Month: June 2010
Sunday – Father's Day
I pray for them.
I am not praying for the world,
but for those You have given Me,
for they are Yours.
~John 17:9 (NIV)~
Margie Williams was able to return to Line Creek last night after six days in the hospital and surgery. Pray for her as she recovers.
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”
Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor
A TEN-YEAR-OLD who is playing in a living room inadvertently knocks over a lamp and cracks its ceramic base…
He knows that the lamp is highly treasured by his parents, and–based upon past performance–he knows that they will fly into a rage when the crack is discovered. He realizes this in an instant as he surveys the damage. As he plots his next move, he can have no thought of confession. He notices that the lamp can be turned that the crack faces the wall and cannot easily be seen. Rather than face the issue head-on with his unapproachable parents, he elects to cover up the problem.
For weeks, however, the guilty child lives in fear of the day when someone will find the crack. Every time he sees his father or mother go near the lamp to turn it on or off, his body tenses–has the moment of truth arrived? The longer the secret is undisclosed, the more it drives a quiet wedge between him and his parents. He doesn’t enjoy the living room, especially when his parents are in it. Even the objects in the room become his enemies because they are identified with the lamp whose crack is going to betray him one of these days. The anticipated response to the crack has become more significant than the original problem. But unapproachability in bad moments–“when the heart is faint”–has quenched all possibility of keep short accounts.
Why is it hard to grant to children the same forgiveness we adults so desperately desire when we make mistakes? Must there be punishment for something which was done unintentionally–even if the initial act was actual disobedience?
The approachability of fathers in the early years of their children’s lives will reduce the number of defense mechanisms their children will erect. If they experience sledge-hammer reactions in their sour moments, children will create a remarkable facility for passing responsibility, making excuses, or perhaps taking no risks at all. What father wants that? Much better that they find in their fathers–effective fathers–tender responses when their child-sized hearts are faint. Gordon MacDonald, “No Busy Signals Here,” The Effective Father, 132-133
“…Indeed we do come to you. For You are the LORD our God.” Jeremiah 3:22b
Happy Father’s Day!
Pray for families that are not able to be together today.
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Friday, June 18, 2010
“God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne,’” (Psalm 47:8, NKJV).
Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, encouraging you to pray for clear communication and language acquisition.
Join the Bozo Team in praising God as they write: “Though they could say a total of about six words in the language, two volunteers came to share the Word . . . and share they did! Each night that they stayed in the small Bozo camp, the two college-age young women would take out their English Bible and the Bambara Bible they had been lent and ask permission to read it aloud. They received the blessing of their host to do so, and with the offer to stop when needed, they began to read the Word of God to this family. When stopping for a break, they were urged to continue and soon had the attention of the man who positioned himself close enough to read along. This continued for three nights. The young women came back fulfilled and excited, while the remnant of what was read remains to be pondered by the family. This Bozo family heard the Truth from two young women who couldn’t even say a whole sentence in the language.”
“Learning new languages can be very rewarding and even a fun experience as one begins to communicate with the nationals in their heart language. However, for so many, this can be a very discouraging time. Mature, well-educated and eager missionaries often find themselves barely speaking like a 2 year old after months of studying a language. It is a humbling time for them. Please pray with us for our missionaries in the Zambezi Cluster who continue to work on their language acquisition. It is an ongoing learning process”
* Please pray that Christian workers all will be able to communicate the Gospel in ways that the people truly understand.
* Give thanks for the perseverance of volunteers as the persistently share the Gospel even without language skills.
* Intercede for the nations that God will draw them to salvation and to His holy throne.
Have a great Lord’s Day! Spend some time with your Heavenly Father and your earthly father if possible.
Anna Lee
Saturday
I have given them Your Word …
John 17:14 (NIV)
Donald Cutrer and KaLeigh Powers
Donald had to have a second surgery on his knee Wednesday as the infection was getting really bad again. He is still in the hospital. I went to visit him yesterday and he tells me he is doing fine, but I was there when they re-dressed his knee and it sure looked bad. I am sure the good Lord and the medications will see him through this. He has what they call MARSA and some of it had gotten to the bone, but the doctors assured us they had gotten it all this time. He will be on antibiotics for another 6 weeks which will be given via an infusion. Please continue to pray for him.
I took KaLeigh this morning for her stitches to be removed, but the doctor wanted to leave them another week. She was very disappointed about that. Otherwise she is doing fine. Thanks again for the prayers.
In Christian Love,
Mary Ann Cutrer
Pray for the family who lost four children and an unborn grandchild in a train/van accident north of Independence yesterday afternoon. Pray for their spiritual health through this very difficult time. Also, pray for the emergency responders who worked this accident.
Pray for the safety of people who do not have air conditioning during this hot weather. Pray they will find ways to stay cool enough to assure their health and comfort.
CaringBridge
TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
JUNE 18, 2010
“Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.” (Psalm 54:2)
WORLD LEADERS. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Please pray today for Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi Tuila’epa of Samoa (southwestern Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and New Zealand).
CITY OF SOUTHERN SONG, CHINA. There are more than 30,000 university students on a campus where Christian workers teach, and only a handful of students have ever heard the name of the one holy God. Students are warned against foreign religions and encouraged to report anyone who talks about Christianity. Give thanks to God that some students have formed a weekly Bible-study group. Pray that the group can find a safe meeting place. Pray for each of these students to open their hearts to receive His free gift of salvation. chopsticks@pobox.com
LAST FRONTIER. As workers continue to live and teach among a Last Frontier people group that is the majority people group in their area, they see minority groups that have believers and teachers among them. But this majority group is still without a church or a Bible study group. Through IMB World Hunger Funds, a “pig project” is being started in this difficult-to-reach area among this majority people group. Through this pig project, in addition to skills being taught for raising pigs, spiritual principles will be taught to young believers and training will be provided to them so they can go out and share physical and spiritual knowledge with their lost neighbors. Please remember Mr. B and his family as they prepare to move to the pig project site and begin to teach. Ask for physical and spiritual safety. Intercede for the authorities as well, as it was less than three years ago that Mr. B was thrown out of this area for having a house church in his relative’s home.
Have a great day! Count your blessing today!
Anna Lee
Friday
“We were therefore buried with him
through baptism into death in order that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father,
we too may live a new life.”
~Romans 6:4~
Don’t forget to pray for Margie Williams today as she has surgery.
Pray for George Dees, husband of Jean Dees. They live east of Arcola. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated.
CaringBridge
TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
JUNE 17, 2010
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers…and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)
WORLD LEADERS. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Please pray today for Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (eastern Caribbean Sea).
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC). “Thank you for all your prayers concerning the new water-filter factory,” writes the Congo Team. “The container full of equipment finally arrived, and everything in it is being used to start making water filters. Pray that the filters will be made and the visits out to the people will be successful–successful in that the people we visit will desire to buy the inexpensive filters so their families will have better health, and that they will come to know and tell others the Living Water stories from God’s Word.”
MAROON TRIBES OF SURINAME AND FRENCH GUIANA. Please pray for the village of Diitabiki. Wonderful events are taking place in this village in the jungles of Suriname. Many have come to know the saving grace of the Lord, and some have followed in baptism. Please pray for the others who are fearful concerning baptism. Also pray for the friends and family members of the Aukan people who have become believers in Christ. The mother of a boy who was saved said that he is a different guy, with joy in his heart. Please pray that they will continue to see a difference and come to know Christ as their Savior. cbshirey@gmail.com; http://n2allnations.org
OUR ALL-KNOWING GOD
The following questions are actual reference queries reported by American and Canadian library reference desk workers.
* “Do you have books here?”
* “Do you have a list of all the books written in the English language?”
* “Do you have a list of all the books I’ve ever read?”
* “I’m looking for Robert James Waller’s book, Waltzing through Grand Rapids.” (Actual title wanted: “Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend.”)
* “Where is the reference desk?” This was asked of a person sitting at a desk who had a sign hanging above her head. The sign said “REFERENCE DESK”!
* “I was here about three weeks ago looking at a cookbook that cost $39.95. Do you know which one it is?”
* “Which outlets in the library are appropriate for my hairdryer?”
* “Do you have any books with photographs of dinosaurs?”
* “I need a color photograph of George Washington [Christopher Columbus, King Arthur, Moses, Socrates, etc.]”
* “I need to find out Ibid’s first name for my bibliography.”
* “Why don’t you have any books by Ibid? He’s written a lot of important stuff.”
* “I’m looking for information on carpal tunnel syndrome. I think I’m having trouble with it in my neck.”
* “Is the basement upstairs?” (asked at First Floor Reference Desk)
* “I am looking for a list of laws that I can break that would send me back to jail for a couple of months.”
Makes you wonder if folks are out to disprove the saying, “There’s no such thing as a stupid question”! Seriously, though, working at a reference desk has to be a bit intimidating. After all, anyone is allowed to ask you any question, and you are supposed to be able to find the answer! So, I guess one of the qualifications for the job is that you have to be omniscient! That would leave us all out.
But there is someone who is qualified, someone who knows “all the answers”. In Revelation 2 and 3, Christ includes in each of the letters to the seven churches the words “I know your works”. God knows us. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows our needs. He knows the answer to every question in our heart. He is the ultimate “reference desk worker”. What a great God we serve and worship!
“O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.” (Psalm 139:1-6)
Have a great day!
Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Don’t get too hot today!
Anna Lee
Thursday Addition
Margie Williams will be having gall bladder surgery in the morning at North Oaks. Please be in prayer for her, her family, and the medical staff caring for her.
Thursday
“But you shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth.”
~Acts 1:8~
Please pray for Micah Tolleson, his family, and the doctors treating him.
CaaringBridge
PLEASE PRAY FOR MY MOTHER LANASUE HORNE FAIRBURN AS SHE IS NOT DOING GOOD AT ALL.ALSO PRAY FOR MY UNCLE WILLIE WESTMORELAND AS HE WILL BE HAVING SURGERY DUE TO BLOCKAGES…..THANKS,LISA (Westmoreland)
KaLeigh Powers
Just got the most wonderful news. The doctor told Debbie that the nodules that were removed from KaLeigh were not malignant and was nothing for her to worry about. Her stitches are to be removed Friday. Praise God for answered prayers and thank you my Christian friends for your prayers. Continue to remember her as she heals after the stitches are removed. Isn’t GOD good!!!
When her Mom told her, she was so happy that she ran to my house to tell me and of course, I was just elated to hear the good news. Thanks again.
In Christian Love,
Mary Ann Cutrer
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
“If you serve me, my Father will honor you,” (John 12: 26b, CEV).
Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, joining several engaging churches in prayer as they reach out to people groups in western Africa.
Central Baptist Church of Jonesboro, Arkansas, will be fielding a youth drama team among the K people of Cote d’Ivoire. They ask: “Pray for all necessary preparations to be made, as well as effectiveness on the field. Pray also that we will be able to bring key K people from each village where we have seen salvations to a common meeting place for intense discipleship.”
First Baptist Church of Asheboro, N.C., is working among the U people of Nigeria. “There is a wonderful Nigerian man named H who, with his family, is living among the U people and working with them as their pastor. Pray that our team base will continue to grow so that we can visit the U on a more consistent basis.”
First Baptist Church of Powell, Tenn., ministers among the B people of Nigeria. New believers
“have been experiencing various levels of persecution for their faith in our Father. Our next team to the villages will be in the fall after the rainy season. . . . Continue to pray for our Nigerian brothers and sisters from the local churches in G town. Ask the Father to instill in them a heart for reaching out to the B people.”
HighPoint Fellowship of Splendora, Texas, is working among the P people of Mali. “One team celebrated with a blind woman the freedom she has found in her faith in Jesus. When asked why she loves Him so much, she said, ‘He took away the demons and helps me every day. I love Him and want to follow Him.’”
* Please pray that many will hear the truth of Christ and choose to follow ‘the Jesus Road.’
* Pray for the hearts of engaging church members to be drawn to get involved; especially that they will be faithful to pray.
* Lift up our African co-laborers who are discipling new believers.
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor
BUSY SIGNALS ON the telephone rank near the top of my own personal list of ordinary, everyday irritants…
That pulsating tone that fills the ear always seems to be an insult, and although I try hard not to, I someties take it personally that someone is not eagerly awaiting my call — and my call alone.
Some businesses, knowing that busy signals drive callers to their competitors, arrange to plug incoming calls into a recording that keeps reminding the callers that they’re on “hold” and will be enthusiastically answered in a moment or two. Some others even switch the line over to the bland melodies by Muzak. But no matter how you look at it, someone at the other end of the line is too “busy” to talk right now.
Children hear frequent busy signals in homes where fathers are less than effective. No home is without some busy signals, of course. But we live in a day when many children are confronted with far too many messages from their fathers which amount to, “Don’t bother me! I’m tied up!”
Leisure, appointments, deadlines, money, and other objects of adult interest seem to outpoint any conceivable concerns a “mere child” might have. The normal response when the concerns of a child conflict with those of an adult is to select the more “mature” use one’s time and attention. We reason: a child has plenty of time; he can always wait a while; put him on hold; give him the old busy signal. He’ll understand.
Why is it then that the child doesn’t understand? Why is it that when he has heard enough busy signals from the same person, he “dials” another number? There are a lot of fathers of teenagers asking that kind of question today. Gordon MacDonald, “No Busy Signals Here,” The Effective Father, 111-112
“The righteous cry out,
and the Lord hears,
and delivers them out of all their troubles.”
~Psalm 34:17~
Have a wonderful day!
Anna Lee
Wednesday Evening
Jesse and Jamie Williams are parents of a baby girl, Joanna Mae. She weighed 7 pounds and 15 ounces. Jamie and Joanna are doing well. Pray for this growing family. Thank God for this new life.
Wednesday
“Put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
~Ephesians 4:24 NIV~
Baptist Press Stories for Jun. 15, 2010
—————————————
- SBC messengers adopt GCR report by wide margin
- Wright wins runoff for SBC president
- Hunt sees SBC at its Kadesh Barnea
- Chapman: SBC’s greatest needs spiritual
- Frank Page begins to set forth his vision
- Small church with big CP heart honored with M.E. Dodd award
- Pastors focus on missions, adoption
- Stanleys address Pastors’ Conference
- 4 GCR challenges laid before pastors
- Uselessness paralyzing churches, Page says
- FIRST-PERSON: Straight talk to church members about pastors
Kne
Email
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor
THE APOSTLE PAUL bluntly warned the Ephesian Christians that life in the world could be a heavy battle…
The enemy of one’s spirit, he said, is not always visible. Rather, he is often invisible, fighting from ambushes whic appear at first glance to be attractive and beneficial. Paul’s advice: be prepared, alert, and equipped to stand firm. To the Corinthians he said that we should never be ignorant of the enemy’s designs. Peter agreed in his epistle, and he described the enemy as one who is like a roaring lion, “seeking whom he may devour.” These men weren’t kidding around. Theirs was no paranoic fantasy. They were well aware that spiritual survival demands a dramatic effort.
The effective father also takes this kind of thing seriously, and he trains his eye to discriminate between those things that will build and those that will destroy his children’s lives. He begins to notice repetitive hostile patterns in various areas of life which demand acute, sensitive awareness, lest from among the good things the destructive elements emerge that erode and tear at his children’s spirits.
A spiritual mine dectector might register a few things capable of exploding in a family’s face. Gordon MacDonald, “It’s Not A Phony War,” The Effective Father, 32-33
“Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour.”
~1 Peter 5:8~
| Billie Webb Stone (July 25, 1926 – June 15, 2010) A resident of Greensburg, died at 7:55 a.m. on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at her home. She was born July 25, 1926 in Amite and was 83 years of age. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 1 p.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Rev. Laverne King. Interment Greensburg Cemetery, Greensburg. She is survived by her son, Morris Stone, Baton Rouge; daughter, Natalie Ficklin, Greensburg; grandsons, Bill and Michael Halford; great-granddaughter, Claire Halford; 6 sisters, Natalie McCall, Elaine Webb, Eva Lois Mashon, Joanne Larguier, Dianne Caudill and Brenda Brocato. She was preceded in death by her son, Charles R. “Chuck” Stone; parents, Maurice and Bertha Raborn Webb; sister, Myrtie McCoy; brother, Robert M. “Cotton” Webb. David and I hope you will join us at the cabin tomorrow night at 6:30. Have a great day! Anna Lee
|
Tuesday Afternoon
Jerry Clayton Freeman
(Died June 14, 2010)
A resident of Kentwood, died at 7:10 p.m. on Monday, June 14, 2010 at his home. He was born February 17, 1950 in McComb, MS and was 60 years of age. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Rev. Walt Baudoin and Rev. Mike Horchek. Interment Hutchinson Cemetery, Kentwood. Survived by his wife, Margaret “Peggy” McNabb Freeman, Kentwood, 2 sons, Clinton Thomas White and his wife, Shamblyn, Tylertown, MS, and Brian Claude Freeman and his wife, Aimee, Holden, 8 grandchildren, Shane White, BreAnna White, Kinley White, Cannon White, Benjamin Freeman, Joshua Freeman, Chaz Hardell and Chasity Forbes, brother, Claude Freeman and his wife, Lois, Liberty, MS, father-in-law, Edgar M. McNabb and his wife, Kathryn, Kentwood, sister-in-law, Lucille Freeman, 2 brothers-in-law, James Guidry and Johnny Smith, numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents, Claude Freeman and Avis Bass Freeman, 2 sisters, Margarette Guidry and Hilda Smith, and a brother, Wilburn Freeman.
Tuesday
Take on an entirely new way of life –
a God-fashioned life,
a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct
as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
~Ephesians 4:22-24 (MSG)~
Pray for Margie Williams as she is hospitalized. Pray she is soon well enough to go home.
CaringBridge
TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
JUNE 15, 2010
“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
~John 16:24~
WORLD LEADERS. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Please pray today for Prime Minister Stephenson King of Saint Lucia (eastern Caribbean Sea).
HIGHLAND SINGERS OF CENTRAL ASIA. There is a “Mariam” who serves in a high post in the government. She says of her President, “He is so cut off from the real world; my heart goes out to him. What chance does he have for Light, the true Light to shine into his life? I want to be the one to share Truth with him.” He has shown her great favor. Others around her were surprised at the favor, and also surprised as to why she wasn’t using that favor to feather her nest. She was astonished. “How could I turn the favor of the President to my personal benefit when I knew full well that the only reason I had that favor was that I had been sitting there praying to Jesus, asking Him for help? I was so afraid that I was going to be disgraced, and Jesus not only did away with that, but my fears as well! How then could I use His grace and mercy for my own benefit?!” She is sincerely concerned for the ruler of her country, for his salvation. Please pray that the Lord will give her an opportunity to share Truth with the President in a meaningful way. Pray that the Lord will be glorified in her life and his! highlandsingers@gmail.com
MAHAFALY OF MADAGASCAR (mah-hah-FAH-lee). Thank you for praying for Team Mahafaly as they began translating a chronological Bible storying set. Give thanks for this report: “Team member Grant Waller was able to share his first story in Mahafaly. Although he still needs some work, the people were overwhelmed with excitement to hear the Bible in their own language!”
Baptist Press Stories for Jun. 14, 2010
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- EXCLUSIVE: Baptists say God provided in Haiti jail
- Frank Page elected EC president
- U.S. goalie Howard shines on & off the field
- Immigration ‘Kingdom issue,’ Land says
- From conversation to prayer, Crossover reaches out to Orlando
- Pastors’ Conf. surplus will fund adoptions
- Rally around cry for God, pastors urged
- Ambassador asks WMU to pray for Sudan
- WMU challenged to live ‘Unhindered’
- S.C. woman elected WMU president
- RESOURCE: VBS to hit The Big Apple
- ‘SBC Majority’ group announces VP nominees
- FIRST-PERSON: Your heavenly escorts
- Giving change could hurt funding, NAMB leader says
- Baptist Press provides video coverage of Crossover
Pray for the delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention this week in Orlando. Pray for Dr. Jerry and Mrs. Bobbie Rankin as he retires from the IMB leadership presidency. A reception will be held for them today in conjunction with the convention. The Rankins will be living in Mississippi, their home state. Pray for them as they determine how God would have them serve next.
Have a great day. Try not to get too hot!
Anna Lee
The Prayer Link 
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