Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... January, February and March, 2020

January 1, 2020 | Meg33; The Mayor, Trisham, JustAmy

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you.

[TheConservativeParty]

Hello FRiends

thanks for your Tuesday posts

have a restful good night

cheers!

[The Mayor]

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

January 22

Demonstrating Grace

Bible in a Year:

• Exodus 4–6
• Matthew 14:22–36

You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Micah 7:19

“In moments where tragedy happens or even hurt, there are opportunities to demonstrate grace or to exact vengeance,” the recently bereaved man remarked. “I chose to demonstrate grace.” Pastor Erik Fitzgerald’s wife had been killed in a car accident caused by an exhausted firefighter who fell asleep while driving home, and legal prosecutors wanted to know whether he would seek the maximum sentence. The pastor chose to practice the forgiveness he often preached about. To the surprise of both him and the firefighter, the men eventually became friends.

Pastor Erik was living out of the grace he’d received from God, who’d forgiven him all of his sins. Through his actions he echoed the words of the prophet Micah, who praised God for pardoning sin and forgiving when we do wrong (Micah 7:18). The prophet uses wonderfully visual language to show just how far God goes in forgiving His people, saying that He will “tread our sins underfoot” and hurl our wrongdoings into the deep sea (v. 19). The firefighter received a gift of freedom that day, which brought him closer to God.

Whatever difficulty we face, we know that God reaches out to us with loving, open arms, welcoming us into His safe embrace. He “delights to show mercy” (v. 18). As we receive His love and grace, He gives us the strength to forgive those who hurt us—even as Pastor Erik did.

By: Amy Boucher Pye

Reflect & Pray

How do you respond to this story of amazing forgiveness? Can you think of someone you need to forgive? If so, ask God to help you.

Father God, You love us without ceasing, and You delight to forgive us when we return to You. Envelop us with Your love, that we might demonstrate grace to those who hurt us.

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you.

[MEG33]

Happy Warm Fuzzy Wednesday
To Amy's Place

Flowers From The Garden
There is a window in your heart, that opens on a garden,
A place you can retreat to when you need to ask for pardon,
For having been abusive, to the child that lives in you,
By simply asking way too much, for any child to do.
Don’t ask for the surrender, of childhood dreams so gay,
That they could always bring a smile, despite a rainy day.
The toys we had as children, were of the simplest sort,
A cardboard tube became a sword, a cardboard box a fort.
Children can be happy, they’ve learned the art of play,
Try not to lose that talent as you go about your day.
With all the noise and bustle that distracts you from that art,
Take time to smell the flowers from the garden in your heart.

NicknamedBob . . . . . . . © 2004

I Wish You A Wonderful Day

[MEG33]

Amen to this wonderful devotion, Rus.
Thank you for starting our day off right every day.

[left that other site]

Happy Warm & Fuzzy Wednesday!

Have a Bright, Sunny, Warm, and Wonderful Day!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you.

[MEG33]

For your lovely poetry, Bob!

[MEG33]

Love this precious pup!
*HUGS*

[luvie]

It's always naptime for me.
Happy Warm & Fuzzy
Wednesday!

[left that other site]

I love his markings! :-)

[TheConservativeParty]

Warm and fuzzy even in the snow!

[left that other site]

Yes Indeed! :-)

[The Mayor]

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

January 23

Waiting with the Turtle

Bible in a Year:

• Exodus 7–8
• Matthew 15:1–20

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1

Every fall, when the painted turtle senses winter coming, she dives to the bottom of her pond, burying herself in the muck and mud. She pulls into her shell and goes still: her heart rate slows, almost stopping. Her body temperature drops, staying just above freezing. She stops breathing, and she waits. For six months, she stays buried, and her body releases calcium from her bones into her bloodstream, so that she slowly begins even to lose her shape.

But when the pond thaws, she will float up and breathe again. Her bones will reform, and she will feel the warmth of the sun on her shell.

I think of the painted turtle when I read the psalmist’s description of waiting for God. The psalmist is in a “slimy pit” of “mud and mire,” but God hears him (Psalm 40:2). God lifts him out, and gives him a firm place to stand. God is “my help and my deliverer,” he sings (v. 17).

Perhaps it feels like you’ve been waiting forever for something to change—for a new direction in your career, for a relationship to be restored, for the willpower to break a bad habit, or for deliverance from a difficult situation. The painted turtle and the psalmist are here to remind us to trust in God: He hears, and He will deliver.

By: Amy Peterson

Reflect & Pray

What do you need to trust God with? What might that look like today?

God, sometimes it’s hard to wait. But we trust in You and in Your deliverance. Please give us patience, and allow Your greatness and glory to be evident in our lives.

[luvie]

I am thankful for the Light
Happy Thankful Thursday!

[left that other site]

Woo Hoo!

Happy Gratituesday!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Oops!

Thankful Thursday! I’m behind the curve today!

[The Mayor]

Amen!

[The Mayor]

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January 24

No Line to Love

Bible in a Year:

• Exodus 9–11
• Matthew 15:21–39

I have made you and I will carry you.

Isaiah 46:4

Sometimes when my Labrador retriever wants attention, he’ll take something of mine and parade it in front of me. One morning as I was writing at the desk with my back turned, Max snatched my wallet and ran off. But realizing I hadn’t seen him do it, he returned and nudged me with his nose—wallet in mouth, eyes dancing, tail wagging, taunting me to play.

Max’s antics made me laugh, but they also reminded me of my limitations when it comes to being attentive to others. So often I’ve intended to spend time with family or friends, but other things occupy my time and awareness; and before I know it the day slips away and love is left undone.

How comforting to know that our heavenly Father is so great that He’s able to attend to each of us in the most intimate ways—even sustaining every breath in our lungs for as long as we live. He promises His people, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you” (Isaiah 46:4).

God always has time for us. He understands every detail of our circumstances—no matter how complex or difficult—and is there whenever we call on Him in prayer. We never have to wait in line for our Savior’s unlimited love.

By: James Banks

Reflect & Pray

In what ways does God take care of your daily needs? How can you share His love with others?

You always have time for me, Jesus. Please help me to live every moment for You!