Friday, July 2, 2010

Psoaring thru Psalm 146

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! We have had rain all morning, but my friend, my yardman came and mowed and edges in the sprinkle. He also trimmed the azaleas, which look much better.
However, before he left, I listened to his diatribe on why he doesn't believe in God. I told him I still pray for him, and he thinks that is OK, but he won't change his mind. He was raised in an ungodly home with sisters who have been in trouble with the law and a brother who is a drinker, so , although he was raised in a Catholic church, he still is convinced that he can get to heaven, (if there is one) he says, because he is a good person. Sigh. I have known him for about ten years or more, but I am not giving up on him! He still doesn't mind if I pray for him...says he is covering all his bases. Pray for him. His name is Dave.

I felt ambitious yesterday, so I vacuumed the house and mopped the kitchen floor, then ran a few errands and visited Publix, getting more than I went in for. Lots of cakes, decorated with red, white and blue, and cookies, the same and lots of picnic stuff prominently displayed. There was a short checkout line which I was waiting in, when an assistant mgr. opened up a register for me, so shopping really is a pleasure at Publix!

I went on to Sawgrass and saw very few people there, but it was shady and cool, so I parked and drank my bottle of water, (Thanks, Cheryl) I saw an egret looking for a tasty fish, but not much else. The city mowers were mowing around Lynch Lake near my house and lots of ibis were pecking in the newly mown grass and a couple of moorhens were walking on it, also. Mowing must stir up the bugs. God is good!

from The Message

Psalm 146
Hallelujah!
O my soul, praise God!
All my life long I'll praise God,
singing songs to my God as long
as I live.

Don't put your life in the hands of experts
who know nothing of life, of salvation life.
Mere humans don't have what it takes,
when they die, their projects die with them.
Instead, get help from the God of Jacob,
Put your hope in God and know real blessing!

God made sky and soil,
sea and the fish in it.
He always does what he says--
he defends the wronged,
he feeds the hungry.
God frees prisoners--
he gives sight to the blind,
he lifts up the fallen.
God loves good people, protects strangers,
takes the side of widows and orphans,
but makes short work of the wicked.

God's in charge---always.
Zion's God is God for good!
Hallelujah!

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis Have a happy and safe fourth of July weekend!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Change

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, I will try a repeat of yesterday's email that did not go through and hope the computer works the way it is supposed to.

We had more rain yesterday evening and night, so everything is soaked and weird looking toadstool are popping up in the yard. That's how wet it is. Can't complain, though, because now the water level is up where it should be and for once we do not have a drought.

The sky is overcast again today, so we may get more rain this morning, but I finished all my running around yesterday, so let it rain!

To continue the saga of the gecko; A friend volunteered to come over and catch it for me, but Mr. Gecko had decided to hide someplace other than the chair, so we gave up. Then Brian Sanford came over later to check out some repair work that needed done, and meanwhile, I spied the gecko on the windowsill watching me. When I mentioned it to Brian, the chase was on! He took it as a challenge and chased the gecko down the wall, on the floor, and behind the large sofa. Out came the sofa from the wall , moving a lamp and a basket and Mr. Gecko was captured and put outside, where he belonged. Score one for Brian and zero for gecko! My hero! It is good not to have the gecko laughing at me from the chair, anymore. :o)

I went to the park yesterday and everything was very quiet and still and wet. The canal will soon be totally filled with Hydrilla, which is not a good thing, so we will see how long it takes to clean it out. But it is still a peaceful place to be and walk. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Where can I find security and hope in the midst of tumult and change?

Lamentations 5:19 Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation.

Malachi 3:6 I am the Lord and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed.

James 1:17 Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes for casts shifting shadows.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Both our security and our hope are rooted in God's unchanging character. People will make promises one day but disappoint us the next. Sin or circumstances beyond their control prevent them from keeping their promises. God's faithfulness and love, however, are not subject to the fluctuations of time, space, or human mortality. We will never suffer because of God's fickle whims, irrational mood swings, or inability to handle the circumstances.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

This morning

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,

Due to a computer glitch only half of the daily gator bytes message was sent this morning, Since I don't save these and type as I go, I will try to remember what i wrote about the saga of the gecko and send it again tomorrow.

Love and hugs,
amaryllis

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Habits

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! We had a good rainstorm last night, so everything is still wet outside this morning. Overcast already this morning, so maybe more rain is in store for us, which is good.

Well, I had a surprise when I opened the front door this morning. There was a large possum sniffing all around the front porch, not paying any attention to me. I told him to buzz off and he headed straight across the street to my neighbor's house, I have a feeling there is a colony of them around here, because they have been seen walking on the wires between houses, and up in our oak tree several months ago. UGh! They look like big rats, which I guess they are.

And speaking of wildlife, the gecko or lizard is still on my living room chair. In fact, he is getting pretty feisty. Last night he was perched on top of the chair looking at me, until I walked over to try to catch him and he zoomed back down and hid. Then when I sat on the couch to read the paper, there he was peeking out at me on the side of the chair, just like he was daring me to catch him. I just walked by the chair on my way to the computer and there he was, peeking out from the side again. If he stays much longer, he will expire from lack of food and water, but it's his own fault for being too frisky.

My big adventure yesterday was a trip to Walmart. It is always interesting to see the different people there, including screaming babies. I feel their pain from shopping. Not that is is not a bad experience, just not my favorite thing to do. they have rearranged their produce section so it looks much larger. I bought some really sweet peaches and their bananas were just 49 cents a pound, I drove through the park on my way home and my, it is really overgrown from all the rain and the canal is full of hydrilla, Guess there is no one there to get in a boat and spray with all the lay-offs. Oh, well, God is on His Throne and He is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

How can God help me deal with bad habits?

Romans 8:5,6 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.

God has given us the Holy Spirit to help make us holy. While victory does not come immediately, we will progress as we fill our minds and hearts with spiritual truth and the promises of God.

Romans 6:12-14 Do not let sin control the way you live, do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God's grace.

One of Satan's great lies is that we are victims who have no power to resist sin. the world teaches us that heredity, environment, and circumstance excuse us from responsibility. But God is more powerful than anything that seeks to control us. When we call upon his power through prayer and the support of fellow believers, God breaks our chains and set us free.

How can God help me cultivate good habits?

1 Timothy 4:7-8 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.

1 Corinthians 9:25 All athletes practice strict self-control. The do it ot win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

Godly habits--such as reading the Bible, praying and giving our time and money in service--give us spiritual stamina, purpose and direction for our lives. they also help us keep our eyes on the eternal prize.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Monday, June 28, 2010

Psoaring thru Psalm 121

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, the wind is blowing the trees and it looks like a beautiful but hot, as usual, day is here.

My weekend was a bit unusual for me. I had lunch with some dear friends on Friday, with lots of laughter and fun at the Olive Garden. "(when you're here you're family") and brought home some soup which I had enjoyed for lunch.

Then Saturday, Brian and I drove to Orlando to attend the funeral service for my sister-in-law. It was definitely different than the church memorials I have been privileged to attend. While Ruth was a believer, her two sons are not, and were civil to each other, but not agreeing on much of anything. The service was held in the very large funeral home that had a snack bar nook with Starbucks coffees, (Aren't they everywhere) all free for those with services there. We took the free water bottles.

The preacher did the best he could under the circumstances, not knowing Ruth or her family personally. He did read some scripture, though and read some quotations and then asked for people to speak who wanted to remember Ruth. All in all, I think it satisfied the sons and their family. Gary(the son) lost his wife a few years ago, leaving him twin girls and a son to raise, which he has done very well. They are really into soccer. Gary's brother has a wife but no kids and lost his job a couple years ago. I was chosen by God to listen to his problems...this in the midst of the gathering at Ruth's old house. Difficult to hear over the noise of all the conversation, but , anyway, tried to offer the best advice I could, which was for them both to get together sometime with a counselor and iron out their differences before a third party. Life's too short for feuds between brothers. I will keep praying for them, but they live some distance apart, so I can only hope.

Well, this is probably more information than anyone really wanted to hear, but it was an unusual weekend, as I said.

I did enjoy the church service yesterday, which was a DVD of Pastor Rick's daughter's wedding and his sermon to them. It was funny and poignant and I was teary eyed at some points. God is good!

From the Message.

Psalm 121
I look up to the mountains,
does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's
Guardian will never doze or sleep.

God's your Guardian
right at your side to protect you--
shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.

God guards you from every evil,
He guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return.
He guards you now, he guards you always.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Friday, June 25, 2010

Psoaring thru Psalm 112

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 had to run some errands yesterday, which involved getting out of the car into the very hot sun. Wow! What heat! I slather on #49 sun block each day because I just had another pre-cancerous spot removed, so I try to be careful. I also take a bottle of water with me whenever I leave home.

I drove through the park to see everything simmering in the bright sun, but the trees shade the drive into the park, and the shade is thick and cool all around. I didn't see many people around and no anhingas again, but passed a beautiful crape myrtle bush, just covered with white blossoms. We saw beautiful ones in Ala. and GA last week, but ours are just as pretty here.
Today I am going out to lunch with some dear friends before they leave for MIchigan for about five weeks. It will be good to catch up with them. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 112

Happy are those who fear the Lord.
Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands.
Their children will be successful everywhere.
An entire generation of godly people
will be blessed.
they themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will never be forgotten.
When darkness overtakes the godly. light
will come bursting in.
They are generous , compassionate,
and righteous.
All goes well for those who are generous,
who lend freely and conduct their business fairly.
Such people will not be overcome by evil
circumstances.
Those who are righteous will be
long remembered.
They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care
for them.
They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
They give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will never be forgotten.
They will have influence and honor.
The wicked will be infuriated when they
see this.
They will grind their teeth in anger,
They will slink away, their hopes Thwarted.

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

Thursday, June 24, 2010

A fight to the finish

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! Already the sun is shining, and the clouds white against the blue sky, the breeze is blowing and God is in control! It isn't that I got up late, because I rolled out of bed at 6; I just showered, ate breakfast and read my emails.

Btw, in case anyone is interested, I had French toast with fresh peaches and banana for breakfast. First time in a long time. It's usually oatmeal with cranberries, cinnamon and banana. A little change is good once in a while. :o)

I was overjoyed to get my van out of the repair shop yesterday! Not so overjoyed at the price, but it's only money, right? It's hard to get along without a car. I have a friend who gave up driving, and she pays someone to take her shopping, and usually takes a cab to the doctor appointments, so one way or another you have to pay. Well, God always provides for my needs, abundantly!

I saw a small egret at the side of the canal at the Park yesterday, but other than squirrels, no other critters. It had just rained and everything was damp and still and very green. I noticed the grass is growing back in clumps in front of the house on the property.There is a Sheriff's deputy living there now. The grass had been sprayed and was dead for months, but now they are mowing it again. I guess the original purpose was to avoid mowing. Didn't work. But God is good!

From The Message:

Ephesians 6

And that about wraps it up. God is strong and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own., Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued. so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

And don't forget to pray for us. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out....

Good-bye, friends. Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis