Live on purpose

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! Nice and cool again this morning, with a touch of morning fog. Perfect! I saw one neighbor just heading home after his morning walk, and another walking his dog by the house. We exchanged waves, just to be neighborly, but I don't know the dog-walkers name.

After a wonderful and moving worship service yesterday, I stayed for the picnic at the church and then headed home to change and rest for the evenings activities. Not much rest, though, since I was watching the Rays win...takes a lot of energy to cheer them on! Then I enjoyed a friend's birthday party for an hour and left to get ready for a concert with Brian.

We went to the Fla. Orchestra concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall and got there early for the talk by the Maestro himself, Thom Wilkins. There was standing room only in the room and people were bringing in extra chairs, but we were left standing, until a very kind man gave up his seat for me. Brian had to stand. But, anyway, we saw Thom coming down the stairs, and after smooches and hugs, chatted with him briefly. The concert was wonderful, and it was a full day with lots of blessings! God is good!

From the little devotional book Knowing God:

God chose you to be his people, so I urge you now to live the life to which God called you.
Ephesians 4:1 NCV

Life is best lived on purpose. And purpose, like everything else in the universe, begins with God. Whether you realize it or not, God has a plan for your life, a divine calling, a direction in which He is leading you. When you welcome God into your heart and establish a genuine relationship with Him, He will begin, in time, to make His purposes known.

Sometimes, God's intentions will be clear to you, other times, God's plan will seem uncertain at best, But even on those difficult days when you are unsure which way to turn, you must never lose sight of these overriding facts: God created you for a reason. He has important work for you to do, and He's waiting patiently for you to do it.

And the next step is up to you.

{I beg you do not squander life
And don't live for this world only} Billy Graham

- Today's Prayer-

Lord, You've got something You want me to do-help me to figure out exactly what it is. Give me Your blessings and lead me along a path that is pleasing to You...today, tomorrow, and forever.
Amen

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Easin' thru Ephesians 3

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 is a little too cool for me for just sitting still, but I am so thankful for this weather, because it will be warming up the next two days and we will have a last gasp from summer, I think.

I went to the park yesterday after doing some needed chores around the house and running shopping errands. I walked up the sidewalk in front of the memorial bench that has the quote "He leadeth me beside the still waters" and was standing there contemplating the circles in the water when the cart came up and stopped and the driver said, "I know you!." It turned out to be one of the employees who had worked many years ago at Sawgrass and was in on the goodies I used to take in for the guys in appreciation for all their hard work in keeping the park neat and clean. He wanted to talk, so we did for about fifteen minutes, then he had to get back to work emptying the garbage cans. He had a court ordered worker with him, but she didn't say anything. You never know who God will place in your path! I never did see what was making the circles and splashes, but that is for another day. I really did enjoy the cool, dry air! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Empowering

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 his 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 sould ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and to 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

Roamin Thru Romans 15

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! Another beautiful, cool day in paradise! We have had Fallish weather all week and it is wonderful! The air is so dry, we have fire warnings and this close to the gulf and on a peninsula, we just don't have 35% humidity very often. We are blessed!

After my wonderful bike trip Tuesday, I decided I needed to do a little household work yesterday, so, while I did get out for a little bit, I mostly stayed home and vacuumed and did laundry... oh, and watched the Rays lose. I am hoping for better results today for them.

I went to the Park, to enjoy the beauty and great day... no clouds and lots of sunshine. All was quiet with just a few people walking and running, but the usual anhinga with wings folded this time hanging out on the log. That's the same log I saw a turtle on a couple days ago, and what I think are leeches. Ewww, they give me the creeps! There were two very fat ones on the log just below the turtle, but God made all creatures and God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 15:2
We should please others. IF we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord.For even Christ didn't please himself. As the Scriptures say, "Those who insult you are also insulting me." Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises.

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other-each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We accept each other just as Christ has accepted you, then God will be glorified. Remember that Christ came as a servant to Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. And he came so the Gentiles might also give glory to God for his mercies to them. ..

...So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through 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

Great Adventure #3

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! 66 this morning! That doesn't seem chilly to most folks, but what a change for us! Low humidity and lots of sunshine and blue skies..perfect! Yesterday was perfect, too, and I was blessed to be second choice for David to take for a long bike ride. Cheryl had papers to work on for class, so at 8 AM off we went!

David has a GPS on the Gold Wing, and he kept showing me the route, but most of the time, I had no clue where we were. I know we went to New Port Richey to connect with his brother, Ed, and then Ed rode along with us to a MacDonald's somewhere for a mid-morning snack. It was a very clean Mickey D's with a lady cleaning constantly. I told her she was doing a good job. Then we took off again to go to Deep South Barbeque, only to find it was not open until Thursday. But, meantime, we enjoyed riding on country roads. I was so glad to see fields with cows and goats, and horses and open spaces, after the built-up roads and noise of the city. Lots of talking, listening to music, talking, and just enjoying friendship and God's Creation. We came home about 3 PM. It was a long, enjoyable ride. Oh, instead of Barbeque we went to a place near Dunnellon called Coney Island for hot dogs, fried pickles and onion rings. Not my usual diet, but really good. God is so good!

Ecclesiastes 5:9-13

Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two undeer the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

5:19 It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life-that is indeed a gift from God. People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Roamin' thru Romans 16

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 am writing this in the evening, because tomorrow morning I am going on another great adventure with David. This was unexpected, as I just found out about it tonight, but I am always ready for another bike ride! You will be sure to hear about it tomorrow!

I went to the Park today after I got all my errands run, and it was lovely and cool with turtles sunning on the logs and lots of people out walking. I did not have time to walk, which I should have done early in the morning, but maybe Wed. I will be able to.

We had a good Bible study tonight and lots of friends having a good time with each other. Chuck Swindoll will talk about the lack of spontaneous affection in the church this week. He has titled his sermons, "Love and Kisses." about the holy kiss in church. This is not true in my church, where displays of affection between guys and gals is always shown when greeting each other. I receive "holy kisses" just about every week. God's love is always evident. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 16:14 And please give my greeting to Asyneritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers and sisters who are with them. Greet each other in Christian love. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Be Humble

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, are all windows open? This is the cool weather we have all been waiting for. It is 69 outside at my house and only 72 inside without the A/C! Perfect!

Good news over the weekend for the Rays! Champions of the ALE. PLayoffs this week. Not so good news for Gators fans, though. They need a lot of practice this week and hopefully, will do better Saturday. But, one thing remains the same and that is that God loves us and we can always rely on His blessings.

I walked Saturday out to the first shelter in the Park, just to look at the baby gators, which are very hard to see, due to all the undergrowth and water, I did spy a couple of them because they were moving and Mama was taking it easy in the bushes off to the right. She only comes out when she thinks the babies are in danger. Just as I was leaving, the crowds started coming in with lots of happy children making loud noises, That is when she feels threatened.

I found out the name of the yellow blossomed tree. It is Golden Rain, and that is just what it does. The blooms only last for a short time and then it rains down. I also walked back to the butterfly garden at the park and saw that the Beauty Berry bush was full of dark red berries. Ah, lots of food for the birds! I could see they had been eating, because of all the purple splotches on the sidewalk. God is Good!

From the little devotional book, Knowing God:

1 Peter 5:6 NIV Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

On the road to spiritual growth, pride is an enormous roadblock. The more prideful you are, the more difficult it is to know God. When you experience success, it's easy to puff out your chest and proclaim, "I did that!" Easy , but wrong.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer observed, "It is very easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements,," and he was right. So the next time you're tempted to take too much credit for something you've done, resist the temptation . Instead of hogging all the glory, give God His fair share of the credit...and His share, by the way, is far bigger than your share.

Great Thoughts;
God exalts humility. When God works in our lives, helping us to become humble, he gives us a permanent joy. Humility gives us a joy that cannot be taken away.
Max Lucado

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

God's Creation

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! Finally, our cool air is here, well, we can call in the seventies cool, because that is definitely a change from the lows in the eighties! And the air is dry! Usually means good hair days! :o)

I was so inspired by the air that I took a walk yesterday just before supper. I really did not intend to walk very far..no walking stick and no walking shoes, but I walked out to the first shelter at the park, and saw big mama gator and lots of little babies. When I got there a man and his small son were just leaving, so I had it to myself for awhile, then I went on to the tower and even climbed the stairs, just to see if I could. No problem, but I really hung on to the rails. The wind was blowing and I was grateful, because I was quite warm, by the time I had walked through the sunny parts of the boardwalk into the shade. I stood for awhile hoping for some ospreys, but they didn't show up.

I have finally gotten most of my strength back from the surgery in Feb., but it has really taken a long time.

By the time I started my walk back, the boardwalk was filling up with families and noisy children excited over the babies. Mama gator gets pretty disturbed when there is a lot of noise, so she came out from her hiding place in the shrubs and was really guarding them. I just kept walking and headed for the car and blessed A/C. Whew! I headed for the shower! Brian stopped by on his way home and did a few things for me that needed doing and showed me his bandaged temple from a basal cell carcinoma removal yesterday. Seems like that must run in the family. But God is good!

From the devotional book, Knowing God:

Take a look at God's Creation
You are the God of miracles and wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. Psalm 77:14 NLT

If we want to know God, we should examine His handiwork. And when we consider God's glorious universe, we marvel a the miracle of nature. The smallest seedlings and grandest stars are all part of God's infinite creation. God has placed His handiwork on display for all to see, and if we are wise, we will make time each day to celebrate the world that surrounds us.

Today as you fulfill the demands of everyday life, pause to consider the majesty of heaven and earth. It is as miraculous as it is beautiful, as incomprehensible as it is breathtaking.

The Psalmist reminds us that the heavens are a declaration of God's glory. May we never cease to praise the Father for a universe that stands as an awesome testimony to His presence and His power.

Because God created the Natural-invented it out of His love and artistry-it demands our reverence.
-C.S. Lewis

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis