In him and through faith in him

we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

~Ephesians 3:12~

Read the Bible in 2020 – 7-6-2020

1 Chronicles 2:18-4:4
Acts 24:1-27
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 18:16-18

Today and tonight, several area churches will begin Vacation Bible School (VBS). Please spend some time praying for:

No virus or other health problems among students or workers
Children to learn about the God through Bible stories and songs
Children to come to know God and want to live for Him daily
Lots of fun!

Pray for Clint Smith, one of Lea Smith’s sons. He’s having a medical test today to determine if additional heart surgery is necessary. Your prayers will be appreciated.

Please pray for Virginia Carr, formerly of Roseland. She has completed a long surgery for hearing implants. Pray especially for July 20th when the implants will be activated and that Virginia will have improved hearing.

I contacted Shirley and Sylvester Humphrey today to check on them. Sylvester has overcome another round with cancer and is much improved. They are serving God at Kedron, where their son is the pastor. Hope Center exists because of Shirley and Sylvester’s identifying a need and working to address that need. Thank-you for all the time, prayer, and work you gave to help others is many ways. They have passed the responsibilities and dreams on to others. The new and larger Hope Center is now located in the big curve south of Roseland on highway 51.

I think you may profit from reading Dr. Waylon Bailey’s Sunday post.

http://waylonbailey.com/2020/07/05/a-critical-month/

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

Today marks one year since we celebrated David at his party at the church on July 6, 2019. Many of you were able to be there. David was struggling with his health at that time. Seeing his friends, classmates, family, co-workers, and church family that day was a big encouragement to him and to our family. Many of you have continued to pray for him since that day. David has surprised his family and the medical staff treating him with major improvement that was not expected. Thanks for being his friend through the years and especially on that day. David is better. The big turnaround started to happen in July, 2019. Several people, pinpoint the change as starting at the party. Each day is an unexpected gift from God. Thanks for the encouragement you gave him/us on July 6, 2019.

A quote from Jason’s church that could be seen when people left the service today:

“Go and make an impact this week!”

Anna Lee

Saturday/4th of July

“Walk with the wise and become wise;

associate with fools and get in trouble.”

~Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)~

Read the Bible in 2020 – July 4

2 Kings 23:31-25:30
Acts 22:17-23:10
Psalm 2:1-12
Proverbs 18:13

North America Missions – Christmas in August –

http://wmu.com/?q=article/national-wmu/christmas-august&inf_contact_key=7341bff6a73ce07f421efe4061ed8229f651f238aa2edbb9c8b7cff03e0b16a0

Five lessons I learned from a COVID-19 spike at our church

http://www.bpnews.net/55034/firstperson-five-lessons-i-learned-from-a-covid19-spike-at-our-church

Highland Avenue engages next generation in missions

http://www.bpnews.net/55030/highland-avenue-engages-next-generation-in-missions

I hope you enjoy reading these articles and can ways to apply them in your place of service.

Anna Lee

Friday

“But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free.

God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget.”

~James 1:25 (CEV)~

I have asked you to pray for a friend’s husband several times. He has had cancer in one eye and goes periodically for check-ups. Mike Moore lives in West Monroe. His latest check-up showed no tumor in his eye and no sign of cancer in his lungs or liver. Thank-you, God!

Pray for our country this weekend. Pray for the political and health conditions to be what God wants for us.

Remember Smiley Conerly’s services today. If you will not be able to attend, please pray for the family today.

Carlton E. Smith, Sr.

July 21, 1935 – July 01, 2020

A resident of Magnolia, MS, passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 in Kentwood, LA. He was born July 21, 1935 in Lewiston, LA and was 84 years of age. He is survived by his 3 sons, Terry Wayne Smith, Mitchell Smith and Carlton Smith, Jr. and wife, Desiree’; daughter, Sharon Smith Austin; step-son, William Edenfield; step-daughter, Dorothy Edenfield; 10 grandchildren, Jason Edenfield, Cody Smith, Brent Smith, Courtney Smith, Allie Smith, Jessica Smith, Cassie Wheaton, Cole Tallia Mark Burgess and Haley North; 7 great-grandchildren, Riley Marie Businelle, Presley Grace Businelle, Kimberly Wheaton, Kenzie Wheaton, Hadlee Renee Tallia, Ethyn Isaac Oliver, and Elyh James Smith. Preceded in death by wife, Susan Irene Smith; parents, Jewel Jeremiah Smith, Sr. and Thelma Gaines Smith; daughter, Sharon Austin Smith; great-grandchild, Layden Chance Mathis; sister, Barbara Smith Peters; brothers, Jewel Jeremiah Smith, Jr. and Donald Ray Smith. Graveside Services will be held at Tangipahoa Cemetery, Tangipahoa, LA at 11:00AM on Friday, July 3, 2020. Services conducted by Rev. Melvin Rushing. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

Read the Bible in 2020 – July 3

2 Kings 22:3-23:30
Acts 21:37-22:16
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 18:11-12

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

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

Be safe and healthy this weekend.

Anna Lee

Thursday

“Dear brothers and sisters,

when troubles come your way,

consider it an opportunity for great joy.”

~James 1:2 (NLT)~

“I will praise the LORD at all times;

his praise is always on my lips.”

~Psalm 34:1 (NCV)~

Read the Bible in 2020 – July 2

2 Kings 20:1-22:2
Acts 21:18-36
Psalm 150:1-6
Proverbs 18:9-10

If you are using a hard copy of this list, you will find July & August reading on the back side of the May/June readings. Copies are available at FBC office and sanctuary.

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

Please add these two names to your prayer list:

Andy and Betty Taylor’s daughter, Melissa, who is having knee surgery today
Bessie Hayden who is hospitalized due to an infection

Please pray for my family as services are held today for my cousin, Scott Tolleson. David and I will not be able to be there.

Thank-you for reading and praying.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

So if the Son sets you free,

you will be free indeed.

~John 8:36~

Andy and Betty Taylor ask you to please pray for their daughter, Penny, who is working in a Covid-19 unit in Phoenix.

The virus is alive and well in our area. Please be careful and pray for others to be careful too.

Read the Bible in 2020 – July 1

2 Kings 18:13-19:37
Acts 21:1-17
Psalm 149:1-9
Proverbs 18:8

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

Need encouragement today? Read this article on Baptist Press. http://www.bpnews.net/55021/vice-president-speaks-during-first-baptist-dallas-annual-patriotic-celebrate-freedom-sunday-service

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

~Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)~

I have a few more ideas for those of you who are going shopping for Operation Christmas Child:

Markers
Crayons (24-count)
Marbles
Playdough (8 for $1.00 at Dollar Tree)

Read the Bible in 2020 – June 30

2 Kings 17:1-18:12
Acts 20:1-38
Psalm 148:1-14
Proverbs 18:6-7

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

Update on David – I haven’t shared much about David lately, but today I will tell you he still has two terminal diseases, but the good news is that he is stronger than he has been in several years. He is here 18 months since he was told he had three months to live. He has gained weight and is able to do one of the things he loves most, work out in the yard. The golf cart helped him get around as he was getting better. Now, he is able to cut grass, weed-eat, clean out brush, water flowers, etc. Yesterday, he added something he hasn’t done in years. He cooked pork chops and sausage, our favorites, on a grill. It topped off a day that started off with a “bummer”.

When we checked in at oncology yesterday by phone, we were told to go home because he blood level was too high to receive a procrit shot. The report of the blood level was good, but driving to Baton Rouge for nothing was a bummer. After sitting in the car for a few minutes we decided to celebrate the good news, not focus on the unnecessary trip.

We stopped in Walker and visited Walmart. Remember, we buy all our groceries at Walmart pick-up. We went in and purchased a $20 grill and charcoal. After getting back to Kentwood, we went to Cutrer’s and bought sausage and pork chops. David cooked out on that grill for several hours. We ate and have two plates of leftovers, some to eat and some to freeze.

We had a wonderful day of “Making lemonade from the lemons”! We looked for the good and focused and celebrated that, rather than focusing on the negative. This weeks makes four months since Jennie told us to “Stay home”. She was thrilled we carefully broke the rules and celebrated good news!

Thanks to God, your many prayers, hard work, and determination we are “making lemonade” every day! Eighteen months and counting . . . .

Anna Lee

Monday

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.

Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

~Colossians 3:13 (NLT)~

Did you thank God for waking you up this morning?

Read the Bible in 2020 – June 29

2 Kings 15:1-16:20
Acts 19:13-41
Psalm 147:1-20
Proverbs 18:4-5

Operation Christmas Child

For those of you who are asking about what to purchase and when, now is the best time to buy school supplies such as markers, crayons, large erasers, one-subject notebooks, pencils, glue sticks, school scissors, pencil boxes, etc. Happy shopping!

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

Vacation Bible School at FBC, Kentwood begins a week from today. If you have a child or grandchildren attending, please contact the church office at 229-8111 to be sure your child is registered and and paperwork in order.

We all know churches were closed for a while. Some people have been watching online. Others have found different things to do. Pray they find they way back to church services in person or online,

Anna Lee

Friday

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you,

then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,

whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land you are living.

But as for me and my household,

we will serve the LORD.”

~Joshua 24:15~

Please be in prayer for Susan Rimes today. She will be in Covington at 6 A.M. this morning for wrist surgery to repair broken bones in her wrist. She should be home before noon. Susan will be thankful when the surgery takes away her pain. She looks forward to occupational therapy beginning next week to her her return to being able to use her hand. Please pray for Susan as she goes through surgery and therapy to regain use of her right hand.

Scott Tolleson, my cousin who has lived in Shreveport the past few years, passed away yesterday at the age of 64. He has suffered for many years with Huntington’s Disease. Today, he is rejoicing in heaven with family members, some of whom are like Scott and now healed of HD. Scott was the greatest soul winner I have ever known! He loved God and family with all his heart!

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

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

Read the Bible in 2020 – June 26

2 Kings 9:14-10:31
Acts 17:1-34
Psalm 144:1-15
Proverbs 17:27-28

Remember, it is never too late to start reading the Bible. If you haven’t been reading since January 1, just jump in today. You’ll be blessed!

Use good judgment and stay healthy!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples,

if you have love for one another.”

~John 13:35~

Susan Rimes fell and broke her wrist. She will be having surgery tomorrow in Covington. Pray for her today as she waits, tomorrow as she has surgery, and in the days to follow when use of her wrist will continue to be limited. Susan will appreciate your prayers.

Smiley Conerly is hospitalized in Hattisburg. Smiley also fell at home. He was dehydrated and had other issues with are being addressed. Please keep Smiley and Carol Jean in your prayers.

Lloyd Hayden’s arrangements were posted yesterday. If you missed it, you can look back to Wednesday. Services will be at FBC, Kentwood Saturday beginning at 10 A.M. with visitation followed by the funeral at noon.

Read the Bible in 2020 – June 25

2 Kings 8:1-9:13
Acts 16:16-40
Psalm 143:1-12
Proverbs 17:26

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

Thanks to those who turned in items for Operation Christmas Child. These items included highlighters. pens, glue sticks, sewing kits, brushes, crayons, and erasers. Thank-you so much.

The list for July is below:

Nursery and Preschool . . . . . Pens
Grades 1-3 . . . . . Erasers
Grades 4-5 . . . . . School scissors
Youth . . . . . Filler paper
College & Career and Gateway . . . . . One subject notebooks
Joy, Friendship Circle, and Bank . . . . . One-subject notebooks
New Creations and Renewal . . . . . Markers
Rebekah . . . . . Large erasers
Seekers and City Hall . . . . . Crayons
Faithful . . . . . Fishing Kits
Staff . . . . . Colored Pencils

Thanks for your help in providing the items for the “shoeboxes”.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.”

~James 1:21 (NLT)~

Please pray for our country.

Read the Bible in 2020 – June 24

2 Kings 6:1-7:20
Acts 15:36-16:15
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 17:24-25

Mission Opportunity Nearby – Request from Bro. Stan

Bro. Robert Brandal, Pastor of Crossroad Fellowship Baptist Church in Two Rivers Association, needs help with painting and laying floor tiles in the Sunday School building at the church. They have all of the supplies but need volunteers to help. The church is located west of Amite on Highway 16. If you are able to volunteer, please email the BASELA missions office at missions@basela.org or call the office at 985-839-3827.

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

My internet connection is on and off this morning. I’m thankful I was able to have service for a while. I’m hoping I can get this much posted…. Thankful for rain and for a roof that doesn’t leak!

Anna Lee