Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

~Hebrews 11:1~

Mr. John Alan Blackwell is in room 5416 at North Oaks to clear up a medicine issue. Please add him to your prayer list.

Wilton Hughes had a mild heart attack and is already improving. Please remember him in your prayers.

Mr. Lester Zachary. 92, had a mild stroke last week. He’s at the Amite Nursing Home.

Mary D. Genco

December 08, 1952 – February 24, 2018

Mary D. Genco officially received her angel wings at her death on February 24, 2018 but she earned them in her many years of delivery care and comfort to her patients as a nurse. Mary was born on December 8, 1952 in New Orleans to Frank and Claire duTreil. She was an LPN for many years and was Dr. Charles “Bo” Alford’s labor and delivery nurse for many years. She proudly became a Registered Nurse in 1995 and was the first teacher of the Tangipahoa Parish School System’s first CNA program at Amite High School in 1996. Se became a school nurse in 1998 and during Hurricane Katrina volunteered at Tangi Pines Nursing Center in Amite. She eventually became one of the Weekend Supervisors there also. Mary was a dedicated nurse who offered a great deal of care and comfort to her patients. No person was too poor, too old, too young, or too sick to receive her unrelenting compassion and care. Mary is survived by her husband, Charles V. Genco; her three children, Christy Lyn Morgan (Joel), Paul C. Genco, II (Megan), and Charly Lyn Genco (Nick); her precious grandchildren, Sophia JoAnn Morgan and Gunnar Cole Morgan; and her sister, Christina Davidson. Preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Claire duTreil. Mary died at Tangi Pines Nursing Center due to complications of Alzheimer’s surrounded by her family and was attended by many of the people who worked for her there many years earlier. The family would like to thank all of Mary’s sitters over the years, especially Betty Taylor who has been her friend since 1981 and helped raise her children and took care of her when she became ill. Also a special thanks to all of the staff and employees of Tangi Pines Nursing Center for their excellent care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Louisiana Alzheimer’s Association, 3445 N. Causeway, Suite 902, Metairie, LA 70002. Visitation at St. Helena Catholic Church Hall, Amite, from 8:30AM until 11:30AM on Wednesday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 12:00 Noon at St. Helena Catholic Church on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. Services conducted by Fr. Mark Beard. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

Read the Bible

Reflect on God as Author
Catch up on reading if you got behind

Baptist Press – http://bpnews.net

“Young” Ladies’ Birthday Party – Tuesday at 11 A.M. at the Cafe

Hopefully, we will have a dry spell before the next rain.

Anna Lee

I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith.

~2 Timothy 4:7~

Josiah Huckaby

Update: Seems like little man has accomplished so much since my last update 2 1/2 weeks ago. The original plan was to start CPAP trials but they decided to just swap him completely to CPAP…he did amazing! He has been weaned off of all of his IV sedation and now we are working on weaning his oral sedation meds. Last Thursday (2/15/18), it was mentioned we could start discussing home planning! They decided they wanted to start trach collar trials this week, which is more like him getting regular oxygen without the extra support of the CPAP or vent. After our doctor talked to pulmonary, they both felt it would be safer to send Josiah home on a vent instead of pushing him to go home on a trach collar. He has a bad record of doing really well with changes at first but after some time he gets worn out and tanks. They were afraid we would get home with the trach collar and this would happen. So the decision was made to not do the trach collar trials and to go straight to a home vent (which will also help us get home a little faster)…they swapped him over to that yesterday afternoon. He has to be on the hospital issued home vent for 2 weeks with no changes (and his vent settings have to be at or below a certain number…he is very close and we only have 1 setting to work on as of right now) before they will swap him to the vent he will come home with. He will then have to be on our home vent for a certain amount of time before coming home. I’m actually a bit relieved that he will be coming home on the vent…this way he can take his time with the extra support he needs and we will work on weaning it from home. We are very excited about the progress he has made and the fact that “coming home” is actually a part of our vocabulary now…😉! Our prayer is that they will be able to find his “sweet spot” on the vent as quickly as possible and that he doesn’t get sick!!! He had a stomach bug over the weekend that we thought was going to set him back again but he did so well recovering from it. Also, we are now able to start our trach training as well…we are a bit nervous but definitely ready to jump in there and get this show on the road! And last thing, Josiah will be 1 in 2 weeks…so we are busy planning his hospital birthday party! YAY! He also has 2 teeth that have finally broken through and he’s weighing in at a whopping 21 lbs 4 oz now. Sorry for the long update, but there’s a lot of exciting things going on in the Huckaby house!!! To God be the glory!!!

Let’s keep praying for Job, K.K., and Josiah.

Mike Woodard is the brother of a friend. He got sick and was taken to the hospital yesterday with serious issues. His is at North Oaks in a step-down room. He is septic and needs our prayers.

This morning the the Ladies’ Brunch at Hillsdale Baptist Church at 10 A.M. We will learn about needs at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s home and how we can help.

If you have any partial skeins of yarn you will not be using, please leave them in the red basket at the main entrance to FBC, Kentwood. They will be used for Operation Christmas Child projects.

Tuesday, we will meet at 11 at The Cafe for lunch and to celebrate ladies who have had birthdays this new year. All ladies are invited to join us.

Baptist Press – http://bpnews.net

Friday Morning Bible Study – We have one more week of Ezekiel. Then, we will begin Romans, The beginning of a new book is the perfect time to commit yourself to attending a Bible study.

Read the Bible

Numbers 4-6
Proverbs 24
Mark 16

Pray for the many families who have had deaths lately and for individuals who need to make a decision to allow Jesus in their hearts.

Anna Lee

Saturday

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

~Zephaniah 3:17~

Today is the day! We will meet at the fellowship hall at 9:00 A.M. to make some items, many of them kits for children to do the crafting. I know there are many things to do on a Saturday morning rather than to go to to create something to give away, but I think this will bless your heart more than most of these other activities. Bring your children or grandchildren. There’s something for everyone to do! Most of all, the more we do the more we have to give away! We also get to send some love with each item! Best of all, each shoebox will lead to an opportunity to lead a family to Jesus. Thursday night, I got to talk with someone from another church that packs many shoeboxes each year. There was such an excitement in her voice as she told about what they do. Giving is a real blessing!

A week from today, Hillsdale Baptist Church is hosting a brunch at 10 A.M. They want to share their idea about an opportunity to help the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. The WMU ladies (and others) are invited to participate. If you plan to attend, please contact Katie at 985-974-4752. Let’s get involved in the effort to help the children and in Hillsdale’s efforts to revive their WMU. Give them a call with the count from your family, class, or group.

Read the Bible

Leviticus 16-17
Psalm 21
Mark 10

Baptist Press – http://bpnews.net

Have a blessed day!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

Be completely humble and gentle;

be patient, bearing with one another in love.

~Ephesians 4:2~

Rev. Bill Ichter is doing better, but will continue to recover from the flu. He is thankful for your prayers.

Mr. Philip Harrell had a fall recently. Other than some soreness, he seems to be okay. Thanking God!

Michael Phillip Strickland, 67, of Osyka, passed away, Sunday, February 11, 2018 at his residence.

He was born November 11, 1950 in Magnolia, MS. He was the son of the late Percy Edward and Sharron Varnado Strickland.

Visitation is Thursday at Osyka Baptist Church from 9AM until 12PM. Celebration of Life services will be at 12:30PM with Bro. Gene Richards and Bro. Milton Kliesch officiating. Burial will be in Osyka Cemetery under the direction of Sharkey Funeral Home in Summit.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Osyka Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 152, Osyka, MS 39657.

Rev. David Platt article – https://www.imb.org/2018/02/12/platt_announcement/

Baptist Press – http://www.bpnews.net/

Louisiana Baptist Message – http://baptistmessage.com/

Read the Bible

Leviticus 6-7
Psalm 19
Mark 6

Last month, we had to cancel the Third Thursday Gathering due to snow. This month, we are thankful to report no snow is forecast and the temperatures will be unusually warm for February. See you Thursday at 6:30 P.M. at the cabin.

The children’s missions class will meet tomorrow night at 6:00 and again Saturday morning at 9:00 when they will participate in making items for Operation Christmas Child. This will be our first, but hopefully not our last, OCC preparation day this year. Youth and adults are encouraged to come participate with us. If you do not attend FBC, Kentwood, but are interested in what we are doing Saturday, feel free to join us and take some ideas back to your church.

I will empty the “red basket” at church before Wednesday night so there will be room for more items as listed twice in the last week or so. Check the list to see what you already have or what you can easily bring.

Help make a difference in the lives of children around the world through OCC.

Anna Lee

Monday

\Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.

Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

~1 John 4:7~

Please pray for the family of Mike Strickland of Osyka. He passed away yesterday afternoon.

Baptist Press – http://www.bpnews.net

Read the Bible

Reflect on God as Counselor
Catch up on your readings if you missed a day.

Thank-you!

People who donated items for the mission projects
People who signed up to attend

Looking ahead!

If you have any items to donate, I will please leave then in or near the red basket. I will empty it Wednesday night.
If you did not sign the list to attend, but would like to attend, please contact me by phone or computer. I’m trying to get an more accurate count for food preparation as well as materials for items we will be preparing.

Third Thursday!

This week!
6:30 P.M. at the cabin!
Music by Mr. Harlon Toney and James Rimes
Devotional by Bro. Darryl

To have a better week, reach out to others in various ways.

Anna Lee

Saturday

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

There is no commandment greater than these.”

~Mark 12:30-31~

Pray for Jim and Fay Carol C. Todd. Jim has some serious heart issues and may need to make some difficult decisions. Pray for God’s leadership as they face Jim’s health issues.

Tonight is the Valentine Banquet at FBC, Kentwood. If you enjoy your meal, thank the cooks. If you think it is pretty, thank Heather Sharkey and her crew of decorators. Most of all thank the youth and Bro.. Wendell.

The next Saturday will be our Kid’s Missions Day. It is set up to be a kids’s day, but at our church it will be for everyone. My house is “exploding” with crafts for boys, girls, youth, and adults to do so we will have many fillers to send along with our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Our fillers will be used to complete shoeboxes that are not completely full. I am excited about this opportunity as well as packing some shoeboxes as a family. Let’s reach out to others in a big way! I hope to get a couple volunteers tomorrow to prepare a kid-type lunch Saturday. I hope the rest of you will be signing the lists on the red clipboards so we will know how many people to plan for.

Items I will be needing that some of you may be able to contribute:

Beads
Fishing supplies (hooks, lines, sinkers, floaters, etc., but no poles)
Fabric scraps
Small colorful pictures
Buttons (colorful and assorted sizes)
Pillow stuffing
Lace or ribbon scraps
Sewing tape measurer
Scissors for older girls
Glue sticks
Used greeting cards, especially Christmas cards

I will have a red basket near the front door of the church tomorrow. You can leave your items there tomorrow.

Thanks to those who so faithfully purchase Bibles for the inmates at the Tangipahoa parish. Once again our donations of Bibles and 2018 calendars were delivered this week. Once again they were greatly appreciated. A clear tote is under the stairwell for your donations. This is an ongoing project.

Friday Morning Bible Study will have three more weeks of Ezekiel before we begin a study of the book of Romans. Plan to join us from the beginning. There is not cost. Just bring your Bible.

The Third Thursday Gathering will be this week. See you Thursday at the cabin at 6:30 P.M.

Read the Bible

Leviticus 1-3
Psalm 18
Mark 3-4

Baptist Press – http://www.bpnews.net

Do your preparations for the Lord’s Day today. That way getting to church will be less complicated. That’s always good.

Anna Lee

Monday

Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it

~Psalm 34:14~

Some people in our neighborhood frequently hike. Saturday, while hiking, Tommy Travis slipped off the trail and fell 15 feet landing with his forehead on a log. He has 26 stitches and 26 staples now. Let’s pray for complete healing as Tommy gets lots of rest in the next week. Let’s also thank God that Tommy was not more seriously hurt.

Mrs. Bessie Hayden is hospitalized in Baton Rouge where she had some stents put in her leg last week to help increase circulation. Pray for all involved in her treatment. Today, they plan to attempt to add more stents. I know she will appreciate your prayers.

Mrs. Ora Lee Wilson has been seeing doctors about her lung issue. Yesterday, she shared that a doctor has recommended surgery. Pray for her as she gets a second opinion and makes decisions.

Read the Bible – Reflect on God as Lord and do any necessary catch-up reading

Baptist Press – http://www.bpnews.net/

Louisiana Baptist Message – http://baptistmessage.com/

Children’s Mission Day – Sign up to be a part of this special day that is coming up on the 17th. We will make some items that will be shipped as fillers for shoeboxes for children at Christmas through Operation Christmas Child. One way many of you might be able to help is to bring us some carnival beads. It is best if they are bagged in limited numbers so we can easily untangle and sort them for packaging. There will be many activities going on. You can choose the ones you wish to do or to help the children do. We will meet at 9:00 A.M.

Many people seem to be fighting a lingering cough. Let’s pray for this to stop spreading.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“The LORD is my strength and my defense ;

he has become my salvation.

He is my God, and I will praise him,

my father’s God,

and I will exalt him.

~Exodus 15:2~

It seems like someone I know passes away every day!

Lydia Moore Hawkins

September 26, 1927 – January 30, 2018

Read the Bible

Exodus 23-24
Proverbs 13
Matthew 26

Baptist Press – http://bpnews.net

Children Missions Day

Saturday, February 17
9 A.M. – Noon
FBC, Kentwood
Children K-5th Grade

“Young” Ladies’ Birthday Party

Tuesday, February 27th
Celebrating February birthdays
The Cafe @ 11 A.M.

Bible Sunday

Completing Ezekiel soon
Fridays at 10 A.M.

Have a wonderful day!

Anna Lee

Friday

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

~Ephesians 3:16~

Pray for the Strickland family as Mike will soon be moved home.

Jimmy Alford is doing better. Please continue to pray for Jimmy and his family.

Peoples of Northern Zambia

“This year is going to be a great year in the Lord! We know that God is doing amazing things in the lives of the people of Kaputa in answer to your prayers. Our Northern Evangelism Team is encouraged by their commitment to his kingdom growth. Please pray for Kaputa Main Baptist Church as they continue to have the missionary task of planting churches in the district of Kaputa. Pray for the church-planting efforts that are taking place there right now. Ask God to raise up strong men to lead this new work!”

Hadramaut Yemeni Arabs of Yemen

(HAH-drah-maht YEH-muh-nee) – The white sandy beaches of the Hadramaut, along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, beckoned visitors. In the winter, families from the cold north packed up their tents or reserved hotel rooms to come to the beach and enjoy swimming in the refreshing salt water. No longer is that luxury allowed. Soldiers have replaced vacationers. The freedom to travel is gone. Please pray that the war in Yemen will cease. Pray that talks around the negotiation tables will be successful. Pray Isaiah 2:4 (ESV) for the Hadramaut Yemeni Arabs: “and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

Last Frontier

In Colossians 4:7-18, the apostle Paul mentions eight partners with whom he worked. These partners were precious, practical, and essential to Paul in the ministry that God gave him. The same is true for some workers today, and they ask you to pray specifically for a new partnership. Pray for the development of this relationship and for there to be collaboration and good communication. Ask that this new partner will be a key to reaching a people.

Read the Bible

Exodus 15-16
Proverbs 11
Matthew 22

Bible Study

FBC, Kentwood
10 A.M. this morning
Ezekiel 38-39
Good news for God’s people!

Baptist Press – http://bpnews.net

I’m looking forward to teaching Sunday School at 9:15. If you are looking for a good Sunday School class, FBC, Kentwood has plenty to choose from.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

I can do all this through him

who gives me strength.

~Philippians 4:13~

I have some updates I failed to give earlier.

Mrs. Bessie Hayden has not had foot surgery yet. She home and resting for now.”’

Miss Fay Shoemaker is doing very well. She is pleased with her “apartment” which have a large picture window to allow her to watch birds, a long-time joy. I failed to get her address, so if you have it and would share it, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Adrian Phillips is back at home. He received the care he needed at Greensburg and is thankful to be feeling much better.

Mrs. Betty Catherine Hatcher has been home for about a month. Her Sunday school class has been faithful to visit and share with her.

Pam Sellers’ friend, Vicki, who has a brain tumor is being monitored and has not required surgery yet. Pam thanks all the “prayer warriors” for praying for Vicki and Chris.

Edgar “Bear” Bennett

March 10, 1938 – January 22, 2018

A resident of Amite passed away on Monday, January 22, 2018. He was born March 10, 1938 in Amite and was 79 years of age. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy Jane Davidson Bennett; surviving children, Lonnie Bennett and wife, Stacy, David Bennett and Darryl Bennett; grandchildren, Brock Bennett, Michael Rogers, Emily Wales, Mary-Catherine Bennett, Brogan Bennett, and Katelyn Bel; only great granddaughter, Kimberly Bennett; brother, Earl Bennett and wife, Nell, and his daughter in law, Susan Fitzhugh. Preceded in death by his father, Homer Bennett; mother, Janie Barlow Bennett; son, Donnie “Bo” Bennett; daughters, Connie and Krissy Bennett; brothers, Jerry and Ronnie Bennett; and his sister, Mildred McDaniel. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 AM until religious services at 1 PM Thursday, January 25, 2018. Interment Killian Chapel Cemetery, Amite. Pallbearers will be Justin Bennett, Daniel Bennett, Brock Bennett, Brogan Bennett, Bryan Dykes and Jack “Catfish” Granger. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

Read the Bible

Exodus 11-12
Proverbs 10
Matthew 20

Don’t get discouraged if you fall behind. You have several options that are much better than quitting.

You can work steadily and catch up at some point.
You can pick up where you are and read as often as possible and just take a little longer to complete the Bible.
You can choose a variation of this plan, such as reading the Old Testament passages this year and reading the others next year.
The point is to READ! Find what works for you.

Baptist Press – http://bpnews.net

Louisiana Baptist Message – http://baptistmessage.com/

Thom S. Rainer – http://thomrainer.com/blog/

Waylon Bailey – http://waylonbailey.com/

I’m looking forward to seeing the children for missions class tonight. They are practicing some of the things they have learned at their young ages. One joy each week is our circle prayer time for missionaries.

Let’s all continue to learn the things God would have us to learn and then, to apply those things. It’s never too late to work at such a wonderful goal!

Anna Lee