Devotional – Page 159 – The Prayer Link

Monday

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.”

~Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV~

Jadon’s Story: Big decisions tomorrow (Written last night)

Not much time but I have a prayer request. Tomorrow is the day that we will be given the surgery options. Please pray for the doctors as they meet in the morning. They will discuss my case at 10:30. 9:30 our time. We will not know anything until around 1:30,12:30 your time. Please pray that they can get all of these seizures without having to take out my motor cortex. Thanks for praying. I believe we are all fixing to witness a miracle. Just so you know. I had a great day today. I even smiled and laughed for my daddy. I’ll update you tomorrow when we know the plan. Love ya, Jadon

Virginia MeKenzie said her granddaughter, Chloe Neyland, is doing well. She’s recovered from her surgery and is beginning to grow. She’ll soon be celebrating her first birthday. Let’s pray her second year is easier than her first one.

Let’s continue to pray for Caroline Cutrer and her family. The last few months have certainly changed life for the family. Many prayers are continuing for Caroline.

Thought for the Day: Looking at things differently

A teenage boy lost a contact lens while playing basketball in his driveway. After a fruitless search, he told his mother the lens was no where to be found. Undaunted, she went outside and in a few minutes returned with the eyepiece in her hand.

“How did you manage to find it, Mom?” the teenager asked.

“We weren’t looking for the same thing,” she replied. “You were looking for a small piece of plastic. I was looking for $150.”

It is so true that our passion and persistence in doing something will be largely determined by its value in our eyes. For example, evangelism will never be a top priority as long as you see your next-door neighbor as simply a middle-aged guy with a pot belly. When you see him as an valuable soul whose eternal destiny will be determined by his relationship with God, suddenly things are different.

If you see your involvement at church as simply cleaning out a baptistry or corralling a herd of 4-year-olds for an hour, you will quickly lose heart. When you see your involvement as an essential element in the building up of the kingdom of God, you will not “grow weary while doing good” (Gal. 6:9).

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:2)

Looking at earthly things from a heavenly perspective will change the value of things in our mind. And that, in turn, will change how diligently we seek to do the things of God.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Remember these three little ones in your prayers today.

Anna Lee

Sunday

“God does speak—

sometimes one way and sometimes another—

even though people may not understand it.”

~Job 33:14 NCV~

Boyd Hatchel got home after 10:00 last night. His follow-up appointments begin Monday. Thank-you for praying. Please keep on praying,

Thought for the Day: Showers of blessings

The following letters supposedly were taken from an actual incident between a London hotel and one of its guests. In truth, this was composed by comedian Shelly Berman. It is rather long, but it is very funny and if you haven’t seen it before, you’ll love it.

Dear Maid,
Please do not leave any more of those little bars of soap in my bathroom since I have brought my own bath-sized Dial. Please remove the six unopened little bars from the shelf under the medicine chest and another three in the shower soap dish. They are in my way.
Thank you,
S. Berman

Dear Room 635,
I am not your regular maid. She will be back tomorrow, Thursday, from her day off. I took the 3 hotel soaps out of the shower soap dish as you requested. The 6 bars on your shelf I took out of your way and put on top of your Kleenex dispenser in case you should change your mind. This leaves only the 3 bars I left today which my instructions from the management is to leave 3 soaps daily. I hope this is satisfactory.
Kathy, Relief Maid

Dear Maid – I hope you are my regular maid,
Apparently Kathy did not tell you about my note to her concerning the little bars of soap. When I got back to my room this evening I found you had added
3 little Camays to the shelf under my medicine cabinet. I am going to be here in the hotel for two weeks and have brought my own bath-size Dial so I won’t need those 6 little Camays which are on the shelf. They are in my way when shaving, brushing teeth, etc. Please remove them.
S. Berman

Dear Mr. Berman,
My day off was last Wed. so the relief maid left 3 hotel soaps which we are instructed by the management. I took the 6 soaps which were in your way on the shelf and put them in the soap dish where your Dial was. I put the Dial in the medicine cabinet for your convenience. I didn’t remove the 3 complimentary soaps which are always placed inside the medicine cabinet for all new check-ins and which you did not object to when you checked in last Monday. Please let me know if I can of further assistance.
Your regular maid,
Dotty

