Spiritual Growth

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! Sunshine, cool breezes and another beautiful day in the Sunshine City! We really need rain, but these days are nice.

My yard crew came yesterday  to make the sparse grass look nicer. They bring my dumpster back up from the curb, but one guy left it front of the garage door, instead of all the way back by the side door. Guess he didn't think about how I would be able to get the car out of the garage...Oh, well, at least he brought it that far.

I watched Dancing With The Stars last night, just to see Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess. He is the Iran vet. who lost his left arm and leg. I teared up at their dance, interpreting his story from the man he was before and the man he has become after.  Even after watching it several times, I am still affected by the beauty of the dance. I hope they win, but they probably won't.

I drove through the Park yesterday and saw a young heron in the water, and a couple ibis. Not so many people were there, as over the weekend, but I'm sure a lot of them were already at the Trop, to watch the Rays opening day! Too bad they lost, but Go Rays! God is good.

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is full of living power. It is
sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep
into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes
us for what we really are. Nothing in all creation can
hide from him. This is the God to whom we must
explain all that we have done.

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! We had overcast skies an hour or so ago, but now the sun is shining and already the A/C has kicked in because the humidity is rising. It promises to be another warm, beautiful day for opening day for the Rays!

We had a wonderful Easter service yesterday, with joyful singing and a powerful message. I attended second service and Brian was already there. He had attended his church's Sat. evening service and then Grace Lutheran for early Easter celebration, so he was very churched by 12 noon. Then, we drove down to The Hangar restaurant for our Easter buffet. I thought it must be opening day for the Rays, because the interstate was so crowded as we neared the exit for Tropicana Field, so we headed for the 4th St. exit, instead, and made our way to the restaurant without having to deal with so much traffic.

After the meal, I was waiting outside in front, for Brian to get the car and pick me up, when I heard a voice calling my name. I looked up, and around, and started to go back in the airport when the Keeners came walking up. Ray was the one who was playing tricks on me! They and the Tallman clan came for their buffet. I told them we did not leave anything...

It was a beautiful weekend with the park quite full all three days. I drove around Lynch Lake Park, and saw my favorite, beautiful roseate spoonbill lift its wings and hop up on the grass by the water! God did such a wonderful thing when He created those pinks! Gorgeous!
God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful
or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it
has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice, but
rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up,
 never loses faith, is always hopeful and
endures through every circumstance.

Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown
languages will all disappear. Now we know only a little , and
even the gift of prophecy reveals little! But when the end comes,
these special gifts will all disappear.

It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and
reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away
childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor
mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.
All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will
know everything completely, just as God knows me now.

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 and Happy Birthday to Daryl,
Amaryllis

The Resurrection

Good Morning on this Good Friday, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! I am running late on this beautiful morning, so I will just send on the scripture about the happenings after Jesus crucifixion and death.

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Luke 24:12
But very early on Sunday morning, the women came to the tomb,
taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone
covering the entrance had been rolled aside. So they went in, but
they couldn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. They were puzzled,
trying to think what could have happened to it. Suddenly, two men
appeared to them,clothed in dazzling robes. The women were
terrified and bowed low before them. Then the men asked, "Why
are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn't here!
He has risen from the dead! Don't you remember what he told you
back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands
of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again the third day!"

Then they remembered that he had said this, so they rushed back to
 tell his eleven disciples---and everyone else---what had happened.
The women who went to the tomb were Mary Magdalene, Joanna,
 Mary the mother of James, and several others. They told the apostles
what had happened, but the story sounded like nonsense, so they
 didn't believe it. However, Peter ran to the tomb to look. Stooping,
he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings, then he went home
again, wondering what had happened.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Jesus Prays

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! Just another in the string of beautiful days, with sun, and cool air in the morning and really warming up in the afternoon. I had the windows open all day and left one open last night. Just perfect!

It was a quiet day for me yesterday. I washed the sheets and was making the bed when Cheryl came to clean. We had a nice chat and I asked her if she had heard back from the Duke Energy people about her damaged fence. So far, she hasn't but she talked with the fence people to get their idea of how much it would cost for the repair, so when the Duke person calls back, she will have a working knowledge of what to ask for. The Lewis trimmers are certainly not arborists! They took such a big chunk out of my oak in the back that it will never grow back or fill in again. Sigh.

I watched two cute squirrels sitting on the wall of my porch eating acorns that they dug out of the ground. They always leave the husks on the wall, but I don't mind brushing them off. Louis used to sit out under the tree and the squirrels would crawl up his pant leg and sit on his knee eating peanuts out of his hand. He really loved that!

Well, this is Maundy Thursday, and Sunday is coming! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Luke 22:39-46
Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs
room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There he told
them, "Pray that you will not be overcome by temptation."
He walked away, about a stone's throw, and knelt down
and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup
of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine."
Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.
He prayed more fervently and he was in such agony of spirit
that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples only
to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. "Why are you sleeping?"
he asked. "Get up and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you."

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! This is a carbon copy of yesterday's weather with cool air in the morning and the sun rapidly warming up. Just beautiful for all spring breakers and vacationers.

I spent a good part of yesterday looking at old pictures, and trying to find the photos we took on our visit to Uncle Dan several years ago. That visit happened to be shortly before he passed away, so I am very glad we were able to go. I want to send copies to my newly discovered cousin in England, who is trying to build the family tree. I really need an organizing gene! Too late for that, though!

I had several appointments last week and forgot that Friday I had an early one with the eye doctor. I drove back from Pinellas Park with eyes dilated, but, fortunately, the sky was overcast, which really helped. When I got home, I really did not need lights on in the house. I think the stuff they use for the dilating is not as strong as it used to be, because it did not last as long. That was a good thing!

I visited the park later in the afternoon yesterday, and it was crowded, once again. Lots of cars, both local and visitors. The ibis don't hang around when there is a crowd, but I saw an anhinga with wings outstretched in the distance on the way in. Then, on the way out, the 6 ft. gator had climbed up on the bank of the canal in front of the weir, and was busy sunning himself. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd,
I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk
through the dark valley of death,'I will not be afraid,
for you and your staff
protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You welcome me as a guest,
anointing my head with oil.
My cup    overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

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! The weather is perfect right now, with cool air in the morning and very warm sunshine. I had some windows open yesterday to let the fresh air in.

The tree trimmers for Duke Energy were here all day and took their lunch break in Cheryl's yard across the street and rest in the afternoon in my yard, in the shade both times. The big truck was parked in front all day, but the mulch grinder truck moved  with the men. They whacked so much off my two trees in the back, that the first mulching took the truck away to be emptied, and then they dragged so many branches down that they were lined up all across the front of the property. The sun shone brightly in my bedroom windows until about 6:30 last evening.

I was able to get the van out and run some errands, even though it was a tight fit with the big truck in front of the driveway. I went to the library, which was busy, now that school is out. Then I went on to the park, which was also busy, with lots of visitors on such a beautiful day. Turtles were sunning on the bank of the weir, an ibis took off across the road, the water was high in the canal and lots of people were hanging over the bridge, looking at the water. God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Psalm 84:1-4

How lovely is your dwelling place, 
O Lord Almighty.
I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being , body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home there,
and the swallow builds her nest
and raises her young-
at a place near your altar,
O Lord Almighty, my King and my God!
How happy are those who can live in your
house,
always singing your praises.

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis

Jesus Predicts His Death

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 just had men swarming all over the backyard on this cool, sunshiny day. The Duke Energy tree trimmers really took big hunks out of my oaks in the back that were overhanging the power line. I foresee a warm summer for my bedroom since the shade from the trees is gone and it is on the west side of the house. I knew the guys were coming, though, because I have seen them all over the neighborhood. I had a conversation with the Mexican who was up in the tree. He offered to trim the limbs away from the roof for a price, but I declined. I prefer to get bids myself.

Last Friday I had an appointment with the dental hygienist for the six months cleaning. She also took x-rays, which I hate, because it hurts to bite down on the gizmo she puts in my mouth. One bright thing, though...I stopped for a red light at 62nd and 66th St. and then did not stop again until Tyrone Blvd, which is about 4 miles away. Amazing! All green lights! Did not happen on the way home, though.

I have discovered through the internet and Facebook that I have relatives living in England. Second cousins and maybe more. Adam is a young man whose grandfather was my father's brother, and my Uncle. The world is getting smaller!

Well, I visited Trader Joes for the first time Thursday. Probably for the last time, also. I don't know what I expected, actually, but I will stick to Publix from now on. I was interested in their frozen foods, because they had some different items that looked very interesting. I thought the breads were expensive, so I did not buy any. Oh, well, at least I went!

I visited the Park after church, yesterday, and saw some black, wet turtles on the bank of the weir, and lots of people walking and picnicking. It was a beautiful warm, sunshiny, day! God is good!

From the Promise Bible NLT:

Mark 8:31-

Then Jesus began to tell them that he, the Son of Man,
would suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the leaders,
the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He
would be killed and three days later, he would rise again. As he
talked about this openly with his disciples , Peter took him
aside and told him he shouldn't  say things like that.
Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and then said to
Peter very sternly, "Get away from me, Satan! You are seeing
things merely from a human point of view, not from God's."

Then he called his disciples and the crowds to come over and
listen. "If any of you wants to be my follower," he told them, "you
must put aside your selfish ambition,shoulder your cross, and
follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose
it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the
Good News, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if
you gain the whole world, but lose your own soul  in the process?
Is anything worth more than your soul? If a person is ashamed of me
and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, I, the Son of Man
will be ashamed of that person when I return in the glory of my Father
with the holy angels."

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

Love and hugs,
 Amaryllis