Soulfull Week Thirty

 

Happy Friday, and Happy August, Friends!  How has your week been so far?  Mine has been a little stressful dealing with my mother's estate.  It has been the biggest mess, and she doesn't exactly have a cooperative spirit.  

I'm doing a little side Bible study on patience.  I need it!

This week's lesson was entitled "Hope Does Not Disappoint."  I thought it was fabulous!  I have been thinking a lot this week about what hope looks like.  What does hope look like to you?  I like the writing/journal prompts she shares in this chapter, especially number one:

What does hope look like for you?  Create a list of hope-givers: a special person, a scripture, a song, or place.  Refer back to your list when negative thoughts visit.

~page 154

My first thought in answer to this prompt was y'all!  I have seen how God has answered our prayers.  The fact that y'all show up every week and pray for each other and encourage each other makes my heart full!

I am working on my list from this prompt, and I will post it on my refrigerator by my desk.  Another thing that has given me hope is that in spite of the dire predictions for our farmers (we had monsoonal rains followed by extreme heat), we are seeing beautiful crops, especially peaches.  Alabama is known for our Chilton County peaches, and I drew some this week.  It has been a great summer for peaches!

We are getting to know young farmers and their families who are selling their produce locally through farmers' markets and community supported agriculture subscription boxes.  These little families are also giving me hope because they are such hard workers and are so brave!

This week's Bible verses:

Prayer Requests

• Please pray for our blog friend Jenna Meon.  She is currently in rehabilitation for her walking.  She is still struggling with her standing.
• Rita requests we pray for Tommy, who had a stroke in late June. He is now in rehab, and needs encouragement to get as strong as he is able, and to be able to adjust to his life changes.
• Also, please keep Rita's neighbor Chris in prayer as she battles her cancer.
• Kitty's grandson Connor is doing well as a corrections officer. Prayers that he can find a good relationship.
• Kitty's SIL Eric, Molly’s husband, filed for disability and hired a lawyer. Prayers that this all works out for him.
• 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.
• Pray for my best friend Barbara who is battling cancer.
• 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.
• Pray that all real estate transactions for my mother will go through next week.

Do you have any special plans for August?

The first two weeks for us will revolve around doing things for my mother.  Then we are hoping to go on a weekend trip mid-month.

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill