Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ... January, February and March, 2019

January 1, 2019 | Meg33, The Major, Trisham, JustAmy

[TheConservativeParty]

The cardinals are really having fun out there today. The blue jays are being shy. I had a peanut feeder with the other feeders on the deck, but gave up after only 2 jays in 2 weeks. Put that feeder close to the woods yesterday. The feeder directions said to lure them closer to house in several steps starting in a wooded area. Ok. Will try for a while. The feeder was expensive but made just for peanuts which also are expensive. But I love the blue jays.

Peanuts for birds...not “Cheep”!

[luvie]

Wow! Who knew that blue jays were shy! Sounds like you are getting your money’s worth from the feeder and nuts. WAY better than going to the movies.

[The Mayor]

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Eyes Tightly Shut

January 3, 2019

They hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8

He knew he shouldn’t have done it. I could clearly see he knew it was wrong: it was written all over his face! As I sat down to discuss his wrongdoing with him, my nephew quickly squeezed his eyes shut. There he sat, thinking—with three-year-old logic—that if he couldn’t see me, then I must not be able to see him. And if he was invisible to me, then he could avoid the conversation (and consequences) he anticipated.

I’m so glad I could see him in that moment. While I couldn’t condone his actions, and we needed to talk about it, I really didn’t want anything to come between us. I wanted him to look fully into my face and see how much I love him and was eager to forgive him! In that moment, I caught a glimmer of how God might have felt when Adam and Eve broke His trust in the garden of Eden. Realizing their guilt, they tried to hide from God (Genesis 3:10), who could “see” them as plainly as I could see my nephew.

When we realize we’ve done something wrong, we often want to avoid the consequences. We run from it, conceal it, or close our eyes to the truth. While God will hold us accountable to His righteous standard, He sees us (and seeks us!) because He loves us and offers forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Father, thank You for seeing me and loving me even when I do wrong.

God views us through eyes of love.

INSIGHT

As the book of beginnings, Genesis gives us our first look at how God responds to our sin with a just balance of mercy and consequence. Our Father’s ability to judge sin while loving the sinner shows up in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:14–21) and later when Cain kills his brother (4:8–16). We see it again and again in a pattern that leads through Sinai (Exodus 34:5–7), the songs of Israel (Psalm 99:8), and most completely in the crucifixion of Jesus (Luke 23:34).

[luvie]

Thankful for God's support
That helps me keep strong.
Happy Thankful Thursday!

[left that other site]

Happy Happy Happy

Happy Thankful Thursday To You!

((((HUGS))))

ML/LTOS

[luvie]

...and to you and Penny! (((hugs)))

[Kitty Mittens]

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

[luvie]

Good night, Kitty. Sweet dreams!

[The Mayor]

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Walking in the Light

January 4, 2019

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 1:4

Darkness descended on our forest village when the moon disappeared. Lightning slashed the skies, followed by a rainstorm and crackling thunder. Awake and afraid, as a child I imagined all kinds of grisly monsters about to pounce on me! By daybreak, however, the sounds vanished, the sun rose, and calm returned as birds jubilated in the sunshine. The contrast between the frightening darkness of the night and the joy of the daylight was remarkably sharp.

The author of Hebrews recalls the time when the Israelites had an experience at Mount Sinai so dark and stormy they hid in fear (Exodus 20:18–19). For them, God’s presence, even in His loving gift of the law, felt dark and terrifying. This was because, as sinful people, the Israelites couldn’t live up to God’s standards. Their sin caused them to walk in darkness and fear (Hebrews 12:18–21).

But God is light; in Him there’s no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). In Hebrews 12, Mount Sinai represents God’s holiness and our old life of disobedience, while the beauty of Mount Zion represents God’s grace and believers’ new life in Jesus, “the mediator of a new covenant” (vv. 22–24).

Whoever follows Jesus will “never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Through Him, we can let go of the darkness of our old life and celebrate the joy of walking in the light and beauty of His kingdom.

If you’re a believer in Jesus, how has your life changed since He came into it? What are some ways you’d like to grow in your faith?

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for bringing me out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Help me to avoid the darkness to continue walking in the light toward eternity.

INSIGHT

No author is identified for the book of Hebrews. Scholarly speculation regarding potential authors ranges from Paul to Barnabas to Luke to Apollos, and even to Aquila and Priscilla. What are we to conclude about this ongoing, centuries-old debate? First, the very fact that there is so much speculation clearly reveals that no particular view can be totally proven. Second, human authorship is less of a problem if we understand that, by means of the inspiration of Scripture, the ultimate author is in fact the Holy Spirit who inspired it (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21).

For more on Bible background, check out Beyond Reasonable Doubt: The Truth of the Bible at discoveryseries.org/q0411.

[trisham]

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

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

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

[left that other site]

Happy Red Friday!

Stay Warm!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[luvie]

Support our brave troops!



RAY WYLIE HUBBARD~RED DRESS

[TheConservativeParty]

Friday greetings to everyone!
Have a great day!

[trisham]

Thank you, TheConservativeparty!

[TheConservativeParty]

My dog Moose loves the snow!
Dogs are so great.

[left that other site]

Indeed they are!

They are a special gift.

[The Mayor]

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Transformed & Transforming

January 5, 2019

Then he restored the altar of the Lord. . . and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 33:16

Tani and Modupe grew up in Nigeria and went to the UK to study in the 1970s. Having been personally transformed by God’s grace, they never imagined that they would be used to transform one of the most deprived and segregated communities in England—Anfield in Liverpool. As Drs. Tani and Modupe Omideyi faithfully sought God and served their community, God restored hope to many. They lead a vibrant church and continue to run numerous community projects that have led to the transformation of countless lives.

Manasseh changed his community, first for evil and then for good. Crowned king of Judah at the age of twelve, he led his people astray and they did great evil for many years (2 Chronicles 33:1–9). They paid no attention to God’s warnings and so He allowed Manasseh to be taken prisoner to Babylon (vv. 10–11).

In his distress, the king humbly cried out to God who heard his plea and restored him to his kingdom (vv. 12–13). The now-reformed king rebuilt the city walls and got rid of the foreign gods (vv. 14–15). “He restored the altar of the Lord and . . . told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel” (v. 16). As the people observed the radical transformation of Manasseh, so too were they transformed (v. 17).

 As we seek God, may He transform us and so impact our communities through us.

Heavenly Father, transform our lives that we may be used by You to bring transformation to others.

Your transformation by God brings transformation to others.

INSIGHT

Second Kings 21:1–18 parallels 2 Chronicles 33:1–20, but the version in 2 Kings curiously omits Manasseh’s repentance. Both accounts share how Manasseh rebuilt the obscene shrines his father Hezekiah had destroyed, desecrating God’s holy temple and sacrificing his own son. Second Kings prophesies Jerusalem’s coming judgment (21:10–15), while 2 Chronicles shows us a larger story—the fulfillment of that prophesy and God’s hand in bringing Judah’s worst king to eventual repentance (33:10–17).

[trisham]

Old King Winter

Old King Winter's on his throne
In robes of ermine white;
The crown of jewels on his head
Now glitters bright with light.

The little flakes of snow and hail,
And tiny pearls of sleet,
Are with the wild winds dancing
All round his magic feet.

His beard is white, his cheeks are red,
His heart is filled with cheer;
His season's best some people say;
The best of all the year.

Anna E. Skinner

Happy caturday and dogurday, all!

[left that other site]

Camouflage...

It's the New Fashion! Happy Cat/Dogurday!

(((HUGS)))

ML/LTOS

[trisham]

What a little cutie! Labs are wonderful!