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! And what a glorious morning it is! The cool wind is blowing, the sun is shining, and it is a great day to be alive!
Although it gets warm in the afternoon, still , for the most part, I can open some of the windows and let the cool air in. I look forward to October just for that reason. The birds were out in full force this morning, singing and flying about, Morning is a good time to see all the activity in the park, because animals and birds are out getting breakfast.
Well, I watched the Rays lose yesterday, but they should still be proud of the way they came back and got in the playoffs. I have decided that I like baseball better than football, except when the Gators play.
This morning I heard a helicopter hovering for a long time over the interstate and found out from TV that an accident had happened at 54th and the interstate. A good time to be careful going to work. But God is control and He is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 8
O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and nursing infants to give you praise.
They silence your enemies who were seeking revenge.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers--
the moon and the stars you have set in place.
What are mortals that you should think of us,
mere humans that you should care for us
For you made us only a little lower than God,
and you crowned us with glory and honor.
You put us in charge of everything you made,
giving us authority over all things.--
the sheep and the cattle
and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth!
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Still Cruisin' thru Corinthiians 12
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 are still having nice, cool mornings, but the afternoons are starting to warm up again, so we will be back in the heat again soon. I turned on the A/C yesterday because the inside was stuffy.
I walked on the sidewalk at the park yesterday, keeping to the shade as much as possible, and using my gnarly walking stick. I watched an egret fishing and down below me, two ibises were standing on a large growth of weeds extending into the canal. Yellow butterflies were flitting all around me , and suddenly, I heard a hawk calling from the oak trees ahead. I looked and looked for him, but when I got to where I thought he was, he stopped calling, so I was unable to locate him.
I stood and watched the water pouring from the drain that leads from Arrow Lake, which means it is still very high from all the rain. Sometimes gators swim through and come out into the canal. It runs right under the sidewalk. I enjoyed the walk and the solitude, although I spoke to several people as they walked along. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
1 Corinthians 12:18
But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you."
In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, while other parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members so that all the members care for each other equally. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. ..
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I walked on the sidewalk at the park yesterday, keeping to the shade as much as possible, and using my gnarly walking stick. I watched an egret fishing and down below me, two ibises were standing on a large growth of weeds extending into the canal. Yellow butterflies were flitting all around me , and suddenly, I heard a hawk calling from the oak trees ahead. I looked and looked for him, but when I got to where I thought he was, he stopped calling, so I was unable to locate him.
I stood and watched the water pouring from the drain that leads from Arrow Lake, which means it is still very high from all the rain. Sometimes gators swim through and come out into the canal. It runs right under the sidewalk. I enjoyed the walk and the solitude, although I spoke to several people as they walked along. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
1 Corinthians 12:18
But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you."
In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, while other parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members so that all the members care for each other equally. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. ..
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, October 3, 2011
Cruisin' thru Corinthians
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! Can you believe this cool, fall weather? Just wonderful! I have not had the A/C on for a couple days and have had some windows open. Invigorating!
I had the carpets cleaned Friday and the man who does them came early, so I had to change plans for the morning and just sit and watch. What hard work he does. He said he cleans the carpets at Perkins in Clearwater and they are open 24 hours, so he has to do one room at a time, sometimes at 10:30 at night which is their slow time. Syrup is very hard to clean up. I can imagine. He is a boy scout leader, and chose carpet cleaning as his career, so he could be home when his special needs son comes home. I have known him for several years, and know that he is trustworthy.
I cruised through the park and saw that lots of people were out; some with picnics, some with dogs, and most just walking. The squirrels were out in full force, racing back and forth in front of cars, but the only bird I saw was the anhinga drying out the wings. There are plenty of birds around in my yard, though! Seems like they are coming down from the north already. But God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
1 Corinthians 12:4..
Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he gives the gift of special knowledge. The Spirit gives special faith to another and to someone else he gives the power to heal the sick. He gives to one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophecy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown tongues, and another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have....
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, love and joy!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
I had the carpets cleaned Friday and the man who does them came early, so I had to change plans for the morning and just sit and watch. What hard work he does. He said he cleans the carpets at Perkins in Clearwater and they are open 24 hours, so he has to do one room at a time, sometimes at 10:30 at night which is their slow time. Syrup is very hard to clean up. I can imagine. He is a boy scout leader, and chose carpet cleaning as his career, so he could be home when his special needs son comes home. I have known him for several years, and know that he is trustworthy.
I cruised through the park and saw that lots of people were out; some with picnics, some with dogs, and most just walking. The squirrels were out in full force, racing back and forth in front of cars, but the only bird I saw was the anhinga drying out the wings. There are plenty of birds around in my yard, though! Seems like they are coming down from the north already. But God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
1 Corinthians 12:4..
Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he gives the gift of special knowledge. The Spirit gives special faith to another and to someone else he gives the power to heal the sick. He gives to one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophecy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown tongues, and another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have....
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, love and joy!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
Thursday, September 29, 2011
God's Wisdom from Isaiah 40
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! No rain yesterday! But the yard is still draining and the gutters in front are full, as the water runs swiftly to the nearest storm drain.
I had a lazy day yesterday, only getting out to run a few errands, and then to the park. the water has gone down slightly in the canal and is off the weir, leaving lots of trash caught on the poles. I watched mamas and babies in strollers getting ready for a long walk, and a man with a beautiful, old Dalmatian walking along the sidewalk. The dog looked tired and was walking very slowly, that's why I thought he was old. Squirrels were scampering about, but I did not see any ibises. Strange.
When I came home, I watched a blue jay eating acorns in the front yard. I don't know how he got so many into his craw, if that's what they have. Then, off he flew with one in his mouth, so he must have a nest somewhere near. God's creations are marvelous. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Isaiah 40:27
O Israel, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I had a lazy day yesterday, only getting out to run a few errands, and then to the park. the water has gone down slightly in the canal and is off the weir, leaving lots of trash caught on the poles. I watched mamas and babies in strollers getting ready for a long walk, and a man with a beautiful, old Dalmatian walking along the sidewalk. The dog looked tired and was walking very slowly, that's why I thought he was old. Squirrels were scampering about, but I did not see any ibises. Strange.
When I came home, I watched a blue jay eating acorns in the front yard. I don't know how he got so many into his craw, if that's what they have. Then, off he flew with one in his mouth, so he must have a nest somewhere near. God's creations are marvelous. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Isaiah 40:27
O Israel, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Brewing Good Relationships
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 clear this morning and a beautiful shade of blue, and maybe no rain today. Yesterday, we had one of those unexpected, torrential downpours, which lasted a short while, and then the sun came back out. I don't think that will happen today...
I had the Acme Tech come out yesterday to check out the A/C and furnace preparing for winter. This company originally installed our A/C forty years ago and we have had the same tech out so many times, he is like family. He used to also do the work at the church, and always inquires about the church. Anyway, everything was fine and working well.
After the rain, I went to the park, and the water was up and over the weir, with big puddles everywhere! I walked to the bridge to look for the young gator, but the water was so high, it was well over the mud bank where he hangs out, so no sign of him. The current was flowing swiftly, and I am sure was pouring over the walls of the water works sides at the third bridge. I saw what I thought was a bunny, but stopped to look closely, and it was a squirrel with a bob tail. He must have lost it somewhere. And then I saw four of the furry critters gathered together under a tree sharing acorns.
I drove to Cartek to have my tires aired up, and Ray found a screw imbedded in my right rear tire, so he fixed it and told me it was taken care of. I was puzzled by this random act of kindness, but thanked him and went on my way. God is good!!
From Quiet Moments with God:
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Proverbs 25:11
...Always choose teas whose basic flavors are pleasing to you or your guests. If they are loose teas, don't be afraid to do a little blending, measuring one teaspoon per cup plus one teaspoon per pot. Let the tea steep for several minutes, but don't boil tea leaves. If you do, bitter tannins will emerge.
Like brewing tea, forming good relationships takes time and attention to be satisfying. Here are ten ways to show the love of Jesus to others--guaranteed to bring out the best "flavor" of each person:
1. Speak to people. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
2. Smile at people. It takes 72 muscles to frown; 14 to smile.
3. Call people by name. The sweetest music is the sound of one's own name.
4. Be friendly and helpful.
5. Be cordial. Speak and act as if everything you do is a pleasure.
6. Be genuinely interested in people. You can like everybody if you try.
7. Be generous with praise--cautious with criticism.
8. Be considerate of the feelings of others. It will be appreciated.
9. Be thoughtful of the opinions of others.
10. Be alert to give service. What counts most in life is what we do for others.
These things take time, but like the time spent perfecting that pot of tea, it is well worth the extra effort.
Hold a true friend with
both your hands.
African Proverb
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
I had the Acme Tech come out yesterday to check out the A/C and furnace preparing for winter. This company originally installed our A/C forty years ago and we have had the same tech out so many times, he is like family. He used to also do the work at the church, and always inquires about the church. Anyway, everything was fine and working well.
After the rain, I went to the park, and the water was up and over the weir, with big puddles everywhere! I walked to the bridge to look for the young gator, but the water was so high, it was well over the mud bank where he hangs out, so no sign of him. The current was flowing swiftly, and I am sure was pouring over the walls of the water works sides at the third bridge. I saw what I thought was a bunny, but stopped to look closely, and it was a squirrel with a bob tail. He must have lost it somewhere. And then I saw four of the furry critters gathered together under a tree sharing acorns.
I drove to Cartek to have my tires aired up, and Ray found a screw imbedded in my right rear tire, so he fixed it and told me it was taken care of. I was puzzled by this random act of kindness, but thanked him and went on my way. God is good!!
From Quiet Moments with God:
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Proverbs 25:11
...Always choose teas whose basic flavors are pleasing to you or your guests. If they are loose teas, don't be afraid to do a little blending, measuring one teaspoon per cup plus one teaspoon per pot. Let the tea steep for several minutes, but don't boil tea leaves. If you do, bitter tannins will emerge.
Like brewing tea, forming good relationships takes time and attention to be satisfying. Here are ten ways to show the love of Jesus to others--guaranteed to bring out the best "flavor" of each person:
1. Speak to people. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
2. Smile at people. It takes 72 muscles to frown; 14 to smile.
3. Call people by name. The sweetest music is the sound of one's own name.
4. Be friendly and helpful.
5. Be cordial. Speak and act as if everything you do is a pleasure.
6. Be genuinely interested in people. You can like everybody if you try.
7. Be generous with praise--cautious with criticism.
8. Be considerate of the feelings of others. It will be appreciated.
9. Be thoughtful of the opinions of others.
10. Be alert to give service. What counts most in life is what we do for others.
These things take time, but like the time spent perfecting that pot of tea, it is well worth the extra effort.
Hold a true friend with
both your hands.
African Proverb
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs, Amaryllis
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Wisdom from Paul
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! Water is still dripping off the roof from the deluge yesterday evening and the yard is soaked. Our small group was headed out to a nursing home to visit a friend and we found that ninth street was flooded between about 80th and north of that, so David switched over to 4th St. and while that was clear, we discovered that several of the side streets were flooded with cars stranded. A wild and woolly wet evening! But we made it okay and had a really good visit with our friend. Thank you, Jesus for watching over us!
I got done what I had planned to do yesterday, including some ironing, so I was pleased with myself about that. And I even got to the park and saw a tri-colored heron fishing in the green covered waters of the weir. Just on the other side of the canal, it is all clear. Not many people were out, but since I was tired by that time, I took myself home.
I am in mourning, because I apparently lost one earring of the pair that my uncle Dan, May he rest in peace, made for me several years ago. I called the library where I had been and they did not have it, so unless I find it around here someplace, it is gone. It was on my ear that still has some numbness from my carotid surgery last year, so I did not notice it was gone until someone told me. Oh, well, God is still good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
1 Thessalonians 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 prophecies, 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....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
I got done what I had planned to do yesterday, including some ironing, so I was pleased with myself about that. And I even got to the park and saw a tri-colored heron fishing in the green covered waters of the weir. Just on the other side of the canal, it is all clear. Not many people were out, but since I was tired by that time, I took myself home.
I am in mourning, because I apparently lost one earring of the pair that my uncle Dan, May he rest in peace, made for me several years ago. I called the library where I had been and they did not have it, so unless I find it around here someplace, it is gone. It was on my ear that still has some numbness from my carotid surgery last year, so I did not notice it was gone until someone told me. Oh, well, God is still good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
1 Thessalonians 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 prophecies, 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....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
Monday, September 26, 2011
Hebrews 6
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 walked into church just about five minutes before a very dark cloud dumped a lot of rain on people trying to leave and others trying to get in, so God was good to me. Fortunately, there are always umbrellas around, so I don't think anyone got really soaked, I think we will probably see a few more of those strange thunderstorms again today, Strange, because they are unexpected and do not last long.
I had an unexpected encounter with a bird yesterday. We have reflective tint on the windows, and I was startled by what looked like a woodpecker sitting on the window sill of the bedroom, but as I looked more closely, I saw black stripes on the underside, and a dusting of rust colored red on the back. No red on the head. I got out my trusty Peterson's guide and looked it up and it was either a yellow bellied sapsucker, or an immature red headed woodpecker. I will probably never be that close to one again! After it finished peering at itself awhile, and pecking a few bugs off the sill, it finally flew away. I have seen woodpeckers on the oaks lately, so that was probably what it was. I wish I knew how to get in touch with Mike McGoff, the naturalist who retired from Sawgrass. He taught me a lot about birds and he would definitely know what the bird was. But, it was one of God's Creations, and God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Hebrews 6:7-12
When the ground soaks up the rain that falls on it and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has the blessing of God. But if a field bears thistles and thorns, it is useless. The farmer will condemn that field and burn it.
Dear friends, even though we are talking like this, we really don't believe that it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and patience.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I had an unexpected encounter with a bird yesterday. We have reflective tint on the windows, and I was startled by what looked like a woodpecker sitting on the window sill of the bedroom, but as I looked more closely, I saw black stripes on the underside, and a dusting of rust colored red on the back. No red on the head. I got out my trusty Peterson's guide and looked it up and it was either a yellow bellied sapsucker, or an immature red headed woodpecker. I will probably never be that close to one again! After it finished peering at itself awhile, and pecking a few bugs off the sill, it finally flew away. I have seen woodpeckers on the oaks lately, so that was probably what it was. I wish I knew how to get in touch with Mike McGoff, the naturalist who retired from Sawgrass. He taught me a lot about birds and he would definitely know what the bird was. But, it was one of God's Creations, and God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Hebrews 6:7-12
When the ground soaks up the rain that falls on it and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has the blessing of God. But if a field bears thistles and thorns, it is useless. The farmer will condemn that field and burn it.
Dear friends, even though we are talking like this, we really don't believe that it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and patience.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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