Loping thru Luke

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! Cool mornings, drier than usual air, and sunshine. Who could ask for anything more? Actually, it is more spring like than anything else!

Yesterday, after stripping the bed and washing and drying sheets, I went over to Winn Dixie for a few things. I hardly ever shop there for some reason, but I was glad I did, because they have the brand of bacon that I like, and Publix has discontinued carrying it. And I got everything on my list for a change!

After I left the store I drove over to the Park and saw a very wet anhinga flattened out on the weir drying off. He was sleek, and the feathers were shining blue black in the bright sun. Further down in the canal a great white heron was splashing  and looked quite excited about something, Maybe he found a fish! The azaleas are making a nice show there now, as are mine.

I am still seeing in my mind the crowd of Amish people on their bikes and trikes waiting at an intersection in Sarasota. Since that lifestyle is in my history, I am quite interested in them and their way of life...the women's home made dresses and the men with their style of dress..fascinating!  They don't wear expensive clothes and care nothing about "keeping up with the Joneses". No electronic games for the kids, and no staring at the TV all day. We all could take a lesson from them. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Luke 6:27-36
But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies.
Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness
of those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek,
turn the other cheek. If someone demands your coat, offer your
shirt also. Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it,
 and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them
back. Do for others as you would like them to do for you.

Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who
love you? Even the sinners do that! And if you do good only
to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners
do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can
repay you, what good is that?Even sinners will lend to their own
kind for a full return.

Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! and don't
be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from
heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children
of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those
who are wicked. You must be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.

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

 Amaryllis

Chronicles and Acts

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 yard men have come and gone and since it is President's day and I read on my schedule that there was no change in trash pickup, I thought they would have picked up already. But, apparently the schedule was wrong, so the guys put the dumpster down for tomorrow, which is good, since they put a huge black bag of leaves in it from last week!

Well, I had an interesting weekend. After getting my hair done Sat. by my friend, Mari, I decided to go down Central to downtown, since I had not been in the hub of activity for a little while. What an active, lively, busy place downtown St. Petersburg is! There were no empty parking spaces for about four blocks on Central, and Beach drive was also full. Lots of people walking, eating outside, shopping and just enjoying the beautiful weather! We have one of the most beautiful waterfronts anywhere! I am glad this is my home and home town!

Then Sat. afternoon, Brian and I headed down to Sarasota. I had told him I would like to treat him to dinner in celebration of his new position starting Tuesday. We thought by leaving early enough to get to Yoder's around 5, that we would beat the crowds! WRONG!

There must have been a hundred people standing in line outside to get into the restaurant, and more people shopping the gift shop, and fresh market at the Village. So, we turned around and drove a couple blocks to Der Dutchman. It was also crowded and had a crowd, but they were all inside and had signal devices for when names were called. So, we looked around at all the baked goods and upstairs were gifts. I like to people watch and there were as many Amish and Mennonite people there as outsiders. We only had to wait about thirty minutes, before sitting down to a substantial meal. I had poached salmon which was delicious, but they had other choices of meats and loads of veggies on the buffet, plus a large salad bar. I was stuffed  when I got up.

While we were waiting, a friend came up to me that I had not seen for several years, so it is a small world!

On the way home, the huge, orangish moon was rising over the Bay and it was just gorgeous. If I hadn't been in the car, I would have taken a pic of it! Not a cloud in the sky...just the huge snow moon! It was a wonderful evening. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Acts 10:34
Then Peter replied, " I see very clearly that God
doesn't show partiality. In every nation he accepts
those who fear him and do what is right."

2 Chronicles 7:14
Then if my people will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways , I
will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and
heal their land.

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

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Love

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 Happy Valentine's Day  to all and Happy 18th birthday to my favorite grandson, Matthew!

We have a beautiful but cool start to the day, with lots of sun and no wind. While it is still in the fifties, the sun will warm things up very soon.

Daryl said their snow is already melting, so everything will be back to normal, whatever that is, soon. I saw pictures on the news this morning of over a hundred cars involved in a massive pile-up on a freeway in PA.! It will take hours for traffic to clear, but I just hope and pray there were no injuries in that mess!

After I finished shopping yesterday, I visited the Park and saw that their azaleas are blooming and while not as pretty as in years past, because of drastic pruning, still the pink flowers are very cheery looking.. I saw a wood stork huddled up on the side of the very full canal, and an anhinga with his wings folded on the weir. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:
 
 1 Corinthians 13:13
There are three things that will endure---faith, hope and love---and the greatest of these is love.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalms

Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Wow! What a thunderstorm that was yesterday! I was safe and dry at home, but I watched on TV as the ice formed in Atla. and the people stuck on the roller coaster at Busch Gardens  sat through the rain and storm. Lots of news alerts most of the day.

Daryl texted pics of the 8 inches of snow that fell in Cleveland, TN.! What a storm! While the temps. are slowing dropping here, and the wind is blowing strongly, we have blue skies and lots of sun, so all is good.

I made a trip to the library and then the park to check it out. People walking, having picnics, and just enjoying a nice day before the storm. I saw a great white heron almost hidden behind a bulrush, and one anhinga before I got down further, but it was just a good day for enjoying the outdoors.

My cleaning ladies came and did their usual good job before leaving, so I have a clean house and am safe and dry. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 150

Praise God in his heavenly dwelling,
praise him in his mighty heaven.
Praise him for his mighty works,
praise his unequaled greatness.
Praise him with a blast of the trumpet,
praise him with the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
Praise him with the stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals!
Let everything that lives sing praises to the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Learning from Luke

Good Morning, dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! Wow! I was not expecting a lot of fog this morning, but that is what greeted me when I looked out. Then I watched the traffic reports and visibility was down to almost zero on the bridges, so there were accidents, of course, including one fatality and a truck carrying liquor overturned, spilling a lot of alcohol all over! Lots of work for the troopers and first responders! I give thanks for them in their work!

I went shopping yesterday and found some bargains at Beall's , but they always have sales. I just got a little extra off because of Senior Day. There are perks to being a senior! Then I drove out to get gas and was disappointed to find that gas had jumped up overnight. But, since I only buy gas about once a month, I can't complain too much!

I stopped by the Park on my way and saw quite a few cars and people walking around enjoying the great weather. I almost had to stop for a frisky squirrel who decided to dare me by stopping for a second in front of me as he dashed across the road! A lone anhinga was sunning on the weir and a great blue heron was near him. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Luke 12:22-31

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, " So I tell you, don't worry about everyday
life, whether you have enough food to eat, or enough clothes to wear. For life consists of more than food and clothing. Look at the ravens. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns, because God feeds them. And you are far more
valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not!  And if worry can't do little things like that, what's the use of worrying about bigger things?

Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith !....

He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalm 5

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 will be another beautiful day just like yesterday, but we are still being warned about the rain and colder weather coming tomorrow evening.  Also, I watched the Gov. of GA and the mayor of Atla. speaking about all the preparations being made so that they do not get caught unawares as they did two weeks ago. Maybe it won't be as bad as they expect, but it is always good to be prepared...just as we do when a hurricane approaches!

Well, my azaleas are blooming nicely, and look very pretty. I am sure that houses with more azaleas than I have are already showing off the beauty that happens once a year. My bushes are very old, but seem to be holding up  well, with trimming once in a while. I haven't noticed the ones in the park blooming yet. Guess I will have to take a look next time I go.

Well, my birthday balloons are slowing losing their gas. 5 are resting on the hearth and floor, and three are slowly sagging and will probably be on the hearth later this week.. But they are a good reminder of a happy day and how loved on I was by my special friends. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 5

O Lord, hear me as I pray;
pay attention to my groaning.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,
for I will never pray to anyone but you.
Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.
O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness,
you cannot tolerate the slightest sin.

Therefore, the proud will not be allowed
to stand in your presence,
for you hate all who do evil.
You will destroy those who tell lies.
The Lord detests murderers and deceivers.....

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice,
let them sing with joyful praises forever,
Protect them, so all who love your name may be filled with joy.
For you bless the godly, O Lord,
surrounding them with your shield of love.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Psoaring thru Psalms

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! Cool air and bright sunshine are the start to a beautiful day. Daryl told me yesterday that another cold wave is coming through in TN and they are expecting snow again. I was watching the weather channel a while ago, and the reporter in Atla. said that stores were running out of salt and Ice Melt. They got caught two weeks ago, totally unprepared for the ice on the highway, so people are stocking up this time!

Well, we certainly don't have to worry about that here! I wish I had leaf melt! My yard guys were just here, blowing off the leaves and piling them up in the driveway, then they bagged them and put them in the dumpster. Only problem is, the garbage has already been picked up, so the container will sit in the driveway until Thurs. when another pick up is scheduled. But I am very grateful that they raked up the leaves!

I saw lots of water fowl around Lynch Lake on my way to church yesterday. Woodstorks, anhingas, Muscovy ducks and ibis, also, a few seagulls. The Lake has been declared a park by the city now, which means it gets taken care of by the Parks dept.

After church, I drove to Sawgrass, and saw lots of cars and people out enjoying the warm weather.  A black turtle was plastered on the bank of the weir, and a droopy anhinga was perched on the weir itself. I saw a woman with her small dog on a leash watching it sniff around the large brown gopher tortoise. All the turtle has to do is withdraw himself into his house and he feels safe from dogs and other curious creatures. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 1
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or join with scoffers.
But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants.
Day and night they think about his law.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fresh fruit each season without fail.
Their leaves never wither,
and in all they do, they prosper.

But this is not true of the wicked.
They are like worthless chaff, scattered like the wind.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.

For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis