Category: Devotional

Saturday

Unless you are faithful in small matters,

you won’t be faithful in large ones.

If you cheat even a little,

you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

~Luke 16:10 (NLT)~

Joan B. Hagan sent word to add her name to our prayers.  She is experiencing problems with her blood pressure/heart.  Please pray for her.

Continue to pray for the extended Tolleson family in Texas – Micah, Scott, Brenda, Sharla and others.  Their physical burdens have been large.  Pray God will continue strengthen them as they walk difficult journeys with their complicated health issues.

A God-blessed America: obligations and responsibilities
Richard Land

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Baptist Press)–America is fundamentally distinct from all other countries in its founding, in its national life, and in the values, rights and privileges it confers upon its citizens. In other words, America is exceptional. And if it is exceptional in its domestic character, in what it offers to immigrants in search of a better life, then it would follow that America is exceptional in what it has to offer to the global community.

America is not an ethnicity or mere geography, but a creed, a set of first principles to which we pledge allegiance — freedom, human dignity, self-government, and equality. Anyone who pledges allegiance to these values can consider himself or herself an “American.”

America has been blessed by God in unique ways — we are not just another country, but neither are we God’s special people. I do not believe that America is God’s chosen nation. God established one chosen nation and people: the Jews. We are not the new Israel. We cannot assume “God is on our side.” We are not God’s gift to the world.

America does not have a special claim on God. Millions of Americans do, however, believe God has a special claim on them — and their country.

The concept of American “exceptionalism” was first popularized in the early 19th century by Alexis de Tocqueville, although the idea was hardly invented by him. The roots of this view go back to the beginnings of Puritan settlements — how else do you explain the Puritan understanding of a “shining city on a hill” to light the way for the Old World? Or Francis Scott Key’s imagery of “the heav’n rescued land” in our national anthem, which he wrote in 1814 after he saw the Stars and Stripes still waving over Fort McHenry after a night of fierce bombardment from British ships?

American exceptionalism is the understanding that America is a unique nation with a unique sense of purpose that started with the nation’s settlement and has since morphed through various meanings, all of them centered on the observation that America is distinct from other countries in the world — in its founding, in its government, in its social and economic structures, and in its religious and cultural character.

America has been blessed in manifold ways. When you look at our resources, our protection by two oceans, our standard of living, can you argue that America has not been uniquely and providentially blessed? The natural resources that lie within the confines of our borders are without parallel anywhere in the world: not just rich, arable land, but vast resources of iron, coal and oil under the ground. We didn’t put them there; we were just led to the place where they were.

We have had the opportunity to enjoy them and to benefit people around the world with them. Perhaps the most fertile land on the planet is our Great Plains.

We have become the breadbasket for the world. We feed much of the world’s population, in part because we are good farmers, but also because we believe in private ownership of land and property. Can you name a nation that in any way can claim to have been the recipient of God’s unearned blessings to the measure that we have been?

The blessings are not just material, however. It is remarkable that the one generation that produced our Founding Fathers emerged and put together the Constitution that has served us so well for more than two centuries and has brought unparalleled freedom for an unparalleled number of people — unequaled by any other country in the world.

We enjoy freedoms that most of us have not risked our lives to establish, protect or preserve. All of us, unless we are immigrants to this country, have by the providence of birth been bequeathed an incredible legacy. Over the last two and a half centuries, there has been no other country in the world within which such a high percentage of the population has had the guaranteed freedoms we possess: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of assembly. We have guaranteed freedoms in our Constitution that even Canadians and Britons don’t have.

There was either a fortuitous or a providential set of circumstances in the development and rise of this nation. Since I’m a Christian, I believe in providence more than fortune. I believe that it was a uniquely providential set of circumstances that allowed the flourishing of this triumph of freedom and the dignity of human beings. It certainly didn’t happen that way in the French Revolution, and I believe it is no coincidence that the philosophy and convictions fueling that revolution were not based on a transcendent divine authority. They were based in human reason (or what the revolutionaries mistook for reason) alone, and the upheaval quickly degenerated into a maelstrom of chaos, violence and power struggles.

The Founding Fathers of the American Revolution, by contrast, affirmed that human rights are not mere human constructions, but are unalienable rights conferred by God.

Government could not create those rights; all it could do was recognize, support and protect them. This idea of divinely ordained rights had not taken root anywhere else in the world. It was a new and unique concept.

“Blessings,” by definition, are undeserved. From the richness of our undeserved legacy comes obligation. If we have been given much, we are obligated to give much to others. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, we will seek not only to preserve and protect our liberties, but to assist others in their efforts to attain these same liberties for themselves.

American exceptionalism is not a delusion of national grandiosity. American exceptionalism is not a doctrine of pride and privilege. It is a belief that God has blessed this nation in amazing ways, and those blessings invoke a reciprocal obligation and responsibility to seek to share, but not impose, the blessings of freedom and democracy with others around the world.

Let’s all pause this Fourth of July weekend to give praise and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for the manifold blessings of being an American and to say thank you to all those who have sacrificed to protect and defend those precious liberties.

(Richard Land is president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.)

Thank God for our great nation and pray we can continue to have a great, God-fearing nation for many years.  Also, pray for those in other nations to have the opportunity to know and serve out great God.

Anna Lee

Friday

“Jesus said, “. . . there is more happiness in heaven

because of one sinner who turns to God

than over ninety-nine good people who don’t need to.”

~Luke 15: 7, CEV~

Continue to pray for Rev. Ronnie Nielsen and others as they minister in Romania.

Stacey Scarle

Great news! Stacey just got the results of the CTs of her chest and abdomen and they were clear which means it appears that the cancer has not spread. We are so thankful for all the prayers. Next chemo is July 20th and then we see the oncologist on the 23rd. She is half way through this round of chemo. She had a rough week this week but was better yesterday. Please keep up the prayers as they are certainly helping us through this ordeal.

Micah Tolleson’s surgeon was again able to remove about 95% of the brain tumor.  Pray for Micah, his family, and doctors as they plan the treatment process.

I urge you to take time to read these requests from MK’s

http://kidsonmission.org/prayer/

Two more grandchildren arrived yesterday.  Pray for their parents as they travel to Kentwood  today.

We’re having a fantastic Friday.  I hope you are too!

Anna Lee

Thursday

Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow

if you can help them now.

~Proverbs 3:28 (TEV)~

Micah Tolleson, my 22 year old cousin, will have the regrown brain tumor removed today.  Please pray and stay updated by visiting his CaringBridge site.

This is the day I get to have all six of my grandchildren together for the first time in three years.  It’s been three years since we had all of them at once.  Pray nothing interferes with a good visit for all of us.  Jennie is here and Jason and Becki will come tomorrow.  Pray for safe traveling for them.  Pray for Boyd who is still in Europe and working in three different countries while his family is stateside.

Continue to pray for Gretchen V. Simpson as she awaits surgery which is scheduled for one week from today.  Pray she will be able to endure the pain well this week and the surgery goes well next week.

Thanks to having grandchildren here, David and I got to go watch them bowl with children from the church.  It was a good experience for all.  Thank God for parents who see that all children get to have good, clean fun with other Christian families.

The youth are home from camp despite a bus breakdown.  Thankfully, they were able to get a ride home with another church group.  The bus is repaired in Alabama.  Pray for Marty Simpson as he travels drive the bus home.

TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
JULY 1, 2010

“Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications!” (Psalm 28:6)

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 Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia (central Europe, south of Poland).

Prayer requests from Eddie Cox, director of IMB’s Office of Global Prayer Strategy, to “Today’s Prayer” intercessors:

Please express your thanks to our heavenly Father, who faithfully and lovingly responds to our many prayers.

Throughout 2009, we prayed to the Lord of the harvest to thrust laborers into the fields, and He responded with 753 new workers being commissioned to serve abroad–326 long-term and 427 two-year missionaries.

We also prayed for the evangelistic ministries of our missionary personnel, and He blessed us with 506,019 new believers being baptized.

Another prayer request was for church-planting efforts, and God answered with 24,650 new churches being established.

We serve a truly amazing God. All praise and honor to Him, the One who loves all peoples and speaks into lost hearts around the world. May His name be high and lifted up . . .

HEAT

1ametal.jpgPETER USED A powerful metaphor from the world of metallurgy…

When the metallurgist mines the metal, it is in an ore state with a mixture of dross. That means there are inherent corruptions in the metal that rob it of its strength and beauty. In order to bring the metal to its purest state, the metallurgist applies white hot heat until the ore is liquefied and boiling. In this process, the corruptions are boiled out, and it becomes fundamentally stronger and more beautiful than ever before.

What are trials? They are God’s boiling pot. When we initially come to Christ we are dross-corrupted. We are carrying around “corruptions” inside of us that rob us of our strength and beauty. So God, in the grandeur and faithfulness of His redemptive love, boils us. The difficulties that come our way are not a sign of His unfaithfulness and inattention. No, they are an indication of His love. He knows that we are not yet what we were meant to be. He has dug us out of the mine, but we need to be refined.

Now why is this so hard for us to deal with? I am convinced it is because we tend to live with a destination mentality. We want like to be easy, satisfying, and good as it can be, immediately here and now. But, this isn’t a time of destination. Peter says our destination is guaranteed, but we will not have it now. Now is a time of preparation. It is a time of radical, personal growth and chance, so God applies white hot heat to prepare us for the destination to come. Paul David Tripp, “Painful Faith: God’s Story and Suffering,” Lost in the Middle, 197-198

“In this you greatly rejoice,though now for a little while,

if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

that the genuineness of your faith,

being much more precious than gold that perishes,

though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory

at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

I Peter 1:6-7; Hebrews 12: 5-11/

Posted by Mike Benson at June 30, 2010 10:40 AM

Have a terrific Thursday!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in heaven.”

~Matthew 5:16, NKJV~

Pray for the Dykes family today.  Jimmy is not doing well.  Your prayers will be appreciated.

I forgot to mention that Mr. J.D. Smith is progressing well.  “Miss” Lorna said he is able to control his headaches with Tylenol.

TODAY’S PRAYER

IMB
JUNE 29, 2010

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

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 President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone (western Africa, between Guinea and Liberia).

ALGERIAN ARABS OF ALGERIA (al-JEER-ee-uhn). Throughout North Africa, God has brought many to saving faith in Him by using different forms of media. There are thousands of believers across Algeria who have heard the Gospel through radio, television and the “JESUS” film. Because of the tremendous response to these and other forms of media, it has been a difficult task to do safe and accurate follow-up with those who have questions about who Jesus is. Because of a law that makes it illegal to “shake the faith of a Muslim,” many brothers in the faith have been arrested or have spent time in prison due to sharing the Good News boldly or having Christian literature in their possession. Due to these security issues and a lack of leadership within the body, follow-up and discipleship can be overwhelming. Ask the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers willing and ready to go into the harvest and proclaim the mystery of Christ. Please pray that more national believers will be trained each month to help do follow-up calls and visits around the country. Ask our heavenly Father to prepare the hearts of those who are seeking to be good soil so they will receive His Word with great joy. Remember our Algerian brothers and sisters in Christ, asking that they will be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, love and grace as they testify to God’s goodness. Pray for strength to endure as persecution and trials arise.

DAKAR, SENEGAL (dah-KAR). The Dakar Urban Team writes: “Give thanks to God for the enthusiasm of the students to attend the university’s English club, in answer to your prayers. We had more than 30 at the last meeting. One new attendee is the new neighbor of one of our team members, and this opens a door for more dialogue with her and her family. God continues to grant us favor with the administration and students. We have been asked to join them in an end-of-the-school-year outing in July. The plan is to visit a neighboring English-speaking country for a weekend trip. Thank God for the opportunity to spend the whole weekend together, and pray that there will be many times to share the message of Christ and His forgiveness.”

CORRECTION

talking.jpgTHERE ARE TWO distinct ways of seeing a person’s faults: conviction and condemnation…

God convicts of sin, whereas Satan condemns. The divine purpose in addressing sin is to call us to repent so that we will become the people He created us to be. God’s motive in correcting us is pure love. But Satan’s motive in addressing our flaws is pure hate. The demonic intent is to produce despair, self-condemnation, and self-hatred because Satan’s goal is to decimate, destroy, and kill.

When we’re trying to persuade a person who is sinning to do what is right, our purpose must be like God’s. We must never correct in a way that reflects judgmental harshness, leading to despair and discouragement of condemnation. The motive of the heart must be: “I love you too much to see you do this. I want God’s best for you. Please repent before it’s too late.” Rebecca Manley Pippert, “Meekness: The Remedy for Anger,” A Heart for God, 185

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”Galatians 6:1

Posted by Mike Benson at June 28, 2010 12:08 PM

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Sunday

So don’t get tired of doing what is good.

Don’t get discouraged and give up,

for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.

~Galatians 6:9 (NLT)~

WASTED

boswell.jpg

IT IS SAID of James Boswell, the famous biographer of Samuel Johnson, that he often referred to a special day in his childhood when his father took him fishing…

The day was fixed in his adult mind, and he often reflected upon many of the things his father had taught him in the course of their fishing experiences together. After having heard of that particular expression so often, it occurred to someone much later to check the journal that Boswell’s father kept and determine what had been said about the fishing trip from the parental persepctive. Turning to that date, the reader found only one sentence entered: “Gone fishing today with my son; a day wasted.”

Few have ever heard of Boswell’s father; many have heard of Boswell. But in spite of his relative obscurity, he must have managed to set a pace in his son’s life which lasted for a lifetime and beyond. On one day alone he inlaid along the grain of his son’s life ideas that would mark him long into his adulthood. What he did not only touched a boy’s life, but it set in motion certain benefits that would affect the world of classical literature. Too bad that Boswell’s father couldn’t appreciate the significance of a fishing trip and the pacesetting that was going on even while worms were being squeezed on to hooks. No day is ever wasted in the life of an effective father. Gordon MacDonald, “No Day is Ever Wasted,” The Effective Father, 79-80

“And you, fathers,

do not provoke your children to wrath,

but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:4

Posted by Mike Benson at June 14, 2010 9:57 AM

Have a meaningful Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday

“You must make allowance for each other’s faults

and forgive the person who offends you.

Remember, the Lord forgave you,

so you must forgive others.”

~Colossians 3:13 NLT~

Pray for the children who have mede professions of faith at the various Vacation Bible Schools this summer.  Pray they will receive good counsel from family and church leadership and be wisely guided in their young Christian life.

Pray for Jennie as she packs for her trip to Kentwood.  She and the children will begin the long journey tomorrow and arrive in New Orleans Monday night.  Pray the trip is safe and uneventful for them.

KneEmail

SUPPOSE A GROCER takes inventory of his store…

Buried in the bottom of his meat section he finds five packages of overripe hamburger. They have somehow sat there for two weeks, turning green.

What should the grocer do with this rotting meat? No one could argue the answer. He should get rid of it immediately! Furthermore, he should make certain that he never again neglects his meat section. He may have a beautiful store stocked with gorgeous produce, but rotten meat will spoil his business. Any customer who spots that greening goop will want to walk out of the store and never return.

It’s the same with talk. Less than one percent of a person’s word inventory can ruin the effect of all the rest. I’ve known people whose words could charm a snake out of its hole, people who are gracious in ninety-nine percent of what they say. But there is a toxic streak in their words that spoils the rest.

…Almost everybody can recall words that stung, words that crushed the spirit, words that left them feeling hopeless and desolate for days. How many people remember being told as children that they were stupid? How many people remember being told as adults that they were overweight? That it is their fault their children have problems?

It’s amazing how often people remember having such words said to them, and yet how seldom people remember saying such words to others. We usually don’t mean to hurt people. The words just pop out without our planning. We forget them. But those who hear them don’t.

Sometimes words have to hurt. When you confront real problems, you must face painful realities. That’s far different, however, from toxic talk. Toxic talk doesn’t lead to dialogue–it stops it. Toxic talk is usually spoken in haste or in anger. The poison lingers on long after the emotions are gone.

The first task is to identify the toxic words in your speech and get rid of them. Tim Stafford, “Toxic Talk: Harsh Words and Lies,” That’s Not What I Meant!, 40-41

KneEmail: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Posted by Mike Benson at June 25, 2010 10:29 AM

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

Anna Lee

Friday

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning.

He decided from the outset to shape the lives

of those who love him

along the same lines as the life of his Son. . . .

We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.

~Romans 8:29 (MSG)~

CaringBridge – Callie Cole

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole/journal?jid=5701322

TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
JUNE 25, 2010

“Hear my cry, O God;

attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cry to You.”

~Psalm 61:1-2a~


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 Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic of Serbia (southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary).

CHURCH PLANTING IN ZIMBABWE. Excited shouts and laughter could be heard as people from four villages in South-Central Zimbabwe walked swiftly toward the baptismal site. The drizzling rain and temperatures in the upper 60s could not dampen the enthusiasm of the 97 new Christians awaiting baptism in a ditch filled with runoff rainwater. Two pastors entered the water and then led the new believers in a hymn, a Scripture reading, and prayer. Among those who were baptized were young children and teenagers, as well as young, middle-aged and seemingly ancient adults. In African culture, baptism is very significant. It publicly demonstrates a person’s willingness to break with his traditional religious beliefs and practices. “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away, behold new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB). Pray that these “new creatures” will truly leave their old ways and ancestral spirits behind and learn to walk in the Spirit of the Living God!

PERSIANS OF IRAN (PURR-zhuns). In Acts 2:9, we read of Parthians, Medes and Elamites from the Persian Empire. They heard the Gospel message at Pentecost. Some returned to the Iranian region as believers in Jesus; there are ancient churches still in Iran with links to these groups found in Acts. The Christian presence in Iran is much older than Islam. Sadly, it has dwindled to a very small minority of the population. A small number of these ethnic Christians are evangelical, but most are not. During and after the 1979 revolution, more than 2 million Iranians left Iran for the West. Among them was a disproportionately large number of Christians, thus further reducing the relative proportion of Christians in the total population of Iran. Despite the small number of church buildings in the country, God’s church in Iran is growing. Thousands of people are coming to faith in Christ. There is a need for solid biblical teaching and well-grounded church leadership in Iran. Pray that ethnic Christians who attend ancient churches will realize their need for a personal relationship with Christ. Ask God to bring true revival to these churches, and ask that they will reach out boldly to the Muslims around them. Also pray that new believers from a Muslim background will be well grounded in their faith. Ask God to give them a deep hunger and thirst for His Word. Pray that they will be able to meet together in safety for Bible study and worship. http://centralasia.imb.org/
OUR TEACHER AND HIS TEXT

As those of you who are college students know, at the end of each semester you are asked to fill out a form evaluating the teacher and the text.  The following comments were taken from MIT forms in the fall of 1991:

“Have you ever fell asleep in class and awoke in another? That’s the way I felt all term.”

“The recitation instructor would make a good parking lot attendant.  Tries to tell you where to go, but you can never understand him.”

“Text is useless. I use it to kill roaches in my room.”

“In this class, the syllabus is more important than you are.”

“Text makes a satisfying `thud’ when dropped on the floor.”

“Textbook is confusing… Someone with a knowledge of English should proofread it.”

“Help!  I’ve fallen asleep and I can’t wake up!”

“Recitation was great. It was so confusing that I forgot who I was, where I was, and what I was doing — it’s a great stress reliever.”

“He teaches like Speedy Gonzalez on a caffeine high.”

“Information was presented like a ruptured fire hose — spraying in all directions, no way to stop it.”

“What’s the quality of the text, you ask? `Text is printed on high quality paper.'”

I can remember that it was easier to say nice things about some of my teachers in college than it was some of the others.  However, when it comes to evaluating my spiritual “Teacher” and his text, I can’t begin to say enough good things.  How would I evaluate the text?

“All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right.  Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.”  (2 Tim. 3:16-17, NCV)

And the teacher?

“LORD, teach me what you want me to do, and I will live by your truth.  Teach me to respect you completely.  Lord, my God, I will praise you with all my heart, and I will honor your name forever.  You have great love for me….” (Psa. 86:11-13a).

Praise to Him who is the greatest teacher we have ever known!  May our ears always be attentive to his instruction!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“Therefore let it be known to you

that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles,

and they will hear it!”

~Acts 28:28~

Joey Baugh is returning to his family this week after serving in the Middle East with the military.  Kirk Wales has just deployed.  Thank God for Joey’s safe return.  Pray for Kirk as he serves.  Thank God for all the others who are in the military serving to protect the people of our great country.

Pray for Bonnie Blue Broussard as she has surgery this morning at nine in Baton Rouge.  Pray for her family as they wait during surgery and then care for Bonnie Blue as she recovers.

Pray for Debbie Bales.  She’s hospitalized in McComb.

Continue to pray for Wendell Simmons as he has surgeries to help him recover from his motobike accident.  Wendell is still in Jackson,MS.

Smiley Conerly is better.  Thank you for praying for him.

Donald Ray Cutrer

Donald Ray got to come home and he is doing well. He will still have to take the IV medications for another 6 weeks, but the doctors and nurses showed hin how to administer that. They placed a shunt or whatever it is called in his arm and he gives the drip to himself twice daily. The drip takes about one hour to administer and then he is through for the next twelve hours and he starts all over again.
Thanks to all for your prayers, but still pray for him as he goes through the next six weeks. He feels so much better now that he is at home.
His sugar level now is from 100 to 156 and if it stays that way he can take the meds by mouth instead of the Insulin shots. I sure hope the pills work. Well thanks again my Christian friends for your prayers…..
In Christian Love,
Mary Ann Cutrer

George Dees passes away last night.  Please be in prayer for the extended Dees family.

George Dees
(February 17, 1937 – June 23, 2010)

http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=652488&fh_id=11426&s_id=DB6C70BBA6BAD5B24CFE954267F61920

I’ll report this obituary when it is updated.

Tom Brister’s dad passed away night before last.  Please be in prayer for the Brister family as they deal with his loss.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10

Mike Benson, Editor

ONE DAY, MY husband and I took up racquetball…

Knowing I needed the exercise, I also ventured into the little box that was the court.  It seemed a trifle small for the two of us, but it was fun.  Having played tennis years ago, in the days of my youth, I managed quite well.  However, being thoroughly out of shape, I found myself running furiously in every direction for about twenty minutes and then suddenly collapsing in a whimpering heap in a corner of the court.

My experience reminded me of many Christians.  Starting off with great enthusiasm, they leap frantically around, chasing the ball and running themselves into the ground, ending up beaten in a short span of time.  This is not the way to play the game.  Watch an expert racquetball player, and you see he paces himself well, knowing just where to put his feet.  He even finishes a vigorous game with steps left over.  The idea is to plod with God, rather than to race through space.  Jill Briscoe, “The Other Side of Redemption,” Here Am I, Lord…Send Somebody Else!,79-80

“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Thank God for another day He has gifted us with.  Use it to honor Him!

Anna Lee



Tuesday

Nurture, guard, and guide

the flock of God that is your responsibility …

Not domineering as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons

but being examples, patterns, and models of Christian living ….

~1 Peter 5:2-3 (Amp)~

Jimmy Muse

Jimmy had a problem with an electrical charge at home and is hospitalized in Baron Rouge.  Please keep him in your prayers.

George Dees

George Dees is very ill.  Please pray for him and his family.

High Temperatures

Be careful to stay hydrated if you are working or playing outside.  The high temperatures we have been having are very dangerous.

Have you got a few minutes to read?

http://www.bpnews.net/

Devotional thought

http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/

TODAY’S PRAYER

IMB
JUNE 22, 2010

“I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 13:47)

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 Prime Minister Joachim Rafael Branco of Sao Tome and Principe (Gulf of Guinea, western Africa).

HIDDEN MOUNTAIN PEOPLE OF EAST ASIA. Ask the Father to impress upon local believers not only the great need to reach their neighbors and friends for Jesus, but also the great need to go to the remote places and do whatever it takes to reach the Hidden Mountain people with the Gospel.

KASHMIRI MUSLIMS OF INDIA (KASH-meer-ee). Give thanks to God for answering your prayers by providing amazing opportunities to interact with several government agencies and tourism groups in the area through a visiting expert. After visiting several new areas in the valley, workers believe that a new project might open doors in new villages for local believers to earn a livable wage, and for lost families living in poverty to hear the Good News.

Pray for Jennie and the children as they prepare to travel here for a brief family visit.

Thanks for taking time to read this and to pray.  If you have something you would like to share, please feel free to contact me so I can post it.  Have a wonderful day!

Anna Lee

Monday

“Teach me Your way, LORD,

and I will live by Your truth.”

~Psalm 86:11a, HCSB~

Stacy Scarle

Just a brief update on Stacey. We saw the oncologist on Friday. She reports the the bone scan and heart echo were fine. This is great news. We only have the CTs left and that will be at the end of the month. She thinks Stacey is doing fine. She has lost all of her hair and Darla cut the remaining straglers last night. She wears her wig and has named her “Maude”. She says Maude doesn’t like to be around a lot of people and that she creeps up her head when she is ready to go home. I can’t vouch for that but I know when she gets that look that we better be heading home. Of course we only go out for Drs, drug store and groceries so it isn’t that often. She stil has a good attitude and is positive that she will be ok. She continues to pray for a miracle and says when she sees the surgeon there won’t be anything to operate on. I pray she is correct. Keep praying for her as she goes through this ordeal. The last few weeks have been trying. Thanks for your cards and calls they really help.

Wendell Simmons

Wendell Simmons had a motorcycle racing accident over the weekend.  He is now hospitalized at University Hospital in Jackson, MS.  Wendell has a broken tibia as well as a hip problem.  Pray for Wendell as he is treated and healing in the coming months.

Smiley Conerly

Smiley is dealing with a case of pneumonia.  Pray he can beat it soon with no additional problems.

Judy Liberto

Judy continue to recover nicely from surgery.  Thank God for her great progress.

Alice Faye Lee

Alice Fay is doing well with her broken humerus.  She was at church yesterday. Pray for continued good healing.

Countdown

David and I are beginning the final countdown until Jennie and the children arrive a week from today.  Please pray for them as they make preparations for the long trip from Prague to Kentwood.

Today’s devotional

Have a great week!

Anna Lee