Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... January, February, March and April 2021

1/01/2021 | The Mayor; Luvie; JustAmy

[The Mayor]

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

January 6

Depths of Love

Bible in a Year:

• Genesis 16–17
• Matthew 5:27–48

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1

Three-year-old Dylan McCoy had just learned to swim when he fell through a rotted plywood covering into a forty-foot deep, stone-walled well in his grandfather’s backyard. Dylan managed to stay afloat in ten feet of water until his father went down to rescue him. Firefighters brought ropes to raise the boy, but the father was so worried about his son that he’d already climbed down the slippery rocks to make sure he was safe.

Oh, the love of a parent! Oh, the lengths (and depths) we will go for our children!

When the apostle John writes to believers in the early church who were struggling to find footing for their faith as false teaching swirled about them, he extends these words like a life-preserver: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). Naming believers in Jesus as “children” of God was an intimate and legal labeling that brought validity to all who trust in Him.

Oh, the lengths and depths God will go for His children!  

There are actions a parent will take only for their child—like Dylan’s dad descending into a well to save his son. And like the ultimate act of our heavenly Father, who sent His only Son to gather us close to His heart and restore us to life with Him (vv. 5–6).

Reflect & Pray

When has God rescued you from a dark well of need? How have you seen Him bring you to a place of hope?

Oh, heavenly Father, thank You for reaching into the well of my need to rescue me and bring me back to You!

Read more about the love of God at DiscoverySeries.org/Q0612.

[luvie]

My Life As A Rug
Happy Warm & Fuzzy
Wednesday!

[left that other site]

Happy Warm & Fuzzy Wednesday!

Stay Warm!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[The Mayor]

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

January 7

Sound the Trumpets

Bible in a Year:

• Genesis 18–19
• Matthew 6:1–18

At your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets.

Numbers 10:10

“Taps” is a trumpet call played by the US military at the end of the day as well as at funerals. I was amazed when I read the unofficial lyrics and discovered that many of the verses end with the phrase “God is nigh” (God is near). Whether before the dark of each night settles in or while mourning the loss of a loved one, the lyrics offer soldiers the beautiful assurance that God is near.

In the Old Testament, trumpets were also a reminder to the Israelites that God was near. In the middle of celebrating the feasts and festivals that were part of the covenant agreement between God and the nation of Israel, the Jews were to “sound the trumpets” (Numbers 10:10). Blowing a trumpet was a reminder not only of God’s presence but also that He was available when they needed Him most—and He longed to help them.

Today, we still need reminders that God is near. And in our own style of worship, we too can call out to God in prayer and song. Perhaps our prayers can be thought of as trumpets asking God to help us. And the beautiful encouragement is that God always hears those calls (1 Peter 3:12). To each of our pleas, He responds with the assurance of His presence that strengthens and comforts us in the difficulties and sorrows of life.

Reflect & Pray

When have your prayers felt like calls for help? How does the reminder that God listens to our prayers encourage you?

Heavenly Father, thank You that You respond to my call for help and assure me of Your powerful presence and love. 

[luvie]

Happy Thankful Thursday!

[left that other site]

Blessings...

On This Difficult Day.

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[TheConservativeParty]

Hi there! Just sittin’ here freezing in Wisconsin. Perhaps 65 degrees is a bit low for the thermostat! 🙃

Hope you all had a good day!

[The Mayor]

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

January 8

God of the Invisible

Bible in a Year:

• Genesis 20–22
• Matthew 6:19–34

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people.

Hebrews 6:10

“Sometimes I feel as if I’m invisible. But I so want God to use me.”

Ann was tidying up the exercise room at the hotel I was visiting when we struck up a conversation. As we talked, I discovered she had an amazing story.

“I used to be a crack addict and prostitute living on the streets,” she said. “But I knew God wanted me to put down my pipe and walk with Him. One day years ago I knelt at Jesus’ feet, and He set me free.”

I thanked Ann for sharing what God had done for her and assured her she wasn’t invisible—He had used her in our conversation in a beautiful way to remind me of His power to transform lives.

God loves to use people others might overlook. The apostle Andrew isn’t as well known as his brother Peter, but the Bible recounts that “the first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon [Peter] and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’. . . . And he brought him to Jesus” (John 1:41–42).

Peter met Jesus through Andrew. When Andrew, one of John the Baptist’s disciples, learned about Jesus from John, he followed Jesus and believed—and immediately told his brother. Andrew’s quiet faithfulness had an impact that would shake the world.

God values faithful service over fame. He can use us powerfully wherever we are—even when no one is looking.

Reflect & Pray

Whose quiet faithfulness made a difference in your life? How can you serve God by serving someone else today? 

Thank You for never overlooking me, Father! I’m thankful You can use me to make a difference wherever I am.

[luvie]

Chris DeBurgh~The Lady In Red

[The Mayor]

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

January 9

Dig It Up

Bible in a Year:

• Genesis 23–24
• Matthew 7

Get rid of all bitterness.

Ephesians 4:31

When Rebecca’s brother and sister-in-law started having marriage problems, Rebecca prayed earnestly for their reconciliation. But they divorced. Then her sister-in-law took the children out of state and their dad didn’t protest. Rebecca never again saw the nieces she dearly loved. Years later she said, “Because of trying to handle this sadness on my own, I let a root of bitterness start in my heart, and it began to spread to my family and friends.”

The book of Ruth tells about a woman named Naomi who struggled with a heart of grief that grew into bitterness. Her husband died in a foreign land, and ten years later both her sons died. She was left destitute with her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah (1:3–5). When Naomi and Ruth returned to Naomi’s home country, the whole town was excited to see them. But Naomi told her friends: “The Almighty has made my life very bitter. . . . The Lord has afflicted me” (vv. 20–21). She even asked them to call her “Mara,” meaning bitter. 

Who hasn’t faced disappointment and been tempted toward bitterness? Someone says something hurtful, an expectation isn’t met, or demands from others make us resentful. When we acknowledge to ourselves and God what’s happening deep in our hearts, our tender Gardener can help us dig up any roots of bitterness—whether they’re still small or have been growing for years—and can replace them with a sweet, joyful spirit.

Reflect & Pray

What areas of life do you tend to become bitter about? What’s growing inside your heart that needs God’s loving care?

God, help me to see the goodness in life You’re always displaying. And dig up any root of bitterness in my heart that dishonors You.

[luvie]

Sorry I have been AWOL today. I have been sick in bed feeling like I was run over by a 10-ton truck. Fingers crossed for a better day tomorrow. God bless you all!

[JustAmy]

Get well soon, Luv. Take care of yourself.

[JustAmy]

Even tho it is late, I decided to check in and say hello.

I have been having lots of computer problems.
I hate buying anything online but I ordered a computer today.(shudder)

Hope everyone is doing okay during these trying times.

Goodnight, All.

[left that other site]

Praying for you, Dear Friend.

[left that other site]

Blessed Sunday!

May You Have A Bright Beautiful Day Filled With Peace!

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[The Mayor]

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

January 10

Paper Crowns

Bible in a Year:

• Genesis 25–26
• Matthew 8:1–17

The Lord’s people will judge the world.

1 Corinthians 6:2

After a holiday meal at my house, everyone opened party favors filled with candy, small toys, and confetti. But there was something else in the favors—a paper crown for each of us. We couldn’t resist trying them on, and we smiled at each other as we sat around the table. For just a moment, we were kings and queens, even if our kingdom was a dining room littered with the remnants of our dinner.

This sparked a memory of a Bible promise I don’t often think about. In the next life, all believers will share ruling authority with Jesus. Paul mentions this in 1 Corinthians 6 where he asks, “Do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world?” (v. 2). Paul referenced this future privilege because he wanted to inspire believers to settle disputes peacefully on earth. They had been suing each other and consequently harming the reputation of other believers in their community.

We become better at resolving conflict as the Holy Spirit produces self-control, gentleness, and patience within us. By the time Jesus returns and completes the Spirit’s work in our lives (1 John 3:2–3), we’ll be ready for our eventual role as “a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and . . . reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). Let’s hold on to this promise that glitters in Scripture like a diamond set in a crown of gold.

Reflect & Pray

How does the Holy Spirit influence your words and actions when you experience conflict? How does this affect those around you?

Almighty God, thank You for the wonderful future I have with You. Help me to look to You when it’s hard to cooperate with others.

To learn more about the Spirit’s work in our lives, visit ChristianUniversity.org/ST410-12.

[luvie]

Thank you. Still pretty rocky.

[luvie]

St. Olaf Choir~When Peace Like A River

Aron Wright~Surrender

Providence~Sweet Beulah Land

Casting Crowns~Thrive

Glen Campbell~Amazing Grace [Live & Playing Bagpipes]

Passion~In Christ Alone

Newsboys~We Believe

God Bless You All....

[TheConservativeParty]

Hello! My husband ordered a computer modem online and surprisingly, it arrived undamaged and works fine.

🙂

[Kitty Mittens]

(((((Hugs and Prayers)))))