“Now he who plants and he who waters are one,
and each one will receive his own reward
according to his own labor.
For we are God’s fellow workers.”
~1 Corinthians 3:8-9a~
Terry Bankston was rushed to Tulane Hospital over the weekend for surgery. He will have addition surgery Saturday and possibly several more times. Pray for his family as they are so concerned about him. I would guess Terry is in his 40’s.
Momma was much better yesterday. Thanks for all the prayers and calls.
Pray for the Lay Renewal at FBC, Kentwood. It will be the weekend of August 19 – 21.
Alan Smith’s Thought for the Day
| Being Prepared |
Earthquakes can strike without warning, and being prepared for such a
disaster can mean the difference between life and death. Here are some
tips someone has offered to help you and your loved ones make it through
a quake:
~ Those living in areas not prone to earthquakes can respond quickly to
the plight of disaster victims in quake zones by complacently smirking
and saying, "I told you so."
~ To minimize loss and damage in a quake, try not to own things.
~ Practice your burrowing-out-from-under-40-tons-of-rubble skills ahead
of time.
~ Look out your window often. If you see a large, zig-zag-shaped crevasse
moving rapidly from the horizon toward your home, step either to the right
or the left.
~ For those who fear earthquakes, it may comfort you to know that a
majority of the damage during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake did not
come from the tremors themselves. Instead, it was from the raging,
out-of-control fires that consumed most of the city.
~ A doorway is the safest place to be during a quake. Eat, sleep, and work
in doorways.
~ Be sure to mail your house-insurance payments a full five business days
before a major earthquake strikes.
~ If you are caught in a major earthquake in Southern California and are part of the entertainment industry, take a moment or two to reflect on how grossly you've wasted your life.
As several of the suggestions above point out (with tongue firmly in cheek!), the problem with an earthquake is its unpredictability.
A few months ago, Hurricane Ike devastated the Galveston area, but there
was at least warning for several days that danger was coming. With an
earthquake, there is none -- it simply strikes!
Jesus described his second coming as an event like that. He used terminology
like "a thief in the night" to describe the unexpectedness of the moment.
His purpose in using that image was not to suggest that he is coming to
steal something. Rather, he is coming at a time when we least expect it.
And the only way to be ready for that moment (just as with an earthquake)
is to stay prepared all the time.
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The skies will disappear
with a loud noise. Everything in them will be destroyed by fire, and the
earth and everything in it will be burned up. In that way everything will
be destroyed. So what kind of people should you be?
You should live holy lives and serve God, as you wait for and look forward
to the coming of the day of God." (I Peter 3:10-12a, NCV).
My prayer is that you will be prepared so that you, too, can truly "look
forward" to that day (whenever it may be!).
Have a great day!
Alan Smith
Thanks for reading and praying today.
Anna Lee
The Prayer Link 