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

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

[The Mayor]

October 1

God’s Provided Protection

Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 11-13
• Ephesians 4

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand.

Ephesians 6:11

My wife and I put hundreds of miles on our bikes each year, pedaling the trails around West Michigan. To enhance the experience, we have some accessories that we’ve attached to our bikes. Sue has a front light, a back light, an odometer, and a bike lock. My bike has a water-bottle holder. In reality, we could ride our route successfully every day and rack up all those miles without the extras. They’re helpful but optional.

In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul writes about another set of accessories—but these aren’t optional. He said we must “put on” these things to be successful in living out our faith in Jesus. Our lives aren’t easy rides. We’re in a battle in which we must “stand against the devil’s schemes” (6:11), so we must be well equipped.

Without the wisdom of Scripture, we can be swayed to accept error. Without Jesus helping us live out His “truth,” we’ll give in to lies (v. 14). Without the “gospel,” we’ll have no “peace” (v. 15). Without “faith” shielding us, we’ll succumb to doubt (v. 16). Our “salvation” and the Holy Spirit anchor us to live well for God (v. 17). This is our armor.

How vital that we travel the pathways of life protected from its real dangers. We do that when Christ equips us for the challenges along the way—when we “put on” the armor God provides.

Reflect & Pray

What does it mean for you to “put on” God’s armor? What situations are you facing that require His armor the most?

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me in Scripture how I can stand against Satan’s attacks.

[TheConservativeParty]

Happy October!
It is sunny, cool, and windy on this first day of October.
🍁🍂🍁

[left that other site]

Happy October to YOU TOO!

(((HUGS)))

[luvie]

Happy GratiTuesday!

[left that other site]

Happy Gratituesday!

I Am Grateful For My FRiends!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[TheConservativeParty]

Hey, that white puppy in the picture reminded me of my 11 month old puppy, he looked very similar when we got him on Feb. 2nd. He is huge now, as tall as Moose (our choc. lab mix).

Saw ya over on the VP debate thread, I decided to not watch the debate, not good for me...too stressful. Might monitor that thread after the debate starts soon.

cheers
🙂

[luvie]

Grey sez to have a very
Happy Warm & Fuzzy
Wednesday!

[left that other site]

Whut???

This Is How I CUDDLE.

Happy Warm & Fuzzy Wednesday.

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[TheConservativeParty]

Grey has very high quality fur. Beautiful. That color with the stripes
is my favorite
😀

[luvie]

Her fur is soooo soft! And she barely sheds at all. She is semi-feral but so sweet and loves having her chin scritched. 🤎🩶🖤

[The Mayor]

October 3

Saying Yes by Faith

Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 17-19
• Ephesians 5:17-33

The Lord is with us.

Numbers 14:9Reflect & Pray

When have you felt inadequate to do a task you knew God was asking you to do? How do Caleb and Joshua’s examples help?

Dear God, please help me to follow You wholeheartedly.

Following a challenging tour in Afghanistan, Scott, a sergeant in the British Army, fell apart. He remembered: “I was in a dark place.” But when he “discovered Jesus and began following Him,” his life changed radically. Now he seeks to share the love of Christ with others, especially veterans with whom he competes in the Invictus Games, an international event for wounded and injured members and veterans of the armed forces.

For Scott, reading the Bible, praying, and listening to worship music grounds him before going to the Games. God then helps him “to reflect the character of Jesus and show kindness, gentleness, and grace” to the fellow veterans competing there.

Scott names here some of the fruit of the Spirit that the apostle Paul wrote about to the believers in Galatia. They struggled under the influence of false teachers, so Paul sought to encourage them to stay true to God and His grace, being “led by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:18). By doing so, they would then produce the Spirit’s fruit—“love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (vv. 22-23).

With God’s Spirit living within us, we too will burst forth with the Spirit’s goodness and love. We too will show gentleness and kindness to those who surround us.

Reflect & Pray

When have you felt inadequate to do a task you knew God was asking you to do? How do Caleb and Joshua’s examples help?

Dear God, please help me to follow You wholeheartedly.

[pollywog]

Good morning Mayor. Finding solace and peace once again from God's Word!

How often I get side tracked! Not good.

Today I am deliberately coming back to the truth of Psalm 46:10.. Be STILL and KNOW that I am God!!

In times like these we need an ANCHOR... Jesus!

[luvie]

That’s a wrap-around cuddle! LOL!

[luvie]

Thankful for best friends!
Happy Thankful Thursday!

[left that other site]

That’s exactly how Tippy “cuddles” when I try to take a nap in the recliner. LOL.

[left that other site]

Don't Look Now...

But I Think I'm Bewing Profiled! (Happy Thankful Thursday)

((((HUGS))))

ML/LTOS

[The Mayor]

October 3

Saying Yes by Faith

Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 17-19
• Ephesians 5:17-33

The Lord is with us.

Numbers 14:9Reflect & Pray

When have you felt inadequate to do a task you knew God was asking you to do? How do Caleb and Joshua’s examples help?

Dear God, please help me to follow You wholeheartedly.

Following a challenging tour in Afghanistan, Scott, a sergeant in the British Army, fell apart. He remembered: “I was in a dark place.” But when he “discovered Jesus and began following Him,” his life changed radically. Now he seeks to share the love of Christ with others, especially veterans with whom he competes in the Invictus Games, an international event for wounded and injured members and veterans of the armed forces.

For Scott, reading the Bible, praying, and listening to worship music grounds him before going to the Games. God then helps him “to reflect the character of Jesus and show kindness, gentleness, and grace” to the fellow veterans competing there.

Scott names here some of the fruit of the Spirit that the apostle Paul wrote about to the believers in Galatia. They struggled under the influence of false teachers, so Paul sought to encourage them to stay true to God and His grace, being “led by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:18). By doing so, they would then produce the Spirit’s fruit—“love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (vv. 22-23).

With God’s Spirit living within us, we too will burst forth with the Spirit’s goodness and love. We too will show gentleness and kindness to those who surround us.

Reflect & Pray

When have you felt inadequate to do a task you knew God was asking you to do? How do Caleb and Joshua’s examples help?

Dear God, please help me to follow You wholeheartedly.

[The Mayor]

October 4

A Christlike Response

Bible in a Year :

• Isaiah 20-22
• Ephesians 6

When they hurled their insults at [Jesus], he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

1 Peter 2:23

George was working on a construction job in the heat of the Carolina summer sun when someone living nearby walked into the yard where he was working. Clearly angry, the neighbor began to curse and criticize everything about the project and how it was being done. George received the verbal blows without response until the angry neighbor stopped yelling. Then he gently responded, “You’ve had a really hard day, haven’t you?” Suddenly, the angry neighbor’s face softened, his head dipped, and he said, “I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you.” George’s kindness had defused the neighbor’s wrath.  

There are times when we want to strike back. To give abuse for abuse and insult for insult. What George modeled instead was a kindness seen most perfectly in the way Jesus bore the consequences of our sins: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). 

All of us will face moments when we’re misunderstood, misrepresented, or attacked. We may want to respond in kind, but the heart of Jesus calls us to be kind, to pursue peace and display understanding. As He enables us today, perhaps God could use us to bless someone enduring a hard day.

Reflect & Pray

What makes it so easy to strike back at others for their unkind words? How can you be more intentional about showing kindness to those who are unkind to you?

Caring Father, please help me to find in You the strength, grace, and wisdom to display the heart of Jesus.

[luvie]

And a bewtiful profile it is! :)

[luvie]

WEARING RED ON FRIDAY
FOR OUR HEROES!




Chris DeBurgh~The Lady In Red

The red of courage
The crimson of blood
Are the colors I wear
To honor the heroes
Who possess the one
And spill the other
For all of us
FROM: