Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... January, February and March, 2016

January 2, 2016 | JustAmy; Meg33, The Mayor; Trisham; St.Louie1, Friends, MamaBear

[The Mayor]

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Desiring Growth

January 16, 2016

Anyone who lives on milk . . . is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

Hebrews 5:13

The axolotl (pronounced ACK suh LAH tuhl) is a biological enigma. Instead of maturing into adult form, this endangered Mexican salamander retains tadpole-like characteristics throughout its life. Writers and philosophers have used the axolotl as a symbol of someone who fears growth.

In Hebrews 5 we learn about Christians who were avoiding healthy growth, remaining content with spiritual "milk" intended for new believers. Perhaps because of fear of persecution, they weren't growing in the kind of faithfulness to Christ that would enable them to be strong enough to suffer with Him for the sake of others (vv. 7-10). Instead they were in danger of sliding backward from the Christlike attitudes they had already shown (6:9-11). They weren't ready for a solid diet of self-sacrifice (5:14). So the author wrote, "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand" (v. 11).

Growth in His likeness honors God as we unselfishly encourage others.

Axolotls follow the natural pattern set for them by their Creator. But followers of Christ are designed to grow into spiritual maturity. As we do, we discover that growing up in Him involves more than our own peace and joy. Growth in His likeness honors God as we unselfishly encourage others.

Lord, I want to grow, so help me to go deeper into Your Word. Teach me more each day, so that I am better equipped to serve and worship You.

The more we live on a diet of God's Word, the more we grow.

Insight:

Because of severe persecution in the first century, Jewish Christians were pressured to abandon Christianity and revert to Judaism. The unnamed writer of Hebrews wrote to encourage them by affirming the pre-eminence, superiority, and sufficiency of Christ. As he embarked on teaching about Jesus, the writer realized his readers were not able to comprehend it because they were spiritually immature (5:12-13) and had not lived holy lives according to the instructions of the Scriptures (vv. 13-14).

[trisham]

In the depth of winter I finally learned
that there was in me an invincible summer.

Albert Camus

Happy caturday and dogurday, all!

[MEG33]

*Happy Caturday Dogurday Everyone*

Thank you, trish, for the lovely quote and spring bulb pot.
I have a pot of Amaryllis almost ready to bloom... Cloudy cooler day here.
*Enjoy Your Weekend*

[The Mayor]

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A Hint of Heaven

January 17, 2016

Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:12

The world-class botanical garden across the street from our church was the setting for an all-church community gathering. As I walked around the gardens greeting people I have known for years, catching up with those I hadn't seen recently, and enjoying the beautiful surroundings cared for by people who know and love plants, I realized that the evening was rich with symbols of how the church is supposed to function--a little hint of heaven on earth.

A garden is a place where each plant is placed in an environment in which it will thrive. Gardeners prepare the soil, protect the plants from pests, and make sure each one receives the food, water, and sunlight it needs. The result is a beautiful, colorful, and fragrant place for people to enjoy.

Healthy churches draw people to God.

Like a garden, church is meant to be a place where everyone works together for the glory of God and the good of all; a place where everyone flourishes because we are living in a safe environment; a place where people are cared for according to their needs; where each of us does work we love--work that benefits others (1 Cor. 14:26).

Like well-cared-for plants, people growing in a healthy environment have a sweet fragrance that draws people to God by displaying the beauty of His love. The church is not perfect, but it really is a hint of heaven.

How can you promote the health of your church? Ask God to help you serve others as Christ serves us. Serve in a role that matches your skills and interests. Listen well to others and pray for them.

Hearts fragrant with the love of Christ display His beauty.

Insight:

Corinth, the destination of this letter, was located about fifty miles from Athens in the isthmus that connects northern Greece with the Peloponnesus of southern Greece. This strategic location made Corinth a bustling trade center and an important shipping port. Corinth was also the home of the Isthmian Games, an athletic competition in the ancient world that was second only to the ancient Olympics. This may explain Paul's use of athletic illustrations in his first letter to the Corinthians (see 1 Cor. 9:24-27).

[MEG33]

Amen to this wonderful message, Rus.
I Am So Grateful To You For Our Daily Bread

[MEG33]

~Welcome To Sunday At Amy's Place~

2 Cor. 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and
God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort those who are in any trouble.

~Blessings To All Who Enter Here~

[left that other site]

Happy Sunday!

Blessings to All!

((((HUGS))))

ML/LTOS

[MEG33]

What a beautiful, kitty! Thank you, (((ML))).

[luvie]

Gaithers/Vestal Goodman~The Lighthouse

God bless my friends!
God bless our America and our troops!

[ConorMacNessa]

HAPPY SUNDAY TO
AMY'S PLACE!



A Blessed Lord’s Day To
You And Yours!

[MEG33]

Good Sunday Evening

Thank you so much for your lovely blessings, music and graphics.
I Wish You A Very Blessed Evening And Restful Sleep
May God Keep Safe Those Who Keep Us Safe

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you for the Daily Pings & Posts, Dear FRiends.
(((((Hugs and Love to Everyone)))))

Goodnight, and God Bless.

[The Mayor]

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Minister of Reconciliation

January 18, 2016

While we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son.

Romans 5:10

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached on a Sunday morning in 1957, he fought the temptation to retaliate against a society steeped in racism.

"How do you go about loving your enemies?" he asked the Dexter Avenue Baptist congregation in Montgomery, Alabama. "Begin with yourself. . . . When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time which you must not do it."

Quoting from the words of Jesus, King said: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you . . . ; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:44-45 kjv).

As we consider those who harm us, we are wise to remember our former status as enemies of God (see Rom. 5:10). But "[God] reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation," wrote Paul (2 Cor. 5:18). Now we have a holy obligation. "He has committed to us the message of reconciliation" (v. 19). We are to take that message to the world.

Racial and political tensions are nothing new. But the business of the church is never to feed divisiveness. We should not attack those unlike us or those who hold different opinions or even those who seek our destruction. Ours is a "ministry of reconciliation" that imitates the selfless servant-heart of Jesus.

In Christ there is no east or west, in Him no south or north, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth. John Oxenham

Hate destroys the hater as well as the hated. Martin Luther King Jr.

Insight:

Our salvation changes everything about us. Paul says that the old has gone and the new has come. This is not a future event but a current state, for those who are in Christ are now a new creation. Paul uses the word reconcile for being made new (vv. 18-20)--we are being reconciled to God. To reconcile is to restore friendly relations, to erase division and distance. The purpose of being made into a new creation is so that we can help others become new creations too.

[MEG33]

Happy Monday To Amy's Place

It's a cold clear beautiful day at my house.

Hope You Have A Wonderful Week

PLEASE CLICK TO SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC
THANK YOU DONORS

[left that other site]

Happy Monday!

I hope yours is better than mine.

((((HUGS))))

ML/LTOS

[MEG33]

oh my yes...MUCH BETTER

[left that other site]

I am GLAD to hear that!

[The Mayor]

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You First!

January 19, 2016

[Jesus] humbled himself.

Philippians 2:8

Tibetan-born Sherpa Nawang Gombu and American Jim Whittaker reached the top of Mount Everest on May 1, 1963. As they approached the peak, each considered the honor of being the first of the two to step to the summit. Whittaker motioned for Gombu to move ahead, but Gombu declined with a smile, saying, "You first, Big Jim!" Finally, they decided to step to the summit at the same time.

Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to demonstrate this kind of humility. He said, "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others" (Phil. 2:4 nkjv). Selfishness and superiority can divide people, but humility unites us, since it is the quality of "being one in spirit and of one mind" (v. 2).

Practicing humility helps us to become more like Jesus.

When quarrels and disagreements occur, we can often diffuse them by giving up our right to be right. Humility calls us to show grace and gentleness when we would rather insist on our own way. "In humility value others above yourselves" (v. 3).

Practicing humility helps us to become more like Jesus who, for our sake, "humbled himself by becoming obedient to death" (vv. 7-8). Following in Jesus' footsteps means backing away from what is best for us and doing what is best for others.

Jesus, You gave up Your life for me. Help me to see each sacrifice I make as a reflection of Your humility. In putting others first, let me honor You.

Humility promotes unity.

Insight:

The church at Philippi, established by Paul during his second missionary journey (Acts 16:6-40), was a growing and faithful church that had actively supported Paul's ministry (Phil. 1:5; 4:15-19). In this thank-you letter, Paul encouraged the Philippians to continue to grow and mature in their faith even in the midst of persecution (1:9-11, 25-30; 4:1). In today's reading Paul describes what mature Christians look like. They are not selfish or proud, but genuinely care for others (vv. 3-4). Presenting Christ as their perfect model, Paul urged the believers to "have the same mindset as Christ Jesus" (v. 5)--to live as Jesus did with humility, unquestioned obedience, and sacrificial service (vv. 6-8).

[MEG33]

Good GratiTuesday To Amy's Place

I am grateful God placed Titmice at my feeder year round.
I Wish You A Lovely Grateful Day<

[stephenjohnbanker]

And happy GratiTuesday to yooze!