Mrs. Mildred Birch, 93, who had a recurrence of her original problems, will probably not be going home today. Now it seems like it might possibly be tomorrow. She’s at the St. Helena Hospital.
Pray for those who get cold in this kind of weather. It takes a while to warm up again. Pray they don’t get sick from being cold for a long period of time.
Read the Bible (three more weeks)
January 4, 2024
II Corinthians 5: 1-8
Phiippians 1: 20-25
“I know Heaven is my reward because . . . .”
Daily Bible Readings for 2024
January 4, 2024 – almost 3 pages
Genesis 7:1 – 9:7
Psalm 3: 1-8
Proverbs 1: 8-9
Matthew 4: 1-20
I’m reading and enjoying this plan again.
Cold Weather
Please pray for people not to get unnecessarily cold, and then sick, in this weather.
Update
I do not have updates on Ronnie and Elaine Cutrer.
Mr. Emmett Watson is ill. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.
Hospital
Mrs. Mildred Birch is in the Greensburg Hospital. Please add her to your prayer list.
Prayer Concern
Please pray for all the people, especially the elderly ones, who live in homes not well-equipped for cold weather. This includes heating, pipes, food supplies, etc.
Take a few minutes to pray for them or to “take needed actions” to help.
Read the Bible (continued from 2023)
Luke 16: 19-31
Proverbs 11: 7
Proverbs 13:9
Proverbs 24: 19-20
“The person I need to prepare for death is . . . .”
Real the Bible 2024
Genesis 5:1 – 6:22
Psalm 2: 7-12
Proverbs 1:7
Matthew 3: 1-17
I am reading the Bible with this plan in 2024. It’s not too late to go back to the beginning and read with me.
OCC
Please continue to pray for those who received our Shoeboxes in Ghana and “A Hard to Reach Area”. May they hear and receive the message of Jesus.
Death
Sudie Louise Palmer
November 19, 1945 – December 19, 2023
A resident of Amite, LA, passed away on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at her home. She was born November 19, 1945 in Bogalusa, LA and was 78 years of age. She is survived by her children, Phildon Keith Miller and Connie Sue Miller Harrison; grandchildren, Darryl Blaine Miller, wife, Ashley, Morgan Bryonna Blades, Daniel Blake Miller, Savanna Kaye Miller, and Tadd Miller; great-grandchildren, Taylar, Case, Clay, Adlai, and Lucas; brother, Bill Adams; sister, Dianne Parker; numerous nieces and nephews; special friend, Larry Byrd. Preceded in death by her father, William Adams; mother, Alma Corley Adams; 6 brothers, TC Adams, Willis Adams, Richard Adams, William Adams, Jr., Roy Adams, and Phildon Adams; 6 sisters, Ophelia Hodge, Ines Woodard, Liza Thomas, Elsie Adams, and 2 infant Adams; son, Darryl Thomas Miller; husband, Tilman Palmer; former spouse, Thomas Miller; grandchildren, Breanna Sue Miller and Keith Paul Harrison; daughter-in-law, LaBreeska Lewis. Visitation at Hillsdale Baptist Church from 10:00AM until religious services at 12:00 Noon on Friday, December 22, 2023. Services conducted by Bro. Darryl Miller. Interment Hillsdale Cemetery, Hillsdale, LA. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
“This reminds me that my physical body is . . . .”
Read the Bible in 2024
January 2, 2024
Genesis 3:1 – 4:26
Psalm 2: 1-6
Proverbs 1: 5-6
Matthew 2: 1-23
Prayer Focus
Pray for those who will be having medical appointments soon because they needed to wait for their insurance coverage for the new year. This will focus on some elective surgeries such as knee surgery.
Pray & Act
Pray for those facing these surgeries in the coming days. Think about what you can do to to make their time before or after surgery more comfortable.
World Situations
Pray for those affected by war, weather, earthquake, limited fuel, etc.
Local Churches
Pray for our local churches as they move into the plans they made for 2024. May each church see God’s plans for training all age groups and for growth in all age groups.
The Prayer Link
I often hear that a person reads and enjoys The Prayer Link. They even tell me who suggested they read The Prayer Link. Sometimes that person even finds TPL on the other (often older) person and sets the phone up so TPL shows up on the home page for them. If you have the desire to help and the skills to set TPL up that way you can truly be a blessing to others.
The Bible teaches us to use our skills wisely. It has only been a few years that that included computer skills. While you are at it, set them up for FBC, Kentwood’s Facebook so they can see the online services. You can even set them up to hear other online pastors who preach God’s Word. What a blessing you have been!!!
Contact Me
Several people have asked this week ablout how they can sent me a prayer request. It’s not hard. Look for the CONTACT BUTTON on this page. When you click it, you can send me an email. Type in your message and SEND. I will read my messages before I type TPL the next morning.
Have a blessed day today. Be a blessing to someone today.
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:5
A Plan for the New Year
I did this a few years ago and plan to do it again in 2024. I shared with my Sunday School class yesterday and one lady immediately said she was doing this. I call it the THANKFULNESS JAR. You need three things. Little pieces of (Colored) paper about 1/8 of a full page, a pen(s), and a big jar which can can decorate if you choose.. (You can even start with a smaller jar and increase the size as needed.).
Each day you write on a piece of paper what you are thankful for at that moment. Each day you add what you are thankful for that day. Fold the paper a couple of times and add it to the jar. You will be amazed with how you feel when you write your Thankfulness each day.
Be sure to keep the jar and the strips of paper in a prominent place so you won’t forget. I hope you have a great year of remembering your blessings!
Today’s Prayer
We need to remember and pray for those whose memory (and choices) are not good like they were in earlier years. I especially want to pray for Bryan Tate and his caregiver wife, Rita, as they daily face his health issues. Add other names that fit in this category.
Read the Bible (ending soon)
January 1, 2024
Psalm 23
Psalm 49: 9-15
Psalm 116: 15
“The believer does not fear death because . . . .”
This series will be over in a few weeks.
Everyday with Jesus in 2024
(This is three pages long in my Bible. Surely we can make time today to read that much!)
Genesis 1: 1-2:25
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 1: 1-4
Matthew 1: 1-25
I’m counting on you to read the Bible with me in 2024. I try to read the Bible from cover to cover about every other year. Let’s read together.
Have a wonderful day as you write your thankfulness, and read God’s Word.
Pray for all those who will celebrate the new year to be safe as they do so. This includes all those who will be handling fireworks and those who will be driving.
Read the Bible
Death: Heading Home
II Kings 2: 1-11
Ecclesiastes 12: 1-7
Hebrews 9:27
I Timothy 9:7
“Death ceased to be my enemy when . . . .”
Sunday School Lesson
The First Murder - Cain and Able
Studying in Genesis
Please let me know if you need help choosing a Sunday School class at FBC, Kentwood
Sunday School begins at 9:15.
Health
Mrs. Theople Hurst’s foot is improving. Keep praying.
OCC – Be Thinking
I’m going to begin asking about talents you have that can be useful to OCC. Are you able to sew, crochet, embroidery, cut wood, sand wood, paint, count, etc. Think carefully about how you can be meaningful to our next 600 shoeboxes.
OCC - Where did our boxes go?
I checked a few of our receipts yesterday. We had boxes to travel to Ghana on 11-30-23 and others to go to a Hard to Reach Country on 12-19-23. I looked for a way to tell you what that means and found this.
A HARD TO REACH AREA
Your shoebox gift is a critical link to sharing God’s love in a tough place! Whether you built a shoebox online or whether your traditional shoebox gift was selected for this special purpose, it is headed to bring Good News and great joy to a boy or girl in a hard-to-reach area. Customs and cultural or religious reasons can make access difficult, but these gift-filled shoeboxes give local believers a sensitive way to initiate ongoing relationships with those who may not know Christ. The gift you provided helps equip Christian brothers and sisters to take great risks to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they are deeply grateful for your partnership. Through your generosity, you are calling out “His praise from the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 42:10)!
Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered shoebox gifts to more than 70 hard-to-reach countries, and shoebox gifts built online account for 1.1 million of the over 198 million gifts distributed worldwide.
(This came from the Samaritan’s Purse Web Page.)
LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING
Our church will continue receiving gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering a little longer. Thanks to all the very generous members of our church who not only send Shoeboxes with God’s Word, but also missionaries with God’s Word. You can impact people around the world for eternity through these two opportunities. I thank each one of you who cares about salvation for those who live in Kentwood and in places so far from Kentwood.
Elaine Cutrer is in St Tammany Hospital possibly with pneumonia. Ronnie is sick at home waiting for the doctor to call and give him his diagnosis. (Upper respiratory).
Please pray for these two friends of many of us.
Obituary
Angie Nielsen’s mother passed away.
Ms. Clayton Tay A. Mercer Cotton
Moms funeral arrangements:
Saturday, January 6,2024
Greenoaks Funeral Home and Cemetery, Baton Rouge, LA
Visitation – 10am- 12 pm ; Service at 12:00pm
Burial service afterward
Read the Bible
Week 49 – Death: Heading Home
Genesis 27: 2
I Samuel 20: 1-3
Job 7
“The very thought of dying makes me . . . .”
Encouragement
Holidays can be wonderful, but they can be very difficult for those who live alone. Be an encourager at the end of this holiday week.
Today, I would like to mention some people to you, but you can also pray for those on your prayer list.
Dan’l Johnson continues to improve. Thankfully his family is on a long holiday vacation from school.
Roy and Diane Turner – at home
Andy and Betty Taylor – at home
Rondi Booty and Tiffany Lee who are both expecting babies in the next three weeks.
Dwayne Creel – Outpatient surgery yesterday, but home now.
Diane Buckley – Waiting for final diagnosis and treatment
Bro. Darryl – In a waiting period, but all is going well so far.
Older, Homebound Friends - Lots of people who would appreciate some of your time and concern.
Read the Bible Daily
Afflictions: Roses and Thorns
Psalm 107
Revelation 7: 13-17
“God delivered me from trouble when . . . .”
Health Focus
It seems many folks have bad colds, coughs, flu, Covid, etc. Pray for each one to recover well and quickly.
Sunday School
We will be studying about Cain and Abel and their families. Even though you have heard this story for years, there is always more to learn. Attend Sunday School and learn what God has in store for you this week. If you need help choosing and locating a class, David and I will help. Give us a call so we can meet you at your car. Also, Luther Terrell who is located just inside the front door of the fellowship hall is available. Usually, Bro. Darryll is on the sidewalk somewhere and would be glad to help you. Come and let us get you involved in a class.
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
David and I can see/feel the need for us to give to this offering because of our family members who served so long as overseas missionaries. If we all do our part, many unsaved people can learn about Jesus and have the opportunity to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. The missionaries are in place. Let’s make sure adequate funding is too. One hundred percent of your gift will go to meet the needs of out missionaries as they serve around the world.
New Readers Praying with Us
Every week some of you pass the word about reading The Prayer Link to others, many of whom who attend other churches. God finds a way to use these thoughts to help them in their own churches.
If you attend FBC, Kentwood with me and know of some new members who could be introduced to TPL or older folks who would appreciate you setting their phones so they can read TPL easily, you would be greatly appreciated. Thank-you ahead of time for these ways we can be be encouraging and informative.
Prayer is the key. We can all pray on our schedule, but hopefully this guide can be helpful.
A resident of Kentwood, LA, passed away on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at her home. She was born March 7, 1937 in Magnolia, MS and was 86 years of age. She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Barber and husband, Troy E. Barber; son, Mark Varnado and wife, Judy Varnado; 3 grandchildren, Clif Bryan and wife, Fern Bryan, Clay Bryan, and Emily Varnado; 6 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Celia Ann Smith and Rachel Coggins and husband, Michael Coggins. Preceded in death by husbands, Donald Varnado and David Griffin; granddaughter, Raina Bryan; parents, W. Deloy Smith, Sr. and Neva Burch Smith; brother, W. Deloy Smith, Jr.; and sister, Diane Strickland. Visitation at Spring Creek Baptist Church from 10:00AM until religious services at 11:30AM on Friday, December 29, 2023. Interment Spring Creek Cemetery, Spring Creek, LA. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.
A resident of Amite, LA, passed away on Friday, December 22, 2023 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. He was born June 28, 1938 in Amite, LA and raised in Amite, LA. He was 85 years of age. He graduated in 1956 from Amite High School and spent two years in the United States Army 503 Military Police Battalion. His rank was Corporal. While with the Military Police Unit, he was sent to provide security and protection on the campus of Ole Miss University in 1962. He retired as director for the Louisiana Federal Surplus Property Agency after 27 years of employment. He is survived by his brother, Steve Liuzza, Jr. Preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Fay Harling Liuzza; parents, Steve Liuzza, Sr. and Catherine Rispone Liuzza; brother, Joseph Anthony Liuzza. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite from 8:00AM until 10:15AM with Funeral Mass at St. Helena Catholic Church at 10:30AM on Friday, December 29, 2023. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
Prayer Focus
Today, let’s pray for students who are enjoying a long holiday from school. Pray for good choices for their care when young and for them to make good choices in all they do as they get older.
Prayer Meeting
Tonight at 6:00 at FBC, Kentwood. It is never long, but always meaningful.
Reach Out. . .
. . . to someone who is lonely, sick, needy, etc. today. You will get a blessing.
Plan for TODAY – Many stores have good discounts after Christmas. You are encouraged to SHOP TODAY and look for school supplies (calculators, erasers, pencils, coloring books, etc), hygiene items (toothbrushes, wash cloths, band aids, cotton balls, and Q-tips., clothing items - socks and underwear for boys and girls (Size 12)., and small toys for boys and girls, ages 9-14 (small dolls, marbles, small trucks, and hair ornaments. These are not all the items we will need, but a good start.
Sunday School Lesson for Sunday
Adam, Eve, Cain, Able, and Seth
You are invited to come study with us at FBC, Kentwood. We have a class for everyone! About a month ago, I was asked to teach my class. Please come learn, or review, with us. Our class is named New Hope! I didn’t join the class for the name, but it certainly is a name that can draw you in. We would love to have you visit and decide for yourself.
Changing Gears
We will be leaving 2023 behind and moving into 2024 in every aspect of our personal and church lives. Be ready to move ahead. Our schedule for next Sunday is the same as usual with the exception of the evening service being at Spring Creek.
“Even in poverty, victory is mine because . . . .”
Church Services. . . .
. . . . were wonderful yesterday at my church. I hope you also had some good services to enjoy and appreciate.
Thank God
Thank Him for all the boys and girls who will be happy today. Thank Him for those who had very limited Christmases, but are appreciative for what they received. Pray other people will be able to help all of them to realize this day is all about Jesue!
Prayer Point
Thank God for sening his son to earth with a plan of living and dieing as an example so we might have the opportunity to go to heavven for eternity.
Others
As you. go about this day, may you be aware of adults or children around you that you might can introduce to Jesus!
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