Month: September 2009

Wednesday

From Mrs. Ann Chapman

Hello everyone. I am improving daily. December 2, I will have another C
T scan of my neck.  I will then know if the halo can be removed,
hopefully the bones will be healed by then.
Please know how much our family thank you for your prayers for us. I
covet your continued prayers for my total healing. Also please pray for
Krisa. She continues to have high blood pressure problems since the
accident.
Our sadness is the lost of Quincy. He appeared to be he least injured in
the accident, so it has been quite a shock.
I now have a regular computer. My new email address is;
maac1933@live.com .
Please let me hear from you.
Love, Ann

Caring Bridge

Adrianna Cavanagh – http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/adriannacavanagh     (2 posts)

Callie Cole – http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole

Colton Frazier – http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/coltonfrazier

From Trisha Wall McCain

Chris (my sister) is in North Oaks also.  You may see Maurice, Kathy, or Mama roaming around.  She is in ICU.  She had a heart attack this afternoon and they put in two stints and did a balloon procedure. We are hoping they will put her in a room tomorrow.  Remember her in your prayers also.  Thanks!

Tricia McCain

Dorothy Smith

Momma had a better day yesterday.  Thank you for praying.  We expect an important doctor’s report this morning.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Mrs. Estelle E. Bridges
(November 7, 1921 – September 29, 2009)

Mrs. Estelle E. Bridges a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister was born on November 7, 1921 and passed away at 6:28 a.m., Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at St. Helena Parish Hospital, Greensburg. Mrs. Estelle was 87, a native of St. Helena Parish and a resident of Greensburg.

She is survived by a daughter, Janice Bridges Flynn, Atlanta; 2 sons, Vernon Bridges and wife, Karlette, Denham Springs and Robert O. “Oscar” Bridges and wife Dawn, Greensburg; a sister, Mary Nell Kliesch, Kentwood: a brother, Bobby Easley, Kentwood; 8 grandchildren; 7 great- grandchildren; and numerous nieces & nephews.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Thursday, October 1, 2009 from 6:00p.m. until 9:00p.m. and at the Greensburg United Methodist Church, Greensburg, on Friday, October 2, 2009 from 8:00a.m. until Religious Services at 11:00a.m. with Rev LaMarylis Cotten & Rev. Milton Kliesch officiating. Interment in the Greensburg Cemetery.

Preceded in death by her parents, Oscar & Lydia Lee Easley; husband, William Harvell “H” Bridges; brother, Huey Easley; 3 sisters, Mildred Megison, Melva Lee Gill, & Rucie Lea.

An on-line Guestbook and to view a video tribute are available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

Baptist Press

September 29, 2009

PHILIPPINES–Manila flooding poses relief challenge. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31350

MISSOURI–Gov. lauded for pregnancy funding. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31351

VIRGINIA–Volunteer nurses give shots for missions. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31352

ALABAMA–RESOURCE: ‘Molly’ imparts missions to kids. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31353

WASHINGTON–WORLDVIEW (Erich Bridges): Talk to Muslims — not at them. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31354

TENNESSEE–WHF ‘thank you’ video now downloadable. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31355

KANSAS–FIRST-PERSON (Phil Boatwright): A few (clean) movies worth watching. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31356

Tuesday

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly

above all that we ask or think,

according to the power that works in us,

to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,

forever and ever.”

~Ephesians 3:20-21~

Callie Cole

Dear Friends and Family,
Callie has had an uneventful day, which is good.  No excitment but no set backs.  No report really on the MRI.  The doctor did not come to the floor today.  A resident doc did report that the MRI was not discouragin

g.  So, we say this is encouraging.  No double negatives please!!
One positive for sleeping beauty is she will most probably get her braces off this week.  This will allow the docs to get a clear picture of the mid brain.  Callie may wake up for this event! She has had braces for five years.
Another positive for Callie is she continues to do well weaning off the ventilator.  They actually turned the vent off for 2 hours before Callie could not tolerate it anymore.  Remember yesterday the vent was set on 8 breaths per minute.  Now the vent is set on 6 breaths per minute at 40% oxygen and Callie continues to breath over the rate at 17 breaths per minute.
The progress she has made is clearly the Lord’s hand.  Thank you, Lord.  Thanks to you for all the prayers.  Continue to pray without ceasing and without doubt.

Your brother in Christ,
Tom

Pray for the doctors to be able to learn more about Momma’s situation today.  Continue to pray for us as we take turns staying with her.
Continue to pray for the many others who are undergoing tests and planning surgeries.
Baptist Press
September 26, 2009

WASHINGTON–Muslims pray on Capitol Hill. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31342

WASHINGTON–Fertility clinic sued for destroying embryos. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31343

GEORGIA–34 relief teams deployed to Ga. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31344

KENYA–Kenyan villages overflow with famished hearts, stomachs. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31345

NORTH AFRICA–FIRST-PERSON (Don Graham): How God taught me to care about poverty. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31346

TENNESSEE–World hunger ‘thank you’ video, other resources available. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31347

ALABAMA–New “bread banks” help collect money for world hunger. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31348

INDIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Diana Davis): Sharing Jesus with Spiderman. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31349

Monday Evening

Continue to pray for Momma and for the family as we sit with her around the clock.  Your prayers will be appreciated.
Just received word that Kelly Wall died this afternoon.  Many will remember him for his beautiful day lilies.  I think the funeral is to be Wednesday at 2:00 at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Gillsburg.
Mary Alice (Fox)
Just talked to Polly Wilson, Kelly Wall’s sister.  She said the funeral is to be at 11:00 rather than 2:00 on Wednesday.
Mary Alice
Don Denton

Monday, September 28, 2009 10:14 AM, CDT

Just wanted to update you all.   We all have been sick with different sinus related illness.    It is that time of year.

I find myself pretty tired these days and it makes it hard for me to get to much.  And I must confess, this past weekend was one year and it brought up allot of memories when Don first became ill.  It has been an emotionally trying time for me.

I am struggling at this point and time and you would think that I would be celebrating

, which we are too.  That is an important part of looking forward and not back.

But the reality is that I am still grieving.  Grieving does not have a time table and I wish it did.

Don is still continuing a slow but steady improvement.  He does get headaches from time to time.  He is also still in physcial therapy.  We are most grateful for that.  His physcial therapist is an amazing women and we see her passion in what she does.

We do have a praise to share.   The university  has worked it so that we can get the reduction in Colbra health insurance.  That is an answer to pray and we are so grateful to God and the University for working with us.

We have about five weeks till we leave for Mayo.  Don will see specialist for annual follow up and some testing.  We could be there for up to 14 days.

I am still working with all the deludge of paperwork sorting through all the insurance issues of payment that we have.  That at times feels so overwhelming.  I would appreciate pray on this one too.

We again, could not do this without you love, prayer and support.  We love you all and are so grateful to you.

Bless you
Diane

Adriunna Cavanough

Monday, September 28, 2009 8:48 AM, CDT

Good morning, everyone!  Adrianna woke up a little while ago when the xray tech came in to take her chest picture, and said, “Hey Mommy- guess what?  I wanna go home!!!”
Sweet baby…I wanted to tell her that that was the original plan today, but she ran fever all weekend and around 4 am today, it got up to 103.
I could tell something was going on b/c she kept getting right on top of me and she was shaking and breathing hard.  When I asked her why she was breathing like that she said, “Cause I’m tired….like you!”  Ha!  But the nurse came in and confirmed she was having a fever….So I guess we’ll have to see what the docs say.  I’m hoping Dr. Yu will come  in today to see her.
They usually do not let the kids leave until 48 hours AFTER they’ve had fever, to make sure there’s no infection.  This is very typical of stem cell transplant patients, so they are telling me not to worry.  Fevers are a part of it.
Anyway, I had a feeling when they told us we’d get to go home today that something was going to happen–it always does!!!  Every time, lately.
So I explained to Adrianna that we can’t go to the Hope Lodge  yet b/c of her “feebers” and she said, “They want me to eat some food and drink.”  I told her yes, they do and that means we’ll get to leave even sooner!  So she did take some sips of milk.
Last night she made me go to the store to get her some muffins, so I picked up a smorgusboard of stuff to eat, and she tried a few bites of muffin, honey bun, and fruit chews, but didn’t like any of it.  So we’ll keep working on that.
The nurse just came in and said Dr. Yu will be out of town all week, so we probably won’t get discharged until NEXT MONDAY b/c normally she has to be here before they’ll discharge transplant patients.  OMG, another WEEK?!!!!  That totally stinks….I hope they change their minds.  I don’t think we can bear another week in this room….especially this poor darling who wants to leave soooo badly!
Her counts are really high, so she doesn’t have to have Neupogen anymore to raise them.  So all we need now is to have NO more fevers and then we should be ready to go, if they will let us.  She has 100.9 fever right now- anything over 100.4 is considered a fever, so they’ll give her Tylenol.
I just want to send out a SUPER DUPER thanks to all my beautiful friends who came to New Orleans this weekend to hang out with me and take me out for a fun night and dinner.  It was an incredibly awesome  night and the first time in a really long time we were all together.  There were 13 of us and it made such a difference in my mood and attitude!  Thanks so much, ladies!  I know it’s so hard for us to all get together these days, but it’s so worth it when we do!!  Nothing like your friends!
Please remember us this week, and we’re hoping for ‘NO MORE FEEBERS!’
Thanks for checking in,
Stephanie
Callie Cole

Sunday, September 27, 2009 7:00 PM, CDT

Hey! This is Frances.  I have just returned from the 5 PM visit and I am more certain that Callie can hear me.  I told her I had to leave 5 minutes early because I was meeting Landon downstairs and a tear came from her left eye and her respiration

s went wacky.  I know she hears my voice!  I can not imagine what she thinks or how she feels to be unable to communicate.  It will be nice to stay with her more often in a reg. room or the Shepard Center ICU, which ever is first!!  Let’s pray:
“Lord, I love you, and I wait on your perfect timing.  I know you are the One and Only to heal by baby’s broken body and I pray fervently that you do so.  The pain is almost unbearable.  Is this how your Father felt when he sacrificed you on that cross?  Callie is not a perfect, sinless teenager.  But, she does know who you are and she puts you on your throne.  Please forgive me and all my short comings.  I pray that you reveal those sins that I have hidden from myself so we may have perfect communion once again.  Please do not let me be an obstacle for Callie’s healing.  Reveal yourself to me, enlighten me. I beg you.  I love you.  I pray to the only Perfect One in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Frances

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor
TWO MEN OWNED  farms side by side…

One was a bitter atheist, the other a devout Christian.  Constantly annoyed at the Christian for trusting God, the athiest said to him one winter, “Let’s plant our crops as usual this spring, each the same number of acres.  You pray to God, and I’ll curse Him.  Then come October, let’s see who has the bigger and better crop.”

When October came the athiest was delighted because his crop was larger.  “See, you fool,” he taunted, “what do you have to say for your God now?”

“My God,” the other farmer replied, “doesn’t settle all of His accounts in October.”

“Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world
in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.
He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Acts 17:32; cf. 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 2:5-6

Sunday Afternoon

My mother, Dorothy Smith, has been admitted to North Oaks for fall prevention and additional evaluation.  Please be in prayer for all of us during this time.

I want to share two requests from Judy Liberto.

  1. Amanda Hoosier (33) sister of Judy’s daughter-in-law, Melissa has been diagnosed with bone cancer.  Judy asks us to pray.
  2. A.J. Anthony, grandson of Mrs. Velma Anthony, was involved in an accident last week and is hospitalized in New Orleans, but will be moving to Covington.  Please be in prayer for A.J.

Thanks!  Prayers always mean so much when you are on the receiving end.

I’m not sure when I’ll post next, but until  next time, keep the prayer wheels turning.

Anna Lee

Sunday

“. . . I . . . do not cease to give thanks for you,

making mention of you in my prayers:

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of glory,

may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation

in the knowledge of Him.”

~Ephesians 1:16-17~

From Alice O’Hern

We are home now. Chance is doing better. I have not sent him back to school because there is so many children sick in his classroom and he cant afford another set back right now. The doctors put a stent in his heart to relieve pressures. They are hoping this will help with the protein loosing enteropathy. If not then we will be looking at a transplant down the road. Thank you so much for the prayers. It means so much to us.

Callie Cole

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole/journal

Colton Frazier

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/coltonfrazier/journal

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

A PREACHER TRAVELED across the country for a week of meetings…

The only problem was, his baggage didn’t make it.  He needed a couple of suits so he went down to the local thrift shop.  When he told the salesman, “I’d like to get a couple of suits,” the man smiled, led him to a whole rack of them and said, “Good, we’ve got several.  But you need to know they came from the local mortuary.  They’ve all been cleaned and pressed, but they were used on men who had passed away.  Not a thing wrong with ’em.  I just didn’t want that to bother you.”

The preacher said, “No, that’s fine.” He tried a few of the suits on and finally bought two of them for about $25 dollars each.  When he got back to this his room, he began to get dressed for the evening’s meetings.  As he put one on, he tried to put his hands in the pockets, but couldn’t.  Both sides were all sewn up!  The suits looked as if they had pockets, but they were just flaps on the coat.  He thought about that for a second. “Of course!  Deceased people don’t carry stuff with ’em when they die.”  He later admitted: “I spent all week trying to stick my hands in my pockets.  Had to hang my keys on my belt.”  Charles R. Swindoll

“For we brought nothing into this world,
and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
1 Timothy 6:7
Have a blessed Lord’s Day!
Anna Lee

Saturday

Maria E. Martinez Del Rio

Maria E. Martinez Del Rio entered into heaven by Gods grace on September 22, 2009 at the age of 60. She is preceded in death by her parents, Eloy and Sara Martinez; brother, Eloy Martinez; sister , Sara Simpson; nephews, Isaac Benavides and Edward McDuffie, Jr. Maria is survived by her husband, Louis A. Del Rio; daughters Sara E. Del Rio Wheeler (Willie), Maggie Del Rio; step-daughter, Marie Del Rio Hernandez (Rene); three grandchildren and one grandbaby boy on the way. Visitation will begin 5:00 p.m. Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Trevino Funeral Home, 2525 Palo Alto Rd. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at the funeral home. A procession will depart the funeral home 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 28, 2009 for an 11:30 a.m. mass at Divine Providence Church. Interment to follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Saturday

“Bear one another’s burdens,

and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

~Galatians 6:2~

Callie Cole

Friday, September 25, 2009 7:41 PM, CDT

Dear Friends,
I just wanted to take a moment and try as much as possible to express our sincere appreciatio

n to each of you for your continued prayer of healing for our daughter.  I know from experience how difficult it can be to continue to pray for someone over an extended period of time when you are not attached, such as a parent or grandparent would be.  So many times people will allow something like this to turn into a spectacle or an event and once the new wears off they tend to forget.  But not you; You have showed us how true believers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, be it family, friends or complete strangers can come together under one bond and pray for a single purpose.  That is the healing of our daughter, Callie and to bring glory and honor to Christ through his work in her life.  You have blessed our lives in so many ways that it has caused us to view others in a different light.  There are so many here in the ICU that are much worse off than Callie.  There injuries may not be as severe, but Christ is not lord of there lives.  The only hope that they have is to survive and get another chance to have a relationship with him.
Your prayers continue to streghten our faith in the one true God as He pours out the Holy Spirit to comfort us and to give us the courage to give Him praise when we get good news or bad news.  May God bless each of you.

Your brother in Christ,

Tom

Friday, September 25, 2009 11:52 PM, CDT

Callie, according to the doctors had an unevetful day today, neurologica

lly speaking.  They did however, perform the first MRI on her since she has been at UMC.  They said that the braces on her teeth might give them some false readings, so I’m not real confident that it will tell us much.  Callie’s fever is still around 101 to 102 degrees although her white blood count(WBC) continues to decline.  They tell us that the fever is more likely coming from the brain injury rather than the infection in the lung.  No one could tell me if this is good or bad, they simply stated that it was common for brain injury patients.  The nurses are having to medicate her for high blood pressure and high heart rate throughout the day.  From time to time they are also having to give her morphine to ease what seems to be pain, although no one knows wheather or not it is actually pain or simply anxiety of some type. The doctors also started trying to wean her off of the ventilator today but when they lowered the rate she began to take short shallow breaths and her heart rate started to climb so we are back at square one on that.  She is also having problems digesting the food that they are giving her but she went several days without food so this may just take time.  We continue to ask that you pray for healing and do not doubt.

Your brother in Christ

Tom

Adrianna Cavanaugh

Friday, September 25, 2009 1:34 PM, CDT

Important Reminder!!!! Blood Drive & Bone Marrow Registration on Monday, September 28th from 3 to 8 pm at First Baptist Church, Franklinton.  It is not too late to sign up.   The goal is to secure 50 blood donations.  Sign up immediately by sending a email to spotter@thebloodcenter.org
 To donate blood, you must be in good health. at least 17 and weigh 110 pounds.   There is no upper age limit.  A Picture ID is required at time of registration. To join the Bone Marrow Registry, you must be in good health, at least 18 and no older than 61.  This involves the completion of a registration form and submitting four (4) “Q-tip” mojth swabs.  No blood samples are needed. On Monday, if you have a cold or flu or taking antiobiotics, you will not be able to participate. Suzy Potter
Community Development Manager
The Blood Center
(504) 939-9609 – cell
1/877/671-5707

Fantastic news!!!!!!!!!! Adrianna’s counts are up to 2,200!!  Yesterday they were at zero!  And the day before that, they were at 310, but had fallen back to 0.  The nurse, however, said that this time they will just keep rising!!
Such exciting news!  This means we may be discharged to the Hope Lodge on Monday, if all goes well this weekend!  I was thinking we’d be here another week, so I was surprised and relieved upon hearing the news!  I know that Adrianna is going to be so glad to get outta this room- she’s been ready!
She still needs her pain medicine, b/c it is allowing her to try to drink liquids.  She still doesn’t want food, but we’re taking baby steps.  She asks for milk a good bit and so far has kept it all down.
She’s also still very sleepy and sleeps on and off, but as long as she’s comfortable, we’re comfortable!
Also, the ultrasound of the liver came back normal and everything’s looking UP!  We’re so grateful for your prayers and blessings.
Cute story from Aunt Jackie:  Adrianna was Skyping with her Aunt Jackie and baby cousin Emma the other day, when Adrianna wasn’t feeling so hot.  First she noticed the kitty ears on Emma’s head and said very slowly, and still half asleep, “Are those  mine?”  Joe hopped up quickly to get her kitty ears and show her that baby Emma did NOT snatch her ears- she had some too…..
So Aunt Jackie kept saying what a sweet girl Adrianna is, and how she’s such a pretty girl.  Well, Adrianna yanked that binky out of her mouth, followed by a string of saliva, (from the mucocitis) and looked at her Daddy and said,” Daddy….her say I’m a girl.  I NOT a girl.  I just a baby!!!”  (with a glare from the corner of her eye)  Poor Aunt Jackie!  She’s a fiesty one, I tell ya…Gotta watch out during her moods!
But we’re SOOOOOOOO glad she’s so headstrong and pays attention!  It allows her to be strong minded enough to know she’s gonna kick the mess outta this cancer!!!!!  Even though she doesn’t know she has “cancer”, she knows she’s sick…and she’s SICK of being sick!
I think we can ALL agree with her!  We’re all sick of it!
So, now we work on getting her fed and up to leaving on Monday.  No more creams and powders, and they’re also nixing some of her meds.
This is the day that the Lord Hath made! Let us rejoice and be GLAD!
Believing in miracles
Stephanie

Friday, September 25, 2009 8:38 PM, CDT

Feeling so overwhelmed with sadness right now, as I just heard that Kylen went to be with God early this morning.  He was here at Children’s this whole time, right along with Adrianna, battling it out with his cancer.  We actually met them the day after Adrianna was diagnosed and both of our children were having surgery the same day.  His was leukemia.

They were also from Hammond, where I used to live, and Kylen’s mom LaToya, is the godchild of my old assistant prinicpal where I taught in Ponchatoula.  I didn’t know this until we met….small world…
Since meeting them over 6 months ago, I have been amazed by LaToya’s strength and compassion for everyone up here on 4West, the oncology floor.  Quiet, but strong, she held it together brilliantly and with the trust and faith in God, always.
Little Kylen only about 7 months old, received bone marrow from his older brother and did SO extremely well during transplant.  I mean, not even any side effects.  No mouth sores, no vomitting, nothing….
The last few weeks he was in PICU and on oxygen, but the last I saw his mommy, he was getting better…..It just breaks my heart to pieces to know she and her sweet husband, both good as GOLD, are grieving tonight.
Please go to the Lord in your prayers tonight and this week and always, to pray for their strength in getting through this.  I know they are strong believers, but I know that extra prayers are especially important at this time.
Thanks for those of you who had gone to his caringbridge website and were praying for him already.  Now we just have to switch our prayers over to his parents and help them have some comfort.  I really appreciate it,
Stephanie
Continue to pray for my parents, Grant and Dot Smith of Roseland.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Wednesday, September 23, 2009

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (Ephesians 5: 31, NKJV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, praying with you for those seeking a Christian spouse.

In a society where families arrange marriage, it can be very difficult to find a believing mate. Pray for believers in locations like North Africa, South Asia and the Last Frontier, who long for a Christian marriage and for those whose families have decreed that they must marry a person of the majority religion.

Last month, prayer was lifted for a South Asian Muslim-background believer whose family had made tentative arrangements for his marriage to a young Muslim woman. He met his prospective bride and told her that he was a follower of Christ. He shared what that means in his life and how it might impact their future life together. She was very receptive, and he has left her to think about what she has learned. Please ask God to draw her with certainty into faith in Him, and pray that she might become the valuable co-laborer this faithful brother believes she could be.

S is a 32-year-old believer among a Last Frontier people group and a fairly new follower of Christ. Recently she received a marriage proposal from a Hindu man who is well respected in the community. By normal cultural standards, it would be considered a great match for her. Her family is really pushing her to accept the proposal. After studying what the Bible says about being unequally yoked, she feels God is telling her to reject the proposal.

* Please pray that these families will respect the Christian’s faith and not force them into unequally yoked marriages.

* Ask God to open the hearts of prospective husbands and wives as well as family members to the gospel after seeing their loved ones take a strong stand for God’s will.

* Intercede for those you know who are honoring the Lord while daily demonstrating His grace to an unbelieving spouse.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Wednesday, September 23, 2009

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (Ephesians 5: 31, NKJV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, praying with you for those seeking a Christian spouse.

In a society where families arrange marriage, it can be very difficult to find a believing mate. Pray for believers in locations like North Africa, South Asia and the Last Frontier, who long for a Christian marriage and for those whose families have decreed that they must marry a person of the majority religion.

Last month, prayer was lifted for a South Asian Muslim-background believer whose family had made tentative arrangements for his marriage to a young Muslim woman. He met his prospective bride and told her that he was a follower of Christ. He shared what that means in his life and how it might impact their future life together. She was very receptive, and he has left her to think about what she has learned. Please ask God to draw her with certainty into faith in Him, and pray that she might become the valuable co-laborer this faithful brother believes she could be.

S is a 32-year-old believer among a Last Frontier people group and a fairly new follower of Christ. Recently she received a marriage proposal from a Hindu man who is well respected in the community. By normal cultural standards, it would be considered a great match for her. Her family is really pushing her to accept the proposal. After studying what the Bible says about being unequally yoked, she feels God is telling her to reject the proposal.

* Please pray that these families will respect the Christian’s faith and not force them into unequally yoked marriages.

* Ask God to open the hearts of prospective husbands and wives as well as family members to the gospel after seeing their loved ones take a strong stand for God’s will.

* Intercede for those you know who are honoring the Lord while daily demonstrating His grace to an unbelieving spouse.
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor
THERE WERE SOME anxious moments at our house as my daughter and I prepared for our mission trip…
Late in the packing process we discovered that my passport that had been set out earlier, was not a current passport!  That current passport was not where we expected it to be.

For about an hour, we gave the term ransack new meaning.  God answered our fervent prayers and we found the all-important document.

Those who travel understand the seriousness of misplacing a passport.  This document shows you are a citizen of the United States and have been cleared for travel to other countries.  Without it I would have been denied admission to Peru.  Actually, I wouldn’t have been allowed onto the plane headed for Peru. I would have been left behind.

As I reflect upon that nerve-wracking episode, I think of a more vital appointment.  Jesus spoke about it in Matthew 25:31,32:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and
all the holy angels with Him, then He will
sit on the throne of His glory. All the
nations will be gathered before Him, and He
will separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divides his sheep from the goats”
 (NKJV).

Following the pronouncement of judgment, only two destinations will await those who have been sentenced.  Of the two, heaven and hell, all know the destination to which they want to go.

Earlier in that chapter (verses 1-13), Jesus spoke the parable of the wise and foolish maidens.  Ten young women anxiously awaited the arrival of the bridegroom.  The wait was longer than expected and five of them found that their supply of oil for their lamps was not sufficient.  While they were away buying oil, the bridegroom came and the door was shut.  The five foolish maidens were barred from the celebration they had dreamed about.  They should have made better preparation.

There will be those at the Day of Judgment who will experience panic far worse than I recently felt. They will assume they’re ready for the coming of Jesus — but they won’t be.  For them there will be no second chance. The sound of heaven’s door closing will be heard, and it will prompt “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).  As you read this, realize one thing: You have this opportunity to make preparations for the coming of the Lord. You may not have another opportunity.  We urge you out of genuine Christian love to prepare your soul for the certain arrival of Jesus Christ!  Tim Hall at http://forthright.net


“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them.” Matthew 25:1-3
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Anna Lee