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

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

[The Mayor]

July 10

Search My Heart, God

Bible in a Year :

• Job 41-42
• Acts 16:22-40

People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

To reduce food waste, a supermarket chain in Singapore sells slightly blemished fruits and vegetables at lower prices. In one year, this initiative saved more than 850 tons (778,000 kg) of produce that previously would’ve been thrown out for not meeting aesthetic standards. Shoppers soon learned that outward appearances—scars and quirky shapes—don’t affect flavor and nutritional value. What’s on the outside doesn’t always determine what’s on the inside.

The prophet Samuel learned a similar lesson when he was sent by God to anoint the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1). When he saw Eliab, the firstborn son of Jesse, Samuel thought he was the chosen one. But God said: “Do not consider his appearance or his height . . . . People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v. 7). Out of Jesse’s eight sons, God chose the youngest, David—who was tending his father’s sheep (v. 11)—to be the next king.

God is more concerned with our hearts than with outward credentials—the school we attended, what we earn, or how much we volunteer. Jesus taught His disciples to focus on purifying their hearts of selfish and evil thoughts because “what comes out of a person is what defiles them” (Mark 7:20). Just as Samuel learned not to consider outward appearances, may we, with God’s help, examine our hearts—our thoughts and intentions—in all that we do.

Reflect & Pray

When have you done a “good thing” with the wrong motive? How can you ensure that what’s in your heart is pure?

Dear God, please help me to do what honors You.

[luvie]

Peaches loves his fuzzy bear!
Happy Warm and Fuzzy Wednesday!

[left that other site]

Happy Wednesday!

Hot, Humid, and Sandy!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[luvie]

And toasty on the feets! 🐾🐾

[left that other site]

Not to worry. We will not be defeeted by the heat! :-)

[luvie]

LOL!

[TheConservativeParty]

Heating up here too.
The humidity is awful.
Getting some gardening done, with breaks in the house. Love that AC.

[left that other site]

Don’t Work Too Hard!

[The Mayor]

July 11

Heavenly Abundance

Bible in a Year :

• Psalms 1-3
• Acts 17:1-15

The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 1:14 I expected eight bananas. Instead, when I opened the grocery bags delivered to my home, I discovered twenty bananas! I quickly realized that my move to England meant I also moved from ordering groceries in pounds to requesting them in kilograms. Instead of three pounds, I had ordered three kilograms (nearly seven pounds!) of bananas.

With such an abundance, I made several batches of a favorite banana bread recipe to share the blessing with others. As I mashed up the fruit, I began thinking about the other areas of my life where I have experienced unexpected abundance—and each path led back to God.

Paul appears to have had a similar experience of reflecting on God’s abundance in his life. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul paused to describe his life before Jesus, describing himself as a “persecutor and a violent man” (1 Timothy 1:13); “the worst of sinners” (v. 16). Into Paul’s brokenness, God lavishly poured out grace, faith, and love (v. 14). After recounting all the abundance in his life, the apostle couldn’t help but express praise to God, declaring Him worthy of all “honor and glory for ever and ever” (v. 17).

Like Paul, we all received an overwhelming abundance of grace when we accepted Jesus’ offer of rescue from sin (v. 15). As we pause to reflect on all the resulting blessings, we’ll find ourselves joining Paul in grateful praise to our generous God.

Reflect & Pray

How have you experienced God’s abundance in your life? How will you offer praise to Him today?

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your overwhelming gift of grace.

[luvie]

Thankfu for a free meal!
Happy Thankful Thursday!

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you.

[left that other site]

Woo Hoo!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[The Mayor]

May 5

Tears of Joy

Bible in a Year :

• 1 Kings 19-20
• Luke 23:1-25

Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care.

Jeremiah 31:9 nlt

Leaving home one morning, Dean found some friends waiting with balloons. His friend Josh stepped forward. “We entered your poems in a competition,” he said, before handing Dean an envelope. Inside was a card that read “First Prize,” and soon everyone was crying tears of joy. Dean’s friends had done a beautiful thing, confirming his writing talent.

Weeping for joy is a paradoxical experience. Tears are normally a response to pain, not joy; and joy is normally expressed with laughter, not tears. Italian psychologists have noted that tears of joy come at times of deep personal meaning—like when we feel deeply loved or achieve a major goal. This led them to conclude that tears of joy are pointers to the meaning of our lives.

I imagine tears of joy erupting everywhere Jesus went. How could the parents of the man born blind not weep for joy when Jesus healed him (John 9:1-9), or Mary and Martha after He raised their brother from death (11:38-44)? When God’s people are brought into a restored world, “Tears of joy will stream down their faces,” God says, “and I will lead them home with great care” (Jeremiah 31:9 nlt).

If tears of joy show us the meaning of our lives, imagine that great day to come. As tears stream down our faces, we’ll know without doubt that the meaning of life has always been to live intimately with Him.

Reflect & Pray

When was the last time you wept for joy? What do you think the meaning of life is?

Father God, thank You for the joy ahead for those who love You.

[The Mayor]

missed you all. I’m on Cape Cod little vacation

[luvie]

That’s awesome that you are getting some down time for relaxing. I’ll bet it’s a lovely place to visit. I’ve always wanted to go there some day. Enjoy!

[luvie]

Chris DeBurgh~Lady In Red

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

[The Mayor]

It’s a beautiful place. I’ll post some pics on my fasccistbook page. We are here till Monday

[left that other site]

Happy Red Friday!

God Bless Our Troops!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS