Happy Friday, Friends! As 2022 winds down, I like that our reflection this week is based on integrity. The Life Line on page 102 states:
Integrity is doing the right thing for the right reason as we align our actions with God's character.
Another definition I've heard for integrity (and appreciated) is that integrity means doing what's right when no one else is around.
Here are the scriptural references from the Book of Wisdom:
The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
Proverbs 11:3
Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than a fool whose lips are perverse.
Proverbs 19:1
The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.
Proverbs 20:7
Prayer requests?
- Let's continue to pray for travel mercies as folks travel through the new year.
- Carla reminds us to travel for those affected by the winter storm.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Merry Christmas, Friends! Do you celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas. We do!
I have NOT read ahead because I've been enjoying my family. I did include the scripture for this week's lesson in the graphic above.
Prayer requests?
Please pray for friends and family as they travel home.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Christmas Eve Eve, Friends! I can remember my mom always calling December 23rd Christmas Eve Eve and it would make me so excited knowing Christmas was only two days away.
This week's reflection really hit home with me. I had never felt invisible in my life until I had cancer. When you're in public wearing a chemo cap, no one looks at you. No one. It was amazing! I could've stolen thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from stores and no one would've noticed. I could've gotten away with it! It was the strangest thing for me to witness, and it made me wonder if I had ever treated (obvious) cancer patients that way.
So many people are lonely, especially during Christmas. Let's all try to be better to each other and take the time to notice those who go unnoticed.
Here are this week's biblical references:
Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it.~John 4:27 (MSG)Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.~Luke 12:6-7
Prayer Requests:
- Carla asks us to pray for our linemen: they are working so hard in difficult weather to restore power for all; for safety and wisdom for those who need to travel; and for her family as they are going to have to rearrange their Christmas weekend plans.
- Pray for Sam as he serves his country in Africa.
- Pray for the health of our families, and that we will all find joy and peace during Christmas.
- Kris's husband Terry is looking for a job. Please pray for him as he interviews.
- Also, pray for those who are vulnerable to the record cold temperatures expected for Christmas weekend.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! I like that this week's lesson is about how to encourage others. I suppose we could all use a little bit of encouragement, especially this close to Christmas! Try to encourage people you come into contact this week, and be a blessing to them!
Yesterday we lit the fourth candle in our Advent wreath representing love.
We can show love through encouragement!
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.~Hebrews 10:24-25
Prayer requests?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, My Lovelies! How has your week been? Please share in comments!
This week's reflection was humorous, and I thought the lesson was appropriate, especially for the Christmas season. What are some ways we can discipline our minds to reflect Jesus' attitude?
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.~Philippians 4:8-9 (MSG)
Prayer requests:
- Pray for our troops who will miss their families during the holiday season.
- Pray for peace, joy, and hope for our families and friends.
- Pray that we will have the stamina to serve others during Christmas.
- Pray that our country's citizens will humble themselves and turn to God.
If you have any others, please drop them in comments.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! The countdown to Christmas is accelerating exponentially! I have told my family to curb their expectations this year. Yesterday, I attended the most wonderful lessons and carols service *ever* What a blessing!!!
This week's reflection is humorous. I'll give you a little hint: it's about projecting our insecurities onto others via internal monologues of criticism.
Prayer Requests?
Let's pray for those who will miss loved ones this holiday season, and continue to pray for joy and peace as we celebrate Christ's birth.
Is it too early in the AM for a peppermint mocha with extra whip? (I don't know what time you're reading this, but I'm writing this post fairly early.) It might fortify me before doing a little last minute shopping and waiting in line at the post office!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, My Lovelies! This week's lesson is all about playing second fiddle, and how a spirit of humility is conducive to being a successful leader and/or follower. I think we can all be encouragers in either role, don't you?
Are you enjoying Advent so far? Please share your activities in comments.
If you have any new prayer requests, please include them in comments.
Here are the ones I know about so far:
- Pray for our troops and Sam and his group.
- Pray we all have a Christmas filled with hope, joy, and peace.
- Please pray for Rita's 2 week old great niece who has been in hospital (PICU) with RSV for a couple of weeks now. Let's pray she will be discharged to go home either today or tomorrow. Also pray for Rita's daughter and granddaughter who are fighting illnesses as well.
- Pray for Kris's husband Terry as he searches for a new career opportunity. Pray for all upcoming job openings and interviews.
- Kitty would like prayers for her family that this will be the year that they will all join in. Also, prayers for her Army grandson, Riley, will be headed to South Korea in January.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! How has your Advent Season been so far? I am keeping things much more simple this year. It might be our newest Christmas tradition! ;P
This week's reflection is about humility: I've read ahead, and it's a super lesson!
Below is one of the scriptural references from the Book of Proverbs:
Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,and humility comes before honor.~Proverbs 15:33
Do you have any new prayer requests? These are the ones we're still praying for, and if you have any updates, please share!
- Pray for our troops and Sam and his group.
- Pray we all have a Christmas filled with hope, joy, and peace.
- Please pray for Rita's 2 week old great niece who has been in hospital (PICU) with RSV since Wednesday.
- Pray for Kris's husband Terry as he searches for a new career opportunity. Pray for all upcoming job openings and interviews.
- Shelley had a rough weekend, but she no longer has a fever. Thank you so much for your prayers, but continue to pray for her recovery.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
I've enjoyed seeing this beautiful maple on our morning walks with our Westies. We had a bad storm Tuesday night, and Wednesday morning all the leaves had fallen from the tree!
Happy Friday, Friends! I hope y'all have had a great week!
I enjoyed this reflection so much this week, especially since imposter syndrome has been a hot topic with friends lately. My favorite quote is the "Life Line:"
You are not a fake or a fraud. You're a Designer Original.~Maggie Wallem Rowe, This Life We Share, page 86
Maggie suggests that we read the scriptural references aloud. Do it now, if you can!
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
~John 1:12
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
~Romans 6:6
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
~Romans 15:7
…he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
~Ephesians 1:5
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
~Colossians 2:9-10
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
~1 Thessalonians 5:24
Here are this week's prayer requests:
- Pray for our troops and Sam and his group.
- Pray we all have a Christmas filled with hope, joy, and peace.
- Please pray for Rita's 2 week old great niece who has been in hospital (PICU) with RSV since Wednesday.
- Pray for Kris's husband Terry as he searches for a new career opportunity. Pray for all upcoming job openings and interviews.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! I hope y'all had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend.
I have a big morning today because I'm taking Shelley to the doctor. We think she has a bad ear infection, and I don't want her driving because she's a little dizzy. Then I have to run her home and go back to the hospital because I have my first physical therapy session today!
I'm very intrigued about this week's lesson entitled "Feeling Like a Phony." I haven't read it yet, but it's interesting that just last week I was talking about "imposter syndrome" with a friend.
Prayer requests?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Black Friday, Friends! Do you go out early on Black Friday and get in the midst of the hustle and bustle? As a general rule, I don't. We're thinking about going to a Christmas Bazaar at Lake Martin later today, but we're waiting to see whether or not it will rain. Christmas is ONE MONTH from today!
Did you enjoy this week's reflection? I thought it was neat that it featured the Christmas story just in time for Advent. :D
When I think back on all the times I truly had good intentions and things did not turn out as planned, I wish I'd had this lesson because I found it encouraging, especially Paul's words, above.
Prayer requests?
Here are a few from earlier in the week:
- From Carla: Sam and team have been deployed to Mogadishu. Al-Shabab is a growing terrorist threat.
- Please pray for ALL the troops that continue to monitor and root out the terrorist that want to do the world harm.
- Rita has a few praises: For her bil, who is home from hospital and resting/recovering, for both her daughters and their families who are under the weather tested negative for flu, Covid & rsv, for her brother who is slowly healing from oral surgery.
- Praying everyone who travels or gathers with family this week will be held safely.
- Pray for Kris's husband Terry (career)
- Please pray for Shelley. She's sick, and she tested negative for everything, too, and we're treating it as a very bad cold.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! It's Thanksgiving Week! :D I am so happy. How about you? How are you feeling today?
FULL DISCLOSURE:
I read the title of this week's reflection, "When You Thought You Were Doing It Right," and I shut the book as soon as I got the biblical reference for the above graphic. Yep. I. Did!
I'll read the lesson later, LOL!
Prayer requests and/or updates? I'm heading out in a bit to my oncology cardiologist for an ECHO and examination. Prayers appreciated! :D
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! I enjoyed the lesson this week, and it is very timely for use because we have all either been waiting on God, or have been waiting a long time after having been in a "holding pattern." I hope that as you rate your feelings concerning what you are currently waiting for in life that it is closer to the anticipation end of the spectrum rather than the apprehension end.
Here are the other biblical references in this week's reflection:
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;he delivered me from all my fears.Those who look to him are radiant;their faces are never covered with shame.~Psalm 34:4-5
Here are a few prayer requests I'm aware of:
- Kitty asks that we pray that her family can heal their differences, move on, and be together.
- Kris's husband Terry is looking for a new job.
- Rita's precious Granddaughter J has been sick.
- Continue to pray for Carla's son Sam. He's serving in Africa.
If there are any others, please include them in comments below.
Have a lovely weekend, Friends! I love you all!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week? Are you hosting this year?
This week's reflection is all about waiting and how we respond to spiritual "holding patterns" in our lives. It's funny timing for me because I have been "waiting" for the past year to be finished cancer treatment. I suppose this lesson will be good for me to reflect on my attitude during this time. I also know that some of you are also in a "wait and see" pattern as well.
Do y'all have any prayer requests? If you email me or leave a comment, I will include them in a bulleted list in Friday's post.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
A lovely description for how God shows compassion to His people
Happy Friday, Friends! I am happy to report that I made it through radiation, and I celebrated by having lunch with my friend Pat. For dessert I had a pumpkin spice cloud 9 served in a martini glass. YUM! :D My friends and family have been great to me this week (and that includes y'all). I am truly blessed! Thank you so, so much for your prayers during treatment. You mean the world to me!
This week's reflection (Reflection 15) could not have come at a better time for me. My cancer treatment is behind me (forever, I pray), and I will slowly but surely begin to feel strong again. I'm already experiencing friends and acquaintances asking me to become involved in community service (at church and with other organizations). The main question from the lesson is this:
What factors help you discern whether a need constitutes a call?
I feel like I'm starting over, because in a way, I am. I had to give-up service during treatment. So I'm asking y'all because I want to learn from your wisdom: How do you answer the above question?
Here are the other biblical references for this week's reflection:
I'd like to pray for discernment for us when deciding whether or not to take on a ministry or other opportunities to provide service or comfort.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Mr. Prayer Warrior let me sleep in this morning, and I have to leave for my last radiation treatment in a few minutes. Please forgive me for not having a post ready, but I will have it live by 3:00 P.M. CST today.
Have a great morning!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! How was your weekend? Have you read ahead (this week's lesson)? I have not. This weekend has been busy, I have a very busy week, with the election, a luncheon, a blog hop, AND it's my LAST WEEK of radiation! Woot, woot! However, I will make the time for this wonderful reflection because it just might touch on the problem I've had lately of over-committing.
Prayer Requests:
- Rita requests we pray for her brother-in-law who had bypass in July and diverticulitis in October. He had a colon resection late last week. He is in ICU. She is praying that her jar will be filled with however she can help her sister's family.
- Carla also thinks that we warriors must bend to our knees regarding this election (tomorrow). She was not happy in the way the President seemed to threaten the people of America, again in his latest speech. It is very difficult for her to understand a leader who approves the mutilation of children. She prays for those who have become Frankenstein Doctors, this subject makes her (and me) so upset. There is a case going on in Wisconsin regarding this, and it is breaking Carla's heart.
- I would like to add to Carla's request: Let's pray for the radical transformation of school boards across the country. We need Christian men and women who will protect children from predators.
If you have any other requests, please either email me or share them in comments below!
Please pray for our country!
Click on the photo link for more!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
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