Anna Lee

Saturday Addition

From Dwayne Wilson

Here’s the latest update on my friend Pat Smith from his wife, Stefani. Pat has an 89 Mustang GT that he tinkers with, so the last statement will be a discouragement to him when he comes around.

“Not a lot of new info tonight. Pat is still sedated, but stable. Nurse reports that they may remove some tubes tonight. An EEG was done today while he was sedated, but techs don’t say anything. Neurologist has to read that. If she did, I did not hear about it. Surgeon and cardiologist are discussing taking the balloon pump out tomorrow. He is currently on 1:2 ratio for that pump (for you medical people out there). His oxygen levels are staying in the 90s (which is good), but he is receiving 70% oxygen which is pretty high. I would think they need to see that come down a lot before they try to remove breathing tube. They are a little happier with his blood pressure tonight. I kind of expect them to take sedation off sometime tomorrow to run some tests, see how he responds to commands. I have seen him open his eyes some, but I’ve been telling him to relax. Please pray that he will follow the commands well. We met a new doc today (eletrophysiologist) who said that he will install a pacemaker with defibrillator about one or two days before Pat is ready to come home. Did you know that you can’t work around a running car engine when you have one of those??”

Thanks again for the prayers.

Saturday

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

~Lamentations 3:22–23 (NIV)~

Update on Johnnie Smith

Johnnie smith has been home sceen last sunday and doing good. Thanks to all or friends and family for there prayers and calls.

Jadon’s Story: The Past Couple of Days

My neurologist called first thing Wednesday morning. She didn’t want to increase my vimpat. She wanted to increase my banzel. So that’s what we did. The past two days haven’t been the best for me. Yesterday my mommy had to come home from work. I was crying, having seizures, and just miserable. We went to the pediatrician and I have a nasal and throat infection. She put me on antibiotics. She also gave me a cream to help my rash that I just can’t seem to get rid of. My seizures have not been good either. I’m having about 80 a day. I have done a little better this afternoon. My mommy has only seen about 10 small spasms. I’ve also been saying da da da all afternoon. So hopefully I will get to feeling better and my seizures will go down. I will keep you update. I love you and please continue to pray for me.

Baptist Press News

http://www.bpnews.net/

KneEmail

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

THE KEY WORD is through…

God promises you will get through the waters of grief, the river of sorrow, the furnace of pain. Somehow you will get through. What you experience today will not last forever.

One encouragement here is God knows who you are. He is your Creator, and he calls you by name (Isaiah 43.1). You are His, and He will take care of His own. In time of sorrow you feel unimportant and unknown. God knows you, and you are important to him.

God also knows where you are. He knows when you’re fighting the current of the river of sorrow, when you’re walking through the firey furnace of suffering. Others may not know what you’re experiencing. One the outside you may have everyone believing you’re fine. But inside you’re about to drown. God knows — and He is there for you.

When Daniel’s three friends were thrown into the furance, the king watched (Daniel 3.22-26). And what he saw amazed him: the men were not harmed, and a fourth person was with them in the furnace.

God knows how you feel: alone, afraid, uncertain about the future, isolated, maybe rejected. God made you with your emotions, and he knows how they can overwhelm and control you. God will never condemn you for the way you feel. Tell him how it feels — He will listen.

God knows what you need. You need someone to share the pain, to walk through this long valley with you. He promises His presence. He also promises His love. God gave you His Son to conquer death and give hope.

Live on promises, not on explanations. Even if God explained by your loved one died, the answer wouldn’t end the heartbreak or quench the questions. Instead of explanations, God gives promises, which keep you moving ahead, giving hope and new strength.

You’ll get through your grief. It won’t end today or next month. But there is an end. Just face today. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Don’t burn today’s energies on tomorrow’s problems that aren’t here yet.

You’re going to make it through. David W. Wiersbe, “Going Through,” Gone But Not Lost, 77-78

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire,

you shall not be burned,

nor shall the flame scorch you.”

Isaiah 43.2

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Week of Prayer

North American Missions Emphasis 2011 “Start Here”

“When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest’” (Matthew 9:36-38, HCSB).

Spiritual awakening and revival will never come to our families, churches, communities, continent or world without it first coming to our individual hearts. Even Christians strong in their faith and the expression of it in word and deed need times of renewal and reflection on where God has brought them and where He is leading them to go. We need renewal. We need revival. We need to experience afresh God’s power and presence in our lives. We need His eyes to see, His hears to hear, His heart to love, His hands to touch, and His mind to engage people where they are and lead them to Him. Only then can we move out toward others with evangelistic passion and purpose.

To “Start Here” is to look inward at ourselves. It is to examine our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions. It is to discover the strengths and weaknesses of our faith. The mirror that reflects our inward condition is God’s Word. We must respond to God’s desire for us to explore His Word, listen to His voice, and invite His Spirit to move in our lives so we can freely and sacrificially give ourselves to His Kingdom work as we live out the Great Commission task.

“Start Here” is to also see those around us with God’s eyes and to respond to what we see with His hands of love and His heart of compassion and His message of Truth and salvation.

The landscape of lives that make up North America will never be fully cultivated and harvested without God first touching Christians’ hearts to see the field and discover their personal roles in fulfilling the Great Commission. Christians must see the crowds and not be overwhelmed by the vastness of the needs. They must “start here” – with one person, with one prayer. Those that have discovered God’s abiding presence, even in the midst of fear, inspire and motivate us to join them in having passion and compassion that reaches from one’s heart all the way around the world – knowing sometimes the world is as close as the person right beside you.

Southern Baptist North American missionaries are a key element in the task of fulfilling the Great Commission, but the call is for everyone’s involvement. As we support this great missionary force through prayer, through financial support, and through going to serve alongside them, we must recognize that their task is ours as well. They serve in hard places with dedication and perseverance, but they need our active participation.Missionaries first fall on their knees in prayer before standing up and moving into the field on their feet. They are role models in being fully used by God to bring the gospel to all people. They trust the Holy Spirit to move in the lives of people and rest assured that God has called them to be both faithful and fruitful. They know the joy of seeing transformation come as a new follower of Jesus starts here with simple faith and trust.

This year, will you commit to “start here” by re-examining your heart to discover His will and way for your life as you live out the Great Commission call? What transformation do you need to witness? How will you respond?

To learn more about the North American Missions Emphasis, which includes the Week of Prayer and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, visit http://www.anniearmstrong.com.

Don’t let the rain bring discouragement to the day!

Anna Lee

Friday Afternoon

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Slade Easton Womack

Thank God for his arrival.

Mrs. Iris Russell Bel

Mrs. Iris Russell Bel was born on September 17, 1929 and passed away at 6:05 a.m., Friday, March 4, 2011 at Cannon Hospice, Jefferson, LA. She is 81, a native of Roseland and a resident of Franklin, LA.

Mrs. Iris is survived by 2 daughters, Becky B. Robichaux and husband Mike, Franklin, LA and Suzanne B. Taylor and husband Philip, Belle Chasse; 3 grandchildren, Philip Taylor and wife Nancy, Mobile, Al, Tempi T. Nepveaux and husband Sonny, Gretna and Shane M. Robichaux and wife Heather, Houma; 3 great grandchildren, Trinity Robichaux, Madison Taylor and Matthew Taylor; a sister, Mary Lyle R. Ellzey, Amite; 3 brothers, Kirk Russell and wife Louise, Roseland, Morris Russell and wife Irene, Jackson, and Connie Russell, Amite; sister-in-law, Linda Russell, Amite and a devoted friend, Anna Hanagriff, Franklin.

Preceded in death by parents, Olaf and Edith Springs Russell; husband, Francis X. “Hank” Bel, Sr.; son, Francis X. Bel, Jr.; 2 sisters, Ontie R. Gredesky and Clarice Toney.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Monday, March 7, 2011 from 12:00 Noon until Celebration of Life Services at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home Chapel with Deacon Mike Agnello officiating. Interment in Amite Mulberry Cemetery.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W next to Hood Automotive and behind Mr. Tom’ Car Wash and Holiday Inn Express.

Mid-day Friday

From Deborah Bales

Update on Jacob my grandson whom the Dr, though he was having seizure activity going on.. As of yesterday evening he seems to be doing ok nothing has changed so that is a good thing!!! His getting over the Mono & sinus infection will lessen the chances of him having seizures!!! When his body is well it seems to keep seizure activity at bay!! Please keep praying for him!!!

From the IMB

Thank you for your prayers for the worker among the East Asian Peoples who has been undergoing a very serious health crisis this week. Thank God that his condition has taken a turn for the better. However, he is still in ICU. Please continue to lift him up, praying for swift and complete healing. Ask God to give peace to his wife and others as they continue their vigil.

Thank God for blessing Rev. Charles and Mrs. Vickey Dean with two foster children last night. I know the children will be blessed by their stay in the Dean home.

Roy Mahaffey
(Died March 4, 2011)

Arrangements incomplete at this time.

Friday

Simon Peter answered him,

“Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

~John 6:68–69 (NIV)~

CaringBridge: Kathy Jo Thompson

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kathyjothompson

Pray for the Scott Womack family as they welcome Slade today.

Pray for Roger Pittman as he has heart tests today.

THE ONLY ONE PULLING

An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, “Pull, Nellie, pull!” Buddy didn’t move.

Then the farmer hollered, “Pull, Buster, pull!” Buddy didn’t respond. Once more the farmer commanded, “Pull, Coco, pull!” Nothing. Then the farmer nonchalantly said, “Pull, Buddy, pull!” And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.

The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times. The farmer said, “Oh, Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn’t even try!”

We’re a lot like Buddy, aren’t we? We don’t like to do something if we think we’re the only one pulling. Need an example?

Ever said, “Why should I pour my time and effort into the work of the church? No one else seems to care!”

Or, “Why should I put forth the extra effort to do a good job at work? No one else does, and it wouldn’t be appreciated anyway!”

Or, “Why should I be nice to him? He’s certainly not going to make any effort to be nice to me!”

See what I mean? Like Elijah in the cave, we often find ourselves saying to God, “I alone am left.” (I Kings 19:10). Nobody else is faithful. Nobody else is trying.

But God told Elijah he had 7,000 people on His side that Elijah didn’t know about. Like Buddy and Elijah, we may be blind. Blind to what others are doing around us. But, even if we are the only one doing what is right, we need to continue.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9)

Hang in there, and have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Anna Lee

Thursday Evening

From Dwayne Wilson in Texas

A friend I attend Sunday School with had a major heart attack last week. His name is Pat Smith. He is married, no kids, and is in his early 40′s. He has been in the hospital since the heart attack last Wednesday. Today he had a double bypass surgery. About an hour after we received word from his wife that all had gone well, we received another update saying his heart had stopped while he was talking with the surgeon. They revived him, but his heart stopped once more on the way back into surgery.

Here’s the lastest e-mail update I’ve received from a minister at our church.

“Pat has made it through surgery and he is stable right now. He will be sedated for the next few days and will do a CT scan at that time to determine if there was any other injuries from the surgery. Please pray for Stefani and the family as they are waiting yet again for Pat to come off the sedation and that there would be no damage to his brain. ”

Thank you so much for the opportunity to have more prayers on his behalf!

Thursday

“But certainly God has heard me;

He has attended to the voice of my prayer.”

~Psalm 66:19~

Pray for Roger Pittman as he has heart tests.

Bro. Joe Baugh said Rev. John and Mrs. Betty Gilbert are both in an assisted living place in Hammond. Thank God for their impact on many lives, mine included. Ask God to give them peace, rest, and contentment in their present circumstances.

Boots and Mary Prescott are both home and in the healing process. Pray for them as they get through this time.

Continue to pray for Janet Phillips Myers who is being treated at M.D. Anderson in Houston.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2.10

Mike Benson, Editor

I PLAYED A lot of basketball back in the day…

I sprained my ankles many times and I learned too late that the best way to handle all that black-and-blue is to fill a wastebasket with ice, and top it off with water. Then, while the injury is fresh, put your wounded foot deep into that cold water and leave it there.

If you can last for one minute, it’s just crazy painful. But if you can keep it in there for two minutes, the injury and its recovery time will be cut in half. (The problem is that after two minutes the pain is so excruciating that you will be saying words your mother didn’t know you knew.)

If you can hang on for two and a half minutes, you can be playing basketball again by Thursday, but the pain of holding your fooot in that artic water will have you crying out for someone to bring you a sharp object. Even with my worst injuries I seldom made it two and a half minutes.

But here is the incredible thing a bout “remaining under the pain” of having your foot in that cold bucket. If you can hang on for three minutes, you’ll be walking on it tomorrow. The pain will be consuming those last thirty seconds, worse by far than the injury itself now. But you will walk tomorrow.

THOUGHT: It is just that way with trials. You can come to the place where the circumstance itself is less painful than the commitment not to give up. If staying put was easy, if submitting to what God allows and not giving up was simple…everyone would be doing it. The fact is, many folks are going round and round with God about the very same things because they change the scenery or marriage or job or congregation rather than remaining under the trial and letting God change them. James MacDonald, “Why Trials?”, When Life is Hard, 63, 64

“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1.4

Thank-you for being there to pray each day. Your prayers are important to God and the people you are praying for.

Anna Lee

Wednesday Obituary

Billy Gene Booty was born on November 6, 1946 and passed away at 2:01 p.m., Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at West Jefferson Medical Center, Marrero, LA. He was 64, a native of Fluker and resident of Avondale.

He is survived by a sister, Edna Bradford, Houston, TX; 2 brothers, Arnold Booty and wife Helen, Prairieville and Howard Booty, Kentwood; 3 daughters, Sandy Gee and husband Mickey, Richlands, NC, Kelly Dominick, Belle Chasse, & Tammy Dominick, Gretna; 8 grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Preceded in death by his parents, Noel and Mable Gill Booty; brother, Ronald Booty; nephews, Marshall Lee, Ronnie Booty and Randy Booty.

Visitation at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Saturday, March 5, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. until Celebration of Life Services at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home Chapel with Bro. Willie Westmoreland officiating. Interment in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Mt. Hermon, LA.

An on-line Guestbook is available at www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com.

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W next to Hood Automotive and behind Mr. Tom’ Car Wash and Holiday Inn Express.

Wednesday Afternoon

From Sherry Simpson

We have some very good friends that we have known for more the ten years at Houma Louisiana. Tuesday their daughter Summer Trosclair, 26 passed away. This family has gone through so much and with this unexpected death, they need our prayers

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Thanks for all the intercession!!! The Christian worker among East Asian People for whom we’ve been praying is still on a ventilator – the doctors have started him on an even stronger antibiotic. They are still working to clean his blood more, so not much change. Please keep praying for swift and complete healing.

—
International Mission Board
3806 Monument Avenue
Richmond, VA 23230

Thank you so much for being on call and instantly responsive to this need and all urgent prayer requests.

Thanks to Marty and Gretchen for preparing jambalaya for the BCM at SLU today. Thanks to James Rimes, David (and Anna Lee), and Eleanor for helping Marty and Gretchen chop ingredients for the jambalaya last night. Thanks to five of the ladies’ classes at FBC, Kentwood for provided food to go with the jambalaya. Faye Shoemacker, Eleanor Morris, Judy Fowler, Bro. Mike, Marty, Gretchen, and I were honored to be able to deliver the food and serve it today.The students ate well and were very appreciative. I wish all of you could have seen the students as they came through the line. I was so blessed to be a part of this event.

Urgent Request

URGENT PRAYER
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.