“Up from the grave He arose . . . . ”
Celebrate this fact today in a worship service. There is no better or more appropriate place to celebrate the fact that He died for our sins and arose on the third day. He’s now is heaven preparing a place for us and will return to get on one day!
The angel spoke to the women:
“There is nothing to fear here.
I know you’re looking for Jesus,
the One they nailed to the cross.
He is not here.
He was raised, just as he said ….
~Matthew 28:5-6 (MSG)~
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
To him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
~Psalm 136:1-4 (NIV)~
At the end of a Passover meal, they sang a hymn.
They sang the same hymn at the end of every Passover meal
and they’ve done it for thousands of years.
It is Psalm 136.
URGENT PRAYER
IMB
April 22, 2011
MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Praise God for bringing healing to the East Asian Peoples worker who has been gravely ill in recent weeks. His medical condition has been upgraded to stable. He will return to the U.S. this weekend for further recovery. Pray for God’s hand to be upon him and his wife as they travel homeward. As we celebrate Resurrection Day this weekend, we can also thank the Father for answering prayers for the restoration of health to this faithful servant of our Lord. Thank you for your faithful prayers.
Update distributed March 4, 2011
MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Praise God that the East Asian worker for whom we have prayed in recent days is now conscious and breathing on his own; however, he is still very weak. Even as you had prayer for him in recent days, please continue to uphold him with your prayers. Please remember his wife as well, asking God to give all that she needs during this difficult ordeal.
Original distributed March 1, 2011
MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Please pray fervently for a Christian worker among the East Asian peoples who is seriously ill in a location away from his regular place of assignment. He is on a ventilator and is in critical condition. These next hours are crucial. Ask the Great Physician to bring swift and complete healing to His servant and to give peace to him and his wife.
He won 56 out of his 61 professional fights and knocked out 37 opponents. His most famous catchphrase was, “I am the greatest.!”
One day, Ali was seated in an airplane when the flight attendant came up the aisle to make sure that all the passengers had their seatbealts fastened. Reaching Ali’s seat, she asked him to buckle up.
“Hmph!” the champ sneered. “Superman don’t need no seatbelt!”
The flight attendant smiled sweetly and replied, “Superman don’t need no airplane, either.”
Ali fastened his seatbelt.
The greater our success, the greater the risk of us thinking too highly of ourselves. Os Hillman, “The Success Test,” The Upside of Adversity, 109
“For I say, through the grace given to me,
to everyone who is among you, not to think of himselfmore highly than he ought to think,
but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
Romans 12.3
Jesus is the reason for the season!
Anna Lee
“Let the little children come to Me,
and don’t stop them,
because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,”
~Luke 18:16b~
Mrs. Margaret Callihan is home again. Pray she does well with her recovery now.
Stacey Scarle
She is to have 28-30 treatments and it will be done at Mary Bird Perkins, in Covington as they have the particular machine she needs. We could have gone to BR but Covington is closer and not so much traffic. Thanks again for the good wishes and prayers they have gotten us this far and with God’s help we’ll make this too.
Jadon’s Story: The steroid wean has begun
We have started to decrease my steriods. I’m only getting them 3 times
a day right now. Tomorrow we wean to 2 times a day. My spasms have not
increased any. I’m having about 30-40 a day. They are not very
intense. So the steroids have helped me alot. My therapist have even
noticed how much stronger I’m getting. I haven’t had any side effects
either. My blood pressure has been fine, I haven’t gained any weight,
and I’m definitely not irritable. In fact I’m much happier. We don’t
know what the plan is from here. I go see my neurologist Monday so we
will see what she says. Please pray that we will find the right
medicine to stop these things with few side effects. I have shown so
much potential these last 3 weeks. It’s so sad that we can’t stop
these and allow my brain to work correctly. Keep praying everyone.
Your prayers are working. I’m doing much more than expected.
Baptist Press Stories for Apr. 21 2011
—————————————
FIRST-PERSON: What if Jesus hadn’t died, and risen? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35103
Church’s ‘Dance Your Shoes Off’ video goes viral http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35104
Japan fireman searches rubble to ease pain
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35105
Workers in N. Africa, Mideast urge 21 days of prayer & fasting for region http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35106
Nigeria election strife targets Christians
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35107
Poll: 400 years later, KJV Bible still popular http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35102
Francesca Battistelli wins 3 Dove Awards
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35108
NEWS BRIEFS: Did Obama signal future support for ‘gay marriage’? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35109
LIFE DIGEST: Swiss may allow assisted death in nursing homes; … http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35110
Jesus is the reason for the season!
Anna Lee
Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
“This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory.”
He did the same with the cup after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant written in my blood,
blood poured out for you.”
~Luke 22:19-20 (Msg)~
Chloe Neyland had surgery yesterday to implant a feeding tube. Please continue to pray for Chloe, the family, and the medical staff.
From Trudy M. Shockley
Please be in prayer for Eddie (Muse). He is in North Oaks and will be undergoing a surgical procedure at noon today. Our family is thankful for all the prayers, visits and other acts of kindness shown by so many caring people.
Please add Mrs. Kathryn Kuss to your prayer link. She has shingles.
The Brevity of Life
The court jester was overcome with grief. His world was at an end! For a long time he had served the Caliph at Baghdad and his court, keeping them amused whenever they called upon him. But in a moment of thoughtlessness he had displeased his ruler who had ordered that he be put to death.
“However,” said the Caliph, “in consideration of the merry jests you’ve told me all these years, I will let you choose how you are to die.”
“O most generous Caliph,” replied the jester, “if it’s all the same to you, I choose death by old age!”
I suppose, if given a choice, that’s the choice all of us would make. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), though, that choice is not ours to make. We know (all too well) the fragile nature of life. And perhaps it is for the best. If we were guaranteed 90 years on this earth, we would be mighty tempted to wait until the last year or so to get serious about God (just like putting off those term papers in college!). With a realization of the uncertainty of life, we recognize the need to be prepared at all times.
“LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.” (Psa. 39:4-5).
May you be prepared for the joys that await when this life is over!
Alan Smith
Thought for the Day
Join us at the cabin tonight at 6:30 for our regular Third Thursday meeting. We will have food, fellowship, and Bible study.
Anna Lee
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
~James 5:16b~
From Robert Callihan
Robbie Lynns cat scan came back showing no return of cancer. The only thing they found was a sever urinary tract infection.
ON mom her cat scan did not show up any major problems. She has been dealing with recovery from gall bladder surgery. Not able to keep anything down. Throwing up and have made two return trips to hospital. She is still in hospital but will be coming home tomorroe and she says she is feeling much better and hopes that she has turned the corner toward recovery. Was extremely miserable for a week or more. Thanks for all the prayers. They definitely make a difference.
Continue to pray for the Harrells.
is wearing a brace on his left wrist. He is left handed and continues to be in pain. He said he “fell for five minutes”. Others who have fallen will be able to relate to that statement.
Baptist Press News
God is good, all the time!
All the time, God is good!
Anna Lee
“I am the Lord,
and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
I will free you from being slaves to them,
and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm
and with mighty acts of judgment.
I will take you as my own people,
and I will be your God.”
~Exodus 6:6-7a (NIV)~
Mr. Phillip Harrell broke his wrist. Please add him to your prayer list.
Others on our prayer list
Baptist Press
What Keeps You Going?
The following is reported to have been seen in the window of an English company:
“We have been established for over one hundred years and have been pleasing and displeasing customers ever since. We have made money and lost money, suffered the effects of coal nationalization, coal rationing, government control, and bad payers. We have been cussed and discussed, messed about, lied to, held up, robbed, and swindled. The only reason we stay in business is to see what happens next.”
As I read that sign, I couldn’t help but think of the apostle Paul who listed all the trials that he experienced in his Christian life:
“I have worked much harder than they. I have been in prison more often. I have been hurt more in beatings. I have been near death many times. Five times the Jews have given me their punishment of thirty-nine lashes with a whip. Three different times I was beaten with rods. One time I was almost stoned to death. Three times I was in ships that wrecked, and one of those times I spent a night and a day in the sea. I have gone on many travels and have been in danger from rivers, thieves, my own people, the Jews, and those who are not Jews. I have been in danger in cities, in places where no one lives, and on the sea. And I have been in danger with false Christians. I have done hard and tiring work, and many times I did not sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty, and many times I have been without food. I have been cold and without clothes. Besides all this, there is on me every day the load of my concern for all the churches.” (2 Cor. 11:23b-28).
You almost expect Paul to say, “The only reason I keep serving Christ is to see what happens next.” But, a more accurate statement would be: “The reason I keep serving Christ is out of appreciation for all he has done for me.”
I raise the simple question: Why do you keep serving Christ, even in the midst of trials and hardships? When things get tough and nobody seems to understand why you persist in your commitment, what keeps you going? Just something for you to think about!
Have a great day!
Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee
I suppose that devotional asks us to check our attitudes. I did. Did you?
Anna Lee
From Robert Callihan
Mom (Mrs. Margaret Callihan) is back at North Oaks having problems getting over her gall blader surgery. Robbie Lynn (Callihan Kirby) has to have a CT Scan in morning to check and see if cancer may have returned. My sister is with mama and Linda has gone to b with Robbie Pray for both of them and Emily who is running the store for us I (Robert Callihan) am stuck in middle working and doing drama. Thanks for your prayers God can take care of it all.
My morning post did not post for some reason. Sorry!
By Joe Stowell
Of all my childhood memories, one stands out above the others. While I have no idea what my teacher said, I clearly remember telling her to “shut up.” She sent me home, so I got up and left my kindergarten class to walk the half-block home. Walking down the sidewalk, I saw my mother weeding in the garden behind our house. I was now faced with a strategic decision—continue on my way and tell my mother why I was home early from school, or turn around and go back to face my teacher.
When I returned to the classroom, I was immediately escorted to the restroom where my teacher washed my mouth out with soap. That kind of discipline probably wouldn’t happen today, but take it from me, it was effective! To this day I am acutely sensitive about the impact of my words.
God is passionately interested in our positive growth as His children. At times He needs to confront us with unpleasant circumstances to catch our attention and reorient our lives to more consistently produce the “peaceable fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11).
Don’t resist God’s corrective hand. Respond to His reproofs with thankfulness that He loves you enough to care about what kind of a person you are becoming.
Because our Father’s heart is grieved
Each time we go astray,
He lifts His chastening hand in love
To help us to His way. —D. De Haan
God’s correction is our hope for a better life.
There are two more performances of the Easter drama at FBC, Kentwood. If you are interested, please call the church office (229-8111) for tickets for 7:00 tonight or tomorrow. Pray for the drama to be meaningful to those participating and to those viewing.
If you are available Thursday night at the cabin at 6:30, join us for a delicious meal, sweet fellowship, and a devotional. I think you’ll be blessed.
Have a great week!
Anna Lee
My sheep recognize my voice and follow me.”
~John 10:27 (NLT)~
From Becky Graham Purvis
Our son, Jeremy Purvis, and his wife, Sarah, just had their second child, Isaac Graham Purvis, Thursday night, April 14, in Chattanooga. Isaac was 8# even and 21 inches long. Mom and Baby are doing well. Big sister is Kendra Nicole. Grandparents are Rusty and Becky Purvis and the great-grandparents are Edsel and Mary Ann Graham and Dr. Ben and Judy Purvis.
Also, another bit of good news. Jeremy is Minister to Students at Hixson First Baptist Church outside of Chattanooga but has just accepted a call as Minister to Students at Parkview Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, LA, so he will be back in the area.
The Easter Drama at FBC, Kentwood begins today. Tickets are $2.00 and available at the church office (229-8111). Sunday afternoon and night performances are already sold out, but 7 P.M. presentations for Monday and Tuesday still have some tickets available.
Please be in prayer for the drama to be a good outreach ministry and for the bonding of the choir and cast. May God be honored and glorified by this presentation~
Heart to Heart with Holley: What are the warning signs?
The map flashes red on the television screen. “Take shelter immediately,” the weatherman says, “There is a severe storm in your area.”
It’s spring in the South and pronouncements like this are quite common. So frequent, in fact, that {confession} sometimes I ignore them.
I can act the same way when it comes to my emotions. A hard day or a difficult circumstance makes my heart flash with the potential for a coming storm. But often I just keep going–and that’s when I find myself in the middle of my own personal tornado.
I’m slowly learning there a few questions I can ask myself to see if it’s time to take shelter for awhile.
S
Am I sad about something? Grief comes in many different forms. We can feel sadness over the loss of a job, loved one, dream, or even the plans we had for the day that aren’t going to happen.
This emotion is normal–it’s when we bury it and “fake it until we make it” that a cyclone of emotion may build and catch us by surprise. We can acknowledge our emotions with words like, “I’m disappointed” or “God, I feel hurt–please help.”
T
Am I trying too hard? Oh, friends, I can be a perfectionist and a half. When I find myself in that mode it always leads to a storm of some sort–and often the people in my life get rained on too.
When we find ourselves doing this, we can trace it back to the unrealistic expectation that’s putting us under pressure and replace it with one that has more grace instead.
O
Am I overwhelmed by life? All of us have a limit to what we can handle mentally, physically, and emotionally. When we push past that point, chaos often erupts.
We can take shelter by finding some time to restore order to our lives–whether that’s through a few minutes of quiet or reworking our schedule. Even Jesus took breaks at times and He was perfect–we need them too.
P
Am I personally isolated? While we sometimes need to withdraw, that’s not the way we’re intended to live all the time. We’re more vulnerable when we’re alone. It seems tornados often form quickly on wide open plains. The same can happen with our hearts minds.
We can surround ourselves with people who will encourage and support us. Hint: the best way to find those people is to be one.
When it comes to weather, storms are unavoidable. But when it comes to our lives, we can often stop them before they become destructive. Whew. That’s good news.
{And for those of you who are now worried about me–I promise to go to the closet with my hubby and the dog next time the weatherman tells me to do so. I’ll bring cookies with me too. Want to come?}
Have a great Lord’s Day!
Anna Lee
We attended a wonderful celebration of life service this morning for my nephew’s mother-in-law. How wonderful it is to leave a Christian heritage for children and grandchildren!
Clarence W. “Tut” Young
(July 14, 1936 – April 16, 2011)
A resident of Kentwood, LA, died at 9:50 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at his home. He was born July 14, 1936 in Pine Ridge, LA and was 74 years of age. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 8 a.m. Monday until religious services at 11 a.m. Monday, April 18, 2011. Services conducted by Rev. Joey Miller. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. Survived by wife, Doris Booty Young, Kentwood, 2 daughters, Bonita Young Anthony and her husband, Michael, Kentwood, and Wanda Y. Miller and her husband, Larry, Kentwood, 2 sons, Ronnie Young, Pride, and Randy Young and his wife, Linda, Kentwood, brother, Donald Young and his wife, Maxine, Kentwood, 4 grandchildren, Cara Cutrer and her husband, Kevin, Jordan Miller, Jacob Miller, and Jacob Young, and 1 great-grandson, Kade Cutrer. Preceded in death by parents, Willie Young and Helen Bridges Young, sister, Juanita Young Felker, brother, George “Buck” Young.
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