Happy Friday, Friends!
Wow, what a difference a week or two can make! I can't tell you how appreciative I am of all your thoughts, prayers, cards, calls, texts, emails....allllll the things....
I have to giggle at God's sense of humor and his timing. This lesson entitled "No Fear in Falling" certainly expresses what's been going on in my world. I could barely stand-up, and now I'm doing very well, and driving again. God is good. He is faithful. He listens to and answers prayers.
Speaking of prayers, I have bookmarked this week's prayer because of the "reminders." Yes, remind us Lord daily of not only who you are, but what YOU can do! I have been reading it and praying it on repeat the past couple of weeks.
What about you? What are your thoughts?
Below is the verse from Psalm 94 from our lesson.
Below is a little thought from Kate Bowler. I'm including it to brighten your day like it did mine! :D
Blessed are we who need help waking up tothe music, the movement,and the color of living,who need help trying on joy for a change.Blessed are we who say, "Wake me too, God.Put me where beauty and love can reach me."
Prayer Requests
- Carla requests that we pray for the Wisconsin Guard troops that are stationed in Kuwait that are slowly returning home. All should be back on Wisconsin soil by August. Prayers for safety as they come home and transition back into civilian life.
- Pray for Kris and Terry as they decide where to live when they retire.
- Continue praying for Kitty's son Mike as he continues on his journey of no pain meds. Mike is off of pain meds for several weeks and is weaning off several other prescriptions. Mike is requesting that we pray for his mental health.
- Kitty would like for you to pray that her daughter sells her barndominium and can find a home closer so that she’s not driving two hours a day.
- Rita requests we pray for her brother who had a stroke last June. Pray that he remains strong and stable as he and her SIL navigate changes of selling their home in WV and building a new home near their daughter in TX.
- Pray for Kitty's brother because he has been very ill. He's out of the hospital and currently in a skilled nursing facility. Let's pray that he will continue to improve.
- PRAISE! I am home, and feeling so much better. I have treasured your prayers, and I'd like to ask that you continue to pray that I will have a full recovery with no lingering dizziness.
- Today is Trip's birthday. Please say a little prayer for him today!
I hope you have a restful and lovely weekend, Friends.
Thank-you for your fellowship.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Independence Day: America 250, Friends! So what are your plans? We're at Lake Martin celebrating, and our plans are to grill, cook, watch soccer and baseball, and maybe do a little boating in the morning.
This is not my favorite time to visit the lake. There are usually so many people, and the water on the lake is rough due to all the boats. I kept thinking about this while reading this week's lesson because the rough waters really make me unsettled.
In addition to the lesson's Psalm, there were two other verses mentioned but not referenced, and I thought they were pertinent to the lesson (Romans 8:28 and Mark 4:39). I have included graphics of both verses below along with the verse from Psalm 107.
I am determined to continue my journey of trust in God. He will never fail us. This week's prayer says:
Help me to look for you and only you for strength and shelter.~Peace With the Psalms, page 107
Prayer Requests
- Carla requests that we pray for the Wisconsin Guard troops that are stationed in Kuwait that are slowly returning home. All should be back on Wisconsin soil by August. Prayers for safety as they come home and transition back into civilian life.
- Pray for Kris and Terry as they decide where to live when they retire.
- Pray for Kris's son-in-law Tim. UPDATE: Tim was fired for his job after 17 years on at the fire department. Please say a prayer for Tim that he can get another job quickly. He is devastated by all of this.
- Continue praying for Kitty's son Mike as he continues on his journey of no pain meds. Mike is off of pain meds for several weeks and is weaning off several other prescriptions. Mike is requesting that we pray for his mental health.
- Kitty would like for you to pray that her daughter sells her barndominium and can find a home closer so that she’s not driving two hours a day.
- Kris requests that we pray for her MIL, that God will bring her home to heaven soon as she is ready to go.
- Rita requests we pray for her brother who had a stroke last June. Pray that he remains strong and stable as he and her SIL navigate changes of selling their home in WV and building a new home near their daughter in TX.
- Pray for Kitty's brother because he has been very ill and is in the hospital. Many tests have been run, but unfortunately he doesn't have any medical directives which complicates things.
- Pray for our Independence Day celebrations across our country, and that God will keep Americans safe.
- Thanks be to God for this amazing American experiment! We love our God and Country!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! I hope you've had a nice week so far. I've had a lovely one! YAY! I went to my book club at church yesterday, and today I'm traveling to North Alabama to have lunch with a few HS friends.
I can't believe it's the 26th week of 2026....that means that the year is halfway over!
What did you think about this week's lesson? Sometimes it's hard to remember that God is always near to us. All we need to do is seek his face! He loves us so much, and he wants to be a part of our lives. This lesson dovetails nicely with my lesson for book club at church for the month of June. It was entitled "Seeking and Finding," and we spoke a bit about who we played Hide and Seek with as a child.
I tend to pay attention when I have two lessons in the same week about the same topic: seeking God and drawing near to him. He is our helper, and WANTS to help us!
I search for God,elusive, hidden God,I long to dwellin the heart of Mystery.from "Seeking and Finding" by Joyce Rupp from May I Have This Dance?
This is the scripture from book club:
And this is the scripture from our lesson:
The prayers at the end of each lesson are always helpful, but I think this week's prayer is extra-special, and I flagged it.
When I am afraid, feel all alone, or just removed from you, would you remind me of the truth of your nearness? Would you please let me feel your presence?~Peace with the Psalms, pg. 103
What are your thoughts about the lesson?
Prayer Requests
- Carla requests that we pray for the Wisconsin Guard troops that are stationed in Kuwait that are slowly returning home. All should be back on Wisconsin soil by August. Prayers for safety as they come home and transition back into civilian life.
- Pray for Kris and Terry as they decide where to live when they retire.
- Pray for Kris's son-in-law Tim. UPDATE: Tim was fired for his job after 17 years on at the fire department. Please say a prayer for Tim that he can get another job quickly. He is devastated by all of this.
- Continue praying for Kitty's son Mike as he continues on his journey of no pain meds. Mike is off of pain meds for several weeks and is weaning off several other prescriptions. Mike is requesting that we pray for his mental health.
- Kitty would like for you to pray that her daughter sells her barndominium and can find a home closer so that she’s not driving two hours a day.
- Kris requests that we pray for her MIL, that God will bring her home to heaven soon as she is ready to go.
- Rita requests we pray for her brother who had a stroke last June. Pray that he remains strong and stable as he and her SIL navigate changes of selling their home in WV and building a new home near their daughter in TX.
- Pray for Kitty's brother because he has been very ill and is in the hospital. Many tests have been run, but unfortunately he doesn't have any medical directives which complicates things.
- Pray for Rita's sister's estate sale happening this weekend. I pray it's a success in honoring my late sister and BIL, and in helping her daughter bring more closure to all the work she's put into her parents' estate.
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I hope you have a blessed morning and weekend, Friends!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
I went to a floral arranging class at church last week.
Happy Friday, Friends! I'm hoping that by the time you're reading this that I am on a plane to Detroit to see Starling. Our flight yesterday was canceled due to the remnants of Arthur. We are planning to take the early flight and arrive about 9AM CDT.
This week's lesson is a reminder about how God never forgets us. He is always with us, and he has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit so we won't ever be without Him. I enjoyed the story about the Israelites when they were slaves in Egypt, and how God remembered his promise to Abraham. Here is this week's verse from Psalm 105:
Psalm 105 is chock full of God's promises and attributes, like this one:
It's easy to feel forgotten, especially in this fallen world. But remember that God never forgets us, and his steadfast love endures forever.
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.– Psalm 31:16
Prayer Requests
- Carla would like for us to pray for the military build up at the door of Iran. Pray for our leaders to seek wisdom. Continue to pray for our military, our young men and women who are at that door waiting what orders might be coming. May God protect them.
- Pray for Kris and Terry as they decide where to live when they retire.
- Pray for Kris's son-in-law Tim. UPDATE: Tim was fired for his job after 17 years on at the fire department. Please say a prayer for Tim that he can get another job quickly. He is devastated by all of this.
- Carla has an extended family member stationed in Kuwait named Haley. She is her cousin Steve's daughter. Please pray for her safety!
- Carla's Sam has several Wisconsin Guard friends stationed in Kuwait and Iraq. Sam had an update for us from his teammates who are currently deployed in the war zone. Please be in prayer, they have been bombed several times. Continue to pray for safety.
- Continue praying for Kitty's son Mike as he continues on his journey of no pain meds. Mike is off of pain meds for several weeks and is weaning off several other prescriptions. Mike is requesting that we pray for his mental health.
- Kitty would like for you to pray that her daughter sells her barndominium and can find a home closer so that she’s not driving two hours a day.
- Pray for my health as my Mast Cell Activation Syndrome has come back in full force.
- Please pray for Kitty's brother who has not been doing well, and her sister who's been his caregiver.
- Please pray travel mercies for Trip and me as we travel this week to Ann Arbor.
- Kris requests that we pray for her MIL as they navigate what time she has left. She and Terry continue to ask God to take her and have her be at peace. Please read more in the comments below.
- Please pray for Carla's son Sam: He is currently at drill at Fort McCoy and is training young soldiers joining the Wisconsin National Guard. Thank-you, Sam, for your service.
- Rita requests we pray for her brother who had a stroke last June. Pray that he remains strong and stable as he and her SIL navigate changes of selling their home in WV and building a new home near their daughter in TX.
- Pray for Kitty's brother who as at the end of his life, and also pray for her sister who has been his caregiver.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
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