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

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

[luvie]

I don’t think he believes in taking a day off!

[left that other site]

Nope.

Neither does Tippy (groan).

She woke me at 6:00AM for our 4 mile hike.

[The Mayor]

September 3

God Hears Us

Bible in a Year :

• Psalms 140-142
• 1 Corinthians 14:1-20

Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping.

Psalm 39:12

The first grader called the number for emergency dispatch. The 9-1-1 operator answered. “I need help,” said the boy. “I have to do take-aways.” The operator proceeded to assist, until he heard a woman enter the room and say, “Johnny, what are you doing?” Johnny explained that he couldn’t do his math homework, so he did exactly what his mother had taught him to do when he needed help. He called 9-1-1. To Johnny, his current need qualified as an emergency. To the compassionate listener, helping the young boy with his homework was top priority in that moment.

When the psalmist David needed help, he said, “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is” (Psalm 39:4 nlt). He said, “My hope is in” God (v. 7). So, he pleaded for Him to hear and answer his “cry for help” (v. 12). Then, strangely, he asked God to “look away from” him (v. 13). Though David’s needs remain unspoken, throughout Scripture he declared that God would always be with him, hearing and answering his prayers.

Our confidence in God’s constancy allows us to process our fickle feelings, while affirming there’s no request too big or too small for the unchanging One. He hears us, cares for us, and answers every prayer we utter.

Reflect & Pray

How has God demonstrated His love for you by answering prayers you thought would be too small to bring to Him? Which of your needs seems too big or too small?

Loving God, thank You for hearing and answering every prayer I place in Your hands.

[luvie]

Grateful for lazy days
Happy GratiTuesday!

[left that other site]

Happy Gratituesday!

I Am Grateful Just To Be With You.

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[The Mayor]

September 4

Excelsior!

Bible in a Year :

• Psalms 143-145
• 1 Corinthians 14:21-40

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14 esv

Sometimes surprisingly spiritual messages turn up in unexpected places, like in a comic book, for example. Marvel Comics publisher Stan Lee passed away in 2018, leaving behind a legacy of such iconic heroes as Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, and many others.

The famously smiling man with sunglasses had a personal catchphrase that he used to sign off in monthly columns in Marvel comics for decades—the word excelsior. In a 2010 tweet, Lee explained its meaning: “ ‘Upward and onward to greater glory!’ That’s what I wish you whenever I finish tweeting! Excelsior!”

I like that. Whether Stan Lee realized it or not, his use of this unusual catchphrase certainly resonates with what Paul wrote in Philippians as he admonished believers to look not behind but ahead—and up: “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:13-14 esv).

We can easily become entangled in regrets or second-guessing past decisions. But in Christ, we’re invited to relinquish regrets and to press upward and onward to God’s greater glory through embracing the forgiveness and purpose He so graciously gives us! Excelsior!

Reflect & Pray

Why do you tend to look forward or backward in your life and in your faith? How can you let go of past mistakes and move forward?

Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiveness. Thank You that You invite me to move forward, upward, and onward for Your glory.

Learn how forgiveness can help you move forward. 

[luvie]

My Gingers [Peaches & Ginger]
Chilling On a Warm & Fuzzy
Wednesday. Me, too!

[left that other site]

Happy Wednesday!

Nothing Like A Warm & Fuzzy Late Summer Day!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[TheConservativeParty]

Hope you had a great day, thanks for the posts, love the pet pictures.
🙂

[left that other site]

I had a busy day, and got a lot done.

Still more to be done but at least i made a dent in it.

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you, Dear FRiends, for the Daily Pics & Pings.
(((((Hugs, and God Bless)))))

[TheConservativeParty]

I am still planting stuff in the gardens....perennials now. Lots of weeding, as usual. Weeds. No likey. 😅

[luvie]

Nighty-night, Kitty.
Thanks for being here.

[left that other site]

I hate weeds.

They seem to be extra hardy and ubiquitous this year.

[The Mayor]

September 5

Grace Now

Bible in a Year :

• Psalms 146-147
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

[Love] is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered.

1 Corinthians 13:5

We hurried to a fast-food restaurant to have lunch together on my friend Jerrie’s short work break. Arriving at the door about the same time, six young men got inside just in front of us. Knowing we didn’t have much time to spare, we grumbled inwardly. They stood as a group at both registers to be sure each of them could order first. Then I heard Jerrie whisper to herself, “Show grace now.” Wow! Sure, letting us go first would have been nice, but what a great reminder to think of others’ needs and desires and not only my own.

The Bible teaches that love is patient, kind, and unselfish; it’s “not easily angered” (1 Corinthians 13:5). “It often . . . prefers [others’] welfare, and satisfaction, and advantage, to its own,” wrote commentator Matthew Henry of this love. God’s kind of love thinks of others first.

In a world where many of us are easily irritated, we frequently have occasion to ask God for help and the grace to choose to be patient with others and to be kind (v. 4). Proverbs 19:11 adds, “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

That’s the kind of loving action that brings honor to God, and He might even use it to bring thoughts of His love to others.

With God’s strength, let’s take every opportunity to show grace now.

Reflect & Pray

In what ways might you need to not act out of frustration? How could turning to God help you?

I’m in need of Your help, God. I face many levels of irritation but want to instead be filled and overflowing with Your kind of love.

[luvie]

I'm So Thankful For All The Rain
So Is My Lawn And My Flowers
Happy Thankful Thursday!

[left that other site]

Seven ACD Puppies?

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Happy Thankful Thursday!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[The Mayor]

September 6

Speaking Truthfully in Christ

Bible in a Year :

• Psalms 148-150
• 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Ephesians 4:25

A man was adept at beating his personal traffic tickets by lying. When he appeared before various judges in court, he would tell the same tale: “I broke up with my girlfriend and she took my car without my knowledge.” In addition, he had been repeatedly reprimanded for misconduct while on the job. Prosecutors finally charged him with four counts of perjury and five counts of forgery for allegedly lying to judges under oath and providing fictitious police reports. For this man, lying had become a lifelong habit.

In contrast, the apostle Paul said that telling the truth is a vital habit for believers in Jesus to live out. He reminded the Ephesians that they’d put away their old way of living through surrendering their lives to Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5). Now, they needed to live like the new people they’d become, incorporating specific actions into their lives. One such action was something to cease—“put off falsehood”—and the other action something to practice—“speak truthfully to your neighbor” (4:25). Because it protected the unity of the church, the Ephesians were to always have their words and actions be about “building others up” (v. 29).

As the Holy Spirit helps us (vv. 3-4), believers in Jesus can strive for truth in their words and actions. Then the church will be unified, and God will be honored.

Reflect & Pray

What will help you consistently tell the truth? How do your words reflect new life in Christ?

Dear God, please help me to put away falsehood and clothe myself in Your truth.

[luvie]

Chris DeBurgh~The Lady In Red

[left that other site]

Happy Red Friday!

Have A Lovely Day!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS