Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... July, August and September, 2015

7-1-2015 | JustAmy; Meg33, The Mayor; Trisham; St.Louie1, Friends, MamaBear

[trisham]

It is HOT here too!

[luvie]

i’m ready for a break! :)

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you for the Tuesday and Wednesday Pings, Dear FRiends.
(((((Hugs to Everyone)))))

Goodnight, and God Bless.

[The Mayor]

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Grey Power

July 30, 2015

Just as my strength was then, so now is my strength. —Joshua 14:11

Dutch artist Yoni Lefevre created a project called “Grey Power” to show the vitality of the aging generation in the Netherlands. She asked local schoolchildren to sketch their grandparents. Lefevre wanted to show an “honest and pure view” of older people, and she believed children could help supply this. The youngsters’ drawings reflected a fresh and lively perspective of their elders—grandmas and grandpas were shown playing tennis, gardening, painting, and more!

Caleb, of ancient Israel, was vital into his senior years. As a young man, he infiltrated the Promised Land before the Israelites conquered it. Caleb believed God would help his nation defeat the Canaanites, but the other spies disagreed (Josh. 14:8). Because of Caleb’s faith, God miraculously sustained his life for 45 years so he might survive the wilderness wanderings and enter the Promised Land. When it was finally time to enter Canaan, 85-year-old Caleb said, “Just as my strength was then, so now is my strength” (v. 11). With God’s help, Caleb successfully claimed his share of the land (Num. 14:24).

God does not forget about us as we grow older. Although our bodies age and our health may fail, God’s Holy Spirit renews us inwardly each day (2 Cor. 4:16). He makes it possible for our lives to have significance at every stage and every age.

Heavenly Father, I know that my physical strength and health can fail. But I pray that You will continually renew me spiritually so I can serve You faithfully as long as I live.

With God’s strength behind you and His arms beneath you, you can face whatever lies ahead of you.

Insight:

Caleb was one of the 12 spies Moses sent to explore Canaan. Based on the report of ten of the spies, the Israelites concluded that they could not conquer the land (Num. 13–14). Caleb challenged their lack of faith (13:30; 14:6-9; Deut. 1:29-30). God took note of his faithfulness (Deut. 1:34-36), and he is consistently described as one who wholly followed the Lord (Num. 14:24; 32:12; Deut. 1:36, Josh. 14:8-9,14).

[TheOldLady]

That is certainly a precious little puppy!

Thank you for posting.

I love his (her?) sweet little smile.

[TheConservativeParty]

I’ve been surprised by how much my dog understands too.
The horses do that too.
Amazing creatures God has given us to love.

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

He Found Me

July 31, 2015

The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. —Luke 19:10

The film Amazing Grace was set in the late 1700s. It tells the story of William Wilberforce, a politician who was driven by his faith in Christ to commit his money and energy to abolishing the slave trade in England. In one scene, Wilberforce’s butler finds him praying. The butler asks, “You found God, Sir?” Wilberforce responds, “I think He found me.”

The Bible pictures humanity as wayward and wandering sheep. It says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isa. 53:6). In fact, this wayward condition is so deeply rooted in us that the apostle Paul said: “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside” (Rom. 3:10-12). That is why Jesus came. We would never seek Him, so He came seeking us. Jesus declared His mission with the words, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Wilberforce was exactly right. Jesus came to find us, for we could never have found Him if left to ourselves. It is a clear expression of the Creator’s love for His lost creation that He pursues us and desires to make us His own.

Amazing grace—how sweet the sound—that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see. John Newton

Once lost, now found. Eternally thankful!

Insight:

Jesus’ description of His mission to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10) is pictured beautifully in His trilogy of parables in Luke 15. He begins in verses 3-7, describing a shepherd who pursues the one lost sheep. The theme continues in verses 8-10 with a woman searching diligently for a lost coin. The trilogy finds its apex in the parable of the prodigal son in verses 11-32. Two common threads run through these three parables. The first is the passion and determination of the seeker—a picture of God’s great love for us. The second is the absolute joy and celebration every time the lost is found. What a marvelous expression of God’s loving pursuit of us.

[left that other site]

Amen.

[Jane Long]

His amazing grace, indeed. Amen and blessings, Mayor.

[Jane Long]

Blessings to you...and to our dear and precious troops, on this Friday.

[left that other site]

Happy Friday!

And Don't forget to Wear Red In Support of Our Troops.

((((HUGS))))

ML/LTOS

[trisham]

Red Friday, at Amy's Place
to support our troops!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

*=*=*=*=*=**=*=*=*=*=*

[left that other site]

Those are some cool shoes! :-)

[stephenjohnbanker]

Amen

[TheOldLady]

Thank you both. Amen.

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you, Dear TOL! (((((Hugs)))))

[Kitty Mittens]

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

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

How To Have Peace

August 1, 2015

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

The Kamppi Chapel of Silence in Helsinki, Finland, stands out in its urban setting. The curved structure, covered with wood, buffers the noise from the busy city outside. Designers created the chapel as a quiet space and a “calm environment for visitors to compose themselves.” It’s a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

            Many people long for peace, and a few minutes of silence may soothe our minds. But the Bible teaches that real peace—peace with God—comes from His Son. The apostle Paul said, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). Without Christ, we are enemies of God because of our sin. Thankfully, accepting Jesus’ sacrifice reconciles us to God and ends the hostility that existed between us (Col. 1:19-21). He now sees us as Christ presents us—“holy, and blameless, and above reproach” (v. 22).

Because of Christ, the true peace of God can fill our hearts.

            Having peace with God does not ensure problem-free living. However, it does steady us during difficult times. Jesus told His followers, “In the world you will have tribulation,” but He also said, “In Me you may have peace” (John 16:33). Because of Christ, the true peace of God can fill our hearts (Col. 3:15).

Father, we long for Your peace in the midst of our turmoil. Please help us to rest in You.

Peace floods the soul when Christ rules the heart.

Insight:

In verse 15 of today’s reading the key word is image. Because “God is Spirit” (John 4:24), and therefore invisible (Col. 1:15), how can we see and know Him? The answer is that Christ came in human form, yet perfectly exhibited the heart, character, and life of the Father. This is where the word image comes in. It is the Greek term eikon (from which we get the word icon), which means “representation.” We cannot see the Father, so the Son came as His representative to show us who He is and what He is like. This was so perfectly accomplished that Jesus told His disciples, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Bill Crowder

[newb2012]

Saved it in my prayer book. Thank you for posting this prayer.

[trisham]

My pleasure. It’s one of my favourites.