Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... June, 2014

6-1-2014 | JustAmy; St.Louie1; MamaBear; Billie; Meg33, Friends

[The Mayor]

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Roadside Assistance
June 26, 2014

Read: Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. —Psalm 46:1

Bible in a Year:
Job 5-7; Acts 8:1-25

An acquaintance of mine was hunting with friends near Balmoral, the country estate of the queen of England. As they walked, he twisted his ankle so badly that he couldn’t go on, so he told his friends to continue and he would wait by the side of the road.

As he sat there, a car came down the road, slowed, and stopped. The woman driving rolled the window down and asked if he was okay. He explained and said he was waiting for his friends to return. She said, “Get in; I’ll take you back to where you are staying.” He limped to the car and opened the door only to realize that it was Queen Elizabeth!

As shocking as receiving help from the queen of England may be, we have an offer of help that is even more astounding. The Creator-God of the universe descends into our world, sees our trouble, and offers to marshal His resources to help us. As the psalmist confidently affirms, “God is . . . a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). Our Savior helps by giving us grace to endure, His Word to sustain us, friends to encourage and pray for us, and the confidence that He will ultimately work it all together for our spiritual good.

Next time you feel stranded along life’s road, look for your Helper.

Lord, I’m thankful that when I experience trouble
You are waiting and wanting to help. Teach
me to look to You and to rest in Your kind and
loving care until You deliver me safely home.

Rejoice! Your God is a helping King!

Insight

Psalm 46 celebrates God as the supreme defender of His people. This particular psalm inspired Martin Luther to write: “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.”

[TheConservativeParty]

Thank you for posting the Daily Bread so faithfully.
I really need it.

[The Mayor]

Your very welcome, I need it too so everyday I post and read along with many others. It’s a pleasure to be here.

[newb2012]

I’M LUCKY

A bird in the sky,
A fish in the sea,
While I am wherever
I want to be.

If an insect can’t see
That’s a problem of he
That’s not my problem
For I can see.

I am lucky for many
more reasons than two
Most of which might
Even concern you.

- Emily Grace,10
June 2014

[The Mayor]

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Do No Harm
June 27, 2014

Read: Romans 13:8-10

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. —Romans 13:10

Bible in a Year:
Job 8-10; Acts 8:26-40

Many consider the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates as the father of Western medicine. He understood the importance of following moral principles in the practice of medicine, and is credited with writing the Hippocratic Oath, which still serves as an ethical guide for today’s medical doctors. One key concept of the oath is “to do no harm.” It implies that a physician will do only what he thinks will benefit his patients.

The principle of doing no harm extends to our relationships with others in everyday life. In fact, benevolence is central to New Testament teaching about loving others. In reflecting on the law of God, Paul sees that love is the intent behind many biblical commands: “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10).

Each day as we follow Jesus Christ our Savior, we are faced with choices that will affect the lives of others. When we choose a course of action, we should ask ourselves, “Does this reflect Christ’s concern for others, or am I only concerned for myself?” Such a sensitivity demonstrates the love of Christ that seeks to heal the broken and help those in need.

Lord, I admit that it is easy to be consumed with my
own wants and needs. Thank You that You showed
us how to be concerned for others too. Help me
to follow Your example in caring for others.

Caring for the burdens of others helps us to forget about our own.

Insight

Paul’s words in today’s passage remind us of Jesus’ words to the young teacher of the law who asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25-29). Love for God and neighbor is the epitome, fulfillment, and intention of all the laws of the Old Testament. In Luke, Jesus went on to say who our neighbor is and what love for that person should look like (vv.30-37). Paul does a similar thing for the people at the church in Rome. After telling them to love their neighbor in chapter 13, he goes on to tell them in chapter 14 to consider the effect their actions will have on their neighbor. Love is to guide all our actions.

[TheConservativeParty]

ALL or ANYBODY.....

Hello?

Who turned out the lights?

(just kidding, I know we’re “on vacation”.

Good Night Mary Ellen
Good Night John Boy
Good Night Elizabeth

etc...

[The Mayor]

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Make It Attractive
June 28, 2014

Read: Colossians 4:2-6

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. —Colossians 4:5

Bible in a Year:
Job 11-13; Acts 9:1-21

The story is told of a young boy who, during a bygone era, was aboard a passenger train attempting to make money selling apples. He made his way through the train car, saying, “Apples! Would you like to buy an apple?” When he got to the rear of the car, he still had a bagful of apples and no money.

A gentleman who noticed his plight took him aside and asked to see one of the apples. He proceeded to go to the front of the train, polish it conspicuously with a napkin, and then walk down the aisle eating the apple and commenting on how delicious and refreshing it was. Then he told the boy to try again. This time, he sold every apple. The difference? The apples had been made attractive to the potential customers.

This story can remind us of one way we can interest others in the gospel of Jesus Christ: Make it attractive to them—show them the difference it has made in our own lives. That is best done by following the words of Paul in Colossians 4:5. “Be wise,” he said, “in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (niv). If we show kindness, love, and compassion to others, those who observe us will wonder why, and that may give us an opening to tell them about the beauty of God’s love for them.

Dear God, You have given us so much by providing
our salvation. Help us to make the gospel
attractive to others by the way we shine
Jesus’ light on those we encounter each day.

The beauty of a changed life can attract others to the One who makes us beautiful.

Insight

The Bible Knowledge Commentary says of Colosse, home of the church receiving this letter: “Colosse was in the Lycus Valley, about 100 miles east of Ephesus in Asia Minor. Its name is possibly derived from Colossus, a large statue, which in turn may have been named for the unusual shape of stony deposits there. Colosse is about 12 miles from Hierapolis and Laodicea, the other two cities of that valley. . . . The area was rich in mineral deposits and was also subject to frequent earthquakes. Rich pasturelands were nearby. Several references in Colossians indicate that Paul had not visited the city (Col. 1:7; 2:1; 4:12).”

[The Mayor]

Introducing our grandson Micah Thompson.
He weighed 7 lbs 11ozs and was 21 inches long.
He is doing great and is a really cute baby.

Here I am holding him during his first day of life.

[AZamericonnie]

Welcome to the world dear Micah!

Congrats on your family’s blessing Mayor. He’s a lil angel!

[The Mayor]

Thank you!

[luvie]

Happy Birth Day, Micah!
Congrats, Mayor Mrs. Mayor and family!

[The Mayor]

What a Blessing. : )

[luvie]

Amen! Grandkids are the BEST! :)

Just enjoy him! He’ll relieve all your election year stress!

[The Mayor]

Now that will be nice!

[MEG33]

God Bless Precious Micah Thompson
Congratulations proud parents and grandparents.

[Diver Dave]

Congratulations to Grandma & Grandpa as well as the blessed parents!!!

[Jim Robinson]

Congratulations, Grampa!!

[TheOldLady]

You look pleased as punch there, The Mayor, with your little grand-bundle of joy. Micah looks very healthy, and may God bless him with good health and prosperity always.

It is also very nice to see your kind face.

[The Mayor]

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Focus On The Process
June 29, 2014

Read: 2 Peter 1:2-11

If these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. —2 Peter 1:8

Bible in a Year:
Job 14-16; Acts 9:22-43

In William Zinsser’s book On Writing Well, he says that many writers suffer from “the tyranny of the final product.” They are so concerned with selling their article or book, they neglect learning the process of how to think, plan, and organize. A jumbled manuscript, Zinsser believes, is produced when “the writer, his eye on the finish line, never gave enough thought to how to run the race.”

Author and minister A. W. Tozer applies that principle to our spiritual lives. In his book The Root of the Righteous, Tozer describes our tendency to be “concerned only with the fruit . . . [and] ignore the root out of which the fruit sprang.”

The apostle Peter reminded first-century believers that Christlike living and effective service result from a process. He urged them to grow in eight areas of spiritual development: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7). If you possess these qualities in increasing measure, Peter said, “you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.8).

God calls us to a wonderful process of learning to know Him, with the assurance that it will lead to productive service in His name and for His honor.

Lord, so often we want complete and perfect
solutions here and now. But You work graciously in
Your good time. Let Your goodness and patience and
virtue shine through us so that we may bless others.

The Christian life is a process in which we learn complete dependence on God.

Insight

God has given us everything we need for living a holy life (2 Peter 1:3). Therefore, Peter exhorts us to respond diligently to these great promises and abundant provisions of divine power (vv.4-5) by making every effort to grow in faith, graciousness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, devotedness, kindness, and love (vv.5-7).