Dear Mr. Berman,
The assistant manager, Mr. Kensedder, informed me this morning that you called him last evening and said you were unhappy with your maid service. I have assigned a new girl to your room. I hope you will accept my apologies for any past inconvenience. If you have any future complaints please contact me so I can give it my personal attention. Call extension 1108 between 8AM and 5PM. Thank you.
Elaine Carmen
Housekeeper

Dear Miss Carmen,
It is impossible to contact you by phone since I leave the hotel for business at 7:45 AM and don’t get back before 5:30 or 6PM. That’s the reason I called Mr. Kensedder last night. You were already off duty. I only asked Mr. Kensedder if he could do anything about those little bars of soap. The new maid you assigned me must have thought I was a new check-in today, since she left another 3 bars of hotel soap in my medicine cabinet along with her regular delivery of 3 bars on the bath-room shelf. In just 5 days here I have accumulated 24 little bars of soap. Why are you doing this to me?
S. Berman

Dear Mr. Berman,
Your maid, Kathy, has been instructed to stop delivering soap to your room and remove the extra soaps. If I can be of further assistance, please call extension 1108 between 8AM and 5PM. Thank you,
Elaine Carmen,
Housekeeper

Dear Mr. Kensedder,
My bath-size Dial is missing. Every bar of soap was taken from my room including my own bath-size Dial. I came in late last night and had to call the bellhop to bring me 4 little Cashmere Bouquets.
S. Berman

Dear Mr. Berman,
I have informed our housekeeper, Elaine Carmen, of your soap problem. I cannot understand why there was no soap in your room since our maids are instructed to leave 3 bars of soap each time they service a room. The situation will be rectified immediately. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience.
Martin L. Kensedder
Assistant Manager

Dear Mrs. Carmen,
Who….left 54 little bars of Camay in my room? I came in last night and found 54 little bars of soap. I don’t want 54 little bars of Camay. I want my one…..bar of bath-size Dial. Do you realize I have 54 bars of soap in here? All I want is my bath-size Dial. Please give me back my bath-size Dial.
S. Berman

Dear Mr. Berman,
You complained of too much soap in your room so I had them removed. Then you complained to Mr. Kensedder that all your soap was missing so I personally returned them. The 24 Camays which had been taken and the 3 Camays you are supposed to receive daily. I don’t know anything about the 4 Cashmere Bouquets. Obviously your maid, Kathy, did not know I had returned your soaps so she also brought 24 Camays plus the 3 daily Camays. I don’t know where you got the idea this hotel issues bath-size Dial. I was able to locate some bath-size Ivory which I left in your room.
Elaine Carmen
Housekeeper

Dear Mrs. Carmen,
Just a short note to bring you up-to-date on my latest soap inventory. As of today I possess:
– On the shelf under medicine cabinet – 18 Camay in 4 stacks of 4 and 1 stack of 2.
– On the Kleenex dispenser – 11 Camay in 2 stacks of 4 and 1 stack of 3.
– On the bedroom dresser – 1 stack of 3 Cashmere Bouquet.
– 1 stack of 4 hotel-size Ivory, and 8 Camay in 2 stacks of 4.
– Inside the medicine cabinet – 14 Camay in 3 stacks of 4 and 1 stack of 2.
– In the shower soap dish – 6 Camay, very moist.
– On the northeast corner of tub – 1 Cashmere Bouquet, slightly used.
– On the northwest corner of tub – 6 Camays in 2 stacks of 3.
Please ask Kathy when she services my room to make sure the stacks are neatly piled and dusted. Also, please advise her that stacks of more than 4 have a tendency to tip. May I suggest that my bedroom window sill is not in use and will make an excellent spot for future soap deliveries. One more item, I have purchased another bar of bath-sized Dial which I am keeping in the hotel vault in order to avoid further misunderstandings.
S. Berman

It dawned on me that God is like those maids! Every day he sends us blessing after blessing. Whether we ask for them or not, whether we deserve them or not (“he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good”), whether we acknowledge them or not, we are absolutely flooded with blessings from a good and gracious God.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things.” (Psalm 103:1-5a)

To the God who keeps on giving and giving be all praise and honor and glory!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

I trust you will look for blessings at Bible study and worship today. That’s too good of a blessing to miss!

Anna Lee

Saturday

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”

~Psalm 25:9 NIV~

Dr. Derry Magee had another good night. He was moved to Telemetry, room 201.He did therapy, moved his left leg, put his glasses on to look at a card, etc. His speech has improved since yesterday. Today, he is looking forward to company. Continue to pray for “Miss” Dora and Nita as they stay with him.

Thought for the Day: Does God know about this?

There’s a couple in Arkansas who have given their six-year-old son strict instructions to come home from playing every afternoon no later than 5 p.m. He is allowed to play with his friends, but his parents are quite serious about his curfew. If he is not home by 5 p.m., they begin to worry and call around the neighborhood to find out where he is. The boy knows this, though, and is careful to arrive every day on time.

One April Monday, however, the day after Daylight Saving Time went into effect, the boy was late coming home. When he finally arrived, a few minutes before 6 p.m., his mother scolded him for being late. “You know you are to be home by five,” she said, “and here it is nearly six.”

Puzzled, the little boy pointed out the window. “But the light,” he protested, “the light; it’s the light that tells me when to come home.” Realizing what had happened, his mother smiled and gently explained that the day before the time had been changed, that everyone had reset their clocks and, now, the daylight lasted longer.

The boy’s eyes narrowed. “Does God know about this?” he asked suspiciously.

It’s easy to see why a young boy would ask such a question, but no matter what the circumstance prompting the question, the answer to “Does God know about this?” is always, “Yes, He knows.” David reflected on this quality of God in Psalm 139:

“Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know thoroughly everything I do. Lord, even before I say a word, you already know it. You are all around me — in front and in back — and have put your hand on me. Your knowledge is amazing to me; it is more than I can understand.” (Psalm 139:1-6)

At times, it is a bit frightening to realize that God knows so much about me, but ultimately it is a comforting thought — that someone knows so much about me, yet still loves me. Because God knows me so well, He knows my deepest needs. May you take comfort this day in the realization that God knows everything about you there is to know.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Be careful of the fog today. Prepare for the Lord’s Day.

Anna Lee

Friday

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”

~Psalm 25:9 NIV~

Update from Jadon Pailet

Not much time to update. It’s been a very long and hard day. I have 132 electrodes attached to my brain which means 132 wires. I also have all the other normal hospital wires. I do not like having these wires attached to me. I was doing really well until around 5:30. I started having stomach pains and got sick. So I didn’t get to eat anything. I was able to hold down some juice about two hours ago. I’m very agitated. I’m mad because I can’t crawl into my moms lap. I keep trying and reaching and crying but they won’t let me. Mommy got as close as possible until I went to sleep. They gave me some medicine to help me relax. I’m also having withdraws from my sabril. I haven’t had it since yesterday and it’s one of those medicines that can effect you that way. So they did order it and gave it to me a little while ago. My seizures are very bad and everytime I have one I cry. The doctor said he is getting plenty of information. He said we will have some results of the EEG tomorrow. Please continue to pray as we will have to make some big decisions tomorrow. Also pray that I will be able to settle down and get some rest.

Please keep praying for Jadon, his family, and the medical staff caring for him.

Dr. Derry Magee continues to improve. He is participating in physical, occupational, and speech therapy. He will get moved to the stroke/telemetry unit today where his therapy time can be increased. He does not get frustrated or angry. He became very excited when told his grandson Bill would be coming tomorrow with his wife Kellye. “Miss” Dora and daughter, Nita, thank you for your continued prayers.
Mr. Kenneth Felker said B.J.’s surgery was delayed from early morning to late evening, but was eventually done. The surgery turned out not to be as complicated as originally expected. David talked with B.J. yesterday, but said she seemed medicated.
Baptist Press: Baptists and the Civil War on display at the library

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36898

Thought for the Day: I’m starting to forget

There’s a beautiful story about a little boy who couldn’t wait for his new baby sister to come home from the hospital. He couldn’t wait to be near her, to talk to her. But his parents didn’t want him to be left alone with her. After all he was only four years old, so they wanted to supervise his visits. He kept begging to be alone with her, so one night his parents finally relented. The boy tiptoed into her room, stood next to his sister’s crib and said: “Tell me about God – I’m starting to forget.”There are times when we as adults get so caught up in the “rat race” and all of our responsibilities. Perhaps we need to go to the children around us and say, “Tell me about God — I’m starting to forget.”There are weeks when we’ve been dealing with irate customers and heavy traffic. We need to fellowship with the saints and worship God together because “I’m starting to forget.”There are weeks when we’ve had to focus on crying babies, the paying of bills and doctors’ appointments. We need the reminder of the Lord’s Supper to see God’s love and grace because “I’m starting to forget.”

There are days when we’re so caught up in deadlines at work and getting the kids to soccer practice, days when we need to slow down a bit and spend time with God in prayer because “I’m starting to forget.”

“Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.” (Deuteronomy 4:9)

Are you starting to forget? Ask someone to tell you about God once more.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Please continue to pray for all the others we have had on our prayer list lately.
Boyd and Jennie, our daughter and son-in-law, will be speaking in the 10:30 worship service at FBC, Kentwood Sunday. They are missionaries to the Roma(Gypsies) in Europe. Their stateside assignment time is ending this month, so they will be returning to Prague soon. You are invited to join us at this time if you are interested and available.

Anna Lee

Thursday

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,

for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”

~Philippians 1:3-5~

Please pray for Tammy Smith’s sister who will be having knee surgery today.

Mrs. Anne Hurst is home now, but please continue to pray for her as she recovers her strength.

Percy Cutrer was at North Oaks last night. Pray for him and his family.

Please continue your prayers for Taylor Breeland.

Pray for Bill Carl Strickland to get over his cold so he can begin chemo and radiation.

Pray for Donna Fay Miller and Firma Kay Schneeweiss as they take turns staying with their mother, Mrs. Pauline Strickland. Pray she will regain her strength soon.

Jadon’s Story: Surgery is tomorrow (Posted last night)

We made it to Detroit. We have to be at the hospital for 7 which is 6 at home. Not sure what time they will get started. I’ll update sometime after surgery. Please send lots of prayers our way. This first surgery is going to give us lots of information and lots of decisions to make. We know that God will continue to help us make decisions. Love ya, Jadon

Lift-off of purple balloons at prayer service just before the Pailet family left for Detroit

https://fbcdn-video-a.akamaihd.net/cfs-ak-ash4/350143/625/2773634974371_4208.mp4?oh=f71ab08d8a688a1d0beea24279cb99b1&oe=4F067F00&__gda__=1325825792_9ce5c7c1c0bc9c9f1a8fa87ef86ed02e

Please continue to pray for Rev. Sale Lilly (Ann Trappey’s dad) and his family.

Thought for the Day: Don’t show up empty-handed

Joe and Mike had not seen each other in many years. After meeting, they had a long

talk trying to fill in the gap of those years by telling about their lives. Finally,

Joe invited Mike to visit him in his new apartment.

"I've got a wife and three kids and I'd love to have you visit us."

"Great. Where do you live?"

"Here's the address. And there's plenty of parking behind the apartment. Park and

come around to the front door, kick it open with your foot, go to the elevator and

press the button with your left elbow, then enter! When you reach the sixth floor,

go down the hall until you see my name on the door. Then press the doorbell with your

right elbow and I'll let you in."

"Good. But tell me... what is all this business of kicking the front door open, then

pressing buttons with my right, then my left elbow?"

"Surely, you're not coming empty-handed!"

As we approach God, surely we do not attempt to come to Him empty-handed. Listen to

these instructions given to the Jews in the Law of Moses:

"Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God

in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the

Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear

before the LORD empty-handed. Every man shall give as he is able, according

to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you." (Deut. 16:16-17)

God has blessed us richly in so many ways. He wants us -- no, He expects us -- to bring a gift when we come to Him. We should not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Are your hands full?

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Enjoy this great day the Lord has planned for you!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

KOM Pray (Kids on Mission Pray)

“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~

DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE
Ouma C (Grandma C) is a 72-year-old woman from the Nama people group lives in a township outside of Windhoek, Namibia. For the past nine years, Ouma C has shown the love of Jesus to the children in her neighborhood through a weekday feeding program.

Monday through Friday, the children begin lining up at her gate at noon, and over the next two hours, about 300 school-age children pass through Ouma C’s home and eat a small meal. She depends completely on what God provides through donations.

Every Monday, Missionary Dana leads a Bible study for the 70 or more children who stay after they have eaten. She has been teaching them Bible stories of how God performed miracles—how He did the ‘impossible’—for the Israelites. Ouma C and the children’s needs are great, but they are learning every day that God is still busy doing the ‘impossible’ today.

Please pray for Ouma C that she will stay healthy and be able to provide food for the children. Pray for the children to hear the Bible and understand the Truth of God who wants to do the ‘impossible’ in each of their lives.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS
My grandfather has a disease called ALS and he is having trouble walking. My grandmother can’t really leave their house a lot. They can’t go on vacations a lot because it tires him out a lot. Please pray that he will have the strength to go though each day and that my grandmother will also be able to be strong. Please pray that all of our family will be able to be strong and that my Opa (Grandfather–he is German and so we call him Opa) will not have to suffer. And if he dies soon help us all to understand that he has gone to a better place. REBEKAH, age 11 (American peoples)

Please pray for me—I will be going to new school. One of my best friend’s, Connor, is leaving Germany “forever” with his family and some other friends are leaving for a year. IAN, age 12 (European peoples)

Pray for our dog Ella. She was left at the vet. Pray for a safe trip home. Pray for the street at our school to be safer and for our house in Mexico City to be safe. We are very excited about Christmas. LOTTIE and EMMA, age 6 (American peoples)

I go to school in Poland. My friends speak Polish and English. Please pray for me to tell them about Jesus. MACIE, 4-6 year old class (European peoples)

Pray that I will find friends in Russia and that my family will not be stressed. Pray that the people in my country will come to God. TESSA, age 10 (European peoples)

Ask God to help me with school. Pray that I will be safe and have good health. Pray for my friend. Ask Him to watch over me and to keep my family. JAYDEN, age 8 (American peoples)KOMpray: Kids on Mission Pray offers prayer requests about children—children around the world who are just learning about Jesus and Missionary Kids (MKs) who share His love along with their parents. The goal is to encourage children of all ages to pray and trust God to answer!
KOMpray@imb.org.

Today, I’m reminding you to pray for Jadon Pailet, the two year old with uncontrollable seizures. Jadon and his family are in Detroit today where doctors have a plan to control his seizures. The prayer sendoff for the Pailet family yesterday was great – emotional, reassuring, and uplifting. Join the hundreds praying daily for Jadon and his family.

Mr. Kenneth Felker told David last night that his daughter, B.J., fell at home and broke three bones in one leg. She is in North Oaks where she will be having surgery today. Please continue to pray for B.J. and her family.

Rev. Sal Lilly is Ann Trappey’s dad. He was hospitalized with chest pains. According to Sheila Broyles, doctors determined he needs three by-passes. Pray for Rev. Lilly, a retired methodist pastor, and his family.

Firma Kay Schneweiss reports her mother, Mrs. Pauline Strickland, was moved to rehab. Because she wasn’t able to work at that level yet, she was moved to skilled nursing Monday. Pray for Donna Fay Miller and Firma Kay as they take turns staying with “Miss” Pauline and for Billy Carl who will be beginning chemo and radiation as you pray for “Miss” Pauline and the doctors.

Thought for the Day: Too many rocks

This list is circulating among Forest Service employees. These are actual comments left on Forest Service registration sheets and comment cards by backpackers completing wilderness camping trips:

“A small deer came into my camp and stole my bag of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed? Please call.”

“Instead of a permit system or regulations, the Forest Service needs to reduce worldwide population growth to limit the number of visitors to wilderness.”

“Trails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands.”

“Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill.”

“Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these pests.”

“Chairlifts need to be in some places so that we can get to wonderful views without having to hike to them.”

“Reflectors need to be placed on trees every 50 feet so people can hike at night with flashlights.”

“Need more signs to keep area pristine.”

“The places where trails do not exist are not well marked.”

“Too many rocks in the mountains.”

Too many rocks in the mountains? I suppose the sky is too blue, there are too many leaves on the trees and too much water in the ocean as well! It’s hard to imagine anyone complaining about God’s creation. I stand in awe every day of His handiwork, from the mountains to the deserts to the beaches and everything in between!

“Praise the LORD!….Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created….Fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; creeping things and flying fowl….Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.” (Psalm
148:1a,3-5,7-10,13)

Next chance you get, walk outside, take a look around, and offer your praise to God who created it all.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Pray for the family of Mrs. Jimmie Shaw as they have her memorial service this morning.

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Let the peoples praise You, O God;

let all the peoples praise You.”

~Psalm 67:5~

Written by Connor Corkern’s Mom about Jadon and his Family

Tomorrow a very dear friend of mine will take her 2 year old son to Michigan to have half of his brain removed in hopes of relieving his tired little body of seizures. Let’s talk about courage, stength? Faith? Boy, does she have it all.. I’ve known Monica for most of my adult life. We have had many ups in our single life finding the perfect mate, both have a need to work with children with special needs, and are both mothers who would go to the ends of the earth to help her child. She is simly amazing. She has effortlessly made HUGE decisions all in trying to cure her son. She has tried many remedies to help sweet, sweet Jadon. Nothing has helped. She gives me courage and helps restore my faith.

Jadon was born in August of 2008. I can remember being so excited because Monica was going to have two boys, just like me. Little did we know that our similarities would keep on going…unfortunately. Jadon was diagnosed with infantile spasms when he was 5 months old. These spasms, have turned into seizures that have taken control of his life, along with his families. I HATE that Jadon has to go through so much so young, but I know that he was once a brave soul, just like my Connor, who came to the Earth to help people find compassion, love, and renew their love in the Lord. Luckily Jadon found the perfect parents, and best big brother Jacob. They give Jadon such unconditional, unfailing love that I’m in awe of.

They take off tomorrow on a jet plane. Are they going into the unknown? Yes. Are they scared? Yes. But are they hopeful? Absolutely yes. I told Monica that I was extremely worried about coming home from China with a blind Connor. I was worried that our community would think they did all of this for nothing. Even though Connor came back with some vision, he is still legally blind. I know that our community will stand by us no matter what. We live in a wonderful place where people genuinely care for one another, they look out for each other, and deeply love their neighbor. Even if they’ve never met.

So, as you go about your day tomorrow my friends, please say a silent prayer for my friend Monica, Adam, Jacob, and beautiful Jadon. Just imagine laying your child into a stranger’s arms to cut into their brain. But imagine the strength of a mother hoping to cure her son’s epilepsy. Thank you my friends. love you all. love you most Monica.

Jadon’s Story: Tomorrow is the day

We are leaving for Detroit tomorrow. I can’t believe it is already here. I really don’t have much to say because this is starting to feel like a dream. Anyway we are having a prayer send off tomorrow at 2:00 in the parking lot at house on the rock. We would love to see you there. I’m very excited that the community can all come together as one and pray for me. It’s awesome and I can’t wait to see everyone before I leave. Well I’ll update you once we get to Detroit. Right now I’m going to snuggle with my mom in the rocking chair while she holds me just a little tighter tonight. Thanks all of you for your prayers. I can’t believe how many people are praying for me and how many people truly love me. Love you all!!! Jadon

I think we can all admire the strength of this family. I hope you will keep them close to your heart and in your prayers throughout the coming days.

Thought for the Day: It’s not easy being a mom

Judith Viorst once wrote an essay based on interviews she had with children. The subject was “What’s a good mother like?”Viorst reports that the children expected their mother to get angry from time to time. “She has to,” said Ted, “or she’ll faint from holding it in.”

“But it’s best to remember,” said Randy, “that when your mother starts to act real weird, you have to look scared and serious. Don’t giggle. When mommies are mad, they get madder if you giggle.”

“My mommy got so mad,” said Megan, “that she yanked the plate off the table and all the mashed potatoes flew into the air.”

“And why,” Viorst asked, pretending she’d never heard of such shocking behavior, “why would a mother do a thing like that?”

“Well,” said Megan, “she told my older brother, Mike, he’s 11 years old, to eat the potatoes on his plate and he said ‘Later.’ And then she told him again to eat the potatoes and Mike said ‘Soon.’ And then she told him he had better eat those potatoes right now and he said, ‘In a minute.’ And then she stood up and Mike finally took a bite and told her, ‘How can I eat them? They’re cold!'”

It truly is not easy being a Mom! But how blessed we were to have our mothers. In this country, we will honor our mothers on Sunday, and I think it’s certainly appropriate. Paul said we as Christians are to “give honor to whom honor is due” (Romans 13:7), and I can’t think of anyone any more deserving of honor than our mothers. I hope that you will honor in a special way those mothers who are like Hannah.

In I Samuel 1, we have recorded the birth of Samuel. Before he was born, Hannah prayed a vow to God. She said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” (I Samuel 1:11)

The Lord heard her petition and she was blessed with the birth of Samuel. Hannah didn’t forget her vow to the Lord. She took her son Samuel to be trained at the feet of Eli, the priest of God. From a very young age, Hannah made sure that her son was preparing to serve the Lord.

I heard about a preacher a number of years ago who came home after preaching a gospel meeting, and he was asked how it went. Rather discouraged, he said that he had only baptized one young girl who was about 12 or 13 years old — all in all, comparatively speaking, not a very successful meeting. But, after that girl grew up, she married and became the mother of five sons who became gospel preachers. What a great impact that young lady ended up having in the world!

I know that mothers — especially mothers of young children — sometimes get discouraged because they wonder if they’re really accomplishing anything. Let me assure you that if you are instilling within your children a love for God and His Word, you’re accomplishing something. It may be years down the road before you see the results, but you’re having an impact. You’re making a difference.

Give honor this weekend to your own mother — and to those mothers around you — who, like Hannah, have vowed to give their children over to God.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Jadon’s mother, Monica, has shown such strength. What a mother! Jadon was blessed to have a wonderful, strong mom who knows God and trusts Him enought to surrender her two year old for brain surgery this week.

Anna Lee

I need to update you on Joey Messina’s wife. She came through brain surgery which seems to be a success. Joey and the family are thankful for your prayers.

Monday

“LORD my God, You have done many things–

Your wonderful works and Your plans for us;

none can compare with You.

If I were to report and speak [of them],

they are more than can be told.”

~Psalm 40:5, HCSB~

Joey Messina, a former student from Independence, requests prayer for his wife who will have her 8th brain surgery in 5 years. The surgery is today. Please begin praying and keep praying.

There is no obituary for Mrs. Jimmie Shaw yet. I’ll post one when it is available.

Prepare for a cold night. You may know someone who needs assistance staying warm. If so, do what you can.

Pray for travelers as many families will be returning home today.

Don’t forget the 2 P.M. prayer time to Jadon Pailet tomorrow in the parking lot of House on the Rock. Be there to support this family as they take Jadon for brain surgery in Detroit.

Thought for the Day: Adding water to the mudhole

A husband and wife were driving down a country lane on their way to visit some friends. They came to a muddy patch in the road and the car became bogged. After a few minutes of trying to get the car out by themselves, they saw a young farmer coming down the lane, driving a tractor. He stopped when he saw the couple in trouble and offered to pull the car out of the mud for $50.

The couple accepted and minutes later the car was free. The farmer turned to the husband and said, “You know, you’re the tenth car I’ve helped out of the mud today.” The husband looks around at the fields incredulously and asks the farmer, “When do you have time to plow your land? At night?”

“No,” the young farmer replied seriously, “Night is when I put the water in the hole.”

There are some people who are always available to help solve problems, and there are others who spend their time making life more difficult for others (and sometimes the same person can do both!). The New Testament is filled with warnings, though, about being a “stumbling block” to others, especially to children and young Christians.

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:6-7)

May your day be filled with opportunities to help others in need. But don’t be adding any water to the mud hole!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

We all know it would be a good deed to clear up a problem, but shouldn’t we confess that sometimes we have been guilty of “adding water to the mudhole”? Let’s try to be better.

Anna Lee

Sunday

And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith

and in our knowledge of the Son of God;

we shall become mature people,

reaching to the very height of Christ’s full stature.”

~Ephesians 4:13 TEV~

Today is the 65th anniversary of the day Momma and Daddy got married. She wanted a big party. She celebrating in heaven while Daddy will be here with us for a traditional New Year’s meal. Pray for Daddy today.

I’m thanking God Carol New made it home after a successful knee surgery. Pray for her as she works to get that knee doing what she wants it to do.

FBC, Kentwood will have Sunday School and the morning worship service, but nothing tonight.

Thought for the Day: Failed resolutions

At the beginning of a New Year, a high school principal decided to post his teachers’ New Year’s resolutions on the bulletin board. As the teachers gathered around the bulletin board, a great commotion started. One of the teachers was complaining. “Why weren’t my resolutions posted?” She was throwing such a temper tantrum that the principal hurried to his office to see if he had overlooked her resolutions. Sure enough, he had mislaid them on his desk.

As he read her resolutions he was astounded. This teacher’s first resolution was not to let little things upset her in the New Year.

It has been said that “nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Perhaps we should add one more thing to that list of certainties — the breaking of New Year’s resolutions! Looking back on 2008, you may be one of the fortunate ones who accomplished exactly what you hoped to accomplish during the year. But, if you’re like most of us, you didn’t read all the way through the Bible like you intended to, you quit smoking but only for a while then picked up the habit again, or you lost a few pounds only to put them back on again when your diet failed. After experiencing this failure year after year, a person tends to say to himself, “What’s the use? Why even bother to try to make these changes?”

As an old Chinese proverb puts it, though, “Failure is not falling down. Failure is not getting back up.” Or as the Japanese put it, “Fall down seven times, get up eight.” If there are areas of your life that you’ve tried to improve and failed, let this this be the month that you try again. And if you fail this month, get up and try again next month. Learn from your mistakes and become stronger. God does not turn his back on the Christian who fails (if you question that, you need only look at the story of Peter’s denial of Christ). However, He cannot help the Christian who refuses to try any longer.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hearts, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded….Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:7-8,10)

If you have made a resolution to develop a habit that will bring you closer to God or a resolution to get rid of a habit that is pulling you away from God, may God bless you with the strength to accomplish your goal. And, if you should stumble on your journey, may He pick you up and dust you off so that you can continue on the long journey of becoming like Christ.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Have a great Lord’s Day and a great 2012!

Anna Lee

New Year's Eve

“Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ

and be taken forward to maturity …”

~Hebrews 6:1a NIV~

WHAT’S ON THE OTHER SIDE?

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room. He said, “Doctor, I am afraid to die. I need to know what to expect when I go to heaven. Please tell me what lies on the other side.”

The doctor wanted to offer comfort to his patient, but he didn’t know what to say. Very quietly, the doctor said, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?! Then why do you want to go to heaven if you don’t know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?”

The doctor was uneasy and was holding the handle of the door. From the other side came a sound of scratching and loud whining. As the doctor opened the door, a dog sprang into the room with his tail wagging and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, “Did you notice my dog? He’s never been in this room before. He didn’t know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing: I know my Master is there, and that is enough. And when the door opens, I shall pass through with no fear, but with gladness.”

It’s true that while we are given a glimpse of what lies ahead, there is a great deal that we don’t know and often wonder about. Will there be a literal street of gold and a gate of pearl? Highly unlikely. Those kinds of images may be helpful in understanding how precious heaven is, but they are not of much value in helping us to know exactly what it will look like.

And quite frankly, it doesn’t matter to me, for two reasons. First of all, I trust my heavenly Father to provide nothing less than the very best for His children. And secondly, as the doctor in the story above pointed out, the only thing that really matters is that we will be in the presence of God. Living in a shack in His presence would be preferable to living in a mansion apart from Him. Whatever else heaven may be, its essence is that we have the opportunity to have intimate fellowship with God.

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’ ” (Rev. 20:12)

Recently, I read a quote that has convicted me more than anything I’ve heard in a long time. John Piper asked the question, “If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?”

It makes me wonder if we’re anxious to get to heaven to have the opportunity to be with God, or if we just want to go because it’s a place where we’ll enjoy ourselves and have all the comforts and pleasures that we’d like to have right now. Think about it.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

We didn’t learn what is on the other side of this life during 2011, but maybe we will in 2012. Are you prepared?

Anna Lee