Wednesday

And we know that God

causes everything to work together

for the good of those who love God

and are called according to his purpose

for them.

~Romans 8:28 (NLT)~

Melvin Leonard Varnado
Melvin Leonard Varnado, 78, was born May 20, 1929, and passed away Monday, May 19, 2008, at his home in Denham Springs. He was a native of Kentwood. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gloria “Jackie” Cowart Varnado; four children, his sons, Kenneth Varnado and wife Janet and Richard Varnado and wife Jean, all of Denham Springs, his daughters, Rhonda Varnado LeBlanc, of Denham Springs, and Susan Varnado Scardina and husband Bryan; honorary daughter and grand-daughter, Chong-Sun Ahn and Jean-Sun Ahn, of Seattle; brother, Carlton Varnado and wife Reona, of Baton Rouge; sisters, Norma Nell V. Fussell, Carlene “Toddy” V. Brumfield and Alta Mae V. Daniel and husband Bob, all of Baton Rouge; nine grandchildren, Scott and Kyle Varnado, and Matthew, Joshua and Riley Varnado, all of Denham Springs, Maverick and Benjamin LeBlanc, of Dutchtown, and Tyler and Rachel Scardina, of Denham Springs. He was preceded in death by his parents, T.C. and Irene Varnado, of Kentwood; brothers, Harold Thomas, Sheldon and Landon Varnado; and sisters, Viola “Poolie” Hill and Mildred Miscar. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Denham Springs for more than 50 years. He served his country in the U.S. Navy and retired from his own business, Leonard’s Plumbing, at age 65. He cherished being a husband, father and grandfather to his family and relished time spent fishing with friends. Visitation at Seale Funeral Home, Denham Springs, on Wednesday, May 21, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation at First Baptist Church, Denham Springs, on Thursday, May 22, from 9 a.m. until funeral service at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. James Spillman. Burial in Evergreen Memorial Park, Denham Springs. Pallbearers will be his eight grandsons, Scott Varnado, Kyle Varnado, Matthew Varnado, Joshua Varnado, Maverick LeBlanc, Benjamin LeBlanc, Riley Varnado and Tyler Scardina. Honorary pallbearers are Jack Reid Sr., Reymond D’Armond, Sam Williams, A.J. Lavigne, C.J. Rushing, Gary Pertuis, Cart Varnado and Bob Daniel. The family asks that memorial donations be made to St. Joseph’s Hospice or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Please continue to pray for the Rhodus, Hart, and Varnodo families.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Wednesday, May 21, 2008

“The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them” (Psalm 34:7, NKJV)

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, praying with you for our brothers and sisters in Christ who face persecution.

A house church meeting was interrupted by a crowd of Muslim men. The instigator of the mob spoke, “You should not be teaching these things! You cannot convert Muslims to Christianity!” He was angry because his 17-year-old son had recently accepted Jesus as Savior, and had been baptized. His son and a friend were sharing the truth they had learned with others in the community. The mob slapped and beat the church leader, and ultimately reported him to the police. The leader was baffled. “I was doing nothing wrong. I wasn’t forcing anyone. All of these men had already given their lives to Jesus. I was just teaching them.” The police breathed extortion, and in fear, too little faith, and a mistake in judgment, a bribe was paid.

For a Lozi school teacher named M, becoming a Christian has threatened his job. The headmaster at M’s school is a member of a cult that does not believe in Jesus as the only way to salvation. The headmaster is very upset that M has joined a Baptist church. Now the headmaster is spreading lies: He is accusing missionaries of coming to steal and kill the school children, and is telling others that the Baptist church members are really Satan worshippers. He makes M’s personal and professional life very difficult. Pray that M will continue to stand firm in his faith.

*Please pray that God will grant wisdom to those sharing Jesus in their oppressive communities and that they will not give in to extortion.

*Ask the Lord to send His angel to camp around these believers and to protect them from all physical, spiritual and emotional attacks.

*Intercede for the angry mob members and the headmaster that they will come face to face with the living God, bowing the knee in surrender to Jesus Christ.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
PSYCHOLOGISTS TELL US that one of the deepest urges in human nature is the craving to be appreciated…

Thus, we contribute immeasurably to the happiness and success of others when we express appreciation for their work and worth.

We are also advised that the giving of sincere praise brings out outstanding benefits to the one who gives it. Thus, we contribute immeasurably to our own happiness and success when we express appreciation for others.

Observation teaches that the most successful people have mastered the art of giving praise.

Giving honest praise is like “saying grace” at the table…very difficult to start, if it hasn’t been our pattern. Here are some guidelines to get one started.

1. Look for little things for which you can express appreciation. We tend to wait for colossal achievements before uttering one word of commendation or encouragement. Rare and refreshing is the person who goes on a “treasure hunt” searching for little things to praise.

2. Look for things close at hand for which you can express appreciation. The human tendency is to see glamour in things at a distance and defects in things close at hand. It doesn’t take much sense to find fault with things and people close by. Conversely, it requires sensitive perception to detect the genuine worth of nearby treasures.

3. Voice your appreciation. It isn’t that we don’t appreciation others…it’s just that, for some unknown reason, we are hesitant to voice that feeling. It is necessary to say nice things to have them do good…not merely think them. By not acting quickly to praise one for his work the impulse often fades away.

It may well be that one of the greatest duties you can perform this day will be speaking a word of appreciation. (John Gipson)

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thess. 5:14).

I appreciate your prayers for various needs each day! I appreciate those who inform me of needs. I appreciate those who encourage me.

Anna Lee