Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... January - December, 2023

The Mayor; Luvie; JustAmy

[The Mayor]

March 24

Recognizing God’s Voice

Bible in a Year:

• Joshua 16–18
• Luke 2:1–24

I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Acts 20:32

After years of research, scientists have learned that wolves have distinct voices that help them communicate with each other. Using a specific sound analysis code, one scientist realized that various volumes and pitches in a wolf’s howl enabled her to identify specific wolves with 100 percent accuracy.

The Bible provides many examples of God recognizing the distinct voices of His beloved creations. He called Moses by name and spoke to him directly (Exodus 3:4–6). The psalmist David proclaimed, “I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain” (Psalm 3:4). The apostle Paul also emphasized the value of God’s people recognizing His voice.

When bidding farewell to the Ephesian elders, Paul said the Spirit had “compelled” him to head to Jerusalem. He confirmed his commitment to follow God’s voice, though he didn’t know what to expect upon his arrival (Acts 20:22). The apostle warned that “savage wolves” would “arise and distort the truth,” even from within the church (vv. 29–30). Then, he encouraged the elders to remain diligent in discerning God’s truth (v. 31).

All believers in Jesus have the privilege of knowing that God hears and answers us. We also have the power of the Holy Spirit who helps us recognize God’s voice, which is always in alignment with the words of Scripture. Reflect & Pray

What false teaching has God helped you combat as you studied Scripture? When has He used the Bible to encourage you?

Dear God, when the noise of the world around me threatens to make me wander from You, please help me recognize and obey Your voice.

[luvie]

Chris DeBurgh~The Lady In Red

God Bless Our Troops!
God Bless America!

[TheConservativeParty]

Happy Friday, and TGIF!
Glad the weekend is here.
😅

[The Mayor]

March 25

The Reboot of Grace

Bible in a Year:

• Joshua 19–21
• Luke 2:25–52

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22–23 Over the last several decades, a new word has entered our movie vocabulary: reboot. In cinematic parlance, a reboot takes an old story and jumpstarts it. Some reboots retell a familiar tale, like a superhero story or a fairytale. Other reboots take a lesser-known story and retell it in a new way. But in each case, a reboot is a bit like a do-over. It’s a fresh start, a chance to breathe new life into the old.  

There’s another story that involves reboots—the gospel story. In it, Jesus invites us to His offer of forgiveness, as well as abundant and eternal life (John 10:10). And in the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah reminds us that God’s love for us makes every day a “reboot” of sorts: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (3:22–23).

God’s grace invites us to embrace each day as a fresh opportunity to experience His faithfulness. Whether we’re struggling with the effects of our own mistakes or going through other hardships, God’s Spirit can breathe forgiveness, new life, and hope into each new day. Every day is a reboot of sorts, an opportunity to follow the lead of the great Director, who is weaving our story into His bigger one. .

Reflect & Pray

How do you think reflecting upon and remembering God’s faithfulness in the midst of trials changes your perspective on them? How has God’s forgiveness and grace brought a reboot to your life?

Father, thank You that Your grace and forgiveness invite me to start over, fresh, every morning.

[luvie]

Happy Lazy Spring Caturday!

[TheConservativeParty]

Happy Caturday! We got a lot of snow overnight, about 8”. Really heavy wet stuff. 😅

[left that other site]

What Happened To Spring?

Wintery Mix Today. Grrrr.

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[luvie]

Wow! What a surprise!....or was it? Hope it melts quickly!

[luvie]

Brrrr....and yuk!

[TheConservativeParty]

The snow was predicted. They were right. 🙄
It is sunny now.
I took a walk and it is quite nice out, not too cold.
🙂

[luvie]

Casting Crowns~Praise You In The Storm

Waylon Jennings/Jesse Colter~Precious Memories

Daniel O'Donnel~Church In The Wildwood

Passion~In Christ Alone

MercyMe~I Can Only Imagine

St. Olaf Choir~When Peace Like A River

Providence~Amazing Grace

GOD BLESS YOU THIS LORD'S DAY!

[The Mayor]

March 26

The Telling Room

Bible in a Year:

• Joshua 22–24
• Luke 3

Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

1 Samuel 18:3

Northern Spain produced a beautiful way of expressing communion and friendship. With the countryside full of handmade caves, after each harvest some farmers would sit in a room built above a cave and inventory their various foods. As time passed, the room became known as the “telling room”—a place of communion where friends and families would gather to share their stories, secrets, and dreams. If you needed the intimate company of safe friends, you would head for the telling room.

Had they lived in northern Spain, the deep friendship shared by Jonathan and David might have led them to create a telling room. When King Saul became so jealous that he wanted to kill David, Jonathan, Saul’s oldest son, protected and befriended him. The two became “one in spirit” (1 Samuel 18:1). And Jonathan “loved him as himself” (vv. 1, 3) and—though he was heir apparent to the throne—recognized David’s divine selection to be king. He gave David his robe, sword, bow, and belt (v. 4). Later, David declared that Jonathan’s deep love for him as a friend was wonderful (2 Samuel 1:26).

As believers in Jesus, may He help us build our own relational “telling rooms”—friendships that reflect Christlike love and care. Let’s take the time to linger with friends, open our hearts, and live in true communion with one another in Him. .

Reflect & Pray

What kinds of commitments have you made to your friends? How can you express your love to them this week?

Dear God, please help me to pursue vulnerable, loving, and authentic friendships.

For further study, read A Torrent of Justice: Building Relationships of Love and Kindness.

[TheConservativeParty]

Happy Sunday Morning!
Looks like January here, lots of snow on the ground.
Local weather says 12” fell. We probably got 8. Hard to tell since the wind blew it around. Took 2 hours yesterday to plow it though.
😅

[left that other site]

12 inches? YIKES.

[TheConservativeParty]

The 12” snowfall was in the top 10 biggest daily snowfalls on record for Madison, WI. We are 25 miles southwest of there.

😁

[left that other site]

And i was complaining about the “Wintery Mix”.

Sorry. I am ashamed of myself.

[luvie]

What a crazy spring you’ve had! Hope this is the end of it!

[TheConservativeParty]

We had more snow today. Great big clumps of snow falling. Didn’t last more than an hour. It’s not too cold, so not too bad. 40s and 50s later this week.
😄

[left that other site]

LOVE those 40-50 Spring Days.

[TheConservativeParty]

Happy Monday Madness!
The weekend is too short.
Went by too fast.

Have a good day. Heading off to work, see ya later.

🥱