Devotional – Page 217 – The Prayer Link

Saturday

“Ask of Me,

and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance,

and the ends of the earth for Your possession.”

~Psalm 2:8~

Landon Estay said, “preliminary results show no genetic defects. we appreciate your thoughts and prayers.”

World Changers Celebrates Work on 20,000th Home

By Mike Ebert
Baptist Press

SAVANNAH, Ga. (BP)–There’s something special about Eleanor Williams’ home.

Hers is the 20,000th home World Changers has worked on since the Southern Baptist ministry began as a pilot project in 1990.

Each year when the City of Savannah Department of Housing notifies homeowners they have been approved for government-funded home improvements, several respond with a special request: “Please put me on the list of homes to be worked on by the World Changers students.”

Williams is one of those residents, having qualified for funds to replace her leaky roof this summer.

Word has spread through the Savannah area over the years as more than 12,000 students since 1992 have given a week of their summer to help replace roofs, apply a fresh coat of paint and renovate homes while sharing Christ with homeowners and residents.

“I had the World Changers come in 2005 and paint my house,” Williams recounted amid the sound of hammers pounding on the roof and the buzz of activity in her yard.

“It’s been like a fence of love surrounding me this week,” Williams said of the World Changers’ presence.

Every home World Changers students work on is special because the point of the week is not only to work on houses but to connect with homeowners and share the love of Christ and the salvation story. But on July 3, Williams’ home became especially significant because it marked the 20,000th renovation completed by World Changers over the years.

“We have mobilized more than a quarter of a million students and adult leaders since 1990,” said John Bailey, student volunteer mobilization team leader with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. “We’re here as a response to our faith,” Bailey said during a brief ceremony in Williams’ backyard. “We’re answering God’s call to go and serve.”

This summer more than 23,000 middle and high school students will participate in 98 World Changers projects in 91 cities throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. World Changers provides the tools and volunteer labor while local governments provide the funding, often utilizing federal government housing dollars.

In addition to working on homes, World Changers participants share their faith with homeowners and others in surrounding neighborhoods. In 2008, participants in World Changers and PowerPlant, a sister ministry geared toward assisting in church planting efforts, made 14,757 presentations of the Gospel resulting in 997 recorded professions of faith.

While World Changers is impacting homeowners and other residents, participating students say World Changers is changing their lives at the same time.

“God has been using this week to show me I’m a lot more fortunate than some people are and I can use my abilities to help people who need it,” said 11th-grader Broderick Turner, a member of First Baptist Church in Eufaula, Ala. “I will definitely come back and do this again.”

Meredith Johnson, a high school junior who attends Florence (Ky.) Baptist Church just south of Cincinnati, said the week had reconfirmed her call to missions.

“It’s been a good experience. I want to do missions when I grow up. I would like to go to Africa or a place like that. This is good practice. God has shown me I can do whatever I can put my mind to with His help. I didn’t really think I could come out here and shingle a roof. I’ve never been on a roof before!” Johnson said she may want to go on an international World Changers mission trip next year.

The practical side of World Changers is what has made the partnership with the city of Savannah and so many other municipalities a success over the years.

Cynthia Holly, loan officer with the city’s housing department, said World Changers helps stretch housing dollars. Holly has worked with World Changers each of the 13 years she has been with Savannah’s housing office.

“It allows us to help out many more homeowners. We wouldn’t be able to do as many houses each year without the free labor. We would have to pay contractors,” Holly said.

NAMB President Geoff Hammond visited with students who were working at the construction site, describing them as “the heroes of World Changers. Think of the time, the effort, the leadership this takes. But they are doing it because of something greater than themselves. They’ve experienced the love of God in their hearts and they want to share that with these families here in Savannah.”

To the students who made up the construction crew working on Williams’ home, NAMB’s John Bailey said, “This is just the beginning for you. You can be a part of the next 20,000 homeowners we’re going to minister to.

“As I look around today, I might be looking at the next Geoff Hammond who will lead the North American Mission Board or the next Jerry Rankin who will lead the International Mission Board,” Bailey said. “That’s one of the things World Changers is about: a beginning point to serve and to minister because of what God has done in our lives.”

(Mike Ebert is publications and media relations coordinator for the North American Mission Board.)

KneEmail

Free

JESUS DOESN’T FORCE us to be His disciples…

Never does He coerce anyone into His service. His invitation is free, His offer of eternal life is free, the opportunity to serve Him is free. He freely took the initiative in giving His life as the substutionary payment for our sin. In obedience to the Father, He gave everything, setting aside His heavenly state to be robed in human flesh. He lived perfectly, died sacrificially, rose again triumphantly and ascended back to heaven gloriously. And He didn’t charge us a thing, which is good because we couldn’t pay the price anyway. However, what we can do is serve Him out of grateful hearts and loving devotion. He has given beyond measure, all at His personal initiative. How can we not as stewards choose willingly to give our all for Him? (Dave Sutherland and Kirk Nowery)

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’

And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’

And let him who thirsts come.

And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

Revelation 22:17

Posted by Mike Benson at July 10, 2009

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

Anna Lee

Friday

“Carefully consider the path for your feet,

and all your ways will be established.”

~Proverbs 4:26 HCSB~

Today’s focus will be on children. Pray for children who have attended/will attend VBS this summer. Pray for children who have attended/will attend a church camp this summer. Pray for children who do not have these opportunities. What can/will you do about this?

KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray

Prayer requests

“Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,” Luke 18:16b

Happy and sad Have you ever been happy and sad at the same time? Maybe you are going to move to a new house. You get your own room and there is a great playground in the neighborhood. But moving means you won’t see some of your good friends as often as you used to. A move like that can make you happy and sad at the same time. One grandmother is both happy and sad. Her grown children live in China, so their children are her grandkids. She said: “Our love not only for the Lord, but for them, keeps us going. We support them in every way we can . . . prayer, care packages, and taking care of things here in the States for them. We never discourage them, and try to make things as easy as possible for them.” She loves what they are doing and knows how very important it is. She’s just sad sometimes when she doesn’t see her grandchildren as often as she would like. Please pray for grandmothers and grandfathers who are living in the US while their family members are halfway around the world. Ask God to help them think of ways to stay connected—maybe twitter, Facebook, Skype, or sending videos to each other about what they are doing during the week. Thank the Lord for all the grandchildren who are living in far away countries and sharing the love of Jesus.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Dad teaches at the seminary, mom work with the immigrants that end up without proper jobs such as parking cars. You can pray that we will be able to reach these people. Also their living areas are often junk metal put together for shelter. They leak and often catch on fire. So please pray for their homes/housing. Also pray that my brothers and I will be able to reach the children in our school. They are well off children, they don’t really see the need for a God. My family is prone to sickness, so pray for our health. SIDNEY, age 14 (Sub-Saharan African peoples)

Twice a week, I ride on the back of my mommy’s bicycle and we go to my preschool. I don’t always understand my teachers since they speak Dutch but I like to play puzzles, play cars with my friends and sing songs that my teachers teach us. Sometimes mommy invites my friends and their mommies over for coffee and cookies and that is a lot of fun. We eat cookies and lemonade and I’m learning to share my toys with them. Pray I will feel comfortable speaking Dutch with my teachers. JESIAH, age 3 (European peoples)

My grandpa is not a Christian. Pray for him. Pray too that year/grade 6 will be good for me. RACHEL, age 11 (Southeast Asian peoples)

Please pray for the Mozambiquan people that they would get to know about Jesus and obey him. BETHANY, age 10 (Sub-Saharan African peoples)

Pray for me to adjust back to school and for me to stay stronger/get stronger in my relationship with God. KK, age 13 (Southeast Asian peoples)

Please help Angola because there are a lot of robbers and many people are getting robbed and there are many gunshots. Please pray for the many Angolans who don’t know Jesus. ALEXANDRIA, age 11 (Sub-Saharan African peoples)

KneEmail

Lost

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, my family was camping in the mountains of Colorado…

We have arrived there late in the afternoon, and we picked out a nice spot close to a beautiful river. While I was attending to the chores of setting up and organizing our camp, the children went off to play.

As the sun began to set, we started rounding up the children and hustling them back into our campground before it got completely dark. Our four-year-old son, Scott, was missing. The river was making so much noise that my calls were drowned out, and its roar was a constant reminder of danger.

Panic began to build. Where was he? Had he wandered out of the campground? Had he wandered up or down the river? The last time I saw him, he was playing at the edge of the water with a little boat he had made.

By now you could barely distinguish the camp as the rays of the setting sun were further blocked by the forest. A chilling reality gripped me. I only had a few minutes before darkness made my search nearly impossible.

What should I do?

First, I want to tell you some of the things I did not do.

I did not organize any classes on how to find lost children.
I did not hold any rallies to enlist volunteers to help me.
I did not wait until someone came along with was better qualified than I to search.
I did not fail to do anything for fear of doing the wrong thing.

Now, I want to tell you what I did do.

I acted immediately.
I ran around the campground.
I dashed up and down the river.
I called Scott’s name, in spite of the roaring river.
I searched the churning waters.
I stopped total strangers to describe him, and they joined in the search.

Nothing else mattered for that period of time. Finding him was my top priority.

After running all over the campground and up and down the river, I still could not find him. Not knowing what else to do, I decided to go back to camp to figure out what to do next. Scott and I arrived at the same time. He was walking nonchalantly into our campground, oblivious to everything; I was still on a dead run.

An old preacher once said, “If a man has a soul, and he has, and if that soul can be won or lost for eternity, and it can, then the most important thing in the world is to bring a man to Jesus Christ.” (Don Humphrey)

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” ( Luke 19:10).

Posted by Mike Benson at April 13, 2009

Have a fantastic Friday as you think about and pray for children around the world.

Anna Lee

Thursday

“Guide me in Your truth and teach me,

for You are the God of my salvation.”

~Psalm 25:5a, HCSB~

Thank-you for all the prayers for Tiffany Bankston Currier. She is doing very well at this time. The family appreciates your prayers so much.

Hollie K. reports she is doing very well in West Africa. She even had a former student to visit and be a “tourist” with her during her break before classes resume again. Hollie is loving

Continue to pray for the youth and chaperones at Mission Fuge in Clinton, MS and for the children and chaperones who will be at children’s camp next week.

Mason and Adam Carter

I would like to thank everyone for praying for Mason. He did well and was home 1:00 Tuesday. He even made it to VBS that night.
Adam is doing a little better too.
Lawana

Mrs. Hellen Morris is having a heart cauterization and possibly a stent today. Keep her and her family in your prayers.

From Lori Rhodes

Also, please pray for my sister and brother-in-law. He is building their house by himself. This morning, he fell from the roof. All of his ribs on the right side are broken, bruised his lung, crushed his collarbone and has a big cut on back of his head. His name is Mark. Thanks!

Landon and Alisha Estay learned their unborn baby son has spinal bifida but are still loving the baby and trusting God. Keep them in your prayers.

Don Denton

It seems like it gets longer and longer in between the times that I post. My life is soooooo full these days.

If you are still following us I thought I would update you on how we are doing.

It has now been over a month since Don has been in the hospital and that in and of itself is a miracle. We are so grateful to God.

Don continues to get stronger. He is still very, very thin, but that will take some time. He is still in physcial therapy five days a week. His physical therapist, Dot H. is amazing and so committed to helping him. We are so blessed to have her here in Bolivar with her credentials.

Don is tappering at a very slow pace. He is doing Ok. Slow and steady is the plan.

Just last week and this week I have spent hours with the insurance company trying to get Don’s nausea meds approved. I have now heard five different stories as to why. The are allowing him less than the daily dosage. One explanation was that the company entered information into the computer wrong. And of course we have been told by them that Don is approved, but when the doctors sends in the request they deny it.

I have written letters to our senator, the National Assoc. for pharmacists, as Medco has pharmacist who basically determines the approval. And I have written letters to a patient advocay group and of course Medco’s coroporate office. Ugh…..

Don doctor continues to work with us and we are grateful for his committment to helping Don in this way.

I think we will celebrate the day that it gets approved.

Last week turned out to be a most challenging and difficult week for me. I was overwhelmed with everything. I found out that I have one car that needs tires, the other broke down on me, the clutch is out. Then backing out of my driveway on the way to a doctor appointment for myself I “slammed” into our sitters car and dented it in three places. I had grass to cut and weedead. I had a mound of laundry, bills to pay, groceries to buy, perscriptions to pick up, house to clean, it looked like a tormado had hit. And then find time to spend with Joshua and on and on. I was a well, lets say feeling very discouraged.

And then something happened. Our sitter has a room mate who had been praying that God would show her someone she could serve. My sitter shared with her some of our situation. And her room mate came over last week to help clean my house and then she brought another friend over the cut grass.

It is at these times, when I am most discouraged that God says to me, ” I have not left you”. I am so grateful for you God’s people who pray for us and bless us in so many, many ways.

There are those days when Don and I feel that we just need to make it through the day. WE don’t know what our future holds, we are so clueless. We have had a few surprises that have taken us back some. But the one thing we know is this. We are a family, we have each other and we love each other. And we continue to pray for God’s mercy and grace upon us.

Joshua still is struggling with some fears. Some are age appropriate and some are fears of losing Don and I. Pray for him in that way.

I continue to learn more of what it is to believe as a child. Our son’s passion and love for his daddy is precious. He prays for him everday. And I find myself focusing on the precious gift of life we have. In the quiet of the evening when everyone is in bed, I for a fleeting moment realize that we can’t take the “stuff” with us when we leave this earth. Finding delight in the lives of people. Valuing who God brings into our life as a gift from God is so important. I saw an amazing example of what “delighting in others” looks like. God taught me an important lesson through this women. I hope to model her love for life and people. It is such a gift to me and a blessing to us to have friends and family bless us in the way they do.

It is late. Pray for Don, he has a CAT Scan tomorrow as a follow up.

Bless you our family and friends.
Diane

Lloyd Gullick

(June 19, 1931 – July 8, 2009)

Died at 7:30AM on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at his residence in Roseland, LA. He was a native of Corinth, MS. Age 78 years. Graveside Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Arcola, LA. Services conducted by Rev. Danny Smith. Survived by Wife, Barbara Gullick, Roseland, daughter, Peggy Fuqua, Roseland, 2 sons, Jerry Gullick, Kentwood, Mike Gullick, Amite, 6 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by son, David Gullick, parents, Eli Gullick and Maudie Ethel Gullick, 1 sister, Willie Ruth Reynolds, 2 brothers, J. E. Gullick and Melvin Gullick, 2 grandchildren, Dusty Gullick and Timothy Gullick. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

Baptist Press

(I hope you find time to read all of these, but if not, at least try to read the two I highlighted in red. Anna Lee)

July 8, 2009

TENNESSEE–Teen sex linked to children’s TV viewing, study says. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30846

ENGLAND–Lab-created babies, no male required? http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30847

MAINE–Maine effort to overturn ‘gay marriage’ near success. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30848

TENNESSEE–‘I Can Only Imagine’ marks 10 years. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30849

NORTH CAROLINA–SBC leader Ernest Mosley dies at 81. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30845

KANSAS–FIRST-PERSON (Phil Boatwright): Fireproof co-producer readies new film. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30850

As our friends and neighbors face the many trials of life, I think this devotional thought shows various perspectives. I pray each one of us will face our trials like Landon and Alisha.

KneEmail

Viewpoint

grand canyon.jpg THREE PEOPLE WERE visiting the Grand Canyon — a painter, a preacher, and a cowboy…

Looking over the massive canyon, each one verbalized his observation:

“Incredible!” the painter said. “I’d love to paint a picture of this!”

The preacher waved his arms and cried, “Glory! Look what God has done!”

The cowboy exclaimed, “I’d sure hate to lose a cow down there!”

What do you see when you look at your situation? An illustration of God’s handiwork, or just someplace to lose a cow? (Stan Towler)

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,

whatever things are noble,

whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure,

whatever things are lovely,

whatever things are of good report,

if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–

meditate on these things.”

Phillipians 4:8

Posted by Mike Benson

Thankful for this Thursday!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“But the basic reality of God is plain enough.

Open your eyes and there it is!”

~Romans 1:19 MSG~

I would appreciate if everyone would keep Nancy Carollo in their prayers. She is a friend of mine and she has breast Cancer. She is in the middle of 39 weeks of Radiation. Her last date will be on July 24th. PLease keep Her in your prayers that this radation treatment will cure the cancer she has. thanks for all your prayers for her

Faye Carney and Nancy Carollo

In New Orleans, Volunteers Still Needed

Posted on Jul 7, 2009 | by Mickey Noah NEW ORLEANS (BP)

–Almost four years after Hurricane Katrina brought New Orleans to its knees on Aug. 29, 2005, Southern Baptists continue to spend a week or so in the Big Easy, volunteering their time and skills to rebuild or refurbish homes devastated by the deadly storm.

But the number of Baptists who are volunteering is no longer enough.

Since May 1, 2006, under “Operation NOAH Rebuild” — a cooperative ministry of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans and the SBC’s North American Mission Board — more than 25,000 Southern Baptist volunteers have assisted in rebuilding 1,801 flood-damaged homes. These volunteers represent some 1,530 SBC churches from every state convention in the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii. Operation NOAH also has assisted in the recovery of 32 churches and 15 other ministry centers or schools damaged by Katrina.

And as a direct result of Operation NOAH, more than 400 professions of faith have been recorded, according to the latest available statistics.

While an agreement has been reached to transition the day-to-day management of Operation NOAH to the Baptist association, the North American Mission Board has committed to extend its support of the ministry until year’s end, said Mickey Caison, NAMB’s team leader for adult volunteer mobilization.

“We will continue to work with [the association] to support and implement their ‘2020 Vision’ strategic plan,” Caison said. “Part of that plan is to address post-Katrina needs of the New Orleans community, and housing is still one of the critical needs there.”

Caison said 70 more homes remain in the Operation NOAH pipeline for reconstruction or renovation, and “we want to complete every one of them.”

“Some of the folks we still want to help have not received any assistance at all from their insurance companies or the federal government, and are the folks who’ve fallen through the cracks,” Caison said, noting that only 60 percent of the residents displaced by Katrina have moved back home.

But as NAMB’s time for involvement ticks down, Operation NOAH is not seeing the number of skilled volunteers the program needs to finish work on the 70 remaining homes, Caison said.

“We desperately need Southern Baptists who are skilled as drywall workers, plumbers, electricians, framing carpenters and finishing carpenters to volunteer to help us,” he said. “We can house up to 145 volunteers a week but we’re not averaging 145 a week. We only had 66 volunteers during May.” Caison said volunteers are housed in a volunteer “village” at Hopeview Baptist Church in nearby St. Bernard Parish.

David Maxwell, a pastor serving as coordinator for Operation NOAH Rebuild, echoed Caison, adding that “we want to do quality work for these last 70 houses — the same quality anyone would want for their own home. You just can’t do that with unskilled labor.”

As to the volunteer shortage, Maxwell attributes it to the fact that almost four years have elapsed since Katrina. Other disasters — like Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, floods in the Midwest and fires in California — have siphoned off some of the volunteer force needed in New Orleans.

“The bad economy and higher gas prices have also had something to do with the smaller number of people who volunteer. People are just staying closer to home,” he said.

“Operation NOAH Rebuild has given people hope where there was no hope,” Maxwell noted, “just like Jesus Christ does for all of us. There are literally thousands of homes and people in New Orleans who still need help. Contrary to what local politicians may say, it’s not over. We’ve just scratched the surface.”

(Mickey Noah is a writer for the North American Mission Board. For volunteer opportunities with Operation NOAH Rebuild, e-mail noah@namb.net or call 1-877-934-0808 (toll-free) or 504-362-4604.)

KneEmail

Carry

FOR THE FIRST time in her life, Western Oregon University’s Sara Tucholsky not only hit a home run in a game against Central Washington University, but she hit it over the fence…

She had passed first base and was on her way to second base when she collapsed. Something had happened to her knee and she couldn’t run. No one on her team could help her around the bases because if they touched her, she’d be out. That’s when her opponents from Central Washington picked her up and carried her around the bases and across the home plate. “My whole team was crying. It touched a lot of people,” says Tucholsky.

“Bear one another’s burdens,

and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2

Posted by Mike Benson at May 14, 2009 2:13 PM

Have a wonderful day!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.”

~Matthew 11:28~

Thank God for the rain we received yesterday.

Pray for Lawana Carter’s two boys. Mason is having sinus surgery in McComb this morning at 8 A.M. Adam has a lingering summer cold.

Remember to pray for Shaun Bodin, Judy Easley’s son-in-law, as he sees doctors at Ochsner concerning his fractured neck.

Continue to pray for those at Mission Fuge at Mississippi College and for those having VBS this week.

Baptist Press

July 6, 2009

CALIFORNIA–NEA declines to remain neutral on abortion. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30833

WASHINGTON–Gallup Poll: U.S. adults growing more conservative? http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30834

MICHIGAN–Witnesses assaulted at Muslim festival, team members say. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30835

VIRGINIA–Appalachian Trail hike turns into spiritual journey. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30836

TENNESSEE–Research: Many say income not matching lifestyle. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30837

WASHINGTON–FIRST PERSON (Ken Connor): Bread and circuses: America’s cult of celebrity. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30838

KneEmail

Great

So many celebrities have died recently, it reminds one of the death, in 1715, of King Louis XIV of France, after a reign of 72 years.
He had called himself “the Great.” The monarch had made the infamous statement, “I am the state!” (Grandiose political statements are perennial.) His court was considered the most magnificent in Europe, and his funeral was equally spectacular.

As Louis’ body lay in state in a golden coffin, orders had been given that the cathedral should be very dimly lit with only a single candle set above his coffin, to dramatize his greatness. At the memorial service, thousands waited in hushed silence.

Bishop Massilon rose to speak. Reaching down, he snuffed out the candle and said, “Only God is great.”/1

At the cross, and before the empty tomb, as the rich and famous and powerful wither and die, around the table of the Lord, we declare, “Only God is great!”

Or better, like Thomas who threw himself at the feet of the resurrected Christ, “My Lord and my God!” ( John 20:28). (J. Randal Matheny at: http://www.forthright.net/)

“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness,

the power and the glory,

the victory and the majesty;

for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;

Yours is the kingdom, O LORD,

and You are exalted as head over all.”

I Chronicles 29:11

Posted by Mike Benson at July 6, 2009 11:55 AM

Please share information you would like others to pray about. Have a great day!

Anna Lee

Sunday

“God, within Your temple, we contemplate Your faithful love.”

~Psalm 48:9, HCSB~

Please continue to pray for Charles “Butch” Slade as he continues to recover from a snakebite. He is not longer hospitalized, but still has a very swollen arm.

Dukes

Our God is Mighty

Yesterday was a good day. My trip down was good and safe. I will probably miss my xm radio once all this is over. My boys are in a wagon on the back of a 4 wheeler today waving flags to celebrate our independence. I know they are red-faced, hot, sweaty, and tired about this time as the historic Foster Park July 4th parade has drawn to a close. I am thankful they could be a part. I would have loved to see them, I know they had a blast. Thanks Philip and Ms Meagan for thinking of them.

Zeph. 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, He is MIGHTY to save. He takes great delight in you, He quiets you with His love, He rejoices over you with singing.

Cheri Tew prayed this verse for mom today and I will every time I think of it from now on. Thanks Cheri for being such an encourager. I have prayed many times over her at night when I leave her to go to bed, that the holy spirit would dance and sing over her in her dreams. I heard the song based on this verse yesterday on the radio and it spoke to me. He is mighty to save. Thankfully he has saved us and continues to heal mom and dad. He has comforted us through His holy spirit and many of you have comforted us and strengthened us as well. Thank you for your support. I know we say thanks almost every post but we sincerely mean it and are blown away daily by the response of God’s church in this whole journey.

I was reminded this week by a patient that we all need to stop and listen to the holy spirit as God the father speaks though His spirit into our hearts and minds to comfort, strengthen, and help us in this time of trouble. He has and thankfully He will continue to speak. I am also thankful for His mercy. He has shown us mercy in rescuing us through Christ and continues to walk with us and minister to us through His holy spirit.

Mom is doing a little better trending upward. She is still suffering some mild cognitive impairments at times but she has been fairly clear yesterday and today so far. I think it is a combination of meds, being in the hospital for 3mos, and the head injury. I found out from records from university hospital that she also had a nondisplaced fx of her sacrum and pelvis. No wonder her back hurt. We kept saying God was allowing her sleep of the coma to heal we did not know from what all she was healing. They should make a plan for her skull this next week. Continue to pray over her for movement and the hard work of therapy, clear thinking, and no infection to enter her body. In the name of Jesus, I pray she will walk. Dad is hurting, pray for his pain and him handling it daily breath by breath. Pray he will continue to strengthen through therapy and he will have his mind and heart continually strengthened and brought peace by the holy spirit and the way God continues to use all of you to strengthen and encourage all of us.

On this day that we celebrate our independence may we all be truly and spiritually free. Jason will be back on monday. I hope he enjoys his family this weekend. Maybe the #24 car will win for him and Caleb especially. If you haven’t looked at his blog lately there are some videos there that are must see!!! Especially the cheerleader daddy, it reminds me of jason and my other brother, from another mother, and how they would relate to their sweet and beautiful girls. Happy 4th of July to all of you.

Peace

Etta Lanell Walker “Nell” Lewis
(September 26, 1919 – July 4, 2009)

Etta Lanell Walker

Etta Lanell Walker “Nell” Lewis, passed away on July 4, 2009 at her home in Kentwood, Louisiana. Nell was the beloved wife of the late Elder James Russell Lewis. She is survived by four children, Diane Strickland (Dallas), Pam Lewis and Lynde Kimbrel (Joe), all of Kentwood and Jimmy Pike Lewis (Heather) of Terrell, TX. She was the daughter of the late Dr. Winston Walker and Mrs. Etta Merle Smith Walker. Eight grandchildren include Darin Fontz (Celeste) of Thibodaux, LA, Jodee Corkern (Brian), Jill Brister (Robert), Becky Lynn Gill, Steve Strickland, Trevin, Brock and Dayton Lewis, all of Kentwood, LA and Noah Lewis of Terrell, TX. She is also survived by nine great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Nell was preceded in death by two children, five brothers, one grandson and one granddaughter. Funeral services will be held at Mt. Gilead Primitive Baptist Church in Smithdale, MS, on Monday at 11 a.m. Visitation will be at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday and at the church after 9 a.m. Monday. Services conducted by Elder Luke Addison and Elder Robert Byrd. Interment Mt. Gilead Church Cemetery, Smithdale, MS. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Generations Hospice, 32948 La. Hwy 16, Denham Springs, LA 70726.

James Edward Harrell
(October 6, 1928 – July 2, 2009)

James Edward Harrell

Faith

water cooler.jpg
SOME YEARS AGO, I picked up one of those plastic water cooler containers at a nearby yard sale and converted it into a piggy bank of sorts…

And each time that my family and I returned from the store, we would always drop our loose pocket change into the container. It seemed like an effective way of saving for a rainy day.

Recently I took that container down to the bank, and to my surprise, the four of us had saved a rather considerable sum of money. We had done so by simply saving the dimes, quarters, nickels and pennies that had come from our pockets. Of course, the money was only available because my family had been making regular deposits for quite some time.

It occurs to me that the same can be said of our faith. Unless you and I make regular deposits into our “faith account,’ then no funds will be available when the storms of life appear on the horizon.

What about you, dear Christian? How much faith will you put into your account today? (Mike Benson)

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom. 10:17

Posted by Mike Benson

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Independence Day

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,

as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.”

~Colossians 3:23 TEV~

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.

Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up,

He had His eye on us,

had designs on us for glorious living,

part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.”

~Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG~

I think we all will agree with Becky Arnold Smith’s thought.

“Becky Smith is thankful for those who paid the price for the freedoms I enjoy— Jesus & the American soldier!! Happy 4th of July!”

Father 2

WHEN JOHN F. Kennedy was President of the United States, Life magazine published photos of his children, John Jr. and Caroline, playing with their toys on the floor of the Oval office…

Those images captured the hearts of the American people like nothing before or since. Why? I think it’s because it bridged a gap between two thoughts: Kennedy was the President of the United States, but he was also a father. He held ultimate political power in the Free World, but playing at his feet were two little kids who called him Daddy. I don’t think your kids would have been allowed to do that. No mine. But his kids were. Why? He was their father. He was not only President of the United States; he was their father.

God is both our Father and the Lord of glory. We can approach Him confidently in prayer because we are His dearly beloved children, but we must never forget that He is also the Sovereign of the Universe. (David Jeremiah)

“For this reason I bow my knees

to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

~Eph. 3:14; cf. Matt. 6:6, 9~

Posted by Mike Benson

Friday

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God,

and you will find Him

if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

~Deuteronomy 4:29~

Dukes

Not a whole lot of new news to share today. However, my mother-in-l

aw shared a video with my wife and me that really touched me and was very encouraging. I posted it on my blog. (http://jasoncdukes.wordpress.com/) (Get the tissues ready! Anna Lee)

We will post at you again tomorrow. Keep praying that the neuro-surgeons will communicate with one another and schedule Mom’s surgery to replace the cranium piece. Please keep praying for Dad’s pain, too.

We couldn’t imagine walking through this without all of you.
-jason

Pray for the Canada Mission team as they travel home today. They will share their experiences Sunday night at 6 P.M.

KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray

Prayer Requests

“Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them,

because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,”

Luke 18:16b

She’s forced to do rituals C lives in Cambodia and is one of the Khmer (kuh-MER) people. Her dad wants her to follow the special rituals of their traditional religion. He isn’t a believer in Jesus Christ and tells C things that confuse her. C says, “The religion of my father is familiar to me because everyone has been doing the rituals for years. That is what we are used to. I know believers of the Son (Jesus) don’t give incense or spend money to do religious ceremonies. So what DO they do? I believe in the Son. I just don’t understand it all. My father forces me to do the rituals. He threatens that if I don’t follow them, I will have more problems. Inside I don’t feel it is right, but I do it anyway just to please my father.” It is really hard for C. She wants to obey God and she wants to obey her father. Many Khmer believers face the same problem C faces. Pray for them to be strong in their faith. Pray for C that her father will become a Christian and pray that she will become confident in her faith.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Please help my grandma. Thank you. HEATHER, age 6 (East Asian peoples)

Pray I’ll have strength in my walk with Christ as I go to school in an environment that is really sinful and worldly. Pray that the Bible studies that we have will grow and continue to work with Christ. KAYLA, age 15 (Sub-Saharan African peoples)

Pray for my friend Terron in San Francisco—he just became a Christian but doesn’t want to become baptised. Please pray for him. RICKIE, age 9 (Southeast Asian peoples)

Please pray for people in my school that they will stop saying bad words. Also please pray for the Malagasy people. They believe in ghosts and spirits and that their ancestors live still. CALEB, age 11 (Sub-Saharan African peoples)

Pray for my friend S and her family, and all the Japanese people, and my grandma and cousin to get better! Please and thank you. HANNAH, age 11 (East Asian peoples)

Baptist Press

July 2, 2009

TENNESSEE–At 84, U.S.S. Indy survivor attests to God’s grace. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30825

SOUTH KOREA–PTSD: NAMB chaplains gain biblical training. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30826

FLORIDA–337 baptized at FBC Orlando. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30827

TENNESSEE–CULTURE DIGEST: Benefits of alcohol still debated. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30828

WASHINGTON–India blocks religious freedom watchdog group. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30829

TEXAS–FIRST-PERSON (Chris Plekenpol): Unwanted fireworks on the Fourth. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30830

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (Sara Horn): Pray for our military this summer. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30831

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Kelly Boggs): Examining celebrity worship. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30832

James Edward Harrell
(October 6, 1928 – July 2, 2009)

U.S. Veteran Died at 5:20 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2009 at Kentwood Manor Nursing Home in Kentwood. He was a native of Poplarville, MS and a resident of Kentwood. Age 80 years. Mr. Harrell is a graduate of Gulf Coast Military Academy and Southeastern Louisiana University and is a U.S. Air Force Veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was a member of Kentwood Rotary Club, American Legion, and V.F.W. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. Joey Miller. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood. Survived by sister-in-law, Norma Harrell, Kentwood, nephews & nieces, William C. “Bill” Harrell, Hazlehurst, MS, John Hove, Westby, MT, Kathy Hove Wankel, Miles City, MT, Becky Hove Sweat, Broadus, MT, Benjamin C. “Ben” Harrell, III, Ponchatoula, Bruce Harrell, Kentwood, Ronnie Harrell, South Pasadena, CA, numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. Preceded in death by parents, Claiborne Harrell, Sr. and Lillie Cuevas Harrell, 2 brothers, Hollis Harrell and Claiborne Harrell, Jr., 2 sisters, Lillie Mae McGlathery and Bonnie Jean Hove, nephew, John Bruce Harrell.

Velton Henly Reid
(December 13, 1928 – July 1, 2009)

Velton Henly Reid

U.S. Veteran Died at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at his residence in Folsom, LA. He was a native of Uneedus, LA Age 80 years. He was a U. S. Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict and a retired Civil Technician with the U. S. Army Corps. of Engineers with 30 years of service. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 1 p.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. Ronnie Douglas and Rev. Elester Raines. Interment Reed-Raines Memorial Garden, Uneedus, LA. He is survived by his wife, Ella Ruth Wood Reid, Folsom; daughter, Linda Thompson, Slidell; 2 grandchildren, Terry Thompson, Waskom, TX and Stacey Cochran, Bentonville, Ark; 5 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Lillian Morse, Folsom and Bonnie Husser, Folsom; numerous nephews and nieces including special nephews and nieces, Lonnie Morse, Loranger, Karl Morse, Folsom, Eric Velton “Pete” Morse, Loranger, Mary Ellen “Gennie” Hernandez, Folsom and Mary Ann Phares, Loranger; special great-nephews who were thought of as grandchildren, Jared Morse, Jourdan Morse and Jathan Morse, all of Loranger. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Ellen Reid and Ellis Reid, Sr.; sister, Bessie Berry; brother, Ellis “Jiggs” Reid, Jr.

KneEmail

Poor

ONE DAY, THE father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live…
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

“It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh yeah,” said the son.

“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

Yet He sets the poor on high,

far from affliction,

and makes their families like a flock.”

~Psalm 107:41~

Posted by Mike Benson at July 2, 2009 2:25 PM

God bless America!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;

establish the work of our hands for us—

yes, establish the work of our hands.”

~Psalm 90:17 NIV~

The East Fork youth made it home from Student Life camp dispite a blowout and having to buy a new tire. They had a very meaning week.

Canada Mission Trip (FBC) – Reported by Don S.

Another day in Canada working with the kids in Cayley Alberta, Today was Canada day we had bible school in the AM and then off sightseeing WOW!! this place is great!

Pray for the team today as they have their last day in Canada and as they travel home tomorrow.

Dwayne and Trisha’s report on their mission trip

Hi from El Salvador! We´ve shared the gospel at 6 different schools and served at a homeless shelter in San Salvador. Tomorrow, we go into the community to install water filters.

Steve Sanders is home, but will have to schedule surgery for later. Please keep him in your prayers.

Pray for Mrs. Nadine Council as she prepares for hip surgery on the 13th and Mrs. Wanzie Williams and Mrs. Faye Price as they continue physical therapy.

Mr. I.W. Simmons has been in North Oaks. Please keep him and the family in your prayers.

Continue to pray for Mr. Orin Davidson and the Tolars as they care for him.

Be Angry and Sin Not.

Jesus taught us a little about anger and how to deal with it. He seemed to say that anger can sometimes be a useful thing, but we are not to let Satan use it as a toehold to get us off on the wrong track.

I must confess that I have had to deal with anger relatively often in recent months. Fortunately

, I have been able to get into my right mind and move on from it quickly. I realize that anger, even acted on, would not change our situation, but there is a strong temptation to try.

My pain, which on some days accumulates to such a degree that I think I cannot stand it, sometimes just makes me angry. However, when I am able to think through it, I realize that my pain does not even come close to measuring up to what Retia is going through. I confess that when I sit in the hospital room and watch her as she is right now in the struggles she is going through and compare that to what she was, my anger burns furiously.

Sometimes the anger is directed at the person who was driving and should not have been. Sometimes it is directed at the alleged law officer who failed so miserably in her duties. And yes, sometimes it is directed at God.

Now, I have been a follower of Christ since 1949. More than that, I have been associated with the church. and the teachings of Christ even longer, so I know that God does not deserve my anger. But do you know what I have learned (by experience)? That God is strong enough to tolerate my anger and still love me.

Like a loving human parent, I have learned that God is able to listen to the rantings of his children and the questions about things that happen and the intervention that does not always come, and yet he is able to continue to be God with all the love and mercy and grace that he has always revealed to us. He is not changed by our anger. He is still love.

I can almost hear him say audibly, “Hey, I understand your disappointment and hurt and anger. But I still love you.” He also reminds me, as he did the psalmist, that in spite of my perceptions of the wrong choices of others whose consequences I suffer, my wrong choices, or even the perceived inaction from him, he will walk with me through the storm and will work good out of horrible circumstances.

So I must confess to him that he is not safe, but he is able to keep me secure. I must confess to him that what bothers me so much is that the love of my life is suffering way too much and I do not believe it is her fault. That makes me mad. The people whose fault it seems to be are going on as usual. Then he reminds me that however much I love her, he loves her even more. He made her and he can take care of her whatever the problem is. So, forgive me for the anger and help me to see through your eyes.

So now you know why I say to Jason don’t try to make me feel better in my misery. Just let me stew for a while.

We had another meeting with the Drs, nurses, and therapists today. The prognosis is that the trends are good, but that does not mean everything will be OK. We just don’t know that yet. We are still hoping and praying for that end, but in the light of what we have learned about God, we are growing into a position where we will see things as he sees them and love her as he loves her whatever the circumstances (even as he does for us all).

Pray for Retia as she struggles with therapy. Pray for the healing of this pernicious bedsore. Pray for her comfort as she struggles to deal with the everyday pain and suffering.

Thanks for standing by us.
-jimmy

THE WAR IS OVER

The story is told about a man in Amsterdam who, not so long ago, was feeling guilty about something he had done, so he went and talked to his preacher.

He said, “I feel terrible because I’ve sinned. During World War II I hid a refugee in my attic.”

The preacher said, “I don’t believe that’s a sin at all. I wouldn’t feel bad about that if I were you.”

“But I made him agree to pay me 20 Gulden for every week he stayed.”

The preacher said, “Well, I admit that wasn’t the most noble thing to do, but you did it for a good cause, so I still wouldn’t worry about it.”

The man said, “Oh thank you, that eases my mind. I have only one more question to ask you — Do I have to tell him the war is over?”

We as Christians are engaged in a spiritual warfare — it’s Christianity vs. the world, the forces of good vs. the forces of evil.
And it’s easy to get the idea (especially if you watch the news) that God’s side is losing, and immorality is winning out!

John wrote the book of Revelation for Christians who must have been feeling the same way. After all, Rome certainly seemed to have the upper hand. Christians were losing! But, in reality, the war is over, and we know who wins!

John, looking ahead, writes, “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)

There are battles around us daily, and sometimes Satan does indeed seem to be winning, but looking ahead, the war is over and we know that those who are on God’s side will be victorious! Keep that in mind today when you feel like you’re fighting a losing battle!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

I think the devotional may had helped some of us clean us an issue in our hearts. Just what we needed!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“Each of you should go on living according to the Lord’s gift to you,

and as you were when God called you.

This is the rule I teach in all the churches.”

~1 Corinthians 7:17 TEV~

From Bill Frazier

Dean Burnett will be having major heart sergery monday 6 Jul at childrens hospital

“Call 2 Fall”

http://www.baptistmessage.com/articledetail.php?articleID=dfff85b8f919eef30a7d1afeebb00fbb

Baptist Press

June 30, 2009

KENTUCKY–Churchill Downs chaplain sees faith blossom. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30802

WASHINGTON–Obama chides ‘old attitudes’ about homosexuality. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30803

KENTUCKY–Korean Baptists reach goal 1 year early. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30804

KENTUCKY–NAMB honors top Annie-giving churches. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30805

OHIO–Kay Kwok: ‘Living life as an act of worship.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30806

CALIFORNIA–Urban missions leader Francis DuBose dies. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30807

KENTUCKY–‘Idol’ concert among SBC family events. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30808

KENTUCKY–Mohler receives Union’s Dodd Award. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30809

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Keith Manuel): Eternal life on death row. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30810

KneEmail

Friend

MARK WELLMAN GAINED national attention in the summer of 1989 by climbing the sheer face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park…

The face that Mark climed is not the remarkable part, but the fact that he did so being a paraplegic. Mark climbed for seven days with the help of his close friend, Mike Corbett. Mike would hold while Mark would pull himself up the granite face.

These two men shared a depth of friendship that is hard to find in our world today.

“As iron sharpens iron,

so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

Proverbs 27:17

Posted by Mike Benson at June 30, 2009 1:13 PM

Thank you for praying each day. You make a difference in many lives! Please feel free to send any praises, requests, or updates you wish to share here.

Anna Lee