Category: Devotional

Thursday

“I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,

that you should be for salvation

to the ends of the earth.”

~Acts 13:47~

Today, I’m going to start with a thought my daughter-in-law, Becki, shared on her blog. She periodically writes thoughts, mainly about her family, in a very special way. Read for yourself.

RelatedPeople often tell me how cute Peyton is and and as her moma I happen to agree with them. Of course when they say she also looks just like me, well…that is just icing on the cake! I mean, if she is cute and they think she looks like me…well you do the math! But seriously, I like knowing that there is a resemblance between me and her. It shows that we are related.

After hearing someone make another comment yesterday about Peyton and I, I started thinking, as tickled as I get to hear that about Peyton, how much more tickled is God when He hears that about one of His children. I want people to be able to see the resemblance between me and my heavenly Father. I want them to know that He and I are related. I just hope that He doesn’t view me as the “odd ball” family member we all seem to have.

When people look at us, do they see a strong resemblance to the Father? Do they see a little resemblance? Do they see any resemblance at all?

Cottage Prayer Meetings Tonight:

  • Mary Young
  • Andy and Betty Taylor

Many people in our church and community are in need of our prayers. I’ll remind you of a few, but please prayer for the ones I list as well as others.

  • Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell
  • Mrs. Margaret Callihan
  • Glenda Schilling
  • Joan Hagan
  • Mr. Charley Kuss

Some names from outside our community that you can also include on your prayer list

  • Mrs. Frann S. Clark
  • Mr. Riley Clark (Veteran’s Home)
  • Mrs. Lucille Pledger (moved to nursing home last week)
  • Rev. and Mrs. Landrum Salley
  • Mrs. Betty Bethel

LAST FRONTIER. Beggar children, ages 8, 9 and 11, walked several miles to get to a believer’s house. Their clothes were soaked from the long walk in the rain, as their only umbrella was broken. They had no shoes, yet their smiles were bright and wide. The believer was happy to see the children. She had not seen these children in awhile. They and other beggar children like to come to her house to get food, water, and sometimes a bath in clean water with soap. They don’t have enough money to go to school. They are unable to read. She sat with the children under the porch roof in small chairs, reading to them and serving them as the heavy rains fell outside. She prayed with them as well as gave them books and crayons. They had never had crayons before and looked at them curiously, needing a demonstration. “Lord, help these children to know You!” the believer prayed silently. Please pray with her for these children and others like them to know Jesus.

FOCUS ON WEST AFRICA: CARRYING LIVING WATER TO A THIRSTY PEOPLE. God is using churches of all sizes to evangelize and plant churches in West Africa. He continues to call out laborers into the white harvest fields of this region of the world. During the West Africa Summit in April 2008, forty-five churches made decisions to partner at some level in West Africa. Please begin now to intercede for the next West Africa Summit that will be held at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, on Nov. 5-7. This summit has great potential for increasing partnerships between Southern Baptist churches in the United States and unreached people groups in West Africa. Ask God to once again stir the hearts of His people to bring the Good News to those without a witness in West Africa. As you remember this summit, ask Him how you, too, can be involved. http://www.gowestafrica.org/

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL. As Muslims continue to celebrate Eid up-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of the month of fasting, pray that many will realize that all their personal efforts to win God’s favor have been futile–for man’s righteousness is as filthy rags to our holy, righteous Creator. Pray for these people to begin to seek Truth: from friends who are believers, through evangelistic literature or Scriptures they have been given, through radio or television programs, or on the Internet. Pray for Muslim men and women to seek and find righteousness, everlasting hope, and true joy in Jesus Christ–a true and eternal reason to celebrate! http://btw.imb.org/


BRAZIL. Please pray now for two very important ministry events taking place this month and next. First, pray for the Tent of Hope ministry project that will take place this month, beginning on Oct. 5. The Tent of Hope ministers to the hundreds of thousands of religious pilgrims coming to Belem during the festival of Cirio. Some walk barefoot or crawl many miles to participate in this yearly event. Pray for those from the IMB, the Brazilian Home Mission Board, and other Great Commission Christian groups taking part in evangelism and social-ministry impact events. Pray especially for the three-day My Hope Brazil (Billy Graham Association) preparations and programs to be televised on Brazilian national television on Nov. 6-8, and for many Christian homes that will invite lost friends to watch the programs with them!

PRAY TO THE LORD OF THE HARVEST (Matthew 9:36-38): JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (joh-HAHN-is-burg). A heavy burden is on the hearts of Eastern Metropolitan Evangelism Team members for the northern areas of South Africa where a multitude of people live who need Jesus. A volunteer team from Alabama joined Wade Coker on Sept. 25 and will continue ministering through Oct. 2 in the Malamulele area of Limpopo province among the Tsonga-Shangaan people. The team worked with three struggling churches to train them during a two-day conference. Now they are going out in the neighboring villages, proclaiming the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Please ask the Lord to work through His servants to strengthen these churches and to draw many to faith in Christ. Pray that the Lord will call out missionaries to serve in this area where there is no IMB missionary presence. drd5650@earthlink.net

Please pray for womens fellowship meeting on 2nd October 08.

please pray for ministry at Shenoy nagar& Red hills in Chennai India.

please visit my webpage http://www.churchofchristindias@blogspot.com

Bro. E.K. Nathaniel

Baptist Press

October 1, 2008

WASHINGTON–U.S.-Muslim engagement key to security, prosperity. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29038

MASSACHUSETTS–Boston-area Arabic Baptists ‘reaching out.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29039

MICHIGAN–ELECTION 08: Mich. voters weigh legalizing embryonic stem cell research. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29040

LOUISIANA–Bayou community welcomes Baptist help. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29041

TEXAS–In Galveston, Baptists help kindle hope. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29042

TENNESSEE–Financial freedom gets New Testament boost. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29043

TENNESSEE–Navy chaplains’ requests yield Bibles, books. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29044

TEXAS–FIRST PERSON (Keith Collier): Hurricane relief showcases cooperation. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29045

KANSAS–FIRST-PERSON (Phil Boatwright): DVD addresses tough faith questions. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29047

Virginia Massey Guy
(October 9, 1936 – October 1, 2008)

Mrs. Virginia Massey Guy was born on October 9, 1936 and passed away at 6:25AM, Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at the St. Helena Parish Nursing Home, Greensburg. She was 71, a native of Mississippi and a former resident of Denham Springs and resident of Greensburg.Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

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

A J Hart
(March 24, 1956 – September 25, 2008)

A J Hart
Mr. A J Hart was born March 24, 1956 and passed away at 12:17PM on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at the North Oaks Medical Center, Hammond. He was 52, a native of New Orleans and a resident of Independence. A J was the son of Mrs. Helen Johnson & late Ernest Hart of Independence. He is also survived by 3 sons, Brad Hart, Scotty Hart, & Jason Hart of Brookhaven, MS; 3 sisters, Frances Failla, Independence, Geraldine Howell, Loranger & Mary Hart, Hammond; a brother, Willie Hart, Independence; 2 grandchildren, & numerous nieces & nephews.

Preceded in death also by his 2 sisters, Peggy Hart & Sandra Sue Hart.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Saturday, September 27, 2008 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM and on Sunday, September 28, 2008 at the Little River United Pentecostal Church, Tickfaw, from 1:00 PM until Religious Services at 2:00PM with Rev. Adriene Spikes, officiating. Interment in the Church 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 Coggins-Gentry Ford.

Frances Smith Corkern
(December 6, 1944 – September 29, 2008)

Died at 6:44PM on Monday, September 29, 2008 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. She was a native of Tylertown,MS and a resident of Independence, LA. Age 63 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. on Friday until religious services at 12 Noon on Friday. Interment Tangipahoa Cemetery, Tangipahoa, LA. Survived by 2 daughters, Peggy Sue Landers and Donna Marie Landers, 2 sons, James Ray Johnson and Thomas Earl Johnson, 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Frances Ann Johnson Golmon, parents, Roy Earl and Ollie Estell Smith, 3 brothers, Roy Earl Smith, Jr., Chester Clark and James Smith, 1 sister, Elowese Clark.

Have a terrific Thursday!

Anna Lee

Sunday

“But you shall receive power

when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,

and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the end of the earth.”

~Acts 1:8~


Aura asked me to forward her note. Please be in prayer for her and the staff in the Mobilization Office at California Baptist University. Pray also for Aura as she takes seminary classes at Golden Gate Seminary.

Thank you!

Melinda

 

Greetings from California! It has been almost three months since I returned to the States and so much has happened during that time! I have gone back to school and am working on two master’s programs and that has proved to be quite the challenge! I am learning to balance work and being a full time student in 2 grad programs and it’s hard and sometimes impossible.

I started working in the Mobilization Office at California Baptist University. I have been blessed greatly thorugh this opportunity! I primarily work with the International Service Projects(ISP) and we are prayerfully hoping to send out 40 teams of 10 during the summer of 2009. We are also looking at sending 9 teams in the United States this year. Right now we are in the middle of a HUGE mobilization effort. October 1st is the deadline for all who want to be involved in leading a team in the US or abroad(students and staff) and it is also the United States Projects(USP) deadline for students interested in participating. The Lord has been good to us and brought along many wonderful people who will be a great addition to the team, but we still have a great need, especially for leaders! We do a lot of training for leaders and students from January to May, so it is a pretty big time commitment, as well as a financial commitment because leaders have to raise support as well. Please pray that the Lord will send workers…leaders and students who want to go! We have 304 students in the application process right now, but would like to have at least 300 more because we realize from past experiences that not all the students who have started the process will complete it. Pray for those who the Lord is calling, but who are letting the distractions of this world keep them from fullfilling that call!
Pray for our staff. We are under a lot of pressure! Ask that He would give us the wisdom to know who needs to go and who needs to stay. There are students in the process who will clearly be staying behind for now, ask that He will give us discernment! November 1st is the ISP deadline.
We also see the economic state we are in as a nation right now, but know He has called us to this regardless of the state of the economy, so please also pray that our supporters will continue to give. Ask that He will help us to keep our eyes on Him and trust that He is more powerful than we can possibly ever imagine. Ask that He will do great things in order to bring glory to His name! We all feel so blessed to have this amazing privilege of joining Him in this work and want nothing more than to bring glory to His name through the work He has called us to do!

Thank you so much for your prayers!
Be blessed,
aura

 

A J Hart
(March 24, 1956 – September 25, 2008)

Mr. A J Hart was born March 24, 1956 and passed away at 12:17PM on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at the North Oaks Medical Center, Hammond. He was 52, a native of New Orleans and a resident of Independence. A J was the son of Mrs. Helen Johnson & late Ernest Hart of Independence. He is also survived by 3 sons, Brad Hart, Scotty Hart, & Jason Hart of Brookhaven, MS; 3 sisters, Frances Failla, Independence, Geraldine Howell, Loranger & Mary Hart, Hammond; a brother, Willie Hart, Independence; 2 grandchildren, & numerous nieces & nephews.

Preceded in death also by his 2 sisters, Peggy Hart & Sandra Sue Hart.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Saturday, September 27, 2008 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM and on Sunday, September 28, 2008 at the Little River United Pentecostal Church, Tickfaw, from 1:00 PM until Religious Services at 2:00PM with Rev. Adriene Spikes, officiating. Interment in the Church 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 Coggins-Gentry Ford.

Pauline Marie Genco Schittone

 

Pauline Marie Genco Schittone died Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. She was 83, a native of Amite, and a resident of Baton Rouge. Visiting at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with recitation of the rosary at 6:30 p.m. Visiting continues at St. Thomas More Catholic Church on Monday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Entombment in Resthaven Gardens of Memory Mausoleum. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Joseph A. “Joe” Schittone Sr.; a son, Joe “Joey” Schittone, of Washington, D.C.; a daughter, Debby Lane and husband Bill, of Watson; three stepgrandchildren, Chad Lane and wife Donna, Candace Lane and Kyle Lane and wife Crystal; four stepgreat-grandchildren, Taylor, Chase, Kyleigh and Kade Lane; and a brother, Paul Genco, of Amite. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Pauline Genco; sisters, Catherine “Katie” Cuti and Mary Cefalu; and a brother, Sam Genco. Pallbearers will be Chad and Kyle Lane, Charles “Hoyt” Cuti, Greg Genco, Joe Eddie Schittone and Donnie Schittone. Honorary pallbearers are Dominick Cuti, Jack Datz and Carlos Saladras. Special thanks to Dr. Moraes, Dr. Froelich, Dr. Oubre, and the critical care physicians and nurses of the MSCC unit.

On Mission in Kentwood yesterday involved twenty-gout (24) volunteers. It was a very productive cay. Each one of the volunteers made a difference! Thank-you to all who participated.

Women on Mission (WMU) will meet at 4:00 today in the Heritage Room. You are invited to attend.

Cottages prayer meetings will be this week for the fall revival which begins next Sunday. There will be two cottage prayer meeting each night Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. You may choose which one you wish to attend.

BECOMING

 

The famous actor Gregory Peck was once standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant. They had been waiting for some time, the diners seemed to be taking their time eating and new tables weren’t opening up very fast. They weren’t even that close to the front of the line. Peck’s friend became impatient, and he said to Gregory Peck, “Why don’t you tell the maitre d’ who you are?”

Gregory Peck responded, “No, if you have to tell them who you are, then you aren’t.”

There’s a great deal of wisdom in that statement. There’s a big difference in who we think we are, who others think we are, and who we really are. Someone has well said that, “Reputation is who others think we are. Character is who we really are.” As Christians, we ought to be more concerned with character than with reputation. Christianity is more than just knowing the right facts. It’s more than going through the right motions. It begins in the heart; it’s who we are.

There is a continual process of growing and adding Christ-like virtues to our lives. Peter wrote, “Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance brotherly kindness, and to brother­ly kindness love.” (2 Peter 1:5-8). We never stop “becoming”; it’s an ongoing process. There’s always some­thing positive to add to our lives, always something negative to try to get rid of.

We have different ways of measuring growth. When Sueanne and I would take our children to see the pediatrician, the nurse would always check their height and weight. Then that information was written onto a chart that gave us a picture of how they were growing. When we get to be adults, we measure our growth by whether or not we can fit into last year’s pants.

But how does a person measure his growth in Christianity? In Ephesians 4:15-16, Paul says, “…but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into him who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body…causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Paul says that it’s time for us to grow up, it’s time for us to mature. But what is the goal of our growth? Jesus Christ is!

My favorite picture of the growth of Christianity is found in 2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Paul says it’s as if we’re holding a mirror in our left hand, and a picture of Christ in our right hand. Now when we look in the mirror and see our reflection, and we then we look at Christ, they don’t look much alike. But every day as we mature, we grow up, we become more like Christ, striving for the day when we look in the mirror and see the reflection of Jesus Christ.

Knowledge, conduct, and character must always go together. We learn God’s will so that we might obey it; and in obeying it, we serve him and grow in Christian character. While none of us is perfectly balanced in these three areas, we ought to strive for that balance.

May God bless you as you seek to “know” His will better, “do” more in service to Him, and “become” more like Jesus Christ!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a great day of Bible study, worship, and service this Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday

And all of you must put on the apron of humility,

to serve one another;

for the scripture says,

“God resists the proud,

but shows favor to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 (TEV)

Baptist Press

September 26, 2008

GEORGIA–‘Fireproof,’ on both sides of camera, promotes a biblical view of marriage. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29005

CALIFORNIA–‘Fireproof’ makes Hollywood premiere. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29006

GEORGIA–Director recounts making of ‘Fireproof.’ http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29007

TENNESSEE–REVIEW (Dwayne Hastings): If you see only one movie this year…. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29008

NEW YORK–Land joins protest of Ahmadinejad dinner. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29009

TENNESSEE–MARRIAGE DIGEST: Calif. marriage amendment supporters lead in fundraising. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29010

TENNESSEE–IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Barack Obama & John McCain on the federal courts. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29011

ARGENTINA–Towers of solitude: Reaching Buenos Aires. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29012

ARGENTINA–Getting behind closed doors in Buenos Aires. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29013

ARGENTINA–Immigrants seek work, life in the city. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29014

ARGENTINA–A proud Muslim finds the path to peace. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29015

ARGENTINA–One by one, Jews seek Jesus in Buenos Aires. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29016

CUBA–Cuba’s hurricane survivors getting Baptist relief. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29017

VIRGINIA–WORLDVIEW (Erich Bridges): Cities: challenge of a new era. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29018

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Kelly Boggs): For naught: dinner with Ahmadinejad. http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29019

 

 

Theda “Nana” Ovino
(June 16, 1929 – September 26, 2008)


Died at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, September 26, 2008 at Gulf States LTAC of Hammond in Hammond. She was a native of Piave, MS and a resident of Amite. Age 79 years. She was a member of Arcola Baptist Church. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 12 Noon Monday. Services conducted by Rev. Bob Simpson. Interment Montpelier Cemetery, Montpelier. She is survived by 2 sons, James J. Ovino, Jr., Metairie and Gregory Ovino, Baton Rouge; brother, William Newbill, Sacramento, CA; and many other loving family members. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Ovino; daughter, Sheila White; parents, George and Myrtle Newbill.



DOING

 

You probably heard about Larry Walters several years ago. Larry was a 33-year-old man who decided he wanted to see his neighborhood from a new perspective. He went down to the local army surplus store one morning and bought forty-five used weather balloons. That afternoon he strapped himself into a lawn chair, to which several of his friends tied the helium-filled balloons. He took along a six-pack of beer, a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, and a BB gun, figuring he could shoot the balloons one at a time when he was ready to land.

Walters, who assumed the balloons would lift him about 100 feet in the air, was caught off guard when the chair soared more than 11,000 feet into the sky — smack into the middle of the air traffic pattern at Los Angeles International Airport. Too frightened to shoot any of the balloons, he stayed airborne for more than two hours, forcing the airport to shut down its runways for much of the afternoon, causing long delays in flights from across the country.

Soon after he was safely grounded and cited by the police, reporters asked him three questions:

“Where you scared?” “Yes.”

“Would you do it again?” “No.”

“Why did you do it?” And I love this response. He said, “Because you can’t just sit there.”

Now, don’t get me wrong. What Larry Walters was a terribly stupid thing to do. But I wish more Christians had the attitude that we need to do be something — “because you can’t just sit there!”

Last week, I wrote about the importance of knowing, doing and being in our Christian lives. Yesterday, I expounded on the idea of “knowing.” Allow me this morning to say a few words about the need to “do”.

James wrote, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22). He goes on to describe a man who reads the Bible, but he doesn’t put it into practice. He says he is like a man who looks in the mirror. He sees his hair is messed up, he needs to shave, he has a dirty smudge on his cheek, but he goes his way and does nothing about it. Looking in the mirror has done him no good. So is the man who reads God’s Word, but makes no effort to put what he reads into practice. But, “He who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25).

In Matthew 25, Jesus described the scene of the Day of Judgment. He describes the separation of the sheep from the goats (and our eternal destiny) based on what we have done. It is clear from the words of Jesus that Christianity is a series of verbs, action words — visit, feed, clothe, go, teach, encourage, give, love.

So, what are we accomplishing for the Lord? What are we doing? The Lord doesn’t demand the unusual or the sensational, but he does expect something. What are we doing? We’re not truly living Christian lives unless we’re doing the work of Christ. We don’t just need to know; we need to do.

We need to strive for balance in our spiritual lives. There are some Christians who spend all their time learning God’s will. Constantly studying, learning, getting a handle on every obscure passage and an argument against every false doctrine. But they never get around to doing. And there are others who are busy doing good works, but they haven’t spent enough time with God’s Word to know if they’re really following God’s will. But God’s desire is that we have both knowledge and obedience:

“That you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10).

May God make you “fruitful in every work” as you “have a walk worthy of the Lord.”

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Reminder: On Mission in Kentwood at 8 A.M. today.

Anna Lee

Thursday

 

 

“And they continued steadfastly

in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread, and in prayers…

and the Lord added to the church daily

those who were being saved.”

~Acts 2:42-47~

 

 

Mrs. Margaret Callihan has pneumonia and is in Hood’s for a few days. Please add her to your prayer list.

Jimmy Harrell has eye surgery today. Please pray for all to go well.

Thank you for praying for Wes’ dad (Charlie Banks). I’m forwarding an e-mail from Wes with the latest updates.

Jennie



Hello,Well, Dad is out of the Euroclinic and in the Bucharest house with us. Praz the Lord! Thank you all so much for your pryers and support We have set Dad up with a hospital bed and other equipment for his extended recovery. The physical therapist will start coming by tomorrow to help Dad with the walker. We have to give Dad his anti-blood clot shots each day (eek!). The doctor said that the next 12 days are critical as he still runs the risk of infection and blood clots. We cherish your pryers and we have felt His presence through this entire situation.

We really appreciate the funds that you collected to get Dad out of the Euroclinic. This has been a humbling and a faith building experience for all of us, to say the least!

We love you!
Psalm 20!
The Banks’ Family

Leon “Pete” Broussard Jr.
Mr. Leon “Pete” Broussard Jr. was born Nov. 5, 1927, and passed away at 12:50 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, at his home in Kentwood. He was the son of the late Leon B. and Mathilda Broussard. He was 80 and a native of Baton Rouge. Mr. Pete is survived by his wife, Beverly Morgan Broussard, Kentwood; daughter, Donna Blevins, Jackson; three stepdaughters, Barbara Lee Bourgeois, Atlanta, Constance “Connie” Headrick, Tampa, Fla., and Amanda Juneau, Greensburg; three stepsons, John Wayne Smith, Mount Hermon, Glenn Headrick, England, and Gary Headrick, France. Paw Paw Pete was a loving grandfather to 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Geraldine Legé; previous wives, Vera Doucet and Barbara Headrick; a sister, Gertrude Spracklen; and two brothers, Arthur Broussard and Earl Broussard. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Jude Catholic Church, Greensburg, on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 3 p.m., with the Rev. Joe Camilleri, celebrant. Arrangements by McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite. An online guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com.

A friend shared this:

When we were in Georgia a few weeks ago we received the prayer guide below at church. We live in a sinful world surrounded by people who don’t know the Lord. They are looking for personal gain and power. Personally I look at most politicians and wonder why are they really running for a government office. As we prepare to vote not only for a new president but also for positions at the local and state level please pray for the persons who are God’s choices. Yes I know it is hard to tell at times.

The prayer guide began in August but please go back and pray and read the scripture that is listed.

The Lord has blessed us with a wonderful country to live in. Yes it has many problems now but as we look back at our history we can see how God has lifted us out of despair before and healed the land. Pray for him to heal this land again so the peoples can see God is the true leader and only through him can we be truly free!

Prayer Guide for the Presidential Election

It is critical that Christians pray for the coming presidential election. There is amazing power in united prayer.

PRAY DAILY UNTIL THE ELECTION (and continue to pray for the newly elected afterwards)

Pray with others whenever possible. The power of prayer can overcome any obstacle or ungodly influence and, indeed, do great things!

Granted, these dates are past, pray them anyway!

08/01-08/07 Psalm 32:6-7 Pray that Christians will be motivated to pray faithfully for this election and that the Lord would deliver us from the wrong leaders.

08/08-08/14 Psalm 16:7-8 Pray that the Lord would give wise counsel and guidance to His choice for president in this campaign.

08/15-08/21 Proverbs 16:13 Pray that our nation will listen to the truth and not be led astray.

08/22-08/28 Psalm 18:32-36 Pray that the Lord would arm the man of His choice with strength; that He would guide him in battle (this election), and that He would sustain him and give him victory.

08/29-09/04 Hebrews 11:32-34 Pray that God’s man, through faith persevere and maintain his courage throughout this election.

09/05-09/11 Psalm 125 Pray that those who trust in the Lord will not be shaken.

09/12-09/18 Psalm 86:14-17 Pray that the Lord would defeat those who have no regard for Him in this election.

09/19-09/25 2 Corinthians 12:9 Pray that the Lord would empower and enable His man in any area of weakness.

09/26-10/02 2 Kings 13:16 Pray that the Lord would put His hands on the man of his choice for president (and his team) and guide them in this election.

10/03-10/09 Proverbs 1:5-6 Pray that God’s man will listen with discernment, add to his knowledge, and receive wise counsel in this campaign.

10/10-10/16 John 16:33 Pray that the man of God’s choice would be given wisdom and ability from the Lord to overcome any obstacle or difficulty during this campaign.

10/17-10/23 Acts 17:30 Pray for repentance for yourself and for our nation.

10/24-10/30 Luke 12:54-57 Pray that God’s man and our nation will be discerning and do what is right.

10/31-11/06 Philippians 4:13 Pray that the Lord’s choice for President will have special strength and unusual ability from God.

Habakkuk 1:5 and 3:2 Pray that the Lord would do some thing that would utterly amaze us and give His servant ability.

During the last days of October and through the week of the election, be encouraged to set aside a time of fasting these days to commit this election to the Lord in whom we put our trust. Acts 14:23

Remember 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

 

 

 

KNOWING

 

I heard about a preacher who was talking with a man, and he asked him, “Do you know the Bible?” The man said, “Yes, sir.” He said, “What part of the Bible do you know the best?” The man said, “The New Testament.”

The preacher went on to ask him what part of the New Testament he knew the best. The man said, “Well, I suppose I know the story of the Good Samaritan best of all.” The preacher said, “Tell me that story.”

The man said, “Well, as best as I can recall, there was a good Samaritan traveling down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho and he fell among the thorns and they sprang up and choked him and left him half dead.

“But a man came by feeding his swine and he said to the man, ‘I will arise and go to my father.’ So he took up his bed and walked. But while the soldiers were chasing him through the forest, he got the hair of his head caught up in the trees and he hung there 40 days and 40 nights, and the ravens fed him.

“Just then, Delilah came along with a big pair of shears and she cut off his hair and he fell on stony ground. But the good master of the house resurrected the man and he journeyed on his way.

“All of a sudden, he came to the wall of Jericho and there’s Jezebel sitting on the wall and she mocked him. And he said, ‘Chunk her down to the dogs.’ And they chunked her down 70 times 7, and great was the fall thereof, and of the fragments that remained they picked up twelve baskets full, and whose wife shall she be in the resurrection?”

Now I would hope that your Bible knowledge is not quite as bad as that, but I think it’s safe to say that few of us know the Bible as well as we should. In the last TFTD message, I spoke about three pillars of spritual growth — knowing, doing and becoming. God has always stressed the fact that his people need to know His word. And contrary to popular opinion, when it comes to spiritual matters, ignorance is not bliss.

In the days of Hosea, God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being priest for me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6).

What was the problem? It wasn’t that they didn’t have access to God’s Word. They just simply didn’t care enough about it to listen to it. Does it scare you just a bit to realize that God could possibly say the same thing about us – “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Folks, we need to once again become known as a people of the book, a people who study and know and love the Bible. Throughout the Bible, God’s repeated command to the people of God is “learn, study, grow.”

92% of households in this country have a Bible. We have the Bibles, but we don’t pay much attention to them. A Gallup poll from 2000 shows that only 59% of Americans read the Bible at least occasionally. The percentage of Americans who read the Bible at least once a week is 37%.

Contrast this with the people of Berea. We read in Acts 17, “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they re­ceived the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

May we continue to study and learn and grow in our knowledge of God and our responsibility before Him.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a teriffic Thursday!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“God reigns over the nations;

God sits on His holy throne.”

~Psalm 47:8~

Hannah Shockley is home, but will be having additional tests. Please continue to pray for her and her family during this time.

Susan Rimes’ sister, Lisa Davis, has been having some more difficult days lately. Please pray for Lisa and her family to experience God’s presence as He walks through the days with them.

A number of people are undergoing tests for various concerns. Pray for each need.

Opportunities:

  • Share group meeting 2 6:30 tonight at the Alford cabin
  • Prayerwalking in Kentwood @ 7:30 A.M. Saturday
  • OnMission in Kentwood @ 8:00 A.M. Saturday, September 27
  • Cottage prayer meetings for revival the week of September 29
  • Fall Revival at FBC, Kentwood October 5-8; Pray for those who will be in attendance.
  • AWANA is back! 4:50 P.M. Sundays

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Praise the Lord for His wonderful provision! In answer to prayer, God has provided the R family with a place to live during their stateside assignment. (They had to change their dates, and mission housing is usually booked years in advance and can be difficult to find.) He even gave them a home that is near their son’s college! Praise the Lord that nothing is too difficult for Him.

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL. The 12 countries of North Africa and the 288 million people who live in them are overwhelmingly Muslim; however, there are Christians living in each of the countries. Pray for these believers to live sanctified lives that honor Christ and demonstrate His love and holiness to their Muslim family, friends and neighbors. Pray for God to use radio and television broadcasts to introduce His Word and His ways to the Muslims of North Africa. Ask God to raise up an ever-increasing group of visionary, passionate and effective witnesses and church planters to build His kingdom in North Africa. Finally, pray for North Africans to place their faith in Jesus Christ. http://btw.imb.org/

Week of Prayer for

Georgia Barnette Offering for Louisiana Missions

“My life as it was, is no more. My life is now in service to God’s message of the Gospel,” reflects Randy. “…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday,” Isaiah 58:10. “My life as it was, is no more. My life is now in service to God’s message of the Gospel,” reflects Randy.

Randy Smith is the church planter for Cross Brand Cowboy Church in Robert. He preaches God’s Word in a western atmosphere. “This ministry is built around horses, roping, and bucking bulls,” says Randy.

Cross Brand Cowboy Church is reaching many unchurched individuals because of the cowboy activities that it offers. “Larry, who was unchurched, started coming to Cowboy Church because he liked to rope steers. He came to know Jesus as Lord and is now at church every Sunday,” recalls Randy.

Please pray for a permanent building site for Cross Brand Cowboy Church. Also, pray for the lost people in the western culture. Ask God for guidance as the leadership plants this church for God!

Baptist Press

September 17, 2008

TENNESSEE–Media takes note of Baptist disaster relief. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28936

TEXAS–Ike keeps Baptists in the kitchen. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28937

TEXAS–ANALYSIS: Market drop not a time for panic. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28942

COLORADO–ELECTION 08: Colo. ‘personhood’ amendment would answer question Roe posed. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28938

TEXAS–Engineers examine HBU complex; ETBU hunkered down for Ike. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28939

TENNESSEE–He introduces Jesus into the conversation. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28940

GEORGIA–FIRST-PERSON: Using ‘GPS’ to engage others for Christ. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28941

TEXAS–Baptists gear up to 500,000 meals a day. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28935

KNOWING, DOING, BECOMING

I heard about a story about a man whose wife wanted to buy a pet monkey. The husband protested strongly. He said, “Where will the monkey eat?” She said, “He’ll eat at the table with us.” He said, “But what will he eat?” And she said, “He’ll eat the same thing we do.” He said, “But where will the monkey sleep?” She said, “He’ll sleep in bed with us.” He said, “But what about the smell?” She said, “I got used to you, I reckon he will, too.”

So often when we think about the need for change, we are quick to think of ways that somebody else needs to change. We are much more hesitant to recognize that there are problems in our own life that need to be dealt with. But Christianity is a growing process, a process by which we are constantly looking for those things that need to be changed and improved, and then taking steps to do just that.

In the next several TFTD messages, I want to share with you some things that relate to changes that may need to come about in your individual lives. They are certainly changes that I’d like to see in my own life. In regard to our Christian lives, I think there are three areas that we need to focus on — we need to KNOW the will of God better, we need to DO more of the work of Christ, and we need to BECOME more like Christ.

Knowing, doing and becoming — I really think those are the three pillars of the Christian life. I believe that’s what Christianity is all about.

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10).

Do you see the ideas of knowing, doing and becoming in Paul’s prayer for the Colossians? In my next message, I’ll begin a closer look at each of these points.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Please feel free to share praises, requests, and updates. We would love to pray with you.

Anna Lee

Tuesday

My satellite went down just as I posted The Prayer Link this morning. I’m starting all over…

Jennie said Mr. Charlie Banks will be in ICU for the next 24 hours. So far, so good. Please continue to pray for him, his family with him in Romania, his family here in the States, and his many friends who have been so concerned.

Thank God for the progress so far.Dad is doing good. The doctor already had him sitting up and pulling up in he bed today. He also had him lifting his leg (a little). They have put a velcro type leg brace on to stabilize it. He wants to keep pressure on the leg, because the bone is soft around the knee area because of arthritis.
Dad had an epidural for the surgery, so he was awake for most of the event.


He still has the epidural for the pain medication. All his vital signs are good and they are planning to move him back to the room with Mom tomorrow (Wednesday). The doctors must keep monitoring him day by day to see how long the recovery will be. Our main prayer is for him to not develop any infection, to recover strong and to return home. So far, there are no signs of any infection. Praise Jesus!

Mom is doing great and she is thankful that the Lord moved them into the Euroclinic facility. She says to tell you hello!

It has been amazing with all the prayers going up! And we know that Jesus is the great intercessor both day and night. We love you all and miss you.

In Christ,
Wes


Mrs. Ginger Francois, former principal of KHS, is in ICU. Please pray for her, her family, and the medical staff caring for her.

Pray for the victims of Hurricanes Ike and Katrina. Many people have had their lives changed because of these two storms.

 

Who Was Georgia Barnette?

Mary Georgia Barnette was born in Roanoke County, VA on November 1, 1861. The second of ten children in a Christian home (her father was a Methodist; her mother, a Baptist), she walked with her family to Sunday School at a Baptist church near the Barnette farm.

Teenage Georgia lived in Roanoke with her grandmother in order to attend school there. One of her subjects while in school was French, the value of which she sometimes doubted. When her older sister graduated from college, she and Georgia opened a private school in the small town of Elliston, near the farm.

Though she had close contact with the church in her youth and was influenced by her mother’s intense interest in missions, Georgia did not make a public profession of faith in Christ until she was in her twenties. From that time on, the young woman grew spiritually, showing through her every activity her deep love for Jesus.

When her sister married, Georgia moved to Roanoke where she was employed as church visitor at Calvary Baptist and served as vice president to the women’s work of Valley Association. As she saw more and more the great needs of people, she developed great compassion for their physical needs and for their spiritual growth. After two years in this first job as a full-time church worker, she was tapped for service by the Tabernacle Church in Atlanta.

For more than three years Miss Georgia, as friends called her, labored long and hard in Atlanta. Still, there was more to be done; so she was surprised by the invitation to do mission work in New Orleans. Once she felt sure of God’s direction, however, she quickly followed through. She assumed the position of missionary for the First Baptist Church of New Orleans. Later she wrote, “Feeling that it was the leadership of the Lord, on October 16, 1901, with goodbye said and tears shed, I made my way to the First Baptist Church, New Orleans.”

In “the city that care forgot,” Miss Georgia settled into a room in a home not far from the church on the corner of Napoleon and Chestnut Streets. Quickly she became aware of the city’s French atmosphere, and thought of the French class she had once deemed useless. She found herself in the midst of other nationalities too, for New Orleans was bursting at the seams with people from all over the world who were seeking a better life.

Her experience in women’s work in Virginia and Georgia led her to make significant contributions to that work in the New Orleans church. Contact with the new Woman’s Missionary Union of Louisiana increased her knowledge of the needs of the whole state. In 1903 Miss Georgia was elected to the state executive committee of WMU. Then came the 1904 proposal for the first full-time position with Louisiana WMU for “the organizing of women’s societies and stimulating women’s work throughout the state.” It seemed only logical that Georgia Barnette be asked to serve in that position.

Miss Georgia was overwhelmed by the opportunity. But the power behind her was greater than the task before her; for God had already gifted her for this ministry.

When Miss Georgia began her work as Louisiana WMU’s field worker, there were few strong societies. The only children’s work was Sunbeams. Associational WMU was barely beyond experimental. With no good roads and no automobiles, transportation was a real problem.

Yet Miss Georgia was gifted with a vision. Her vision was of developing interest in missions and WMU organizations all over Louisiana in order that lost people might come to know the Savior. That vision made her blind to obstacles. Wherever she found problems, she considered them challenges. Because of her vision her theme became “Oh, but the value of one soul!”

The gift of courage was evident, too. Before women suffrage it was unheard of for a woman to lead, much less to launch out in untraveled areas alone. For a woman to speak in a public meeting was often opposed. There were many places where pastors, husbands, and even women themselves felt that “a woman’s place is in the home.” Even when there was partial acceptance of women’s work, the women were sent outside to meet under the trees while the men conducted their meetings. Yet Miss Georgia patiently persevered, without complaint. For her courage was equal to her vision.

This devoted lady was also gifted with vibrant health. Slim, attractive, with bright hazel eyes and wavy brown hair, she appeared tireless amidst rugged schedules and rigorous tasks. In spite of the hardships, she traveled over 180,000 miles in her career-by train, surrey, buggy, wagon, horseback, pirogue and walking. She once said, “I’ve traveled everywhere in the state of Louisiana and every way except mule back.” Her boundless energy was due to her excellent health-indeed a special gift.

That she was gifted with a keen mind was obvious by the way she approached her work. Miss Georgia devised numerous methods for getting interest, including a banner award at annual meeting to encourage attendance. She recognized the value of records, saying over and over, “Everything-business, reports and programs, must be done in decency and order.” She introduced the missionary “round table” for discussing WMU work. She wrote program material, pamphlets and stories about the great needs of French people in South Louisiana. The highly organized briefcase she carried everywhere symbolized her high intelligence.

Georgia Barnette was especially graced with the gift of love. She loved the world. She loved Louisiana missions. She loved people. She had a passion for lost souls. Her devotion to her Lord was exemplary. Miss Georgia first made the women love her by showing each one personal concern, and through this love she sought to arouse interest in what she represented. “She made herself one of us,” said a friend. What a gift of love!

To Miss Georgia’s “Surely God loved Louisiana…”she now could add, “and I love it too!” And she proved her love by giving herself away.

She gave her valuable time and energy. In her first seven months on the job she visited 63 societies, organized 20, and gave 81 public addresses. Frequently she would make three or more meetings in a day. Late at night from her bedroom-office she wrote scores of personal letters to encourage the work, or prepared tracts and program material for mailing. Taking little time for herself, she immersed herself in her work. She visited, met needs as best she could, turned down no opportunity. After 15 years service as LA WMU field worker she was asked to assume duties of secretary as well. She simply worked harder. Friends said, “Miss Georgia was never too busy to give her counsel,” and “Miss Georgia was the least to Miss Georgia.”

She gave her resources. A careful steward, she stayed in humble surroundings; she declined a rug for her new office at the Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans because the money could better be spent for missions. Remembered for her brilliant white shirtwaists with high collars, dark skirts, and gloves, she often said, “I must look my best, because I’m a daughter of the King.” Yet she wore little jewelry and had a limited wardrobe. When silk hose were first advertised she decided to save so she could buy two pairs for five dollars. Just when she finally had enough money, she heard a foreign missionary present the needs of that field; so Miss Georgia gave her five dollars to missions instead.

She gave encouragement. When a lonely young lady arrived in New Orleans to enter college, Miss Georgia was there with a smile, a word of welcome, an invitation to prayer meeting. Traveling the state she proclaimed to discouraged women that they had an important place to fill, a place of service for the Lord. Because women had little to give, she encouraged them to give egg money or hard-earned money from canned fruit and vegetables. She secured financial support for dedicated young women to receive college education. As she urged “personal service”-meeting needs in one’s community-thousands of letters full of inspiration and courage flowed from her pen. So uplifting was her presence that she was described as having “the kindest smile I’d ever seen.”

And she gave love. Whether working with children or women, with individuals or groups, Miss Georgia gave unselfishly of herself. When traveling she helped with housework or yard work or cooking and called it “love service.” Her love for the world was translated into love for each person. With compassion and genuine interest in each individual, she loved people into God’s kingdom and led them to want to serve. She had said, “God made Louisiana beautiful, and she opened the eyes of thousands to the love that made that beauty.

By giving herself away, Georgia Barnette helped create a spirit of giving lives and means for Christ. She led Louisiana WMU to give to the Home Mission Board Church Building and Loan Fund, to promote the 75 Million Campaign (forerunner of Cooperative Program), to propose a definite plan for giving to state missions, to emphasize youth organizations, to experience phenomenal growth as an organization and to give hundreds of thousands of dollars to missions causes. This selfless leader served until 1929 when she retired after 28 years of “love service” with Louisiana WMU. She returned to Virginia where she lived until her death in 1956.

Little wonder it is that in 1936 the state missions offering was named in her honor; for she was the paragon of giving.

“Surely God loved Louisiana because He made it so beautiful,” were Miss Georgia’s first words about Louisiana as she viewed the state for the first time from a train window. Surely Miss Georgia loved Louisiana because of her tireless work to win souls to Christ and train others to do so as well. Do you love Louisiana? Are you willing to give and to pray and to share the gospel to win Louisiana for Christ?

Week of Prayer

Day 3- Tony Bourque

“Our vision is to overwhelm the city with servant-hood evangelism. This makes the love of God visible and it also tears down walls between us and the unchurched,” says Tony.

Day 3″…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”Isaiah 58:10. “One of our major visions is to serve the outcast in our city-the poor, hungry, thirsty, and the hurting. This passage is very inspiring to us because we feel that God is calling us to pour our life into the hurting,” reflects Tony.

Tony Bourque is the pastor/church planter at TheWatersEdge Church in Lake Charles. “Our vision is to overwhelm the city with servant-hood evangelism. This makes the love of God visible and it also tears down walls between us and the unchurched,” says Tony.

The WatersEdge Church is sharing the life-changing message of Jesus Christ with the city of Lake Charles. “Recently a male prostitute and drug addict, who was transferred from a prison in New Orleans to one in Lake Charles, received Christ. After being
released from prison, someone invited him to church and after a few weeks he responded to the Lord. God has really worked in his life,” recalls Tony.

Please pray for clear direction for the future. Also, pray for the wisdom to know how to get new people plugged into the ministry at The WatersEdge Church. Finally, please pray for God to lead the church to the right piece of land so TheWatersEdge Church can build their own worship facility.

PRAYER FOR OUR ENEMIES

Last week, my wife and I were “window shopping” in a store with a Celtic theme. The Irish are know for their Irish Blessings (“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back…”, for example). However, I saw a decorated banner with a most unusual old Gaelic “blessing”:

May those who love us, love us,
And those who don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts,
And if he doesn’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles
So we’ll know them by their limping.

As I pointed out in a TFTD message a couple of weeks ago, we all struggle with our attitude toward our enemies. We know what Jesus said:

“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44). (and I don’t think the prayer above was what Jesus had in mind!)

But, there are, throughout scripture, a number of examples of righteous men calling God to act against their enemies. The Psalms are filled with such pleas. And even in the New Testament,

“…The souls of those who had been slain for the word of God…..cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ ” (Rev. 6:9-10)

When we see great evil being carried out, I think there should be a part of us that cries out for justice. We want to see God avenge those who defiantly oppose Him (and we know that He will).

But, as difficult as it may be at times, we also pray that God will help us to respond personally to those who are our “enemies” in such a way that they may eventually be led to be our friends and, more importantly, friends of God.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

I hope you’re having a terrific Tuesday.

Anna Lee

Monday

Whoever wants to be great

must become a servant.

~Mark 10:43 (MSG)~

 

 

Hurricane Ike

My daughter Krista returned me to DeRidder this afternoon. I stayed with her & her family on Vernon Lake during Hurricane Ike. My yard is covered with limbs & it blew over one VERY tall pine tree. Everything is okay, otherwise. We made TWC last night when they gave a tornado warning for 8 pm for Anacoco and areas around Toledo Bend. They were correct because the weather was bad for a short time. My house was without electricity for about 10 hrs which was very good.

Please continue to pray for the people in the Houston-Galveston area. We have friends & relatives in that area. Some we have heard from but some we have not because of the lack of electicity.

thanks for praying
Frann Smith ClarMy daughter Krista returned me to DeRidder this afternoon. I stayed with her & her family on Vernon Lake during Hurricane Ike. My yard is covered with limbs & it blew over one VERY tall pine tree. Everything is okay, otherwise. We made TWC last night when they gave a tornado warning for 8 pm for Anacoco and areas around Toledo Bend. They were correct because the weather was bad for a short time. My house was without electricity for about 10 hrs which was very good.

Please continue to pray for the people in the Houston-Galveston area. We have friends & relatives in that area. Some we have heard from but some we have not because of the lack of electicity.

thanks for praying
Frann Smith Clark

Missionary’s Dad, Charlie Banks

I’m forwarding an e-mail from Wes about his dad’s condition. Please pray as Mr. Banks has surgery today.

Thank you for praying.
Jennie


Greetings family, friends, colleagues and prayer partners,
We praise God upon every remembrance of you and the faithful prayers offered on behalf of our family. We want to inform, update and clarify all the information about the events here in Bucuresti. We thank you in advance for your continued love, prayers and concern.Friday, Sept 12, Dad and Mom (Charlie and Carolyn Banks) arrived in Bucuresti to visit and be on mission with us for two weeks. Shortly after leaving the airport, we were in a head-on collision in Bucuresti. The only family member suffering from injuries was Dad. He has a femur fracture to his left leg. This is the “stiff leg” that suffered injuries over 40 years ago. The fracture splintered and the injury requires a rod or plate to be inserted in the leg. God has already worked mightily in our midst. Praise Him. We thank Him. Dad still needs many prayers. He was moved from the Romanian hospital and is now resting comfortably in the Euroclinic. At the moment, they are monitoring his pace maker, blood sugar, watching for infection, and cellulitis. Dad has many risks —BUT we know the Great, Almighty physician and healer! His surgery is schedule for 4pm (Romania), which will be 9am (EST). We will try to update as soon as Dad is in recovery. He appreciates and needs your prayers. God is giving us strength in the weak hours.

We all know that He has not abandoned us, but is leading us triumphantly through this trial. To God be the Glory — Great and Mighty things He has already done for Dad in the last 59 hours and all 69 years!

We thank you all for the phone calls and emails, however, at this time we can not respond personally to each of them. Know that they bless our spirits from across the world. If you would like to send Dad a note, we will print the emails to read to him at the clinic.

Continue praying and remember to pray on your way to work tomorrow.
May the prayers of the saints be a sweet smelling incense to the Father’s heart.

We will not shrink back, The Banks Family
IMB/ Team Romany
Www.teamromany.com

The surgery will be at 8 A.M. Central Time.

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Please lift up all the children of missionaries who are beginning another year of school, praying for their continued growth “in favor with God and man.” Some are settling into boarding school dormitories, and others are studying at local international schools. Many others are being homeschooled. Let’s also pray that their parents and teachers will have wisdom, love and grace to guide them during these formative years.

The monthly share group meeting will be Thursday at 6:30 at the Alford cabin. Come join us for a time of fellowship, food, and devotional study.

Saturday at 7:30 A.M. you will have an opportunity to prayerwalk in Kentwood. Come pray for residents of our city, parish, and state.

 

 

 

A Light Rising in the Darkness

Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering

Week of Prayer for State Missions: September 14-21, 2008

State Goal: $1,600,000.00

FBC, Kentwood Goal: $7,500.00

Day 1- Miguel Barrios

Day 1″…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday,” Isaiah 58:10. “The growing Hispanic community is very much in need of ministries to meet their basic requirements. If we will see to meeting the needs of this community, then our good deeds will serve as a light calling the Hispanic Community to Christ,” reflects Miguel.

Miguel Barrios is a Hispanic missionary in North Louisiana. Louisiana partners with the North American Mission Board to support his work here in Louisiana. Miguel’s focus is the I-20 area. He plans and starts new Hispanic missions and ministries. Miguel also provides training for Hispanic core groups and leadership. In addition, he provides leadership and mentorship for Hispanic churches, missions, and ministries.

In the town of Bernice, Miguel has seen the grace of God work through his ministry to impact the life of the Garcil, Ganez, and Arias families. Miguel’s ministry has not only shown redemption to these families, but also it has encouraged a social and economic lift. Through ESL, and other ministries to the Hispanic communities, these families have found employment.

Please pray for the ministry among the Hispanic community in North Louisiana. Pray for Miguel’s family and their need for grace to carry out the ministry. Also, pray for divine opportunities to spread the gospel of Christ.

Day 2- Becky Clausen

Day 2″…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday,” Isaiah 58:10. “This verse applies to our ministry in a variety of ways. Clothes/household goods are given to the needy. Help with children’s homework, GED classes, and English classes are provided to those struggling. Bible study, counseling, mentoring, rehab opportunities, friendship, and fellowship opportunities are provided to the spiritually hungry and/or oppressed,” reflects Becky.

Becky Clausen is the director of the multi-housing ministry at Parkview Baptist in Baton Rouge. “The uniqueness of our ministry is that we go to the people.We minister to tenants of multi-housing communities in their home and through activities on our church campus. We share the gospel, teach the Word, provide activities, mentor, and meet spiritual and physical needs of individuals and families,” says Becky.

God’s love is being poured into the multi-housing facilities in the Baton Rouge area. “A young mother of three gave her life to the Lord and has put plans in motion to enter rehab this month. This journey began with her children participating in our “Homework Help” program that led to her coming to “the works” breakfast at our campus on Sunday mornings followed by worship,” recalls Becky.

Please pray for God to get all the glory and Jesus to receive more rewards of His suffering. Pray also for more individuals to volunteer for this harvest. Ask God to give other churches the vision to begin a multihousing ministry as part of their outreach programs.

KneEmail
Day

HAVING A BAD day…?

This morning you woke up tired and grumpy, and things haven’t gone right from that moment. You took the dog out and he wouldn’t come back in, so you spent a lot of time coaxing him in the house. Either you didn’t have time for breakfast, or it burned. Traffic on the way to work was horrific. Now you’ve opened up your computer, and it’s giving you one of those messages that you can’t interpret but you know means you can’t do your work until you find out what’s wrong.

We all have days that go awry, ones where we’d like to be able to go back to bed, pull the covers over our heads, and sleep away twenty-four hours. It’s hard to recognize on tough days that this, too, is a day God made and one He made to benefit us. But unless the day is already gone, it’s not beyond repair. Turn around your less-than-impressive day by giving it back to God (Pamela McQuade).

“This is the day which the LORD has made,

we will rejoice and be glad in it”

(Psm. 118:24).

Have a great Monday!

Anna Lee

Sunday

 

“Lord, You have heard the

desire of the humble;

You will prepare their heart;

You will cause Your ear to hear.”

~Psalm 10:17~

Coach David Currier said his granddaughter, Allie Daigle, is walking all over the place on the foot with a cast. Continue to pray for Allie as she heals.

Hurricane Ike brought strong breezes and light rain to several of the special friends that I keep in contact with through email. We are all thankful for little or no damage, but mainly for the safety provided us throughout the hours of strong breezes and light rains.

Dr. Art’s prediction for Velta Morris today: Feeling much better! (This update came through Sonny Yarbrough.)

Mrs. June Russell has completed rehabilitation in Hammond and is now in Baton Rouge to receive additional rehabilitation. Pray for her return to independence at her home.

Elsie Vera Zachary McGee Jacobsen
(April 4, 1919 – September 12, 2008)

Services for Elsie Vera Zachary McGee Jacobsen, 89 who died on the 12th of September 2008 at the Crown Health & Rehab in Natchez, MS., will be held at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, La. Visitation will be on Tuesday September 16, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by a service in the Chapel and burial at Kedron Cemetery in Amite, LA. Mrs. Jacobsen was the daughter of Dudley and LouElla Robertson Zachary of Amite, LA. She was retired from LSU Dental School and a former resident of Metairie, LA and Mandeville, LA. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Walter (Mac) McGee and Henry Jacobsen and one brother Erwin Zachary. She was a long time member of Metairie Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Mandeville, LA. Survivors include her daughter Luann Hines and her husband, Roger, a sister, Loura Stevens, a brother, Lester Zachary, four grandchildren and 5 grandchildren with a sixth great granddaughter due in February, and many nieces and nephews. Her life will be celebrated as she was truly blessed as well as a blessing to us.

G. E. “Mike” Michael
(January 28, 1930 – September 13, 2008)

U.S. Veteran Mr. G. E. “Mike” Michael was born January 28, 1930 and passed away at 5:55AM, Saturday, September 13, 2008 at North Oaks Medical Center, Hammond. Mr. Mike was 78, a native of Greensburg, PA and a resident of Amite. He was retired from the United States Air Force & Tangipahoa Parish School System. He is the son of the late Darrell & Helen Snyder Michael. Mr. Mike was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Dykes Michael.

He is survived by 2 daughters, Lauri Michael Girgenti and husband Nic, Amite, & Lisa Michael Kimball and husband, Mike, Ponchatoula; 2 sons, Darrell H. Michael and wife, Denise, Amite, & Matthew Eugene Michael, Lafayette; Grandchildren, Blythe G. Tabony, Sarah Girgenti, Jason Kimball, Adrienne Kimball, Kerri Anne Michael, Lacey Chunn, Nicholas Michael & Alex Michael; Great-Grandson, Dylan Chunn; Special family, Tonya Kent & Michelle Bordelon Michael.

He was also preceded in death by a brother, James Michael & a grandson, Michael Anthony Girgenti.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Monday, September 15, 2008 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM and on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 after 8:00AM until Religious Services at 10:00AM at the First United Methodist Church, Amite, with the Rev. Brady Whitton officiating. Interment at the Kedron Cemetery with full military honors.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W behind Coggins-Gentry Ford.



 

 

PRAYER FOR OUR ENEMIES

Last week, my wife and I were “window shopping” in a store with a Celtic theme. The Irish are know for their Irish Blessings (“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back…”, for example). However, I saw a decorated banner with a most unusual old Gaelic “blessing”:

May those who love us, love us,
And those who don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts,
And if he doesn’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles
So we’ll know them by their limping.

As I pointed out in a TFTD message a couple of weeks ago, we all struggle with our attitude toward our enemies. We know what Jesus said:

“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44). (and I don’t think the prayer above was what Jesus had in mind!)

But, there are, throughout scripture, a number of examples of righteous men calling God to act against their enemies. The Psalms are filled with such pleas. And even in the New Testament,

“…The souls of those who had been slain for the word of God…..cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ ” (Rev. 6:9-10)

When we see great evil being carried out, I think there should be a part of us that cries out for justice. We want to see God avenge those who defiantly oppose Him (and we know that He will).

But, as difficult as it may be at times, we also pray that God will help us to respond personally to those who are our “enemies” in such a way that they may eventually be led to be our friends and, more importantly, friends of God.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

We have a responsibility toward our enemies: Lead them to God!

Anna Lee

Friday

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me.”

~Psalm 34:4a~

 

 

 

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

THIS TIME CALLED RAMADAN

Some of the children you meet in school come from other religions. This month, a few of your classmates may be celebrating the month of Ramadan. It’s called a pillar of the Muslim faith. All month long, strict Muslims will fast (not eat any food) during the day. Then they will get together with friends and family to feast each evening. Many Muslim families will also spend extra time reading or listening to the Koran. The Koran is the book of instruction they follow. It is always read in public places in the Arabic language. Most Muslims do not understand Arabic, so they might not understand what they are reading or hearing.

In Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, Muslims work hard all day to set up tables and chairs, prepare food, and get the music ready. About 10:30 at night, everyone gets together for a big party. Women come in elegant and colorful clothes. But no one knows Jesus.

In lots of places in Northern Africa and the Middle East, it is over 120 degrees during the daytime. Really strict Somali Muslims do not eat or drink anything all day long. Think about it. Women are cooking outside over hot stoves. Children are fasting for the first time. Please pray for them not to get sick from the heat and not drinking any water.

Pray for your Muslim classmates and Muslims all over the world. Pray that they will want to read the Bible and hear what God has to say about the love of Jesus. Ask God to help them find Bibles in their own languages and to help them understand the truth they read and hear from the Bible.


MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Pray that I will make more friends. SEALIE, age 8 (Pacific Rim)

A friend of mine, Anna, died in a bike accident and we were really good friends. I am still trying to get over it. Please pray for me. KELLY, age 11 (Pacific Rim)

I live in Nepal and my Dad is the L.C. That stands for Logistics Coordinator (a person who helps others find a house, organize travel, make plans for visitors, and more). Nepali language is mostly Hindi and has the same script (letters). “Daal Baat” is rice and lentils. We eat that some times. My prayer is that my dad will be even more helpful in his work (but he’s very helpful!) Thank you. Also, I want to have the Nepali people learn more about Jesus. TAMARA, age 11 (South Asia)

Please pray that my friends become Christians. Please help me to do better in math

CALEB, age 11 (Pacific Rim)

Please pray for my family. We have moved to another country…I am a person of few words JONATHAN, age 12, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Please pray for me to do well in school and make good friends. I like to tell people that Jesus loves them, it is fun to be a missionary kid. ELIJAH, age 6 (South America)

Please pray for the people of Madagascar. Even the ones who believe in Jesus have beliefs tied to their ancestors. It can be very hard for my family and quite frightening in October when the people parade the bones of their ancestors around town. None of my friends at school are Christians, and it is very difficult to be a light in the darkness. Thankfully, more and more missionaries seem to be coming to Madagascar. LYDIA, age 13, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

Pray for my temper and the way I treat my sisters and parents. Pray for my friend that is lost (her name is Ishu). KRISTA, age 12 (South Asia)

Pray that I have a new friend, all my friends moved away. HANNAH, age 7 (Pacific Rim)

Please pray for people to be receptive and open to the gospel. Pray for us to be able to reach them. Pray, too, for people all over the world to listen to God when He calls them to the mission field. So many more need to be reached and there aren’t enough people telling them. ANN, age 17, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Please pray for missionaries Chris and Katie Nalls, who will begin studying Portuguese in September. Pray that God will bless them with many opportunities to converse with people. Since they were both journeymen in the country of Mozambique and are now returning as a married couple with a precious baby, they already know some Portuguese. Pray that they will recall all the Portuguese that they knew before, and ask for a good adjustment to Maputo, Mozambique. Pray for them as they juggle language study and family time. Finally, ask God to strengthen them and encourage them, giving them diligence and perseverance as they study.

As we thank God Hurricane Ike is going to have only a slight effect on our area, pray for those in the path of the storm. Pray for wise decisions as preparations are made. Pray for smooth traveling for those who evacuate. Pray for quick and adequate response of disaster relief agencies.

TeamRomany Blog

John 18:37

In fact, for this reason, I was born,

and for this I came into the world,

to testify to the truth.

He was deserted by his followers. He was attacked by his enemies. He was rejected by the religious leaders who were looking for him. He was following a course of action that was not his first choice. He was tired. He was embarrassed.

But, He didn’t retaliate. He didn’t curse or blaspheme the desire of His father. He listened to the rebukes and kept silent. He was calm, respectful, and gentle.

The storm came into Jesus’ life and the chaos revealed his true identity. He knew the moment for his life. His purpose on the earth was coming in bright light.

I’ve wondered at times about my purpose, my contribution, and my ‘after it’s over worth’ bottom line. Apart from the Master, there is only a fleeting feeling of worth and importance. Apart from bringing attention to the Master, my best efforts are only selfish and short-sighted. Apart from interacting with others about eternal matters, crisis will implode our goals and reveal our weaknesses.

‘To testify, to bear witness’ means to give credit to God for the good, to direct other’s attention to eternal matters, and to focus upon divine and spiritual truth. Testifying doesn’t always mean in public, on the platform, or ‘church talk’. ‘Testifying’ is relaying true information about experiences, not only crimes or misdemeanors, but spiritual realities. What you haven’t experienced, you cannot share with another. What we have experienced should not stop with us. Pass it along.

So what?

1) Have you / have I experienced a life-changing reality with God which is shaping each day of my life?

2) Am I sharing that experience with others which will shape theirs and my eternity?

3) Does my purpose or passion change or evolve with time, experience, and situation?

Happy Friday! Make today count!

Anna Lee

Thursday

God does not give us a spirit of fear,

but a spirit of power, love and self-control.

~2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)~

Update on Larry Watts from James Rimes

I spoke to Larry yesterday (Tuesday) and he sounded much better. One of his doctors told him that he could probably be released (to rehab) this week if he continues to do well. Please continue to pray for Larry and the family.

Please continue to pray for little Allie Daigle as she returns home. Pray she will be able to stay off her foot until it heals properly.

Baptist Press

September 10, 2008

TENNESSEE–Gustav, Ike ravage Cuba; Baptists launch relief. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28875

INDIA–Anti-Christian violence continues in India. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28876

CALIFORNIA–ELECTION 08: Calif. pro-lifers change strategy for 3rd parental notification vote. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28877

NORTH CAROLINA–LifeWay sees ministry results in tough economy. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28878

NORTH CAROLINA–New LifeWay initiative: ‘Transformational Church.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28879

LOUISIANA–Gustav victims hear volunteers’ witness. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28881

TEXAS–Missions-minded music prof dies. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28882

TENNESSEE–FIRST PERSON (David Francis): Sunday School supports church’s mission. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28883

Fred Luter in Chapel: When the storm comes’
By Michael McCormack
NEW ORLEANS (BP)–For New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, reopening after its Hurricane Gustav evacuation, Sept. 9’s chapel service became a time of thanksgiving and reunion — and words of encouragement from New Orleans pastor Fred Luter.

Because of widespread power outages and Louisiana law prohibiting habitation of multi-family housing with no utilities, many NOBTS apartment dwellers could not return to the campus until Saturday, Sept. 6. That amounted to a weeklong absence for many seminarians.

In welcoming students, faculty and staff back to campus, NOBTS President Chuck Kelley encouraged them to view difficult experiences like Hurricane Gustav in light of God’s refining work. Kelley compared that work to intense fire that produces steel and intense pressure that produces diamonds.

“There’s no way for us to become who God wants us to be without going through the fire and the pressure,” Kelley said at the Tuesday gathering. “All of this is to prepare you to have a word for those people you will be leading.”

Kelley gave thanks that New Orleans and coastal Louisiana were spared from what was predicted to be a devastating storm. He also reminded that not all of the seminary family has gone untouched through the 2008 hurricane season.

New Orleans Seminary has partnerships with Baptists in both Haiti and Cuba, two island countries that have been battered by multiple hurricanes this year.

Kelley concluded his welcome by reading Psalm 46, a psalm appropriate for both the person spared from calamity and the person struggling to recover. Regardless the circumstance, Kelley said, God’s mercy is reliable.

Tuesday’s chapel speaker, Fred Luter, pastor of New Orleans’ Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, titled his message “What to do when the storm comes.”

“Somewhere between the time of your first breath and your last breath,” Luter said, “storms will come your way. And my concern is not that we have storms and tribulation but what we do when the storm comes.”

Luter then offered a glimpse into his personal faith struggle following Hurricane Katrina.

“Do you know what I have discovered?” Luter asked. “I’ve discovered that when trouble comes our way faith is the first area that Satan works on.”

Luter said he remembers sitting in his daughter’s apartment in Birmingham, Ala., in August 2005 as Hurricane Katrina approached the Gulf Coast. His faith was shaken.

“I looked at what was going on [in New Orleans] and I looked up and said, ‘God, why don’t You do something?'” Luter recounted. “For the first time in my life, ladies and gentlemen, my faith was literally shaken unlike it had ever been shaken before.”

Not only was he mad at government leaders and agencies, Luter said he was mad at God. But through that experience, Luter said he learned afresh to trust God.

“I have discovered that every now and then God will allow you and me to get into a situation where we can’t trust in mama, daddy, the pastor, the president, the government or the mayor,” he said. “Your back is against the wall and all you can do is trust in God.

“If you don’t have faith, you have fear,” Luter continued. “And if the enemy can get you to fear, he can get you to doubt everything God has told you in His Word.”

Luter pointed to Mark 4:35-41, the account of Jesus calming the storm. To strengthen their faith in times of trouble, Luter challenged the chapel audience to first remember the promises of Jesus.

In verse 35, Jesus told the disciples, “Let us pass over to the other side.” And yet when a fierce storm threatened the boat, the disciples feared they were about to drown. Luter pointed out that their fear could have been quickly quelled if only the disciples would have remembered the purposes and promises of Jesus.

“Jesus didn’t come to drown,” Luter said. “He didn’t come to drown; he came to die on the cross…. He couldn’t drown because He’d said, ‘Boys, let’s go to the other side.'”

Just as the disciples in the boat could have found confidence in the words of Jesus, so Christians today can find confidence in the promises of God during times of trouble. For instance, Psalm 34:19 states, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”

Luter also said Christians must remember the presence of Jesus. He said Jesus could have easily sent the disciples across the lake while He stayed behind to rest. Instead, Jesus opted to go along with them in the boat. Christians can find encouragement and confidence in the fact that Jesus was in the boat and in the storm with the disciples.

“My brothers and my sisters, I don’t care what you’re going through. I don’t care what the enemy brings against you. I don’t care what trials or tribulations or storm it might be. If you’ve accepted Jesus into your life, He’s walking with you,” Luter said. “His grace is with you. His mercy is with you. … He’s walking with you. He’s there all the time.”

And, pointing to the power of Jesus, Luter compared the water crashing over the sides of the disciples’ boat to the waves splashing over the walls of the Industrial Canal in New Orleans during Hurricane Gustav. The New Orleans pastor noted: With only three simple words — “Peace, be still” — Jesus brought calm to the situation.

Michael McCormack is a writer for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

9-11

 

PRAYER IN TIME OF WAR

A young guy in a two-engine fighter was flying escort for a B-52 and generally being a nuisance, acting like a hotdog, flying rolls around the lumbering old bomber.

The hotdog said over the air, “Anything you can do, I can do better.”

The veteran bomber pilot answered, “Try this hot-shot.” The B-52 continued its flight, straight and level.

Perplexed, the hotdog asked, “So? What did you do?”

“I just shut down two engines, kid.”

Virtually every day, we are reminded when we turn on the television or pick up the newspaper that there is a war going on in Iraq. These are difficult times, and we all feel the urgent need to spend more time with God in prayer. We pray for the safety of our troops. We pray for a quick end to the conflict. But, beyond that, what should we pray for?

In 2003, Ron Hutchcraft sent out an e-mail entitled “10 Ways to Pray in Times Like These” (http://www.christianitytoday.com/todayschristian/special/10waystopray.html). His suggestions are still good ones. Here are 7 of his points:

1. “Lord, do something that will show people Your glory over all the earth.”

This is a moment for God to do something that no diplomat, no world leader, no army could possibly do – so all will know that “the Lord He is God.”

2. “Lord, use these anxious and uncertain times to bring many to Christ.”

God can use this fearful time to reach the hearts of many – in Iraq, in America, across the Middle East, among the young men and women of the military.

3. “Lord, guide our leaders to be instruments of Your will on earth.”

“I urge … that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority.” (I Timothy 2:1-2)

4. “Lord, protect the innocent.”

5. “Pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27)

Jesus has charged us to represent even our enemies before His Throne of Grace.

6. “Lord, help Your people model peace in these troubled times, pointing the people around them to Jesus – at a time when hearts are soft.”

This uncertain time is a life-saving moment – when those who belong to Jesus have an unusual window to introduce Him to those who don’t. But the window may not be open for long.

7. “Lord, bring peace out of all that’s happening.”

God has told us that the result He desires in answer to our prayers for our leaders is a climate where peace and righteousness can flourish (I Tim. 2:2).

My appreciation goes out to Ron Hutchcraft for his article, and I hope that his prayers will be yours as well. We live in troubled times that serve as a reminder of just how much we need God.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Thank God we had not had any more terrorist attacks in the United States. Thank God for the political and military officials who have made many difficult decisions regarding fighting terrorism and sending troops into war. Thank God for the many people in uniform who have served since 9-11. Pray for the families of each one. Pray for the military personnel who were injured in the war zone and for their families as they face medical disabilities and treatments of their loved ones. Pray for the families of those whose lives have been given since 9-11 to provide freedom for others and to fight the spread of terrorism. Thank God for each person who has volunteered to serve in our military.

Anna Lee