Month: April 2011

Saturday

“Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

~Romans 10:13 (LB)~

 

Jamie Schwartz will be leaving tomorrow for Afghanistan.  Pray for him and his troops as well as all the other men and women serving around the world to protect us.

 

Jadon’s Story: Not much change

Things are staying about the same for me this week. I’m still having
good days and bad. The bad days that I refer to are still good
compared to before steriods. A good day now consist of 30 or fewer
spasms and a bad day about 60. I’m still learning news things. I
learned to take toys out of a bucket and how to put them back in. I’m chewing my food much better. I’m
very happy and alert. I’m having more seizures than my family wants
but we are satisfied with the amount of progress I’m making so
quickly. Its still too early to say if the new medicine is working.
All it’s doing right now is making my mom a nervous wreck. She said
when my brother burned his hands there was a little girl in the
hospital room next to him who had gotten burned from taking lamictal.
So she has seen what this medicine can do. Please pray that I continue
to make progress and that my seizures don’t increase. My brain needs
for these to stop.

 

My sister, Julie, has a second grandson, Gavin Joseph Parino.  He weighed eight pounds.  Mother and baby are doing well.  He has a brother, Jameson, and parents, Melissa and Andrew Parino.

 

Juanita Carmona
(October 14, 1950 – April 29, 2011)

A resident of Greensburg, LA, died on Friday, April 29, 2011 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite, LA. She was born October 14, 1950 in Baker, LA and was 60 years of age.Visitation at First Baptist Church, Greensburg, from 8 a.m. on Monday, May 2, 2011 until religious services at 11a.m. Monday, May 2, 2011. Interment New Zion Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. Survived by 3 brothers, Pete Carmona, Jr. and his wife, Mary, Baton Rouge, Paul Carmona and his wife, Helen, Zachary, Randy Carmona, 3 nieces, Beth Brewster and her husband, Mike, Watson, Belinda Carmona, Baton Rouge, Victoria Carmona, Kentwood, 2 nephews, Lee Carmona and his wife, Elisha, Montpelier, Collin Floyd, Husser, great-niece, Jocelynn Carmona, great-nephew, Jackson Carmona, sister-in-law, Loretta Carmona Husser, special friend, Willie Arnold, Greensburg, 5 sisters, Helen, Martha, Mary, Nora, and Barbara. Preceded in death by parents, Pete and Nora Carmona, brother, Virgil Carmona, half-sister, Dorothy. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

 

Continue to pray for all those who are homeless, jobless, or grieving for family and friends who perished this week in the tornadoes.  FBC, Amite is collecting items tomorrow to send.  I’m sure if you would like to send items, they would be glad to include yours too.  Other groups will be going to clean up and sending items to help the victims.  I”ll post information about these opportunities as I get information.  Prayers are always appropriate whether or not you can go or give.

 

The following information is from an email I received from the Louisiana Baptist Convention.

The death toll from Wednesday’s tornados has exceeded 297 as of 11 am, Friday, April 29. When disasters strike, the body of Christ is motivated to do something to help. There are several things that Louisiana Baptists can do immediately:

 

1. Pray for the people impacted by the storm. There are many needs. Pray for the churches that are simultaneously attempting to recover and to minister.

 

2. Donate cash through legitimate channels. Individuals and churches in Louisiana may donate or receive an offering and send it to:

LBC Disaster Relief Fund,

1250 MacArthur Dr.

Alexandria, LA 71303

Because of the network Southern Baptists have, LBC will distribute every dollar toward disaster relief needs without any of the overhead costs other organizations incur.

 

We are moving heavy equipment to the areas impacted by the tornados. Fuel is costly and funds are needed immediately.

 

3. Volunteer your time. If you are a trained DR person, we need you now for some immediate requests. If you are not trained, go to  www.LBC.org/DisasterRelief for instructions about the future training events.

 

Urgent Requests for Southeast Tornado Disaster Relief

 

1. Louisiana Baptist Convention has been asked by Alabama DR to handle the response for Dekalb County, Alabama.  We are requesting 50 trained chainsaw team members to respond to FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, GERALDINE, 12854 State HWY 227, Geraldine, AL.  35974. The pastor’s name is Kirk Griggs.  Cell # 256-609-5263 & Church # 256-759-4524. The White Hat is Charles Watson.

 

2.The North Shore Baptist Association Disaster Relief Feeding Unit has beenactivated and issetting up in Meridian, MS. The need exists for yellow and blue hats, especially next week. White Hat leader, Tom Longcan be reached at 985.960.2989.

 

3. If you are available or will be available next week, contact the LBC DR office on Monday at 318.448.3402, ext. 280. If you have the DR training and can go at once, call Gibbie McMillan at 318.446.0724.

 

The following information is from our associational office and Dr. Stan Statham.

DISATER REIEF CALL OUT: Washington Association is deploying two chainsaw teams to Geraldine, AL. Jeremy Seals-FBC Bogalusa is one Blue Hat and Ben Fussell is the Blue hat from FBC Franklinton. Call me if you are chainsaw trained and can go. Probably for 3-5 days. Ben’s crew probably will leave tomorrow morning. Jeremy’s crew???? Call me ASAP 985-515-4368 -Bro. Stan

 

Pray

Give

Go

Choose your opportunities to help those in great need now.  Your ministry will impact you life more than you think it will!

Anna Lee

Friday

“But you are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

a holy nation,

His own special people,

that you may proclaim the praises

of Him who called you out of darkness

into His marvelous light.”

~1 Peter 2:9~

 

Chloe Neyland is improving at home with her family.  Continue to pray for her and her family.

Roger Pittman continues to have tests done.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Continue to pray for all those who experienced the bad weather this week.  Pray for the many families who lost loved ones.  Pray for all those who were injured.  As people “pick up the pieces” of their lives, may they have assurance of God’s love and His great hope for their future.

THE THREE ENVELOPES

A fellow had just been hired as the new CEO of a large high tech corporation.  The CEO who was stepping down met with him privately and presented him with three numbered envelopes.

“Open these if you run up against a problem you don’t think you can solve,” he said.

Well, things went along pretty smoothly, but six months later, sales took a downturn and he was really catching a lot of heat.  About at his wit’s end, he remembered the envelopes.  He went to his drawer and took out the first envelope.  The message read, “Blame your predecessor.”

The new CEO called a press conference and tactfully laid the blame at the feet of the previous CEO.  Satisfied with his comments, the press and Wall Street responded positively, sales began to pick up and the problem was soon behind him.

About a year later, the company was again experiencing a slight dip in sales, combined with serious product problems.  Having learned from his previous experience, the CEO quickly opened the second envelope.  The message read, “Reorganize.”

This he did, and the company quickly rebounded.  After several consecutive profitable quarters, the company once again fell on difficult times.  The CEO went to his office, closed the door and opened the third envelope.  The message said, “Prepare three envelopes.”

What do you do when things go wrong?  Who do you blame?  How do you react?  Imagine for a moment that the apostle Paul has prepared three envelopes for you when life gets tough.

The first envelope contains 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (make sure you don’t read it until you really need it!)

The second envelope contains Philippians 1:19-21 (only read it if things are getting worse!)

And the third envelope contains 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (save this one for extreme situations!)

May God’s Word give you the strength you need to meet the struggles of life this day and every day.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

 

Thanks for praying today.  Your prayers make a difference!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“I’m a mess.

I’m nothing and have nothing;

make something of me!

You can do it;

you’ve got what it takes God.”

~Psalm 40:17 (MSG)~

 

The weather is finally settling down.  Lot of homes have been damaged or destroyed.  Many lives have been lost.  If you can help someone, do so.  If you cannot operate a chain saw or pick up debris, pray for those whose lives have been touched/changed because of the tornadoes.

Davud’s brother, Jimmy, will be having cataract surgery this morning.  Pray all goes well.

Chloe Newland is home again.  She seems stronger.  The family is happy to be together again.  Continue to pray for little Chloe.

Susie Sharkey has pneumonia.  Add her name to your prayer list.

Roger Pittman is having checkup three weeks following heart surgery.  So far, all seems to be good.  Pray as additional tests are done today.

The Harrells, Mr. Philip and “Miss” Annie Bell, are doing a little better.  Thank-you for your continuing prayers for them.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2.10
Mike Benson, Editor

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE is something we do together…

In Ephesians 4.29, God tells us to build each other p with our words, and later He instructs us to “speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (5.19).

We need other Christians to speak, sing, and sometimes shout the truths of God’s Word to us.  We need others to pray for us when we’re in the midst of temptation.  We need friends who will hold on to us when we’re ready to give up.  We need friends who will challenge and even rebuke us when we’re indulging in sin.

Are you connected to others in the church?  Many people today have lost their vision for the Lord’s church.  I used to be one of those people.  I thought of “church” as merely a building or a place to go for social interaction.  I always went to church, but my lifestyle revealed what a low priority it was for me.  The church was somthing on theh outskirts of my life.  Joshua Harris, “Lone Rangers are Dead Rangers,” Not Even A Hint, 134
There’s a vast difference between attending “church” and being the church.  mb

“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1.22-23

 

Thanks for being there to pray for many needs today.  Your prayers are needed and appreciated.  If you can “put feet to your prayers”, please do so.

Anna Lee

Wednesday Addition

Our son, Jason, called to say his family is okay.  Rome, GA had a tornado this morning.  Jason was sitting at a traffic light.  Becki was home.  The children were at their schools.  The tornado hit their area of town and the downtown area.  Jason did not know of any injuries, but saw lots of damage.  Join me in praying for the people who will face similar experiences today in several states.  Jason’s area is predicted to have more problems before dark.  Thank God for protecting them.  Ask Him to continue to protect them and all the others in the path of bad weather.

Wednesday

“Then He said to them,

‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”

~Matthew 4:19~

 

The Easter drama set has been dismantled and stored until the next time.  Thanks to all who participated in the drama in any way.   May the impact of the drama continue in individual lives forever.  There were 15 professions of faith indicated on decision cards.  Pray for these decisions and other decisions that were made.  The performances may be over and the set dismantled, but the impact will be eternal for some people.  What a blessing!

 

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Wednesday, April 27, 2011

“When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd,” (Matthew 9:36, HCSB).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, asking you to pray for Christ’s compassion to be poured out on the crowds once again.

It was a very small room, maybe half the size of a one-car garage. When the national told the worker that approximately 40 people would be coming to this house church on the far outskirts of town, the worker was skeptical because he did not think that 40 people would even fit. But they did. More than 40 Indian nationals crowded in like sardines to praise God and hear the worker teach about life in Christ, about putting off the old and putting on the new. After the service, the church members crowded up at the front to be prayed for, burdened with many things and a strong desire to see God use them to spread the Gospel to their family and friends.

In contrast, imagine a place where temples and shrines for idol worship outnumber convenience stores. Imagine a land of people whose daily lives are influenced by those temples and shrines, and where tradition and culture influence the people so much that an encounter with the one true God gets crowded out of their lives. Pray for the Word of God to influence them. Join workers as they ask the Spirit to break the chains of tradition and culture that keep the people from experiencing the freedom that comes from knowing Jesus.

* Please pray for the Last Frontier people group living in such a place to come to Jesus Christ, who is the Savior.

* Intercede for the many Indian national believers that they will be equipped through Bible study and teaching and that they will live lives that bring a sweet fragrance of Christ to their villages.

* Ask the Lord to increase your capacity for compassion as you minister to the crowds around you.

 

2011 National Prayer
by Joni Eareckson Tada, Honorary Chairman, National Day of Prayer

Almighty God, you are our Mighty Fortress, our refuge and the God in whom we place our trust. As our nation faces great distress and uncertainty, we ask your Holy Spirit to fall afresh upon your people – convict us of sin and inflame within us a passion to pray for our land and its people. Grant the leaders of our country an awareness of their desperate need of wisdom and salvation in You until sin becomes a reproach to all and righteousness exalts this nation.

Protect and defend us against our enemies and may the cause of Christ always prevail in our schools, courts, homes, and churches. Lord God, send a spirit of revival and may it begin in our own hearts.

Remember America, we pray. Remember the foundations on which this country was built. Remember the prayers of our nation’s fathers and mothers, and do not forget us in our time of need.

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

The 2011 National Day of Prayer is May 5. For More information visit: http://nationaldayofprayer.org/

 

 

Be careful of the wind that will be in our area today!

Anna Lee

 

Tuesday

Trust me in your times of trouble,

and I will rescue you,

and you will give me glory.

~Psalm 50:15 (NLT)~

 

Baptist Press Stories for Apr. 25 2011

—————————————

China places 500 under house arrest, blocks Easter service     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35122


DOMA: law firm withdraws; Clement stays     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35123


Jeannie Elliff: God taught me to live ‘out of control’     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35124


Lack of Bible literacy is spotlighted     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35125


Panel: U.S. facing threats to const. freedoms     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35126


FIRST-PERSON: What if the nails used to crucify Christ were found?     http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35127


BP Ledger, April 25 edition

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35128

 

Please continue to pray for the many whose names have been listed lately and for those whose names have not been listed.  If they have needs, God knows and wants to walk them through the needs.

Pray for the people facing bad weather today, especially the floods in Missouri.  Pray people will be safe by leaving their homes in a timely manner.

Stay dry!

Anna Lee

Monday

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and His ears are open to their prayers;

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

~1 Peter 3:12~

 


INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Monday, April 25, 2011

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth,” (2 Timothy 2:15, ESV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, joining you in prayer for Bible studies.

Several young believers, working in groups of two or three, have been doing ministry in low-income areas around the city of Ahmedabad, India. They are telling stories from the Bible and teaching people what being a Christian means and what a church should be. One group is even asking whether it is time for them to start a church. Please pray for these young believers. Many of them have only been following Christ for a short time and are still learning themselves.

A key couple in a Bible study group, meeting in the Patagonia of Argentina, accepted Christ in early 2010 and has been growing steadily in their faith. Recently they have come under spiritual attack on various fronts.

Back in January 2010, two workers started Bible studies in four hard-to-reach villages along the Oras River in the Eastern Samar province, the Philippines. Pray for these Bible study groups to begin meeting regularly on their own and that a biblical understanding of salvation will result in a heart change among the Waray-Waray.

A foreign student is now studying in Malaysia and has been attending a Bible study group. He has begun reading the Bible for the first time. In his home country, he saw many cruel things being done by the leaders against the citizens. When presented with the biblical mandate to forgive and love one’s enemies, he became aware of the contrast between his life and that of a follower of Jesus. Pray that his questions will be answered and that he will see the truth.

* Please pray for the various groups that are meeting, asking that people will receive Christ as Savior and that believers will be well discipled.

* Pray that they will all have wisdom as to when their small groups should form into a church.

* Give thanks for God’s training provided through His Word.

 

Thank God for the beautiful day He provided yesterday.  I know lots of families spent part of the day outside.

 

Mrs. Margaret Callihan was able to be at church yesterday.  Thank God for her recovery from her recent surgery.

 

Several people are dealing with shingles.  Pray for them to have fast relief.

 

Be careful to watch out for students who are out of school and spending much of their days outside.

 

THE SURROUNDING MASTER

The author of the following story is unknown to me:

A mother wishing to encourage her young son’s progress at the piano brought him to a concert given by the famous Polish pianist, Paderewski.  When the evening arrived, they found their seats near the front of the concert hall and eyed the majestic Steinway waiting on stage.  Soon the mother found a friend to talk to, and the boy slipped away.

At eight o’clock, the lights in the auditorium began to dim, the spotlights came on, and only then did they notice the boy upon the bench, innocently picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”.

His mother gasped, but before she could retrieve her son, the master appeared on the stage and quickly moved to the keyboard.  He whispered to the boy, “Don’t quit.  Keep playing.”

Leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part.  Soon his right arm reached around the other side and  improvised a delightful obbligato.  Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized.

In our lives, unpolished though we may be, it is the Master who surrounds us and whispers in our ear time and time again, “Don’t quit.  Keep playing.”  And as we do, He augments and supplements, until a work of amazing beauty is created.

“Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a wonderful day!

Anna Lee