One Thousand Gifts: Friday, Week Thirty-Nine

 

Happy Friday, Friends!  Sorry I'm late posting this morning.  We were up and down all night because severe storms kept disrupting our sleep.  The thunder was bad enough, but also our phone notifications kept blasting throughout the night.  Then this morning I had my annual visit with one of my specialists, you know, the one all women just love (ha ha)...

Anyway....all is good, and we didn't sustain any storm damage in our neighborhood, although North Alabama was hit pretty hard this go around with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.  

This week's devotion was entitled "affectionate grace."  I thought this was one of the most difficult devotions because Ann is writing from a very dark place.  In one thousand gifts, I've picked-up on several tragedies she and her family have suffered, and she does write from a place of raw emotion and truth.  I get a sense from reading her book that although she is secure in her knowledge of Christ's love and forgiveness, I'm not certain she has been able to forgive herself.  Christ forgives, and we need to do the same.  That doesn't mean we live without regrets, but regret is much easier to live with than guilt.  Just my two cents' worth.

Here is this week's scripture:

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

~Ephesians 5:30 (KJV)

“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little”... And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

~Luke 7:47, 50 (ESV)

I made you very numerous, like plants of the field. Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine jewelry; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare.

“Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My garment over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord God.  “Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you, and anointed you with oil.”

~Ezekiel 16:7-9 (NASB)

I wanted to share with you a peony that was part of a table runner for a party.  It's a Jumbo Shirley Temple, and I hope it brightens your day like it did mine!

Prayer Requests

• Pray for Kitty's son Mike to get a job. AI has taken away many jobs in his industry.  Mike might have the opportunity to redo a game with a friends.  Let's pray that this works out for him, and it will lead to more opportunities.
• Pray for Kitty's SIL Eric's continued recovery from surgery.  Also pray for her daughter as her responsibilities have increased while Eric recovers.  UPDATE:  Eric got laid off last week along with everyone in his office. He gets a tiny severance and two weeks pay. He does get insurance through May.  Kitty says that her daughter Molly continues to remain positive.  She is a rockstar!  Let's pray that he will find an even better job, a better fit for him.  Let's pray boldly!
• Please continue to pray for our military and military families.
• Continue to pray for Carla's son Sam and the 157th!  UPDATE:  Sam will be leaving for training in Louisiana May 23rd for 5 weeks.  
• Pray for leadership in our country, leaders who will care about America and Americans above global interests. 
• Also, let's pray for Christian leadership on college campuses.  Pray that evil intent with the demonstrations will be thwarted.  
• PRAISE:  Our son-in-law Christopher graduates today after earning his MBA.  It's a special one for physicians.  He was worked so hard the past couple of years earning it, and we're so proud of him!

Please email me if I've missed or left out any requests!

I'm off to make myself a macchiato.

Have a lovely weekend!

Charge your phones in case of the forecasted CME's (coronal mass ejections).  Hopefully it will be a big nothing-burger!

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill