Thursday

Then Jesus said,

“Come to me, all of you who are weary

and carry heavy burdens,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you.

Let me teach you,

because I am humble and gentle,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke fits perfectly,

and the burden I give you is light.”

~Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)~

Jesse Dean was in the emergency room until a room became available yesterday afternoon. He’s in room 4015 and is feeling much better. Keep praying for Jesse, Majel, and the family as well as the medical staff at North Oaks.

He is doing fine. He will need to be on the blood thinner for 5 days then he can go home. So far everything else is fine. All of his doctors have been by to see him.

Thanks,
Jennifer

Mrs. Jeanette Rhodus came home briefly, but is back at North Oaks. She is scheduled to begin chemo soon. Please put “Miss” Jeanette on you daily prayer list if she is not already there.

Donald Garner’s gall bladder surgery is scheduled for today at Lacombe. Please pray for all involved.

Please continue to pray for the Hill family of the Jackson, MS area as they prepare for the funeral for little Aaron. Once again, if you have not already done so, please check out Aaron’s web page.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/aaronhill1

Joan Hagan’s surgery is scheduled for April 30th. It is not too early to begin praying for that!

Chuck Pittman will have a PET scan today. He only has one more chemo treatment scheduled. Pray for Chuck and his family as they fight this battel together.

Chuck’s mom, Mrs. Bertha Pittman, is still at North Oaks. She is about the same. Please pray for her and for her family as they help the medical staff care for her.

Mr. Henry Harris is feeling better and able to get out some. Please continue to pray for Mr. Henry and “Miss” Emma.

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Goal: $13,000.00

Received so date: $9357.85

Big Ten from TeamRomany, April 2008

1. Please pray for Gayle as she makes plans for a ladies’ conference with the women of Isuratei, Romania. The conference will be held in May and Gayle will be busy working out details of the event this month.
2. Please pray for youth who meet for Bible study in the Hill’s home on Monday nights and at Lacul Dulce on Friday nights. Thank God for their faithfulness to attend. Pray that they would grow in their walk with the Lord and that their lives would be a testimony of Christ’s transforming power.
3. Please pray for those seeking the Lord’s will about their place in Romany mission work.
4. Bro. Petrache, a Romany pastor from Lacul Dulce, Romania recently suffered a stroke affecting his left side. He is better and we ask that you pray for his complete healing. Pray also for his family during this difficult time. Pray for his needs to be met. Medicines and healthy foods can be both challenging to access and expensive for Romany families.
5. Pray for the Hills as they are evaluating some of their ministry habits and assessing their goals and objectives. Please pray that God will bless them with wisdom and show them how he wants them to focus their time and efforts.
6. Please pray for the Hill’s 8 year-old granddaughter, Madison. Please pray that God would meet her needs.
7. Please pray for Joe and Julie Silby and their children Ryan, Avery, and Hannah. They are being appointed in Dallas, Texas this week to join teamromany. They will arrive in the Czech Republic in early July. Please pray that their house and car sell.
8. Please pray for the Hatchels as they make plans to host a Disciple Now weekend for elementary aged MKs (Missionary Kids) in the Czech Republic. The event will be in early May, but they are making plans for the Bible studies and activities now.
9. Pray for Boyd as he meets with Romany teenagers on Friday evenings for soccer and Bible study. Pray that the teens would be open to the message he shares.
10. Pray for Jennie as she meets with women on Tuesday night for encouragement, fellowship and discipleship. Pray that the time she spends will help the women grow in their relationships with Christ.

CARPENTER

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor

THAT’S PROBABLY WHAT Joseph and Mary’s neighbors said many times…

What was he like as a child? There are some fanciful and apocryphal stories about Jesus performing various miracles as a child. On one occasion, supposedly, he didn’t feel like building the piece of furniture his father had asked him to build, so he enlisted the aid of squirrels and birds to hammer the nails and shape the wood.

But if that was all there was about Mary’s son Jesus, then he wouldn’t have been very special, would he? We get only glimpses of him as a young man. There is the self-assured twelve-year-old who sat with theologians and scholars discussing God’s law (Luke 2:41-49). When his frantic parents scolded him, he made that enigmatic statement about “being in my Father’s house.” Somehow the carpenter’s shop did not seem to be his destiny! His answer verged ever so closely to a scolding in return, and remarkably, his parents let it pass.

They knew there was something about their son.

There is so much that we are curious about. Did he play with neighborhood friends? Probably. Did he go to a local synagogue school and become a bar Mitsvah, a son of the covenant? Yes, all Jewish boys did. The Bible tells us that he grew “in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and man.” Obviously it is vital to grow in favor with God, but it is impressive that he earned the respect of the community, too. Young men seem to work so hard at earning the community’s fear and disrespect these days!

And we wonder when exactly it became clear to Jesus that there was something about him that was unique. When he proclaimed his message as an adult, he was fully conscious of his uniqueness. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the father,” Jesus declared (John 14:9). To see Jesus act, and hear him speak was to catch a glimpse of God himself.

This was no mere magic act. This was God himself, with us (Matthew 1:23). Yes, there really is something about Mary’s son. Come and see him. (Stan Mitchell)

“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him” (Mark 6:3).

Thanks for being there to pray each day. You and your prayers mean so much to so many! If you have a praise report, a prayer request, or an update to share. please feel free to do so. Others will pray with you!

Anna Lee