I had just gotten to sleep when the thunder woke me up and then the lightning flashing and flashing! I even covered my eyes, but I could still see it! I heard the wind pick up and the rain coming down really hard and blowing! I just stayed in bed and prayed for God to keep the house safe!

After a quiet day, when all we did was get haircuts, it was quite an ending. I am sure the park got much needed watering, so the weeds can grow even higher. We did see a strip mowed along the road, but nothing else. But the birds and squirrels don't mind because they can find food most any place. Not many people were in the park when we went just before noon, but the water looked peaceful and the egrets were keeping vigilant watch for lunch. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

What do we learn from stress?

Stress exposes our human limitations so that we can better realize God's limitless power and love.

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.

We keep going because God has promised a rich harvest in His perfect time.

Romans 5:3-4 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectations of salvation.

James 1:2-4 Dear Brothers and Sisters, wheneveer 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.

While stress exposes our true character, it also helps develop our true character. Even when we fall short of the mark, God has promised to work within us, shaping us into the image of Christ.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Stress

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 sky was just turning a soft pastel peach , which was a pretty sight since the rest of the sky was gray. The fat frog that hangs out under the light was hopping very fast across the driveway, so I followed him and he went straight for the A/C where he ducked under and just sat. Apparently it is cool and damp under there.

We drove through the Park yesterday on our way for a brief outing, and not many people were walking...most staying indoors, I guess, through the hot days. The usual white egret was in the same place, watching for an unwary fish to swim along, hoping for lunch. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Should I be surprised by the stress of lift?

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.

Jesus warned us to expect stress. This world is filled with trials and sorrows that generate stress in our lives., Christ gives us lasting peace because his power and grace are able to overcome all sources of stress in our lives.

What can I do to find relief from stress and anxiety?

Isaiah 41:10 Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

We can turn from fear and anxiety to faith and peace. God promises to supply the power to get us through the hard times.

Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus said, "Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls."

Resting in Christ breaks the hold of stress. When we are yoked together in service to him, we are free from the unrealistic and destructive expectations that can overwhelm us. Jesus' humility and gentleness overcome every conflict and stress in this life.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Closing the door

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, friends, I think global warming is a reality. I heard the weather report that this is the warmest morning EVER for this time of day. When I stepped outside into the sauna earlier, a flock of ibises were pecking right beside the driveway, and paid no attention to me, but kept their heads down and feet moving. Two squirrels were racing up and down the oak tree and ran across the street right in front of a wandering ibis. Then two neighbors, one right behind the other, came by on their bikes, and waved. One of them was Mr. Soon. I believe he is from Cambodia. God is good!

The park was simmering in the heat yesterday and the mower is still sitting in the parking lot, so the weeds are getting very high. The great white heron was not bothered by the heat, however, and was sitting on a fence preening its pretty feathers! I also saw the very ancient gopher tortoise, munching on the grass. Always something to see!

From the book Quiet Moments with God for Teachers:

Hebrews 6:11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure."

Michelle looked around her office and felt a sigh rise from the depths of her soul. She had worked so hard for all of this and had put so many hours into her vision, especially at the beginning, when her company had only been a dream and her energy was committed to making the dream come true. Someone else had appreciated her creativity--a bigger, larger company that had bought her out in a forceful merger. Now all that was once hers belonged to an unseen face. It was like losing a family member.

...She was tempted to throw all her energy into a new pursuit, but she also knew that she had a commitment to see this old one to its end. It was a matter of integrity. The new company would never know if she spent her time-their time now- on this new pursuit, but she would know, and her employees would know. No, when she finally handed this company over, she would do so knowing that she had done her best to the very end.

Change takes place in all of our lives. One season ends, and another begins. We may say good-bye to a job, a relationship, a town, or a dream. With each ending, we have a choice. We can walk away without looking back, ignoring the closure and attention that's needed, or we can take the time to finish well-to tie up loose ends, to say our good-byes, to work hard right to the end. Only then can we know we have closed out the old chapter with integrity.

Is there an area of your life that needs attention today? Something that needs to be finished well? Take a moment and ask God to help you close the door. Then you can face your new beginning with confidence.

The crossroads are down here. Which way to pull the rein? The left brings you but loss, the right nothing but gain.
Angelus Silesius

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Wisdom

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 stepped outside this morning and found a large limb had fallen on the ground during the night. I picked it up and carried it to the dumpster, but it is too long for me to break up, so I will wait for David to come, next time he mows.

