Author: Anna Lee

Friday

“The Lord has heard my supplication;

the Lord will receive my prayer.”

~Psalm 6:9~


Nataniel Russell

Please be in prayer for our oldest son, Nathaniel as he has his wisdom teeth out Friday at 9am. I will be going with him so Kelly does not have to lose a day of work. Pray the surgery goes well and Nathaniel will not have any problems during the surgery and as he recovers.

I will send out an update on him when I send out the March prayer letter for Team Bucharest.

Thank you for praying for Nathaniel. I reminded him last night (we attended the Ash Wednesday service at his church) that I do not have the gift of nursing so pray I will do well in taking care of him until Kelly gets home in the afternoon.

Seara buna! Have a good evening!

Melinda

You may remember the youngest Russell son, Kyle, had very serious problems following surgery in Eastern Europe last year. Pray they do not have a repeat with Nathaniel in Texas.

Carl Wayne Stevens

Carl Wayne has had another setback. Keep him and his family in your prayers.

Ruby Dillon

Pray for “Miss” Ruby as she has a procedure this morning in McComb. Pray for those responsible for her care today. Pray for the family as they wait.


KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
“LISTENING IS THE other half of talking…”1
Most of us are pretty good at the first half of talking, but not so good at the second half. We are proficient at talking, but deficient at listening. As you recall, this was especially true of Job’s friends. When they heard of the evil that was come upon their friend Job, they made an appointment together “to come to mourn with him and to comfort him” (Job 2:11). It seems that their intentions were good. They wanted to comfort him. However, they proved to be “miserable comforters” (Job 16:2). In large part, they were “miserable comforters” because they failed to listen to their friend. They were so busy telling him what a great sinner he was that they failed to hear his declarations of innocence.
Let’s make sure that we do better than they did. (Wade Webster)
1 John Hagee, Life’s Challenges, Your Opportunities
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).

I pray you will be a good listener today.
Anna Lee

Thursday

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow….” ~Philippians 2:10~


Red Envelope Day

http://www.redenvelopeday.com/

Join others in sending an empty envelope to the president on March 31.

On the back write “This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion. It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world.”

President Obama

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500



International World Changers Stories

http://www.iwcstories.com/



Baptist Press

February 25, 2009

WASHINGTON–Clinton, in China visit, neglected human rights, critics charge. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29953

WASHINGTON–Supreme Court gives win to Ten Commandments monument supporters. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29954

WASHINGTON–Obama tells Congress nation ‘will recover.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29955

GEORGIA–Facebook gives Annie Armstrong new ‘friends.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29956

GEORGIA–Johnny Hunt addresses 12,000 men. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29957

NORTH CAROLINA–Graham organization to trim staff by 10%. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29958

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (Dwayne Hastings): Concerned about nominee’s porn ties. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29959

TEXAS–FIRST-PERSON (Bob Stith): A question I often ponder. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29960


BE CAREFUL WHO YOU IMITATE

The following story is reported to be true:

A new missionary recruit went to Venezuela for the first time. He was struggling with the language and didn’t understand a whole lot of what was going on. Intending to visit one of the local churches, he got lost, but eventually got back on track and found the place. Having arrived late, the church was already packed. The only pew with a seat open was the one on the front row.

So as not to make a fool of himself, this recruit decided to pick someone out of the crowd to imitate. He chose to follow the man sitting next to him on the front pew. As they sang, the missionary tried to follow along. When the man stood up to pray, the missionary recruit stood up too. When the man sat down, he sat down. When the man took the cup and bread for the Lord’s Supper, he took the cup and bread. During the preaching, the recruit didn’t understand a thing. He just sat there and tried to look like that man in the front pew.

Then he perceived that the preacher was giving announcements. People clapped, so he looked to see if the man was clapping. He was, and so the recruit clapped too. Then the preacher said some words that he didn’t understand and he saw the man next to him stand up. So he stood up, too. Suddenly a hush fell over the entire congregation. A few people gasped. He looked around and saw that nobody else was standing, so he sat down.

After the service ended, the preacher stood at the door shaking the hands of those who were leaving. When the missionary recruit stretched out his hand to greet the preacher, the preacher said, in English: “I take it you don’t speak Spanish.”

The missionary recruit replied: “No I don’t. Is it that obvious?”

“Well yes,” said the preacher, “I announced that the Acosta family had a newborn baby boy and would the proud father please stand up.”

There is nothing wrong with imitating godly men and women, but we need to be careful who we imitate, and to what extent. Even the apostle Paul was careful to limit those who sought to follow him:

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1)

Follow the example of those you know who are living godly lives, but be sure to keep one eye on Christ as the ultimate standard. Otherwise, you may find yourself standing when you ought to be sitting!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina


Enjoy the beautiful day the Lord has provided today.

Anna Lee

Wednesday Addition

Holly K. gave me permission to post this. When you finish reading, I hope you will feel led to pray for Holly and others serving around the world in similar positions.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Still waters?

Life in a dry, desert area can be interesting. You suddenly realize the importance of water. Right now, as I sit here typing this, I have no water. I turn on my faucet and nothing comes out. I sit here thinking, “Today was really hot and I’m pretty smelly … how am I going to get un-smelly?!” Then I think of my favorite Psalm – one that everyone should know: Psalm 23.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”

After being away from “green pastures” and “quiet waters” for two months, I really have a new appreciation for them. One day, in Dakar, we were at the Marine House to watch the movie “Fireproof.” (They set it up like a movie theater! I got to eat a hot dog and Kit Kat bar!) Well, they had grass there! GRASS!! I took off my flip-flops and walked barefoot in the grass. It was AMAZING!!

Life is like that. Sometimes we have been out in the desert for too long. We need to take off our shoes and run barefoot in the cool, green grass. We need to stick our feet in the refreshing, clear water. Living in the actual desert, I have to remind myself not to be in the “desert” for too long. I have to let God lead me into those “green pastures” and “quiet waters.” I cannot rely on my own strength out here. I have to rely on HIM!!! Otherwise, little things like no water or the electricity going off every day will really start to get to me. I have to look at the glass as 1/2 full, not 1/2 empty. I praise God for the lady who lived in my house before who filled up about ten 10 liter jugs full of tap water for times when the water is out. I praise God that the electricity only stays off for about an hour at a time, sometimes 30 minutes. I praise God for technology that allows me to video-call my parents and “attend” my grandmother’s 74th birthday party. I praise God for a cat who kills my bugs at night so they don’t crawl on me!

In all, I have had a good dose of culture being here. I had a guy from telephone company wander into my house unannounced (scared me to death!). I’ve eaten from a common bowl (I did get a spoon though). I’ve met many people and look forward to building relationships with them. I’m continuing my Wolof learning and making lots of people laugh in the process. God is good though. I am very blessed and know that God will continue to bless me.

Wednesday

“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;

in the morning I will direct it to You,

and I will look up.”

~Psalm 5:3~

Pray for the Perry family as they have services for Aubrey Perry in Alabama today.


Pray for other families that have recently lost loved ones.


Pray for the lost all around us, often members of our families.

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. A cross-cultural father working with South Asians shared this story: “A few days ago, our almost 8-year-old son was sitting on the bed beside me. He currently has an avid interest in wild animals, and he and his younger brother often pretend they are on some wild safari adventure, encountering various types of wildlife, or maybe they are even the wildlife themselves. So thinking along those lines, I ventured the question that I hadn’t asked in a long time. ‘What do you think you might like to be when you grow up?’ He thought for a moment, but quite soon said, ‘I think I want to have a house church.’ Then he added, ‘And maybe something else too, because there are still lots of other days left in the week.’ Thank God with us that we have the blessing of seeing our children grow up with church planting in their hearts. Pray that these young ones will one day return to the field to continue reaping the harvest of souls.”

What are your prayers for your children and grandchildren?


KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
A MAN VISITED Tiffany’s jewelry store in New York City…
He was shown a magnificent diamond with its gleaming yellow light and many other splendid stones. But he observed one stone that was perfectly lusterless and said, “That has no beauty about it at all.”

The friend who was with him put the stone in the hollow of his hand and held it there for a few minutes. When he opened it, the man said, “What a surprise! There is not a place on it the size of a pinhead that does not gleam with the splendor of the rainbow. What did you do with it?”

His friend answered, “This is an opal. It is what we call the sympathetic jewel. It only needs contact with the human hand to bring out its wonderful beauty.”

How many lives there are that need only the warm touch of human sympathy to make them gleam with opalescent splendor.

Aquilla and Priscilla ran into Apollos, who needed to know the way of the Lord more perfectly. With love and kindness they touched him with the truth, and Apollos became a brilliant apologist for Christianity.

Saul of Tarsus was a much-feared persecutor of the church, but a friend named Barnabas (son of encouragement), stood at his side and defended him to the other Christians. As you know, Saul the persecutor became the apostle Paul, touched by a messenger Ananias and an encourager Barnabas.

A confused Eunuch rode along, not understanding what he was reading. What a blessing that the Spirit urged Philip to join the Eunuch’s chariot and to preach the gospel of Jesus to him. The confused man found answers and went on his way rejoicing.

The hopeless jailer, fearing the worst from the earthquake, thought to take his own life. But two beaten and imprisoned men, who knew the grace of God, cried out, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!” They kept him from taking his life by giving him the Lord Jesus Christ. That very hour, the man who had no hope, found great joy in Jesus.

Do you know a downcast and discolored soul you may touch? The warmth of your love coupled with the truth of the gospel can turn a dull soul into one of the lights of the world, like a city set on a hill. (Phil Sanders at http://www.forthright.net/from_friend_to_friend/the_sympathetic_jewel.html)

“You are the light of the world.
A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” ~Matthew 5:14~

Let your light shine today.

Anna Lee

Tuesday Afternoon

Continue to pray for Lauree Titus. She is still unable to work. Pray she will get the relief she needs soon.


Wallace Aubrey Perry Jr.
COALING Wallace Aubrey “Coach” Perry, Jr., age 53, died Feb. 22, 2009, at home. Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Memory Chapel Funeral Home with Jack Clary and Joey Miller officiating. Burial will follow in Coaling Cemetery with Memory Chapel Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

He was preceded in death by his father, Wallace Aubrey Perry, Sr., and grandparents.

Survivors include his wife, Jan Averett Perry; daughters, Christina Marie Mink (John), Candace Michelle Perry; sister, Karen Miller (Joey); mother, Nyra (Nell) Perry Rigby; grandchildren, Nathaniel Perry Mink, and Vayda Marie Mink; and nieces and nephews.

He was a retired teacher and coach of Tuscaloosa County Board of Education, served on staff of Boys State and a deacon at Evergreen Baptist Church.

Pallbearers will be his nephews, Chris Smalley, Chad Smalley, Carson Smalley, Chaplin Smalley, Trey Averett, Josh Averett, Will Averett, Rick Averett, and Jess Averett.

Honorary pallbearers are Johnny and Dianne Averett, Gary and Sara Averett, Bobby and Tabitha Averett, Shane Eads, Andy Foster, Mary and Len Waldrop, Evergreen Baptist Church, deacons of Evergreen Coaling Baptist, deacons of Coaling Methodist, Kates Creek Hunting Club, Home Depot, coaches and staff of Brookwood Middle School, Brookwood High School, Hillcrest Middle School, Hillcrest High School, Boys State Staff, Friends of Coaling Community, Kirklin Clinic Acton Road, and Dr. May Linda Sullivan and staff.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of West Alabama and Evergreen Baptist Church Building Fund.

Tuesday

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

~Matthew 28:19a~

JAHANKA OF SENEGAL, GUINEA AND THE GAMBIA (jah-HONK-kay). In the area where the Jahanka live, the hottest and driest time of year is quickly approaching. During this time of year, some will have their wells dry up. The women in those homes will then have to go somewhere else to get water–perhaps to a neighbor’s well or a small river nearby. They will then return home, carrying water buckets on their heads that weigh 30 or 40 pounds. Pray that just as they recognize their need for water and search for it, they will also realize that they are spiritually thirsty and search for the living water that Jesus gives. http://www.jahanka.org/

SENUFO SUPYIRE OF MALI (SIN-oo-fo su-PEER-ay). For the past several months, Senufo Supyire Team members have had a busy schedule of travel, visitors, and various meetings. They are now able to slow down a bit and are planning to spend more time immersing themselves in village life to focus on language learning. Each week they will spend several nights and days in a rural village and then return to their house in town to rest and accomplish other tasks that need to be done. Language learning in and of itself can be draining, but adding the difficult living conditions makes it even more stressful. Please pray for adequate rest and continued health during this time, as well as profitable language learning experiences and opportunities to share the gospel with the Senufo Supyire among whom they will be staying.

BASOTHO OF LESOTHO AND SOUTH AFRICA (BAH-soo-too). International Service Corps workers Tom and Cindi Melvin, serving in the lowlands of Lesotho, continue to pray that God will open doors to reach the Chinese who work in the garment factories in Maseru, Lesotho. Please join them in praying that Chinese will be interested in taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes as a way of building relationships so that the message of Christ may eventually be shared. Pray that factory owners will allow the English classes to be held in the dormitories where many Chinese live. http://www.basotho.org/

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (DER-bun). The KwaZulu-Natal province has suffered numerous major run-away fires, floods and severe storms since May of last year. Some of these storms have destroyed thousands of homes at a time, and many lives have been lost. Government disaster relief has been stretched to the limit. Missionaries Bill and Carol Bowers are in the process of encouraging the Baptist churches of Durban to organize a formal disaster relief program so that they can be a part of the resolution of the pain and agony that comes with these natural disasters, as well as being able to share with victims the hope that comes through placing their trust in Jesus Christ. Other major religious groups are organized and spreading their beliefs during a time of vulnerability. Pray that Baptist leaders and other concerned members will join together to share the love of Jesus in a meaningful way with those who are less fortunate and be able to make an eternal difference in their lives.

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA. “Much of the ministry is accomplished through the relationships built with brothers and sisters who live here,” writes the St. Petersburg Team. “They face many hardships and have times of suffering. Please pray that they will have patient endurance and wisdom during these times. Pray especially for a brother who just lost his wife after being married only eight months.”

AUSTRIANS OF AUSTRIA. The Vienna Team members ask: “Please pray for the three Oikos (communities of faith) groups that are running or starting up in this new year. We have had the great joy of being involved in two groups and seeing the desire of another Austrian couple to start a separate group. Please pray that the participants will grow strong in the Lord and walk according to the Spirit, relying upon His teaching from the Word. Pray that they will be humble and have a servant’s heart towards all that God puts in their path. Pray that they will share what they have seen and heard and experienced of Jesus with lost friends and neighbors around them.” pray.vienna@gmail.com

NORTHERN YEMENI ARABS OF YEMEN (YEH-muh-nee). Troubles continue to plague the people here. Several weeks ago, some foreigners were kidnapped but, thankfully, were released in a few days. This has made traveling more difficult for any foreigners who live among this people group. Pray for safety in travel. Also continue to pray for those who lost homes due to the flooding in November. People are afraid to rebuild in the locations where their houses were, but they have no other places to go where there is infrastructure for living. http://www.pray4yemen.com/

Mrs. Catherine Yarborough said she is without any pain for the first time in a long time. The last procedure is temporary, but pray it will be effective for a long time. Thank God she finally found something that was helpful.


Mrs. Ruby Dillon’s procedure will be at 11 A.M. Friday. Please be in prayer for her and her family.

Don Denton

More amazing news………..

We spoke to Neurologist office this morning and the “dissection in the carotid artery has full resolution” meaning the hole has healed up. Thank you God!

This means Don will be able to taper off of two more medications. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And we received a call from the Vet. this morning and the results are back from the surgery our dog had and it is NOT cancer. She just had a very, very large growth. Yes!!!!!!

This is a good day in the Denton household! Our spirits are lifted up this day……we so needed good news and God is merciful to us. We give thanks to God for His goodness to us today and everyday.

It is the best birthday present news I could get. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep praying for healing of the nerve endings in the brain regarding the dizziness. I believe.

Bless you our family and friends,

Diane

We had a good weekend. Don has a CAT Scan tomorrow. He will have blood work as well. We then have appointments next week for the neurosurgeon and the neurologist.

We are hoping that the CAT Scan results will reflect healing of the hydrocephalus.

We are asking for prayer for the following:

  • This dizziness will come to an end. Or we get to the right doctors that can help.
  • Test results from tomorrow reflect healing.
  • Insurance company is not willing to pay for more than 20 physical therapy visits. We have tried getting approval and at this point they are refusing.
  • Don can’t walk at this point and therapist says he will need therapy for sometime to come.

I am hoping to get to the right people tomorrow with the insurance company. At this point they are not willing to accept responsibility to pay Mayo as In Network. Therefore we now have a bill over $200,000.00. It is pretty unsettleing.

WE at the same time continue to give thanks to God for what he has done for us. God is merciful and gracious. WE have so much to give thanks for.

Bless you our family and friends

Diane

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
AS JAMES STEWART, in his book, The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ, wrote: “Everyone who studies this narrative has the strange feeling that the tables are being turned, before their very eyes. And that what they are seeing, is not Jesus on trial before the crowd, but Pilate, on trial before Jesus…
In fact, as Pilate stands with the Son of God in those hours it is as if Jesus’ searchlight is probing his soul, revealing his true character for all the world to see. But every soul stands where Pilate stood at sometime in their life… Face to face with Jesus in the place of decision.”
“Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you say.’ And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?’ But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.” Matthew 27:11-13

May each of you be a blessing to someone today.

Anna Lee

Monday

“And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor . . .

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind”

(1 Corinthians 13:3-4a, HCSB).



Mrs. Ora Lee Wilson will have a pacemaker procedure on March 5th. Pray for her as she gets off some medication in preparation for this.


Mrs. Faye Price had a good week but a bad night Friday. Please continue to pray for her as she makes the slow progress the doctors expect. Pray for Virginia and Sue as they continue to take turns caring for their mother.


Pray for Mrs. Ruby Dillon as she sees the surgeon today to schedule a biopsy.


A memorial service for Riley Penney was held yesterday afternoon at 3 P.M. Please continue to pray for the Erwin/Penney family.

Robinson, Billie Jean Pearson First Baptist Church, Kentwood, at 11 a.m.



Richard Edward “Ricky” Miller

(April 10, 1964 – February 22, 2009)


Richard Edward

Richard Edward “Ricky” Miller was born April 10, 1964, and he passed away February 22, 2009 at 9:08AM in Amite, LA. He was 44 years young and a native and resident of Amite, LA. Ricky was a member of Cornerstone Church of Amite. He was part owner with his brother, Kenny, of Phares Glass and Radiator for 14 years.

Ricky is survived by his mother and step-father, Elizabeth Ridgedell Miller Conerly and Clifton David Conerly of Amite; his father, Lloyd Edward Miller, also of Amite. He is also survived by two sisters and one brother: Debbie Miller Wilkinson and husband, Leroy, of Amite, Brandi Conerly Faunce and husband, Curtis, of Loranger, and Kenny Lloyd Miller and wife, Samantha, of Amite. Ricky is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, one great niece, and other extended family. He would not want us to leave out his two faithful pugs: Koda and Miles.

Ricky was preceded in death by his paternal gradparents, Floyd and Kathryn Miller, his maternal gradparents, Ozema and Helen Ridgedell, and his sister, Linda Kaye Miller Misita.

Visitaion will be Monday, February 23, 2009 at Cornerstone Church, 108 Campo Lane, Amite, LA 70422, from 6:00PM until 9:00PM. Religious services will be held Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 11:00AM also at Cornerstone Church with Brother Mervin Strother officiating and interment in Amite Memorial Gardens.

An online Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com.

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is in charge of the arrangements.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor

The Prodigal Son, in the Key of ‘F’

Feeling footloose and frisky, a feather-brained fellow forced his fond father to fork over the family finances. He flew far to foreign fields and frittered his fortune feasting fabulously with faithless friends.

Finally, facing famine and fleeced by he fellows in folly, he found himself a feed-flinger in a filthy farmyard. Fairly famished he fain would have filled his frame with the foraged foods of the fodder fragments left by the filthy farmyard creatures.

“Fooey”, he said, My father’s flunkies fare far fancier.” The fugitive found feverishly, frankly facing facts. Frustrated by failure and filled with foreboding he forthwith fled to his family.

Falling at father’s feet, he floundered forlornly. “Father, I have flunked and fruitlessly forfeited family favor,” But the faithful father, forestalling further flinching frantically flagged the flunkies. “Fetch forth the finest fatling and fix a feast.”

But the fugitive’s fault-finding frater frowned on the fickle forgiveness of the former folderol. His fury flashed. But fussing was futile, for the far-sighted father figured such filial fidelity is fine, but forbids fervent festivity?

The fugitive found. “Unfurl the flags, with fanfares flaring Let fun and frolic freely flow ” Former failure is forgiven, folly is forsaken And forgiveness forms the foundation for futile fortitude.” (Author Unknown)

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Luke 15:20

Thank-you for praying today. Your prayers mean so much to so many.

Anna Lee

Sunday


Though he was God,

he did not demand and cling to his rights as God,

but laid aside his mighty power and glory,

taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men.

Philippians 2:6-7 (LB)

Floyd and Freda Angeletti (Budapest, Hungary)

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you so very much for going before the throne of God on our behalf. Unfortunately we have been unable to send regular updates, but as each of you have written encouragements, you received a reply with your questions answered and an update given. The exception is those of you who have written in the past couple of days. Below we have listed the answers to your prayers.

On Friday evening the 13th, Freda had the opportunity to ride in a ambulance in Budapest expanding her list of adventures. She was admitted to the neurology hospital and you can be sure she could write several interesting chapters of her opportunities to be a servant and exhibit Christ likeness. The hospital provides nothing much except a bed and medical care. Your level of expectations will change quickly in such a place and therefore your level of appreciation when you begin to have need of such things such as water and toilet paper. The hospital was also under quarantine because of the flu epidemic in Budapest and there were times no one could get in to visit her. She was blessed to have a cell phone provided by our member care staff, and therefore she could call to make her needs known but often it could not be arranged in time to fill her needs. It was not until Wednesday that they did a brain stem electrode test and on Thursday evening she finally was given the long promised MRI.

On Friday morning, February 20, colleagues and I were able to take her clean towels, wash cloth, bed clothes, and other needs. Upon returning to the Eden House we received a call from Freda saying that she had been released. I was unable to go with the colleagues to pick her up or to go to the clinic for a evaluation visit with a neurologist at 5:30 PM and the general doctor at 6 PM. The second doctor said, “I understand that after two days you were up assisting other patients in your ward”. That was true and one day Freda may have an opportunity to tell you how God burdened her heart and used love to communicate when there was no common verbal language. In the middle of the night Freda was found to be helping a elderly lady with Parkinson’s down the hall to the bathroom when she had been told to not get out of bed herself. Freda made many trips each day with that lady and even gave her a warm water foot soak and washed her feet when she complained of her feet hurting. I will leave additional stories of this lady and the others to Freda to share with you.

The results of the evaluation are that Freda had a light stroke – that the Lord apparently healed except for a little balance problem that should resolve itself in time. It could be a few weeks or a few months before she is back to normal balance. We believe that this is a direct result of your prayers. It was determined that the pain in the side of her head and the very sore spot under her jawbone is a stopped up saliva gland and she has a scan scheduled for that on Monday the 23, unless she can clear it with lemon and sucking as saliva flows.

As previously shared, Freda got excellent reports on all other test except for having a very low iron level, and the problem with the Trolov Cysts on her spine. She has an appointment at Johns Hopkins Medical Center on April 23 to do a final evaluation to determine the steps they will take in correcting the problem.

My surgery was not the normal procedure but much more extensive. The doctor had said that he would only do half so much and that the remainder would have to take place a few months from now, but the doctor decided to go for 90% of the process and it was almost too much. Last Tuesday I had a follow up visit and the same evening began to pass huge amounts of blood and had the presence of mind to take pictures of the results keeping the reputation of taking pictures of unique subjects. On Wednesday I went to the clinic for a blood count test but the doctors wanted to quiz me first and upon seeing my pictures got very serious. The surgeon was called and Thursday morning at 8 AM, I met the surgeon at the hospital where I was examined with a scope and it was determined that during the surgery and in the hours following the surgery I had accumulated a great deal of blood in my colon. I was told that to expect blood (in much lesser amounts) for up to six weeks. I continue to experience pain, discomfort and inconvenience. The surgeon discharged me but suggested that I spend a week in the city before departing and try to restore my system to normal as healing takes place. Now I suspect that there might have been a hidden thought that something could still go wrong, but trust that the Lord will continue the healing process. This has been a very humbling experience and I have grown through it in many ways. Not only will I have better health but will have grown as a person. “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7)

We praise God for our good health because we actually are healthy and able to serve Him. Thank you for keeping us lifted before His throne.

Please pray for continued healing; opportunities to witness; that we will know His will for our lives and that all our decisions will honor Him and His perfect will.

Praise Him for the blessing of confidence in His promises; For the healing and protection He has provided; That we are allowed to call Him “LORD“, and have the opportunity to serve Him: Praise Him for the many ways He reveals Himself; Praise Him for the assurance that He hears and listens when you pray and for answering your prayers.

May He bless you with His joy.

In Christ’s love,

Floyd and Freda

Soup & Salad for senior adults after morning worship at FBC, Kentwood (Provided byFriendship Circle Sunday School Class)

TWO VERY DIFFERENT KINGDOMS

A number of years ago, I received the following letter from one of my subscribers in Great Britain. Since many of you were not subscribers at the time, I thought you might appreciate this “repeat TFTD”:

To the citizens of the United States of America,

In light of your failure to elect a new President of our former colonies, known more recently as the U.S.A., in order to govern yourselves and that which you habitually refer to as the free world, irrespective of his ability to govern himself, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today.

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will assume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, former colonies and other territories (including New Jersey).

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, please comply with the following acts:

1. Look up “revocation” in the now official Chambers English
Dictionary.

2. Start spelling (and pronouncing) correctly all English words.

3. Learn at least the first 4 lines of “God Save The Queen.”

4. Start referring to “soccer” as football and admit that American
football isn’t.

5. Immediately declare war on Quebec (and France). You may use our
air space.

6. Enjoy all cold beverages at room temperature and insist that your
tea be served hot.

7. Learn to enjoy delicacies such as steak and kidney pudding and
Marmite.

8. The Fourth of July is no longer to be observed as a public
holiday. This has been replaced with 5th November, also known
as Guy Fawkes Day (he was the roguish chap who tried to blow up
the Houses of Parliament).

9. All members of this British Crown Dependency will be required to
take 6 weeks annual holiday and observe statutory tea breaks.

10. Driving on the left is now compulsory – recall all cars to effect
the change immediately.

11. Car parts will be referred to by their proper names (bonnet,
boot, etc.) and a more healthy level of tax will be applied to
petrol and diesel fuels.

12. All citizens are to report to our Consulate General in NY for the
issue of new passports and work permits. Please ensure that
orderly queues are maintained.

13. Add the Royal insignia to the top of the Washington Monument.

14. Assemble a national cricket team in preparation for a world tour
next summer.

15. Stop referring to a “World Series” of baseball and instead call
it the National Series of USA, Cuba and Japan.

16. Recall all currency and replace with new coins and notes bearing
an image of monarch’s head.

17. Increase all domestic power supplies to 240 volts with immediate
effect.

Tax collectors from Her Majesty’s Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all revenues due (backdated to 1776 with interest).

Thank you for your cooperation and have a nice day!

Aside from the humor (which I enjoyed immensely), the above letter served to remind me of the great difference between our two “kingdoms”. Transferring from one to the other would indeed involve a lot of changes.

In a similar manner, those of us who are Christians have changed kingdoms. In the Colossian letter, the apostle Paul describes what God has done for us:

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” (Col. 1:13)

Allow the significance of that statement to settle in. We used to be a part of Satan’s kingdom; now we are a part of God’s kingdom. We used to be “aliens” (Eph. 2:12); now we are “fellow citizens with the saints” (Eph. 2:19). Things are different now. Very much different!

With no disrespect intended toward Great Britain, I consider it a blessing to be a citizen of the United States. But that blessing doesn’t begin to compare with the great privilege that God has provided in allowing me to be a part of HIS kingdom.

Have a jolly good day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a wonderful Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee