Happy Friday, Friends! How has your week been so far? Mine has been super-busy with appointments and a little bit of fun mixed in. I think I've done a little too much, so I think I'll stay home today and do some laundry!
This week's lesson is so important because empathy should be an emotion in which Christians excel, but sometimes we disappoint those we love with thoughtless comments. I know I'm guilty of this, especially when it comes to comparisons. I really needed this lesson, y'all!
The following passages teach us about true empathy:
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.~1 Corinthians 12:26Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.~Galatians 6:2
How do you show others that you empathize with them? My favorite part of the lesson is the reminder that the Holy Spirit will guide you in how to show empathy.
- Rita asks that we keep her brother in law who had heart surgery eight weeks ago in prayer. He had a follow-up appointment this week. She also has an unspoken request.
- Carla requests travel mercies as she and her family travel to Milwaukee today to attend the National Guard send off as they say goodbye to their son Sam and 300 Wisconsin National Guard that are deploying to Djibouti, Africa to fulfill a Federal request for Operation Enduring Freedom. Please pray for our troops and families! She also has a friend who lives in the Tampa area, one of the areas affected by Hurricane Ian.
- Kris's husband Terry had a miracle because he did not need surgery for his intestinal blockage. What a praise! Let's pray for Kris and Terry, especially for their health, because their daughter is getting married in October.
- Please continue to pray for Kitty's son Mike as he looks for a job. Her granddaughter is going through a tough time, too.
- I have a praise! My surgeon finally released me Wednesday, which means I can start radiation in a week or two! Also, my mother is in distress. Please pray for her!
- Pray for Sarah Anderson who lost her husband Monnie on Wednesday after a prolonged illness. She is one of the kindest people, and she writes the blog Hyacinths for the Soul.
Have a safe and peaceful weekend, everyone!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! I hope you all had a peaceful weekend.
This week's lesson is about empathy, and it couldn't have come at a better time for me. I've read ahead, and it is a fantastic lesson! There are some excellent tips on how to be empathetic, and the best part: what NOT to say to someone who's in crisis.
Do you have any prayer requests?
I'm waiting on an update on Kris's husband Terry and whether or not he's had his surgery yet. Please keep them in your prayers.
Please continue to pray for Kitty's son Mike in his job search, and pray for her granddaughter who's going through a difficult time.
I have an URGENT prayer request for my mother. She is in crisis! Please pray for her.
If there are any others, please include them in comments, and I will update for Friday's post.
Have a blessed week!
Until next time..
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Fall, y'all! Today is the first full day of fall, and I am so happy about it. :D
Let's jump into today's lesson: The Promise of Peace In the Midst of Pain.
It's a heavy lesson, and it's interesting that God allows satan to cause us pain (just look at the example of Job and Paul), but we know that in Job's case, the devil had to ask permission from God to terrorize Job.
Below is the main scripture for our lesson:
There are three Points of Connection for this week, but I want to focus on the third one. Its focus is on how to find "a place for hope in your daily experience" after experiencing disappointments. How do you find peace and maintain hope after difficult seasons?
For me, I have to stay focused on God and his love for me. The Holy Spirit will comfort you if you let Him!
Here are the scriptural references:
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.~1 Corinthians 13:13Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.~Romans 5:3-5Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.~Romans 12:12
Here are a few prayer requests, and if you have anything to add, please do so in comments:
- Kitty requests we pray for her son Mike to find a job, and continued prayers for one of her granddaughters.
- Kris's husband Terry is in the hospital. Please pray for his medical team, that they will be wise in how they treat Terry for his intestinal blockage.
- Rita has a praise in that her dental work went well and she is feeling much better!
Have a blessed weekend!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy New Week, Friends! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I did because I had my family all together with me! I appreciate y'all praying for travel mercies for us.
This week's lesson is about the promise of peace, even in the midst of a painful season.
Do you have any prayer requests?
Type them in the comments section, and we'll check back mid-week to read them.
Rita has a praise. One of her Panoply sisters, a breast cancer survivor, had a pacemaker put in, and Rita is thankful for her sister getting it before a serious event. She also asks that we pray for her tolerating it with no further issues.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! How was your week? The beginning of mine was very busy, but now I am relaxing on the beach. It is so nice being here!
I truly enjoyed this week's lesson about criticism and how to handle it in a godly manner. Most of the lesson is about undeserved criticism: Have you ever been on the receiving end of it that caused you a lot of hurt?
One of my friends always says that one's behavior and attitude towards another person says more about them than the person they're targeting. She's right, and I love how our lesson supports this assumption.
Here's another verse from the lesson:
As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point.~1 Corinthians 4:3 (NLT)
We would all be better off if we cared more about what God thinks than what others think! However, there are times when criticism, especially if its intent is constructive in nature, should be appreciated.
Mockers resent correction,so they avoid the wise.~Proverbs 15:12
Here are prayer requests for the weekend:
- Laura Ingalls Gunn's husband to the prayer list. He sustained a T6 fracture in a bicycle accident a few days ago (cracked his helmet in two). He'll see a neurosurgeon later this week. Laura writes the Decor to Adore blog.
- Kitty asks that you continue to pray for Mike as he searches for a job; she also requests that we pray for her granddaughter who is going through a bad time.
- Kris is a rockstar and continues to heal. Yay!
- Carla's Sam is going through training and will be deployed in a few weeks.
- Continue to pray for travel mercies for my family.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
I think I'll run down to Starbucks this morning for a PSL...
It will be a nice start to my week, LOL!
Happy Monday Morning, Friends!
This week's lesson is a tough one because it's all about criticism and how to handle it. Paul's letters to the Corinthians are included, and I'm currently reading through 2 Corinthians at the moment as part of my reading through the Bible program (I'm in the Book of Proverbs in the OT).
Paul had some harsh words for the Corinthians, but he was writing to them from a place of love.
Have a great week! Drop any prayer requests in the comments section below, and I'll include a bulleted list in Friday's post. Please pray for travel mercies for me and my family: we're going to the beach this week! YAY!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Good Morning and Happy Friday, Friends! Because of the short week, I almost forgot today's post! I loved this week's lesson "When Joy Eludes You" because it's reminiscent of what we studied last year about happiness. One of the Points of Connection this week is the difference between happiness and joy. For me, happiness is a reaction to what's going on in our lives, and it doesn't necessarily last as long as joy. Joy is more consistent, and it lives in our hearts because of God's love and grace towards us.
Our lesson also includes a few passages from the Psalms:
But let all who take refuge in you be glad;let them ever sing for joy.Spread your protection over them,that those who love your name may rejoice in you.~Psalm 5:11Praise the Lord, my soul,and forget not all his benefits—~Psalm 103:2
Friends, I find it easy to maintain a joyful heart even during trials if I stay focused on the true source for joy.
What about you? What are your thoughts about the lesson?
What about prayer requests?
Here are a few I've been praying for, and if there are any updates or additions, please let us know in comments!
- Carla's son Sam will be deployed on October 2nd.
- Rita's neighbors are grieving over the loss of a family member, and the celebration of life was this past weekend.
- Kris is recovering so well from her kidney surgery, but let's continue to pray that she'll continue to heal well.
- Kitty's son Mike, a talented artist, is looking for employment.
- Jolene has been traveling (travel mercies) and she has two family members who need our prayers.
- I am recovering exponentially, and am now able to use my left arm for almost everything!
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I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Labor Day, Friends!
I hope that all of you are having a lovely Labor Day. Do you have big plans?
There are many Bible verses about working hard, and this is one of my favorites:
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.~Colossians 3:23-24
Come back Friday, and we'll discuss this week's lesson and list prayer requests.
Have a safe Labor Day!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends!
Are you holding your peace this morning? I hope you are after the lovely lesson this week! I think it would be much better for my spiritual wellbeing to hold onto peace rather than a grudge.
Here are the other scriptural references shared:
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”~John 20:19
Do you have any thoughts you'd like to share about the lesson? I enjoyed the visual of holding peace in my hands and what that might feel like. This was a good week for me to read this lesson because I've had several appointments, and I was able to go back to in-person art class. Although it has been a happily busy week, I had to remind myself to make time for prayer and quiet time. I visualized peace as holding a soft pillow in my arms while listening to classical music and smelling a pumpkin spice candle.
Do you have any prayer requests? We need updates! Share your updates in comments. Also, check back and see what's been posted later this weekend. I know that Kris and I will be traveling, so travel mercies for us.
Until next time...
May the Peace of the Lord always be with you!
Blessings,
Ricki Jill
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