Happy Monday, Friends!
This week's lesson will not come from our book. I'm skipping it because I met someone I believe God wanted me to meet, and I will share that encounter with you on Friday. Of course feel free to continue reading This Life We Share, and we'll go back to the book next Monday.
In the interim, here is a little scripture that serves as a "hint" about what I'll post on Friday:
Those who know your name trust in you,for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.~Psalm 9:10
Prayer requests?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! How has your week been so far? How is your family health wise? I hope that our families have been healed by God because he is the God who heals all our diseases. This quote from Psalm 91 does not mean that he will always heal us, but there will be a time when all of us will be healed.
What did you think about this week's lesson? Are you quick to make a snap judgment about people? I think everyone has been guilty of this, and I think that the lesson gives us good practical instruction from scripture on how to treat others:
But avoid foolish and unlearned debates, knowing that they create strife. The servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but must be gentle toward all people, able to teach, patient, in gentleness instructing those in opposition. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.~2 Timothy 2:23-26
Prayer Requests:
- Let's continue to pray for healthy families.
- Carla asks that you pray as she's seeking treatment for some pain issues. She had her first treatment on Friday. She has two treatments next week on Wednesday and Thursday. She is praying for her doctor to have wisdom and guidance as they tackle this pain issue.
- Let's pray for Rita's granddaughter Baby J because she keeps getting sick and sharing it with family.
- Pray for Kris's husband Terry's new job.
- Pray for peace and harmony in Kitty's family, and her son Mike as he is searching for a permanent job.
- Our country needs leadership that fears God and cares about the truth. Please pray that God will send us leaders with integrity.
- My test results came back, and my iron is low again. Pray that if I need more infusions that they won't make me nauseated.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! How was your weekend? It's been cold and rainy here in Central Alabama, so I posted a photo of Valentine's decor in our kitchen with the sunshine streaming in. I'm hoping for sunshine this week!
Can you believe that this week's reflection marks the halfway point of the book? It's a short lesson, but very convicting (at least it was for me). Here's a preview of this week's scripture:
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Prayer requests:
Until Friday, I'd like to ask all of you to pray for our families' health. Several of us have ill family members, and I think we need to focus on health as we pray for one another this week. And I'd like to take it one step further: As we pray, let's pray the following scripture:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives your sins and heals all your diseases.Psalm 103:2-3
There is power in praying scripture. Remember that as we put on the full armor of God, the sword of the Spirit is the word of God. "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." ~Ephesians 6:18a
Friday we'll get back on track with other prayer requests.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! How are y'all? I hope all of you are healthy this week. The stomach flu has been going around here (I have several friends who've had it), but so far, no one in our household has been ill with it.
What did y'all think about Maggie's Ten Commandments of Friendship? Which one got your attention?
I can remember a friend telling me once that when I was troubled, I should take it to the throne, not the phone, meaning that I should first pray about it, and then seek advice from wise friends. So for me, the first one hit home.
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Here are a few prayer requests. If you have any that I forgot or that you'd like to add, please leave a comment.
- Pray for Carla's son Sam and the rest of our troops, especially those who are deployed. Pray for our military's leadership.
- Prayers for Kitty's grandson Riley for when he leaves for South Korea in February, and for her daughter Molly, that she can handle it. Prayers would be appreciated for her Marine grandson Connor, for his faith.
- Pray for Kris's husband Terry and his new job: He started this week.
- I have a doctor's appointment Monday.
- Pray for our country, that God will unite us.
- Pray for the health of our families.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! Do you have any plans for today: It's Martin Luther King Day. The Mister doesn't have any cases today, so we got to sleep in a little bit.
This week's reflection should be super-fun as Maggie shares with us her Ten Commandments of Friendship. :D
I'm all in on this lesson, are you?
Prayer Requests:
- Continue to pray for our families' health. Pray for Rita's son-in-law and her granddaughter in particular.
- Pray for Carla's son Sam and the rest of our troops, especially those who are deployed. Pray for our military's leadership.
- Prayers for Kitty's grandson Riley for when he leaves for South Korea in February, and for her daughter Molly, that she can handle it. Prayers would be appreciated for her Marine grandson Connor, for his faith.
- Pray for Kris's husband Terry and his job opportunities.
- Please pray for my mother's diagnostic testing this week.
- Please pray for our country. Please, God, send us Christian leaders who love and fear You!
Have a great week!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! How are you? Is your January going well? Today's Friday the Thirteenth. I'm not superstitious about it, are you? The superstition around Friday 13th is thought to have originated from the Last Supper in the Bible. The meal, which took place the night before Jesus was crucified, was attended by 13 people - Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples.
While the number 13 is therefore associated with Judas - the disciple who betrayed Jesus - another potential origin of the superstition can be traced back to 1307, when King Philip IV of France arrested hundreds of Knights Templar on Friday 13 October. (This is the reason I've always heard why Friday the Thirteenth is cursed.)
Some Christian traditions claim that Jesus was crucified on Friday the Thirteenth, but the fact that he gave up His Life for us is the reason it's called Good Friday, which should negate any fear of Fridays and/or the number thirteen.
This week's reflection is about friendships, and how important it is for women to have close friends. Friends come and go, depending on the stage of life we're in. Let's take a look at the scriptural references from the lesson:
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Question of the day: Currently, are you open to new friendships, or are you happy with the number of friends you have?
Another question of the day: When and where did you meet your most recent friend?
I am open to new friendships because I've had a couple of very close friends move out of state. I met my most recent friend at an alumni event for my college sorority.
Below are this week's prayer requests and praises. If you have any others, please list them in comments.
- Continue to pray for Kris's husband Terry and his new job opportunities.
- Pray that Kitty's son Mike will find a permanent job.
- Pray for Carla's son Sam and the soldiers at Camp Lemonnier due to a bout of food poisoning. That can take a few days to recover from, and let's pray that it doesn't happen again. Carla also shared that she was able to talk to Sam for an hour!
- Rita's family is healthier, but her son-in-law tested positive for COVID. Let's pray that he will continue to recover and not catch anything else.
- Let's continue to lift up all of our families in prayer, and that God would place a hedge of protection around us all.
- Please pray for my mother. I took her to the ER Tuesday, and she spent the night with us that night. She will be having diagnostic testing Monday, so please pray for her and her medical team.
- Our state was hit with more tornadoes today, and our neighborhood at Lake Martin was hit. Our neighbors are still without electricity. Please pray for clean-up crews, especially in Selma, Alabama, one of the poorest cities in the US.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Happy Monday, Friends! Sorry I'm late posting this morning. Trip didn't have a case, and we got to sleep in! What a treat!
We're starting a new unit in our Bible Study today: community. Maintaining friendships can be tricky as we navigate different stages of life. I'm looking forward to the lessons in this unit for sure.
Here are a few prayer requests. If you want to add any to the list, please include them in comments.
- We have a praise that Rita's family are all feeling better. Let's continue to pray for all our families' health.
- Kitty's son Mike is looking for a more permanent job. Please pray for him during the process of job hunting and interviewing.
- Kris's husband Terry has a great opportunity that requires a longer commute. Please pray for him as he continues his finding/accepting new employment.
- Continue to pray for Sam and his team in Africa.
- Thank you for your continued prayers as I recover from my treatment. I have a big week this week with a couple of appointments and activities. I hope I haven't overbooked. Please pray that I will continue to gain energy each day.
Have a great week!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Epiphany, Friends! Today our Eastern Orthodox brothers and sisters celebrate Christmas.
I loved this week's reflection, and I especially like the title: Aging Gratefully. Maggie covered a whole lot of issues concerning our older demographic, and I especially liked reading what scripture says about how we should approach our older years:
For through wisdom your days will be many,and years will be added to your life.~Proverbs 9:11Gray hair is a crown of splendor;it is attained in the way of righteousness.~Proverbs 16:31Even to your old age and gray hairsI am he, I am he who will sustain you.I have made you and I will carry you;I will sustain you and I will rescue you.~Isaiah 46:4
I love the promised made in these verses, don't you?
Prayer requests?
We have several requests from Rita. Her family is under attack, and we need to lift them up!
Please pray for:
- Rita's daughter M who has had a terrible GI bug.
- Rita's granddaughter Baby J is in the hospital with RSV.
- Daughter M's family dog had surgery today (a Welsh terrier).
- Rita has a praise that daughter B is over her illness!
- Let's also lift up daughter M's manager who has been so kind to M during her illnesses and her family's illnesses. Thank-you, God, that M has such an understanding and kind manager!
If y'all have any requests, place them in Comments or email me!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy New Year, Friends! I hope that your New Year's celebrations were fun, and that you are still celebrating Christmas at least just a wee bit because today is the Ninth Day of Christmas!
I always see the verse in the graphic around New Year's Day. I thought I'd share it because I've seen it often the past several days!
This week's reflection is about aging gracefully and ageism. I only skimmed it, but Rita has read it already, and she enjoyed it!
Prayer requests?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
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