Friday

“He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors,

and has come to the help of his servant Israel.

He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham

and to all his descendants forever!”

~Luke 1:54-55 (TEV)~

Pray for Frances Gay as she has a medical test today in Covington.

Pray for the Pledgers as they make final preparations for “Miss” Lucille’s service.

From Stephanie (and Joe) Cavanaugh:

Just heard the Beatles song….Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away……
I thought about not posting my feelings right now, but I hope that someone can relate and that others will just be grateful for all that they have right now.  We say that so many times, but then it’s funny how soon we forget it…..I guess it’s just human nature.
This coming Monday will be Adrianna’s birthday and I have just planned myself to pieces, trying to get ready for it.  We are going to have a balloon release, flowers in the church in memory of her on Sunday morning, and then we are planting a beautiful cotton candy pink colored Camellia tree at the cemetary.  Joe and I are going to get out of the house Monday and try to do something fun in honor of her.
But people, let me just be honest…I am a mess!!!
When you haven’t lost anyone close to you, you just don’t realize how awful it is for the ones who have.  Even now as I cry and beg God for mercy, I still think….how do people that have lost a WHOLE FAMILY get through???  It can always be worst…how do those people live through this pain?
I read the Bible and relate to many of the Biblical families who have lost so much and I realize that humans have not changed that much.  It’s still hard as hell to recover..it’s still emotional and crushing to lose your favorite people in this world.
So how do we move on?  That’s the question.
And I know that millions of people before me HAVE moved on.  It’s just HOW??
Every day is different.  Every day brings its own memories, doubts, confrontations, etc.
Joe and I grieve differently, as most men and women do.  That in itself is trying too.
Some days I am so strong that I can’t even believe I am in my own body…other days I wanna be distant from my own body.  The emotions are overwhelming.
But I guess what I want to say is that I do believe everyone gets through it from Jesus Christ and just believing in ourselves and keeping our faith.
I have to remind myself that ALL of the time.  The fact that I don’t have other children even intensifies the situation.  I have no one else that I can engulf myself in.  Other than myself and Joe, but that is not the same…Most of you know how easy it is to put all of your attention on your children.  It makes you feel special and it is a gift from God.
As we move into this weekend, I hope that you will remember us and pray for our strength and faith as always.  I know that the support we’ve been granted has always gotten us through the toughest times.
There are no words for the gratitude I have for each and every one of you….
On another note, I became a bone marrow donor this week in hopes to save another person’s life.  It only took a few minutes and while I was there I learned that nearly 80% of children DIE waiting on a bone marrow match….isn’t that just appaling?  I had no idea that many children were in dire need of a match.  I think if everyone knew that, they’d get off their lazy bums and march to their local blood centers and sign up.
That’s what I’m hoping people will do if they are capable.
I lie awake this week wondering how I would have felt if Adrianna had needed a bone marrow match and we couldn’t find one.  That would have just KILLED me, knowing that someone may could have saved her life…I don’t know how I would’ve lived after that.  Fortunately Adrianna was able to give herself her own bone marrow, but some children are not that lucky.
I found out at the drive that ANYONE can go to a blood center at any location and get their mouth swabbed.  Also, most of us don’t realize how much blood is needed for these cancer patients.  You can give blood each 4 weeks.  PLEASE make it a habit of giving and doing your part to help children…you never know when YOURS may need it!
Anyway, I just want to send a special prayer out to RJ Jackson and his family.  I surely hope they find a match and that they do all they can for RJ and know that they did everything they could possibly do for their beautiful son.  That’s the only way they will be able to get through this horrible situation.
Please keep them in your prayers and thanks for continuing to keep us lifted in prayer.
Adrianna sent me a beautiful butterfly on Thanksgiving day that swarmed around me over and over and even got so close to my eyes that I had to flinch!!  I know that was her sending her love.  It may sound silly, but it’s just a feeling you get in your gut….it’s not a coincidence!  God knows what He is doing!
With love,
Stephanie

Don’t forget the Lottie Moon Christmas Tea tomorrow at 2 P.M. at East Fork Baptist Church.  All ladies from 5 to 105 are invited.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Week of Payer

Day 6

The Zaza of Turkey

When a devastating earthquake shook northwest Turkey in 1999, more than the ground moved around Dr. Hamit Kaya*, an ethnic Zaza from Turkey’s Tunceli province. As he bandaged the wounds of Turks all around him, God moved Kaya to consider the spiritual devastation of his own people.

Today Kaya is the first indigenous church planter to the Zaza of eastern Turkey. He uses his medical training to minister to villagers’ physical needs, while using his understanding of the culture to communicate God’s love in a language the Zaza can understand—the language of relationships.

Kaya has a long-term vision for reaching the Zaza. Vital to his ministry are the days he spends making personal visits and drinking tea with villagers before he pulls out his medical bag. Then with help from Southern Baptists, he buys and distributes medicine. He is loved and welcomed by everyone, from the mayor to the poorest shepherd. This is the key to sharing the gospel, Kaya believes.

With a handful of believers and one outreach group, Kaya is seeing God work.

Pray for Hamit Kaya as he shares the gospel among the Zaza.

*Name changed

Don’t forget the missions march for the LMCO Sunday at FBC, Kentwood at 10:30.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10

Mike Benson, Editor

THIS PAST WEEKEND, Stevie Johnson, wide-receiver for the Buffalo Bills, dropped a perfectly thrown game-winning pass in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Because of the dropped pass, the Steelers were given new life and ended up winning the ballgame.  Stevie Johnson was distraught because of his costly mistake.  So following the game, Stevie tweeted the following message: “I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO…”

As you can imagine, this foolish accusation against God has taken a lot of hits by sports and religious commentators.

Stevie made himself an easy mark.  But, lest I commit a “personal foul” by “piling on,” let me take this article another direction.  In the midst of receiving correction from thousands of people, Kurt Warner, former quarterback for the Rams, the Giants, and the Cardinals did a little tweeting himself.  He tweeted to Stevie and said: “I asked same thing when released in STL & benched 3 times, But then God did his thing… Be ready! Enjoy watching you play!”

Wow!  Isn’t that amazing?  Of all the things that have been said or written following Stevie’s tweet, I wonder how many of them were as kind and understanding as Warner’s?  Warner didn’t defend Stevie’s statement.  It was indefensible.  He didn’t try to legitimize it.  There was nothing legitimate about it.  But he did let Stevie know he could identify with the pain and hurt he was feeling, he validated his skills in spite of his costly error, and he gave him hope for the future.

Stevie Johnson spoke rashly and foolishly in his despair, and has since reflected on what he said and retracted it.  I’m glad to hear that; he needed to.  But I’m also glad for Kurt Warner’s response to Stevie Johnson.  Personally, I want to develop my ability to empathize with, affirm, and gently correct the mistakes I see in others.  What about you?  Steve Higginbotham at preachinghelp.org

“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition…” 2 Timothy 2:24-25a

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee