Happy Friday, Friends!
I hope you've had a festive week. I shipped gifts today, and the guy at the UPS store was really funny because he said: "You're a week ahead of last year!" *ha ha*
I truly enjoyed this week's lesson. I started our Advent book club this week at St. Stephens. We're reading The Meaning is in the Waiting by Paula Gooder. Advent is the Christian calendar's beginning of the year. I think it's interesting that we are expected to begin the year waiting, by living in the moment. I suppose that all of our days should be lived that way, but it is certainly a focus for the beginning of the year.
Our teacher Betty gave us an Advent calendar with a word of the day and an activity to go with it. This reminded me of our lesson in SoulFull! Here is the word and activity for today, Friday, December 5th:
SHINELight a candle and pray that the Light of God shines through you!
I'd also like to share with you another phrase from an Advent devotional written by Joyce Rupp:
"An expanded heart" ----- I resonate with this phrase and what it implies: a sense of something much bigger than ourselves, a wide embrace of another, room enough within one's self to extend a welcome unconditionally. I hope during this Advent season, my heart can grow wide enough to be hospitable, open enough to accept those different from me, generous enough to do what it takes to be kind, and large enough to spontaneously extend compassion. "
I think that you could expand the sticky note challenge to include not only words, but small phrases like "an expanded heart." Did you take the challenge? What are your four words?
Mine are hopeful, waiting, love, and shine (thanks, Betty).
Here is this week's Bible verse:
We will be reading Peace With the Psalms next year. I was really wanting to do Seasons of Wonder, but not every activity in it has scripture. It looks like a very fun book with fun activities, and it is biblically based. I think I will read it and try to do most of the activities, and if I feel like sharing anything I'll share it here on the blog.
Today you can purchase this for $9.99 for your Kindle, or $13.99 for the hardcover from FaithGateway.
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for Rita as she mourns the loss of her sister.
- Please pray for Kitty’s son, Mike, who is excited about working on his own idea. Pray for Kitty that she can be supportive and encouraging to him as he shares his ideas and developments with her. He is such a good guy and needs something wonderful to happen in his life.
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. UPDATE: Barbara has been transferred to a local SNF. It's the same one where Jenna was, and she is on the same hallway, too. I'm not sure how I feel about that! She is not well enough to go home.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. Let's especially lift up our National Guard as they are deployed both here at home and abroad.
- Pray for my mother. She is declining rapidly.
- Pray for Jenna Meon's family as they mourn her passing. The celebration of life will be December 13th.
- Please pray for Kris's MIL because she has been having some heavy health issues, and Kris is currently her full time nurse. Pray that God will help and bless Kris as she cares for her MIL. Pray that other family members will step-up and will be discerning about what's best for her care.
- Kitty's younger brother is having health issues. Please lift him up in prayer.
- Pray for Kris's husband Terry. He is having intestinal problems due to a blockage caused from a hernial mesh procedure from a few years ago. Pray that Terry will be able to go home, and that both Kris and Terry will not catch anything from the hospital.
- Rita's HS Friend was diagnosed with mouth cancer (tongue) this week. She is having pet scan today and will go to WVU for ENT oncologist consult next week. Surgery will remove part of her tongue, this much we know, lymph nodes undetermined.
- Carla and her husband are visiting her husband's elderly aunts this weekend. She prays to bring them JOY! There is EXTREME family drama on her husband's side of the family. The aunts they are visiting helped raise Carla's husband. They are twins, they are very dear, but life has been difficult for them. Praying for joy, peace, love and patience as they travel and visit.
Today is a peppermint mocha kind of day!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Black Friday, y'all! I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving with family and friends yesterday. I am writing this extremely early because Mr. Prayer Warrior and I will be headed out soon to try to make a dent in our Christmas shopping. I usually like to have most everything done by the first Sunday in Advent so I can focus on what's truly important. Please pray that I can get most things done this week.
The timing of this week's lesson, "À La Bonne Franquette," was perfect for me. This French phrase means "in a good, informal, unfussy way." It sounds like it should be a goal for the Treleavens and Smiths for Advent and Christmas because not only am I trying to finish Christmas shopping, but I'm also planning holiday meals and activities.
Our oldest daughter shared with me a social media trend for the holidays called "Sips and Trinkets." This is a holiday activity where you go out in the hustle and bustle, stop at a coffee shop or tearoom for yummy hot drinks, and then shop for small, inexpensive trinkets in unique shops. I told the younger generation that in lieu of a present under the tree, I would treat them to "Sips and Trinkets."
I did not make the recipe this week because Mr. Prayer Warrior does not eat salmon. It looks like a good recipe, though!
Since December 1st is Monday, I wanted to ask y'all about next year's Bible study. We have two options: Peace With the Psalms, a devotion from Abide Christian Meditation, or Seasons of Wonder by Bonnie Smith Whitehouse. There are not fifty-two lessons in Peace With the Psalms, but at the end of next year we could revisit our favorites and let each person choose a couple. Please leave your vote in comments. You can click on each book cover to read about the books on Goodreads.
Prayer Requests
- Pray for Rita as she mourns the loss of her sister.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project). UPDATE: Mike is discouraged with his work friend as things are not turning out as planned, and Mike needs to pivot to something else. Ladies, I know we have been praying for Mike and his work situation for a long time. But let's not get discouraged because God hears our prayers, and he WILL answer them.
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. UPDATE: Barbara has been transferred to a local SNF. It's the same one where Jenna was, and she is on the same hallway, too. I'm not sure how I feel about that! She is not well enough to go home.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Pray for my mother. She is declining rapidly.
- Pray for Jenna Meon's family as they mourn her passing. The celebration of life will be December 13th.
- Please continue to pray for our Westie Finlay as he is recovering from eye surgery.
- Please pray for Kris's MIL because she has been having some heavy health issues, and Kris is currently her full time nurse. Pray that God will help and bless Kris as she cares for her MIL.
- Kitty's younger brother is having health issues. Please lift him up in prayer.
- Pray for the families of the murdered West Virginia National Guard soldiers.
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Beautiful autumn day in Birmingham
Happy Friday, Friends! Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? I am not! I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving Week.
This week's lesson was a breath of fresh air (quite literally). I enjoyed learning about Marie of Magdala, especially the church's handling of her story. Christianity is the only religion that lifts-up women, and Jesus did welcome women into his inner circle. It's noteworthy that the first person Jesus appeared to after his resurrection was Mary, a woman.
I also took Farrell's suggestion for taking a walk. Shelley and I visited the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Monday and enjoyed the most beautiful autumn day ever! I am so thankful we did it because my week fell apart on Wednesday (more below). The Navajo Walking Meditation is lovely, isn't it!
With beauty before me, may I walk.With beauty behind me, may I walk.With beauty above me, may I walk.With beauty below me, may I walk.With beauty all around me, may I walk.Wandering on the trail of beauty, may I walk.~A Navajo Walking Meditation
Here is this week's scripture:
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Prayer Requests:
- Pray for Rita as she mourns the loss of her sister.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project). UPDATE: Mike is discouraged with his work friend as things are not turning out as planned, and Mike needs to pivot to something else. Ladies, I know we have been praying for Mike and his work situation for a long time. But let's not get discouraged because God hears our prayers, and he WILL answer them.
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. URGENT UPDATE: I took Barbara to her oncologist Wednesday because she could not get out of bed Tuesday to go to chemotherapy. It took us twenty minutes to get her in the car because she is so weak! She was in bad shape: her blood pressure was 70/40. They had to transport her to the hospital (located in a different building) via ambulance. Her kidneys are failing, and I am trying to remain positive, but it's so hard! She needs a miracle! Please pray for her and her family.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. She is declining rapidly.
- Rita's daughter Megan had rotator cuff surgery a few of weeks ago. Continue to pray for her recovery. UPDATE: Megan will return to work after 6 weeks post surgery (will do some PT), and she is ending this semester successfully in a much calmer state of mind.
- Pray for Jenna Meon's family as they mourn her passing. The celebration of life will be December 13th.
- Please continue to pray for our Westie Finlay as he is recovering from eye surgery.
- Please pray for Kris's MIL because she has been having some heavy health issues, and Kris is currently her full time nurse. Pray that God will help and bless Kris as she cares for her MIL.
- Kitty's younger brother is having health issues. Please lift him up in prayer.
- Travel mercies for Carla as she and her family travel for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Until next time...
Happy Thanksgiving!
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! How was your week? I am trying to learn where all my files are on my new computer. Supposedly everything was transferred, but I can't find any of my folders, and that includes all the Bible verse graphics I've made over the years. Maybe I'll have a chance this weekend to get help from Apple support. I do love my new computer, though!
I loved this week's lesson because it featured one of my favorite parables Jesus taught: The Parable of the Sower. I love the imagery in it, and I find it tragic what happens to many who hear the gospel, accept it, only to fall away for whatever reason.
I also thought that the advice Alan York gave the Chesters about planting ground cover at Apricot Lane Farms was interesting because it literally saved their property. I would like to watch the documentary about them because what they did took courage and a whole lot of faith. Farrell shares with us numerous ways we can lay spiritual ground cover, and it's encouraging to think that we can do a little each day and start over if needed.
Here is this week's bible passage:
“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”~Mark 4:3-8
Below is a blessing prayer by Steve Garnass-Holmes. When my Bible study teacher Betty sent it to me this week, I wanted to share it with y'all because I think it is a sweet prayer to start your day.
O PeaceO Peace, be my peace.I breathe you in.O Being, be my earth.I rest in you.O One, be my spirit.I belong to you.O Wisdom, be my mind.Keep me curious.O Grace, be my hope.I trust in you.O Yes, be my living and my dying.Give me courage.O Love, be my heart.Be my loving.O kindness, be my God,that I may be your kindness for this world.Amen.
I did not try the chili because I made chili last weekend because Trip wanted hot dogs with chili while watching college football. It was not Farrell's recipe by any stretch, but I'd like to try it because of the sweet potatoes.
Prayer Requests
- Pray for Rita as she mourns the loss of her sister.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles cancer. UPDATE: Chris does not need chemo, only scans. What a praise!
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project). UPDATE: Mike is discouraged with his work friend as things are not turning out as planned, and Mike needs to pivot to something else. Ladies, I know we have been praying for Mike and his work situation for a long time. But let's not get discouraged because God hears our prayers, and he WILL answer them.
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. She is declining rapidly.
- Rita's daughter Megan had rotator cuff surgery a few of weeks ago. Continue to pray for her recovery. UPDATE: Megan will return to work after 6 weeks post surgery (will do some PT), and she is ending this semester successfully in a much calmer state of mind.
- Pray for Jenna Meon. She was discharged from her SNF, and she is not responding to my calls, emails, and text messages.
- Please pray for our Westie Finlay. He had two procedures on his eye this week, and I think he is finally turning the corner.
- Please pray for Kris's MIL because she has been having some heavy health issues, and Kris is currently her full time nurse. Pray that God will help and bless Kris as she cares for her MIL.
- Kitty's younger brother is having health issues. Please lift him up in prayer!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! I hope you've had a productive week.
I have great news. I have been having problems with my computer for months. I have been blogging using Trip's laptop, but he uses it for work, so I was having to get up super early to use it before he left for work.
Trip was so sweet because he surprised me with a new desktop computer! It is so nice, and it has plenty of storage unlike my old iMac. Once they complete the process of sending my date from my old computer to the new one, I will be set. I am so excited!
What are your thoughts about this week's lesson? I enjoy studying the Psalms, and I agree that there is no greater resource for an extra dose of bravery. Each year when I read through the Bible and reach the Psalms, I always make a list of the ones that speak to me that year. It's fun for me to compare my favorites from year to year.
One of my very favorite Psalms for bravery is Psalm 91, and it is one of the four that Farrell mentions in her lesson:
Each day we are encouraged to put on the Full Armor of God, and that includes the Sword of the Spirit: The Word of God, which is the only offensive weapon in the armor, used to counter spiritual attacks. Fear is a spiritual attack because according to 2 Timothy 1:7, "God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." The Psalms are a wonderful weapon to help us stand strong.
Do you have a favorite Psalm?
Here is the Bible verse from the beginning of our lesson:
Prayer Requests
- Pray for Rita as she mourns the loss of her sister.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. I am having a care plan meeting at her nursing home on Monday.
- Rita's daughter Megan had rotator cuff surgery a few of weeks ago. Continue to pray for her recovery.
- Pray for Jenna Meon.
- Please pray for our Westie Finlay. I am taking him back to the vet this afternoon for another follow-up appointment.
"Make it your mission to find the light in the dark."
Soulfull, pg. 214
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Happy Halloween, Friends!
I hope you have had a peaceful week.
Do you get a lot of trick-or-treaters? We do, and I'm hurriedly writing this post before the doorbell starts ringing.
I truly enjoyed this week's lesson because it focuses on what's truly important to a Christian. I like the visual of Notre Damn to remind us that we were also designed to prevail.
Our soul is our cornerstone, and I loved how Farrell broke everything down (into four main points) explaining how we should build-up our faith in a fallen world. In this post I will focus on the second one: We were created to endure.
Here's a quote from Richard Rohr about gratitude, and I think that gratitude helps us build endurance to face the day (whatever it may bring).
Each and every morning offers us a chance to start anew, fresh, and to begin again. Each morning when we awake--- should we choose to listen--- is a message from our Creator to remember the privilege we were given of waking up. It's a reminder to get up and prepare our self, to honor our self, to go out into the world, to connect with Mother Earth, and the hearts of other beings, and encourage those who cross our paths, and most importantly, to enjoy life.
Here is a Bible verse that reminds us that not only were we made to endure, but that God's plan is an abundant life for us:
Here are the Bible verses from the lesson:
Prayer Requests
- Pray for Rita as she mourns the loss of her sister.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. She is declining rapidly, and is not waking to eat.
- Rita's daughter Megan had rotator cuff surgery a few of weeks ago. Continue to pray for her recovery.
- Pray for Jenna Meon.
- Please pray for our Westie Finlay. He had to have a second eye ablation today.
Happy Halloween!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! How has your week been? My weekend started off lovely because I attended a creativity workshop last Saturday, and then I took my boy Westie to the vet because of a suspected ear infection. Not only did he have an ear infection, but he developed an eye ulcer from scratching his ear on the carpet. Finlay is on four meds plus two eye drop prescriptions and one eye lubricant three times daily. PLUS he now has to wear the Cone of Shame 24/7 until at least Tuesday. I haven't been able to see my mother all week. Hopefully Trip or Shelley will be able to spell me this afternoon so I can go and lay eyes on her.
This week's lesson was bittersweet. We have read a few excerpts about Farrell's friend Tallu and her battle with cancer throughout this book. She sounds like a lovely person who did care about things that truly matter. I loved the message from page 205:
We have to practice what we hope for. As if what we hope for might be possible.
One aspect of their friendship was the sharing and reading of poetry as spiritual practice. Farrell even shares a list of her favorites at the end. I was familiar with a few of the poems, and I hope to have a chance to look-up the rest soon. At the creativity workshop on Saturday, my art teacher Dori shared a wonderful poem by Native American poet Mary Standing Otter that I think is fitting for our lesson this week.
Someone
Right now there are Tibetan Buddhist monks in a temple in the Himalayas endlessly reciting mantras for the cessation of your suffering and for the flourishing of your happiness.
Someone you haven’t met yet is already dreaming of adoring you.
Someone is writing a book that you will read in the next two years that will change how you look at life.
Nuns in the Alps are in endless vigil, praying for the Holy Spirit to alight the hearts of all of God’s children.
A farmer is looking at his organic crops and whispering, “nourish them.”
Someone wants to kiss you, to hold you, to make tea for you.
Someone is willing to lend you money, wants to know what your favorite food is, and treat you to a movie.
Someone in your orbit has something immensely valuable to give you — for free.
Something is being invented this year that will change how your generation lives, communicates, heals and passes on.
The next great song is being rehearsed.
Thousands of people are in yoga classes right now intentionally sending light out from their heart chakras and wrapping it around the earth.
Millions of children are assuming that everything is amazing and will always be that way.
Someone is in profound pain, and a few months from now, they’ll be thriving like never before. From where they are, they just can’t see it .
Someone who is craving to be partnered, to be acknowledged, to arrive, will get precisely what they want — and even more. And because that gift will be so fantastical in it’s reach and sweetness, it will quite magically alter their memory of angsty longing and render it all “So worth the wait.”
Someone has recently cracked open their joyous, genuine nature because they did the hard work of hauling years of oppression off of their psyche — this luminous juju is floating in the ether, and is accessible to you.
Someone just this second wished for world peace, in earnest.
Some civil servant is making sure that you get your mail, and your garbage is picked up, that the trains are running on time, and that you are generally safe.
Someone is dedicating their days to protecting your civil liberties and clean drinking water.
Someone is regaining their sanity.
Someone is coming back from the dead.
Someone is genuinely forgiving the seemingly unforgivable.
Someone is curing the incurable.
You. Me. Some. One. Now.
~ Mary Standing Otter
Here is this week's scripture:
Prayer Requests
Please let me know if I have missed any updates or new requests.
- Pray for Rita as she mourns the loss of her sister.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. She is struggling, y'all. UPDATE: She was able to get chemo this week! Praise!
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. She is really declining.
- Rita asks that we pray for her oldest daughter's Jewish friend. She dropped out of her 2nd masters' program at Michigan due to the anti-semitic tension she experienced last year, and is planning to move to Israel in October (she has dual citizenship) to see if a budding romance will work over the next 1-2 years. Please keep her in your prayers for her safety, relationship fulfillment, and eventual safe return to the US (with, perhaps, a soulmate for life).
- Rita's daughter Megan had rotator cuff surgery a couple of weeks ago. Pray for her speedy recovery.
- Pray for Jenna Meon.
- Pray that the peace will hold in the Middle East.
- Please pray for our Westie Finlay. He is my best little buddy, and never left my side during my cancer treatment.
Our local Fall Festival is Saturday. I doubt I will be able to go, but hopefully one of the other adults in the household can go and purchase a few pumpkins for the Trick-Or-Treaters next week.
Have a safe and happy weekend, Friends!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
It has been a rough week, Friends. Our Sweet Rita lost her sister, Jackie. She is the first sibling (I think out of seven) that she's lost. Rita's "Jenga Tower" was definitely shaken this week. Rita, I hope that you have been able to read this week's lesson. If not, it is waiting for you when you have the chance. I think it's a very apropos lesson for us when we experience loss.
I made the soup recipe early in the week, and I'm so glad that I did because the wheels came off our wagon later in the week. It was nice having something already cooked on those nights I was too tired to cook.
This is pretty much all of the ingredients for the soup. What's missing are the beans: I already had them cooking on the stove when I made this photo. I didn't use lentils like the recipe suggested. Instead I used some of the delicious Rancho Gordo beans I had on hand, the Santa Maria Pinquito Bean.
I also added beef Polska Kielbasa sausage to it as well.
Here is this week's Bible verse:
Prayer Requests
- Pray for Rita as she mourns the loss of her sister.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. She is struggling, y'all. UPDATE: She was denied chemotherapy for a second time this week due to low white blood cell count.
- Kris has a praise and a request: Her little grandson and daughter and SIL are loving their new home in Michigan. Her daughter landed a great job running a huge 9 practitioner clinic in Michigan. Hoping the learning center that her grandson went to will open the new one very soon near their new home in Michigan so he can go to the same daycare and structure.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. She is really declining.
- Rita asks that we pray for her oldest daughter's Jewish friend. She dropped out of her 2nd masters' program at Michigan due to the anti-semitic tension she experienced last year, and is planning to move to Israel in October (she has dual citizenship) to see if a budding romance will work over the next 1-2 years. Please keep her in your prayers for her safety, relationship fulfillment, and eventual safe return to the US (with, perhaps, a soulmate for life).
- A tragedy has hit a small town just 3 miles from Carla's home in Cameron. A young man shot up his girlfriend's family and while doing so recorded it LIVE on Snapchat!!! They live in such small towns, that this shakes our communities. The shooting took place in Barron, Wisconsin Wednesday at 2pm.
- Rita's daughter Megan had rotator cuff surgery a couple of weeks ago. Pray for her speedy recovery.
- Pray for Jenna Meon.
- Pray that the peace will hold in the Middle East.
I hope all of you find a little bit of joy this weekend.
I love you all!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, Friends! I hope you've had peaceful week. This week's lesson was very peaceful, wasn't it! Entitled "Faith Gazing," Farrell talks about an outing to a remote beach with her family in 2016 to watch the Perseid meteor shower. She began the lesson with this quote from Barbara Taylor Brown. It's from the book I have pictured, above (An Altar in the World), and it was our book club selection this fall at my church. Here is the quote:
Earth is so thick with divine possibility that it is a wonder we can walk anywhere without cracking our shins on altars.
I enjoyed discussing this book with the ladies in our group, and one of my favorite chapters was the one entitled "The Practice of Walking on Earth" which focuses on groundedness. Barbara Taylor Brown writes quite a bit about walking in the book, whether it's walking in a labyrinth or out in nature. Getting out in nature is a healthy way to commune with God. It gets us off our devices, and it allows us to focus on God's creation. God speaks to us through his creation, and I can't think of a more pleasant way to ponder God's presence in our lives. Here is a favorite quote from this chapter:
It will help if you do not expect God to speak to you. Just give your full attention to where you are, for once. Walk as if your life depends on it...
This weekend, we are going to the lake for a much needed break. We are planning to spend lots of time outside in nature and taking several walks. It is my prayer for our little prayer warrior group that we will spend some time experiencing God and his creation this next week. We might not see a supernatural sign of God's presence, but hopefully autumn's beauty in our respective neighborhoods will encourage us and strengthen our faith that he truly has a loving plan in place for us all.
Here is this week's Bible verse:
Prayer Requests
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. She is struggling, y'all. UPDATE: She had a bad fall, and broke a tooth, jaw, and nose. Please pray that she will monitor her strength, blood sugar, and blood pressure to help minimize her chance of falling.
- Kris has a praise and a request: Her little grandson and daughter and SIL are loving their new home in Michigan. Her daughter landed a great job running a huge 9 practitioner clinic in Michigan. Hoping the learning center that her grandson went to will open the new one very soon near their new home in Michigan so he can go to the same daycare and structure.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Pray for one of my daughters. She is struggling spiritually right now.
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. Pray for God's will concerning her placement, whether she should stay in the facility she's in now, or whether we should pursue having her committed to a long-term mental health facility.
- Rita asks that we pray for her oldest daughter's Jewish friend. She dropped out of her 2nd masters' program at Michigan due to the anti-semitic tension she experienced last year, and is planning to move to Israel in October (she has dual citizenship) to see if a budding romance will work over the next 1-2 years. Please keep her in your prayers for her safety, relationship fulfillment, and eventual safe return to the US (with, perhaps, a soulmate for life).
- A tragedy has hit a small town just 3 miles from Carla's home in Cameron. A young man shot up his girlfriend's family and while doing so recorded it LIVE on Snapchat!!! They live in such small towns, that this shakes our communities. The shooting took place in Barron, Wisconsin Wednesday at 2pm.
- Rita's daughter Megan had rotator cuff surgery last week. Pray for her speedy recovery.
- Travel mercies for Rita's oldest daughter and sil. They are traveling overseas.
- Pray for Jenna Meon.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and week!
Now go outside! ;P
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
Happy Friday, and Welcome October! How was your week, Friends? I'm still spending lots of time taking care of my mother's business. It's a challenge, yet I'm thankful that I'm healthy enough to do all the things. So many people I know are having health problems, and I think stress is to blame for some of it.
I'm trying very hard to manage my stress level. What about you? Do you have any tips or tricks about stress management to share with us? I think hugs given and received help. I loved Farrell's story about Mikey's Deli on the Santa Monica Pier. Hugs are the best, and I am totally there for a café serving hugs.
This is a photo I took of the Santa Monica Pier on December 30, 2023.
I did not go to Mikey's Deli, and I hate I missed out on it!
Loving others and showing affection is so important in our world. Love overcomes hate, and it is a constant choice on our part. This week I read a devotion from Richard Rohr. This is what he said about making "a choice for love."
I'm giving you a new commandment so you'll know where I am, and who I am: "You must love one another."There is no other way we can know who God is---- or who we truly are--- but to love and be loved. Love is not something we decide to do now and then.Love is who we are. Our basic, foundational existence --- created in the image of the Trinity--- is love. Remember, Trinity is saying that God is not anisolated divine being. God is a quality of relationship itself, an event of communion, an infinite flow of outpouring.Love, like forgiveness, is a decision. It's a decision in our minds and in our hearts. And we better make it early in the day, because once we're given a few hours into low-level resentment, anger, or disappointment, it's too late. When we are not choosing love, we'll use any excuse to be unhappy or irritated.We have to recognize ahead of time when we are not living in love. This is surely why a morning prayer or practice is so important--- to allow us to choose to love each and every day.
Speaking of expressions of love.... I made the Moelluex au Chocolat recipe. Molluex means "soft" in English, and these soufflés are super soft and delicious. They are like a hug in a ramekin, I tell ya! They were easy, although the folding-in of the meringue was a bit slow and tedious, but OH! so worth it!
I enjoyed this lesson so much this week. What are your thoughts about the lesson?
Here is this week's Bible verse:
Prayer Requests
Our list is getting rather lengthy, but that is okay, y'all. It is a privilege to pray for you, your families, your communities, and our nation. Thank-you for being a prayer warrior!
- Please pray for our blog friend Emily (McGriff) and her husband Jim because they both have COVID. Emily's blog is The French Hutch.
- Please pray for our blog friend Jenna Meon. She is currently in rehabilitation for her walking. She is still struggling with her standing.
- Please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer. She is recovering from a 2nd surgery to remove what is believed to be another cancer on her lung.
- Kitty's son Mike and his friend are working on a game for a company and need to have it done in three months and have a verbal agreement for another game. Prayers that they can get this done. Also, pray that they will get good news on a proposal (a separate project).
- Keep Rita's daughter Megan in your prayers as she delves into her 3rd and final year of Nurse Practitioner program. Her anxiety is pretty high with the new schedule of work, school and home life balance.
- Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer. She is struggling, y'all. UPDATE: She had a bad fall, and broke a tooth, jaw, and nose. Please pray that she will monitor her strength, blood sugar, and blood pressure to help minimize her chance of falling.
- Kris has a praise and a request: Her little grandson and daughter and SIL are loving their new home in Michigan. Her daughter landed a great job running a huge 9 practitioner clinic in Michigan. Hoping the learning center that her grandson went to will open the new one very soon near their new home in Michigan so he can go to the same daycare and structure.
- Carla's prayer request is for all the young people entering the military, the love they feel for the USA to become warriors to fight to keep us free. She is so thankful, as we all are!
- Pray for the victims and families of the Minneapolis Annunciation Catholic Church who were attacked in an act of despicable hate by the young man this week. Please pray for the safety of our Christian children in this country.
- Please pray that the violence from trans activists will end, and that they will get the mental health help that they so desperately need.
- Pray for the victims of the Colorado school shooting.
- Pray for Charlie Kirk's family, friends, and our nation as we heal from his assassination.
- Pray for one of my daughters. She is struggling spiritually right now.
- Carla and her husband has decided to stay in their home and not sell it and move. Pray that God will give them peace in their decision.
- Pray for my mother. Pray for God's will concerning her placement, whether she should stay in the facility she's in now, or whether we should pursue having her committed to a long-term mental health facility.
- Rita asks that we pray for her oldest daughter's Jewish friend. She dropped out of her 2nd masters' program at Michigan due to the anti-semitic tension she experienced last year, and is planning to move to Israel in October (she has dual citizenship) to see if a budding romance will work over the next 1-2 years. Please keep her in your prayers for her safety, relationship fulfillment, and eventual safe return to the US (with, perhaps, a soulmate for life).
- A tragedy has hit a small town just 3 miles from Carla's home in Cameron. A young man shot up his girlfriend's family and while doing so recorded it LIVE on Snapchat!!! They live in such small towns, that this shakes our communities. The shooting took place in Barron, Wisconsin Wednesday at 2pm.
- Rita's daughter Megan is having rotator cuff surgery this morning. Her prayer is for a successful outcome and speedy recovery.
- Travel mercies for Rita's oldest daughter and sil. They are traveling out of country today, and let's pray the government shutdown does not complicate their travels.
- I am having out-patient surgery this morning at 8:15 CDT. As always, y'all's prayers are appreciated!
I'm treating myself to a PSL after surgery this morning.
YUMMY!
I will have to put my feet up a little this weekend, and I'm planning to binge watch a few British TV shows and watch Cubs Baseball and Alabama football.
What are your plans?
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
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