Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... January - December, 2024

JustAmy[creator], The Mayor, luvie, left that other site

[The Mayor]

June 23

Rich in Good Deeds

Bible in a Year :

• Esther 9-10
• Acts 7:1-21

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

1 Timothy 6:18

After seven decades of hard work as a washerwoman—scrubbing, drying, and pressing clothes by hand—Oseola McCarty was finally ready to retire at the age of eighty-six. She had scrupulously saved her meager earnings all those years, and to the amazement of her community, Oseola donated $150,000 to the nearby university to create a scholarship fund for needy students. Inspired by her selfless gift, hundreds of people donated enough to triple her endowment.

Oseola understood the true value of her wealth was not in using it for her own gain, but to bless others. The apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to command those who are rich in this present world “to be rich in good deeds” (1 Timothy 6:18). Each of us has been given wealth to steward, whether it’s in the form of financial means or other resources. Instead of trusting in our resources, Paul cautions us to put our hope only in God (v. 17) and to lay up treasure in heaven by being “generous and willing to share” (v. 18).

In God’s economy, withholding and not being generous only leads to emptiness. Giving to others out of love is the way to fulfillment. To have both godliness and contentment with what we have, instead of striving for more, is great gain (v. 6). What would it look like for us to be generous with our resources, as Oseola was? Let us strive to be rich in good deeds today as God leads us.

Reflect & Pray

What opportunity do you have to be generous today? How can sharing what you have lead to greater contentment?

Thank You for the resources I have, God. I surrender them to You today.

[The Mayor]

June 24

In Awe of God

Bible in a Year :

• Job 1-2
• Acts 7:22-43

Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you.

Exodus 20:20

A phobia is defined as the “irrational fear” of certain things or situations. Arachnophobia is a fear of spiders (though some might argue that’s a perfectly rational thing to be afraid of!). Then there’s globophobia and xocolatophobia. These and some four hundred other phobias are real and documented. It seems we can become afraid of most anything.

The Bible tells of the Israelites’ fear after receiving the Ten Commandments: “When the people saw the thunder and lightning . . . they trembled with fear” (Exodus 20:18). Moses comforted them, offering this most interesting statement: “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you” (v. 20). Moses seems to contradict himself: “Don’t be afraid but be afraid.” In fact, the Hebrew word for “fear” contains at least two meanings—a trembling terror of something or a reverent awe of God.

We may laugh to learn that globophobia is the fear of balloons and xocolatophobia is a fear of chocolate. The more serious bottom line about phobias is that we can be afraid of all kinds of things. Fears creep into our lives like spiders, and the world can be a scary place. As we struggle with phobias and fears, we do well to be reminded that our God is an awesome God, offering us His present comfort in the midst of darkness.

Reflect & Pray

What in your life are you afraid of? How does God’s love help you overcome those fears?

Dear God, I find myself afraid of so many things. Please comfort my heart, and help me to rest in Your love.

[luvie]

I totally feel her pain!
Happy Monday Madness!

[left that other site]

Happy Monday!

99 Degrees Out? OK. Let's PLAY!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[luvie]

Whew! It’s “only” 95 here right now, but for the next 4 days at least, it’s gonna be over 100+. 🔥 I. Want. Fall. NOW! 🤣

[left that other site]

YIKES!

[The Mayor]

June 25

Humble Jørn

Bible in a Year :

• Job 3-4
• Acts 7:44-60

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Ephesians 1:16

They didn’t think Jørn, a tenant farming the land, would amount to much. Yet despite his weak vision and other physical limitations, he poured himself out for those in his village in Norway, praying the many nights when his pain kept him awake. In prayer he’d move from house to house, naming each person individually, even the children he hadn’t yet met. People loved his gentle spirit and would seek his wisdom and advice. If he couldn’t help them practically, they’d still feel blessed when they left, having received his love. And when Jørn died, his funeral was the biggest ever in that community, even though he had no family there. His prayers blossomed and brought forth fruit beyond what he could have imagined.

This humble man followed in the example of the apostle Paul, who loved those he served and prayed for them while confined. He wrote to those in Ephesus while he was likely imprisoned in Rome, praying that God would give them “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” and that the eyes of their hearts would be “enlightened” (Ephesians 1:17–18). He yearned that they would know Jesus and live with love and unity through the power of the Spirit.

Jørn and the apostle Paul poured themselves out to God, committing those they loved and served to Him in prayer. May we consider their examples in how we love and serve others today.

Reflect & Pray

Who do you know who’s a gentle prayer warrior? How does that person reflect Christ’s heart?

Jesus, You served others and put their needs first. Please help me to love and serve You joyfully each day.

[pollywog]

Good morning Mayor. What a great exhortation to be faithful in prayer and loving others.
Have a great day!

[The Mayor]

You too my friend and thank you!!

[TheConservativeParty]

Happy Terrible Tuesday!
Ha Ha. Kidding. Was up watching the radar for storms last night.
A few days ago there were 4-5 tornadoes, one wiped a rural church off the land 30 miles from here. Janesville, 40 miles east, had bad damage too.
It was supposed to be cooler after this latest storm front, but it is still hot and humid.
🙄

[luvie]

It has been a nightmare up there in your ‘hood. Glad they all missed you! I hope things settle down soon, and that you have some nice cooler weather again.

[luvie]

Sunflower Becoming The Moonflower
Happy GratiTuesday

[left that other site]

Happy Gratituesday!

I Am Grateful For The Ocean. :-)

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[The Mayor]

June 26

Learning from Each Other

Bible in a Year :

• Job 5-7
• Acts 8:1-25

I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband.

Ruth 2:11

Years before Zoom was an accessible communication tool, a friend asked me to join her on a video call to discuss a project. Through the tone of my emails, she could tell I was baffled, so she suggested I find a teenager to help me figure out how to set up a video call.

Her suggestion points to the value of intergenerational relationships. It’s something observed in Ruth and Naomi’s story. Ruth is often celebrated for being a loyal daughter-in-law, deciding to leave her land to accompany Naomi back to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:16-17). When they arrived in the town, the younger woman said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain [for us]” (2:2). She helped the older woman, who then helped the younger woman marry Boaz. Naomi’s advice for Ruth prompted Boaz to take action in purchasing her deceased in-laws’ property and to take her “as [his] wife” (4:9-10).

We certainly respect the advice of those who share their seasoned wisdom with younger generations. But Ruth and Naomi remind us that the exchange can go both ways. There’s something to be learned from those younger than us as well as those who are older. Let’s seek to develop loving and loyal intergenerational relationships. It will bless us and others and help us learn something we don’t know.

Reflect & Pray

What have you learned from someone younger? How might you reach out to someone of another generation today?

Dear God, thank You for the wisdom found in the young and in the old. Teach me to value intergenerational exchanges.

[TheConservativeParty]

Happy Warm Fuzzy Wednesday!
Better weather today, only low 80s and less humid.
Tuesday the humidity was really bad and it was near 90 degrees.

Have a cool day.
😎 (Ayyyyy-The Fonz)

[left that other site]

Happy Hot and Harley Wednesday!

Too Hot To Not Be In The Wind.

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[luvie]

Sounds like a plan!

[luvie]

Happy Warm & Fuzzy
.....and Feathery....
Wednesday To Y'all!

[The Mayor]

June 27

Life’s Pilgrimage

Bible in a Year :

• Job 8-10
• Acts 8:26-40

Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.

Hebrews 11:16

More than two hundred million people from a variety of faiths undertake a pilgrimage each year. For many throughout the ages, a pilgrim’s task has been to journey to a sacred place to receive some kind of blessing. It’s been all about reaching the temple, cathedral, shrine, or other destination where a blessing can be received.

Britain’s Celtic Christians, however, saw pilgrimage differently. They set out directionless into the wild or let their boats drift wherever the oceans took them—pilgrimage for them being about trusting God in unfamiliar territory. Any blessing was found not at the destination but along the journey.

Hebrews 11 was an important passage for the Celts. Since the life in Christ is about leaving the world’s ways behind and trekking like foreigners to the city of God (vv. 13-16), a pilgrimage echoed their life’s journey. By trusting God to provide along their difficult, untrodden path, the pilgrim grew the kind of faith lived by the heroes of old (vv. 1-12).

What a lesson to learn, whether we physically trek or not: for those who have trusted Jesus, life is a pilgrimage to God’s heavenly country, full of dark forests, dead ends, and trials. As we journey through, may we not miss the blessing of experiencing God’s provision along the way.

Reflect & Pray

How can you be open today to receiving God’s gifts along life’s path? How can you remind yourself that this world, as it is now, isn’t your real home?

Dear God, thank You for showing me that life’s trials are opportunities for me to grow a deeper faith in You.

Learn more about gardens and the history of humanity.

[TheConservativeParty]

Have a Happy Thankful Thursday!
Cooler and not humid today.
Trying to get motivated to go outside and tend to the gardens.
👩🏻‍🌾