Author: Anna Lee

“Now to Him who is able to do

exceedingly abundantly

above all that we ask or think,

according to the power that works in us,

to Him be glory in the church

by Christ Jesus to all generations,

forever and ever.”

~Ephesians 3:20-21~

Randy Taylor of St. Helena Parish is going back to M.D. Anderson today. Please pray for Randy, his family, and the medical staff as they consider new problems and how to treat them.

Vacation Bible School begins at 8:30 this morning at FBC, Kentwood. Children from four years old to those who just complete the sixth grade are invited to attend.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Monday, June 9, 2008

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5, NKJV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, asking you to pray for isolated believers.

Have you ever gone to bed at night with the heaviness of loneliness in the pit of your stomach? Isolation is one of the hardest phenomena for the human psyche. We need a support system. Yet H and M, Mbunda believers in Western Zambia, have taken up the cross of isolation for several years now, as they have lived far away from their homes and families. After H and M believed on the Lord, they felt His strong calling to be missionaries to their own people and live in a remote area, where they have sacrificed much to teach Mbunda people the truth of Jesus.

In Morocco a young man huddled by the radio in his bedroom, tuning into the frequency that he has listened to every week for a year. On this program he learned the truth about Jesus, the Messiah, and accepted the invitation to follow Him. His family does not know of his decision, and he feels alone-knowing no other Christians. In the same city, S. furtively glances over his shoulder as he enters the address of a website. Six months earlier, he dreamed of a man in white robes proclaiming Himself as God’s Son and telling him to believe the Bible. S. struggled with questions about Christianity, and found this website one night at an Internet cafe. Questions satisfied, he trusted in Jesus; but S. has never heard of another Moroccan Christian. So he keeps his faith a secret and reads an online version of the Scriptures.

*Please pray for isolated believers that they will find fellowship in the Lord.

*Pray for national workers, H and M, that when they call out to their Abba Father, He will hear and ease the pain of their loneliness.

*Give thanks for your own church family and for the body of Christ around the world.

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

“LET EVERY SOUL be subject to the governing authorities…

For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:1-4 NKJV).dynasty, Nepal’s newly elected government declared the country to be a Republic, abolishing the throne and deposing the reigning King. The precise nature of the new government has not yet been completely determined, as a new constitution is scheduled to be written. It will be different however from what has existed before.

Changes in government will take place in many nations over the next months. Elections will be held in the United States as well as in a number of other countries. People are understandably concerned whenever change comes. What will a new president, congress, prime minister, parliament, etc. bring about? Will peace continue? Will the economy be strengthened or will hard times prevail? What about personal liberties, human rights, environmental protection, international relations and a host of other legitimate concerns? Will our way of life continue as it is or will drastic change occur?

The fact is that all human conditions and institutions are temporary. “Nothing is constant except change” is a historic fact. We have no certainty regarding security or stability. But that does not mean that we must be fearful, pessimistic, or paranoid about our future. God is sovereign. He is in control. Whatever comes will be in accordance with his eternal will and purpose. That does not mean that we will always have the prosperity or freedom that we desire. He does not guarantee those things. But we will have circumstances in which we can serve him, and in which he can bless us. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

It is interesting that Paul wrote the book of Romans on his third missionary journey, probably only months prior to being arrested in Jerusalem by Roman authorities. He would spend more than 4 years in Roman prisons before being set free to preach again (as many New Testament scholars believe), but then would evidently be arrested once again and finally executed under orders from Nero (according to early Christian sources). The man who stated that those who do good have nothing to fear from government was put to death by that same government for preaching the gospel of Christ. Was Paul mistaken? Is this a conflict or an untruth? It depends on one’s definition of good or of fear. Jesus taught, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Paul himself considered that “to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He saw no threat in the prospect of going to be with Christ in Heaven.

If our trust is in God, and our primary goals and concerns are spiritual, then our attitude toward government can be that of confidence. We will do what is right, what honors God and serves our fellow man. We will trust God to provide for us and to protect us eternally. We will not fear. This does not mean that we cannot or should not work and pray for good government that is sensitive to and supportive of human needs, and that promotes Biblical values. Certainly those things are greatly to be desired. But in places or times where those are not available we still may trust in God. For that we are grateful. (Michael E. Brooks @ http://www.forthright.net/field_notes/gods_ministers.html)
KneEmail: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:1-4 NKJV).

Make this a great week!

Anna Lee

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy

and where thieves break in and steal.”

~Matthew 6:19, NKJV~

The California Baptist University team is all packed up and ready for their 3 week trip to Romania!
Please pray for them as they get ready to get on a plane this afternoon. Pray that all of their flights will be on time so that they can make all of their connections and also pray that all of their luggage will make it here at the same time as them!
Pray for them as a team will they are here. Pray that they will be flexible and open to learning what the Lord wants to teach them during this time. Pray for us as we travel around the city and outside the city. Especially be praying for the team for the few days they will be here on their own and their time at camp when they will be away from every kind of modern convenience and technology!
Pray for us as we continue to plan on this side of things and that everything will come together and that glory will be brought to His name through everything that we do. Pray for my neighbors as the 7 girls will be staying with me in my apartment. Overall I’ve gotten along well with them, but we’ve had our moments.

Thank you so much!
aura

A HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE

It is reported that the German controllers at Frankfurt Airport expect pilots to know their gate location and how to get there without any assistance from them. This conversation is said to have taken place between the control tower in Frankfurt and a British Airways 747 (radio call Speedbird 206) after landing:

Speedbird 206: “Good morning Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of the runway.”

Ground: “Guten morgan, taxi to your gate.”

The British Airways 747 pulls onto the main taxiway and stops.

Ground: “Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?”

Speedbird 206: “Stand by, ground, I’m looking up the gate location now.”

Ground (with impatience): “Speedbird 206, have you never flown to Frankfurt before?”

Speedbird 206 (coolly): “Yes, in 1944. But I didn’t stop.”

Things look different from the ground than they do in the air! (especially when the view from the air has crosshairs that get in the way 🙂 Our perspective makes all the difference in the world.

Which raises an interesting question — what is our perspective? Do we tend to look at things from an earthly point of view or from a heavenly point of view?

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

Erwin W. Lutzer once said that, “Worldliness is excluding God from our lives and, therefore, consciously or unconsciously accepting the values of a man-centered society.” If things in your life aren’t looking so good from “ground level”, perhaps it will help to take a look at things from a heavenly perspective.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

There will be no activities or services at FBC, Kentwood tonight.

There will be a bridal shower for K.K. Womack, bride-elect of Job Hulkaby, this afternoon at FBC, Kentwood.

Keep the Lord in the Lord’s Day.

Anna Lee

Surely your goodness and unfailing love

will pursue me all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

~Psalm 23:6 (NLT)~

VBS at FBC, Kentwood begins Monday at 8:30. Children who are four through those who just completed sixth grade are invited to attend. If you have not already registered you child or grandchild, please do so Sunday.

KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray

May 23, 2008

“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~

SHE NEEDED JESUS

On a bright sunny day, a missionary in Paraguay met a little girl on the street. She was standing at a table with her mom. The girl is a 6-year-old with a sad smile, long black hair, and a very thin body. The table and a chair is the mom’s office-no walls or bookcases or cash register-just a table and chair. The little girl smiled at Iracema Kunkel, the missionary, when she stopped to talk to her mother. The little girl usually stayed beside her mother for 12 long hours, playing with some ragged and dirty dolls. Iracema Kunkel talked with her mother and just knew she needed Jesus.

The missionary told her about the love of Jesus and the mother asked Jesus to be her Savior! Now this little girl spends half a day in school and the other half at her mother’s ‘office.’ But now she has a beautiful smile (and her mother does too) because she is learning about Jesus. They keep a Bible on the table where everyone can see. They go to a Baptist church near where they live. Please pray for this little girl and this mother that they will keep on studying God’s Word and trust God to take care of them every day.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Please pray for my sister who is going to university. I am homeschooled, please pray for my grades. MATTHEW, age 13 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Pray that more college students come to our summer program, SA101, and lots of people come to know Christ in India. ALLAN, age 13 (South Asia)

TR is my friend who lives in Japan. He has a younger sister and a younger brother. Please pray for them. He goes to my Japanese school and is in my class in 3rd grade. He’s funny. He loves nature and always talks about bugs and plants. We have a job in our classroom of taking care of all the nature stuff, like feeding the fish. I have been telling TR about Jesus, but he’s not interested in getting baptized. He doesn’t want to get baptized, because he doesn’t want to go under the water. I don’t know if he’s a Christian or not. I want him to be a Christian. Please pray for TR. RICKIE, age 8 (Pacific Rim)

My mom teaches my three brothers and me. Please pray for us and our homeschool. Pray for my dad. He is the Logistics Coordinator for Malawi-that means he helps other people who come to work in our country and he is really busy. ANNA, age 13 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Our next door neighbors have a daughter, AI, about fifteen years old. She and her family are Muslims and she goes to a school where she learns about the Koran. People have told AI and her family about Jesus, but they are still Muslims. Please pray that AI and her family will understand what they have heard about Jesus and that they would choose to believe in Him. ELIZABETH, age 17 (West Africa)

Please pray for me to learn more Thai and for me to read my Bible more. Ask God to help me to find a good friend. MORIAH, age 10 ½ (Pacific Rim)

Correction:

Thanks to those of you who let me know about the mistake I made in Wednesday’s TFTD (you get brownie points for your Bible knowledge and skills of observation). I made reference to a question brought to Jesus by the Sadducees. I mentioned that the question involved one man married to seven women. The question, of course, actually involved one woman married to seven men (Matthew 22:23-33).

Thanks for helping to keep me straight. This feeble mind doesn’t always fire on all cylinders.

While I’ve got you, I may as well share a humorous story with you (no point, just humor):

One week a Sunday school teacher had just finished telling her class the story of the birth of Jesus — how Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem and how Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger. After telling the story the teacher asked, “Who do you think the most important woman in the Bible is?”

Of course, the teacher was expecting one of the kids to say, “Mary.” But instead, a little boy raised his hand and said, “Eve.” So the teacher asked him why he thought Eve was the most important woman in the Bible.

And the little boy replied, “Well, they named two days of the year after Eve. You know, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.”

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a great day!

Anna Lee