SoulFull Week Ten

 

blooming shamrock

Happy Friday, Friends!  I hope you have had a wonderful week.  We are expecting severe weather tomorrow here in Central Alabama, and I'm praying that the storms won't be as strong as predicted.  

This week's lesson is entitled "It's a da Vinci."  Can you imagine having a priceless work of art in your home and not even know it?  Here it is:

Salvator Mundi

Leonardo da Vinci

c. 1499-1510

oil on walnut panel

25.8 in ×19.2 in

Salvator Mundi means "Savior of the World."  Christ is making the sign of the cross as a blessing to the observer.  He is holding an orb which represents his authority as King of Kings.  Christ was usually depicted in paintings facing straight forward.  It was not considered appropriate to paint anyone else in this manner.  However, Albrecht Dürer painted a self-portrait facing straight, and this was deemed unfitting.  It is signed: Albrecht Dürer of Nuremberg... age 28.  

Self Portrait

Albrecht Dürer

oil on wood panel

26 1/4 in × 19 1/4 in 

The point of the lesson is to remind us that are souls are "Materpieces of Creation."  Farrell also shares this Bible passage with us:

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.  Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.  So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

~2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Clay jars held expensive treasures during the first century like anointing oils.  Farrell loves essential oils (and so do I) and she shares a recipe for them at the end of the lesson.  I did not make any because I was given some at Bible class a few weeks ago!  Our teacher brought in so many different varieties, and we were able to chose the ones we wanted.  I chose the bergamot, and I really like how it smells.

This essential oil is made by Hiqili, and it's supposed to help with restlessness and nervousness.  It can also help suppress anger, which I often need while driving on Highway 280!

I also have a blue oil by Aveda.  When I run out of these, I will try Farrell's recipe and make some of my own essential healing oils because our local Sprouts has all the ingredients necessary to make it.

Here is our Bible verse for the lesson.

Before I get to the prayer requests, I wanted to share a graphic with you on fasting.  Kitty shared these thoughts with me last week, and I think that we can all get behind this kind of fasting during Lent.

Prayer Requests

• Pray for our military securing and protecting our southern border.
• Pray for Kitty's son Mike to get a job that uses his talents.
• Pray for Kitty's grandson Connor, that he will find a path to follow and good relationships.
• Carla is running for Trustee for her local Village Board. The election is April 1st.  Let's be in prayer that Carla can continue to be the change she wants to see in her village.
• Carla mailed her postcards for the election this week. Let's pray that her message will be well received and that her neighbors will feel inspired to have her represent them on their village board.
• Rita's daughters need our prayers.  One is finishing up her masters this semester, and the other is having an especially hard time balancing work/school/home life. Pray for God's strength, patience and guidance as they each navigate their own course.
• Please keep Rita's sister who moved to West Virginia in November in prayer to be able to have her knee surgery on Monday, March 17th.  She is also treating a UTI.
• Travel mercies for Trip and me for the next two weeks.
• Please pray for Carla's friend C.M.H who has joined the United States Army. Carla and her family are so proud of him. He will be 23 in June, and he is a dear friend of her boys. He was in their homeschool group.  He will leave for basic training in May.
• URGENT:  Please pray for our blog friend Jenna Meon.  She is currently in the hospital.

I love Irish soda bread and hot cross buns this time of the year.  Do you?

IMPORTANT:  I do not know if I will be able to update my posts on the trip.  Please come back and read comments for any new prayer requests the next couple of weeks.  Thank-you!

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill