One of my favorite times of the year begins tomorrow:
Pumpkin Spice Latte returns to Starbucks! YAY!
Happy Monday, Friends! I hope you had a restful weekend. I'm looking forward to reading this week's lesson about peace. I haven't read ahead yet, have you?
This is one of my favorite verses about peace, and it was included in a lesson I read the day before yesterday:
Prayer requests?
I have a praise! I am healing rapidly now, and I am so grateful for your prayers and thankful to God for listening and answering! Please pray for our daughter Shanley Belle; she has bronchitis.
Please include any updates you have in comments below, but otherwise, let's continue to pray for:
- Kitty's son, Mike, and his job search
- Kris's recovery from kidney stone surgery
- Rita and her work with her brother's disability case
- Carla's son Sam's training and deployment
and
especially our priests who need to delegate and find ways to recharge their energy.
Have a great week!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Shame does not come from God! It comes from the enemy as he tries to influence our minds.
Happy Friday, Friends! I hope your week has been a good one.
I enjoyed this week's lesson about shame, and I really enjoyed all the biblical references shared in it:
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.~1 Corinthians 15:25Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.~Romans 8:1The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.~Romans 16:20
I also wanted to share with you the artwork referenced in the lesson:
Virgin Mary Consoles Eve
Sister Grace Remington
Pencil and crayon
(unsure of size)
Do you have any thoughts about the lesson? What about prayer requests?
Here are a few ongoing requests:
- Kitty's son, Mike, and his job search
- Kris's recovery from kidney stone surgery
- Rita and her work with her brother's disability case
- Carla's son Sam's training and deployment
Also, please pray for the clergy at my church. Pray that they can delegate so they can get much needed rest. They have been through so much the past couple of months!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! I hope y'all had a great weekend.
I'm completely psyched about this week's lesson on shame, and how we should treat it like anxiety and kick it to the curb! I've read through the lesson once, and I love how it's completely steeped in scripture.
Prayer requests?
Our most pressing request is that Kris will be able to have her surgery tomorrow and will recover quickly. We will continue to pray for Rita's family (especially her brother), and for Sam and Connor. How is Mike's job hunt coming along, Kitty?
Have a great week, and let us know if there are any other prayer needs.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
This arrangement is from a local farmer. They offer flower subscriptions similar to yours, Carla!
Happy Friday, Friends! What a week! We finally had our microwave repaired and reinstalled, and I had my LAST iron infusion this morning. YAY! Next week's posts should be on time in the early morning hours, hopefully. Thanks for your patience with me the past couple of weeks!
This week's lesson is: "When You Don't Feel Good Enough." Comparisons to others aren't always healthy, and I did enjoy this lesson so much!
Let's take a look at the scripture for this week, 2 Timothy 2:21-22 (MSG):
In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.
The gist of the lesson is to appreciate and follow the path God has given each of us. I love how Jesus responded to Peter when he inquired about how John would die. Here is his response:
When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” ~John 21:21-22
One lesson I will share with you is one I've learned during all these years of taking art classes. Artists can't continue creating art if they're constantly comparing themselves to other artists. My teacher Dori told me early on not to ever compare my art to anyone else because I'm unique. Instead, I should compare my art to where I was one year ago, or even five years ago. That really helped me because it made me focus on my improvement.
The same can be said for our walk with God. If we try to see improvement in our faith as compared to our past, hopefully we'll be encouraged rather than being covetous of someone else's ministry/walk.
Are any of you looking forward to the return of all things pumpkin spice and other autumn coffee drinks? I know I am!
Prayer requests? I have read your requests from Monday, and I have been praying for y'all. I haven't answered any emails this week, and I'm going to do so on my phone in a little while. I'm still getting some help with these posts (thanks, Shelley).
Please continue to pray for my healing. I saw my surgeon on Wednesday, and now Trip is having to pack my wound twice a day for at least another month. This is putting off radiation for a long time, unfortunately. I am gaining a little use of my arm, but it is still worrisome.
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! Just a reminder that my posts will run late for the next couple of weeks as I have to be at the cancer center very early in the morning for my infusions. Plus I'm still basically only using my right hand, so I'm typing slowly, LOL!
This week's lesson is about "when you don't feel good enough" because sometimes we aren't in certain situations.
I hope y'all have a great week! Remember to include prayer requests in comments, and it's also a good idea to check in mid-week to see late requests.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends!
I hope you had a lovely week! I started iron infusions on Wednesday, and I have five more to go. I'll be headed over to the cancer center in a bit for my second one. Hopefully this will help my energy levels.
Speaking of energy, I don't have enough of it to waste on anxiety, so I'm all for kicking anxiety to the curb! Didn't y'all enjoy this week's lesson!!! Our scripture encouraging us to "let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers" is a sound plan to ease anxiety.
More scripture from the lesson:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.~2 Corinthians 4:16-18
The above scripture certainly puts things into an eternal perspective, although sometimes it is difficult while we are in the midst of a storm.
Although prayer and studying God's word are the two most powerful tools we have to combat anxiety, what other practical things can we do to kick anxiety to the curb?
Prayer requests?
Let's continue praying for Kris as she awaits kidney stone surgery. I have been praying that they would pass easily and quickly! Also, Kitty's son Mike is looking for a job as his former company decided to close. He's a talented artist, and he has experience with creating video games. Rita, do you have an update on your brother in law?
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Have a great weekend! Make sure to check back later for prayer requests in comments.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! I'm sorry I'm late posting. It has been a busy day, and I've been glued to the TV this afternoon.
This is a dark day in the history of our great republic.
I think it's very apropos that this week's lesson is: "Kick Anxiety to the Curb." It couldn't come at a better time because there is no justice in our country.
Friends, I'm going to ask you to join me in praying scripture for our country.
Please set your phone alarm for 7:14 and pray 2 Chronicles 7:14 for the Unites States.
Refer to the Pray page, above.
Prayer requests?
I have a praise: My oncologist is very pleased with my progress. The hematoma is a little setback, but otherwise, I am getting stronger. All blood test results were fantastic. I am truly blessed!
Also, Rita has a praise that her BIL is so much better.
Kris's procedure has been postponed until later in the month, but we can bank up some prayers for here between now and then.
If y'all have anything specific, please let us know in comments.
I love you all!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! How has your week been so far? Mine has been busy with appointments and (more) repairmen.
I enjoyed the first lesson, "Too Much To Do." I was thinking at first that I might not be able to relate to it because I have been forced to clear my schedule the past several months. I can relate to unplugging from the internet and social media, though.
I'm anxious to read what y'all learned from this lesson, and if you've delegated or delated tasks/events from your calendar.
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise...~Ephesians 5:15
Prayer requests?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! Are y'all excited about our new Bible Study? I know I am! I've only read the foreword and introduction so far, and I am looking forward to beginning the first section: "The Inner Journey." I love the whole premise of the book, how our journey is not meant to be a lonely one.
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Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
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