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

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

[TheConservativeParty]

😁

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Saturday,
May 21, 2022

The Fruit Sells the Tree

Read: Galatians 5:22–26

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22–23

A nursery owner set out to sell peach trees. She considered various approaches. Should she line up leafy saplings in burlap sacks in a beautiful display? Should she create a colorful catalog picturing peach trees in various seasons of growth? At last she realized what really sells a peach tree. It’s the peach it produces: sweet-smelling, deep orange, and fuzzy-skinned. The best way to sell a peach tree is to pluck a ripe peach, cut it open until the juice dribbles down your arm, and hand a slice to a customer. When they taste the fruit, they want the tree.

God reveals Himself in a wrapper of spiritual fruit in His followers: love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). When believers in Jesus exhibit such fruit, others will want that fruit as well, and, therefore, will seek the Source of the fruit that’s so attractive.

Fruit is the external result of an internal relationship—the influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Fruit is the dressing that beckons others to know the God we represent. Like the bright peaches standing out against the green leaves of a tree, the fruit of the Spirit announces to a starving world, “Here is food! Here is life! Come and find a way out of exhaustion and discouragement. Come and meet God!” — Elisa Morgan

What first drew you to Jesus? How are you exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit in your life so that others are attracted to its Source, God?

Holy Spirit, I welcome You to continue to grow Your fruit in my life that others might see You and want You in their lives.

Learn more about walking by the Spirit.

Bible in a year: 1 Chronicles 13–15; John 7:1–27

[luvie]

Remember Them
Honor Them
Thank Them!

[luvie]

Providence~Lord Feed Your Children

Glad~Before the Throne Of God Above

Cathedrals~Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Glad~Be Ye Glad

Gaither Homecoming~Heaven's Joy Awaits

Ray Walker~Master The Tempest Is Raging

Vocal Majority~Deep River

Have a blessed Sunday
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

[TheConservativeParty]

Have a great Sunday.
Have my second day off today. 🥳

Got a ton of gardening done on Saturday.
👩‍🌾

[luvie]

Two days off in a row? You’re gonna get spoiled. LOL! Enjoy the day.

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Sunday,
May 22, 2022

Something Deep and Binding

Read: Genesis 1:26–28

God created mankind in his own image. Genesis 1:27

Amina, an Iraqi immigrant, and Joseph, an American from birth, attended a political protest on opposite sides. We’ve been taught to believe that those who are separated by ethnicity and politics carry unbridled animosity toward each other. However, when a small mob accosted Joseph, trying to set his shirt on fire, Amina rushed to his defense. “I don’t think we could be any further apart as people,” Joseph told a reporter, “and yet, it was just kinda like this common ‘that’s not OK’ moment.” Something deeper than politics knit Amina and Joseph together.

Though we often have genuine disagreements with one another—substantial differences we often can’t ignore—there are far deeper realities that bind us together. We’re all created by God and bound together in one beloved human family. God has created each of us—regardless of gender, social class, ethnic identity or political persuasion—“in his own image” (Genesis 1:27). Whatever else might be true, God is reflected in both you and me. Further, He’s given us a shared purpose to “fill” and “rule” God’s world with wisdom and care (v. 28).

Whenever we forget how we’re bound together in God, we do damage to ourselves and others. But whenever we come together in His grace and truth, we participate in His desire to make a good and flourishing world. — Winn Collier

Who seems to be completely different from you? What would it be like to spend time with them, sharing what you have in common?

God, the way the world is right now, it’s hard to believe that because of You every person shares something deep inside. Help me see this truth.

Bible in a year: 1 Chronicles 16–18; John 7:28–53

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Monday,
May 23, 2022

In the End

Read: 2 Timothy 4:6–8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

I’m often given the privilege of leading spiritual retreats. Getting away for a few days to pray and reflect can be deeply enriching, and during the program I sometimes ask participants to do an exercise: “Imagine your life is over and your obituary is published in the paper. What would you like it to say?” Some attendees change their life’s priorities as a result, aiming to finish their lives well.

Second Timothy 4 contains the last known written words of the apostle Paul. Though probably only in his sixties, and though having faced death before, he senses his life is nearly over (2 Timothy 4:6). There will be no more mission trips now or writing letters to his churches. He looks back over his life and says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (v. 7). While he hasn’t been perfect (1 Timothy 1:15–16), Paul assesses his life on how true he’s stayed to God and the gospel. Tradition suggests he was martyred soon after.

Contemplating our final days has a way of clarifying what matters now. Paul’s words can be a good model to follow. Fight the good fight. Finish the race. Keep the faith. Because in the end what will matter is that we’ve stayed true to God and His ways as He provides what we need to live, fight life’s spiritual battles, and finish well. — Sheridan Voysey

Imagine your life is over and your obituary is published. What would you like it to say? What changes might you make now to “finish the race” well?

Father God, strengthen me to live faithfully for You, right to the end.

Bible in a year: 1 Chronicles 19–21; John 8:1–27

[luvie]

Happy Monday Madness!

[left that other site]

happy Monday!

It's A Good Day For a Nap.

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[TheConservativeParty]

Happy Monday Madness!

Was kinda busy and missed it, but here to wish you a good night.

Sweet Dreams
⭐️🌟💫🌙

[luvie]

Goodnight and sweet dreams! Don’t work too hard!

[TheConservativeParty]

Work time is almost over. 😅 This is the last week. 🙃

[luvie]

Awesome! What are you going to do with all that “free” time you’ll have?

[TheConservativeParty]

Gardening. 😅

[luvie]

Somehow....I just knew that! 🌺🌼🌸

[The Mayor]

Our Daily Bread

Tuesday,
May 24, 2022

Generous Giving

Read: Leviticus 19:9–10

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. Leviticus 19:10

General Charles Gordon (1833–1885) served Queen Victoria in China and elsewhere, but when living in England he’d give away 90 percent of his income. When he heard about a famine in Lancashire, he scratched off the inscription from a pure gold medal he’d received from a world leader and sent it up north, saying they should melt it down and use the money to buy bread for the poor. That day he wrote in his diary: “The last earthly thing I had in this world that I valued I have given to the Lord Jesus.”

General Gordon’s level of generosity might seem above and beyond what we’re able to extend, but God has always called His people to look out for those in need. In some of the laws He delivered through Moses, God instructed the people not to reap to the edges of their field nor gather the entire crop. Instead, when harvesting a vineyard, He said to leave the grapes that had fallen “for the poor and the foreigner” (Leviticus 19:10). God wanted His people to be aware of and provide for the vulnerable in their midst.

However generous we may feel, we can ask God to increase our desire to give to others and to seek His wisdom for creative ways to do so. He loves to help us show His love to others. — Amy Boucher Pye

How might you extend generosity today, whether through practical help, a listening ear, or some other way? When have you been on the receiving end of someone’s generosity? How did that feel?

Giving Father, thank You for sending Jesus to live as one of us and to die for us. Fill my heart with love and thanks for this amazing gift.

Bible in a year: 1 Chronicles 22–24; John 8:28–59

[luvie]

Grateful For Their
Happy, Sunny Faces
Happy GratiTuesday!

[TheConservativeParty]

Those are pretty daisies! I have some that are still small, won’t bloom for a month. We are still cool here, nicer than a couple weeks ago when it was in the 90s. Got to go ride Horsie today, she was distracted by all the tasty green grass. Kind of like me when there are cookies around. 😅

Doing some gardening this afternoon, had the day off from work. Turns out gardening is also work. Had to come inside for a break.

Cheers for Spring!
😊

[left that other site]

Happy Gratituesday!

It's Technically Spring, But It Sure Feels Like Summer!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS