Discernment

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 had a nice rain last night, even though it did not last long, but this morning is sunshiny and a cool breeze is blowing.

I can see lots of tiny mangoes already growing on the tree next door, so it looks like a good crop for them this year. They have several mango trees, some next to the street. Maybe one will be blown into my yard...:o) (The fruit, not the tree.)

Brian and I went to lunch at the Kopper Kitchen Saturday, after meeting at Mari's to have our hair done...him for a haircut and me for styling. She was the one who suggested the place and I had not been there in years, so we drove there and had good salads. I took a slice of lemon meringue pie home, but was disappointed when I ate it. While the meringue was fluffy and delicious, the  lemon part was too tart and I think they used canned lemon juice instead of fresh. Oh, well, maybe another time!

Yesterday I drove over to the park later in the day, and found a sheriff's deputy there with a small crowd around some object. I parked and looked, and saw something covered with a white cloth, then heard a screech. So, I think they had captured a peacock, because that's what it sounded like. Peacocks are beautiful, but they screech very loudly! I had also seen an anhinga on the weir and a beautiful white egret fishing in the canal. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

When I an confused, where do I turn for clarity, wisdom, understanding and direction?

James 1:5-6 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, but sure 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.

Psalm 119:125 Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand
your decrees.

Discernment is the ability to interpret events and to understand
the true nature of people and situations. Discernment is an aspect
of wisdom. It enables us to see behind the facades that mask the
truth. Discernment shows us through the maze of options that face
us. Like the sun that burns away the fog, discernment cuts through
 the confusion and distractions. Whereas the devil is the "father of lies,"
God is the father of the truth, and he gives discernment to those who
seek it.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

For God So Loved The World

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! According to the weather map, the rain is just hanging in the Gulf, but I have not seen the sun shine since I woke up. It is overcast and the wind is blowing, and is very humid. Well, I hope it does rain, because, as usual, we need it!

I just saw a fat dove fly in to the edge of the water bowl, but after one drink, she took off! Every day I hear their mournful cooing all around. Seems like there are a lot more of them than any other bird.

After I left Office Depot yesterday afternoon, after they wrapped and sent off my package, the lure of a milkshake was calling, so I zipped over to Steak and Shake and got a half price strawberry shake. Then I went over to the park to sip it.I saw quite a few people, moms with babies, and people with walkers, but not many animals, but God is good!

From the little book of devotionals; Knowing God:

This is how much God loved the world. He gave His Son,
His one and only Son, so that no one need be destroyed,
by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting
life. John 3:16 MSG

For believers, death is not an ending; it is a beginning.
For believers, the grave is not a resting place, it is a
place of transition. For believers, death is not a dark
journey into nothingness; it is a homecoming.

God sent His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Through Jesus,
we are redeemed. By welcoming Christ into our hearts,
we have received the precious, unfathomable gift of
eternal life. Let us praise God for His Son. The One from
 Galilee has saved us from our sins so that we may live
courageously, die triumphantly, and live again--eternally.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

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! Already the weatherman is warning about the humidity and heat coming up today, but earlier the wind was a bit cooler. We are supposed to have lake effect winds up to twenty mph all day, lots of hair spray for me for when I go out!

I filled the bowl with water that I keep on the porch wall, and lots of birds have been flocking o get drinks..even some squirrels help themselves. So that means that they are dry and except for lakes and canals, there is no place for them to drink since the gutters are dry,. If I had a birdbath, I would not be able to see them come, because the yard is low, so I just keep the bowl for them. Sometimes,the birds take baths in the bowl, which splashes most of the water out!

Speaking of birds, I saw a pretty lady cardinal land in the hedge outside my window. She posed there for a minute or two, then flew off. Hopefully, they have a nest near.

When I went to the park yesterday, I saw a couple turtles on the bank of the weir and a couple ibis further down in the circle. There were quiet a few people there, later in the afternoon. I went after my cleaning ladies had left. They caught me up on the news, as usual. One of them has a sister who is the manager of the Office Depot, where I am going to mail a package today. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Isaiah 49:28-31
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

2 Timothy con't.

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 still have the A/C on and since the temps are supposed to get up to the middle eighties today, it looks like I will keep it on.

Yesterday when I was out, the shade felt very good, because the sun was hot! I need to remember to use sun block all over exposed parts. I have had too many skin cancers in the early stages to be careless!

After doing some shopping, I drove to the park and saw the little moor hens paddling around in the lake, runners, bikers dog walkers, and people enjoying a quiet moment of just enjoying the beauty of nature. All the greens are back on the trees and I noticed the jacarandas are now blooming although some of the trees still look barren without many leaves to go with the blossoms. But still, God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

2 Timothy 2:12

If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful
for he cannot deny himself.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

2 Timothy excerpts

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! Looks like spring is here and summer close behind...I have the A/C on and it will stay on as long as the air is humid and filled with pollen.

The air was quite warm yesterday, but the breeze was cool as I came out of the doctor's office. Hopefully I am through with that for a while! Once again, I did not take a book , but just sat while people watching...always an interesting pastime. I have learned to be thankful that my health is as good as it is, since I see persons younger than I, who have great difficulty moving around and others with caregivers, bringing them in to their appointments. One bright spot, though very noisy, was a baby about five months old, whose mother finally picked him up out of his carrier and he immediately got quiet and just looked at everyone with his big, brown eyes. So cute!

After I finally got out, over an hour later, I drove on to the park, to see a car parked while the passenger took pictures of a great white heron, posing on the bank of the weir. A beautiful white contrast against the green backdrop.It was late in the afternoon, but lots of people were still there. I don't know how many birds nest at the park, but already a dove has laid eggs in my oak tree over the driveway. I noticed when I retrieved the dumpster last week that an egg had fallen out and was on the ground. Doves build very sloppy nests, but God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

2 Timothy 2:3
 

Endure suffering along with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 

And as Christ's soldier , do not let yourself become tied up

in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy  the

one who has enlisted you in his army. Follow the Lord's will

for doing his work. Just as an athlete either follows the

rules or is disqualified and wins no prize. Hardworking farmers

are the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about

what I am saying. The Lord will give you understanding of all 
these things....

`I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and 

eternal glory  to Christ Jesus  to those God has chosen.

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

Love and hugs,

 Amaryllis

Paul's Thanksgiving and Prayer

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 sunshine and just right temps, so this is another in a string of beautiful days!

We had a good service yesterday, including communion, but it was unusually long, so the parking lot had very few cars when I left. I drove on to the park, because I had planned to have Quiche Lorraine for lunch. so did not go to Boston Market. Lots of people were out, walking their dogs, or running or just walking, but the weather was just beautiful!

I have had some people experiences while waiting in line in various stores. While waiting behind a man, who had a heavy accent at the pharmacy in CVS, the young cashier could not understand him very well, and he proceeded to open all the products she was waiting for him to pay for, including meds in a bottle, which he poured in his hand! This took about ten minutes, so finally another pharmacist came to open another window to take me, but she was so interested in the conversation going on next to her, she didn't even hear me, so I just stood there until she realized I was waiting. The outcome was that she moved over to the conflict and switched places, so the inexperienced worker moved to me. BTW, the man ended up not taking anything they had ready for him, after rendering the meds useless because he had handled them. Sigh.

I gave a little jump while opening the mailbox Saturday, because a lizard jumped on my hand when I opened it. I am not afraid of lizards, but he startled me! They really like my mailbox and sometimes I find eggs in it where mama lizard has dropped them. Not a good place, but God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Philippians 1:6

And I am sure that God who began the good work within you. will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

It's right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand   what really matters so you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns . May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ --for this will bring much glory and praise to God!

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Isaiah 43

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice in it!  Still damp and cloudy and last night the rain was coming down when I went to bed, so all in all, we got some nice rain that we really needed.

The sun actually came out later in the afternoon, but not for long...just long enough for me to go out to get some supper, and a trip to the park. Not many people at the park, less than a dozen cars, so rainy days mean people find indoor activities. It would have been a good day for the movies. 

However, because the Rays played under the dome, it did not affect the ball game. I must say I was not happy about the umpires' goof, in the ninth inning. Should have had instant replay on that play! Oh, well, God is still good! Have a happy weekend, everyone!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Isaiah 43:1-2

But now, O Israel, the Lord who created you  says: "Do not be afraid, 

for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name,

you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great

trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers

of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through

the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up, the flames

will not consume you...you are precious to me. You are 

honored, and I love you.

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving

joy and love!

Love and hugs,

Amaryllis