Haggai

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 hope some of you saw the sunrise this morning. It was a beautiful pink with the blue sky streaked between the pink clouds, So Pretty! I love the different colors God gives us at sunset and sunrise!

On my way to the park yesterday, I was so pleased to see black, shiny, wet gator on the bank of the lake as you drive in. He has not been there for months, because the water was so high, there is really no place for him to catch some rays. The water was down yesterday, though, so that gave him a bank . Mama gator, by contrast, is gray and looks like she needs a lot of moisturizer. I walked a bit down the sidewalk, and stopped to enjoy the breeze and watch two fat turtles on different logs and a big anhinga perched in a tree drying out the wings. God is good!

From Haggai 1:11 MSG

Caught up with Taking care of Your Own Houses

On the first day of the sixth month of the second year in the reign of King Darius of Persia, God's Message was delivered by the prophet Haggai to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabek son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.

A Message from God of the Angel Armies: The people procrastinate." They say this isn't the right time to rebuild my temple, the temple of God."
Shortly after that, God said more and Haggai spoke it: "How is it that it's the right time for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, God's Temple is in ruins?"

And then a little later, God of the Angel Armies spoke out again;
Take a good hard look at your life,
think it over.
You have spent a lot of money.
but you haven't much to show for it.
You keep filling your plates
but you never get filled up.
you keep drinking and drinking and drinking,
but you're always thirsty.
You put on layer after layer of clothes
but you don't get warm,
and the people who work for you,
what are they getting out of it?

Not much--
a leaky, rusted -out bucket, that's what.

That's why the God of the Angel said:

Take a good hard look at your life
Think it over.

Here's what I want you to do:
Climb into the hills and cut some timber.
Bring it down and build the temple.
Do it just for me, Honor me.
You've had great ambitions for yourselves.
but nothing has come of it.
The little you have brought to my temple
I've blown away--there was nothing to it.

To read the rest, go on to your Bibles, It is very interesting and relates to church, work or home.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

PS I will not be back until Tuesday, as I am leaving for a long weekend in Tenn.

Holiness before Happiness

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 went out last night to see what was supposed to be a spectacular sunset, but no unusual colors, still it was pretty and I enjoyed it for a few minutes. Each sunset is different and each sunrise is welcome, because I still have eyes to see. The days are getting shorter now, and darkness comes a lot earlier.

When I was in the Park yesterday, I saw a gopher tortoise at the front of the park, instead of the usual spot on the curve, but this was a smaller one. When Mike, the naturalist, was working there, he showed me a photo taken from the air, and it showed all the gopher nests. There were over ten white sandy, spots showing, which means lots of tunnels for the gophers. I also heard lots of birds, one very close, but I could not see it and did not recognize the sound. It was early morning, and that's why so many birds were out and about to get the worm or berries.

I was pondering this morning, on how blessed I am and still surprised when my friends do such unexpected acts of kindness for me. After so many years of taking care of my dear husband, I guess I am still not used to receiving, but I am so grateful for the caring and loving I receive from sons and friends. Just thought I would advise everyone to be thankful every day for those who love and care for us. God is good!

From the little devotional Knowing God:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 NIV

Because you are an imperfect human being, you are not "perfectly" happy-and that's perfectly okay with God. He is far less concerned with your happiness than He is with your holiness.

God continuously reveals Himself in everyday life, but He does not do so in order to make you contented. He does so in order to lead you to His Son. Do don't be overly concerned with your current level of happiness, it will change. Be more concerned with the current state of your relationship with Christ. He does not change. And because your Savior transcends time and space, you can be comforted in the knowledge that in the end, His joy will become your joy...for all eternity.

-Great Thoughts-
You don't have to be like the world to have an impact on the world. You don't have to be like the crowd to change the crowd. You don't have to lower yourself down to their level to lift them up to your level. Holiness doesn't seek to be odd. Holiness seeks to be like God.
-Max Lucado-

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

The Future Glory

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 late with this because I took an early morning walk, and really enjoyed seeing the sun rise and the colors in back of the puffy clouds. When I came out from our Faith Group meeting last night the quarter moon was hanging low in the sky and was beautiful! "The heavens declare the Glory of God!" His handiwork is all around us.

I walked Friday out to the shelter at the park and Mama gator was stretched full length just in front of the shelter, drying out her back. she is really big, about 8 feet , but the babies were no where in sight. But this morning about 8 babies were clumped together and no sign of Mama. I'm sure she was around somewhere, though. I was at the park early enough to see the mist rising from the canal, and when I arrived at the Tower, the ibis were still nesting in the bushes across Sawgrass. The handrails were wet from the the dew, but , except for sirens somewhere, it was very peaceful and lovely. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Romans 8:18
Yet what we suffer is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will , everything on earth was subjected to God's curse. All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time....

For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying , for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes all things to work for good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance and He chose them to become like his Son...

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

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