Author: Anna Lee

Tuesday Evening

Jamie Paul Johnson

Jamie Paul Johnson, 54, of Jayess, died March 29, 2008, in a house fire at his residence.

Visitation is 5 to 9 tonight at Providence Baptist Church in Jayess. Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Revs. Steve Smith and Will Wall officiating. Margaret Ard and Mendy Johnson will provide music during the service. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with Wilson Funeral Home in Monticello in charge.

Mr. Johnson was born Jan. 30, 1954, in McComb, to James Herman and Frances Fenn Johnson of Summit.

He was a retired conductor with Illinois Central Railroad and a member of Providence Baptist Church. He graduated from North Pike High School in 1972 and still holds the record for most points scored in a single basketball game. He attended Southwest Mississippi Junior College before going to work with ICRR on Feb. 9, 1973. After retiring from the railroad, his job was to be a great, loving “pawpaw.”

Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by a son, Jeremy Paul Johnson; a brother, Jackie Darryl Johnson; grandparents, Hilton and Myrtle Fenn, John Lewis Johnson, and J.W. Bales and Ethel Roberts Johnson Bales; two nephews, Josh and Dustin Johnson; and his parents-in-law J.W. and Irma Niece Miller.

Survivors include his parents; his wife, Judith Kay Miller Johnson of Jayess; two sons, Randy Johnson and friend Tracey Clower, and Scott Johnson and wife Mendy, all of Jayess; three grandchildren, Haven, Heidi and Hib Johnson; five step-grandchildren, Katelyn, Josh and Chris Reid, Logan Costilo and Rylie Clower; one sister, Sondra J. Bell and her husband Randy of North Carolina; four nieces, Brooke and Kayla Johnson, Brandi Walker and Jamye Bullock; a brother-in-law, Larry Miller and his wife Linda; and a sister-in-law, Clara Miller Herrington.

Tuesday Evening

Request from Selena Morgan

Please add Kaden Underwood to the prayerlink. He is the 5 month old son of a Southeastern classmate. He is undergoing heart surgery somewhere up north. Please pray for this baby as well as his parents and the doctors as they care for him.

Today’s post by Faith Hill

In her post yesterday, Melinda gave me a simple prayer that I am trying to remember as each minute passes. “Father, please heal my son and if You choose not to, please keep me faithful.”

Today has been quiet and a lesson in patience. After Aaron‘s breathing tube was removed yesterday evening, he had a fairly pleasant night. He shed a lot more fluid, so today he is getting more blood products. They aren’t feeding him or giving him any IV nutrition other than blood products just yet, but they might start with something tonight. We hope so, as Aaron needs to bulk up to keep up with Levi.

On the surgical front, Dr. Spray reviewed all of Aaron’s images from the cath and his progress from the weekend. The location of the two remaining holes (if they are still there) would make it unlikely that they could be closed in a surgery. They would be hard to locate and view. The only other approach for closing them would be for a coil device to be placed during a heart cath, but one of the holes could not be reached that way, either. Aaron would only be a candidate for this procedure when he is older–most desirably 3 or 4 years old.

Before last Friday, the doctors thought Aaron did not have enough blood flow to his lungs. So they were trying to help him get more with drugs, oxygen, nitric, etc. In reality, the cath revealed that he had the opposite problem and the treatment was hurting him. We are hoping that since they now realize the true problem, Aaron’s heart will be able to do the work on its own. In the event this does not work, Aaron might have to have surgery where a band is placed on his pulmonary artery to try and slow the blood flow to his heart/lungs. This band would allow Aaron to grow until he is big enough for an interventional heart cath. We aren’t eager for him to have another surgery, b/c any surgery is dangerous, but the placement of the pulmonary band would not require any cutting on Aaron’s heart, so it is a LITTLE less scary. We are hopeful he won’t need this.

We are still practicing patience. Aaron is still covered in leads, catheters, chest tubes, wires to his heart, medication lines to his heart, ivs, bandages, etc. We are still eager to hold him, but the best we can do is stand by him and talk to him, give him his pacifier and promise him love, hugs, kisses and treats when he is better. We long for that day. Please keep praying for Aaron.

Tuesday

“Therefore I say to you,

whatever things you ask when you pray,

believe that you receive them,

and you will have them.”

~Mark 11:24~

 

 

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (BOO-kuh-rest). IMB personnel have seen many changes in Bucharest and Romania over the past nine years. Romania has worked hard to be accepted by the Western European countries. They have passed several hurdles to be accepted into NATO and the European Union. The first week of April, Bucharest will be hosting the NATO Summit. This is a big deal for them. Airports will be shut down, and this city will be under heavy security. Schools will be closed. Although the summit is government-related, pray for God’s presence to be felt here during this time. Pray for people to realize that they will only have true peace in their lives through knowing the Lord personally. http://www.imbromania.ro/

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Please remember the 5-year-old son of missionaries Kelly and Ann Carruthers in your prayers. In February, he broke his left femur bone, and stayed in the hospital for 14 days. Pray this month that he will regain his strength from the break and that God will continue to protect him.

CHINA. New life was celebrated in many ways through Easter celebrations held throughout China late last month. Praise God that the Risen Savior lives in the hearts of many millions of Chinese people and that His saving grace is constantly being shared in cities and villages throughout China. Pray that new believers will accept the challenge of sharing their newfound faith with others so that millions more can also know the One who conquered the grave.

UNENGAGED PEOPLES OF CENTRAL, EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA. Please be in prayer for the people in northern to central Namibia. Heavy rains in Angola to the north of Namibia have caused major flooding in northern Namibia and into the heart of Ovamboland. The flooding has killed 42 people (at last count) and displaced thousands since early February. More flooding is expected. Raging rivers have replaced normally dry plains, with roads and bridges being washed away as a result. In an area where the main mode of transportation is by foot, this is more than an inconvenience–it is a death sentence. As many as 250,000 people have been cut off in this region, with many only reachable by helicopter. Please be in prayer for the peoples of Namibia. forgottenpeoples@telkomsa.net; http://www.forgottenpeoples.info

Our Daily Bread

April 1, 2008


In The Driver’s Seat

READ: Matthew 5:13-16


Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in heaven.

-Matthew 5:16

I love the story of the stressed-out woman who was tailgating a man as they drove on a busy boulevard. When he slowed to a stop at a yellow light, the woman hit the horn, cussing and screaming in frustration and gesturing angrily. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a police officer who ordered her to exit the car with her hands up. He took her to the police station and placed her in a holding cell.

An hour later, the officer returned and said, “I’m sorry, Ma’am. This has been a big mistake. When I pulled up behind you, I noticed your ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ license plate holder and your ‘Follow Me to Sunday School’ bumper sticker. I assumed the car was stolen!”

Satan doesn’t care so much if you’re a Christian as long as you don’t act like one. If he can get you to live by his signals, he can damage and disarm you every time and dishonor the name of Christ in the process.

Instead, Jesus calls believers to be “salt” and to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

With Jesus in the driver’s seat of our lives, we can show off the love and glory of God. – Joe Stowell

Called to be salt and light in this world,
Called to preserve and to shine,
Called to reflect the glory of God-
Oh, what a calling is mine! -Fitzhugh

Don’t let Satan manage the details of your life.

I suppose the scene might vary some from person to person:

  • Wearing a cross or fish symbol and being in a place where a Christian shouldn’t be
  • Wearing a Christian lapel pin and being involved in office gossip
  • Having a Bible beside you and l listening to music that brings glory to the things of the world
  • Etc.

Have a great day. Show the world who your best friend really is!

Anna Lee

Monday Evening – Aaron Hill

Praises

Frann Smith Clark

Just a quick praise-Aaron is off the ventilator and seems to be doing well. They also took out his NG tube, so other than getting some oxygen through a nasal cannula, his little nose and mouth is free for the first time in 4 days. It is wonderful to see his face. He has been awake and looking at us as if to say “IT’S ABOUT TIME…”

Monday Afternoon

Jesse Dean is doing much better. I just talked with Majel. She said the doctor may remove the drain tomorrow and allow Jesse to come home. Then, he will begin therapy again.

Thanks for your continued prayers for Jesse, Majel, and the other family members as well as the medical staff caring for Jesse. Just to let you know how special Jesse is – The doctor said this was the first time in 10 years he has seen the problem Jesse developed last week!

$7,667.85 has already been received on the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering at FBC, Kentwood. Our goal is $13,000.

Monday – Update on Aaron Hill

Good Monday morning to everyone from PA. It has been a low-key 24 hours here at CHOP for Aaron. Even though we desire fast improvement, we will settle for slow steady improvement, too. Aaron has had a pretty good 24 hours. They have not yet taken him off the ventilator, but we anticipate he will be ready today. Yesterday, he was having some trouble breathing and the doctors (actually, a very smart nurse) noticed his chest tube drainage was suspiciously low. They checked the tubes and found clots on both sides that were preventing fluid from draining out of the space around his lungs. After his pleural space was drained, he felt SO much better and his heart rate and breathing became much more comfortable.

The plan as we understand it is to let Aaron rest and see how his heart and lungs do for the next couple of days–to get his body back to where it was before the assault of the heart cath. Then they will evaluate the need for another surgery to close the two holes that were left in his heart after his surgery. Please continue to pray that God will close the holes and alleviate the need for another surgery for our precious child.

Love to all.

Monday

 

 

“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~

Family connection to Baby Aaron Hill explained by Frann Clark:

Marshall is not related to me.

Aaron is the grandson of my 1st cousin, Jerry Risher, who lives in Enterprise, MS. Jerry’s father and my mother were sister & brother.

Marshall’s parents were from Jackson, MS. Aaron’s mother and father, Faith and Scott, work in Jackson & live in Madison, MS. They were friends of Marshall’s parents, Jennifer & Jeremiah.

Thanks for asking & for your concern.

God Bless You
Frann

Burlon Ray McGehee

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death, I will fear no evil.” Psalm 23:4. A native of Osyka, Miss., he went to be with his Lord at 9:49 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2008, at his residence in Walker. He was 76, a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War and retired from AT&T. Visitation at Revival Temple Church, Walker, on Tuesday, April 1, from 10 a.m. until memorial service at 1 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Wes Courtney and the Rev. Richard L. May. Burial in Revival Temple Cemetery. Survived by his wife of 37 years, Bobbye Abney McGehee; daughters and sons-in-law, Roxanne and Gary Nicholls, Wanda and Donald Giles and Rebecca and Chuck Wilkes; son and daughter-in-law, Ricki and Tami Rosenthal; sister and brother-in-law, Patty and Marty Sandifer; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Carolyn McGehee and Rodney and Cathy McGehee; stepmother, Betty Jean McGehee; granddaughters, Michelle Earle, Shasta Jones and husband Chad, Jennifer Rosenthal, Anna Aitken and husband Chris, and Kimberly O’Neal; grandsons, Chris Wilkes and wife Heather, Colbi Rosenthal and Brody Wilkes; and great-grandchildren, Presley and Isabelle Wilkes and Autumn Jowers. Preceded in death by his mother, Elma Milton McGehee; and father, Edward P. McGehee. The family would like to express their sincere thanks to their family, friends, Wes Courtney, pastor, and the Revival Temple Church family, Kaci Grimes, Joni and RIchard May, Dr. David West and Hospice in His Care for all the care and love they expressed. May God bless each one of you. Arrangements by Seale Funeral Service Inc., Denham Springs.

FBC Deacons for Hospital Visitation this week:

  • Bobby Raborn
  • Frankie Gehringer

I shared this devotional thought several years ago. Alan Smith sent it again, so I’m sharing it again. It reminds of a a wonderful concept of God.

CRACKED POTS

The story is told of a water bearer in India who had two large pots. They hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck, but one of the pots had a crack in it. While the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to his master’s house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”

“Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”

“I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

In his compassion, the water bearer said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

It is an amazing thing (but true) that God is able to accomplish some wonderful things through our efforts, in spite of our imperfections. Paul said of his role as a preacher of the gospel:

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” (2 Cor. 4:7).

Though we may often feel inadequate and useless, if we will continue about the task that God has given us, we will produce fruit and influence lives in ways we may not even be aware of.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Cor. 15:58).

May your life “abound” this day in the work of the Lord! Though you may feel like a “cracked pot”, your efforts are not in vain.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

It’s a good think we don’t have to be perfect to be used in His service. I certainly wouldn’t qualify! Would you?

Anna Lee

Sunday – Marshall and Aaron

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

~ Psalm 23:4~

Today is a beautiful day in PA, but our hearts are very heavy. Aaron’s friend Marshall did not make it through his surgery last night. His little body just could not handle it anymore and today he is home in Heaven. There are no words to describe the grief we feel or even fathom the pain Jennifer and Jeremiah are going through today. Please pray for them and their family.

After the loss of Marshall, it is hard to report good news for our Aaron. He had a good night last night and they plan to take him off his ventilator today. His heart rate is down in the 130s this morning–lower than it has ever been, so we are pleased. He is still very swollen and sedated, but better. We are so thankful for all the prayers for healing for Aaron. We pray that God’s will and our desires for closing the residual holes in Aaron’s heart are one in the same. He is a mighty God and He could close these VSDs with a touch of His hand.