I'm not quite ready to let go of summer.
However a sweet friend will be hosting a Halloween Tablescape Blog Hop Party, and I will be working on my tablescape this weekend. This is summer's last hurrah!
Happy Friday, Friends!
Didn't you just love this week's lesson? I know that I did! :D I also enjoyed the prayer. God's love is steadfast. It never changes.
I'm in a book club at church, and we are currently reading Seasons of Your Heart by Macrina Wiederkehr. The first season we covered today was the season of wonder. Our teacher shared with us a poem by Hannah Rosenberg from her book entitled Same.
Me as a Woman, me as a girlWe met the other day.Me as a woman, me as a girl.We looked each other up and down.Shy at first. It’s you? We both said, laughing.It’s you?Me as a girl spoke first. I like how you goWalking whenever you want. How you drinkCoffee by the window and write, like I alwaysThought I would. I love your home, she said,looking around. It feels just right.I’d like to live here, too.I hoped you would, me as a woman said.I love your confidence. How proud you are.How special you feel.Not always, me as a girl said. Sometimes I feel sad.Sometimes I am cruel.We all do. We all are, me as a woman said.Me as a woman and me as a girl looked at each other.We can’t exist at the same time, not exactly, but maybea part of me can stay with you somehow? asked the girl.Me as a woman smiled. I’d like that, she said.I’ve been waiting my whole life to take care of someone like you.
We also had a writing prompt where we were asked what we would say to our child self. This was difficult for me because I did not have the happiest of childhoods. For one thing, I was an only child, and my parents divorced when I was three.
But what this lesson from Peace With the Psalms reminds me of is that God is not constrained by time because he lives outside of it. He is still comforting my childhood self, wiping away my tears and showing me his steadfast love.
Both of these lessons dovetail quite nicely, and I would like for you to think about what you would say to the child version of you.
Here is this week's scripture from Psalm 136:
One seasonal thing I'm enjoying right now is the abundance (and variety) of chrysanthemums, especially at our local farmers' markets. I love them! They remind me of fall football games in the South (our dates would give them to us at football games, especially homecoming).
Prayer Requests
- URGENT: Please pray for a dearly loved blogging friend for a miracle for her health and recovery!
- Pray for Kris's husband Terry to find something here in Illinois full or part time so they can stay there for a few more years. UPDATE: Terry is up hopefully for a good job here in Illinois. Prayers he gets an interview.
- 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.
- Molly’s contract fell through on the barndominium (Kitty's daughter). Pray that God will lead the right buyer to purchase her home.
- Let's pray for all of our health, and for the health of our families.
- Pray for Carla's son Sam and his new wife, Cate, who were married on August 29th. Pray for the happy couple as they begin their new adventure!
- Kris's Grandson Edmund will be a Big Brother in March! God is so good! Let's lift both mother and baby up in prayer. UPDATE: Kimmie was in a car accident, and she had to go to the hospital because the seatbelt cut into her. She will have a follow-up ultrasound with her OB/GYN. Pray for her and her baby!
- Please lift up Rita in your prayers! We have a praise that she is finally over cyclospora, and her arm feels like it's healing very well.
- Pray for Rita's brother's companion Betty who was diagnosed with squamous cell from her lung biopsy. Betty started radiation on Monday. Also pray for Rita's brother Joe; he will have a prostate biopsy on 10/1. Please lift them both up in prayer.
- Kitty's brother is home from the skilled nursing care. Please pray that he can manage.
- Pray for Kris's SIL Tim who still needs a job. He has to test into another hospital system and they do not have an opening until the middle of this month.
- Pray for our male Westie Finlay. His vet found a large mass on his bladder. He will need further testing to determine the type of tumor and how to proceed.
- Kris had a fall (just skinned-up), because sometimes her knee goes out on her. She's also struggling with a shooting nerve issue in her foot and leg. Pray that she will get the appropriate healthcare so she can feel and move better.
- Prayers for Rita's precious granddaughter Princess J. She had a tonsillectomy on 9/11, and Rita asks that we pray for a swift recovery.
- Please pray for Trip. He is having a problem with foot drop in his left foot caused by a disc in his back. Please pray that his foot will improve, and that he will tolerate the steroids prescribed for him.
- Please pray that I can get better sleep and rest.
- Mr. Panoply has a nasty cold. Pray that he gets over it quickly.
- Carla is also feeling under the weather with cold-like symptoms. Pray that she knocks it out quickly.
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Now that I have this post live, I'm headed to get a PSL and go to the carwash.
That's the only errand I have today. I got most of them done yesterday!
Have a great weekend!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Being a summer girlie, I always hate to see Labor Day come and go.
One thing that helps lift my spirit is anything pumpkin, especially pumpkin spice latte.
Hello, Friends!
Before I address this week's lesson, please be aware of a few new (and one very urgent) prayer requests. Thank-you so much for being Prayer Warriors. I am so thankful for you all. Also, it's hard to believe that it's been 25 years since the 9/11 attacks on our country. My prayer on this day is that we will remember, teach, and learn from our history.
With everything that has been going on in our lives, I can't think of a more perfect time to read a lesson about God's sovereignty and omniscience. Amen!
But perhaps my favorite part of the lesson is:
"Lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:24b)." And that starts HERE on this planet, not after we pass.
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.~John 17:3
This is one of my very favorite Psalms, and I have included three graphics: The first one has the featured verses from the lesson, and the other two are favorites from the Psalm.
All of these verses focus on the fact that God knows us, loves us, and constantly thinks about us.
I well-up with tears just thinking about Psalm 139!
We have all been incredibly busy lately with family and other things. I will probably have a busy weekend. Today will be busy because I have an appointment first thing, and then I'm headed about an hour out of town to a friend's lake house for a book club meeting.
But I am determined to make time for relaxation. Below is a quote from Matt Haig, and when I read it earlier in the week, I thought about us all. I think it's good advice to take now and again.
You don't always have to do stuff. Or achieve stuff. You don't have to spend your free time productively. You don't have to be doing Tai Chi and DIY and bread making. Sometimes you can just be and feel things and get through and eat chips and survive, and that is more than enough.
Prayer Requests
- URGENT: Please pray for a dearly loved blogging friend for a miracle for her health and recovery!
- Pray for Kris's husband Terry to find something here in Illinois full or part time so they can stay there for a few more years. UPDATE: Terry is up hopefully for a good job here in Illinois. Prayers he gets an interview.
- 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.
- Molly’s contract fell through on the barndominium (Kitty's daughter). Pray that God will lead the right buyer to purchase her home.
- Let's pray for all of our health, and for the health of our families.
- Pray for Carla's son Sam and his new wife, Cate, who were married on August 29th. Pray for the happy couple as they begin their new adventure!
- Kris's Grandson Edmund will be a Big Brother in March! God is so good! Let's lift both mother and baby up in prayer. UPDATE: Kimmie was in a car accident, and she had to go to the hospital because the seatbelt cut into her. She will have a follow-up ultrasound with her OB/GYN. Pray for her and her baby!
- Please lift up Rita in your prayers! We have a praise that she is finally over cyclospora, and her arm feels like it's healing very well.
- Pray for Rita's brother's companion Betty who was diagnosed with squamous cell from her lung biopsy. Betty starts radiation on 9/14. Also pray for Rita's brother Joe; he will have a prostate biopsy on 10/1. Please lift them both up in prayer.
- Kitty's brother is home from the skilled nursing care. Please pray that he can manage.
- Pray for Kris's SIL Tim who still needs a job. He has to test into another hospital system and they do not have an opening until the middle of this month.
- Pray for our male Westie Finlay. His vet found a large mass on his bladder. He will need further testing to determine the type of tumor and how to proceed.
- Kris had a fall (just skinned-up), because sometimes her knee goes out on her. She's also struggling with a shooting nerve issue in her foot and leg. Pray that she will get the appropriate healthcare so she can feel and move better.
- Prayers for Rita's precious granddaughter Princess J. She's having a tonsillectomy today (9/11), and Rita asks that we pray for for steady hands, a smooth procedure, and swift recovery.
- Please pray for Trip. He is having a problem with foot drop in his left foot caused by a disc in his back. Please pray that his foot will improve, and that he will tolerate the steroids prescribed for him.
I'm off to my appointment, and then get a PSL for the road!
Have a lovely weekend!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy September, Friends! We finally had our window in our bathroom replaced this week. The only thing we have left to do is the blind installation over it. Hopefully....everything will be done with the renovations. *fingers crossed*
I absolutely loved this week's lesson in the Psalms because we were created to worship and praise God! God calls us to worship him to better understand him and our purpose in his kingdom. And this should be a daily practice for us.
Do you do this daily? I do not. But I am called to do this, so maybe y'all can encourage me like the Psalmist of Psalm 96.
Psalm 96Sing to the Lord a new song;sing to the Lord, all the earth.Sing to the Lord, praise his name;proclaim his salvation day after day.Declare his glory among the nations,his marvelous deeds among all peoples.For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;he is to be feared above all gods.For all the gods of the nations are idols,but the Lord made the heavens.Splendor and majesty are before him;strength and glory are in his sanctuary.Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;bring an offering and come into his courts.Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;tremble before him, all the earth.Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;he will judge the peoples with equity.Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;let the sea resound, and all that is in it.Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,he comes to judge the earth.He will judge the world in righteousnessand the peoples in his faithfulness.
Prayer Requests
- URGENT: Please pray for a dearly loved blogging friend for a miracle for her health and recovery!
- Pray for Kris's husband Terry to find something here in Illinois full or part time so they can stay there for a few more years. UPDATE: Terry is up hopefully for a good job here in Illinois. Prayers he gets an interview.
- 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.
- Molly’s contract fell through on the barndominium (Kitty's daughter). Pray that God will lead the right buyer to purchase her home.
- Let's pray for all of our health, and for the health of our families.
- Pray for Carla's son Sam and his new wife, Cate, who were married on August 29th. Pray for the happy couple as they begin their new adventure!
- Kris's Grandson Edmund will be a Big Brother in March! God is so good! Let's lift both mother and baby up in prayer. UPDATE: Kimmie was in a car accident, and she had to go to the hospital because the seatbelt cut into her. She will have a follow-up ultrasound with her OB/GYN. Pray for her and her baby!
- Please lift up Rita in your prayers! We have a praise that she is finally over cyclospora, and her arm feels like it's healing very well.
- Pray for Rita's brother's companion Betty who was diagnosed with squamous cell from her lung biopsy. Betty starts radiation on 9/14. Also pray for Rita's brother Joe; he will have a prostate biopsy on 10/1. Please lift them both up in prayer.
- Kitty's brother is home from the skilled nursing care. Please pray that he can manage.
- Pray for Kris's SIL Tim who still needs a job. He has to test into another hospital system and they do not have an opening until the middle of this month.
- Pray for our male Westie Finlay. His vet found a large mass on his bladder. He will need further testing to determine the type of tumor and how to proceed.
- Kris had a fall (just skinned-up), because sometimes her knee goes out on her. She's also struggling with a shooting nerve issue in her foot and leg. Pray that she will get the appropriate healthcare so she can feel and move better.
- Prayers for Rita's precious granddaughter Princess J. She's having a tonsillectomy today (9/11), and Rita asks that we pray for for steady hands, a smooth procedure, and swift recovery.
We've had extreme heat in Central Alabama this week, but I'm still enjoying my pumpkin spice lattes.
I'm pretending it's fall. ;P
Have a happy Labor Day Weekend!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
It has been so hot in the Deep South that I have been praying for rain to cool things off!
Hello Friends!
Sorry I’m late posting today. But I’ve been very busy with a very, very busy little baby.
I loved this week's lesson because God is love, and he loves us so much. The writer of this Psalm (King David) is in awe that the God of the universe, the creator of the stars, would care so much about us.
And yet God's thoughts over us are of love and acceptance. After all, not only did his hands set the moon and stars in place; his hands fashioned each of us in his own likeness.~page 139
I already had a graphic for Psalm 8:1, but I didn't have one of Psalm 8:1-2. I made a new one and included the older one, too, along with Psalm 8:3-4.
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's husband Terry to find something here in Illinois full or part time so they can stay there for a few more years. UPDATE: Terry is up hopefully for a good job here in Illinois. Prayers he gets an interview
- 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.
- Molly’s contract fell through on the barndominium (Kitty's daughter). Pray that God will lead the right buyer to purchase her home.
- Praise: Megan closed on her home!
- Let's pray for all of our health, and for the health of our families.
- Pray for Kris and Terry as they help settle Terry's mother's estate. It's hard work, and having to deal with so many people can be difficult.
- Pray for Carla's son Sam and his new wife, Cate, who were married on August 29th. Pray for the happy couple as they begin their new adventure!
- Pray for the two families affected by suicides in Carla's community.
- Kris's Grandson Edmund will be a Big Brother in March! God is so good! Let's lift both mother and baby up in prayer.
- Please lift up Rita in your prayers! We have a praise that she is finally over cyclospora, and her arm feels like it's healing very well.
- Pray for Rita's brother's companion Betty who was diagnosed with squamous cell from her lung biopsy last week and will meet with the oncologist on Monday (she had breast cancer 5 years ago). Also pray for Rita's brother Joe who will meet Monday with a urologist for an abnormal count in his most recent PSA.
- Kitty's brother is home from the skilled nursing care. Please pray that he can manage.
- Praise! I had the best time with my family at the beach. I was on Grandma duty for most of the time, and I was in heaven.
- Pray for Kris's SIL Tim who is up for a new job with another fire department. Pray he is successful in finding something soon.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
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