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

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

[MEG33]

Thank you for the lovely Valentine greetings, Amy.
Garage cleanup is hard! Glad Marissa could help.
We’re having lovely spring weather here, too.
Hope your week goes well.

[MEG33]

Thank you so much for bringing your lovely scripture, blessings,
comments, music and graphics today.
I Wish You A Pleasant Evening And Sweet Dreams

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

A Widow’s Choice

February 15, 2016

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

Psalm 34:18

When a good friend suddenly lost her husband to a heart attack, we grieved with her. As a counselor, she had comforted many others. Now, after 40 years of marriage, she faced the unwelcome prospect of returning to an empty house at the end of each day.

In the midst of her grief, our friend leaned on the One who "is close to the brokenhearted." As God walked with her through her pain, she told us she would choose to "wear the label widow proudly," because she felt it was the label God had given her.

God is always close to broken hearts.

All grief is personal, and others may grieve differently than she does. Her response doesn't diminish her grief or make her home less empty. Yet it reminds us that even in the midst of our worst sorrows, our sovereign and loving God can be trusted.

Our heavenly Father suffered a profound separation of His own. As Jesus hung on the cross He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46). Yet He endured the pain and separation of crucifixion for our sins out of love for us!

He understands! And because "the Lord is close to the brokenhearted" (Ps. 34:18), we find the comfort we need. He is near.

Dear heavenly Father, as we think about the sadness that comes from the death of a loved one, help us to cling to You and trust Your love and goodness. Thank You for being close to our broken hearts.

Know anyone who is hurting? Share this devotional from our Facebook page: Facebook.com/ourdailybread

God shares in our sorrow.

INSIGHT:

In the superscription of Psalm 34, a song of David, we are told that it was written "when he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left." That event is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:13. In fleeing from Saul, David sought refuge in the city of Gath--the hometown of the warrior Goliath who David had killed in battle. When the people of Gath protested David's presence in their city, he pretended to be insane in order to escape. It may seem that David escaped by his own cleverness, but he clearly gives God the credit for his rescue.

[JustAmy]

Happy Monday, Friends.

[left that other site]

Well, that was a nice romantic oasis in the midst of all the political wrangles! :-)

[MEG33]

Thank you for the beautiful opening, Amy
*Happy Monday To All*

Have A Wonderful Week
Show The Love For Your Forum...Please Donate Here

[MEG33]

Ahhh...The island of peace and sanity.

[JustAmy]

I needed some time away from all the political squabbles.

I hope we can all come together when we get a candidate. These are the times we most need FR.

[MEG33]

I don’t want to spend my last days under a President Clinton! We must come together eventually...I want to close my eyes and wake up and vote in November.

[JustAmy]

Agreed, Meg.

I guess it is like this every election but seems worse for some reason. Maybe because it is so important.

[MEG33]

It seems worse to me, too.
I was redoing an old post and found this was just what I
needed

I do not rest on shifting sand,
Or fear the storm that rages;
For calm and sure, I stand secure
Upon the Rock of Ages. -Anon.

[JustAmy]

Thank you, Meg.

That is beautiful and it works for me also.

[left that other site]

Indeed!

I’m hitting an Open Mic in Randolph tonight (not far).

I’ll be doing Van Morisson, The Stones, Bruce Cockburn, and some Original Tunes.

It’s a lot cheaper than going to a shrink.

[left that other site]

OK...I got all ready to do the new Monday Open Mic,arranged my set list, put on make-up, practiced, etc...went out to my car and it was covered with SNOW.

So I went back in the house and poured myself a glass of pinot grigio.

To quote the new Pink Floyd song i just learned:

Home...home again
I like to be there when i can
When I get home, cold and tired
I like to warm my bones by the fire.

Oh well, there is always tomorrow.

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

Written on Our Hearts

February 16, 2016

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

Deuteronomy 6:6

In my neighborhood, religious inscriptions abound--on plaques, walls, doorposts, commercial vehicles, and even as registered names of businesses. By the Grace of God reads an inscription on a mini-bus; God's Divine Favor Bookshop adorns a business signboard. The other day I couldn't help smiling at this one on a Mercedes Benz: Keep Off--Angels on Guard!

But religious inscriptions, whether on wall plaques, jewelry, or T-shirts, are not a reliable indicator of a person's love for God. It's not the words on the outside that count but the truth we carry on the inside that reveals our desire to be changed by God.

When God's Word is hidden in our heart, His ways will become our ways.

I recall a program sponsored by a local ministry that distributed cards with Bible verses written on both sides that helped people memorize God's Word. Such a practice is in keeping with the instructions Moses gave the Israelites when he told them to write the commandments of God "on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates" (Deut. 6:9). We are to treasure God's Word in our hearts (v. 6), to impress it on our children, and to talk about it "when [we] walk along the road, when [we] lie down and when [we] get up" (v. 7).

May our faith be real and our commitment true, so we can love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength (v. 5).

Father, may Your words be more than nice sayings to us. May they be written on our hearts so that we will love You and others.

When God's Word is hidden in our heart, His ways will become our ways.

INSIGHT:

Today's passage begins with three verses of instruction about the benefits of keeping the commands of the Lord. Moses begins verse 4 with "Hear, O Israel." Hear doesn't mean "listen"; it means "understand" or "know." The Israelites were to "know" the Lord--and so are we.

[Kitty Mittens]

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

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

Opening Doors

February 17, 2016

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.

Matthew 28:19

Charlie Sifford is an important name in American sports. He became the first African-American playing member of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour, joining a sport that, until 1961, had a "whites only" clause in its by-laws. Enduring racial injustice and harassment, Sifford earned his place at the game's highest level, won two tournaments, and in 2004 was the first African-American inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Charlie Sifford opened the doors of professional golf for players of all ethnicities.

Opening doors is also a theme at the heart of the gospel mission. Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20).

Jesus' work on the cross opened the way to the Father for everyone.

The word nations (v. 19) is from the Greek word ethnos, which is also the source of the word ethnic. In other words, "Go and make disciples of all ethnicities." Jesus' work on the cross opened the way to the Father for everyone.

Now we have the privilege of caring for others as God has cared for us. We can open the door for someone who never dreamed they'd be welcomed personally into the house and family of God.

Lord, help me to be sensitive to others I meet today. Give me the words to tell others about You.

Jesus opened the doors of salvation to all who will believe.

INSIGHT:

In today's passage Jesus gives what is known as the Great Commission: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19-20). We carry out this commission when we testify to the death and resurrection of Jesus, who offers forgiveness of sins, and when we teach Christ-followers to obey God's Word (v. 20).

[MEG33]

Good morning, Rus. Thank you always for Our Daily Bread.
You Are A Blesssing

[MEG33]

~Welcome To Warm Fuzzy Wednesday~
At Amy's Place

"I'd Rather Be Tip Toeing Through The Tulips"

Blessings To All

[TheConservativeParty]

Hi Meg! I have a picture of our dog running with glee down a path dug in the snow. It was many years and several dogs ago. The snow was about 2 feet high on the sides of the path and his ears are flying like the wind as he runs all out, so happy.

We have had an easy winter as far as snow this year.

Cheers