Open yourself up to God's surprising plans

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! Not as much wind today, but it definitely brought in colder weather! We are in the high fifties today, but the sun is trying to shine, so it will still be a nice day.

A really busy day yesterday left no time for walking, but I did ride through the park, and saw only a few cars parked, so a lot of people stayed away. Of course, with all that wind and heavy clouds threatening rain, it was not a good day to walk. I noticed one turtle on the bank of the weir, and one medium sized gator on the other side. Wind and rain do not matter to them.

I made the mistake of driving by Lynch School at dismissal time, and passed a hundred cars, lined up past the lake and out to 70th Ave. Because of the rain clouds, most of the relatives drove to pick up their students. I should have come a different way! I discovered you have to watch out for the drivers, also, because even in our quiet neighborhood, they run through stop signs and drive very fast down the streets. Not a good example for the little ones! I try to avoid going out at dismissal time, because of the traffic, but had an appointment , so had no choice. But God is good!

From the little devotional book Knowing God:
 
But as it is written;
What no eye has seen and no ear has heard,
and what has never come into a man's heart,
is what God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 HCSB
God has plans for your life, wonderful, surprising plans...but He won't force those plans upon you. To the contrary, He has given you free will, the ability to make decisions on your own. With that freedom to choose comes the responsibility of living with the consequences of the choices you make.

If you seek to live in accordance with God's will for your life--and you should--then you should live in accordance with His commandments. You will study God's word, and you will be watchful for his signs. You will associate with fellow Christians who will encourage your spiritual growth, and you will listen to that inner voice that speaks to you in the quiet moments of our daily devotionals.

God intends to use you in wonderful, unexpected ways if you let Him. The decision to seek God's plan is yours and yours alone. The consequences of that decision have implications that are both profound and eternal so choose carefully.

                                                   Great Thoughts
Even when we cannot see the why and wherefore of God's dealings, we know that there is love in and behind them, so we can rejoice always.
         -J.J. Packer-

                           -Today's Prayer-

Dear Lord, I know that You have a plan for me. Today, I will seek Your will in every aspect of my life. I will seek to live obediently, courageously, and wisely. Heavenly Father, please make me watchful for your signs and accepting of Your love, for this day and forever. Amen

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Healing

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, water is dripping off the roof again after what looks like an all night gentle rain. But we have needed rain so all is well.

Yesterday, the sun came out for a little while, so after lunch, I went to the cemetery, because it would have been Louis' 84th birthday, had God not called him home. I was surprised to see the flowers that I placed there last week, still there and not looking too wilted. I think because we had mostly overcast skies that that helped preserve them.

The caretakers do a wonderful job taking care of the grounds. There were a couple muddy spots last week at the beginning of the path, but this week new sod was put down and it was good walking. Lots of new graves with flowers in stands marking them, but still a lovely resting place for all the service people.

I stopped by the park after church, and saw the two black, shiny gators resting there on the muddy bank. (Yes, Gil, they did kinda look like my shoes!) Even though the sun was not shining, I guess they needed warming up. Some turtles were also drying out on the other side, and the usual ibis and  pretty white egrets were in the canal.

And then, the Super Bowl! I was not rooting for either team until the game started and then I was for the Packers, because I like Aaron Rodgers. It sure was Mr. Rodgers' neighborhood last night! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Luke 5: 12-13 In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he fell to the ground, face down in the dust, begging to be healed. "Lord," he said, "IF you want to, you can make me well again." Jesus reached out and touched the man. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
 
Jesus has the ability and the willingness to heal us. We are not bothering God when we pray for healing, we are expressing our faith and trust in him

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Faith and Endurance

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 another foggy morning, but yesterday, the sun came out late in the afternoon, so today will probably be the same.  The temp. is still 69, so these days we have not used heat or A/C. Love to see those bills come down!

My yard man did a good job of clearing out the leaves again, but it won't be the last time. The trees are still loaded with yellow leaves and the next good wind will bring them all down, plus the new green leaves will be pushing them off. We were noticing the tiny buds on the plants..the azaleas and the hedge plants, and , also, the beauty berry bush, so spring is coming! Next will probably be the Crape Myrtle.

I took a walk from the circle sidewalk, over the entrance bridge, and out to the first shelter at the park yesterday and saw a tri-colored heron, several ibis, and egrets. A stark contrast to the dull, muddy banks and dead looking trees, which are the background for the white feathers on the birds.

I also watched the six or seven different gators which were scattered all around the shelter. Mama gator was there, but I only saw a couple small gators. The others were varying ages, from about a year to two years and up. Very interesting. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

James 1:
Dear brothers and sisters, whenever 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.

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 him to 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....

God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, no one who wants to do wrong should ever say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either. Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions and evil actions lead to death. So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.

Whatever is good and perfect comes us us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows. In his goodness he close to make us his own children by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession.

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! We have a dense fog warning for this morning, so the sun has not peeked out yet, but we don't have to shovel or blow the fog away and it will disperse in a couple hours, so life is good!

There is a big sod truck parked in front of my house for a house across the street and down a couple doors. I feel like hi-jacking the sod for my front yard, which is almost bare up front, because of the shade from the oak trees. I wish I could have grass and trees, but the grass needs sun and the trees shade the house, so I guess I can't have both! Right now, the yard is full of acorns and leaves, but my friend and yard man is coming over to clean up some of the leaves for now. More will be coming down, because they all have to come off so the new little green leaves can have room. That might be next week when we are supposed to have freezing temps again. Oh, well, winter is not over yet.

I went to the park yesterday after running some errands, and the canal is nearly clean now. The volunteer was busy getting all the trash out and doing a good job. A couple of turtles were sunning along with an anhinga, but the gators were not visible. But, God is good!

From 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 NLT:

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 peacefully 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.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

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! I was watching the weather channel this morning, and looking at all the blizzards and snow, power outages, schools closed and businesses closed and was so thankful that I live in Florida! Last night our low was 71. This morning the wind is blowing and the sky is overcast with a threat of rain, but it's still 71, so I am rejoicing in the day!

My Honeybell oranges came yesterday, and I was able to squeeze about four ounces of juice out of just two oranges. Yum! Fresh juice with pulp in it! Sunshine in a glass!

I walked around the house outside looking at the beauty berry bush and the crepe myrtle, neither of which has leaves, and wondering if the freeze we had killed them, or if they just haven't shown signs of spring yet. I hope they are not dead, but just still sleeping. Another week or so and I should be able to tell.

 I saw the really big gator yesterday, all shiny and black, resting on the bank of the lake and since a volunteer was cleaning out the canal at the weir, all the turtles were plastered on the grassy bank, including a big one! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

I look up to the mountains--
does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made the heavens and the earth!

He will not let you stumble and fall,
the one who watches over you will not sleep.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never tires and never sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your
protective shade.
The sun will not hurt you by day,
nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all evil
and preserves your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you
come and go,
both now and forever.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Who Rules?

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 a lot of clouds today and a lot of sun, with the wind blowing, so it looks like another warm day. Yesterday the temp. got up to 72, so spring is definitely just around the corner.

The gators seem to be on the move, also, so that means more babies in a few months. The really big gator has been sunning, right beside the smaller one, on the bank of the lake. Lots of people have discovered them, so cars are usually blocking the road, with people taking photos. I have to admit, even though I see gators several times a week, I am still fascinated by them. It just seems so unusual to have them only a mile away from my house. And then, on the other side of the road, a dozen or so turtles were flattened on the bank  of the weir catching some rays. God is good!

I enjoyed a large naval orange with my breakfast and am expecting a shipment of honeybells any day. They are only available in Jan. and I already had some as a gift from my niece. I liked them so much I ordered another shipment for me and for Daryl. Sunshine with skin!

From the little devotional book Knowing God:

Can you understand the secrets of God?
His limits are higher than the heavens; you cannot reach them!
They are deeper than the grave; you cannot understand them!
His limits are longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
Job 11:7-9 NCV
God reigns over the entire universe and He reigns over your little corner of the universe. He is sovereign. Your challenge is to recognize God's sovereignty and live in accordance with His commandments. Sometimes, of course, this is easier said than done.

Your Heavenly Father may not always reveal Himself as quickly (or as clearly) as you would like. But rest assured: God is in control. God is here, and God intends to use you in wonderful, unexpected ways. He desires to lead you along a path of His choosing. Your challenge is to watch, to listen, to learn...and to follow.

Knowing God's sovereignty and unconditional love imparts a beauty to life and to you.
Kay Arthur

The next time you're disappointed, don't panic. Don't give up. Just be patient and let God remind you he's still in control.
                     Max Lucado

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 20

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 shy about peeking out this morning, but after the mist and fog burn off, I think we will have a warm, sunshiny day like yesterday.

I had a weekend filled with sorrow and joy...I watched the full three hours of services for the fallen officers, who were gunned down and grieved with them for lives taken too soon, but saw a true demonstration of faith in our Savior by the young mother with three children . She was in church yesterday with the children and the large congregation rallied around her with prayer. This is Brian's church where they are members. This was also pictured on TV. A good witness.

My special friend, Mariagnes, had invited me to a belated birthday lunch Saturday, so we had lots of fun and good food. She is always a joy to be with. I am blessed! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

In times of trouble, may the Lord respond to your cry.
May the God of Israel keep you safe from all harm.
May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.

May he grant your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans.
May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory,
flying banners to honor our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.

Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him by his great power.
Some nations boast of the armies and weapons
but we boast in the Lord our God.
Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm.

Give victory to our king, O Lord,
Respond to our cry for help.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis