Prayer and Action

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! More sunshine and blue skies this morning, but I think it rained a little last night..at least, the porch was wet. I can't believe I slept so late this morning...didn't roll out of bed until after seven. That's late for me! Fortunately, I have nothing except laundry scheduled this morning, so the day belongs to the Lord to tell me what to do.

Yesterday, after some errands I went to the Park and was delighted to see the gopher tortoise out of his usual place. I had not seen him in a month or so, but there he was climbing out of a shallow place in the trees about to cross the road in the circle drive. He seemed determined to go wherever he was headed, but I was careful to give him room. I also saw an egret all hunched up, looking cold, but I knew it couldn't possibly be, as the temp. was in the eighties. Actually, it was a very pleasant day..high humidity, but cooler. Today will probably be a lot warmer because of the sun .But, God is always good!

From Hymns for the Family of God:

God is not a personage who orders us to prostrate ourselves before Him
-a radically false position
but one who says:
" Stand up,
here us my task for you;
take it and get on with it."

God does not require incense from us;
what He does require
is that we should listen and take action-
the true response of love.

God did not stop speaking two thousand years ago.
He speaks to you personally today
every time an inward voice asks you to do a kind or generous deed
or to suffer for the sake of someone else.

It is to you that God speaks at this moment,
and it is through you that He speaks when He inspires you to do some service.
Be brave enough to listen at first hand to what God says to you.
John W. Harvey and Christina Yates

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Night Watch

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! It looks to me like the bright, shiny glow I see outside must be the SUN! What a joy to see the sun after several days of cloudy gloom. I am not complaining about the rain, but we seem to be saturated now, and could use a little drying out.

I had a good nights sleep for the first time in about a week, The radiation on my nose, stops it up and then I can't breathe too well except through my mouth, and I don't breathe well through it. So, Praise God! I hope this means healing is taking place.

I enjoyed going to the park in the rain yesterday. The teacher is back, but no students yet, and it has been too wet to take the kids for a tour on the boardwalk. She has lots of interesting things in the classroom, though, and they can learn a lot if they listen. It is good to see all the green in the park and the squirrels are always running around getting their acorns and chasing each other up and around the trees.
God is good!

From Quiet Moments with God:

You are my hope, O Lord God. Psalm 71:1 NKJV

Vaclav Havel is a former president of what used to be Czechoslovakia. In 1948, the Communists took power in his country and confiscated his family land holdings. From that time, Havel was part of a defiant underground that opposed the Soviet government.

When the Soviets marched into Prague twenty years later, Havel remained to form a coalition that would be ready to take over then the time was right. He spoke out boldly, writing defiantly against communism. He was put under surveillance and eventually jailed for his activities.

In 1970, several United States senators met with Havel in Czechoslovakia. They brought what they thought would be good news for him. They told him they intended to press for legislation allowing dissidents like him to immigrate to the West. Havel replied by saying he was not interested in going to the West. "What good would that do?" he asked. "Only by staying here and struggling here can we ever hope to change things." Like a watchman in the night, Havel stayed on duty in his country.

Times of trial and struggle often seem like long, dark nights. But doing the right thing--even the hard thing--gives us hope. How do we maintain those long night watches when there seems to be little change in our circumstances?

1. Take one step at a time. Don't attempt to tackle the whole task at once. "A man's steps are directed by the Lord."
(Proverbs 20:24)

2. Keep your struggles in perspective. Separate the mountains from the molehills. "What, then , shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

3.Cultivate the discipline of delayed gratification. "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."( James 1:4 KJV)

4. Learn to recognize the invisible God in the world around you. "By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:27"

Placing your hope in the Lord helps you to do all these things. He will lead you; He will remove your mountains. He will strengthen you, helping you to be patient; and He will open your eyes to His works all around you.

If it were not for hope the heart would break.
English proverb.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Empowering

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, it isn't raining yet, but the sky is overcast, so it probably will rain later on. But that's Ok, because God controls the rain and all the other weather and He will stop it when it is time.

I was thankful that it was only sprinkling yesterday when I had an appointment and didn't have to use my umbrella. But I saw lots of puddles and water everywhere. I have lots of trash and twigs in the yard from the wind that really cleaned out the trees. Since the trees are still dripping a little bit, it's a good excuse not to go out and clean it up. Besides, David, who does the yard, said just leave it and he will do it when he comes to mow.

I am blessed with great friends who help me with most anything I need help with! I drove through the park in the sprinkling rain and looked like the mowers had not finished yet. I saw the big truck and trailer parked back in the maintenance area, so they will probably work again today. No anhingas were airing out wings, because there was no sun to dry them out. I saw the beautiful white egret stalking a fish, though. They are so graceful with their long necks and slow movements! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Ephesians 3:14 When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from the glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love, And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God !By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.
Amen.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Paul's final advice

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 know a lot of people are not rejoicing, since this is the first day of school and voting day and the rain has been pouring down! To be honest, I had a hard time staying awake while praying, because of the sound of rain on the roof and the trees moving in the wind. Good day for staying in bed!

Yesterday, I took the opportunity to get out when the rain stopped for a little bit. I went to Wendy's and got a small Frosty and took it to the Park. Of course, the sprinkles were coming by that time, but I sat in the car and slurped my Frosty and watched a squirrel creep over to a school bus which was parked . Obviously, the squirrel was looking for a handout. Lots of buses were on the streets yesterday, going over their routes, I'm sure.

All was peaceful at the Park, however, and quiet. The mowing crew was in and trimmed all the paths they are supposed to do. so everything looked neater. However, there were fallen branches which had not been picked up, but that is what happens when there is not enough help. At least there won't be a charge for a while for going in the park. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 5:12

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work. And remember to live peaceably with each other.

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else.

Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophesies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God who calls you, is faithful, he will do this.
Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all the brothers and sisters in Christian love.

I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 139

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! It's a wet world out there this morning. I heard a gentle rain falling just about all night , but it looks like blue sky is peeking through and I think it will be a sunshiny very warm day before noon. That's just my prediction, and I am no weatherman. I thought I would have to go through rain to get to church yesterday morning, but just before I was ready to leave, the rain stopped and it was hot and sunshiny by the time church was over.

This morning when I stepped outside, a tiny frog, no bigger than my thumbnail went zipping across the porch! I don't know how those tiny guys move so fast! Speaking of tiny, a baby lizard went wriggling across the bathroom floor yesterday and headed someplace in this bedroom. I am not too happy about that, but who knows where he is now? Anyway, the rain is good. I took a different route back home after running errands the other day and came by Meadowlawn park, A very pretty park, with a flock of ibis and an anhinga stretching his wings out wide to dry. The problem with that park is there is no shade at all, especially over the play equipment. That's probably why the park was empty.

I also went to Sawgrass and saw the weeds getting taller and the grass growing so fast the mowing crew can't keep up with it. Can't complain because we have been through drought and God is supplying our needs now. God is good!

From Psalm 139 NLT:

O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my every thought when far away.

You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me when to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You both precede and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to know!

I can never escape from your spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the place of the dead,
you are there.
If I ride on the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night--
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines on as bright as day,
Darkness and light are both alike to you....

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of
everlasting life.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Discernment

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! It's a beautiful, sunshiny, windless day so far, but the wind usually picks up in the afternoon. We have had no rain for a couple days so the gutter is slowly drying out front

The yard was mowed yesterday, and already the squirrels have made a mess of twigs right in the middle of the front yard. If they are building a nest, it must be a condo, because they have been making the same mess of twigs for over three weeks. Sometimes they can be pests!

I noticed that another maple tree or at least a large part of it, had fallen onto the log, where sometimes the gators and anhingas like to hang out in the canal at the park. The maples can't take too much water and this one was right by the canal, so all that ground is very wet there. I hope that as it decays, the animals will come back to the log. The turtles like to catch some sun there, too.

There seems to be an abundance of butterflies this year. There are always a lot of them at the park flitting around the butterfly gardens. And on my way home, as I pulled into the driveway., a large black one was fluttering in front of the car, so I stopped and watched as it made its erratic flight on around the corner and off to a bush. God made all forms of beauty when He created the earth and all that lives. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

When I am confused, where do I turn for clarity, wisdom, understanding and direction?

James 1:5-8 If you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect an answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.

Psalm 119:125 Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your decrees.

Discernment is the ability to interpret events and to understand the true nature of people and situations. Discernment is an aspect of wisdom. It enables us to see behind the facades that mask the truth. Discernment shows us the way through the maze of options that face us. Like the sun that burns away the fog, discernment cuts through confusion and distractions. Whereas the devil is the "father of lies", God is the father of truth, and he gives discernment to those who seek it.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Seasons

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 sky is blue and the clouds are white and puffy and so far, no rain this morning. Last night the power went off unexpectedly about 7 or 7:30, because no storms were going on and the sky was clear. Of course, I was in the kitchen, the only room without a handy flashlight, so I had to feel my way into the living room where I have a couple flashlights, and then out to the fireplace room to get my Coleman tube lantern. I also decided it was time to open up another Coleman lantern which I hadn't even taken out of the box, so I put that together with batteries. They really put out a good light.

I had called Progress Energy on my cell and the automated voice said it was damage to their equipment and it would take until 11:59 for the power to come back on. So I prayed that it would come back sooner and our faithful God heard. The power came back on two hours later! I was brushing my teeth by lantern light and happened to notice the night light was burning. Big clue that the power was back on! And instead of turning off the lights, I discovered they were blazing , so, even if I had gone on to bed, the light would have gotten me up again. God is good!

I went to the park yesterday during the heat of the day and only saw a couple ibis, and the usual anhinga stretching out his wings. Not many people were out and about in the middle of the day, but the shadows were deep under the oaks. I noticed that the maple trees are already starting to change color. A promise that fall is coming! God is good!

From Quiet Moments with God:

Now with a view to righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 NASB

At a dinner party honoring Albert Einstein, a student asked the great scientist, "What do you actually do as a profession?"
Mr. Einstein said, "I devote myself to the study of physics."

The student then exclaimed, "You mean that you're still studying physics? I finished mine last year."

One of the very real temptations of life is to divide it into seasons and then think of each season as an end within itself. Students may think of the high school diploma as the goal and not relate it to what they want to do with their lives. Graduates may get the jobs of their choice and never consider that other jobs could be in their futures.

How often have you seen a young man and woman become engaged to be married, then spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours preparing for the wedding, with little or no preparation for the years of marriage ahead? Or, the couple may look forward with great anticipation to the birth of a child, with no plan for proper parenting.

The Garden of Life is a continuing cycle of seasons and years. Those who reap the greatest harvests seem to look both backward and forward. They look to the future to decide which seeds they should plant today to help them attain their goals for the future.

God is present in every segment of our lives, coaxing us to learn from both our experiences and goals, so that our gardens will reach their full potential.

Though God be everywhere
present, yet he is present to you
in the deepest and most
central part of the soul.
William Law

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis