Devotional – Page 173 – The Prayer Link

Thursday

“This is to my Father’s glory,

that you bear much fruit,

showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

~John 15:7 (NIV)~

CaringBridge: LoganWatts

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganwatts

Please continue to pray for Mark Shaw and his family. He’s improving!

Mrs. Bill Hughes, sister of Mrs. Anne Hurst, is back in North Oaks with pneumonia. Please remember her in your prayers.

The children of FBC, Kentwood are at camp in Eunice, LA this week. Pray the week was meaningful in drawing them closer to God.

Vacation Bible Schools

East Fork – This week at night
The Lord’s Church – June 26th -30th (6:00 – 8:30 P.M.)

Reminder: You are invited to the cabin at 6:30 tonight for our Third Thursday Share Group. We will fellowship, eat, and have a devotional. Contact me if you need more information.

Linda Headrick is doing better. Her daughter, Kristy, said Linda’s medicines had to be adjusted. Pray the medicines are now correctly adjusted.

CHIP

tvRAY CHARLES observed, “Nowadays they say you need a special chip to put in the TV so kids can’t watch this and that…

In my day, we didn’t need a chip. My mom was the chip. End of story.”

THOUGHT: I believe you will agree that moms need to get back to guiding the house in this way. Wade L. Webster, “A Special Chip,” Riches From My Reading,The Searcher, April 17, 2011

KneEmail: “Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” 1 Timothy 5.14

. . . Posted by Mike Benson at June 15, 2011 5:40 PM

Be careful in this hot weather!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“From him the whole body …

grows and builds itself up in love,

as each part does its work.”

~Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)~

CaringBridge: Logan Watts

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganwatts

Our Georgia granddaughter, Peyton, had a bicycle accident with a mailbox last night. She broke both bones in her lower forearm. They are taped for now. Peyton will get a cast in a week. Please pray for her.

Today marks six months since I broke the top of my right upper arm (at the shoulder). It is still not 100%, but is much better than it was at first. I see the doctor again at the end of the month. Pray for continued improvement.

“Miss” Blanch Wheat’s funeral will be this morning. Pray for her family.

“Miss” Blanch was four months older than one of my junior high teachers, Miss Evelyn Courtney, who passed away. They were both 97 years old.

Evelyn Genevieve Courtney
(May 4, 1914 – June 11, 2011)

A lifelong resident of Amite, she died on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at Destin Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Destin, FL. She was born May 4, 1914 in Amite and was 97 years of age. Miss Evelyn was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Amite and was the last living member of her Amite High School graduating class. After graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University, she was a teacher for many years at Amite School, Valley Forge Academy and Oak Forest Academy where she left a lasting impression on the students she taught. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews including David Courtney “Buddy” Hanby and his wife, Mae, Dorothy “Dottie” Hanby Hall and Carol Hanby Waller. Preceded in death by parents, Lafayette and Lillie McGinty Courtney; 3 sisters, Lillian Courtney, Margie “Hannah” Courtney Hanby and Stella Courtney Hanby; 4 brothers, Henry, Young, Will and Harvey Courtney. Visitation at First United Methodist Church, Amite, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2011 conducted by Rev. Brady Whitton. Interment Amite Cemetery, Amite.

Heart to Heart with Holley: Beyond your limits…

Beyond your limits…

Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:51 AM PDT

A new week unfolds, full of possibilities. Yet I feel questions closing in on me like the walls of a box too.

Do I have what it takes?

Is there enough time?

How will it all work out?

Then a line my pastor spoke a few weeks ago at church drifts into my heart…

Your potential is not limited by you because you have a limitless God living in you.

Suddenly the walls disappear and I’m free, standing in wide open spaces and looking ahead to all God has for me.

Whatever you face this week, it is not too big for Him.

And whatever you think your limitations are, you are not too small for Him to use you.

So go for it, friend!

{I’m cheering you on as you do.}

Have a terrific day!

Anna Lee

Friday

“Encourage anyone who feels left out,

help all who are weak,

and be patient with everyone.”

~1 Thessalonians 5:14 (CEV)~

CaringBridge: Logan Watts

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganwatts/journal

Please continue to pray for Sherry Day. She has completed four weeks of radiation and is doing well.

Please continue to pray for Stacey Scarle. Her last treatments were very hard on her.

Several people have expressed interest in volunteering with the Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief. If you are interested in volunteering or just want to learn more please check out the following link.

http://www.lbc.org/DisasterRelief/

We had another great day of VBS yesterday! We only have today and the program tonight left. The memories and the efforts will continue in hearts forever.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT GOD SAYS

A Swiss guy, looking for directions, pulls up at a bus stop where two Americans are waiting.

“Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?” he says. The two Americans just stare at him.

“Excusez-moi, parlez vous Francais?” The two continue to stare.

“Parlare Italiano?” No response.

“Hablan ustedes Espanol?” Still nothing.

The Swiss guy drives off, extremely disgusted.

The first American turns to the second and says, “Y’know, maybe we should learn a foreign language….”

“Why?” says the other, “That fellow knew four languages, and it didn’t do him any good.”

It’s true. Knowing a lot of languages is no guarantee that you can communicate with someone (though it may increase your chances!). Even Jesus, the great communicator, found that there were people who couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand….” (Matthew 13:13)

Why? It wasn’t a problem of languages; it was a problem of the heart.

“For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.” (Matthew 13:15)

Father, there are times when I am so slow to understand what you would have me to say and do. Though you speak clearly to me through your Word, my heart is not always receptive to what you have to say. Please help me to open my eyes and ears, and to get rid of everything that stands in the way of me hearing your voice. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Baptist Press: Tim Tebow

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35506

Be a blessing to someone today.

Anna Lee

Sunday

Now you belong to him …

in order that you might be useful in the service of God.

~Romans 7:4 (TEV)~

CaringBridge: Logan Watts

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganwatts

Theople Hurst, Mike Nason, and Bobbye Magee have lost a brother-in-law. The funeral will be tomorrow in northern Mississippi. Please pray for them as they travel. Keep the whole family in your prayers.

Elizabeth Aline Wallace
(March 17, 1956 – June 2, 2011)

Elizabeth Aline Wallace was born March 17, 1956 and passed away at 12:28 a.m., Thursday, June 2, 2011 at University Hospital, New Orleans. She was 55, a native of Independence and a resident of Amite.

She is survived by her husband Larry Wallace, Amite; 2 sons, Larry Wallace, II and wife Danielle, Amite & Robert Sanders, Albany; 2 daughters, Christy Lynn Sharp and husband Danny, Amite & Bridget Wallace, Baton Rouge; 3 brothers, Bert Sanders, Zachary, Jerry Sanders, Zachary & Dan Sanders, Monroe; sister, Patricia Dixon, Greensburg; 9 grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Preceded in death by parents, John and Cora Spencer Sanders and a son.

Private Services will be held at a later date.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

WAIT

NO DOUBT, YOU instantly recognize the name Jell-O…

Likely, you have even tried a flavor or two of it down through the years. However, you may not know the story behind this beloved product.

Jell-O was discovered by a man named Pearl Wait over one hundred years ago. Although Wait was a construction worker by trade, he dabbled in medicines in his spare time and sold his remedies door to door. In the midst of mixing medicines, Wait got the idea of mixing fruit flavoring with granulated gelatin; and, the wiggly, wonderful product that we know and love was born.

For two years, Wait eagerly peddled his product door-to-door. However, sales were surprisingly slow. Discouraged, Wait sold the rights to his product to a neighbor, Orator Woodward, for $450. Within eight short years, Woodward turned a $450 investment into a $1 million dollar business. Today, 1.1 million boxes of Jell-O are sold each day. Although Wait made an amazing discovery, someone else reaped the rewards of it. Ironically, Wait just couldn’t wait.

What about us? Can we wait?

As Christians, we have certainly made an amazing discovery. We have found the truth. However, we must hold it fast ( 2 Timothy 1.13). We must not sell it for any price ( Proverbs 23.23). If we sell the wonderful truth that we have found, we will live to regret it. It will cost us and our descendants greatly. If we sell the truth, we will lose far more than Pearl Wait and his descendants ever did. After all, the value of Jell-O is nothing in comparison with the value of the soul ( Matthew 16.26).

Please don’t sell out! Hold on to the truth that you have found! One day, you will be glad that you did. Wade Webster, “Wait Just Couldn’t Wait,” The Searcher, Southaven church of Christ, May 29, 2011

KneEmail: “Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall it.” Psalm 37.34

Posted by Mike Benson at June 2, 2011 12:32 PM

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday

Your attitude must be like my own,

for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served,

but to serve and to give my life.

~Matthew 20:28 (LB)~

Stacey Scarle

Stacey had her last radiation today. Thank God that part is over. Next phase is the oral chemo which shouldn’t be too bad. Now she is burned pretty bad and has several blisters. She should start healing soon. Thanks for your prayers, thoughts, cards and calls they have really been appreciated. Please keep her in your prayers. as she still has a way to go. Love to you all. Joan

Jadan’s Story

Hospital Day 3

Posted: 03 Jun 2011 01:01 PM PDT

Things are not looking to great for me. I’m still having alot of seizures. The only change is the intensity of them. They are going to give me the steroid tonight and tomorrow morning. If they haven’t decreased by then we will be coming home a day early. So there you go another medicine that did not work. I don’t know what to do anymore. We are so tired of watching me have seizures everyday of my life. I guess we have to be thankful for the progress I’m making and pray that I will continue to develop. Maybe one day we will have some control of these horrible things. Our next step in my journey is to go to Boston at the end of the month. By that time I will be on enough lamictal to know if it is working. We will then wean vimpat and start vagabatrin when we get back. This is the medicine that can effect my eyes. I really didn’t want to try this medicine but it is only fair to try it for a month and see if it will help. Please pray for me and my family!!!

CaringBridge: Logan Watts

FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2011 6:43 PM, CDT

We finally just got to our room. The hospital has been full so we have been waiting all day. I miss the PICU so much they were all so good to Logan and Jonathan and I. Logan has been really agitated since we have been up here. He keeps moving his left leg and kind of groaning. We had become so used to how things work in ICU and its not the case up here. We want to give a big shout out to all the PICU staff who took such great care of my lil man. I can’t wait to walk my lil man thru yalls door in a year from now and show yall how much he has improved and to see the look on the neuro Dr’s faces. We thank God for all of his “baby steps” and please do NOT stop praying now. We will have a long, difficult road ahead and we have come to far to be satisfied. PLEASE CONTINUE PRAYING FOR LOGAN!!

Sign My Guestbook

FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2011 9:15 AM, CDT

Well its a big day of celebration for our lil boy. He is getting moved to a real room. Here comes the PICU going away party. So I will post our room number when we get it. Hopefully he gets transferred to New Orleans soon cause everyone is saying the sooner he can start therapy/rehab the better. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR LOGAN!!

Sign My Guestbook

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 10:58 PM, CDT

Not much to update but he is doing good off of the vent. They actually removed the machine from his room earlier today. He was put on oxygen which they just removed as well. We are so thankful for this progress but at the same time a nervous wreck since he can not swallow. I’m so scared he’s gonna choke or aspirate. They say he may never learn to swallow but there is a also a chance he can so we are staying hopeful. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MY SWEET LOGAN!

Maggie Lee Henson’s mother’s “Faith”

http://jinnyhenson.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/my-faith-story-from-spring-assembly/

Heart to Heart with Holley

For such a time as this…

Posted: 03 Jun 2011 09:42 AM PDT

You’re here, now, in this moment, and it will never come again.

For such a time as this…

You’re changing diapers, tying the shoelaces of the future, growing the seeds of strong faith.

For such a time as this…

You’re working in that office, speaking up in that meeting, doing what you do with excellence.

For such a time as this…

You’re reaching out a helping hand, taking time to listen, brightening someone’s day.

For such a time as this…

You are wherever you are, doing whatever you do, and it matters more than you know.

So keep it up, friend.

You really are making a difference.

–Holley

Have a great day of preparation for the Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Friday

“The Lord has heard my supplication;

the Lord will receive my prayer.”

~Psalm 6:9~

Pray for Mike Kelsey. He’s in North Oaks after suffering a heart attack. As you pray for Mike, please pray for his family.

CaringBridge: Logan Watts

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganwatts/journal

Heart to Heart with Holley: There’s more to the story…

The news drifts to my ears from the television, pops up on my screen, comes across the radio.

Tragedy.

Hurt.

I lay in bed that night and pray, “Lord, I don’t understand.”

And it seems I hear a whisper…”The headlines aren’t the whole story.”

Oh.

I think of the hard “headlines” in my life.

I consider how if someone only saw that they might shake their head and only say, “Poor girl.” But I’ve also learned firsthand what it’s like to be surrounded by grace, walked through the rain, even suprised by joy.

God is the Author of life.

With Him, there is always hope.

There is always redemption.

There is always more to the story.

Always more to your story.

All the way to The End…and beyond.

Vacation Bible Schools

FBC, Amite

June 6-9

8:30-12:00

FBC, Kentwood

June 6-10

8:30-12:30

Be a blessing to someone to day. Look for an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“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~

CaringBridge: Logan Watts

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganwatts

Jadon’s Story: Getting Admitted in the Morning

http://jadonsisstory.blogspot.com/2011/05/getting-admited-in-morning.html

Henry McKenzie had a good day yesterday – no pain and feeling stronger. Continue to pray for him.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Wednesday, June 1, 2011

“They will be divided, father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother . . .” (Luke 12:53a, HCSB).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, asking you to pray for new Christians.

In Southeast Asia, fourteen young people sat in a circle on the wooden houseboat where they had met to fellowship and study God’s Word. They were new believers, and every one of their prayer requests was the same: “Pray for my mom and dad and brothers and sisters.” Some shared their need for prayer with tears, as they had experienced persecution for their new faith. But they had found a new joy and wanted their family to know it as well. In another group that same week, men and women sat on feedbags on the ground and studied God’s Word. Their prayer requests echoed that of the first group. Husbands asked for the salvation of their wives, and wives asked for prayer for their husbands to know God. In the Mon-Khmer Cluster, as in much of Southeast Asia, family is primary. Ask the Lord to move among families. Pray that the Gospel will reach heads of household and flow from house to house.

For many years, people have been faithfully praying for the salvation of the Futa Toro people of West Africa. In the village of ‘Danville,’ these prayers are slowly, yet steadily, being answered. In the past few months, several people have come to follow Jesus. Just recently, team member Don made contact with a new seeker who is asking deep questions as he searches God’s Word and the Quran. Another has also come forward to follow ‘the Jesus Road.’ He had the boldness to come to Don’s front door, asking how to follow.

* Please pray for these two Futa Toro men–and the many others–as the Holy Spirit draws them to salvation through God’s Son.

* Ask that the change in these Southeast Asian believers will be apparent to their family members, drawing them to the truth of God’s amazing grace.

* Gently share the Gospel with your family members who have not yet accepted Jesus as Savior.

PLAY

ONE OF MY favorite scenes in Lean on Me takes place right after Morgan Freeman (Principle Joe Clark) orders the security guards to expurgate the drug dealers and hoodlums from Eastside…

The rest of the student body watches in disbelief and cheers as the riffraff is forced off the stage and out of school forever. Principle Clark then says ominously, “The next time it may be you. And if you do no better than them, it will be you!” After a brief, inspirational charge, he strides past the stunned audience and out of the auditorium. Then one darling young woman turns to the friend beside her and says, “Mr. Clark don’t play!”

That phrase sums up much of Zephaniah’s message: God doesn’t wink at sin; God doesn’t compromise His holiness; God doesn’t sit idly by while His people cavort with idols. . .God don’t play.

Some of you might be thinking, “Well, I know some real stinkers who’ve never paid a divine penalty for rotten behavior. God seems to be twiddling His thumbs while they have a moral meltdown. Why doesn’t He wallop them for their whopper sins instead of spanking me for minor infractions?” If you’ve pondered along those lines, you’re not alone. There have been many times when I’ve questioned God doles out punishment. When I’ve wondered why He doesn’t obliterate certain people into grease spots — or at least singe them a little.

But we need to remember that the lack of overt, tangible punishment doesn’t mean anyone ever gets away with rebellion against God. There will always be a price to pay for sin. The highest price of all is to be separated from Him. Lisa Harper, “God Doesn’t Do Recess,” Tough Love, Tender Mercies, 72-73

KneEmail: “I will stretch out My hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, the names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests–Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD, but who also swear by Milcom; those who have turned back from following the LORD, and have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him.” Zephaniah 1.4-6

Mike Benson’s KneEmail

Vacation Bible School at FBC, Kentwood will begin next Monday, June 6th, at 8:30. T-shirts and music are available in the church office now. The theme of this year’s VBS is Big Apple Adventure. I hope to see you there as a worker, a student, or as a driver for children. It will be a great week!

Anna Lee

Be sure to stay in touch with God today concerning these needs and others that are on your hearts.

Anna Lee

Saturday

Please continue to pray for Ora Lee Wilson and Shirley Frazier as they try to feel better.

CaringBridge: Logan Watts (2 new journal entries)

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganwatts

THE VALUE OF SERMONS

The following story has been around for quite a while, but continues to make a good point. It is supposed to have begun with a letter to the editor of “The British Weekly.”

“Dear Sir:

I notice that ministers seem to set a great deal of importance on their sermons and spend a great deal of time in preparing them. I have been attending services quite regularly for the past thirty years and during that time, if I estimate correctly, I have listened to no less than 3,000 sermons, but, to my consternation, I discover I cannot remember a single one of them. I wonder if a minister’s time might be more profitably spent on something else? Sincerely….”

That letter triggered an avalanche of angry responses for weeks. Sermons were castigated and defended, but eventually a single letter closed the debate:

“Dear Sir:

I have been married for 30 years, during that time I have eaten 32,580 meals — mostly of my wife’s cooking. Suddenly, I have discovered that I cannot remember the menu of a single meal. And yet, I have received nourishment from every single one of them. I have the distinct impression that without them, I would have starved to death long ago. Sincerely….”

There is a great deal of wisdom in that letter. I have heard countless sermons over my lifetime — many were memorable, many more were not. The truth is, I can’t even remember everything that I have preached (that’s why God created databases)! But I know that many of the sermons which I heard have made an impact in my life, and I pray that the sermons I deliver do the same for others.

“And my speech and my preaching

were not with persuasive words of human wisdom,

but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men

but in the power of God.”

~1 Cor. 2:4-5~

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Baptist Press Stories for May. 27 2011

————————————–

MEMORIAL DAY: ‘Band of brothers’ gathers at Arlington http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35404

MEMORIAL DAY: Flag film comes to TV http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35405

Porn’s destruction is infiltrating the church http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35406

FIRST-PERSON (Russell D. Moore): Dealing with porn addiction, biblically

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35407

FIRST PERSON (Donna Rice Hughes): Porn — in your public library? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35408

NAMB offers $15M for church plant loans http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35409

Ivory Coast refugees finally get water http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35410

They followed Harold Camping <br>when he was mainstream http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35411

NEWS BRIEFS: Warren, Piper talk doctrine http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35412

‘Webcam’ abortions? 4 states ban them http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35413

BIBLE STORYING, Article 9: Telling the story http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35414

FIRST-PERSON: Gay diversity lessons, for 4th graders http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35415

EDITORIAL: Las HerejÌas de Harold Camping http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35416

Be a blessing to someone today! Get prepared for the Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Friday

“But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;

the Lord will hear when I call to Him.”

~Psalm 4:3~

There was a tornado near Bush. I don’t know how much damage it caused, but pray for those affected here and in other states.

Tornado Response in Missouri

Samaritan’s Purse is helping victims of the devastating twister that hit Joplin on Sunday. Go to the following web page for more information and to learn how you can help.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/responding_in_missouri

CaringBridge: Logan Watts (3 updates)

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganwatts

Mr. Wenous Goings passed away last night. I always enjoyed being around him. He has been missed for the last few months and will continue to be missed in a greater way.

Baptist Press Stories for May. 26 2011

—————————————

Joplin devastation leaves them ‘stunned,’ ‘speechless’

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35393

Tuscaloosa pastors ëstanding in the gapí

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35397

Spared from twister, church spares no effort

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35396

Among Israeli Jews, 20,000 embrace Christ

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35389

American Idol winner is a Southern Baptist

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35395

House OKs ban on abortion training funds

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35394

MBTS grads urged toward Kingdom building

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35392

TRUSTEES: God is blessing GGBTS, Iorg says

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35391

WORLDVIEW: Christians, holding their breath in Egypt

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35390

THESE AREN’T MY BOOTS

It was the usual muddy day in the country. The first grade teacher, Miss Brown, had just finished putting the 36th boot on the 18th pair of little feet and was anxious to finish the last pair so she could go to lunch.

The last pair of boots was for little Johnny Smith, a quiet boy. Miss Brown had a very difficult time getting his boots on as they were a bit too small for his growing feet, but she finally won the battle.

To her dismay, little Johnny looked blandly up into her face and announced, “Teacher, these boots aren’t mine.” In a hurry, but wanting to be kind, Miss Brown groaned, but with grim gentleness removed the boots and straightened her aching back.

Whereupon Johnny continued, “They’re my little brother’s, but Mommy said I could wear them to school today.”

I feel like little Johnny because I, too, can say, “These aren’t my boots. These aren’t my clothes. This isn’t my house. This isn’t my car.” As a child of God, I recognize that everything in my possession belongs to Him, and He has merely allowed me to use them for a while.

“For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” (Psa. 50:10)

The word the Bible often uses to describe this relationship is the word “steward.” In the first century, a steward was a servant who was left in charge of the household. Everything in the house was his to use, but he was also held responsible and had to give an account for what had been done with it.

It makes a tremendous difference in my perspective to realize that all I have belongs to God. He has merely given me these things to use for a while (and then I have to give an account). Listen to these words by William How which we often sing:

“We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate’er the gift may be:
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.”

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.” (I Chron. 29:14-15)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

We got nore rain last night! What a blessing!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

If one of you says to him,

Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’

but does nothing about his physical needs,

what good is it?”

~James 2:15-16 (NIV)~

We have another child to pray for. Logan Watts, 6, fell from a swing while at a camp in Mississippi Saturday. You will want to read his story and the updates posted by his family so you can pray for him, his family, and his friends.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loganwatts

From Lisa Westmoreland

I am asking everyone to pray for my uncle Danny Ray Horne,He is having triple bypass surgery on thursday,Thanks in advance.

Helen Naquin Akins

Mrs. Helen Naquin Akins a loving mother, wife, grandmother, sister, friend and a wonderful lady was born October 14, 1946 and passed away at 4:08 p.m., Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at North Oaks Medical Center, Hammond, surrounded by her loving family. She was 64, a native of Jefferson Parish and resident of Greensburg. Mrs. Helen was a lifelong, avid, diehard LSU and Saints fan, loved gardening, teddy bears and loved to decorate for all holidays.

She is survived by a loving daughter, Shelia Prescott; a loving son, Wayne Akins; 4 grandchildren, Mark Prescott, Jr. and fiancé Candice Roberts, Kristen Akins, Johnathan Ferguson & Christina Tingle; 2 sisters, Hazel Rodrigue & Gloria Villar; 3 brothers, Alvin Naquin, Sr., Leroy Naquin & Harris Naquin, Sr.; best friend, Joyce Naquin; godchild, Wendi Clay; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Leonise Naquin; husband, James L. Akins; son, Randy James Akins; 2 sisters, Enola McNeely and Izola Leonard; 4 brothers, Nolton, Aron, Lawrence, Jr. and Jerry Naquin; and her beloved dog, Rex Ochoa Akins.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Friday, May 27, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. until Celebration of Life Services at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home Chapel with Deacon Mike Agnello officiating. Interment in Greensburg Cemetery at a later date.

Family request memorial donations be made to the Helen N. Akins Memorial Fund, % McKneely& Vaughn Funeral Home, 60100 Westway Drive, Amite, LA 70422

Honorary Pallbearers will be Mark Prescott, Sr., Mark Prescott, Jr., Johnathan Ferguson , Jim Tingle, Red Skelton, Bubbie St. Alexander, Harris Naquin, Sr., Harris Naquin, Jr., Alvin Naquin, Sr. &, Leslie “Henry” Day.

Family would like to thank the Doctors and Staff of North Oaks Medical Center for their exceptional care and heartfelt generosity to the Akins family.

Baptist Press: Joplin just “helping people like Jesus would”

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35380

Heart to Heart with Holley: If I could whisper to your heart today…

This is what I’d say–

You’re loved more than you know, more than you see, more than you’ve even dared to dream.

{Psalm 103:11}

No matter how it may feel, you’ve got a purpose and God’s got a plan.

{Jeremiah 29:11}

We only get one YOU and what you have to offer the world is good.

{Genesis 1:31}

Whatever has happened this week, it’s going to be okay and you are too. Promise.

{Romans 8:28}

Then I’d buy you a cup of coffee or tea or a hot fudge sundae with extra cherries on top and listen hard to what your heart has to share back.

And what would you say?

Have a terrific Thursday!

Anna Lee