Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... July, August and September 2020

7-1-2020 | Meg33; The Mayor, Trisham, JustAmy

[The Mayor]

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July 18

When the Splendor Is Gone

Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 20–22
• Acts 21:1–17

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Lamentations 3:22

I can never recapture the splendor that was our daughter Melissa. Fading from my memory are those wonderful times when we watched her joyfully playing high school volleyball. And it’s sometimes hard to remember the shy smile of contentment that crossed her face when we were doing family activities. Her death at age seventeen dropped a curtain on the joy of her presence.

In the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah’s words show he understood that the heart can be punctured. “My splendor is gone,” he said, “and all that I had hoped from the Lord” (3:18). His situation was far different from yours and mine. He had preached God’s judgment, and he saw Jerusalem defeated. The splendor was gone because he felt defeated (v. 12), isolated (v. 14), and abandoned by God (vv. 15–20).

But that’s not the end of his story. Light shined through. Jeremiah, burdened and broken, stammered out “I have hope” (v. 21)—hope that comes from realizing that “because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed” (v. 22). And here is just what we need to remember when the splendor is gone: God’s “compassions never fail. They are new every morning” (vv. 22–23).

Even in our darkest days, God’s great faithfulness shines through.

By:  Dave Branon Reflect & Pray

How has God encouraged you when you felt hopeless? How might He want you to use that to encourage others?

Thank You, Father, that You’re the God of compassion. Even while I walk through the valley of darkness, morning will follow as I remember Your compassion and Your faithfulness.

[luvie]

Lovely!

[luvie]

Sugar [tail] and Grey [paw]
Trying to keep cool.
Happy Caturday!

[left that other site]

Stay Cool!

And Happy Cat/Dogurday!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[JustAmy]

Wishing everyone a cool, safe Caturday.
Stay well.

[luvie]

Dallas Christian Sound~My God And I

Aron Wright~Surrender

Festival Choir~When Morning Gilds The Skies

Glen Campbell~The Savior I Sing Of Today

Jim Brickman~How Great Thou Art

Life Church Worship~I Give It All

M Souders~We Gather Together

God Bless You All....

[The Mayor]

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July 19

On Our Hearts

Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 23–25
• Acts 21:18–40

These commandments . . . are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7

After a young boy faced some challenges in school, his dad began to teach him a pledge to recite each morning before school: “I thank God for waking me up today. I am going to school so I can learn . . . and be the leader that God has created me to be.” The pledge is one way the father hopes to help his son apply himself and deal with life’s inevitable challenges.

In a way, by helping his son to commit this pledge to memory, the father is doing something similar to what God commanded the Israelites in the desert: “These commandments . . . are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).

After wandering in the wilderness for forty years, the next generation of Israelites was about to enter the Promised Land. God knew it wouldn’t be easy for them to succeed—unless they kept their focus on Him. And so, through Moses, He urged them to remember and be obedient to Him—and to help their children to know and love God by talking about His Word “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (v. 7).

Each new day, we too can commit to allowing Scripture to guide our hearts and minds as we live in gratitude to Him.

By:  Alyson Kieda Reflect & Pray

What can you do to keep Scripture on your heart? Why is it important to read and talk about the Word with loved ones?

Dear God, thank You for giving me each new day. Help me to keep Your wisdom in my heart and on my mind.

To learn more about how to study the Bible, visit christianuniversity.org/sf106.

[left that other site]

Happy Sunday!

Have a Blessed day!

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you.

[The Mayor]

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July 20

How to Wait

Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 26–28
• Acts 22

Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.

Psalm 27:7

Frustrated and disappointed with church, seventeen-year-old Trevor began a years-long quest for answers. But nothing he explored seemed to satisfy his longings or answer his questions.

His journey did draw him closer to his parents. Still, he had problems with Christianity. During one discussion, he exclaimed bitterly, “The Bible is full of empty promises.”

Another man faced disappointment and hardship that fueled his doubts. But as David fled from enemies who sought to kill him, his response was not to run from God but to praise Him. “Though war break out against me, even then I will be confident,” he sang (Psalm 27:3).

Yet David’s poem still hints at doubt. His cry, “Be merciful to me and answer me” (v. 7), sounds like a man with fears and questions. “Do not hide your face from me,” David pleaded. “Do not reject me or forsake me” (v. 9).

David didn’t let his doubts paralyze him, however. Even in those doubts, he declared, “I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (v. 13). Then he addressed his readers: you, me, and the Trevors of this world. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (v. 14).

We won’t find fast, simple answers to our huge questions. But we will find—when we wait for Him—a God who can be trusted.

By:  Tim Gustafson Reflect & Pray

What do you do with your big questions? Where have you seen answers “in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13), and where are you still waiting for answers?

Father, melt my heart along with my fears and my anger.

[luvie]

Happy Monday Madness!

[left that other site]

Happy Hot and Sticky Monday

Today is an excellent day to renew my Couch Potato Credentials.

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[The Mayor]

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July 21

A Royal Role

Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 29–30
• Acts 23:1–15

To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

The closer someone in a royal family is to the throne, the more the public hears about him or her. Others are almost forgotten. The British royal family has a line of succession that includes nearly sixty people. One of them is Lord Frederick Windsor, who’s forty-ninth in line for the throne. Instead of being in the limelight, he quietly goes about his life. Though he works as a financial analyst, he’s not considered a “working royal”—one of the important family members who are paid for representing the family.

David’s son Nathan (2 Samuel 5:14) is another royal who lived outside the limelight. Very little is known about him. But while the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew mentions his son Solomon (tracing Joseph’s line, Matthew 1:6), Luke’s genealogy, which many scholars believe is Mary’s family line, mentions Nathan (Luke 3:31). Though Nathan didn’t hold a scepter, he still had a role in God’s forever kingdom.

As believers in Christ, we’re also royalty. The apostle John wrote that God gave us “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Though we may not be in the spotlight, we’re children of the King! God considers each of us important enough to represent Him here on earth and to one day reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:11–13). Like Nathan, we may not wear an earthly crown, but we still have a part to play in God’s kingdom.

By:  Linda Washington Reflect & Pray

How does knowing you’re royalty—God’s child—make you feel? As a child of the King, what do you see as your responsibilities to the people around you?

Heavenly Father, I’m grateful that You adopted me into Your forever family.

[luvie]

Grateful for my rain lilies
Surprising me this morning!
They made me smile!
Happy GratiTuesday!

[left that other site]

Happy Gratituesday!

I am grateful for this beautiful day, even if it is a wee bit hot.

((((HUGS))))

ML/LTOS

[luvie]

Good day for a ride? 🏍

[left that other site]

A little hot, but I think I will.

[luvie]

Live large!

[left that other site]

Well I did it...went riding along the beach.

It was nice! :-)

[TheConservativeParty]

The lilies are beautiful. Never had rain lilies. So pretty!