Category: Devotional

Friday

“Dear children,

let us stop just saying we love each other;

let us really show it by our actions.”

~1 John 3:18 NLT~




Mrs. Frances Bell is in rehab here in Kentwood. Continue to remember her in your prayers.


Keandra Hookfin, a young college graduate and mother, was in an accident and now has a broken neck. Pray for her and her family as they make adjustjments to accommodate her present condition.


Don Denton

Don is still considered stable. He had the Galian Scan today and they found a “spot” in his pelvic area. Tomorrow “Friday” they will do a PET Scan on Don looking for other places to “light up”. If they find what they are looking for they will do a biopsy somewhere else other than the brain.

This biopsy will happen on Monday. So one way or the other depending on what they find tomorrow there will be a biopsy on Monday.

He is still not able to eat. He is taking fluids. There are problems with keepin an IV in him. His vessels are not working as well as they would like them to.

He is still very dizzy, nauseated and just feels really bad.

He sleeps allot and just does not feel well.

Josh and I have been keeping busy exploring St.Louis. We found a great park called Turtle Park. He just loves it.

Well, it looks like we will have answers tomorrow in the definite direction.

My head is swimming at times. I continue to hold to the hope that this will be treatable.

Pray for Don’s body that it will not shut down. Pray that he will be able to endure another weekend.

This feels really bad right now, but at the same time, we are so ready to have answers.

Tomorrow will be an important day.

Pray for my precious ones. Thank you our dear friends and family.

Diane

Glenda Russum Kennedy Gallagher
(January 31, 1959 – April 30, 2009)

Glenda Russum Kennedy Gallagher

She always knew life was a gift and was a friend that everyone wishes they had.

Glenda Russum Kennedy Gallagher was born January 31, 1959 and passed away April 30, 2009 at her home in Amite. Glenda was 50, a native of Hazelhurst, MS and a resident of Amite. She was the daughter of Glenn Russum, Picayune, MS and the late Qujett Russum.

She is survived by 2 daughters, Captain Britney Kennedy, El Paso, Texas and Ann Blythe Kennedy, Amite; 2 sisters, Glennell and husband Danny Lumkin, Seminary, Mississippi, Gaylia and husband Steve Calimag, Cross, South Carolina.

Glenda was preceded in death by her husband, William R. “Bill” Gallagher.

Glenda was a true caregiver working at Lallie Kemp Regional Medical Center as a Registered Nurse for 20 years. She served as a trustee for Amite United Methodist Church, a past Junior Auxillary Member and served on the Advisory Board for PrimeCare Home Health.

A memorial service celebrating Glenda’s life will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Amite, on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Brady Whitton officiating.

Glenda was a 15 year breast cancer survivor and she shared her spirit with others fighting cancer.

In lieu of flowers, family request donations may be made in Glenda’s honor to

Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana, 3340 Severn Avenue,Suite 350 Metairie, LA 70002 or

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Awareness Attn: Gift Management Services 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250 Dallas, TX 75244

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

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

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor
WHAT SHOULD WE leave behind when we die…?
A faithful family.
We will leave a mourning family behind on that sad day, but will we leave a faithful one? Will each be on his or her way to heaven? We are not able to make decisions for them, but we will have a great influence on each, especially our children (Proverbs 22:6).
Sarah left a godly man to mourn (Genesis 23:2). Abraham left faithful sons behind (Genesis 18:19; 25:8). Zebedee and Salome gave the world James and John. Lois taught Eunice, who molded Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15).
If we would leave such a family, we must start NOW, because the years may come when they will not listen (Ecclesiastes 12:2). No greater legacy can be left than faith in God and faithfulness to His church. (Allen Webster)
“You are the light of the world…”
Matthew 5:14a
May this day be the best day of your week.
Anna Lee

Thursday

“Bear one another’s burdens,

and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

~Galatians 6:2~



Pray as the swine flu continues to spread. Pray for wisdon as decisions are made concerning preparations, closures, and treatment. Pray for each person to act responsibly so this problem does not get worse than it already is.

Pray for Wanzie Williams. She fell and injured her shoulder while in New York with family and will have surgery at Our Lady of the Lake this afternoon.


Also, pray for Tracy Williams who will have surgery at Tulane today.


Mrs. Lois Bridges passed on a request for prayer for a four year old who is in Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Haley Melder, who is Bob Pezant’s great granddaughter, the granddaughter of Arnold and Gwen Pezant, and the daughter of Erin is undergoing tests to diagnose her problem.

Jimmy and Retia Dukes

the hospital hokey pokey
Jen and I were riding through Orlando a few years back, and we saw (in my opinion) the funniest bumper sticker in the history of bumper stickers (and bumpers, for that matter). It simply said:

“What if the hokey pokey IS what it’s all about?”

Fortunately for all of us, it ISn’t what it’s all about. But with Mom and Dad in two different locations now, it sure seems like it. I put one foot in and then take it right back out and turn myself around to cross the Huey P Long Bridge or the Crescent City Connection (whichever one looks clearer traffic-wise on Google Maps) to head to the other hospital. It’s fun! If you haven’t been on the Huey P lately and you are in need of growing in patience or getting over a fear of heights, I steadfastly and highly recommend it.

Enough of all that nonsense. How are Mom and Dad?

Well, I have to say I am super excited about the progress Mom seems to be making. I continue to remind myself that this will be a long road of recovery for Mom, but every little improvement seems like such a HUGE step when we’ve watched her endure the stillness of a coma.

Yesterday morning, after I posted the Caring Bridge post, I headed to see Mom. I was there for over two hours. During that time, she was awake for a sum total of over an hour!!! When I say awake, I mean eyes open and at least looking around. Still kind of in and out sleeping, but interactive.

I reminded her what was going on (why she is in the hospital). I assured that Dad is doing well. I told her about Erik and Erin and the boys. I told her about Jen and Caleb and the girls and me. I told her about people praying for her all over everywhere. I told her that she had been in a coma for 3 weeks. She got a little emotional at that – tearing up and sobbing / coughing a bit.

I began to ask her a series of various questions. Did she remember anything about the accident? She shook her head no. Did she remember listening to music while she was in a coma? She nodded yes. Did she remember me playing for her Caleb and Katey and Abby singing “My God Is So Big?” She nodded yes. Was she hurting anywhere? She shook her head no. Did she like my beard (I asked that again, because a few of my friends back in Orlando texted me yesterday teasing about whether Mom liked it or not)? She nodded YES – there you go guys! Did she remember my birthday? She nodded yes, but when I gave her some multiple choice, she didn’t get it. Today she did, though. She just needed to sleep on it.

If you didn’t notice in that last paragraph, I mentioned that Mom shook her head no. She had not done that yet to me. So that’s a first and a positive sign. Before I headed over to see Dad, I told her how much I loved her and was so proud of her for how well she was doing and how beautiful she was. She mouthed back, “I love you.”

Today, Mom had several treatments and tests and lots of visitors. She interacted with all of them in some way. A nod of the head. An attempt to mouth something. Open eyes looking around.

They did another CT today. There’s something going on there for them to do another one so close to the one they did Monday. I haven’t gotten the answer on it yet, but I will let you know when I do. I asked Erik to call, too. He understands all that stuff much better, obviously. Please keep praying.

Dad had a great day both yesterday and today. He is doing especially well as I type this. We were about to dive into some amazing dumplins when a friend called and said he was bringing us something. He is bringing us take-out from a local French restaurant. The special tonight is scallops. I am not eating that, but of course Dad is. I ordered butternut squash soup and some salmon.

It was a tough choice. One of our family friends who is an amazing cook brought us two containers of chicken and dumplins. Her dumplins are something special, I tell you. Really, really, really, really good. When the other friend called to tell me the special at the French place (that’s French for “place”) was scallops and he wanted to bring Dad some, I said go ahead. I know how amazing those dumplins are, and since they are in containers I refrigerated them for Dad to have for lunch tomorrow. That’ll be good and give him something culinarily exquisite to look forward to midday tomorrow after therapy.

Besides food, which is a big deal in New Orleans, Dad is really doing well. He is dressed today in a brand new New Orleans Hornets T-Shirt (to commemorate their 58 point loss and hopefully a win tonight) and a brand new pair of Mickey Mouse pajama pants (to commemorate missing Orlando – picture attached I caught while he was napping).

Therapy was tough on him this morning, but he is making progress. He told me his legs were really sore, which is a good thing. His wrist hurt a lot today. They will assess it in two weeks and then, more than likely, do surgery to repair it. The skin will be good and healed by that point.

Please keep praying for logistics to work out favorably. We are trusting the Lord on all that for sure and doing due diligence as needed (along with the help of Uncle Danny, our friend Don, and the Seminary leaders). We should know more in the coming week.

Well, Dad’s scallops just arrived. The dumplins are labeled and secure in the pantry fridge just down the hall. Gonna enjoy a meal with my Dad. Thanks Don and Joyce for a great supper and lunch, respectively. Very thankful that I am able to be here with Dad and enjoy this meal.

I really miss Jen and the kids. BIG TIME. I will fly home again Friday. Erik will be down this weekend. Looking forward to seeing him before I fly out.

Please, please pray for our close friend Becky and her Dad – Mr. Harry. He recovered from cancer a few years ago, but this past Sunday he let his family know the cancer was back. It seems to be far-reaching. He is getting a second opinion on what to do. You may remember Chris from an earlier post – the one who drove with me all night to New Orleans the night of the accident. Well, Mr. Harry is his father-in-law. Please pray for Mr. Harry and his wife Mrs. Dale and Chris and Becky and their three kids at this time. The effective prayer of the righteous accomplishes much, as James wrote. Your prayers would mean so much to them.

Looking forward to seeing how Mom interacts tomorrow. Looking forward to the drive between hospitals. I have more voice mails than I know what to do with, so I use that time to attempt to return them. They keep stacking up. Thanks for being patient with me on that stuff.

Very thankful for all of you. Very thankful. Post with you tomorrow.
-jason

Outlaws at sea, chaos ashore

Erich Bridges
Outlaws at sea, chaos ashore

Listen to an audio version of this post at
http://media1.imbresources.org/files/70/7023/7023-39678.mp3

Those pirates tormenting ships off the coast of Somalia are no isolated band of cutthroats on an otherwise placid horizon.

They represent what author William Langewiesche calls the “outlaw sea” — global coastlines and deep waters increasingly plagued by buccaneers, hijackers, drug runners, smugglers and terrorists.

In his 2004 book of the same name (“The Outlaw Sea: A World of Freedom, Chaos, and Crime,” North Point Press), Langewiesche explored the vast expanses of blue. It’s a place where hundreds of pirate attacks occur each year from Southeast Asia to the Caribbean, where thousands of unsafe, unregulated merchant ships sail the globe under so-called “flags of convenience” to mask their origins and owners. This region beyond nations, which covers three-quarters of the earth’s surface, is a “reminder of the world as it was before, but also quite possibly … a harbinger of a larger chaos to come,” Langewiesche observed.

What “larger chaos”? The Somali pirates reflect what’s happening on dry land: “Failed states” continue to threaten not only their own people but the peoples and nations around them.

Somalia is the poster child for “failed states.” It fragmented more than 20 years ago amid clan wars. No stable national government exists. The chaos has sent throngs of refugees fleeing into other countries, subjected those who stayed behind to terrible suffering at the hands of thugs and warlords — and attracted foreign terrorists looking for bases of operation.

There are worse things than bad government. Anarchy, for instance. Ask the Somalis. Ask the people who endure seemingly endless violence in parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan, in particular, teeters on the edge of instability as radical Islamists wield expanding influence. Its neighbor and longtime enemy, India, watches with growing alarm.

“As much as India fears Pakistan, it fears Pakistan’s collapse even more,” reports Robert D. Kaplan in The Atlantic magazine. “The threat of Islamic anarchy in the region is perfectly suited to the further consolidation of Hindu nationalism.” Hindu nationalism, in turn, increases extremism and violence against millions of Muslims and Christians in India.

Everything is connected in a globalized, essentially borderless world. The current global economic crisis proves that proposition beyond reasonable doubt. That’s why Christians in safe, quiet places should be concerned about “failed states” and chaotic areas within states. Not only do they destabilize whole regions and cause massive human suffering, they directly affect the church and the transmission of the Gospel.

Many unreached and unevangelized people live within unstable nations and regions. Reaching them with the message of God’s love becomes all the more difficult where chaos reigns. Missionaries who set out to work in such places often never reach their destination because of risks and barriers. If they do get there, they may find themselves targeted as easy prey. Or, they may be unable to minister effectively because of ongoing danger and disorder.

Believers living in chaotic places also are vulnerable to violence and persecution. However, like the early Christians who evangelized the known world amid a crumbling empire, they find many opportunities to minister to desperate people and guide them toward Christ, the only true source of peace.

People who flee chaos for freer, more peaceful areas often encounter the Gospel for the first time. Somali Muslims who might have faced instant martyrdom for seeking Christ in their homeland can learn about Him elsewhere.

More than 150,000 Somalis have streamed into the city of London as refugees and asylum seekers since the early 1990s. They remain clan-oriented, wary of outsiders and strongly Muslim. However, they are finding friends among London Christians who help them with education, finding jobs and recovering from the traumas they have experienced.

Farah,* a respected leader in London’s Somali community, has a close Christian friend. Farah hasn’t decided whether to follow Christ as Lord, but he believes all Somalis should have the right to understand and freely choose their own religious beliefs.

“This is a man of influence, a man of peace, a man who desires to see better days for his people” wherever they are, says his Christian friend. One day, Farah hopes to return to his homeland and help rebuild it.

One way or another, God reigns over all nations — even the failed ones.

(Reblogged from World View Conversation)
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
I SAW THIS sign at a gas station while I was traveling…
It made me think about instances when I’ve had to deal with “gunky build-up” in my life. For me, gunky build-up occurs when I let less important stuff squeeze out the real priorities in my life. Maybe you’ve experienced it too:
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I can’t afford to take a break and rest. The reality is that I’m far less effective in my family and leadership roles when I’m tired and grumpy.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I’ll spend quality time with my wife at the end of the day after everything else is done. The reality is that the last things on my priority list rarely get done.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I’ll get to the next big projects after I knock out the more routine tasks. The reality is that there will always be other routine tasks to complete.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that the more I do, the more valuable I am to the team. The reality is that I’m not being effective if I’m busy doing the wrong things.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that the little problem I have isn’t jeopardizing my leadership. The reality is that most times everyone else is already being impacted by my little problem.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I need to correct every false statement and negative comment. The reality is that many times those faint voices become a distraction when I draw attention and make them loud.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that goals will be accomplished without a plan if I’m just patient and faithful. The reality is that most goals worth pursuing require counsel and strategy and hard work and commitment.
. Sometimes I believe the lie that I need to jump at a good opportunity. The reality is that someone will always have a good opportunity for me to pursue, and many times those good opportunities squeeze out time and energy needed to fulfill a greater mission and calling.
Do you know that I’m talking about? Have you dealt with similar cases of gunky build-up? I’m still trying to learn how to deal with this, but along the way I’ve also learned some preventive maintenance that helps clean up my engine. Here are some things I’ve learned I need to do to “de-gunk” my life:
. Schedule my week in advance, including scheduling time to work on major projects.
. Prioritize time with my wife.
. Surround myself with friends who will push back when needed.
. Stay disciplined about my faith, my exercise, and my eating habits.
. Learn to say no.
. Decide in advance what I hope to accomplish.
So is it time for you to stop the gunky build-up in your life? Now is the time to do something about it. Don’t delay. (Tony Morgan)
“But one thing is needed…” (Luke 10:42).

“. . . I . . . do not cease to give thanks for you,
making mention of you in my prayers:
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory,
may give to you the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of Him.”
~Ephesians 1:16-17~

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“We love because He first loved us.”

~1 John 4:19 NIV~

Joyce Cole

I accessed “prayer for the elderly” and came up with your address. At any rate, my mother needs abundant prayer. She’s 81, recovery from a very recent mild stroke and she has become quite vulnerable to severe colds and congestion. Can you put Joyce Cole 81, on an official prayer list?

Don Denton

Don’s test results have come back from the CAT Scan and the lumbar puncture. They look normal. The cultures fromthe lumbar puncture they are still waiting on.

Don will have a test on Thursday of this week as well. The doctors have pushed back the biopsy until they get the results of this next test. This test will look for a disease called Sarcoid. It is very rare if found in the brain and spine. I believe they want to rule this disease out before doing the biopsy.

Don is still considered stable, although he is not able to eat any type of food. Lately the liquid supplements he is not keeping down either.

We have concerns about nutrition and malnurishment. I hope to talk with doctors tomorrow about that.

We are hoping to see results by Thursday and hopefully, they can do the biopsy by Friday so Don won’t have to wait through the weekend.

Although given our experience with “waiting” this could go into next week.

As I am not surprised, my two precious ones, my husband Don, well, he is tired of this. This has been a painfully, long road for him. He is pretty weary.

And then our little one Joshua is more than ever fearful of his daddy dying. He talks about it often. I would give anything in this world for these two to not have to suffer like this.

Please pray as you feel lead to pray for us. We are most needy these days. I find myself pretty vulnerable most of the time. Emotionally it has taken a toll on all of us.

I have heard some of you all say how strong I am. It is only by the grace of God. And when you love someone, like I loves the two men in my life,…Don and Josh….holding onto hope. Believing is where I have to stand. I believe in the God who says don’t quit asking. I believe in the God who still performs miracles.

I am not strong….I most of the time am a child myself asking God for help. I am pretty needy these days. But I am not ready to quit fighting in what I believe in.

I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring for us. I pray that God will use the doctors to bring answers and treatment. I pray for peace in Don, Joshua, and my heart.

And I continue to ask God to restore Don’s health. I am asking for a miracle.

We are so very thankful for a most peaceful place for Joshua and I to rest our heads. It is truly a place of peace for us. We could not have imagined a more precious place to stay while we are here in St. Louis. It is a place that Joshua can feel safe too.

I will close for now. I will do my best to update you all tomorrow. The hospital computers don’t always work.

We pray for a new day of restored hope.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would ask Him, and He would give you living water” (John 4:10, HCSB).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, joining you in prayer for pure, living water.

During the month of April, the entire country of Myanmar celebrates Water Festival. Originally, it was a festival in which the people worshiped many different spirits. Later, it became a Buddhist festival where people throw water on each other to wash their sins away and celebrate the new year. Water Festival is a reminder that the Bhama people have no hope.

The 20 million Fulani people of West Africa are not celebrating a water festival but are traveling constantly, seeking water for their livestock. Through the centuries, their tireless search has dispersed the Fulani into some 18 African countries. Pray for the Fulani to discover the Living Water, who alone can quench their soul thirst.

Over the past several years in Guinea (also West Africa), with the help of many churches, many wells have been dug in Susu villages. These wells have been instrumental in opening doors to sharing the gospel. Pray for new wells that will be dug in the months of April and May. Ask that the people of these villages will open their hearts to learn of the Living Water as they enjoy the health and convenience of clean drinking water.

After multiple delays, the water well at the new church near Leogane, Haiti is finally finished and the pump is installed! Thank you for your faithful prayers and for generously giving to the IMB’s hunger and relief fund to make this possible.

* Please pray that these wells will be both a source of clean water and a source of living water for this community.

* Intercede for the believers to be bold in sharing their faith, the great hope they have in Jesus.

* Pray that the lost of Myanmar, West Africa and Haiti will realize that the only way to have their sins washed away is through the living water Christ alone can provide.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
HOW DO YOU build a “sanctuary” in your busy life; a place where you can meet with God…?
Build a “closet.”
Isaac’s closet was in a field (Genesis 24:63). Peter’s closet was on a housetop (Acts 10:9).
You must fashion your own.
It may mean leaving the kids with your spouse, while you sit out on the back porch with a cup of coffee and your Bible for fifteen minutes.
It may mean snatching a few minutes when your baby is taking his or her afternoon nap.
For those who have a long drive to work, your sanctuary may be in your car with a CD player. It may mean posting a passage of Scripture near your steering wheel, where you can meditate and pray about it during the time that you drive.
It may mean reading your Bible during your lunch break at work.
It may mean taking the first ten minutes to read and pray in your office each morning.
It may mean putting your tennis shoes on and going for a walk with your Bible in hand.
It may mean sitting in your garage or workshop with a CD player to listen to sermons.
It’s not what the sanctuary looks like or where it is that matters. It’s what you do there that makes it a meaningful place. The sanctuary does not provide rest. What takes place there in the desert is what refreshes the inner man. (Steve Farrar).
“But you, when you pray, go into your room,
and when you have shut your door,
pray to your Father who is in the secret place;
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Matthew 6:6
Have a wonderful day!
Anna Lee

Tuesday

Lloyd Alton “Preacher” Carruth
Lloyd Alton “Preacher” Carruth passed away on Monday, April 27, 2009, in Zachary. He was 91, born in Liverpool on Oct. 17, 1917. He graduated from Oakland High School in 1928 and served in the U.S. Army as a corporal during World War II. He was a pipe fitter by trade but held lots of interesting positions until he had to retire due to health reasons. He was a member of Masonic Istrouma Lodge 414. He is survived by his son, Donald Carruth, of Walker; daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Homer Hopkins, of Zachary; grandson, Justin Hopkins and his wife, Brittany, of Zachary; granddaughters, Amber Hopkins, of Zachary, and Jenna Sawyer, of Baton Rouge; and two great-granddaughters, Sophie and Vivienne Hopkins. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Frances Sanders Carruth; parents, Marshall and Georgie Yarborough Carruth; brothers, Thomas, Stewart, Edward, Ransom, Horace, Bill and Marshall L.; and sister, Margaret Frazier. Visitation will be at Charlet Funeral Home Inc., Zachary, on Tuesday, April 28, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. Masonic service. Visitation on Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. until a 10 a.m. service, conducted by the Rev. Darwin Hall and Dr. Brythel Brantley. Burial will be at noon at the Pine Ridge Cemetery in Kentwood. Lloyd lived a full life. He and his wife got to travel a lot and he loved to spend time with family and friends and especially his great-granddaughters. He treasured those moments. He loved to share stories with such a wonderful memory and so many details of the past. He will be truly missed. Friends wishing to make memorial donations in his name may make them to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Share sympathies, memories, and condolences at www.CharletFuneralHome.com.

This obituary seems to want to be first today. David and I met and enjoyed talking with Cathy Wales’ “Uncle Lloyd” on their back porch. He was indeed a special man.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,

spoke up.

‘There’s a young boy here

with five barley loaves and two fish.

But what good is that with this huge crowd?'”

~John 6:8-9 NLT~

I think this verse reminds us of God’s ability to more than meet our needs!

The Duke’s daughter-in-law, Erin, gave me permission to share this from her blog:

A New Kind of Therapy. . .

I like to call it. . .

Baby Therapy. . .



And, it does the heart good. Just look at Pop’s face. . .


I tell you this kind of therapy is better than any medicine. . .


At least it is with this grandchild loving Pop!


I kept worrying that Erik Daniel might hurt Pop with all of his wiggling, but Pop insisted that he was fine. And, he wanted to be close to this sweet little boy. And, my little boy wanted to be close to his sweet Pop.

Here is my favorite picture of them. . .

Precious.

Now, don’t you think that made him feel a little better?

I do.

As you can see, Erik, Erik Daniel, and I went to New Orleans for the weekend. And, it was an amazing trip for so many reasons!!! So, let me tell you why. . .

I think we were about 45 minutes from New Orleans when Erik received a call from a man who was assessing Mom for admittance into a long term acute care facility. He informed Erik that she had moved her toes on command for him.

What?????!!!!!!????

For the first time, my husband lit up with hope! She had responded to a verbal command. This was huge. HUGE.

We got a little further down the road ~ actually we were on that really long bridge that goes from Slidell to New Orleans ~ when Jason called. He and Erik had previously decided that we would meet at the Praline Connection to eat before Jason had to fly home. But, Jason was suggesting that we meet at the hospital instead. Erik was afraid that going to the hospital first would take too much time and that Jason would be miss his flight. But, then, Jason explained. . .

Mom opened her eyes!!!!!!!

She looked at Jason and mouthed the words, “I love you,” to him!!!!!!!

Erik said, “Okay, yes, then we will meet you at the hospital!”

It was a miracle weekend. She didn’t open her eyes again that day, but the next morning she opened her eyes for Erik and mouthed his name. Unfortunately I wasn’t with him!!!! But, later that night I got to see those brown eyes myself!!!!

We went to visit her, and Erik is ruthless, I tell you. He rubs her shoulder and talks loudly in her ear, “Mom, it is Erik. I love you. Erin is here with me. She wants to see your brown eyes. Show her your pretty brown eyes, Mama. Show them to her. Open your eyes, Mama. Open your eyes and look at Erin. She is standing right in front of you. She wants to see your pretty brown eyes. Hey! Hey! Hey, brown eyes, open your pretty brown eyes, Mama. We love you. We’re praying for you. Now, open those pretty brown eyes and look at Erin.” And, finally after the one millionth time he asked her, a little miracle happened, and she ever so slowly, as if her eyelids weighed a ton, with great concentration and inner strength, she opened up her pretty brown eyes and looked at me.

And, I couldn’t help but cheer for her! “Good job, Mom. Good job! You did so good! Thank you for letting me see your eyes! You are so strong! You are getting better every day! Good job, Mom! I love you.”

I can’t tell you the pride that welled up in me when I saw her open her sweet eyes!!!

And, because I need to go to bed, I am going to come full circle and end this post. We went back to see her today. She is in a new hospital, and I didn’t know the rules about babies. So, rather than ask, we just decided to take Erik Daniel and see what would happen.

No one said anything to us. We walked right by several staff members and into Mom’s room.

Erik did his little number where he asks her over and over again to open her pretty brown eyes while he rubs her shoulder with gentle force. He told her that Erik Daniel was with us, so she should open those pretty brown eyes and look at him. Erik Daniel cooed and giggled in my arms. And, I knew she could hear him, and I know what those sounds do to me, and I prayed that they would have the same effect on her. After several minutes of trying so hard to open her eyes, she finally got them about halfway open. So, I held Erik Daniel like superman in the air, so he would be in her line of vision. After that she mouthed a sentence or two that we couldn’t make out for sure, and then, once again, she drifted back into a peaceful sleeping state.

Baby Therapy.

It is a good thing, just ask Pop!

And, speaking of Pop I must throw this picture in. . .

Erik and I bought him this shirt because we think he is Superman, and we love him sooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Mrs. Ruby Dillon saw one of her favorite doctors, her nephew Rusty Stevens, yesterday. He said she was doing very well and did not need the procedure he was planning to do for her. While there, the Dillons also got to see Carl Wayne and Nora Stevens. They enjoyed a great meal “Miss” Ruby prepared and shared with them in Hattisburg. Carl Wayne is improving. Thank God for “Miss” Ruby’s and Carl Wayne’s good reports.
Continue to pray for Stan and Bethany Simmons. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated.
Carol Brooke reports her grandson is making wonderful inprovement. Thank God for this!



From Tisha and Dwayne Wison:

Hi, Friends, as I looked at my calendar today, I realized we are leaving for El Salvador (mission trip) in 8 weeks. The time will be here before we know it. I thought of a few prayer requests….

· This Sunday afternoon (May 3rd) we will have a “team meeting” via conference call with our team leaders and fellow team mates. Please pray for a productive meeting.

· Team unity, health, preparations

· Please pray that we won’t rely on past trip experiences or our own strength but solely on Him

· Creativity and wisdom

· Trust Him to do great things in and through us

· Smooth logistics

· Safe travel

· Open doors and hearts

· Clear presentations of the Gospel at each site, with each group

· Our 4 Little Ones back home while we are away for 10 days and their caretakers

These are just a few things that came to mind today as I thought about our trip. Dwayne and I are currently working on individual presentations that we were asked to prepare to share while we are there. Please pray that we will not procrastinate but get this done and also pray for creativity as we prepare these 3-5 minute presentations.

Thanks for your partnership,

Tricia and Dwayne

Holly K. reports that she is melting in the heat and learning to ride her own little motorcycle. Continue to pray for her as she teaches MK’s in West Aftica.

Update on Don Denton

We are so glad that Monday has finally come.
Don is scheduled for many tests throughout the day.

Don is stable, yet he is not eating or drinking fluids since he got here. He is on allot of pain medication as well to manage the pain.

There have been some obstacles to overcome. The hospital is short on nurses and that means mistakes. We have encountered some concerns.

But in saying all of that, we still feel he is in good care.

Don’s parents arrived on Saturday night.

We hope to have some more answers on these tests they are currently conducting by the morning.

Please pray for the following:

Don’s doctors have widsom, and passion about his case.

Don get a private room. They are hard to come by here. He has severe headache pain and when one shares a room with another patient he is subject to TV, etc.

Pray that they will find answers.

Pray for Joshua – the trauma of all of this is hard. Abandonment issues are fears I am always working to assure him that we love him and will never leave him. And there is a fine line there. We don’t know what the outcome of Don will be here. Pray for me for honest assuring, age appropriate words for our little one.

Pray specifically that Don will have a doctor who is passionate about the outcome. A doctor that will be “present with him and us”. I am talking about a neurologist. His neurosurgeon is really good.

Pray for me that I wll have the wisdom and discernment to know when to push and when to stop.

Josha and I are well taken care of here. We are so blessed.

Thank you for being with us. Thank you our family and friends.

Diane

Sidney Wayne Polezcek
(August 14, 1966 – April 26, 2009)

Sidney Wayne Polezcek a loving husband, father, son, and brother was born August 14, 1966 and passed away at 5:43PM, Sunday, April 26, 2009 at the Ochsner Medical Center, Baton Rouge. Wayne was 42, a native of Independence and a resident of Amite.Wayne is survived by his wife Rhonda Seal Polezcek, Amite; 2 daughters, Jamie Polezcek, Independence, Kerri Polezcek, Amite; a son, Virgil Polezcek, Amite; mother, Linda Holden Easley, Amite; father, Sidney Polezcek, Jr. & step-mother, Jeanette Polezcek, Albany; 2 sisters, Tracy Polezcek, Amite & Gadonya Keating, Bogalusa; 2 brothers, Ronnie “Pudge” Polezcek and wife Sabrina, Amite, & Lavon Smith and wife Maria, Jacksonville, FL; a granddaughter, Jazmyne Polezcek, Independence; maternal grandmother, Virginia Birch, Greensburg; mother-in-law, Dorothy Baham, Roseland.

He was preceded in death by maternal grandfather, Murphy Holden, Sr,; paternal grandmother, Della Hardy; paternal grandfather, Sidney Polezcek; step-grandmother, Maudie Roberts; infant brother, Sidney Polezcek, III.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 from 5:00PM until 9:00PM and on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 from 8:00AM until Religious Services at the funeral home Chapel at 10:00AM. Interment in the McMichael Cemetery.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W behind Bond Eye Clinic & Grand Prix Car Wash.

Solitude

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
HE HAD WORK to do…
He was active and involved. But He also knew that He couldn’t do it all without meeting alone with the Father.
He refused to be tyrannized by the immediate and urgent.
He knew that the needs of His disciples and the multitudes would always be there. He knew that even if he went 24/7, people would still beckon. (Steve Farrar)
“Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them.” Luke 4:42; cf. Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 1:35

Sunday

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower

and bread for food

will also supply and increase

your store of seed

and will enlarge the harvest

of your righteousness.”

~2 Corinthians 9:10 NIV~


Kathy Jo Thompson

Today has been an adventure. My back is doing ok. It mainly hurts when I first get up and when I’m going to bed. Of course imagine that haha. The rest of the day it is just uncomfortab

le and my ribs hurt so I keep ice on it all the time. I can still remember not wanting to go to see Doc Lewis the time I sprained my ankle because he would just tell me to put ICE on it and go home. ahh I hated that! Now as I am in the medical field I understand how important ice is and how it works! It has been a life saver today. I got up and walked a little more today. I’m begining to not need mom and dad for every little movement, which I’m sure they are glad about. Dr. Asthagiri came to visit today and said that we may not be going home as scheduled, it just depends how my body responds to things. The surgery went well but my body is healing slowly. I’m not eating much nor do I have an appetite. Mom has to make me eat. (the parents like it cause what I don’t eat they get to eat.) My body is really weak and unstable. I think I will go see the physical therapist tomorrow to help with the balance and stability. Dr. Sweet said she didn’t want me to have to walk out of here with a walker. She also said that I couldn’t leave without having regular bowel movements (which has always been a problem for me but especially now with all the pain meds.) The doctors come check on me about twice a day and there are always nurses which is a good thing cause if not i would probably drive mom and dad crazy.Tonight Mrs. Sandra’s family came to visit and talk with me. Her husband David, her dad Frank, her mom Janice, and their preacher Bro. Jerry came. I talked with Mr. David and showed him my National Championship pictures, he is a BIG LSU fan. He talked about how he had heard so much about me before he even got there and met me. No one really understands how much of an effect that you may have on others. I know that I don’t. I’m just going through life dealing with what God has set before me. I’m making the best of it and giving him all the glory. As of around 8 pm eastern time, Mrs. Sandra was doing ok and stable but her family still can’t go in and be with her. God is doing miracles in her life and in others and I just pray that she will be ok.

People don’t relize it but what you do does effect someone else so act like it.


Sarah LaRocca LaMarca
(October 20, 1914 – April 24, 2009)


Sarah LaRocca LaMarca

Sarah LaRocca LaMarca, a resident of Independence, LA, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2009. She was 94. She is survived by her four children, Jeanette McCahill and husband, Winfield, Convent, LA, Josie Heughan and husband, Lawton, Baton Rouge, Anthony LaMarca and wife, Beverly, Independence and Pasquale LaMarca and wife, Gail, Independence; twelve grandchildren, Judy Waldron and husband, Kelly, William McCahill, all of Convent, Patrick Heughan and wife, Kimberly, Independence, Erin O’Mart and husband, Bo, Oklahoma, Chet Heughan and wife, Michelle, Baton Rouge, Brigitte Bankston and husband, Barry, Independence, Daphne LeBlanc and husband, David, Sorrento, Anthony LaMarca, Independence, Robin Davis and husband, Randy, Dana Angelette and husband, Richard, Tara DiVittorio and husband, Danny, and Jason LaMarca, all of Independence; and 23 great-grandchildren, Jordan, Kate and Marla Gravois, Dane McCahill, Ashely Clement, Brandy and Sarah Heughan, Lawton Guzzardo, Makaley, Makenzey, and McCord Heughan, Baileigh and Brenleigh Bankston, David and Dillon LeBlanc, Samantha, Joshua, and Justin Davis, Koty Stein, Jace and Brett Angelette, and Dane and Gage DiVittorio; and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Pasquale T. LaMarca. Pallbearers will be Patrick and Chet Heughan, Jason LaMarca, Danny DiVittorio, Joshua Davis, and William McCahill. Visitation will be at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church, Independence, from 9 a.m. Monday until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m Monday. Interment will be in the Colonial Mausoleum, Independence.




FROM BAD TO WORSE

Have you ever have one of those days when, no matter how hard you try, things just seem to go from bad to worse?

The story is told of two cowboys who were working cattle one day. One of them discovered he was in trouble when a wild bull, with his head down and nostrils flaring, came charging toward him. The cowboy saw a deep hole in the ground and quickly jumped in it. As soon as the bull passed over him, he jumped out of the hole.

The bull, madder than ever, came charging back again, and the cowboy jumped back down into the hole. When the bull passed, the cowboy jumped out of the hole again. He did this several times.

Finally, the other cowboy, who was watching it all from a distance yelled out, “Why don’t you just stay in the hole?”

The cowboy yelled back, “I would, but there’s a bear in the hole!”

Maybe some of you feel like every day is like that! If ever there was someone who must have felt that way, it was the apostle Paul, though. Listen to him describing his life as a Christian:

“From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness…” (2 Cor. 11:24-27)

Sounds a man who ought to be miserable, doesn’t it? I mean, how much can one man take? How much worse can it possibly get? It convicts me to read through that list as I think of the minor problems in my life that I allow to create a dark cloud over my life. If I had to deal with the problems on Paul’s list on a daily basis, then I’d really have reason to moan and whine, “Why, me Lord? Why does life have to be so hard?”

The funny thing is, though, that wasn’t Paul’s reaction at all. He didn’t list all those problems to garner sympathy. In fact, he finishes out this section by writing:

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake…..” (2 Cor. 12:10).

Taking pleasure in distresses? When is the last time you took pleasure in locking your keys in your car? When is the last time you took pleasure in running your cell phone through the washing machine (don’t laugh! I actually did that this week)? When is the last time you took pleasure is hearing the news that you’re getting laid off, the biopsy came back positive, or there was a terrible auto accident?

The “pleasure” in such things is not the ability to laugh and joke. The “pleasure” is found in the last half of 2 Cor 12:10, “…For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Everything that happens to me in life is a reminder that I am not in control, but I am a child of the One who is. It is a reminder that I don’t have the power to fix everything that breaks in life, but I serve the one who does have that power. It is reminder that I sometimes don’t know how I’m going to have the strength to cope, but I rest in the arms of the One who has promised to be there with me no matter what. And it is during those moments when life throws its worst at me that I feel closest to God.

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:10)

Whatever trials you are facing this day, may you find your strength in God.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina


I needed that reminder today! How about you?

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday

                                   Then Jesus said,

‘Let’s get away from the crowds

for a while and rest.’

There were so many people coming and going

that Jesus and His apostles

didn’t even have time to eat.”

~Mark 6:31 NLT~

Thank you for praying for my mother this past week.  What a difference a week, good nursing care, and lots of prayers make.  Momma said she is back to “normal”. The family has appreciated all the concern shown by family and friends.


Jacob Dakato Brooke

My oldest son Lewis and his wife Racheal’s baby was born Tuesday, April 21, four weeks premature. He is in the NICU at North Oaks on a ventilator. We almost lost him Thursday until many, many churches started circulating prayers and by 8 p.m. Thursday night, he was still in critical condition and not as unstable. Please have everyone lift prayers up for Dakota and our family. We know Jesus is the great physician and we are claiming victory in this trial.

Carol Brooke



Susie Sharkey asks us to pray for Kathy Jo Thomspson.

I was diagnosed with NF2 in February 2009. Since then I have been to several doctors and had numerous test run. The MRIs showed tumors in my brain and spine. I am scheduled to have surgery on one of the tumors in my thoracic spine that is covering 80% of my spinal canal next week (April 21).

It is 6:40pm Kathy Jo has taken 3 nice long walks down the hall and back. She is not on her own yet and needs one of us to steady her balance. We have another walk to go later and things should start to improve in the next few days. She ask me to log this in because she is very upset. I just returned from praying with a family in need who has become very close to us. Their daughter (who has been in our room praying with us) has colin cancer and is the 1st in the United States to try a procedure where they removed her blood and grow a vaccine with her cells, then inject it back into the body. She looked the best we’ve seen her yesterday and today had the procedure. Her family sent word for me to come down for prayer and when I got there they told me they had sent for her husband. She is in the critical care unit and the procedure has been stopped. It seems it was too strong for her and her lungs are filling with fluid. They have started her on strong steriods (which unfortunate

ly will kill all the cells injected} but at the present time she is fighting for her life.
Kathy Jo has ask that everyone please pray for her. Her name is Sandra Anglin from Lakeland Florida, where she is a member of Crossroads Baptist Church. This procedure was looking so promising and she was so excited yesterday sharing all she had learned about the procedure with us.
We have been so amazed at all the friends that have left messages and to heip others know where your at please add your town and state.
Thanks,  De

Please pray for Heloise Morgan, wife of Jeff Morgan.  She has been having a liver problem and just came out of the hospital in Covington.  Prayers will be greatly appreciated.

Bethany Simmons, wife of Stan Simmons, is experiencing some issues related to her pregnancy.  Please be in prayer for Stan, Bthany, and their unborn baby.
Julia Webster Brown
(November 6, 1931 – April 22, 2009)

Julia Webster Brown

A native of Savannah, GA and a resident of Easleyville passed from this life at 2:14 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA as a result of respiratory failure at the age of 77 years. She was a very loving and generous wife, mom, grandmother and great-grandmother who dedicated herself to serving others. She was a caregiver to many elderly members of her community, but most of all she had a deep devotion to her family. The family she leaves behind includes her 2 daughters, Julie B. Phares and fiance’, Ronnie Harvin, Easleyville and Kimberly B. Guillory, Greensburg; 3 sons, Jonathan Dean Brown and wife, Sherleen, Morgan City, Floyd R. Brown, Jr. and wife, Mary, Morgan City and Earl D. Brown and wife, Caslyn, Elizabeth; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 4 sisters, Mary Diaz, Austin, TX, Margaret Lyckman and husband, Al, Austin, TX, Bobbie Fernandez, Austin, TX and Debbie Carter and husband, Cliff, Tucson, AZ. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Floyd R. Brown, Sr.; parents, Earl and Margaret Webster; brother-in-law, Joe Diaz. Pallbearers will be Timothy Marcus, Gregory Marcus, Chad Sampey, Jason Sampey, Benjamin Brown, Charles Brown, Matthew Brown and Jonathan Brown, Jr. 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 11 a.m. Saturday. Interment Brown Family Cemetery, Easleyville, LA.

Edgar Carl Morris
“Build a fence of trust around today; build a space with loving work and therein stay. Look not between the sheltering bars upon tomorrow, but take whatever comes to thee of joy and sorrow.” Edgar Carl Morris, 90, died Wednesday, April 22, 2009. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in World War II. He was self-employed for many years as a printer. He was also a retired employee of The Advocate, a member of Masonic Lodge 454, A&FM, and a member of Red Oak Baptist Church. He was a resident of Livingston and a native of Osyka, Miss. He was an avid gardener and fisherman. Visitation at Seale Funeral Home, Denham Springs, on Friday, April 24, was from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a Masonic service at 7 p.m. Visitation at Red Oak Baptist Church, Livingston, on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. until service at 11 a.m., officiated by the Rev. Don Bassett, the Rev. Paul Taylor and the Rev. David Albin. Message in song will be brought by Terry Phinney and Adam McCluskey on guitar and Jeremy Jones. Burial in New Red Oak Cemetery, Livingston. He is survived by his wife, Athena Broussard Morris; children, Carol Clark and husband Garry, Charles Morris and wife Brenda, Timothy Morris, Linda Balfantz, Lawana Hardy and husband Darold, and Larry Phinney and wife Lisa; grandchildren, Brian Pounds, Heather Morris, Trent Balfantz and wife Denise, Sean Balfantz and wife Melissa, Cole Balfantz and wife Mindy, Kanda Tate and husband Karl, Joel Hardy and wife Charity, Dwayne Phinney, Terry Phinney and wife Meranda, and Wayne Muller; great-grandchildren, Emily, Sarah, Samantha, Ashleigh, Layton, Mayce, Kolton, Kameron, Faith, Corey and Allison; two nephews, and a niece; as well as many other relatives and friends who will miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bonnie Mae Lea and William Morris; son, Winston Morris; and sister, Mildred Guy. The pallbearers will be his grandsons.
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
IN THE ACADEMY award-nominated film Traffic, Michael Douglas plays the federal government’s newly appointed drug czar, charged with leading the country’s war on drugs…
In a sad irony, he is so caught up in his rising political career that he is blind to the fact that his own teenage daughter is a drug addict.  Because of his wife’s own previous experimentation with drugs, she is able to see what her husband missed–the clear, unmistakable warning signs that her daughter was involved with drugs.  When Douglas’ character finally realizes that his own daughter has become hooked on illegal drugs, his wife chastises him for not picking up on the warning signs earlier.  The film’s audience feels Douglas’ mix of frustration, self-anger, and helplessness as he realizes that he “should have seen it coming.”
Illicit drug users aren’t the only ones who give warning signs.  Research has shown that a wide variety of destructive social behaviors are preceded by visible early-warning signals.  Many times, people whose spouses have been unfaithful to them say that, in hindsight, there were signs that something was amiss in the marriage.  Similarly, young women suffering from eating disorders often drop clues to their behavior.  And frequently those committing suicide will tip off their intentions ahead of time.  Of course, not everyone in such situations exhibits the signs.  And obviously, not everyone knows how to read the signs properly.  But those who do are, more often than not, able to detect that something is wrong and successfully intervene either to prevent or minimize the negative behavior.
Might the same be true for those falling away from the faith?  Do those abandoning the Lord telegraph their behavior ahead of time?  These are important questions because, if there are some telltale signs that a fellow Christian is drifting away from the faith, keen-eyed believers might be able to act to prevent him or her from falling away.  (Brian Simmons)
“Bear one another’s burdens,
and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2
Please feel free to share requests so others can pray.  That’s why we are here.
Anna Lee

Friday

“One handful of peaceful repose is better

than two fistfuls of worried work….”

~Ecclesiastes 4:6 MSG~




My mother, Dot Smith, began physical therapy yesterday. Hopefully, with time, she will be less “wobbly”. Continue to pray for my mom and my dad.


Don Denton

Here we are at Thurday evening and tomorrow Don will tapper down to 2.5mg. I spoke with his neurologist today and he wants Don to continue to taper down.

We knew this was going to be a rough time, but we had no idea what that really meant. At least I did not. I just want this all to go away and we have our life back. And at the same time, I know there are others who are going through so much of a deeper loss. It does not make our suffering less, it just really helps me stay focused with the perspective that I need to have. I get lost in this and want to just “be the victim”. Or for that matter feel really sorry for myself.

I am thankful to God that we have Don. Our anniversary is tomorrow and all I can think of is that I want my precious husband to get well again. I hope to see the day that he can get up in the morning and be free of this awful disease.

His level of headache pain is staying at a steady upper level of pain. He is taking more pain meds. He now has intermittent fever.

In speaking with the doctor, we have decided that if Don’s fever rises to 101 and/or his headache pain or other symptoms get worse, I will take him into the ER in Springfield.

Tonight he had 99.8 fever. These are all signs of what is going on with the inflammation in his brain.

The good thing is that he is able to eat some. And he is taking regular fluids.

I feel numb again. Partly because the last few nights I have been up to 3 and 4am in the morning. One night up with Don and last night up with him and trying to pack just in case.

I am praying for the following:

Don continue to hold his own until Monday. None of our doctors are on call this weekend.

Pray that we won’t have to take him in the middle of the night. That is so hard on him, myself and Josh.

We do have people waiting for when we need them. Thank you God for these precious people who are coming to our aid.

I have been unsucessful with getting Don’s nausea meds approved for him to take on a regular basis.

We are so close to where we need to be for them to do this surgery and Don’s surgeon is back from vacation on Monday.

I am going to do dishes and then go to bed. Thank you so much for who you are to us.

Diane






Jimmy and Retia Dukes

< my God is so big >

Today I bought Mom a Grande Black Iced Tea, sweetened with classic sugar, light on the ice. We have been getting one together at least once a week, if not more, for quite some time now. It is her drink of choice from Starbuck’s and House Blend Cafe (except at House Blend Cafe it is a “bigger” made with English Breakfast tea and sweetened).

I bought her one today, because I wanted to, and because I wanted to tell her it was sitting there in her room waiting for her to wake up and drink it.

She didn’t wake up to drink it…yet. I left it and the straw next to the card that arrived for her today. You open the card and it plays the song “Day by Day.” Good song. I like the DC Talk version better.

When I wheeled Dad down to visit Mom this morning, she didn’t open her eyes at all. She did do something Dad and I thought was remarkable. Jen had called my phone and left a message of the kids singing a song for “Ammaw.” The song is called “My God Is So Big.” I played the message for Mom.

While it was playing, her facial expression was visibly different. Pensive you might say. Intently listening. Especially when Abby, her little Abby (she is pretty much a small version of Mom) blurted out the words to the song when the rest of the kids had finished. She followed her version with this very clear directive: “Love you Ammaw! Wake up!!! Come play!”

Even Ella joined in. She’s so advanced for almost 5 months old. She laughed on cue to be recorded. Seriously, she happened to laugh after Abby said what she said and it was caught on the message. Ammaw definitely, visibly, leaned ever so slightly – like not 3 inches, only about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch or so – but it was a lean toward the sound.

When Drew (a friend who was passing through town) and I visited her at 5, she did open her eyes. Only for about a second, and only about an eighth of an inch, but she did. She didn’t open them again, she didn’t respond to anything else, and she’s still in a coma, but she opened her eyes briefly. The neuro-surgeon again today told us to be hopeful. She is making positive steps. They are small, but they are positive.

A friend of ours bought Mom an iPod Shuffle for me to load with some music and clip to her pillow case and stick in her ears for her to listen to. When Mom would be over at the house with Jen, there would often be a playlist of music playing. Mom really liked it. That’s what I loaded on there – about 60 songs or so. It’s been playing in her ears since about 5 today. Hope she likes it.

Hopefully the hope of each song will echo deep into her bruised head. Hopefully it will remind her of the hope we have because of the God who came near, who was not far away when the accident occurred. He was near. Very near. As He is to us all.

The day was up and down for us. Dad really seemed to appreciate seeing Mom this morning. After getting settled back into his room, several things happened that were kind of downers.

1 – The case worker told me that neither Mom nor Dad got accepted to the long-term care facility we had looked into. Last week, we were disappointed because the one that had been so highly recommended ended up being out of network for their insurance. The next one we looked into, which is in network, denied admittance to both of them this morning. They said Dad had progressed too much to qualify for long term care, and Mom was not a case they wanted to take on. Come one, Dad – quit getting better why don’t you!?

I was bummed. I could tell Dad was, too. They would have shared a room and been well taken care of.

So, we are researching two other options. Referrals have been written already for one of the other two. And, I will tour the other one in the morning at 9am. I pray that one of these will work out. One of them would allow Mom and Dad to be in the same building, but not in the same room. The other one would put them into two different facilities about 15 minutes from each other. We don’t want that, but we may have to go with it. Reason why? Because Mom and Dad’s health issues are very different. Mom needs brain attention. Dad needs bone attention. It’s all good. We just want the best care for each of them.

2 – We found out the insurance will not pay a dime toward transporting them back to Orlando once Dad can walk. We were bummed, cause I think Dad really wants to get them both back there once he is able to bear weight on his legs.

3 – I told Dad about them both getting denied to the facility we thought they would settle in by the end of this week. I think getting into that next facility will bring some evidence for progress to Dad for both Mom and him. That would be good.

They are moving Mom out of ICU some time Friday. They say she is stable enough to step down from ICU. It’s sort of strange to hear that about a person who is in a coma. However, she is breathing on her on. She is handling the food from the feeding tube now. She is not responding to commands at all. But, she would get great treatment there that would move her toward waking up and beginning rehab.

Dad really is doing well. I mean, he can’t bear weight on either leg for another 3 to 5 weeks. He can’t take off his collar for another 3 to 5 weeks. His left wrist (he is left-handed) will have to be re-broken and repaired eventually. But, his ribs are healing. His lung is not collapsed anymore. His upper left arm has been surgically repaired and is healing. His lower legs have been surgically repaired and are healing. And, his “road rash” is healing very, very well. That was a concern to the doctors. If you see him now compared to just a week ago, you can see why they denied him for long-term acute care. He will have to go to a “skilled nursing facility” next. We are looking for one connected with a hospital here.

Mom has not had a fever for over 24 hours. THAT’S HUGE!!! She had really been struggling with one. The doctors thought she was struggling with some infections. So far the one infection they did discover is being attacked and looks like it’s losing. Her one bedsore she had developed is almost gone. And her swelling in her arms and legs has gone way, way down. We are thankful. Still in a coma, but making progress.

While I was out getting Dad his afternoon latte today, a song from the shuffle I was listening to played in the car that really means a lot to me. I heard it the 1st time at a friend’s funeral as a celebration of the great God we serve and the hope we have in His coming. It floored me. Broke me. I wept and wept. I guess the weight of everything and the difficulty with logistics and the emotional high of being home this weekend coupled with the low of not being here with Mom and Dad and Erik all came to a head. It was a moment of pause and a moment of reminder and a moment to cry. Very necessary.

The song is called “Days of Elijah.” Very powerful. At one point, the bridge builds up as Twila Paris and the resounding choir behind her keep repeating, “There is no God like Jehova.” And there isn’t.

Our God is so big. His love is so big. He loved us first and hasn’t stopped. No matter what we face in life, we can trust that He loves us and holds us. After all, the havoc wreaked from what happened in the garden continues today, and it wasn’t his fault. He keeps showing us His love everyday that He so clearly demonstrated when He reaped at the cross what we had sown in the garden.

The promise of abundant life doesn’t mean an abundance of easy. He never promised safety. Our safety is not central to what He is up to. Our security is. We can rest in Him, His strength, His might, His love, no matter what. And we must not let the bigness of circumstances cause us to forget how big He really is.

That’s why the kids’ message on my phone that I played for Mom was so meaningful. For Mom, and for me. The words of the song they sang on that message are:

my God is so big
so strong and so mighty
there‘s nothing my God cannot do

my God is so big
so strong and so mighty
there‘s nothing my God cannot do

the mountains are His
the valleys are His
and everything in between too

my God is so big
so strong and so mighty
there‘s nothing my God cannot do

Thanks for reminding us of that Caleb and Katey and Abby, and even Ella.

I fly home tomorrow afternoon and come back Sunday night. Erik comes in for the weekend. I know he has struggled not being here. I am thankful he has been with his family, though.

Speaking of his family, his sweet wife is an amazing writer and blogs fairly regularly. Click here to read some of her latest posts. Very cool. Erik and I are very thankful for our wives. Erin and Jen are amazing.

Please pray for Mom’s healing and Dad’s continued progress. Please pray for the next step to be clear within the next few days. We know they will be transferred by early next week. Just trying to finalize where.

We love yall. Thanks for doing life with us through all of this.

-jason

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE for controlling our speech is to prevent harm…
But controlling our words also has personal advantages for us. The main advantage is that people will respect us.
Just think of how you react differently to a person who goes on and on and talks in circles and one who chooses her words carefully and is succinct. How much respect do you have for the fast-talking used-car salesman, the wisecracking comedian, the politician who speaks out of both sides of his mouth or even the revivalist who enchants crowds with volume and energy? We put people of many words in the category marked “con artists.” Now, consider people whom you genuinely respect–perhaps a teacher, a counselor, a grandparent. Aren’t they people who speak carefully, using well-chosen words? We put people of few words in the category marked “wise.”
“The fool multiplies words.”
Ecclesiastes 10:14; cf. 10:10; 6:11; Prov. 17:28
I hope you finish you workweek well and move into a great weekend. Thanks for being there to pray!
Anna Lee

Thursday


“God shall bless us,

and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.”

~Psalm 67:7~

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Praise the Lord for His perfect timing! A missionary suffered a detached retina requiring emergency surgery. When she encountered this problem, she was attending a conference near a large city. A day and a half earlier, she had been in a town far from a good hospital. The surgery was successful, and her retina is much improved. She is seeing pretty well, although she hopes clearer vision will continue to return to the affected eye. The missionary’s husband, while supporting his wife through her ordeal, went for a routine eye exam in the big city and was diagnosed with glaucoma. By divine providence, the condition was caught early, his eyes have suffered no damage, and treatment was begun. We serve a great God!



AMHARA OF ETHIOPIA (ahm-HAR-ah). “Some of our young women colleagues just had a group of young Ethiopian women over on Saturday night for a meal, fellowship, and sharing of their testimonies. None of the women are believers. Our colleagues wish to continue this Saturday-night time, share the gospel next time, and continue with basic Bible study. Please pray that our Father will open the eyes and hearts of these young women to the truth of the gospel. Pray that each one will become born again and will hunger to learn about God and His Word. Pray that they will grow in our Lord.” http://www.experiencename.com/




SONGHAI OF WEST AFRICA (SONG-high). The Songhai Team writes: “We have asked you to pray for the salvation of the Songhai many times. Now we ask you to join us in praising our Father as we report that 14 Songhai came to know Christ as their personal Savior during the last month! We give thanks that a harvest has been made. Continue to ask God to bring about much fruit from the seeds that have been sown among our people.” http://seekingthesonghai.net/




DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (DER-bun). Please pray for H, a Muslim woman who is seeking to become a medium. Her mother was involved in consulting the dead, so it seems to be a generational problem. She has been visiting L, who has shared the gospel with her and warned her of the destructive and demonic nature of what she is delving into. While she was visiting with L, H began to sway uncontrollably when the midday call to prayer began. Pray for H to be delivered from the stronghold that Satan has in her life, and ask that she will turn to Jesus for salvation.




IRINGA, TANZANIA (ee-RING-uh). Missionary Kay Frost writes: “Thank you for your continuing prayers for our friend, G, a blind woman. We have recently discovered that she has excessively high blood pressure, which may very well have caused her blindness. In February, when missionary Pauline Eardensohn took her to have tests regarding seizures she was having, her blood pressure was 140-plus over 130! She is now on medication to help lower her blood pressure, but the damage to her health may be permanent. Thank the Lord that we found it when we did! She is attending church at Ipogoro again, including the women’s meetings on Tuesdays and the extra church services held on Thursdays. She has also received a ‘talking Bible’ thanks to a church in Texas who visited in October. And it ‘talks’ in Swahili! How great is the technology available these days! Continue to pray for her health and her growth in Christ as she listens to His Word. Pray for her family who may also be listening to the Bible, especially a young male cousin who sometimes attends church with her.” http://cesa.imb.org/

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THE YOUNG LADY stopped by the book store to pick up a book, the best-seller of the day…
She hurried home with anticipation of spending a pleasant evening with the book. After arranging the comfortable chair and the reading light, she found the book to be dull and very uninteresting Placing the book on the shelf, she soon forgot about it.
Later, a young journalist moved to the town to work on the local paper, and the two young people fell in love. One evening she remembered the book and exclaimed, “Why, Tom, you have the same name as the author of this dull book!” But he replied, “It is not strange. I wrote the book.”
That evening the young lady rad the book completely, and was amazed to find it was neither dull nor uninteresting. The reason? She had fallen in love with the author.” (Dillard Thurman, in Christian Living Made Simple)
Likewise, so many people today see the Bible as dulle, boring, and outdated. Before we truley appreciate the inspired Word of the Bible, we must love the Author. (Stephen Rogers at http://www.wachurchofchrist.org/aboutus/INDEX.html)
“Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.”
Psalm 119:97
God bless you today!
Anna Lee

Wednesday

“Blessed be God,

who has not turned away my prayer,

nor His mercy from me!”

~Psalm 66:20~

I think this is one of the Scriptures Becky Lindsey and I are claiming this morning. Others are too. Read Becky’s update below.


Scott Lindsey

Just a word of praise! Scott came home on last Thursday. He is walking and talking. We were not given much hope for him to survive much less to be fuctioning at the level he is at. He is literally a walking, talking miracle. Scott has regained his long term memory and is slightly struggling with his short term memory. He continues to have some left sided weakness. We have faith that he will continue to improve. At our family conference with the medical team last week, we were advised that he is currently at 80% of his previous level of function.

Miracles happen through our faith in Jesus Christ. We truly believe that he is here today because God has a special purpose for him. Although we do not know what that reason may be, we are certain we will know soon. Prior to the surgery he was in EMT School with plans to go on to be a Flight Paramedic. He now wants to become a Registered Nurse and work in a Critical Care Unit.

We will see his Neurosurgeon on Thursday to schedule his surgery to have his right bone flap put back in. He had a Crainiotomy to allow the brain to swell without damaging the tissue during the critical days. It is now time for the surgery to replace his bone flap. The doctors froze his flap and will be replacing it soon.
The progress of modern medicine continues to amaze us.

Thank you all for your prayers. They have truly made a difference in our lives. Please continue to keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.

The Lindsey’s

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THE ISRAELITES OF old, failed to “mix” their hearing of God’s word with faith (Hebrews 4:2)…
Did they believe in God’s existence? Yes.
Did they believe that God had promised them Canaan? Yes.
Did they believe in God enough to do what they were told? No!
Their faith was not obedient and, as a result, they were not allowed to enter their land of rest (Hebrews 4:3-6). The point is clear. If we want to enter heaven, our land of rest, we must do otherwise (Hebrews 10:39). Remember, Jesus is the “author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). (Dan Winkler)
For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

“ So I swore in My wrath,
‘ They shall not enter My rest,’”
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience (Hebrews 4:3-6).

Have a wonderful Wednesday. Claim a Scripture for your day!

Anna Lee


Tuesday

“There’s far more here than meets the eye.

The things we see now are here today,

gone tomorrow.

But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”

~2 Corinthians 4:18 MSG~

Pray for Chance O’Hern while he is hospitalized this week. Pray for Alice as she stays with him and makes decisions.


Pray for my family as we continue to search for a diagnosis of Momma’s problems.



Don Denton

Tomorrow will be Don’s last day on 5mg. He will start 2.5 on Wednesday and will be completely off of the steroids this weekend. Yes!

Today has been a difficult day in that he is very tired, and more headaches today. Tonight he was not able to eat much at all and he was not able to eat lunch earlier as well.

On a positive note I believe that he is going to make it to this weekend. We then will keep praying that he can make it to surgery week. His admit date at Barnes-Jewish is May 4th. They will do further testing including an MRI to look at comparisons. And then sometime that week they will do the biopsy.

This Thursday is our wedding anniversary. I can’t tell you what this means in so many ways. Last October I did not think I would see this day. Although Don is too weak to go out and celebrate or do the usually things we would do to celebrate our anniversary, it does not matter.

This kind of event in ones life changes everything. Perspective on what is important changes too. Someone asked me today how has this changed me. There is allot to be said about that, but most important is that we have each other. We celebrate how far we have come and the journey together. WE will also celebrate the past, the now and our future together. It is a good thing in the Denton house that we can celebrate and we have so much to be thankful for.

It would be so nice to have some time to get away but I believe that day will come for us.

Don’s doctor up in St. Louis said he has only had one patient not relapse. I believe he is going to have to add Don to that list. Yes!

Just a note about the cat and then important prayer requests.

Funny thing, Saturday night the fire assistant chief called me. I had left a message about getting advice on getting a cat down from the tree.

This man came out to our house. He himself climbed up in our tree and coaxed the cat down with him and it took an hour. I was amazed.

I asked him why would he do this. He said he loves animals. He loves kids more. He lost his first child at a very young age. He now has a little girl. When he heard this was our son’s favorite cat, he could not say no. I just love how God reminds me that knows the number of hairs on our head. He knows everything. God celebrates his creation and he takes delight in us. Nothing is too small to God.

Please pray:

Don”s body will adjust to being off of steroids
and he will not be in allot of pain.

Pray that he will be able to eat.

Pray that he can make it to May 4th admit date.

Pray for Joshua. He knows his daddy is getting weaker. He can see it.

Pray that I will have the wisdom to make the right choices when it comes to questions, etc. with the doctors.

Please pray that I will have the wisdom and discernment to keep persistant with fighting the insurance company, that is how it feels. It in and of itself is a full time job.

One more big thing, Don needs this medication for nausea. The doctor has upped the dosage from 4mg to 8mg. to help him. The insurance company will only pay for 12 per RX. I think that is every 7 days. This makes it so difficult for Don. I have called and the doctors have called and the insurance company refuses to pay.

This makes me so mad and sad. I am furious that an insurance company can get away with dictating course of treatment. And sad that Don knows this an so he holds out on taking his medication. I so want to write a book when all of this is said and done. I don’t understand how this can happen in our country.

I am going to call the insurance company again, tomorrow and insist that they put it in writing to me that they will not cover what Don needs. If I have to I will take this further. The reason they would not pay for him to have more , is that he is not pregnant. Yep. That is correct.
This medication is for nausea and used for women who are pregnant and other uses too. The time it takes to do this kind of legwork, can be overwhelming. So pray for me too. I need it.

On a good note, I can see the end in sight and we are praying that Don can make it to the May 4th date.

I can see where prayer is working in a miraculous way. I have more hope and I believe we are going to find answers and that this will be treatable.

Bless you our family and friends.
Diane

Associational VBS Workshop at FBC, Kentwood tonight at 6:30.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THERE ARE AT least three levels of listening:
1. No listening or nonlistening: This person has no awareness of the need to listen or to use a set of skills related to listening. He is not hearing impaired, so he believes he is a listener.
2. Focused listening: This listener is the type you do in polite conversation. The listener looks at the speaker with interest and doesn’t interrupt him. Most people prefer to speak, so focused listening is greatly valued and appreciated.
3. Active listening: This type of listener will paraphrase or summarize what the other is speaking and it helps the speaker feel more deeply connected. This type of listening fosters trust, communicates caring, and invites open dialogue. Also it can clarify miscommunication and resolve conflict. (Dallas and Nancy Demmitt)
“So then, my beloved brethren,
let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak,
slow to wrath.”
James 1:19
Haven’t you heard that God gave us two ears and one mouth?
Thanks so much for praying for the needs listed each day. You mean so much to so many.
Anna Lee