Also, there is an anole that has taken up residence near our mailbox and light. They are strange creatures, almost transparent and they wiggle when they walk, instead of being swift like regular lizards. They used to lay eggs in the mailbox once in a whle, but haven't for ages.

We went to the park yesterday and I was hopeful to find it mowed, because a large mower had been sitting in the parking lot, but wherever it mowed, it wasn't at Sawgrass. Still a pretty park, quiet and peaceful. God is good!

What are the benefits of wisdom?

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Today's Verse : Ephesians 1:17

Since I was without a PC yesterday, I thought this Heartlight thought might speak to some of you, instead of "A walk through the Park."

Thanks to the guys who set me up with another PC!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: HEARTLIGHT <editor@heartlight.org>
Date: Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 3:00 AM
Subject: Today's Verse : Ephesians 1:17
To: todaysverse@maillists.heartlight.org


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\ / TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
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June 17, 2009

VERSE:
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation,
so that you may know him better.

-- Ephesians 1:17
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Ephesians+1:17+

THOUGHT:
One of the best things we can pray for each other, and for
ourselves, is that we might better know God. The Holy Spirit helps
us better know God (1 Cor. 2), worship God (John 4), and speak to
God (Rom. 8). Let's ask God to use his Spirit to help us know him,
not just know about him. God is not only the Almighty Creator of
all things; he is also our Father who cares about us deeply.

PRAYER:
Holy Father, God of all mystery and glory, please open my mind
and heart to know you better through the presence of your Holy
Spirit within me. Please bless my physical and spiritual family
with insight and illumination about you, your love, and your glory.
We want to know you more fully and reflect your character and grace
more completely. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20090617

Today's Verse is also available in:
PORTUGUESE - http://www.iluminalma.com.br/dph/4/0617.html
SPANISH - http://www.laluzdelalma.com/vdh/4/0617.html

What shape are you in?

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! Wow! Was it hot yesterday and today promises to be the same! We did not leave the house all day because of medications that caution not to get too warm. Thank God for air conditioning!

However, from my part of the world, I can see squirrels playing around the trees and chasing each other, and I walked all around the house noticing that it really needs cleaning outside. Amazing how dirty and full of webs a house can get! Better to stay inside and forget about the outside! :o) But God is good and we are thankful!

From Quiet Moments with God:

The inward man is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV

Clay pots of all shapes and sizes were valuable tools in ancient households. Large jars were used to store water and olive oil; jugs were used to carry water; and small terra-cotta vials held perfume.

The potters who supplied these much needed pots were important to the economic life of ancient villages. A modern potter described her craft like this:

Both my hands shaped this pot. And, the place where it actually forms is a place of tension between the pressure applied from the outside and pressure of the hand on the inside. That's the way my life has been. Sadness and death and misfortune and the love of friends and all the things that happened to me that I didn't even choose. All of that influenced my life. But, there are things I believe in about myself, my faith in God and the love of some friends tht worked on the insides of me. My life, like this pot, is the result of what happened on the outside and what was going on inside of me . Life, like this pot, comes to be in places of tension.

Throughout the day we may be buffeted by stress, pulled apart by responsibilities, and pressed by challenges that come at us from the outside. Without strength of spirit on the inside, those difficulties will cause us to collapse under the external pressure.

During this break, feed your spirit with Scripture. This will keep you strong, renewed, and restored within. You can respond with inner strength and creativity to what could otherwise defeat you.

Remember your inner life gives you the strength you need to become a useful vessel in the household of God.

Renew thyself completely each day.
Do it again and again and forever again.
Confucius

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

Love and hugs,
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! The sun is shining and the birds are singing and when I stepped outside a big, fat frog was sitting on the porch to greet me. I think he was fat from all the bugs the light was attracting.

Well, I am sure lots of children and their parents are up and getting ready for VBS. We had a good preview yesterday in church and it promises to be a good one. Lots of singing, craft making and fun! We had a good, quiet afternoon, and I was happy to be able to get Louis to church, and a big help from one of our friends who pushed him all the way to his seat, and then out to the car when church was over. More help from the Family of God! God is good!

We drove through the Park, but not many people were there. Winter visitors have gone home, but there are always dog walkers and people who don't mind the heat, taking walks, I saw the ever vigilant great white heron, watching the water for his lunch and the anhingas drying their wings. Also, I was pleased to see the very large gopher tortoise, lumbering his way along in his special place behind the fence. He is very old.

From the little God's Promises Book:

God freely gives to Men

Courage to be men 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

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis