Author: Anna Lee

Thursday

Carefully consider the path for your feet,

and all your ways will be established.

Proverbs 4:26 (HCSB)

Andy Taylor said his daughter, Melissa, had some surgery and then had to go back in the hospital because of an infection. Pray for her to soon be better.

Jimmy Schwartz will be seeing a neurologist about his health problems. Pray he gets some relief from pain.

Jimmy Harrell will be having eye surgery soon. Pray for the surgery to be effective.

Continue to pray for Lauren H. Fowler in the last weeks of her pregnancy. Staying home and resting has been good for her.

Mike Nason is in Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. His health requires periodic stays there. Pray he will feel better by the end of the week.

Phillip Dykes is also in Our Lady of the Lake. Doctors are trying to determine his problem.

Tracy Williams, Debbie Miller’s cousin, is in ICU at Tulane. Please pray for him and his family.

Ronald Putman is still in ICU at Our Lady of the Lake with heart and kidney problems as well as pneumonia. His family will be thankful for your prayers.

Quinton West is no longer hospitalized and is able to attend school again. Pray his asthma allows him to return to a normal schedule.

Update on Don Denton:

Don’s parents left to go back to Louisiana today. They have been with us since January 2nd. We again find ourselves most grateful to God for them and the time, love, support and work and care they have given to us.

We surely could not have done this without them. They continue to bless us. They will make their journey back to their home, please pray for safe travel.

Each day is new for us in so many ways. Don continuing to improve physically. The depth of the dizziness does not subside and that is a difficult thing to deal with when trying to attempt much of anything.

We now see that this will take time as well. So we continue with doctor appointments and therapy.

Please pray for healing of the nerve endings in the base of the brain. This is were the Hydrocephalus is as well.

We have more doctor appointments next week.

Thank you for your wonderful words of encouragement and support and the special acts of kindness toward us. Some days seem long and tireing and it is on those days that God blesses us with your words, your phone calls and acts of kindness toward us. We love you all. Words can’t express the depth of how we feel, how we have been deeply touched and ministered to by you all.

We will keep you posted. Next week is another big week of meeting back with specialist.

Blessings to you our friends and family

Diane

Continue to pray for Mrs. Annie Belle Harrell, Mrs. Kathryn Sanders, and Mrs. Catherine Yarborough. Each one of them will be thankful for your prayers.

Hilda Yarborough Hanks
(April 1, 1929 – January 21, 2009)

Died on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at St. Helena Parish Nursing Home in Greesburg, LA. She was a native of Liverpool, LA and a resident of Greensburg, LA. Age 79 years. She was employed at Bank of Greensburg for 42 years, was a church choir member, and enjoyed her grandchildren. Visitation at Greensburg United Methodist Church, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday and from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Friday. Services conducted by Rev. LaMarylis Smith Cotten. Interment Greensburg Cemetery, Greensburg, LA. Survived by 2 daughters, Janet Hanks Sukkar, Baton Rouge and Sandra Hanks Dykes and her husband, Scott, Kentwood, 7 grandchildren, Colin Salim Sukkar, Cameron Lawrence Sukkar, Caroline Alexandria Sukkar, Adam Yarborough Sukkar, Christopher Cody Foster, Rodrick Lawrence Dykes and Scotti Marie Dykes, 2 sisters, Doris Venable, Zachary, Alyne Campbell and her husband Kirby, Liverpool, 1 brother, Elbert Yarborough and his wife, Donald, Summit, MS. Preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Sitman Hanks, mother, Gussie William Yarborough, and father, Harvey O. Yarborough. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

Joel A. Davis
(April 16, 1937 – January 19, 2009)

Joel A. Davis

Died at 6:50 p.m. on Monday, January 19, 2009 at Sherwood Manor Nursing Home in Baton Rouge, LA. He was a native of Amite, LA and a resident of Baton Rouge, LA. Age 71 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 a.m. on Saturday until religious services at 11 a.m. Saturday. Survived by wife, Patricia Addis Davis, Baton Rouge; 2 daughters, Elizabeth Davis Blanton, Robert, and Bonnie Davis Fruge, Madisonville; 3 brothers, James A. Davis, Destrehan, A. Thomas Davis, Montpelier and David M. Davis, Alvin, TX; 3 grandchildren. Preceded in death by father, John Albert Davis, mother, Myrth Bornes Davis Cambre.

Baptist Press

January 21, 2009

CALIFORNIA–Calif. group launches petition drive to reverse Prop 8. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29702

GEORGIA–Baptisms alter church’s culture. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29703

ARKANSAS–Missionary surgeon: ‘God may be calling.’ http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29704

LOUISIANA–Coach acknowledges he’s ‘a little unusual.’ http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29705

GEORGIA–FIRST-PERSON (Howard Dayton): Who you gonna believe? http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29706

ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

The story is told of a country lad who was hired for a salesman’s job at a city department store. It was one of those massive stores that has every department imaginable. In fact it was the biggest store in the world – you could get anything there.

The boss said, “You can start tomorrow, Friday morning, and I’ll come and see you when we close up.”

When the boss looked up the young man the next day at closing time, he saw him shaking hands with a beaming customer. After they parted, he walked over and asked, “Well, that looked good! How many sales did you make today?”

“That was the only one,” said the young salesman.

“Only one!?!” blurted the boss. “Most of my staff make 20 or 30 sales a day. You’ll have to do better than that! Well, how much was the sale worth?”

“$227,340 and change,” said the young man.

The boss paused for a moment, blinking a few times. “H… H… How did you manage that?!?”

“Well, when he came in this morning and I sold him a small fish hook. Then, I sold him a medium hook, and then a really large hook. Then I sold him a small fishing line, a medium one, and then a big one. I then sold him a spear gun, a wetsuit, scuba gear, nets, chum, and coolers. I asked him where he was going fishing and he said down the coast. We decided he would probably need a new boat, so I took him down to the boat department and sold him that twenty-foot schooner with the twin engines. Then, he said that his Volkswagen probably wouldn’t be able to pull it, so I took him to the car department and sold him the new Deluxe Cruiser, with a winch, storage rack, rust proofing, and a built-in refrigerator. Oh, and floor mats.”

The boss took two steps back and asked in astonishment, “You sold all that to a guy who came in for a fish hook?!”

“No,” answered the salesman. “He came in to buy a blanket.”

“A blanket?”

“Yeah, an extra blanket for the couch. He just had a fight with his wife. I said to him, ‘Well, your weekend’s ruined, so you may as well go fishing…'”

One thing leads to another. And that’s the way it should work in our spiritual lives. An old Chinese proverb says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” So it is with Christianity. We look ahead to where we want to be, and we take a step. Then another. And another. As we grow and mature in Christ, we continue to add virtue upon virtue.

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7).

Wherever you are in your spiritual life, I pray that you’ll take a step up today, adding something that will make you a little more in the image of Jesus Christ. As you add one thing to another, you will be much closer to that goal by the end of 2009.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Thank you for praying today. Your prayers mean so much to so many. You make a big difference!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“And this gospel of the kingdom

will be preached in all the world

as a witness to all the nations,

and then the end will come.”

~Matthew 24:14~

Emily Panter

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Baby Steps

Well, Luke started back to school yesterday. Because of that, and the fact that my strength is growing. I have stayed home alone with all the kids for a few hours at a time. So far no real problems have arisen. I am allowed to lift Sarah, and the older kids have been very helpful when there is a task I don’t think I shoud attempt yet. I have loaded the washer and dryer, sorted clothes, cleaned the kitchen and helped the kids in their rooms some. (And I am not doind these things all of the time so don’t start calling Luke to reprove him.) Luke still bears the brunt of the chores sround here, and since he is also responsible for many other things, it is not always perfect around here (as if it ever was when I was in charge!) But God seems to be using it to help me let go of the things that are not as important as I once thought they were.

It seems that daily I am still running into someone I have not seen since before the hospital, and the conversation inevitably insues about how miraculous my journey has been. I continue to agree whole-heartedly and am amazed that God brought me through something which, for all intents and purposes, I should not have survived. He has healed me very quickly. He has given me the honor of seeing so many of the blessings that have affected peoples lifes, either through their faithfulness to pray, or through the testimony of God’s grace, mercy and undeniable power and soverenty. Last week the door bell rang and I got to it before Luke. I was expecting it to be the kids coming home from school, but it was the paramedic. The first one on he scene; he came back a few days after the insident to check on me and had come again to get an update.

I hope I continue to learn of God’s grace the rest of my life and i pray that I am always useful to Him in His plan. I hope I never again miss an oportunity.

Posted by Emily Panter

A Young Daughter’s Evangelistic Prayers

http://www.baptistmessage.com/articledetail.php?articleID=2c1cda9e1f37f1f6173d7cbbbc1a9124

Baptist Press

January 20, 2009

WASHINGTON–Obama calls for ‘era of responsibility’ at historic inauguration. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29695

WASHINGTON–WhiteHouse.gov now backs abortion rights, ‘gay rights.’
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29694

WASHINGTON–Southern Baptist in Congress express hope. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29696

WASHINGTON–Warren mentions Jesus’ name in invocation. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29697

WASHINGTON–Warren’s inaug. prayer only latest by a Southern Baptist. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29698

WASHINGTON–TRANSCRIPT: Obama’s inauguration speech. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29699

LOUISIANA–NOBTS announces austerity budget. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29700

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (Art Toalston): An inauguration we will remember. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29701

Mildred Davis Thompson
(February 10, 1921 – January 19, 2009)

Mildred Davis Thompson

“I am now home in heaven, oh so happy and so bright. There is perfect joy and beauty in this everlasting light”

Our beloved Mildred Davis Thompson, was called home at 1:03PM, Monday, January 19, 2009 at the St. Helena Parish Hospital, Greensburg. She was 87, a lifelong native & resident of St. Helena Parish.

Mrs. Mildred is survived by 2 brothers, Huey Davis and wife, Doris, Amite & Wilson Davis and wife, Mary, Amite; also numerous nieces & nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Freddie Thompson; her parents, George & Caroline Reeves Davis; & a sister, Lillie Davis Newell.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Thursday, January 22, 2009 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM and on Friday, January 23, 2009 at the Hillsdale Baptist Church after 9:00AM until Religious Services at 11:00AM with Rev. Jim McGriff officiating. Interment in the Hillsdale Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to:

International Mission Board of Southern Baptist Convention for Guatemala Kekchi Indians Food Projects, PO Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230-0767

or

Contributions may be made locally to the Hillsdale Baptist Church for the same mission fund. Hillsdale Baptist Church Guatemala Kekchi Indians Food Projects, 3621 Hwy 1045, Amite, LA 70422

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 Coggins-Gentry Ford.


TARGETED BY GOD

Everybody has difficulty in life, but several years ago, Brian Hise of Provo, Utah experienced more difficulty in one day than many of us go through in a year. First, a water pipe broke in the upstairs apartment above his own and flooded his apartment. So the manager told him to go out and rent a water vacuum.

That’s when he discovered his car had a flat tire. He changed the tire and went inside to phone a friend for help. Standing in the water, the electric shock he got from the phone startled him and he ripped the phone off the wall.

Before he could leave the apartment a second time, a neighbor had to kick down his apartment door because water damage had jammed it tight. While all of this was going on, somebody stole Brian’s car. But it was almost out of gas, so he found it a few blocks away. He then had to push it to a gas station.

That evening, Hise attended a military ceremony at B.Y.U. and he injured himself severely when he somehow sat down on his own bayonet which had been tossed onto the front seat of his car. Doctors were able to stitch up his wounds but no one was able to resuscitate Brian’s four canaries which were crushed to death when wet ceiling plaster in his apartment fell on them while he was gone.

When he got home, he slipped on the wet carpet and badly injured his tailbone. Mr. Hise said he began to wonder if “God wanted me dead but kept missing.”

Ever had days you felt that way? I recall an Old Testament character who felt the same way. After suffering hardship upon hardship, listen to these words of Job spoken to God:

“Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant? If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you made me your target?” (Job 7:19-20a, NIV)

We know that Job was not “targeted” by God. In truth, God was his source of strength in time of trial and his Redeemer when the story was over. But in the midst of adversity, when everything seems to be going wrong that possibly could go wrong, it’s tempting to feel the same way.

Be assured — God has not made you a “target.” He is, in fact, your source of strength to get through those tough times. May you rely on that today.

“Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” (Psalm 30:10)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Anna Lee

Tuesday Additions

Harold Neal
(March 14, 1928 – January 18, 2009)

Died at 2:44 a.m. on Sunday, January 18, 2009 at his daughter’s residence in Loranger. He was a native of Loranger and a resident of Amite. Age 80 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday and at Cooper’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Loranger, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Interment Briar Patch Cemetery, Loranger. Survived by wife, Ruth C. Neal, Amite, 2 daughters, Patricia N. Watson, Loranger and Kathy N. Smith and her husband, Wendell, Loranger, 1 son, Keith Neal and his wife, Theresa, Loranger, 2 step-daughters, Beth Henry, Amite, Tommie Sue White and her husband, Jerry, Centreville, MS, 1 step-son, David Carroll, Amite, 1 sister, Eunice N. Goodrich, Loranger, 1 brother, John Neal, Loranger, 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by first wife Lois Neal, daughter, Delores Neal, brothers, Castle, Simpson, Robert, William, Frank, and Daniel Neal, sisters, Fines Benedict, Ollie Lewis, Pearlie Coleman, Lucy Cutrer, Frances Anthony, and Evy Anthony, mother, Inez L. Neal, father, Danny Neal. The family would like to express a special thanks to North Oaks Hospice Team, all family, friends, and church members who have loved and supported us during our time of need.


Mildred Davis Thompson
(Died January 19, 2009)

Mrs. Mildred Davis Thompson, 87, passed away at 1:03PM at the St. Helena Parish Hospital, Greensburg.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

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 Coggins-Gentry Ford.

Tuesday

“Hear me when I call,

O God of my righteousness!

You have relieved me in my distress;

have mercy on me,

and hear my prayer.”

~Psalm 4:1~

Carl Wayne Stevens, formerly of this area, has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Please pray as decisions are being made for his care.

We’ve been praying for Mr. I.W. Simmons. Now, let’s add Mr. Benny Simmons to our prayer list.

At the WMU meeting yesterday, Mrs. Glory Wheat Thompson shared about her mission work in Canada. It was very interesting and very informative.

Frank and Mary Alice Fox attended the funeral for Riley Clark:

….It was one of the nicest funerals I have ever attended – a real tribute to Riley. The last report I got was Sat. evening. At that point she (Frann) was improving though she still had a long way to go. They had reduced the oxygen they were giving her to 50% – down from 100%. They have not told her about Riley. As soon as the doctors think she is well enough to hear it, Kerry will tell her. She is still in ICU. They did video the funeral so that she could see it when she is able….


Update on Don Denton:

We continue to be amazed and thankful for this journey we are on. Today we met with the Neurosurgeon expecting to have to have surgery as soon as possible. WE were told by our neurologist this would happen.

Today the neurosurgeon said No surgery. Surgery is not needed at this point. He had several very good reasons as to why he would not perform surgery on Don at this time. If a shunt should be put in at this time and there is just one bacteria left if could be a problem. He also said that Don’s hydrocephalus is mild. He did not see that it is high/severe. He feels that Don’s body is absorbing the fluids for the most part. The neurosurgeon also gave us symptoms to look for.

The downside to this is that Don still has severe dizziness, to the point that it is debilitating. He struggles to walk and function. The neurologist indicates that dizziness is not a symptom of Hydrocephalus. The neurosurgeon believes that although Don’s dizziness has worsened, that it still is from having menningittis. He tells us that he does not believe Don is free from it as of yet.

The neurologist wants to continue gathering data through lumbar punctures, MRI and CAT Scans.

He is saying that it is taking longer for Don to recover because of the severity of the disease.

The neurosurgeon has excellent credentials and he is more than willing to work with our Infectious Disease doctor. The outcome from today only confirms what all the other doctors are saying. We will have to wait to see how Don does as he tapers off of the steroids.

So we continue to wait and hope and pray for complete healing. We believe it will happen and so do the doctors, it is just taking longer.

Things to pray for:

  • Don’s dizziness begins to subside.
  • He does not get sicker as he tapers off of steroids.
  • That we can find strength we need from day to day to continue to look outside of our circumstances and live as normal as possible.
  • Pray for my sister in law, Lynn. Her doctor appt. is on Thursday on what they can do for her, with her cancer.

Don sees opthamoligist tomorrow hopefully they can help him with vision changes.

Blessings to your our friends and family

Diane

ADD-ON OPTIONS

A local farmer had come to the conclusion that the local car dealer had profited greatly by all the add-on options that increased the price of cars sold to the hapless farmer. Then one day the car dealer informed the farmer that he was coming around to buy a cow. In the spirit of justice, the farmer attached the following price information to the cow:

Basic cow $500
Two-tone exterior $45
Extra stomach $75
Product storing compartment $60
Straw chopper $120
Four spigots at $10 each, $40
Cowhide upholstery $125
Dual horns $15
Automatic fly swatter $38
Fertilizer attachment $185

TOTAL: $1,233.00

Aren’t you glad God doesn’t charge us for all the extras He provides us in life? You know what I mean — the beautiful sunrise and sunset, the changing color of the leaves in fall, the glory of the stars at night, the beautiful scenery ranging from the majestic mountains to the pounding surf of the ocean. How blessed we are! And not a single penny extra!

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:
Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who made great lights,
For His mercy endures forever —
The sun to rule by day,
For His mercy endures forever;
The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 139:1-9)

As you go through this day, try to be mindful of each and every blessing you enjoy from the hand of God. It is so easy to take everything for granted. But, how richly God has blessed us! Praise and thanksgiving be to our Lord!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Today is an important day for our nation. Let’s pray for our nation to work together and be a shining light to the rest of the world. Let’s pray for the president-elect as he takes over and for the president as he begins a new phase of his life in Texas.

Let’s pray for Christians in our nation live the life they profess so others will want to follow Jesus. God reigns over all of us! He is the same today as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow!

Anna Lee

Monday Addition

The associational WMU meeting will be this morning at FBC, Kentwood @ 10:00. You are invited to attend. The speaker will be Gloria Wheat Thompson daughter of Mrs. Blanch Wheat. She and her husband have served with the North American Mission Board.

http://www.baptistmessage.com/articledetail.php?articleID=898cc8465b5f86c979231bc103bbb656

This article explains the changes being made to “The Baptist Message”. You may be interested in reading the article.

Monday

“I cried to the Lord with my voice,

and He heard me from His holy hill.”

~Psalm 3:4~

Pray for Mrs. Faye Price to be able to work toward getting off the ventilator. That is her biggest need for now.

Mrs. Annie Belle Harrell has undergone some tests ordered by a new doctor and will have more this week. Pray she will get some improvement as a result of these tests.

Mrs. Bill Hughes is having some continuing health issues. Please remember her in your prayers.

Pray for Floyd and Lauren H. Fowler as she stays at home and rests for the final time before the birth of her baby.

Pray for Mr. Bud Kliesch. He is hospitalized in McComb with several serious health issues

Continue to pray for Mr. Raymond Anthony. Pray for an answer to “What should we do next?”.

David Gullota had another surgical procedure Friday and is not doing as well as hoped for. Please continue to pray for him and his family. He’s in University Hospital in New Orleans.

David Lockwood has been battleing cancer. He is in North Oaks now. Please be in prayer for him and his family.

WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE

Though skeptical of his teenage son’s newfound determination to build bulging muscles, one father followed his teenager to the store’s weight-lifting department, where they admired a set of weights.

“Please, Dad,” pleaded the teen, “I promise I’ll use ’em every day.”

“I don’t know, Michael. It’s really a commitment on your part,” the father said.

“Please, Dad?”

“They’re not cheap either,” the father said.

“I’ll use ’em, Dad, I promise. You’ll see.”

Finally won over, the father paid for the equipment and headed for the door. After a few steps, he heard his son behind him say, “What! You mean I have to carry them to the car?”

The comparison to our Christian lives is all too obvious. We can be told how much commitment is involved in being a Christian. We can be told how much will be required of us when we become a Christian. We say that we understand all that is involved and we are still willing to give our “all” to Christ. But, often, we are barely dried off from our baptism before we are complaining about what is expected of us — “Surely you don’t expect me to spend that much time, that much money, that much effort!”

The truth is, those of us who are Christians rarely see Christianity as much of a struggle. Christianity is an easy way of living for most of us. Perhaps too easy. I think there’s enough in scripture to label Christianity as a struggle for our faith. In Luke 13:24, Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” We don’t just walk through the narrow gate; we have to strive to get through. That word suggests there is to be a great deal of effort on our part.

In Ephesians 6:12, Paul describes the Christian life in this way: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” The picture Paul paints for us is a picture of struggling, a picture of constant battle.

The Hebrew writer constantly alludes to the fact that we need to put a great deal of effort into our Christian lives. The word diligent is frequently used. “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest….” (Hebrews 4:11).

It has been said that our favorite hypocrisy is to make a choice and then to refuse to pay for it. We have a word for that in this country — it’s called credit! Thanks to credit, I can go to the store and pick out something I want, and then not have to pay for it now. In fact, some stores go so far as to say, “Come in and buy our furniture and make no payments until January 2010!” But how many people do you suppose have gotten themselves into severe financial difficulty because they made a choice that they were not really willing to pay for?

But that truth applies to far more than just financial matters; it applies to all of life. Rudyard Kipling once said that if anyone did not get from life what they really wanted, it was because either he didn’t really want it or because he began to quibble about the price. That may be a bit of an overstatement, but I do think there’s a great deal of truth there. We must be willing to pay the price for what we want.

The price for the Christian life is high, and Jesus wants us to count that cost as part of our decision to follow him.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Thank-you for praying each day. People ask for your prayers knowing you make a difference.

Anna Lee

Sunday

“Watch therefore, and pray always

that you may be counted worthy

to escape all these things

that will come to pass,

and to stand before the Son of Man.”

~Luke 21:36~

Latest post from Emily Panter

One of the pros of being a P.K.

by Emily Panter
This past Sunday night we had our monthy mission meeting at church. As the good Baptists that we are, we met in the fellowship hall and had food. There is a room of to the side where the kinds can play during the meeting. Noah came up to Luke while we were eating and said: “Dad, Becca is doing ….(I can’t remember).” As usual, when Noah taddles od someone Luke sent him away with a “go on son.” But then Luke happened to be walking by the room just as Noah went back in and he overheard Noah say: “Becca, I told the pastor!” Ha! I thought that was priceless:)

On a more serious note, please contine to pray for my kiddos, especially the older two. I got the stomach bug that has been going around this past week and I could see the concern of Hannah’s face. She asked me if I was sure I would be ok, and then she apparently had a very vivid and scary dream of me screaming and the whole ordeal happening again. It has really been hardest on her to deal with. She understood the implications of what might have been. I appreciate the prayers.

I continue to get stronger, and learned this week that a plus of this whole thing is that it has helped me deal with my obsesive dread of throwing up. I can now handle it much more gracefully.

Lawrence Dale “Larry” Sibley
A native of Holden and a resident of Pride living in Zachary Manor Nursing Home, he passed away at Lane Regional Medical Center at 7 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. He was 86, born on Dec. 5, 1922. Self-employed in the finance and railroad maintenance business for many years, he was past master of Plains Lodge No. 135, a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Acacia Shrine Temple in Baton Rouge. Visiting at Charlet Funeral Home Inc. in Zachary on Sunday, Jan. 18, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a Masonic service at 7 p.m. Visiting resumes at the funeral home on Monday from 11:30 a.m. until religious service at 1 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Greg Davis. Graveside service at Pine Grove Methodist Church Cemetery in Pine Grove at 3 p.m. Monday. Survived by his daughter, Laura E. Sibley, of Pride; and a brother, Lemuel “LeRoy” Sibley, of Denham Springs. Preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Frances Dutsch Sibley; father, Lemuel Sibley; and mother, Lessie Phenald Brown Sibley; half sister, Ellen Sibley Smith, who was of Kentwood; half brother, Elvin Sibley, who was of Central; half brother, Walter Brown; half sisters, Tincey Marie Brown Booker and Flossie Brown Vickers Sibley; and adopted brother, James “Junior” Sibley, who was of Pride. Pallbearers will be Thomas Harrison, Kelvin Johnson, Lee Smith, Mark Mitchell, Henry Baxter and Robert Snider. Honorary pallbearers are Richard Harrison and Arthur Schabla. Share sympathies, condolences and memories at www.CharletFuneralHome.com.
Today is set aside as Santity of Life Sunday. I thought you might enjoy reading some of these Baptist Message articles:
Baptist Press
January 16, 2009

TEXAS–ADOPTION: Couple advocates adoption in word & deed. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29675

GEORGIA–‘Sanctity of Human Life Sunday’ set for Jan. 18. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29676

KENTUCKY–ADOPTION (Russell D. Moore): Finding Jesus in a Russian orphanage. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29677

TENNESSEE–ADOPTION (Michael Foust): Journey through infertility was worth it. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29679

TENNESSEE—ADOPTION (Dwayne Hastings): Celebrating God’s gift of life during Chinese New Year. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29678

VIRGINIA–ADOPTION (Shawn Hendricks): A few fatherly thoughts for daughter Laura. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29680

TEXAS–ADOPTION (Thomas White): The heart of the Gospel. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29681

WASHINGTON–Bush: Acted for U.S. ‘best interests.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29682

WASHINGTON–LIFE DIGEST: ‘Culture of life’ made progress, Bush says; … http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29683

NEW YORK–Planned Parenthood cuts HQ staff. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29684

EL SALVADOR–Open doors abound in El Salvador. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29685

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Kelly Boggs): Heroes for life. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29686

Don’t forget:
-the baby shower for Lauren H. Fowler today at 2 P.M.
– WMU meeting at 4 P.M.
-Soup Drive
– Lottie Moon Chirstmas Offering
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
HAVE YOU EVER felt truly alone…?
After my father died, I gathered with our family at a funeral home to choose the casket and arrange specifics for the memorial service. As I drove away from the funeral home, I made it only about two hundred yards before I broke down and wept, and had to pull the car over and stop.
This wasn’t the first time I’d cried after my father’s death, but it was the first time I’d cried alone, and the tears and the grief were so strong. Cars streamed past me, their passengers and drivers unaware of what was taking place in my car, and I vividly remember how alone I felt.
But in truth I wasn’t alone, because only two hundred yards away were people who loved me with all their hearts. To be comforted, all I needed to do was turn around and go back to the funeral home. I felt alone–but I really wasn’t.
For me, personally, the sense of aloneness in that moment was overwhelming; yet I know that many others have experienced far worse than anything I went through. Many have wept as I did, but could never be assured there was someone nearby they could turn to for comfort, whether two hundred yards away or two hundred miles.
And yet, even in comparison to such unbearable experiences, there’s Someone else whose pain of isolation and abandonment goes infinitely deeper.
Before being nailed to the cross, Jesus already knew what it meant to be forsaken; He had become intimately acquainted with being rejected or abandoned by men. Yet whenever it happened, He could always say, “Though forsaken by men, I am not alone, for My Father is always with Me.”
But not now.
He who for all eternity has never been alone is now wholly abandoned. Such utter desolation has never existed before in all eternity, because of the infinite love and fellowship of the Godhead, which can never be broken. But not the incarnate Son must be forsaken by the Father…because the Father is holy, and there in the Father’s sight is “the most grotesque display of ugliness imaginable.” It’s the monstrous sight of the unbounded totality of human sin resting upon one Man.
Therefore that Man must be utterly removed from the presence of the holy God, utterly separated, as far as the east is from the west.
Jesus didn’t just feel forsaken; He is forsaken. (C.J. Mahaney)
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'” (Matt. 27:46).
Have a special Lord’s Day today.
Anna Lee

Saturday

“So we must not get tired of doing good,

for we will reap at the proper time

if we don’t give up.”

~Galatians 6:9, HCSB~

Mrs. Faye Price continues to make improvement in Covington. Pray for her and her family as they continue this process.

Pray for the Smith/Clark family today as they have the memorial service for Riley Clark today in Deridder. Pray for Frann, his wife, as her health is not good. Frann has been my internet encourager for several years. I know she was the same to many others too. I miss her sweet words. This devotional reminds me of her. She used the “twenty-six soldiers” in such a positive way.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
KARL MARX DEVOTED his entire life to writing about the demise of capitalism and the coming of communism…
He, along with Friedrich Engels, wrote onen of the most well-known pollitical treatises in all of history, the Communist Manifesto. As evidence of his kneen understanding of the great power of words, Marx is credited with saying: “Give me twenty-six lead soldiers and I will conquer the world!” Who are the twenty-six lead soldiers Marx referred to? They are the twenty six letters of the alphabet on a printing press.
All words of have power and meaning (Isa. 55:11). Jesus said we would be held accountable for even our idle words (Matt. 12:36-37), and Proverbs says that that words have the power of life and death (18:21). So the question is not whether words have power. The question is, “What power am I releasing with my words?” If you have sent froth words that hurt, take them back with an apology and replace them with words that heal. The greatest untapped source of healing in life is “pleasant words.”
You may not consider yourself a physician, but you should–as along as you are dispensing words of life. (David Jeremiah)
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones” (Prov. 16:24).
Have a great day!
Anna Lee

Friday Afternoon

Jim Miller had a work accident yesterday. He is hospitalized in McComb. Pray for him as he heals.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373

Jason had a link to this article on his website. It is soooooo inspiring. I hope we can all get some ideas from this and apply them in our little worlds. Let’s pray we will use our opportunities to make a difference.

(Jason, I’m glad you shared this. It was a great article.)

Friday

“With men this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible.”

~Matthew 19:26~


Kitty Bennett Lapreyrolerie got to go home yesterday. She will have lots of care by home health. Pray she continues to improve.

Quinton West also got to go home. Pray his asthma problem is under control now.

Don Denton

Don Update:

WE received the results from Don’s MRI he had earlier this week. He has Hydrocephalus which is higher than what they would like. We will meet with a Neurosurgeon on Monday. It looks like Don will enter back into the hospital for this surgery sometime next week, although we won’t have that information until we meet with the surgeon. He will have to be off of some of his meds and that monitored before surgery. This surgeon will place a “shunt” at the base of the brain and run a tube into the stomach. This will drain the pressure from the brain.

This could be a theraputic thing for Don possibly relieving the dizziness he is having. At the same time they may collect further data from this such as fluid and possible tissue to do further research.

So we see this as an opportunity for further relief for Don.

The neurologist is unsure as to why this is happening. If could be from scare tissue that has set in from having miningittis. We hope to have further answeres next week.

I had my procedures today. They scoped my stomach and I had a colonoscopy today. So far so good. No answers as of yet.

Please pray for Joshua, until life resumes to somewhat normal, he will continue to have separation anxiety issues. He is so glad to see daddy improving. The look on this childs face when he saw his daddy for the first time get up from a sitting position without the use of some kind of support was pretty amazing. Joshua was so excited he said mommy look, daddy is getting better. Maybe next daddy will be able to make my chocolate milk for me. These are huge places where “normal” is beginning to happen for Josh.

Joshua is so keenly aware of his daddys step backs and his daddys improvement and it brings hope and excitement to Joshua’s day when he sees his daddy making improvements.

In the background of all of this, our dishwasher had caught on fire, as we discovered there was a recall, which we had not been notified about. So for two weeks we are washing dishes by hand, as the process for repair is extremely slow. Our car broke down again in Springfield last week and we just found that there are 5 different things wrong with the car. And we also discovered that our kitchen is not safe with how the contractors set up our circuit breakers.

I sometimes sit and think, wow, what else could happen. Then I get perspective somehow and realize that all of these incidents are “just things” that happen in life, especially when compared to life with one another. Life with one another as we know it. When all of this happened with Don back on September 20th, we were leading a new Sunday School class called “The Journey” – We were starting to teach from the book: “Life Together” by Bonhoffer. We have been compelled to do this study about what life together looks like among believers. What does walking together really look like as Christ taught about it.

We are now experiencing what that looks like as you the church walks with us. I could have never imagined. I am still learning.

We continue to be so thankful to God for bringing Don home to us.

Please pray for Don, he is working in the direction of going back to teaching. He is so hopeful, yet this next week will determine how much better he will be after the surgery.

I will keep you posted. Thank you for your continued love and support and wonderful words of support to us. We have been so encouraged by your cards, your letters and emails.

One more important request:

My sister in law Lynn has her 4th reoccurrence of cancer. This one is on the T4 of the spine. She and my brother Steve were just here helping us out this last time Don was in the hospital. Please pray for her that they will be able to treat this area with radiation. Pray for her husband, STeve and their children. She is a beautiful person. When she was here with us, she gave of herself tirelessly and her spirit is precious. She blessed us in this precious way and we are so grateful to her and my brother for their time spent with us.

Blessings to you our family and friends

Diane

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
OF THE DOZENS upon dozens of funerals that I have conducted, I have never conducted one where the casket was occupied by anyone who had anything in his hand…
And none of the suits wrapped around those bodies required pockets. “You can’t take it with you.”
Solomon forces us to face that moment we all tend to ignore — the moment of death. He backs up three spaces and looks at the crash and says, “This is the grievous evil: Those who have clutched can quickly crash.” Put another way, “Those who grabbed and rose to the top will ultimately release and drop to the bottom.”
Can you imagine the scene? I envision a man who hoarded what he had and then lost it through a bad investment. I can see another who fights and wins his way to the top, only to have the bottom drop out of his life as the stock market plunges. And how about the individual who spends himself in a maddening pursuit of some financial goal, who drops dead of a heart attack? It happens every day. In Solomon’s words, he “toils for the wind.” He departs exactly as he entered life…naked and without a thin dime to his name. (Charles Swindoll)
“There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: riches kept for their owner to his hurt. But those riches perish through misfortune; when he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand” (Eccles. 5:13-15).

Prayer requests

“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

SIMPLY TELL THE STORY

One day after a Bible class, some Christian friends went out to lunch. They had just learned how to tell one of the Bible stories to others. One of the Filipino men (people from the Philippines) asked the waiter if he would like to hear a story. The waiter said, “Yes.” He even went to another room and got the workers in that room to come and listen. The Filipino man told the story he had just learned with his friends. It is called “Jesus Calms the Storm.” All the waiters listened and then answered questions about the story. Everyone listening said they understood the story.

The Filipino man then asked them if they knew Jesus. They all said no. That Filipino man told them all about how Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. He told them they could go to heaven if they followed Jesus. He told the people at the restaurant, “Repent of your sins; just pray these words aloud.” Wow! They bowed their heads and four people accepted Jesus as Savior that day!

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Please pray for me. I have had a LOT of change in my life. Right now, I need to learn how to speak French and Malagasy. We live in a neighborhood with lots of very poor children. Please pray for me and my family while we work with very poor children in our neighborhood. GRANT, age 5, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Please pray for the people of Philippines; and more than that, pray that the people of the world will know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. JAMES, age 11 (Pacific Rim)

Please pray for God to show me if I should go to a country in the Pacific Rim to help. BRENNA, age 8 (South Asia)

Please pray for my grandfather to know God. CHANG, age 9 (Pacific Rim)

Pray for my school. JONATHAN, age 9 (Pacific Rim)

We live in Tanzania in a small village half an hour away from Morogoro (moh-roh-GO-roh). Our village is mostly full of mud houses (that is quite common around there.) Our village has many religions—Muslims, African Traditional Religion, Roman Catholic’s, and Christians. We have 3 witch doctors in our village and they have a strong grip on our village. Please pray for; KR a new Christian, FR—my sister and have told them about Jesus.

LAURYNN, age 12 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Please pray for MD, an African friend who does know Jesus. Pray for MM too. She braids her hair but does not know Jesus. Pray that my Muslim friends will get to know Jesus

REBECCA, age 7 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Pray for our people group that they may know Jesus. PG, age 12 (East Asia)

I want to pray for my brother and sister and my parents. Also, please pray for the people in the town where I live that they will worship that God and be in heaven. PEYTON, age 8, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)