Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... January - December, 2022

1-01-2022 | The Mayor; Luvie; JustAmy

[JustAmy]

[TheConservativeParty]

Wow, I didn’t know it was Friday the 13th!
😅

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Saturday,
May 14, 2022

The Gift of Repentance

Read: Joel 2:12–14

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate. Joel 2:13

“No! I didn’t do it!” Jane heard her teenage son’s denial with a sinking heart, for she knew he wasn’t telling the truth. She breathed a prayer asking God for help before asking Simon again what happened. He continued to deny he was lying, until finally she threw her hands up in exasperation. Saying she needed a time out, she began to walk away when she felt a hand on her shoulder and heard his apology. He responded to the convicting of the Holy Spirit, and repented.

In the Old Testament book of Joel, God called His people to true repentance for their sins as He welcomed them to return to Him wholeheartedly (2:12). God didn’t seek outward acts of remorse, but rather that they would soften their hard attitudes: “Rend your heart and not your garments.” Joel reminded the Israelites that God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love” (v. 13).

We might find confessing our wrongdoing difficult, for in our pride we don’t want to admit our sins. Perhaps we’ve fudged the truth, and we justify our actions by saying it was only “a little white lie.” But when we heed God’s gentle yet firm prompting to repent, He’ll forgive us and cleanse us from all our sins (1 John 1:9). We can be free of guilt and shame, knowing we’re forgiven. — Amy Boucher Pye

How did you feel when you told a “little white lie?” How did the realization of what you did bring conviction and ultimately repentance?

Jesus, You died on the cross so I’d be able to live in harmony with You and the Father. May I accept Your gift of love as I speak truthfully.

Bible in a year: 2 Kings 19–21; John 4:1–30

[luvie]

It was GREAT! LOL! 🐈‍⬛🐾

[luvie]

Peaches Knows How
To Spend Saturday!
Happy Caturday!
[And Dogurday!]

[left that other site]

Happy Saturday!

Have A Lovely Day! :-)

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[mairdie]

Lovely. Great use of the aqua line in the border. And I like the slight posterization on Peaches. Peaceful.

[luvie]

Thank you! I had a time finding just the right shade. :)

[luvie]

What a gorgeous pup!

[left that other site]

A Blue Aussie Shepherd, I believe.

[JustAmy]

Happy Caturday everyone.

[luvie]

Blessed Union Of Souls~I Believe

Dallas Christian Choir~How Beautiful

Casting Crowns~Praise You In The Storm

Providence~O Come Angel Band

Glen Campbell~The Savior I Sing Of Today

The Trevecca Madrigalians~It Is Well With My Soul

Jeff Beck~Amazing Grace

Have a Blessed Sunday

[left that other site]

Happy Sunday!

May Your Day Be Blessed.

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Sunday,
May 15, 2022

Monkeying with the Cosmos

Read: Colossians 1:15–20

He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Colossians 1:17 nlt

In the early 1980s, a prominent astronomer who didn’t believe in God wrote, “A common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as with chemistry and biology.” To this scientist’s eye, the evidence showed that something had designed everything we observe in the cosmos. He added, “There are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature.” In other words, everything we see looks as if it was planned by Someone. And yet, the astronomer remained an atheist.

Three thousand years ago, another intelligent man looked at the skies and drew a different conclusion. “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” wondered David (Psalm 8:3–4).

Yet God cares for us deeply. The universe tells the story of its Intelligent Designer, the “Super Intellect” who made our minds and put us here to ponder His work. Through Jesus and His creation, God can be known. Paul wrote, “[Christ] existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth” (Colossians 1:15–16 nlt).

The cosmos has indeed been “monkeyed with.” The identity of the Intelligent Designer is there to be discovered by anyone willing to seek. — Tim Gustafson

In what ways can you see God in every detail of your life? How might you humbly share your confidence in God with someone who doubts His existence?

Thank You, heavenly Father, that You can be known through Your creation. I pray for those who don’t see You. Please draw them to You.

Bible in a year: 2 Kings 22–23; John 4:31–54

[JustAmy]

Graphic by Billie

The Rose
Author Unknown

It is only a tiny rosebud
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I
The flower God opens so gently
In my hands would fade and die

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
How can I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day,
And I'll look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way

For the pathway that lies before me
My heavenly Father knows
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments
Just as he unfolds the rose

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you.

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Monday,
May 16, 2022

The Fierce Struggle

Read: Ephesians 6:10–20

Our struggle is . . . against the powers of this dark world. Ephesians 6:12

In 1896, an explorer named Carl Akeley found himself in a remote section of Ethiopia, chased by an eighty-pound leopard. He remembered the leopard pouncing, trying “to sink her teeth into my throat.” She missed, snagging his right arm with her vicious jaws. The two rolled in the sand—a long, fierce struggle. Akeley weakened, and “it became a question of who would give up first.” Summoning his last bit of strength, Akeley was able to suffocate the big cat with his bare hands.

The apostle Paul explained how each of us who believe in Jesus will inevitably encounter our own fierce struggles, those places where we feel overwhelmed and are tempted to surrender. Instead, we must take our “stand against the devil’s schemes” and “stand firm” (Ephesians 6:11, 14). Rather than cower in fear or crumble as we recognize our weakness and vulnerability, Paul challenged us to step forward in faith, remembering that we don’t rely on our own courage and strength but on God. “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power,” he wrote (v. 10). In the challenges we face, He’s only a prayer away (v. 18).

Yes, we have many struggles, and we’ll never escape them by our own power or ingenuity. But God is more powerful than any enemy or evil we’ll ever face. — Winn Collier

What fight are you (or someone you love) facing right now? How is God inviting you to stand firm in His strength and fight?

God, the fight is real. The evil is real. I don’t know what to do, but I’m trusting You and Your mighty power to be with me.

Bible in a year: 2 Kings 24–25; John 5:1–24

[luvie]

Lovely. 🌹

[luvie]

Happy REALLY
Monday Madness!

[left that other site]

Happy Monday!

Time to Chase Something! ANYTHING! LOL!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS