Saturday

Good morning. Thank-you for reading and praying today. May you be blessed as you do so.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Anna Lee

LET THE LIGHT SHINE

I heard about a couple who received a set of two horrible bedside table lamps as a wedding present from a distant aunt. Since the lamps were so ugly, this couple didn’t want to actually use them, so they put them in storage and bought a nicer set themselves. That worked for a while, but a few years later, this particular relative came to a family celebration. Knowing she would be there, the couple quickly set up the aunt’s lamps on the tables and hid their usual ones under the bed.

When time came to show the aunt around the house, the wife said, “Come and see how nice your lamps look in our bedroom.”

She turned on the switch on the wall — and suddenly an intense luminosity emerged from under the bed…..

Oops! How embarrassing! I am reminded of the following statement made by Jesus:

“[Jesus] said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.’ ” (Mark 4:21-22).

Jesus’ point here is not quite the same as it is in the more familiar passage in Matthew 5:16 (“Let your light so shine before men…”). Here in Mark, Jesus has apparently just begun to speak in parables. To the apostles, it may have seemed that Jesus was trying to hide the truth from people by speaking with such obscurity. But Jesus points out that wouldn’t make much sense; it would be like lighting a lamp (to bring light) and then placing it under a bed (to hide the light). His reason for using parables wasn’t to hide God’s truth, but to set it on a lampstand so that it could give forth as much light as possible.

Father, we thank you for sending One who not only came to show us the light, but who is Himself “the light of the world”. May our lives and conversation be such that we will never be embarrassed by an attempt to hide that light under our beds. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Nothing in all creation

is hidden from God’s sight.

Everything is uncovered and laid bare

before the eyes of him

to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)

Update on Don Denton:

It is a privilege and we feel honored that you all would take time today to lift us up in prayer today.

I woke this morning with a peaceful and thankful spirit. Don continues to be moved by the love of family and friends. One of his precious students wrote him and email today that lifted his spirits.

I have to confess to you all that I have never been strong through this long illness. I have been weak and most days are hard. So I too struggle. Yet, I know what is true. I know even when my feelings are saying one thing that my heart believes in what is true. And the big picture here is this – Don is alive and with us. God has heard our cries, our prayers. We have so much to be thankful for and that is my prayer.

We had doctor appointment yesterday and that went well. This doctor wants Don to see a specialist in Kansas City. This doctor specializes in area of dizziness. And Don goes to Cox South Tuesday for a lumbar puncture. Don will be getting new glasses and I feel that will help as well.

Bless you our family and friends

Diane

This morning at 7 A.M. FBC, Kentwood will host a superbowl prayer breakfast. Everyone is invited to attend.

Miss Virgie Bridges was returning home from work as a nurse when she found my grandpa, G.R. Smith, Sr., at the gate to what was then his farm. It is now our cabin. After Katrina, David was delivering supplies all around Kentwood. He “found” Miss Virgie. After a couple of meetings and lots of question about who he was and where he lived, she revealed she found Grandpa G.R. Needless to say, she became someone special to us. It was a long overdue friendship and a special connection we were glad to finally make.

Miss Virgie passed away Thursday night. Her wake will be at Pine Ridge Methodist Church from 10:00 to the funeral service at 1 P.M.

Reuel Townsend Adams, Jr.
(September 13, 1927 – January 29, 2009)

Guest Book | Sign Guest Book

REUEL TOWNSEND ADAMS, JR., AGE 81

And a resident of Mt. Hermon died at 5 PM Thursday, January 29, 2009 at East Jefferson General Hospital. He was a member of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, vice president of Ruritan Club, former member of Franklinton Lion’s Club, secretary/treasurer of Mt. Hermon Volunteer Fire Department, active member of the Camellia Society and AHS. He was a WWII veteran of U.S. Navy.

Survived by: Wife: Bobbie Wilkes Adams of Mt. Hermon, 4 Daughters and sons in law: Suzanne Seale of Florence, MS, Beverly and Mike Taylor, Cheryl McElveen all of Mt. Hermon, Kim and Bret Allain of Jeanerette, 1 Son and a daughter in law: Craig and Lisa McElveen of Baton Rouge, 12 Grandchildren: Laurie Schexnider, Michael and Melissa Walker, Shea Taylor, Amber McElveen, Mac McElveen, Quin, Emma, and Robert Allain, Ashley McKenzie, Erin and Ryan Seale, 4 Step grandchildren: Tia, Crystal and Cole Taylor, Tyler Simmons, 3 Great grandchildren: Jace Schexnider, Hayden McElveen, James McKenzie, 2 Brothers and sisters in law: Robert and Joan Adams of Jacksonville, FL, John and Sherry Adams of St. Augustine, FL, He was preceded in death by a son Robert Townsend Adams, his parents Reuel T., Sr. and Pearl Rogers Adams and a brother Ben Adams.

Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home from 5 PM until 9 PM Friday, January 30, 2009 and after 8 AM Saturday, January 31, 2009. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday in the funeral home chapel with Dr. Joe Baugh and Rev. Dale Parker officiating. Burial will follow in the Ellis Cemetery.