Happy New Year's Eve, Friends! I hope your Christmas Season has been filled with blessings.
Today Alabama is playing in the Cotton bowl, and I'm so excited about watching the game. But before I begin putting together a few game day snacks, let's get to this week's writing prompt:
Try this happiness experiment today: rejoice with those who rejoice. Whenever a good thing happens to someone else, instead of wishing something good had happened to you, simply be happy for that person. Record how this affected your happiness.
Do you have anything to share? I haven't been out and about much, but it did warm my heart to see our cul-de-sac neighbors' daughter take their precious infant granddaughter out of her car for a Christmas visit.
I hope you have a Happy and Safe New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and 2022!
Until next time...
Happy New Year!
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! I have a question: Do you celebrate Christmas through Twelfth Night? Do you keep your tree and decorations up through January 6th? Or is your tree already packed away? We keep ours up until January 7th, but we start putting other Christmas decor away after the first of the year.
This week's guided journaling comes with a CHALLENGE! And I like it....I think it's a very healthy outlook to have. :D
Prayer requests? I will have plenty of downtime to pray today because I'm finally getting my first treatment, and I'm so thankful for that. Please share your prayer requests in comments so we can all pray for you!
Until next time...
Happy Third Day of Christmas!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Christmas Eve, Friends! I am so happy that Shanley Belle and Christopher are flying home today. Please remember them in your prayers (travel mercies) as they fly through the Atlanta airport, the busiest airport supposedly this weekend.
This week's writing prompt:
Whom do you consider more important than you? Whom do you consider less important than you? Reflect on why this is.
The Triune God are the most important. And God so loved the WORLD that he sent his one and only Son to save us means that we are all equal in god's eyes. I have gotten much better about not looking down on people as I've gotten older, and this attitude does lend itself to happiness.
I want to share some scripture with you that dovetails nicely with what we've been studying lately in this chapter, of finding happiness in humility:
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
~James 3:13-16
Yeah, I don't think demonic wisdom is for me. Harsh reality, isn't it!
I hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas. I am so blessed to have you ladies in my life. Do you have any prayer requests or updates?
Until next time...
Merry Christmas!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
It's Christmas Week, Friends! I am so excited. I can't wait to see my family and spend time with them. How are your preparations coming along? This year I've been forced to be a Mary rather than a Martha, so there are always blessings in every situation.
Last Tuesday I studied Luke 14, so when I see it again in this week's guided journaling lesson, I think I need to pay attention!
I am finding it very interesting that a big chunk of this study is about humility. How about you?
Do you have any specific prayer requests for Christmas Week? Please pray that my treatment goes well, and for travel mercies for my family.
I'll be back on Christmas Eve, but no worries if you're late reading the post or replying because it's CHRISTMAS!!!!
Have a great, blessed week!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
This week's guided journaling is about having the correct mindset when serving God. It's also a reminder about how God loves an humble man (or woman!)...
The writing prompt for this week:
Write down your thoughts on Isaiah 10:15 and the idea that we do nothing apart from the hand of God. How does this make you feel? Do you have a positive or negative reaction to this passage, and why?
Is the saw greater than the person who saws?Isaiah 10:15 (NLT)
I have a positive reaction to the passage because I can't think if a better place to be than being directed by the very hand of God.
Look up the entire verse. The block quote above is only part of the verse. It made me giggle ;P
Prayer requests? Tomorrow is a huge day for me. Please keep me in prayer. I will be praying for all of you, too.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! This week's focus harkens back to the Martha's of the world (that would be me)...
It really is a tough lesson and a tough writing prompt for the week as it focuses on Isaiah 10:15. It's a reminder that God doesn't need any of us, but we certainly need him.
It seems as if the Countdown to Christmas is speeding ahead. Do y'all have any prayer requests? I am asking that you pray for me because I have three more medical tests this week.
Do you have any praises?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Third Sunday of Advent, Sweet Friends! Recently I saw this sweet prayer, and I think it's perfect anytime, but especially during the Advent and Christmas Seasons.
When you wake-up say: Jesus, I love you!When you leave the house, say: Jesus, come with me!When you feel like crying, say: Jesus, hug me!When you feel happy, say: Jesus, I adore you!When you do something, say: Jesus, help me!When you make a mistake, say: Jesus, forgive me!When you go to sleep, say: Thank-you, Jesus, and cover me with your holy mantle.
Any specific prayer requests or praises today?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! How is your week going? Are you ready for the weekend? I know I am! I want to paint and create in the art studio for most of the weekend.
This week's journaling prompt is very thought-provoking and convicting. Let's take a look:
Even the good deeds we do in the name of Christ cam secretly be for ourselves. Have you done an act of service that was actually motivated by selfish ambition? Write about that experience and how it affected your happiness.
When our oldest daughter was attending a private Christian school, I volunteered for a few events to help the school, but I also did it to make friends and "fit in." I did not have the purest of motives, and it definitely did not make me happy. Eventually I joined a small group of two other "prayer moms" and I was much happier because I didn't feel like I was performing for others, and I could be myself with these sweet, faithful women.
What about you?
Lately we've had some specific prayer requests. Any updates? Any new requests?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! The timing for this week's guided journaling is perfect for this time of the year, when our focus should be on Christ.
It's never a good idea to depend on the approval of others for your happiness. I am determined to spend a lot of time this week pondering self-promotion, approval of fickle people, and what truly motivates me to serve.
How is your Advent so far? Prayer requests?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Dear Friends!
How did the week go for y'all? Did you struggle with the Mary/Martha dichotomy?
I must say that although we've been busy this week, I have been able to spend a lot of time in God's Word, which has been nice. Christmas will be special this year, although simpler.
Let's take a look at this week's prompt:
Write about how you identify with Martha. Do you ever crave recognition? How do you feel when you don't get the recognition you think you deserve?
I think recognition was much more important to me when I was younger. I think this is true when I first started blogging, too, and social media never helped.
In the past, I always felt slighted when I didn't receive the recognition I thought I deserved, whether it was at home, work, or in organizations. I'm not nearly as bad as I used to be, thank goodness!
What about you?
Prayer requests or praises?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Hello, Sweet Friends!
I wanted to invite you over to the other blog for daily Advent posts. Can y'all believe it's already December 1st?
One of my all-time favorite verses for Advent or anytime, really...
Do y'all have any prayer requests?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
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