Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... January, February and March, 2017

Graphic by Billie

Happy Friday, Dear FRiends. No snow here but we are having more rain.
The soil is saturated but we did have a couple of days to dry out a little.
Spring is almost here ... almond orchards are blooming as are some early plum trees.
Wondering whether to put away the plant covers for another year.
Lows have been in the low 50's and highs in the 60's. We had one day of 69 ... Ahhh .. wonderful.

Wishing everyone a Fabulous Friday.

Hi there! We had about 60 degrees here today in Wisconsin. Nice sunshine too. I heard there may be some more snow late next week though. Not a bad winter this time around.

Everyone have a Happy Caturday!

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The Lighthouse

February 18, 2017

[The Lord bestows] on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning. Isaiah 61:3

By its very existence, a ministry center in Rwanda called the “Lighthouse” symbolizes redemption. It sits on land where during the genocide in 1994 the country’s president owned a grand home. This new structure, however, has been erected by Christians as a beacon of light and hope. Housed there is a Bible institute to raise up a new generation of Christian leaders, along with a hotel, restaurant, and other services for the community. Out of the ashes has come new life. Those who built the Lighthouse look to Jesus as their source of hope and redemption.

When Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath, He read from the book of Isaiah and announced that He was the Anointed One to proclaim the Lord’s favor (see Luke 4:14–21). He was the One who came to bind up the brokenhearted and offer redemption and forgiveness. In Jesus we see beauty coming from the ashes (Isa. 61:3).

We find the atrocities of the Rwandan genocide, when intertribal fighting cost more than a half-million lives, mind-boggling and harrowing, and we hardly know what to say about them. And yet we know that the Lord can redeem the atrocities—either here on earth or in heaven. He who bestows the oil of joy instead of mourning gives us hope even in the midst of the darkest of situations.

Lord Jesus Christ, our hearts hurt when we hear about the pain and suffering that some endure. Have mercy, we pray.

Jesus came to bring us hope in the darkest of circumstances.

INSIGHT:

Jesus announced His mission by reading from this messianic prophecy in Isaiah 61, a text that clearly anticipated His ministry to the marginalized and hurting (Luke 4:18–19). He offers good news, healing, freedom, release, and joy to supplant the heartaches that inevitably come our way. Jesus went to the cross to deal with the root cause of our brokenness—sin—so that one day we could experience an eternity where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Rev. 21:4). Jesus-followers can likewise be involved in important ministries of help and encouragement for the hurting. In what ways has Jesus responded to your own hurts and needs? In what ways can you respond to the needs of those around you who are hurting?

Haiku Ambulance

A piece of green pepper
fell
off the wooden salad bowl:
so what?

Richard Brautigan

Happy Caturday, Dogurday and Bunnyday, everyone!

~Good Morning To Amy's Place~

Happy Bunnyday Caturday Dogurday
It's Spring In Central Texas.
I Wish You A Wonderful Weekend

Lovely, MEG!

;o)

Happy Lazy Caturday!

Graphics by MamaBear

Happy Saturday (tigerday)

I LOVE that poem.

HAPPY CATURDAY
TO AMY'S PLACE!

Clan MacNessa Wishes A Happy
Caturday To All!!!

Neat! I love the big cats!

Who made you? Who made me?

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.7RzsQRl0tjn5nW1i0PFs8QEsEs&pid=15.1

Lousy computer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bf0x9fOULs

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

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Better Than a Piñata

February 19, 2017

By grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:5

There cannot be a Mexican party without a piñata—a carton or clay container filled with candies and treats. Children strike it with a stick and try to break it, hoping to enjoy its contents.

Monks used the piñatas in the sixteenth century to teach lessons to the indigenous people of Mexico. Piñatas were stars with seven points that represented the seven deadly sins. Beating the piñata showed the struggle against evil, and once the treats inside fell to the ground, people could take them home in remembrance of the rewards of keeping the faith.

But we cannot fight evil on our own. God is not waiting for our efforts so that He will show His mercy. Ephesians teaches that “by grace you have been saved through faith, . . . it is the gift of God” (2:8). We don’t beat sin; Christ has done that.

Children fight for the candies from the piñata, but God’s gifts come to all of us when we believe in Jesus. God “has blessed us . . . with every spiritual blessing” (1:3). We have forgiveness of sins, redemption, adoption, new life, joy, love, and much more. We don’t get these spiritual blessings because we have kept the faith and are strong; we get them because we believe in Jesus. Spiritual blessings come only through grace—undeserved grace!

Thank You for Your mercy, Lord, which is great and free!

We have been saved by grace. Now we enjoy the many blessings that come by grace.

INSIGHT:

Today’s reading shows the spiritual condition of those who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. But it also proclaims that new life is freely offered as a remedy to all who believe. In the King James Version, Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” The Greek word translated “quickened” does not appear in the original. However, it appears in verse 5, and many other passages support this concept of quickening or making alive (Col. 2:13; Rom. 6:11–14; 8:10–11). Every member of the human race is dead spiritually and will someday die physically. But through the extraordinary ministry of Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection, all who believe in Him can be “quickened” from death to life.

~Welcome To Sunday At Amy's Place~

Though you cannot see the outcome,
Trust the Lord—He knows what’s best;
Be assured He sees your trial,
And He’s with you in your test. —Hess

~Blessings To All Who Enter Here~

AMEN! Wonderful devotional, Rus.
I Am So Grateful To You For Our Daily Bread

Ray Walker~Master The Tempest Is Raging
Congregational Singing

Cynthia Clawson & Others~Church In The Wildwood

The Trevecca Madragalians~It Is Well With My Soul

Statler Brothers~How Great Thou Art

St. Olaf Choir~When Peace Like A River

Providence~There's A Goldmine In The Sky

Vocal Majority~Deep River