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! Believe it or not, it is chilly this morning! I had put away all the winter stuff and now I am thinking I will need a blanket for tonight! Strange weather, but beautiful!
The wind really cleaned out the dead branches and twigs from the oaks yesterday. It blew fiercely most of the day, so the front porch was really littered. I swept it off after supper, but the wind was still blowing, so I talked to myself while sweeping what was blowing back from where I had already cleaned....I had an appointment with my podiatrist yesterday and when I arrived at his small waiting room, I could hardly enter because of wheelchairs all over the place. I thought I would have a long wait and was ready to reschedule, but turns out all the people were waiting for transportation back to their assisted living facility. They had been there since morning! So I only had about a fifteen minute wait and got my toes attended to. My feet are just plain worn out! Probably started when I went barefoot all summer growing up here. Then I went out to Walmart to gas up the van, and was very pleased to see that gas was 3.60 per gal. with my card!
I finished up my driving for the day by going to Steak and Shake to buy a yummy half price milkshake. I had already been to the park and seen all the greenery and a few people enjoying looking at critters in the water, as they hung over the bridge rail. I never fail to get excited by graceful egrets, and the colors of the lilies, trees and grass and a very large snapper turtle drying out on the bank by the weir. God is good! (speaking of critters, the large gecko is till in the house, in a bedroom, but getting skinny.)
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Teaching about Money and Possessions
Matthew 6:19-24
Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is , there your heart and thoughts will also be.
Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep that darkness will be!
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you ave enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Wisdom
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 was a different weekend. The weather was threatening, but it did not interfere with a beautiful celebration of life service for a beautiful friend who succumbed to cancer after a two year battle. The rain came down before the service was over, but did not stop the music or memories being shared.
We so needed the rain! It came down most of Saturday, and even Friday night. When I was over in the Publix parking lot when the skies were threatening. I sat and watched an osprey hovering over its nest on the light pole. There was a fish in his claws and he kept dropping down and lifting up. I think he was offering bits of the meal to the babies that were in the nest, Then he took off and later I saw him or his twin perched on the wire over Turner's creek, which was swollen and full from high tide and the rain.
I was impressed to see the water up at the park, and the egrets enjoying the fish floating by. I watched one egret lift his wings and take gracefully off, gliding along the water, looking for another good fishing spot. The gopher tortoise was lumbering up to his hole, causing some visitors to pause to watch. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What are the benefits of wisdom?
Proverbs 9:10
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdim. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding.
Psalm 111:10 Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him. Praise his name forever!
Wisdom is not simply knowing facts and figures. It is understanding that an all-powerful, all-knowing God has designed a moral universe with consequences for our good and evil choices. Wisdom begins with understanding our accountability to and our full dependence on our Creator. It's not what we know, but who we know.
Proverbs 3:21-26 My child, don't lose sight of good planning and insight. Hang on to them, for they fill you with life and bring you honor and respect. they keep you safe on your way and keep your feet from stumbling. You can lie down without fear and enjoy pleasant dreams. You need not be afraid of disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
Wisdom produces honor in our lives and protects us from trouble. Wise people know the difference between right and wrong and choose to do what's right. More than that, wisdom is choosing to apply God's truth and principles to our daily relationships and situations.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We so needed the rain! It came down most of Saturday, and even Friday night. When I was over in the Publix parking lot when the skies were threatening. I sat and watched an osprey hovering over its nest on the light pole. There was a fish in his claws and he kept dropping down and lifting up. I think he was offering bits of the meal to the babies that were in the nest, Then he took off and later I saw him or his twin perched on the wire over Turner's creek, which was swollen and full from high tide and the rain.
I was impressed to see the water up at the park, and the egrets enjoying the fish floating by. I watched one egret lift his wings and take gracefully off, gliding along the water, looking for another good fishing spot. The gopher tortoise was lumbering up to his hole, causing some visitors to pause to watch. God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
What are the benefits of wisdom?
Proverbs 9:10
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdim. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding.
Psalm 111:10 Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him. Praise his name forever!
Wisdom is not simply knowing facts and figures. It is understanding that an all-powerful, all-knowing God has designed a moral universe with consequences for our good and evil choices. Wisdom begins with understanding our accountability to and our full dependence on our Creator. It's not what we know, but who we know.
Proverbs 3:21-26 My child, don't lose sight of good planning and insight. Hang on to them, for they fill you with life and bring you honor and respect. they keep you safe on your way and keep your feet from stumbling. You can lie down without fear and enjoy pleasant dreams. You need not be afraid of disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
Wisdom produces honor in our lives and protects us from trouble. Wise people know the difference between right and wrong and choose to do what's right. More than that, wisdom is choosing to apply God's truth and principles to our daily relationships and situations.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, April 20, 2012
Coping skills
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 sunshiny and cloudy this morning. but, thankfully, we are expecting more rain this weekend.
What a wonderful rain we had yesterday! It didn't pour, but was just a quiet rain for about an hour or more. It was kinda noisy with all the slurping sounds of the grass and shrubs drinking the wetness!! :o)
I went over to the park later on, and very light sprinkles landed on the windshield all the way, but I drove right out from under the clouds into the blue sky and sun in the west, so the clouds all moved over to the east.
There was not a crowd at the park, I guess because of the rain, but things had really greened up. The gopher tunnel looked like a lot of water had dripped in, but no sign of the resident. The squirrels were out and did not even look wet, but they move so fast, they soon dry off. I watched some ibis pecking around hoping to find some grubs stirred up by the moisture.
I was thankful for the rain because I had no excuse for not vacuuming, which I did, and got some exercise. House cleaning is a good way to get moving, and since my ladies could not come this week, I decided to get going and do it! Good for me! God is good!
From the devotional book Quiet Moments with God:
My times are in your hand.
Psalm 31:15 NRSV
How we handle delays tells us a lot about ourselves. How do you handle a traffic jam when you left the house already late for work? What do you do when your flight is delayed because of mechanical difficulty or bad weather? How do you respond when the register in your checkout lane runs out of tape just as you get to the head of the line? Can you take a deep breath and enjoy a five-minute break at the railroad crossing when the guard rail goes down to allow a train to pass?
Consider how one man handled a delay. Just as the light turned green at the busy intersection, his car stalled in heavy traffic. He tried everything he knew to get the car started again, but all his efforts failed. The chorus of honking behind him put him on edge, which only made matters worse.
Finally he got out of his car and walked back to the first driver and said, "I'm sorry, but I can't seem to get my car started. If you'll go up there and give it a try, I'll stay here and blow your horn for you."
Things rarely go as smoothly as we would like, and we don't usually schedule ourselves any extra time just in case something goes wrong.
The ability to accept disappointments, delays, and setbacks with a pleasant, generous spirit is a gift of graciousness that comes from one who has received grace from others in pressured circumstances. Life is a series of choices, and no matter what situation we get in, we always have the freedom to choose how we are going to respond.
Refuse to get out of sorts the next time your schedule gets interrupted or turned upside down. Pray for strength to remain calm, cheerful, relaxed, and refreshed in the midst of the crisis. And always remember: God's plans for you are not thwarted by delays!
Never become irritable while waiting: If you are patient,
you'll find that you can wait much faster.
Unknown
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
What a wonderful rain we had yesterday! It didn't pour, but was just a quiet rain for about an hour or more. It was kinda noisy with all the slurping sounds of the grass and shrubs drinking the wetness!! :o)
I went over to the park later on, and very light sprinkles landed on the windshield all the way, but I drove right out from under the clouds into the blue sky and sun in the west, so the clouds all moved over to the east.
There was not a crowd at the park, I guess because of the rain, but things had really greened up. The gopher tunnel looked like a lot of water had dripped in, but no sign of the resident. The squirrels were out and did not even look wet, but they move so fast, they soon dry off. I watched some ibis pecking around hoping to find some grubs stirred up by the moisture.
I was thankful for the rain because I had no excuse for not vacuuming, which I did, and got some exercise. House cleaning is a good way to get moving, and since my ladies could not come this week, I decided to get going and do it! Good for me! God is good!
From the devotional book Quiet Moments with God:
My times are in your hand.
Psalm 31:15 NRSV
How we handle delays tells us a lot about ourselves. How do you handle a traffic jam when you left the house already late for work? What do you do when your flight is delayed because of mechanical difficulty or bad weather? How do you respond when the register in your checkout lane runs out of tape just as you get to the head of the line? Can you take a deep breath and enjoy a five-minute break at the railroad crossing when the guard rail goes down to allow a train to pass?
Consider how one man handled a delay. Just as the light turned green at the busy intersection, his car stalled in heavy traffic. He tried everything he knew to get the car started again, but all his efforts failed. The chorus of honking behind him put him on edge, which only made matters worse.
Finally he got out of his car and walked back to the first driver and said, "I'm sorry, but I can't seem to get my car started. If you'll go up there and give it a try, I'll stay here and blow your horn for you."
Things rarely go as smoothly as we would like, and we don't usually schedule ourselves any extra time just in case something goes wrong.
The ability to accept disappointments, delays, and setbacks with a pleasant, generous spirit is a gift of graciousness that comes from one who has received grace from others in pressured circumstances. Life is a series of choices, and no matter what situation we get in, we always have the freedom to choose how we are going to respond.
Refuse to get out of sorts the next time your schedule gets interrupted or turned upside down. Pray for strength to remain calm, cheerful, relaxed, and refreshed in the midst of the crisis. And always remember: God's plans for you are not thwarted by delays!
Never become irritable while waiting: If you are patient,
you'll find that you can wait much faster.
Unknown
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Psoaring thru Psalm 68
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! Lots of clouds around this morning, but I can't help but be doubtful that any rain will come, even though the weather people are still predicting..maybe. Always hedging..
I noticed a bluejay getting a drink from the bowl on the porch, but he was almost standing on his head to dip down, so I carried some water out and filled it up. While I was doing that, I saw a box truck and a pickup across the street in front of the vacant house.. Looks like someone has decided to purchase it, because two city pickups were there yesterday. Maybe we will soon have some new neighbors! Speaking of neighbors, yesterday evening, I was outside and saw a young man being pulled quite rapidly on his skateboard by his dog. I don't know what kind of dog he was, but he looked like he was laughing and really enjoying himself. They were really zipping along! I know, dogs don't laugh, but they look like it! They went on down the street, still zipping along, until the dog stopped to investigate something in a yard.
Well, my cleaning ladies had an unexpected client yesterday and had to clean out a large house for closing it up, so they were not able to do my house, but will try to get to it next week. This is a luxury I allow myself and really appreciate that they live right across the street from me.
So, I worked on the clothes I cleaned out of one closet and got them folded up into a box. Now I have about three more closets to go. Since I have outgrown the clothes, (or they have shrunk) I have been getting rid of the ones I thought I would shrink into. Not gonna happen!
I went over to the park in the late afternoon and found quite a few people there, walking and picnicking, and enjoying the beautiful weather.
On a sad note; Dick Clark passed away, and I remember watching American Bandstand and all the "new" artists he introduced before they became famous.
Also, Chuck Colson is very near to going home and what a legacy he leaves, with thousands saved by his writing and preaching. What a godly man! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 68:1-6
Arise, O God, and scatter your enemies.
Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Drive them off like smoke blown by the wind.
Melt them like wax in fire.
Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
But let the godly rejoice.
Let them be glad in God's presence.
Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord----
rejoice in his presence!
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows---
this is God, whose dwelling is Holy.
God places the lonely in families,
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But for rebels, there is only famine and distress.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I noticed a bluejay getting a drink from the bowl on the porch, but he was almost standing on his head to dip down, so I carried some water out and filled it up. While I was doing that, I saw a box truck and a pickup across the street in front of the vacant house.. Looks like someone has decided to purchase it, because two city pickups were there yesterday. Maybe we will soon have some new neighbors! Speaking of neighbors, yesterday evening, I was outside and saw a young man being pulled quite rapidly on his skateboard by his dog. I don't know what kind of dog he was, but he looked like he was laughing and really enjoying himself. They were really zipping along! I know, dogs don't laugh, but they look like it! They went on down the street, still zipping along, until the dog stopped to investigate something in a yard.
Well, my cleaning ladies had an unexpected client yesterday and had to clean out a large house for closing it up, so they were not able to do my house, but will try to get to it next week. This is a luxury I allow myself and really appreciate that they live right across the street from me.
So, I worked on the clothes I cleaned out of one closet and got them folded up into a box. Now I have about three more closets to go. Since I have outgrown the clothes, (or they have shrunk) I have been getting rid of the ones I thought I would shrink into. Not gonna happen!
I went over to the park in the late afternoon and found quite a few people there, walking and picnicking, and enjoying the beautiful weather.
On a sad note; Dick Clark passed away, and I remember watching American Bandstand and all the "new" artists he introduced before they became famous.
Also, Chuck Colson is very near to going home and what a legacy he leaves, with thousands saved by his writing and preaching. What a godly man! God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Psalm 68:1-6
Arise, O God, and scatter your enemies.
Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Drive them off like smoke blown by the wind.
Melt them like wax in fire.
Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
But let the godly rejoice.
Let them be glad in God's presence.
Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord----
rejoice in his presence!
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows---
this is God, whose dwelling is Holy.
God places the lonely in families,
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But for rebels, there is only famine and distress.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
The Good Soil
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 am hearing reports from the weather people that rain is possibly in the forecast! Yay! We need it so badly! The birds and squirrels are still visiting the bowl I have on the porch wall, because as far as I know, none of the gutters around the neighborhood have any water in them from lawns being watered. I have never seen a bird drink from a lake or canal, but they have to get water somehow.
Yesterday I accomplished some errands I had been putting off. I went to CVS, where I came across my friend, Karin, and we chatted for awhile, then I made a trip to the library, and then to the park. Before I went to the park, I stopped in at Dowdy Optical because my nose was very sensitive from the nose piece. The optician said it was a good thing I came in because the glasses needed major repair. One lens was coming out which was causing the glasses to sit crookedly on my face. So he fixed them up and fitted them in just about five minutes. He is always good to take care of my needs.
There were not many people at the park at the hour I was there, but the sun was shining and the wind was blowing. I saw a white egret standing far down the canal looking so Florida against the dark green background of the shrubs and trees. The leaves come back so subtly on the maples that before you know it, they are all green again! God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God devotional:
It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches. Bear fruit and welcome a splendid vine.
Ezekiel 17:8
An employee approached his employee and said, "I've had ten years of experience on this job, and I'm still making the same salary that I made when I started. It's time that I got raise."
His boss retorted, "You haven't had ten years of experience. You've had one experience for ten years!"
Many of us feel that our lives could be described in the same way: one experience over and over again--or at best, boringly few experiences. When this is the pattern of our lives, we not only become depressed, but we also have no growth. Just as a garden needs fertilizer and nutrients to enrich its soil, we need the enrichment of activities and experiences to broaden our lives and stimulate our souls.
Joseph Campbell once said, " I don't believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive."
How. then, may we enrich our lives? It must be intentional. Don't think that someone else can do it for you. There are multitudes of ways to get started:
. Take up a sport that you always wanted to play.
. Take your spouse or a friend out to dinner and the entertainment of your choice.
. Plan a trip to see something or someone interesting.
. Volunteer to do work that will help the less fortunate.
. Visit a friend that you haven't seen for awhile.
. Get involved in a place of worship that challenges you.
Participate! Learn! Sing! Read! Praise! Listen!
Give! Talk with your God! In experiences such as these, you will find the Source of all the excitement that you can handle.
Experience is the mother of truth, and by experience we learn wisdom.
William Shippen, Jr.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Yesterday I accomplished some errands I had been putting off. I went to CVS, where I came across my friend, Karin, and we chatted for awhile, then I made a trip to the library, and then to the park. Before I went to the park, I stopped in at Dowdy Optical because my nose was very sensitive from the nose piece. The optician said it was a good thing I came in because the glasses needed major repair. One lens was coming out which was causing the glasses to sit crookedly on my face. So he fixed them up and fitted them in just about five minutes. He is always good to take care of my needs.
There were not many people at the park at the hour I was there, but the sun was shining and the wind was blowing. I saw a white egret standing far down the canal looking so Florida against the dark green background of the shrubs and trees. The leaves come back so subtly on the maples that before you know it, they are all green again! God is good!
From Quiet Moments with God devotional:
It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches. Bear fruit and welcome a splendid vine.
Ezekiel 17:8
An employee approached his employee and said, "I've had ten years of experience on this job, and I'm still making the same salary that I made when I started. It's time that I got raise."
His boss retorted, "You haven't had ten years of experience. You've had one experience for ten years!"
Many of us feel that our lives could be described in the same way: one experience over and over again--or at best, boringly few experiences. When this is the pattern of our lives, we not only become depressed, but we also have no growth. Just as a garden needs fertilizer and nutrients to enrich its soil, we need the enrichment of activities and experiences to broaden our lives and stimulate our souls.
Joseph Campbell once said, " I don't believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive."
How. then, may we enrich our lives? It must be intentional. Don't think that someone else can do it for you. There are multitudes of ways to get started:
. Take up a sport that you always wanted to play.
. Take your spouse or a friend out to dinner and the entertainment of your choice.
. Plan a trip to see something or someone interesting.
. Volunteer to do work that will help the less fortunate.
. Visit a friend that you haven't seen for awhile.
. Get involved in a place of worship that challenges you.
Participate! Learn! Sing! Read! Praise! Listen!
Give! Talk with your God! In experiences such as these, you will find the Source of all the excitement that you can handle.
Experience is the mother of truth, and by experience we learn wisdom.
William Shippen, Jr.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Flower Power
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! This is another beautiful, dry day with lots of sunshine.The prediction is for rain this weekend and I really hope this is accurate!
I had a nice quiet day yesterday, folding some of the clothes I sorted out of one closet, reading and doing chores around the house. I went to the park and enjoyed the peace and quiet there for a while. Saw the gopher tortoise in position to head down into his tunnel. It must be quiet and cool deep into his home..the water is very low in the canal with lots of hydrilla, so a good rain would help to bring the water level up.
There must be a beauty berry bush blooming somewhere, because there are purple splashes all over my sidewalk. I am glad I park my car in the garage!
I think the Times carrier likes to sling the newspaper on the porch, because one of my poinsettias got clipped quite badly from the heavy Sunday paper. They rescued the paper and put it in front of the door, but the damage was done. I think the plant will survive, though. I appreciate that they are trying to put it on the porch after numerous calls asking them to. It was on the roof one morning, so they had to give me another one. But, they try, God is good!
From the devotional book ; Quiet Moments with God; (BTW, Louis and I visited Bouchart Gardens about twenty years ago, and it is beautiful)
We dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves. But they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise.
2 Corinthians 10:13 KJV
Butchart Gardens is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Victoria, British Columbia. The elaborate display dates back to 1904, when Jenny Bouchart decided to transform pat of her husband's limestone quarry into a sunken garden. Today it is open all year and includes a botanical array of breathtaking beauty.
When one walks through these delightful grounds, it is impossible to choose the most outstanding exhibition. The plants are obviously healthy and well attended. Each provides colorful blossoms that are distinct, yet make a significant contribution in the overall scheme and design.
Likewise, part of our spiritual growth is to realize our importance in God's garden, especially when we exercise the talents and abilities He has given. Many feel inferior about their own gifts, and they compare themselves unfavorably with others. And yet God designs different people just as He created various kinds of flowers. The lily and the rose each have their own features. In fact, every blossom has its own unique characteristics. Tulips, lilacs, and hyacinths are not alike, yet each kind of flower adds a particular fragrance and beauty to any arrangement.
The same is true in life. Take a few moments to make an inventory of your gifts. Then ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Through His power, you can make a difference in the lives of others as well as your own.
Give what you have to someone.
It may be better than you dare to think.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
I had a nice quiet day yesterday, folding some of the clothes I sorted out of one closet, reading and doing chores around the house. I went to the park and enjoyed the peace and quiet there for a while. Saw the gopher tortoise in position to head down into his tunnel. It must be quiet and cool deep into his home..the water is very low in the canal with lots of hydrilla, so a good rain would help to bring the water level up.
There must be a beauty berry bush blooming somewhere, because there are purple splashes all over my sidewalk. I am glad I park my car in the garage!
I think the Times carrier likes to sling the newspaper on the porch, because one of my poinsettias got clipped quite badly from the heavy Sunday paper. They rescued the paper and put it in front of the door, but the damage was done. I think the plant will survive, though. I appreciate that they are trying to put it on the porch after numerous calls asking them to. It was on the roof one morning, so they had to give me another one. But, they try, God is good!
From the devotional book ; Quiet Moments with God; (BTW, Louis and I visited Bouchart Gardens about twenty years ago, and it is beautiful)
We dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves. But they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise.
2 Corinthians 10:13 KJV
Butchart Gardens is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Victoria, British Columbia. The elaborate display dates back to 1904, when Jenny Bouchart decided to transform pat of her husband's limestone quarry into a sunken garden. Today it is open all year and includes a botanical array of breathtaking beauty.
When one walks through these delightful grounds, it is impossible to choose the most outstanding exhibition. The plants are obviously healthy and well attended. Each provides colorful blossoms that are distinct, yet make a significant contribution in the overall scheme and design.
Likewise, part of our spiritual growth is to realize our importance in God's garden, especially when we exercise the talents and abilities He has given. Many feel inferior about their own gifts, and they compare themselves unfavorably with others. And yet God designs different people just as He created various kinds of flowers. The lily and the rose each have their own features. In fact, every blossom has its own unique characteristics. Tulips, lilacs, and hyacinths are not alike, yet each kind of flower adds a particular fragrance and beauty to any arrangement.
The same is true in life. Take a few moments to make an inventory of your gifts. Then ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Through His power, you can make a difference in the lives of others as well as your own.
Give what you have to someone.
It may be better than you dare to think.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, April 16, 2012
Joggin' thru Joshua
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! This is another day without much needed rain, but we still depend on God's timing to bring what we need. Because I did not water them, my amaryllis have all died, and I don't know if the bulbs have dried up or not. Shame on me for not watering!
We heard a powerful sermon yesterday from the president of the Alaska Christian College, and afterwards, I drove to the Park before going home. As I was marveling at the light and shadows, and the crowd of people milling around, all out to enjoy nature's beauty, Louis Armstrong's voice came over the radio singing, "What a wonderful world." Perfect!!
It was a nice, quiet weekend with a lot of reading accomplished and some tasks around the house..more closet cleaning and not much else, but God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT: (the theme of our sermon yesterday).
Joshua 1:3-9
I promise you what I promised Moses: Everywhere you go, you will be on land I have given you--from the Negev desert in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River on the east to the Mediterranean Sea on the west and all the land of the Hittites. No one will be able to stand their ground against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
Be strong and courageous, for you will lead my people to possess all the land I swore to give their ancestors. Be strong and very courageous Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
We heard a powerful sermon yesterday from the president of the Alaska Christian College, and afterwards, I drove to the Park before going home. As I was marveling at the light and shadows, and the crowd of people milling around, all out to enjoy nature's beauty, Louis Armstrong's voice came over the radio singing, "What a wonderful world." Perfect!!
It was a nice, quiet weekend with a lot of reading accomplished and some tasks around the house..more closet cleaning and not much else, but God is good!
From the Promise Bible NLT: (the theme of our sermon yesterday).
Joshua 1:3-9
I promise you what I promised Moses: Everywhere you go, you will be on land I have given you--from the Negev desert in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River on the east to the Mediterranean Sea on the west and all the land of the Hittites. No one will be able to stand their ground against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
Be strong and courageous, for you will lead my people to possess all the land I swore to give their ancestors. Be strong and very courageous Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
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