Category: Devotional

Wednesday

“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer;

and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”

~Isaiah 65:24~

 

 

 

 

Acting President Announced at Louisiana College

Marc Taylor, Chairman of the Louisiana College Board of Trustees, announced that Timothy Johnson, Vice-President of Institutional Advancement at LC, will be the acting president until Dr. Aguillard returns after his surgery and recovery. For additional information visit www.lacollege.edu.

Update on Dr. Aguillard 4.4.11

April 4th, 2011

Pineville, LA. … The latest update on Louisiana College President, Dr. Joe Aguillard, is that he is recovering in the Cardiac ICU at Rapides Regional after successful quadruple by-pass surgery.  Dr. Aguillard was taken to Rapides Regional after suffering a heart attack on March 28.

 

The Office of College Communications will issue official updates regarding Dr. Aguillard’s condition as it becomes available. Please direct all questions to Amy Robertson, Director of College Communications at LC (318) 487-7194 or (318) 542-8688 or arobertson@lacollege.edu

 

Pray for Roger Pittman and Cora Morris as they recover from heart surgery also.

 

I’m headed back to physical therapy this morning.  Pray I haven’t regressed too much.

 

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2.10
Mike Benson, Editor
WHAT DOES JESUS say about tradition…?

 

The Pharisees referred to it as “the tradition of the elders” (Mark 7.3, 5).  But Jesus called it “the precepts of men” (v. 7) and “the tradition of men” (v. 8).

 

Now this immediately cut the ground from under the Pharisees’ feet.  They believed that Scripture and tradition were equally ancient, equally Mosaic, equally divine.  Christ did not share their view.  On the contrary, He drew a sharp distinction between the two.  One the one hand there was what “Moses said” (v. 10), and on the other what “you say” (v. 11).  At first sight one might suppose that this was simply to set two Jewish teachers or schools of thought in opposition to each other, Moses and the elders.  But this is not at all how Jesus saw the disagreement.  To Him Moses and the elders were not comparable, for the elders were fallible men with human traditions, while Moses was the spokesman of God.  So what “you say” is equivalent to “your tradition” (vv. 9, 13) or “the tradition of men” (v. 8), whereas what “Moses said” is “the commandment of God” (vv. 8-9) and “the word of God” (v. 13).  To put this beyond question we may observe that the phrase “Moses said” in verse 10 is rendered in Matthew 15:4 “God said”, and this was the consistent custom of Jesus and His apostles.  For them “Scripture says” and “God says” were synonymous.

 

Thus we have our Lord’s own authority for distinguishing between Scripture and tradition as between God’s Word written and all human interpretations and accretions.

 

Put another way, we may say that the only “tradition” which Scripture recognizes is Scripture.  For “tradition” (Greek – paradosis) is what is handed down, and God’s purpose has been that His Word, His unique revelation given to prophets and apostles, should be transmitted from generation to generation.  John R. W. Stott, “Authority: Tradition or Scripture?”, Christ the Controversialist, 70

 

“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses,

commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

2 Timothy 2.2


Have a blessed day!

Anna Lee

 

Sunday

“But to You I have cried out, O Lord,

and in the morning my prayer comes before You.”

~Psalm 88:13~


Chloe Neyland

Chloe had her surgery yesterday and it went pretty well. She is in the CICU right now and will probably remain there for several weeks. I wanted to say THANK YOU for all the prayers, well wishes, visits, calls, etc… that we have received from our friends and family. She still has a long way to go, so keep us in your prayers. With Love, Lisa

 

 

FBC, Kentwood will be presenting an Easter Drama April 17 – 19.  Tickets are $2.00 and available at the church office.

 

 

 

THE SLIDE RULE

A father took his two sons, ages seven and five to the playground.  The seven-year-old was very proud as he was able to read the sign with all the rules to his brother.  “Do not jump on the merry-go-round when in motion.” “Go down the slide while sitting only.” “Only one child on a swing at a time.”  There were about twenty rules and the boys promised to obey them all, if the father would trust them and let them play without standing by. They said that they were too old to be watched and their friends would tease them calling them babies if Dad stayed.  He made them promise to be good and obey the rules, and left them.

When it was time to get the children, the father decided to watch them at a distance  for a while to see how reliable they were in following his instructions.  He found that they obeyed most of the printed instructions. That is, all but one.  They would get on the tall semicircular slide and go down head first or backward.  Angrily, he picked up the children and took them over to the posted regulations and made his seven-year-old read them aloud again.  Then he asked them what they had to say for themselves.  The five-year-old answered immediately:

“Don’t be silly Dad, you’re the one who told us there’s no use for a slide rule anymore.”

Some of you younger readers will be asking, “What’s a slide rule?”  I’m old enough to admit that I often used one in college rather than a calculator.  Of course, I also typed my term papers on a portable typewriter, and was thrilled when “Pong” was invented! (you younger readers may need to talk to your parents to fully understand today’s message).  Every year, more and more items become obsolete (or close to it).  The current list of vanishing items includes dial-up Internet, photographs that you get developed, maps, landline phones, VCRs, and phone books.

Things have changed.  There isn’t much use for a slide rule anymore, any more than we need an abacus to count.  Some things don’t change, though. Numbers are the same, whether they are calculated on a slide rule or a scientific calculator.

It’s much the same way in religion.  Our methods of teaching people may change.  We may use television or radio (or e-mail!), methods that were unheard of 100 years ago.  But the message cannot change.  It must be God’s Word.

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.  The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.’ ” (I Peter 1:22-25a)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

 

This day belongs to God.  Be sure to give it to Him.  That’s His rule!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”

~Philippians 2.10~

 


Please add my cousin, Cecelia Ann Welch, of Osyka to your prayer list. She was admitted to Northoaks today with kidney problems. Further test tomorrow to find out exactly what the problem is. We would apprecriate all prayers.
Thanks, Debbie Crawford

 

Mrs. K. Sanders continues to improve.  Keep praying for her.

 

TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
MARCH 31, 2011

“In an acceptable time I have heard You,

and in the day of salvation I have helped You.”

~Isaiah 49:8a~

WORLD LEADERS. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Please pray today for Chief Minister Rueben Meade of Montserrat (island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico).

HAUSA OF WEST AFRICA (HOW-suh). “At night, we fall asleep to the sound of witchdoctors dancing and banging their drums. In the morning, we hear the Muslim call to prayer, awakening the whole town. Join us in praying that the Spirit will move in this place and the Lord will call the Hausa to Himself.”

SOUTH ASIAN UNENGAGED PEOPLES. Can you imagine a life that revolves around washing and ironing clothes? That has been the life of millions of families all across India for centuries. These are the Dhobi people of India. The word Dhobi means “washerman.” Please pray for the Dhobi who live in Andhra Pradesh and speak Telugu. These families teach their children to do what they have done all of their lives: take care of the clothes of others. An iron is even part of a girl’s dowry when she is married to a Dhobi man. Along with their occupation in life, Hinduism is also passed down to each generation. Each family makes sure to teach their children the proper way to worship the various family gods, such as Shiva, Ganesh, etc. Would you pray that the Dhobi will come to know the true God who can once and for all eternity make them clean and spotless before Himself, unlike the clothes that they have to wash day after day? http://prayerthreads.imb.org

 

Heart to Heart with Holley: Beyond the Clouds

Beyond the Clouds

Posted: 30 Mar 2011 08:31 AM PDT

I stare at the grey-rain sky.

The clouds have rolled in this week.

I feel it in my heart too–

little puffs of fear, worry, distraction.

But then I remember…

The sun is still there, just like always.

It’s as real as ever.

It hasn’t gone anywhere.

It’s the same way with my heart.

Behind those emotions…

I am loved.

I have a purpose.

God is all and all is well.

That’s as true as it has always been.

Always will be.

Even more certain than the sun.

Faith is being sure of what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see.

~Hebrews 11:1~

 

 

Monday

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord,

and all the families of the nations shall worship before You,

for the kingdom is the Lord’s,

and He rules over the nations.”

~Psalm 22:27-28~

 


Callie Cole

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

 

Pray for Roger Pittman as he has a heart cath. today.

 

Continue to pray for Mrs. “Bill” Hughes.  She is still at North Oaks.

 

Please continue to pray for my family as we care for my parents at their home.

 

I’ll post an obituary for Mr. Bobby Gill when one becomes available.  In the meantime, please pray for the family.

 

 

Heart to Heart with Holley: On my mind, in my prayers. . . .

I sip my coffee and think of you.

I type these words and think of you.

I do.

And I pray for you too.

I may not have seen your face.

But I know the One who made it.

I may not have heard your voice.

But I know the One who speaks to your heart.

And He LOVES you.

I feel it when I pray for you…this deep, glorious, “that one’s mine and I’ll fight for them” love.

I also feel joy. You delight Him.

Praying for you, praying with you, is one of my favorite things.

I love how God brings our hearts together in the ways that matter most, wherever we are. And whatever you need today, I’m asking Him to give it to you.

 

Let God lead you through this week.  He is the best Guide ever!

Anna Lee

Sunday

“The Lord is far from the wicked,

but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”

~Proverbs 15:29~

“[God’s] peace will guard your hearts and minds

as you live in Christ Jesus.”

~Philippians 4:7 (NIV)~


Jadon’s Story

I’m so sorry I haven’t posted in so long. I’ve been very busy and I
haven’t had much time for computers. I’m feeling much better but my
seizures aren’t any better. In fact they are more intense:( We don’t
know why. We had blood work done Monday but we still don’t have the
results. We increased my vimpat some more but it hasn’t helped any.
I’m sure we will make some more changes on Monday. We have also
completed the paperwork to try and get a nurse to come watch me while
my mommy works. I stay with my Mimi right now but I’ll need someone to
watch me next year. Please pray that we get this approved. It would
surely make things less stressful. We got my early steps yearly
evaluation back. My lowest scores were in motor and speech but we knew
this. This best news is my social/emotional scores were normal. This
means my alertness and interaction with others is normal. I also show
appropriate emotions to the situation. So that is great news. Last
year I didn’t score very high in this area and this year normal. So we
are very happy about this. I’m a fighter and I will keep fighting this
horrible monster. Don’t forget today is purple day. So wear your
purple for me today. Love you and please continue to pray for me.

 

From James Rimes

Mrs. Fochia Wilson, retired principal at Kentwood
Elementay School, passed away today at her residence.

 

Heart to Heart with Holley

set-72157610551917961.jpg

I say into the phone, “But I feel so weird. Who else does this?” I’ve let my imagination run wild again–comparing myself to other people in my life.

Wise Denise says into the phone, “It’s kind of like being ‘in the world but not of it’. We’re all called to do things that are a little different.”

“Yes,” I ponder, “The world says,‘Everybody’s doing it so you should too.’But it seems like God says, ‘Nobody’s doing it so I need you to.'”

Build an ark.

Lead a nation across a desert.

Become a king instead of a shepherd.

What God calls us to do always seems a bit unlikely and impossible. But we need you to be YOU and to do what only you are called to.

Let’s keep at it.

Keep our heads up.

Keep our hands and hearts open to the One who has more for us than we can even imagine.

Holley, thanks for sharing and for reminding us to keep and hands and hearts open to God.

 

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“Be anxious for nothing,

but in everything by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God.”

~Philippians 4:6~

 

Debbie Miller would like to thank you for praying for her cousin, Janet Phillips Myers.  She’s being treated at M.D. Anderson and doing very well.

Mrs. Susie Wales had outpatient surgery in Baton Rouge.  All went well.

Rufus Williams is continuing to have heart issues.  Pray for him as he is being treated.

Mr. J.D. Smith and Mrs. “Bill” Hughes are both in North Oaks.  Add them to your prayer list.

Mr. Wenous Goings has been moved from North Oaks to the nursing home in Hammond again.  Pray for Mr. Wenous.

Chloe Neyland, two months old, is in Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.  She will have a heart cath. between 10:00 and 12:00 this morning.  Pray pray for her, the medical staff, and her new family.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

Consider these quotes from the past:

“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication.  The device is inherently of no value to us.” –Western Union internal memo, 1876.

“Everything that can be invented has been invented.” –Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.

“The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value.  Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?” –David Sarnoff’s associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” –Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943

“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” –Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949

“I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won’t last out the year.” –The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957

“But what … is it good for?” –Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” –Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

“640K ought to be enough for anybody.” — Bill Gates, 1981

It’s amazing that we’ve accomplished so much technologically in this country considering the pessimistic views held by many (even more amazing when you consider that some of the achievements eventually came from people who at one time held the pessimistic views themselves).

What is your vision for the future?  What would you like to accomplish?  More to the point, what would you like to see God accomplish through you?  There will likely be someone around you ready to tell you that “it can’t be done”, or “we’ve tried that before with no success”, or “it’s too much trouble”.

And they may be right.  Or they may have a “grasshopper complex” like the ten spies in Numbers 13 who were unable to see what God could accomplish because they were looking so intently at the obstacles in their way.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

May the God who can do more than we can even imagine (and I can imagine a lot!) be with you this day.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

 

Thanks for praying today.  Your prayers mean so much to so many.

Anna Lee

Sunday

You have begun to live the new life,

in which you are being made new

and are becoming like the One who made you.”

~Colossians 3:10a NCV~

We are “becoming brighter and more beautiful

as God enters our lives and we become like him.”

~2 Corinthians 3:18b Msg~

 

Heart to Heart with Holley

http://www.holleygerth.com/

Please take time to read some of Holley’s devotionals.  She touches my heart when I take time to read her writings.  I hope you will feel the same way.

 

Pray for our world.  It seems like there is war and other problems in so many areas.

God sees the big picture!  Trust Him to get us through whatever we face as a nation and whatever we face in our individual lives.

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee


Saturday

 

“O Lord, God of my salvation,
I have cried out day and night before You.
Let my prayer come before You;
incline Your ear to my cry.”
~Psalm 88:1-2~
THE SEARCH IS ON

The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers.  He dialed the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child whispering, “Hello?”

Feeling put out at the inconvenience of having to talk to a youngster, the boss asked, “Is your Daddy home?”  “Yes”, whispered the small voice.

“May I talk with him?”, the man asked.  To the surprise of the boss, the small voice whispered, “No.”

Wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, “Is your Mommy there?” “Yes”, came the answer.  “May I talk with her?”  Again the small voice whispered, “No.”

Knowing that it was not likely that a young child would be left home alone, the boss decided he would just leave a message with the person who should be there watching over the child.

“Is there anyone there besides you?”, the boss asked the child.  “Yes”, whispered the child,  “A policeman.”

Wondering what an officer would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, “May I speak with the policeman?”  “No, he’s busy”, whispered the child.  “Busy doing what?”, asked the boss.  “Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the fireman”, came the whispered answer.

Growing concerned and even worried as he heard a loud noise through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, “What is that noise?”

“A hello-copper”, answered the whispering voice.  “What is going on there?”, asked the boss, now alarmed.

In an awed voice the child answered,  “The search team just landed the hello-copper!”

Alarmed, concerned and more than just a little frustrated the boss asked, “Why are they there?”

Still whispering, the young voice replied along with a muffled giggle, “They’re looking for me!”

It reminds me of how we act toward God at times.  When we have done something that we know is wrong, we sometimes, like Adam and Eve in the garden, try to hide from God.  Not physically, of course.  But we try to distance ourselves from God by neglecting worship with God’s people, Bible study, prayer.  We try to avoid God, hoping He won’t notice.

But like the little boy in the story, we know that God is searching for us, doing everything in His power to bring us back.  And even at times when I’ve done something I’m ashamed of, I appreciate that so much.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?….Or what woman, having ten coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?” (Luke 15:4,8)

Is Somebody looking for you today?

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina


Baptist Press News
Have a great day of preparation for the Lord’s Day!  Thank God for the many blessing He has provided for you.  Petition Him for the needs on your heart.  Then, listen!
Anna Lee

 

 

Friday

“We are God’s workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works

which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

~Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)~


….please add Charles Rowland to the prayer list, he is experiences health issues right now and in the hospital in New Orleans.
Thanks
Debbie Powers

Mrs. Martha Dykes Traylor went home from the hospital yesterday.  Continue to pray for her improvement.

 

UPDATE: IMB missionaries in east Japan to relocate

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34860

 

Pray for the world situation this morning and pray for those who can make a difference.


THE SEARCH IS ON

The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers.  He dialed the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child whispering, “Hello?”

Feeling put out at the inconvenience of having to talk to a youngster, the boss asked, “Is your Daddy home?”  “Yes”, whispered the small voice.

“May I talk with him?”, the man asked.  To the surprise of the boss, the small voice whispered, “No.”

Wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, “Is your Mommy there?” “Yes”, came the answer.  “May I talk with her?”  Again the small voice whispered, “No.”

Knowing that it was not likely that a young child would be left home alone, the boss decided he would just leave a message with the person who should be there watching over the child.

“Is there anyone there besides you?”, the boss asked the child.  “Yes”, whispered the child,  “A policeman.”

Wondering what an officer would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, “May I speak with the policeman?”  “No, he’s busy”, whispered the child.  “Busy doing what?”, asked the boss.  “Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the fireman”, came the whispered answer.

Growing concerned and even worried as he heard a loud noise through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, “What is that noise?”

“A hello-copper”, answered the whispering voice.  “What is going on there?”, asked the boss, now alarmed.

In an awed voice the child answered,  “The search team just landed the hello-copper!”

Alarmed, concerned and more than just a little frustrated the boss asked, “Why are they there?”

Still whispering, the young voice replied along with a muffled giggle, “They’re looking for me!”

It reminds me of how we act toward God at times.  When we have done something that we know is wrong, we sometimes, like Adam and Eve in the garden, try to hide from God.  Not physically, of course.  But we try to distance ourselves from God by neglecting worship with God’s people, Bible study, prayer.  We try to avoid God, hoping He won’t notice.

But like the little boy in the story, we know that God is searching for us, doing everything in His power to bring us back.  And even at times when I’ve done something I’m ashamed of, I appreciate that so much.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?….Or what woman, having ten coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?” (Luke 15:4,8)

Is Somebody looking for you today?

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

 

Be a blessing to someone today!

Anna Lee

Saturday

“Bear one another’s burdens,

and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

~Galatians 6:2~

 

THE REASON WE REMEMBER GREAT PEOPLE

These are reported to be actual epitaphs on tombstones:

Here lies
Johnny Yeast
Pardon me
For not rising.   (Ruidoso, New Mexico)

Here lays Butch,
We planted him raw.
He was quick on the trigger,
But slow on the draw.   (Silver City, Nevada)

Anna Wallace
The children of Israel wanted bread
And the Lord sent them manna,
Old clerk Wallace wanted a wife,
And the Devil sent him Anna.  (Ribbesford, England)

Margaret Daniels
She always said her feet were killing her
but nobody believed her.   (Richmond, Virginia)

Anna Hopewell
Here lies the body of our Anna
Done to death by a banana
It wasn’t the fruit that laid her low
But the skin of the thing that made her go.
(Enosburg Falls, Vermont)

Harry Edsel Smith
Born 1903–Died 1942
Looked up the elevator shaft to see if
the car was on the way down. It was.    (Albany, New York)

An anonymous tombstone:
I was somebody.
Who, is no business
Of yours.       (Stowe, Vermont)

In Memory of Beza Wood
Departed this life
Nov. 2, 1837
Aged 45 yrs.
Here lies one Wood
Enclosed in wood
One Wood
Within another.
The outer wood
Is very good:
We cannot praise
The other.    (Winslow, Maine)

How sad to come to the end of your life and others not have anything good to say about you!  Hebrews 11 could be viewed as a collection of epitaphs of many who had died.  The chapter starts with these words:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” (Hebrews 11:1-2)

I like how the New Century Version translates verse 2:  “Faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past.”  That’s true, isn’t it?  Every single person in the Bible we regard as “great” was a man or woman of faith.  That faith made a difference in the way they lived and responded to God.  That’s why we remember them.

May your life be characterized by faith in God so that those who prepare your tombstone won’t struggle with finding something kind to say.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

 

Ladies, I hope you are planning to be a part of Mug ‘n’ Muffin at FBC, Kentwood at 10:00 this morning.  Be blessed and be a blessing to others today.

 

Anna Lee