Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... June, 2014

6-1-2014 | JustAmy; St.Louie1; MamaBear; Billie; Meg33, Friends

[geologist]

Indeed! Indeed! Repentance must be in truth, and not merely a passing moment of regret while the same sins are continuing to be repeated.

We are weak and God is strong. We are to be sincere and not simply going through the motions of repentance. TURN AWAY from former sins and follow God’s Word! Thank God for His grace, tender mercies, loving kindness, goodness, forgiveness, LOVE, HOPE, JOY! PEACE.

“If God be for you/me, who can be against you/me?”

Hallelujah! AMEN!

[The Mayor]

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Waving The White Flag
July 23, 2014

Read: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God. —Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 33-34; Acts 24

Recently, while watching a video of a church service held in South America, I noticed something I had never seen before in church. As the pastor passionately called his flock to yield their lives to Jesus, one of the parishioners took a white hankie out of his pocket and started waving it in the air. Then another, and another. With tears running down their cheeks, they were expressing full surrender to Christ.

But I wonder if there was more to the moment than the flags of surrender. I think they were waving flags of love to God. When God told His people to “love the Lord your God” (Deut. 6:5), it was in the context of His urging them to surrender their lives to Him.

From God’s point of view, life with Him is far more than just trying to be good. It is always about relationship—relationship in which surrender is the way we express our grateful love to Him. Jesus, in amazing love for us, surrendered Himself on the cross to rescue us from our helpless bondage to sin and set us on a journey to all that is good and glorious.

We don’t have enough words to tell God how much we love Him! So, let’s show Him our love by surrendering our hearts and lives to follow Him.

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine.
Take all my will, my passion, self, and pride;
I now surrender, Lord—in me abide. —Orr

Surrender is God’s love language.

Insight

Deuteronomy 6:4 contains the Shema (or Shema Yisrael). This affirmation of the oneness of God (“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!”) is the centerpiece of the morning and evening prayers of observant Jews. The title Shema comes from the Hebrew term for the first word in the verse, hear.

[The Mayor]

Oooops, forgot the ping list.

[geologist]

Not my will ... but Thine. Let us yield our will to God. God will bring changes in each lives for our teaching. God knows exactly what works, and we all need to grow in faith.

Thank Thee LORD for our breath, life, fill us with The Holy Spirit. and lead us in the way of understanding, in Jesus name amen.

[Diver Dave]

A truly great response to Our LORD and Savior!

Thank You Lord for the information provided by The Mayor (Our Daily Bread) and the messages from geologist.

My LORD always provide His Message through messages from His Servents.

Thank You!!!

[The Mayor]

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He Calls The Stars By Name
July 24, 2014

Read: Psalm 147:1-9

He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. —Psalm 147:4

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 35-36; Acts 25

On a plateau high above the Atacama Desert in Chile, the world’s largest radio telescope is giving astronomers a view of the universe never seen before. In an Associated Press article, Luis Andres Henao spoke of scientists from many countries “looking for clues about the dawn of the cosmos—from the coldest gases and dust where galaxies are formed and stars are born to the energy produced by the Big Bang.”

The Bible celebrates the mighty power and infinite understanding of God who “counts the number of the stars” and “calls them all by name” (Ps. 147:4). Yet the Creator of the universe is not a remote, uncaring force, but a loving heavenly Father who “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (v.3). “The Lord lifts up the humble” (v.6) and “takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” (v.11).

He loves us so much that “He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

British author J. B. Phillips called Earth “the visited planet,” where the Prince of Glory is still working out His plan.

Our hope for today and forever lies in the loving mercy of God who calls each star by name.

The God who made the firmament,
Who made the deepest sea,
The God who put the stars in place
Is the God who cares for me. —Berg

God, who knows the name of every star, knows all our names as well.

Insight

The book of Psalms concludes with five hymns of praise (Psalms 146–150) that begin and end with the refrain, “Praise the Lord!” (Hebrew, Hallelujah). In Psalm 147, the psalmist calls for grateful worship (vv.1,7) as he reflects on the goodness of God to Israel (vv.2-3,6) and on His greatness in creation (vv.4-5,8-9). The psalmist celebrates God’s loving faithfulness in caring and blessing His chosen people individually (vv.2-3,7) and in displaying His mighty power in creating and sustaining His creation generally (vv.4-5,8-9). Focusing not only on God’s greatness but also on His closeness, goodness, and kindness, the psalmist affirms that it is God alone who provides security and prosperity (vv.13-14).

[geologist]

The wonders God has made are a multiplicity of amazing creations.

PRAISE THE LORD! Thank THEE LORD for this day, help us to be a blessing to all we contact, in Jesus name, amen.

Gotta run ... back later.

[The Mayor]

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Looking For Zacchaeus
July 25, 2014

Read: Luke 19:1-10

Today salvation has come to this house. —Luke 19:9

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 37-39; Acts 26

Alf Clark walks the city streets looking for Zacchaeus. Well, not the actual one in the Bible—Jesus already found him. Alf and some friends who serve with an urban ministry do what Jesus did in Luke 19. They go purposefully through town to meet with and help those in need.

Alf walks house to house in his neighborhood, knocking on doors and saying to whoever peeks out, “Hi, I’m Alf. Do you have any needs I can pray for?” It’s his way of opening up communication and—like Jesus did with tax-collector Zacchaeus—seeking to supply needed counsel and spiritual life and hope.

Notice what Jesus did. Luke simply says that Jesus “passed through” Jericho (Luke 19:1). Of course, a crowd gathered, as usually occurred when Jesus came to town. Zacchaeus, being “height challenged,” climbed a tree. Jesus, while passing through, walked right over to his tree and told him He had to visit at his house. That day salvation came to Zacchaeus’s house. Jesus had “come to seek and to save that which was lost” (v.10).

Do we look for Zacchaeus? He is everywhere, needing Jesus. In what ways can we share Christ’s love with people who need the Savior?

God, guide our steps toward and not away
from those who need You. Then guide our words
and our actions so that we can be purposeful
in our encounters with others.

God’s good news is too good to keep to ourselves.

Insight

When Zacchaeus said he would “restore fourfold” (v.8), he followed the highest pattern rather than the one required under Jewish law. While fourfold restoration was required for sheep stealing (see Ex. 22:1 and David’s response to Nathan, 2 Sam. 12:5-6), the restitution for normal theft was a return of the principal plus an extra 20 percent

[luvie]

Gregg Karukas~Girl In The Red Dress

God Bless Our Troops!
God Bless America!

[The Mayor]

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The Work Of Our Hands
July 26, 2014

Read: Isaiah 17:7-11

Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, . . . the harvest will be a heap of ruins. —Isaiah 17:10–11

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 40-42; Acts 27:1-26

Spring had just turned into summer and crops were beginning to produce fruit as our train rolled across the fertile landscape of West Michigan’s shoreline. Strawberries had ripened, and people were kneeling in the morning dew to pick the sweet fruit. Blueberry bushes were soaking up sunshine from the sky and nutrients from the earth.

After passing field after field of ripening fruit, we came to a rusty pile of abandoned metal. The harsh image of orange scrap metal poking out of the earth was a sharp contrast to the soft greens of growing crops. The metal produces nothing. Fruit, on the other hand, grows, ripens, and nourishes hungry humans.

The contrast between the fruit and the metal reminds me of God’s prophecies against ancient cities like Damascus (Isa. 17:1,11). He says, “Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, . . . the harvest will be a heap of ruins” (Isa. 17:10-11). This prophecy serves as a contemporary warning about the danger and futility of thinking we can produce anything on our own. Apart from God, the work of our hands will become a pile of ruins. But when we join with God in the work of His hands, God multiplies our effort and provides spiritual nourishment for many.

Lord, I want to be a part of what You are
doing in Your world. Apart from You, my
work is nothing. Lead me, fill me, use
me. Nourish others through me.

>“Without Me you can do nothing.” —Jesus (John 15:5)

Insight

At the time of Isaiah’s prophecy, the Assyrians were a military threat to the region. The northern kingdom of Israel formed a military pact with Syria to fight the Assyrians. Because King Ahaz of Judah refused to join the alliance, Syria and Israel attacked Judah (2 Kings 16:5; Isa. 7:6). Isaiah had assured King Ahaz that God would protect and deliver Judah. But instead of trusting God for help and deliverance, Judah turned to the Assyrians for help and protection (2 Chron. 28:16-21; Isa. 7:1-12). Ahaz rejected God and turned to idols instead (2 Chron. 28:22-26). In Isaiah 17, the prophet pronounced judgment on Israel and Syria, warning that they would be defeated by the Assyrians (see also Isa. 7:17; 8:4).

[The Mayor]

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Divine Perspective
July 27, 2014

Read: Habakkuk 2:2-14

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; . . . it will surely come. —Habakkuk 2:3

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 43-45; Acts 27:27-44

Jason took a trip to New York during spring break. One afternoon he and some friends piled into a cab and headed for the Empire State Building. To Jason, the ride on the ground seemed chaotic and dangerous. But when he got to the observation deck of the skyscraper and looked down on the city streets, to his amazement he saw order and design. What a difference a change in perspective made!

Habakkuk learned a similar lesson. When he looked at life from his earthly vantage point, it seemed that God was indifferent to the evil permeating society (Hab. 1:2-4). But God gave him a divine perspective and showed him that life is more than what it seems. The deeds of men cannot thwart the purposes of God (2:3).

Those who don’t show any regard for God may seem to prosper at the moment, but God will ultimately right all wrong. God acts sovereignly in all that comes to pass so that everything works toward His good purpose. God’s plan will surely take place and be on schedule (v.3).

We can’t sort out the whole picture from where we are in life; only God can. So let us continue to live by faith and not by sight. From His perspective, all things are working together for the believer’s good and for His honor.

Sovereign Ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise,
All my times are in Your hand,
All events at Your command. —Ryland

Our times are in God’s hands; our souls are in His keeping.

[The Mayor]

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Courageous And Consistent
July 28, 2014

Read: Acts 28:11-16,30-31

When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. —Acts 28:15

Bible in a Year:
Psalms 46-48; Acts 28

While reading the obituary of Eugene Patterson, Pulitzer Prize-winning editor of the Atlanta Constitution from 1960 to 1968, I was struck by two things. First, for many years Patterson was a fearless voice for civil rights during a time when many opposed racial equality. In addition, he wrote a column every day for 8 years. That’s 2,922 newspaper columns! Day after day, year after year. Courage and consistency were key factors in the impact of his life.

We see those same qualities in the apostle Paul. Acts 13–28 records his bravery in one harrowing situation after another. After being shipwrecked on his way to stand trial before Caesar, he landed south of Rome, where many brothers in Christ came to meet him (Acts 28:11-15). “When Paul saw them,” Luke wrote, “he thanked God and took courage” (v.15). During the next 2 years as a prisoner, Paul was allowed to live in his own rented house where he “received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence” (vv.30-31).

Every follower of Jesus can be a consistent giver and receiver of courage. The Lord can use us today to encourage and strengthen each other.

O keep up your courage, each day to the end;
Go forth in the strength of the Lord;
Trust wholly in Jesus, thy Savior and Friend,
And feed on His own blessed Word. —Miles

When people share their fears with you, share your courage with them.

Insight

Today’s passage chronicles one of Paul’s journeys and how he and his companions were received and shown hospitality. It is easy to forget that this was not a luxury cruise with an exotic island destination. During this trip, Paul was a prisoner and he and his companions (soldiers included) were met by and stayed with Christian believers. It is possible that Paul was allowed to live in his own rented home under house arrest and share the gospel (vv.30-31) because the soldiers were impressed by the hospitality that had been shown to them.

[luvie]

Good Monday morning, Rus! Looks like it’s just you and me lately! LOL!

Hope this is a good week for mixers and politics for you!

[The Mayor]

Summer is always slow and it seems like so many of our long time posters have just stopped posting. Don’t know if this thread will last much longer. But I will post coffee till it’s done.

[luvie]

You are very faithful. :) To God, to your country, to your friends!

[The Mayor]

Thanks!

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3162293/posts?q=1&;page=251#302
See my 304 also.
Amy’s Place is on vacation since June 21st.. The Mayor continues with his faithful posting of Our Daily Bread.

[The Mayor]

I never saw those... just to busy I guess. No rest for the weary.

God Bless my FRiends. I’m sad. :(

[luvie]

I never realized what they meant. I just thought it was a daily post. I’m sad too! I guess the 3 or 5 of us still hanging around can just keep on keeping on...like you are! :)

[left that other site]

Here i am! I was away but when i cam e back, I noticed there were no posts from Amy’s Place.

Then I did a search and saw there was no July thread.

I thought it was gone, and that made me very sad.

I am so happy i got pinged!